Comments on: What does it mean to be Malaysian Chinese?

By: Kelantan Gal

Kelantan Gal — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:34:09 +0000

Sorry for the second comment… I forgot to say that perhaps it is not your responsibility to “solve” what it means to be Malaysian Chinese or Chinese Malaysian. Perhaps that is for your readers to try and figure out… to journey with you through your novel.

Being in a Canada, I also sometimes struggle to explain what a Malaysian is. People don’t quite comprehend that there are multiple Malaysian identities… they expect a “Thai identity” or “indonesian identity”… like identifying a certain type of food to eat.

By: Kelantan Gal

Kelantan Gal — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:26:06 +0000

I don’t think a subject/topic/era can be overwritten. Each author has their own perspective and “voice”. You have a particularly unique one, that is why I keep coming back to your blog.

I remember that you said your Aunt would vote for BN b/c it was practical… write about that… not many people write about that kind of political insight/nuances. (that’s just an example… you have lots going on in your blog that you can draw from).

By the way, I’ve noticed your “branding” of your Imperfect Categories… perhaps that should can use that as an idea for your “imperfect novel”? Just an idea.

By: Lia

Lia — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 04:42:46 +0000

I know it’s hard to write, esp with what’s out there. But my view is this: you write what is in your heart. The novel will take a life on its own. Readers will relate to the way you write, dear, no matter what the content in a way.

go for it, I mean it

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 04:22:41 +0000

heheh i like the goofy shots. the first photo, lokes looks like one of the hong kong movie star. don’t know if you remember the movie “Ace go Places”, with Sam Hui in there, and one “kong tou lou” as well. of course the difference lokes got much more hair laaa

By: jennemede

jennemede — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:47:58 +0000

You’re right, Adrienne. But I don’t wanna write another Falling Leaves or Joy Luck Club you know (not that I’ll ever be THAT good! Didn’t mean to sound arrogant). But I am concerned about writing another Asian story in English that will make Asians cringe (I know I can’t read another migrant novel having now finished Justin Ong-Bates’ Midnight at the Dragon Cafe) because really when I started writing, I realise shucks, a Malaysian Chinese’s life is not so different from a China Chinese life, or a Malaysian Malay life. And why is my story so hinged on these nuances? For instance, would you want to read another dustbowl novel set at the end of the Depression era, some kind of epic ending at post 9-11?

But rule #1, write what u know. Beginning to realise I know very little about my “culture”!

By: adrienne

adrienne — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:40:27 +0000

Maybe your issue is intended audience rather than content. I can honestly say that an introduction to the lives of Malaysian Chinese couldn’t seem cliche to most American readers.

Your subject sounds interesting to me. Would you be interested in writing for an American audience?