By The Book

Inspired by the legend of the Chinese moon goddess Chang’e, Sue Lynn Tan’s young adult novel follows the titular young woman’s quest to free her mother, which pits her against some of the most powerful immortals in the realm. Along the way, she trains to become a warrior, battles terrifying creatures, and finds both friendship and love. We review the book and discuss its refreshing take on the classic YA coming-of-age tale. We close off with some long read recommendations for Footnotes

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Douglas Adams would have turned 70 on March 11 2022, which is why we're dedicating our bibliography episode in March to his life and works. Best known for The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Adams was a novelist and essayist, but also wrote for radio, and both the big and small screen. We discuss the impact his work has had on us, and on humourists and science fiction authors that followed. And then in Footnotes, we discuss the many, many adaptations there have been of his works.

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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid tells the grand saga of fictional Old Hollywood star Evelyn Hugo, who at the age of 79, mysteriously decides to give a tell-all interview to up-and-coming journalist Monique Grant. The book switches between past and present, and explores what it means for those who live on the fringes to take control of their own stories - all with a great sprinkle of Hollywood glamour. We review the book, and talk about how its breezy style hides a much more complex core. Then in Footnotes, we discuss writers, their personal lives, and where readers need to draw a line.

Image source: Good Reads

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The winner of this year's 2022 Epigram Books Fiction Prize, Karina Robles Bahrin joins us to talk about her debut novel, The Accidental Malay. Telling the story of Jasmine Leong, the workaholic scion of a billion ringgit bak kwa company, Phoenix, whose life changes when she discovers she is actually a Malay, the novel navigates tricky issues such as race, religion and identity in Malaysia - but aims to be accessible and easy to read. We talk about the inspiration and writing process for this book, the importance of regional prizes and publishers and the themes and inspirations that drive Karina's work. Then in Footnotes - with new Cormac McCarthy novels around the corner, we talk about authors who take a long time in between books, and what it's like as readers to wait and anticipate.

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With International Women’s Day falling on March 8, we pay tribute to women who write, by discussing the choice to consciously read more female authors - and the many things a reader gains by doing so. We further recommend books by some of our favourite women writers. Then in Footnotes, we talk about how the largest literary collection ever found in the UK - including manuscripts by the Brontës, Jane Austen and Walter Scott - was saved from private auction and made available to the public.

Image source: Zurinah Hassan Tokoh Puisi Melayu Abad Ke-20 Facebook Page, Mark Peterman, Art Streiber / AUGUST.

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From classic tragedies to melancholy stories, there's just something about a book that can move you to tears, or evoke Big Feelings. In this episode, we discuss the craft behind writing a book that tugs at the emotions, and the pleasures of being a reader of these books, even when the experience can be difficult. And then in Footnotes, what makes the film adaptations of these books work, and when do they fall flat?

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Victor LaValle's The Ballad of Black Tom revisits H.P. Lovecraft's short story The Horror at Red Hook, but from the point of view of a young black man living in 1920s New York. Far from being a straightforward tribute, the novella is instead an interrogation of Lovecraft's complicated legacy, taking on the racism present in the horror writer's work and flipping it in clever, complex, and sobering ways. We review the book and discuss how it manages to pack so much within its compact space. Then in Footnotes, we talk about looking at old books through new eyes.

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Yalpanam is a difficult book to describe - but at its heart, it's an imagery-rich exploration of hidden histories, memory and hauntings, as seen through the enigmatic central figure, a 185 year old woman, Pushpanayagi, living in a colonial-era home and a connection she forms with her 18-year-old neighbour, Maxim. We discuss the process of writing this book, and its language with author Shivani Sivagurunathan. And then in Footnotes, as always, we review the book and discuss how much we enjoyed it.

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Few writers have become emblematic of both children’s literature and controversy the way Judy Blume has - so much so, she’s been called one of the most frequently challenged authors of the 21st century. Not surprising perhaps, when you consider that her novels take on subjects that aren’t often addressed in books for young people, such as puberty, sexuality, religion, and divorce. But it is also for these very reasons that Blume is so celebrated, and so formative to many a young reader; not to mention, a huge influence on modern children’s books. In this month’s Bibliography episode, we discuss Blume’s works (including Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. of course!), her frankness in writing for young people, and her legacy.

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The Elephant Trophy and Other Stories is a collection of 18 short stories, taking a slice-of-life approach to depicting the nuances and experiences of the Indian community and diaspora in Malaysia. We speak to Paul GnanaSelvam about the stories, what inspires him as a writer, and why he enjoys writing shorter yarns. Then, in Footnotes, we review the book.

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