Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
3.5
This was very very slow to get into but I'm glad to have persisted. The narrative really grew and revealed itself in a clever way. It was respective of meeting someone and unconsciously/consciously boxing them as xyz, whatever, then being continuously surprised as more is revealed. A fine reminder to be patient and kind. It's been one of many intakes for me recently that teaches the classic to not judge a book by its cover (the cover for this book is excellent ps).
Or even the difficulty of seeing a person, and being one, beyond a situation that they've been engulfed by. Character is talking about prison, future, present time and there's no connection but then the beautiful telling of his mother and how he got to that place, opens the space so much. Ah, there's the heart. It's always there somewhere.
Corrupt governments can entirely collapse, all day, every day
This was very very slow to get into but I'm glad to have persisted. The narrative really grew and revealed itself in a clever way. It was respective of meeting someone and unconsciously/consciously boxing them as xyz, whatever, then being continuously surprised as more is revealed. A fine reminder to be patient and kind. It's been one of many intakes for me recently that teaches the classic to not judge a book by its cover (the cover for this book is excellent ps).
Or even the difficulty of seeing a person, and being one, beyond a situation that they've been engulfed by. Character is talking about prison, future, present time and there's no connection but then the beautiful telling of his mother and how he got to that place, opens the space so much. Ah, there's the heart. It's always there somewhere.
Corrupt governments can entirely collapse, all day, every day
The best-selling author of “Five Star Billionaire”, Tash Aw, is back with yet another taut and gripping book. While the earlier book compellingly dwelled upon the get-rich-quick ploys of newcomers flocking to Shanghai, “We, The Survivors” – an equally engaging work – is predominantly set in Tash Aw’s motherland, Malaysia. Bristling with shades of Albert Camus’ “The Outsider”, Tash Aw’s protagonist - first person narrator who also happens to be an ‘accidental murderer’ - keeps the readers glued to the pages as he takes them on what can only be described as a cathartic ride.
Ah Hock narrates his unfortunate story of misplaced confidence, misdirected hopes and mismanaged priorities to Su-Min a sociology post graduate. A murder that he inadvertently commits – the why and how of the murder would detract from the very essence of the review, not to mention the disservice such a revelation would cause to the potential reader – results in not only a short prison sentence, but also in the wider context of things, the very uprooting of what until now had been a comfortable life.
The novel courses through the multicultural society of Malaysia that has as its underpinnings the not so seamless yet not so uneasy co-existence of three distinct races, Malays, Chinese and Indian. The glue that binds the troika is more of symbiosis than sentiment. Ah Hock and his disturbingly eccentric friend Keong move through the lower strata of society, trudging through days desperate for hope and a change of fortune. In this visceral journey, Hock and Keong encounter social complexities, simmering interpersonal tensions and a deep seated xenophobia. Tash Aw bestows an electric local flavour to the book. Whether it be the mouthing of the choicest of expletives in the Cantonese dialect by Keong, or the offer of Chee Cheong Fun (a thin crépe roll made from a wide strip of rice noodles, filled with shrimp, beef, vegetables, or other ingredients) by Ah Hock to Su-Min, the Malaysian influence on the novel rears its bold head throughout the book.
The book also highlights in stark albeit uncomfortable detail the pervasive nature of social inequality prevalent in Malaysia. While at one spectrum of the civilization continuum lies the hustle and bustle of an effervescent, vibrant and dynamic Kuala Lumpur, the city of magnificent sky scrapers, coiffured socialites and affluent mansions, at the other and extreme end of the scale, lies villages in the hinterland that are emblematic of squalor, starvation and endemic disease. Tash Aw leaves us with a scarring example of the plight of the people populating the bottom of the pyramid in the form of a matter-of-fact, yet profound comment made by Ah Hock in response to a question posed by Su-Min. Upon being asked as to why the migrants continue to work in spite of a dangerously failing health, Ah Hock responds, “You get sick, you get the sack.” This arresting conflict of contradictions forms the centerpiece of Ah Hock’s existence as he swings between desperation and delight.
In this fascinating duel between morality and materiality, it is pointless to attempt an unraveling of the winner. It is easier counting scars and tracking eventualities than identifying the victor from the vanquished. It is this very quandary that makes Ah Hock’s experiences memorable as well as macabre.
Ah Hock narrates his unfortunate story of misplaced confidence, misdirected hopes and mismanaged priorities to Su-Min a sociology post graduate. A murder that he inadvertently commits – the why and how of the murder would detract from the very essence of the review, not to mention the disservice such a revelation would cause to the potential reader – results in not only a short prison sentence, but also in the wider context of things, the very uprooting of what until now had been a comfortable life.
The novel courses through the multicultural society of Malaysia that has as its underpinnings the not so seamless yet not so uneasy co-existence of three distinct races, Malays, Chinese and Indian. The glue that binds the troika is more of symbiosis than sentiment. Ah Hock and his disturbingly eccentric friend Keong move through the lower strata of society, trudging through days desperate for hope and a change of fortune. In this visceral journey, Hock and Keong encounter social complexities, simmering interpersonal tensions and a deep seated xenophobia. Tash Aw bestows an electric local flavour to the book. Whether it be the mouthing of the choicest of expletives in the Cantonese dialect by Keong, or the offer of Chee Cheong Fun (a thin crépe roll made from a wide strip of rice noodles, filled with shrimp, beef, vegetables, or other ingredients) by Ah Hock to Su-Min, the Malaysian influence on the novel rears its bold head throughout the book.
The book also highlights in stark albeit uncomfortable detail the pervasive nature of social inequality prevalent in Malaysia. While at one spectrum of the civilization continuum lies the hustle and bustle of an effervescent, vibrant and dynamic Kuala Lumpur, the city of magnificent sky scrapers, coiffured socialites and affluent mansions, at the other and extreme end of the scale, lies villages in the hinterland that are emblematic of squalor, starvation and endemic disease. Tash Aw leaves us with a scarring example of the plight of the people populating the bottom of the pyramid in the form of a matter-of-fact, yet profound comment made by Ah Hock in response to a question posed by Su-Min. Upon being asked as to why the migrants continue to work in spite of a dangerously failing health, Ah Hock responds, “You get sick, you get the sack.” This arresting conflict of contradictions forms the centerpiece of Ah Hock’s existence as he swings between desperation and delight.
In this fascinating duel between morality and materiality, it is pointless to attempt an unraveling of the winner. It is easier counting scars and tracking eventualities than identifying the victor from the vanquished. It is this very quandary that makes Ah Hock’s experiences memorable as well as macabre.
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"But the truth is that there is no because. And because there is no because, there is also no why. He did what he did. Sometimes things happen that way. Or maybe the because was buried so far in his past that it’s impossible to figure out what it is, so it ceases to be real."
We, the Survivors by Tash Aw is a poignant story of a middle-class Malaysian man named Ah Hock released from prison recently after serving the time for murdering a Bangladeshi migrant worker. Su-Min who had been doing research for her studies in America returned to Malaysia and interviewed Ah Hock about his life which later turned into book.
Ah Hock was from a Malaysian fishing village living with his mother. His father eft for Singapore when he was young and never returned. The struggling life of Ah Hock and his mother was rough. He happened to befriend with Keong, a thuggish boy from his village a few years older than him. Just like other youths, they wanted to leave the village and dreamt to become tycoons in a city. They went to Kuala Lumpur and worked random jobs. Ah Hock had his own set of moral value. He worked in restaurants whereas Keong worked as a drug smuggler. Soon, he managed to separate Keong from his life.
Years later, Ah Hock was working as a fore man in a plantation. Though uneducated, he was a diligent and hard working person. He got married and though he had not become a tycoon, he was somewhat enjoying his life. One day, he received a call from Keong and reconnected with him. Regarding a serious situation at work, Ah Hock reluctantly asked help from Keong which led to turn Ah Hock's life upside down.
From the beginning, Tash Aw let the readers know that Ah Hock murdered a man but we don't know why he did it or how it occurred. It is not a mystery or thriller kind of novel that unravels the homicide case. I get to know Ah Hock's life from the beginning of his childhood including the misfortune family affairs, the struggles with poverty and rise from it as well as his working life and married life as an adult.
Through the interviews, his life is unfold. Although it is told in Ah Hock's narration, I believe it is not to diminish the crime he committed but to showcase the dull yet strenuous life of working-class people in Malaysia. At the same time, distressing lives and obscurity of migrant workers from Bangladesh, Burma, Indonesia, and Nepal as well as Rohingya refugees were attentively portrayed.
Many times in the story, I see Ah Hock's shoulda, coulda, woulda moments. Regrets for doing this or not doing that and most of them are related to his association with Keong. His conversations with Su-Min are interlaced between his recount on his life. In a glimpse, the reader gets to see insights of an intellectual like Su-Min. Though it may not portray the entire upper class or the intellectuals, it is an interesting read. Aw's storytelling is crafty and evocative. Sometimes brisk as the necessity of plot but most of the time steady and compassionate.
The story brought the reader's attention with a homicidal plot at the beginning but Aw doesn't rush in telling how it occurred. He takes time in telling Ah Hock's story. After reading it, I contemplate on the importance of the narrative in the stories. Of course there will be differences between how others tell our stories and how we tell our own even each of us tell the truth. Some won't see the adversity faced by the blue-collar people from their perspective. Some will only tell what they see from their point of view.
We, the Survivors by Tash Aw is a poignant story of a middle-class Malaysian man named Ah Hock released from prison recently after serving the time for murdering a Bangladeshi migrant worker. Su-Min who had been doing research for her studies in America returned to Malaysia and interviewed Ah Hock about his life which later turned into book.
Ah Hock was from a Malaysian fishing village living with his mother. His father eft for Singapore when he was young and never returned. The struggling life of Ah Hock and his mother was rough. He happened to befriend with Keong, a thuggish boy from his village a few years older than him. Just like other youths, they wanted to leave the village and dreamt to become tycoons in a city. They went to Kuala Lumpur and worked random jobs. Ah Hock had his own set of moral value. He worked in restaurants whereas Keong worked as a drug smuggler. Soon, he managed to separate Keong from his life.
Years later, Ah Hock was working as a fore man in a plantation. Though uneducated, he was a diligent and hard working person. He got married and though he had not become a tycoon, he was somewhat enjoying his life. One day, he received a call from Keong and reconnected with him. Regarding a serious situation at work, Ah Hock reluctantly asked help from Keong which led to turn Ah Hock's life upside down.
From the beginning, Tash Aw let the readers know that Ah Hock murdered a man but we don't know why he did it or how it occurred. It is not a mystery or thriller kind of novel that unravels the homicide case. I get to know Ah Hock's life from the beginning of his childhood including the misfortune family affairs, the struggles with poverty and rise from it as well as his working life and married life as an adult.
Through the interviews, his life is unfold. Although it is told in Ah Hock's narration, I believe it is not to diminish the crime he committed but to showcase the dull yet strenuous life of working-class people in Malaysia. At the same time, distressing lives and obscurity of migrant workers from Bangladesh, Burma, Indonesia, and Nepal as well as Rohingya refugees were attentively portrayed.
Many times in the story, I see Ah Hock's shoulda, coulda, woulda moments. Regrets for doing this or not doing that and most of them are related to his association with Keong. His conversations with Su-Min are interlaced between his recount on his life. In a glimpse, the reader gets to see insights of an intellectual like Su-Min. Though it may not portray the entire upper class or the intellectuals, it is an interesting read. Aw's storytelling is crafty and evocative. Sometimes brisk as the necessity of plot but most of the time steady and compassionate.
The story brought the reader's attention with a homicidal plot at the beginning but Aw doesn't rush in telling how it occurred. He takes time in telling Ah Hock's story. After reading it, I contemplate on the importance of the narrative in the stories. Of course there will be differences between how others tell our stories and how we tell our own even each of us tell the truth. Some won't see the adversity faced by the blue-collar people from their perspective. Some will only tell what they see from their point of view.
This might be the first book I’ve read looking at blue-collar and migrant workers in Malaysia. Quite unacceptable that it took me this long, considering that that’s just next door and I have a sneaking suspicion that the situation might not be too different in Singapore either.
We, the Survivors by Tash Aw was a beautifully written book. Aw’s writing shapes the unflinching look at the situation so many people face in life, where the promise of social mobility is nothing more than a pipe dream. Despite watching Ah Hock struggle out of his humble beginnings, we know that everything will come to naught, since it was stated so right at the start of the book. By framing the entire story as such, the whole book is permeated with a sense of fatigue and despondency.
Even when Su Min comes on board, wanting to share Ah Hock’s story to the world, I couldn’t help but view her with disenchanted eyes. Did this young, educated, social warrior really have what it takes to shine the spotlight on Ah Hock? Or would it just be an exercise in wokeness? In the end, it was difficult for me to see how the lives of everyone like Ah Hock can fit into the narrative that the public would accept. And that in itself, is another layer of defeat altogether, when one is whitewashed away.
Diversity meter:
Malaysian Chinese experience
Blue-collared worker experience
Migrant worker voice
We, the Survivors by Tash Aw was a beautifully written book. Aw’s writing shapes the unflinching look at the situation so many people face in life, where the promise of social mobility is nothing more than a pipe dream. Despite watching Ah Hock struggle out of his humble beginnings, we know that everything will come to naught, since it was stated so right at the start of the book. By framing the entire story as such, the whole book is permeated with a sense of fatigue and despondency.
Even when Su Min comes on board, wanting to share Ah Hock’s story to the world, I couldn’t help but view her with disenchanted eyes. Did this young, educated, social warrior really have what it takes to shine the spotlight on Ah Hock? Or would it just be an exercise in wokeness? In the end, it was difficult for me to see how the lives of everyone like Ah Hock can fit into the narrative that the public would accept. And that in itself, is another layer of defeat altogether, when one is whitewashed away.
Diversity meter:
Malaysian Chinese experience
Blue-collared worker experience
Migrant worker voice
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
set in Klang, confronting the common stereotypes and depersonalization of foreign workers who are shunted like cargo and treated as expendable tools of production. could this read be any more timely?
dark
informative
reflective
tense
fast-paced
This was a really beautiful narrative. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it surpassed all of my expectations completely. It was delicately written, and I think the style in which it was told complimented the mystery element to it perfectly. The characters were by no means perfect – and at some points, not even likeable – but that made them all the more real. It dealt with many heavy topics like poverty, exploitation and racism in ways I haven’t really seen discussed before and it did it really well.
I don’t know why I find it easier sometimes to write about books I hated than books I loved. I just feel like with books as brilliant as this, anything I’ll say will just never do it justice and I can never actually find the right words to praise it enough. With some better pacing (at points it was very slow) and a more solid ending this could’ve definitely been a five-star read for me, but it was a beautiful read nonetheless.
I don’t know why I find it easier sometimes to write about books I hated than books I loved. I just feel like with books as brilliant as this, anything I’ll say will just never do it justice and I can never actually find the right words to praise it enough. With some better pacing (at points it was very slow) and a more solid ending this could’ve definitely been a five-star read for me, but it was a beautiful read nonetheless.