These debut novels by contemporary Malaysian authors put fantastical spins on real-world locations, weaving together historical and fictional events, and bringing to life memorable characters with unique voices. Let these stories take you on adventures to whimsical yet familiar worlds, different eras in time, and even alternate universes.
You may just find within these pages a newfound curiosity about a particular aspect of Malaysian life and the inspiration for your next getaway.
1. The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
Travel to…1890s Melaka and the Chinese afterlife
Li Lan receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family to be a bride for their deceased only son. Unwillingly, she was drawn into the parallel spirit world of the Chinese afterlife, where cities are built from paper funeral offerings and inhabited by ghosts.
Yangsze Choo’s literary debut is a coming-of-age tale of romance, intrigue, and adventure. The book transports you to a world where opulent Peranakan homes were a common sight around Jonker and Heeren Street, ice was a luxury few families could afford on a hot day, and spirits of Dutch settlers hung around the Stadthuys at night. If you can’t get enough of Choo’s fascinating world after turning the last page, check out the 2020 six-episode Netflix series adaptation of the book.
2. The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Aw
Travel to…1930s British-ruled Malaya
Winner of the 2005 Whitbread First Novel Award and longlisted for the 2005 Man Booker Prize, Tash Aw’s debut novel follows the story of Johnny Lim, a successful, well-connected textile merchant who opens the Harmony Silk Factory that thrives during the tumultuous Japanese occupation. To the residents of Kinta Valley, Johnny is a local hero who fought the invading Japanese. However, to his son, Jasper, he is a crook and traitor to the people he pretends to serve, and his impressive factory is just a front for an illegal business.
Incorporating some historical events, the novel paints a picture of culture and life in times of crisis and political instability.
3. The Weight of Our Sky by Hanna Alkaf
Travel to…Kuala Lumpur on May 13th, 1969
When the historic race riots broke out on the evening of May 13th, 1969, Melati Ahmad, a music-loving teenager with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), became separated from her mother. With the help of a Chinese boy named Vincent, Melati will have to muster up the courage to brave the violence on the streets and set aside her prejudices while dealing with a debilitating mental condition to find her way back home.
This fast-paced yet heartwarming novel takes us back to one of the darkest points in Malaysian history, reminding us that the kindness and grace we afford each other as humans transcend race, religion, and politics.
4. The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
Travel to…1939 Penang
Half-English and half-Chinese Philip Hutton finds a sense of belonging in an unexpected friendship with the enigmatic Japanese diplomat, Hayato Endo. When the Japanese invade Malaya, putting Philip at the stake of losing everyone and everything he loves, he realises that his trusted friend has been harbouring a devastating secret.
Set in Penang during the tumult of World War II, this Man Booker Prize 2007 longlisted first novel tells a riveting tale of a young man in search of identity amidst precarious loyalties.
5. The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka
Travel to…1920s Malaya and the next eight decades
At 14, Lakshmi is plucked from a carefree childhood in Ceylon and duped into marrying a stranger in prewar Malaya. It marks the start of a life of struggle and strife for Lakshmi, but she rises against the odds to become a formidable matriarch determined to create a better life for her children in an ever-changing world. Of course, even with a will of iron, Lakshmi does not survive the tumult of WWII, the Japanese Occupation, and other tragedies unscathed.
This fast-paced family saga spans 80 years and depicts life in Malaysia through four generations dealing with generational trauma. Readers must be prepared to be taken on an emotional rollercoaster.
6. KL Noir: Magic by various authors
Travel to…alternate versions of Kuala Lumpur
KL Noir: Magic marks the return of the KL Noir series of anthologies (previously Red, White, Blue, and Yellow, after the colours of the Malaysian flag) that feature short stories set in the sleazy underbelly of Kuala Lumpur.
Kuala Lumpur, conjured up by 20 Malaysian authors in this anthology, is a city where all kinds of magic are possible. Somewhere in the metropolis, a boy speaks to his dead father through a radio, a Sikh man tries to cut his hair, junkies find a new high in the streets, a bar hostess takes a gamble with a mysterious customer, and hardworking, blue-collar workers try to survive the daily grind without losing their souls. Look out for stories of grifters, pontianaks, and private detectives with toyol sidekicks too.
The capital city of Malaysia and its people may not look the same again.
