Pages: 254
Pages: 254
Pearl returns to her native Penang and her parents after nearly ten years in Sydney, Australia. She brings with her a son from a hasty marriage, and a suitcase of repressed emotions. However, the skeletons in her family’s closet far outnumber hers, and as her family implodes upon itself, Pearl embarks on a race against time to save the family business, and ultimately, her family.
Teresa E on Amazon.co.uk wrote:Picked this up on promotion at a local event and enjoyed it thoroughly. I am from Malaysia and found this book really captures the essence of Asia. Recommended for that relaxing night at home.
I read this book and I've found it easy to read and full of cultural items, now I know more about Malaysia and of course, about the immigrant experience.
Author Q+A
1. Why this book?
It was my first full-length novel. I wrote most of the chapters on planes, when I couldn’t sleep. All in all, it took about six years, and in 2013, I decided that I should finish the book. I gave myself 3 months to do so, and stuck with this task diligently. The last 7 chapters were written in this time. The plotlines also managed to tie themselves up.
2. What is the story about?
It is about family relationships – testy and difficult, loving and emotionally-charged – and how they can influence or impact on our lives. It was an opportunity to bring in a lot of Malaysian cultural elements, specifically related to the Straits Chinese community. Typical customs, superstitions and rituals have been woven into the tapestry of the story through 4 generations of a family.
3. What would make this book a hard read?
I’d say the large cast of characters might lose the reader every now and then, particularly those with non-English names. There are also some lines of transcribed Penang Hokkien dialogue. I have taken care to ensure context (if not direct translation) allows for the understanding of what is happening.