Troubling Borders: An Anthology of Art and Literature by Southeast Asian Women in the Diaspora by

4.25 AVERAGE

blafin's review

4.0
One of the more thought-provoking and well-written books I've read recently. That being said, I found the academic introduction and chapter notes to take something away from the content and wish there had almost been less description and structure.
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spacestationtrustfund's review

3.0
I didn't actually realise, when I picked up this volume, that the diaspora in question was referring to Southeast Asian women in the United States, but that is indeed what it is. As far as anthologies go this one is rather slim, not even breaking 300 pages, but it contains an interesting mixture of media: art, literature, poetry, photography. The anthology is divided into several sections: family relations in the diaspora ("Wombs and Wounds"); language, writing, literacy ("Coming to Voice"); homes and homelands; loving sex/sexing love; militarized lives; Asians in America; race, roots, religion; travel narratives and narratives that travel; labor, activism, resistance ("Speech Acts"). The page length belies the scope: there are over 60 different contributors, encompassing all 11 countries in Southeast Asia. As is the case with all anthologies, the quality of the works included varies from contributor to contributor, but the overall effect is commendable. Even if it's a bit shorter than I was thinking.