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misspalah's review against another edition
4.0
“But to the city at large we were just Asians, most of us with recognizably Chinese features. We were merged together with the rest of the huge East Asian diaspora that filled the city with medicinal herbs and cheap take-outs and medical school graduates. But we resisted the stereotypes, we were Malaysians, we would say proudly, and we were not like the others. And so that was us at the start of our university years, alive and full of energy. But for them Malaysia always beckoned. They would always return there. I wasn't so sure. My future was hazy but I had already felt the first sneaking suspicions that I would not be going back. For then we lived headily in the city of bright lights”.
- Diaspora by William Tham Wai Liang (Little Basket, New Malaysian Writing 2016)
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It would be weird not to pick up this one after i have read Little Basket Malaysian Writing 2017 and 2018 months ago. As usual, the collection of stories can be hit and miss but with that expectation in my mind, i enjoyed this way more than the others. Funny how our brain were wired that way. This collection featured poems, comics, anecdotes and short stories - some were horrors, some were sci-fi , some were thrillers and some were just simply personal thoughts. I have shared some of the stories that i liked from the book in the following parts.
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My Individual Rating for these stories:
Rating : 5/5
1. Diaspora by William Tham Wai Liang - On the identity of wanderer, neither rooted nor belonged to the birth country.
2. Transbotica by Julya Oui - When android regained consciousness and being self aware of her gender.
3. The Bloody Keris by Angeline Woon - What if Puteri Gunung Ledang story were told in the POV of Sultan Mahmud’s Son.
4. Local Fauna by Zedeck Siew & Sharon Chin - The quirky description of Nature that existed in Malaysia.
5. Full Circle by Terence Toh - Predestination or Serendipity?
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Rating : 4/5
1. Love Potion No. 5 by Chua Kok Yee
2. Wanton Noodles by Ling Low
3. The Pawn Shop by Eileen Lian
4. Striving After Wind by Tilon Sagulu
5. No More by Murugasu SHANmughalingam
6. How Broken Is My Air-cond by Choong Jay Vee
7. Man On The 22nd Floor by Tunku Halim
8. Breeding Ground by Edwin Kho & Julya Oui
9. 21 Across by Lean Ka-Min
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Rating : 3/5
1. The Green Fuse by Marc de Faoite
2. Family Business by Kris Williamson
3. Red King, Asleep in the Garden by Foo Sek Han
4. Wang Kelian by Zhou Sivan
5. Monsters by Cassandra Khaw
6. Diarrhea by Jin Hien Lau
7. Abracadabra by Timothy Nakayama
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- Diaspora by William Tham Wai Liang (Little Basket, New Malaysian Writing 2016)
.
.
It would be weird not to pick up this one after i have read Little Basket Malaysian Writing 2017 and 2018 months ago. As usual, the collection of stories can be hit and miss but with that expectation in my mind, i enjoyed this way more than the others. Funny how our brain were wired that way. This collection featured poems, comics, anecdotes and short stories - some were horrors, some were sci-fi , some were thrillers and some were just simply personal thoughts. I have shared some of the stories that i liked from the book in the following parts.
.
My Individual Rating for these stories:
Rating : 5/5
1. Diaspora by William Tham Wai Liang - On the identity of wanderer, neither rooted nor belonged to the birth country.
2. Transbotica by Julya Oui - When android regained consciousness and being self aware of her gender.
3. The Bloody Keris by Angeline Woon - What if Puteri Gunung Ledang story were told in the POV of Sultan Mahmud’s Son.
4. Local Fauna by Zedeck Siew & Sharon Chin - The quirky description of Nature that existed in Malaysia.
5. Full Circle by Terence Toh - Predestination or Serendipity?
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Rating : 4/5
1. Love Potion No. 5 by Chua Kok Yee
2. Wanton Noodles by Ling Low
3. The Pawn Shop by Eileen Lian
4. Striving After Wind by Tilon Sagulu
5. No More by Murugasu SHANmughalingam
6. How Broken Is My Air-cond by Choong Jay Vee
7. Man On The 22nd Floor by Tunku Halim
8. Breeding Ground by Edwin Kho & Julya Oui
9. 21 Across by Lean Ka-Min
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Rating : 3/5
1. The Green Fuse by Marc de Faoite
2. Family Business by Kris Williamson
3. Red King, Asleep in the Garden by Foo Sek Han
4. Wang Kelian by Zhou Sivan
5. Monsters by Cassandra Khaw
6. Diarrhea by Jin Hien Lau
7. Abracadabra by Timothy Nakayama
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mobyskine's review
3.0
I love that most of the stories were short, 'sharp' and straightforward. I read one or two stories from other books, but still I love re-reading it again in here. My favorite would be How Broken Is My Aircond by Choong Jay Vee-- love both main characters, very comical and suspense, quite fancy and I love the ending. I like that some of it gave me this twist feeling about the plot like Love Potion No. 5 (Chua Kok Yee), Full Circle (Terence Toh) and Man On The 22nd Floor (Tunku Halim). So much variety and genre, love most of the narrator especially that little boy in Family Business (Kris Williomson) and Wanton Noodles (Ling Low). It was a nice read, from humanity and nature to family and relationship, some longing for love, friendship and desperation. Also a bit of sci-fi and illustrative plot, which making this more compelling. Love the fruity basket!
ailinlai's review
3.0
3-3.5/5
Favourites:
- The Pawn Shop by Eileen Lian
- Diaspora by William Tham Wai Liang
- No More by Murugasu SHANmughalingam'
- Family Business by Kris Williamson
- The Bloody Keris by Angeline Woon
- Wanton Noodles by Ling Low
Favourites:
- The Pawn Shop by Eileen Lian
- Diaspora by William Tham Wai Liang
- No More by Murugasu SHANmughalingam'
- Family Business by Kris Williamson
- The Bloody Keris by Angeline Woon
- Wanton Noodles by Ling Low
crackedspines's review
2.0
the only word i can think of to describe this collection is "unsatisfactory". i liked 21 Across tho.
alienkeren's review
4.0
I really really like this 'little basket'. I think, out of the 21 works, only 1-2 works that didn't appeal to me. They don't even get to the point where I dislike them, it was just I enjoyed those 1-2 works less than the others.
I decided to read this work after a long weekend getaway to Malaysia and my trip left me confused about the country. In the spirit of wanting to understand the country a bit better, I decided to read this book. It helped me a bit, definitely. And if I were to choose a favourite, I would go for the Diaspora essay. That essay made me understand. I feel really connected to the writer and to many Malaysians after reading it. It is that great.
Props to Buku Fixi, the publishers, and the editors who definitely did a brilliant job. I wish other countries, including mine, do it. It would help everyone, both locals and tourists (to understand each country a bit better), a huge favour.
I decided to read this work after a long weekend getaway to Malaysia and my trip left me confused about the country. In the spirit of wanting to understand the country a bit better, I decided to read this book. It helped me a bit, definitely. And if I were to choose a favourite, I would go for the Diaspora essay. That essay made me understand. I feel really connected to the writer and to many Malaysians after reading it. It is that great.
Props to Buku Fixi, the publishers, and the editors who definitely did a brilliant job. I wish other countries, including mine, do it. It would help everyone, both locals and tourists (to understand each country a bit better), a huge favour.
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