A review by _askthebookbug
Strangers on a Pier: Portrait of a Family by Tash Aw

5.0

A book of under 100 pages that speaks volumes is such a rarity. And Tash Aw's memoir of his family is one such marvel. Tracing his family's roots, Aw speaks of how it feels like to be an immigrant even decades later. Not only does he cover his grandparents' journey to the Malay Peninsula and how they had to adapt in a new place but he also speaks about living with a face that both belongs and also makes one ask where he's from.

It's the second part of the book that I truly loved reading, in which he speaks about his grandmother. There's something very moving about the way he writes about her upbringing. There's a lot to unpack from this short memoir, making one ponder over their own roots. This book reminded me of a short post that I wrote a year ago about carrying certain traits that once belonged to our parents and grandparents.

The writing is exceptional, flawless and so wholesome. Tash Aw's words will probably stay with me for a very long time, like how I treasure fallen flowers between the pages of a book.

I can't recommend this book enough. And I can't wait to read more by @tash.aw