Two Book Nerds Talking

Hello booknerds!

We're talking to Tokyo-based Malaysian writer Florentyna Leow in this episode about her debut book How Kyoto Breaks Your Heart. The book is tender time capsule of her time working as a tour guide in Kyoto and the heartbreak that followed the end of a friendship.

We absolutely loved reading her book and we obviously had to talk to her about it. She's a kindred spirit and we hope you'll enjoy this episode (and pick up her book!).

Cheers!

We know it's rather late in the day to release this episode but we've came across some titles that are just too good not to share.

The promt for our August #tbntbookchallenge2023 is to read a book set in an ancient city or about an ancient civilisation. Eventhough these are some recommendations for our August challenge, we do hope some of these titles have piqued your interest and that you'll pick it up in your own time.

We had so much fun researching and recording this episode and of course, our own TBR pile just got bigger. Cheers!

Hello booknerds!

We got to talk to award-winning short story writer Saras Manickam back on 15 July 2023 live at our favourite indie bookshop Lit Books, PJ. We get into her short story collection My Mother Pattu and it was such a lovely conversation.

Saras writes with much empathy and understanding of human complexities, tackling difficult issues like racism, mistreatment of migrant workers, and domestic abuse. Her short story collection is filled with violence, tenderness, and hope.

We hope you enjoy this episode and do pick up My Mother Pattu!

Cheers!

“We're here to make magic with words”
― R.F. Kuang, Babel: An Arcane History

Step into the world of dark academia with us in this book chaser episode. We talk about Babel by R.F. Kuang and I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai; both set in institutions of learning and all the dark stuff that happens behind the scenes.

Murder, colonism, dark secrets, word nerdery: all the good stuff can be found in these books and of course, we did our best to not spoil anything for you.

Cheers!

Hello booknerds!

We took a short break after all the Aesop Women's Library excitement and we're back!

We got to speak to THE Samantha Shannon, author of The Priory of the Orange Tree, about her latest book, A Day of Fallen Night.

A Day of Fallen Night is the prequel to Priory and it’s set just shy of five centuries before Priory and covers the period known as the Great Sorrow, or Grief of Ages. We had such a great time talking to Samantha and we feel that it has come full circle. In case you didn't know, we actually have a podcast episode on Priory in Season 2 so you can check that out of you have not heard that episode.

We really geeked out talking to Samantha cause we're both huge fans of fantasy books (especially Diana) and we hope that you enjoy this chat.

Cheers!

This is the third special episode brought to you by Aesop Malaysia in conjunction with the Aesop Women's Library: Malaysia Edition.

In this episode, we got Hanna Alkaf, Viji Krishnamoorthy, Alina Rastam, Qurratul ‘Ain, and 梁靖芬 Leong Ching Foon aboard to talk to us about being a woman writer in Malaysia. It is such an illuminating episode and we think we can confidently say that our women writers are forces to be reckoned with.


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The Aesop Women's Library: Malaysia Edition is happening on the 26th till 28th May 2023 at Aesop Pavilion KL and Aesop The Gardens Mall, and 2nd till 4th June 2023 at Aesop Gurney Plaza, Penang.

Read more about the Aesop Women's Library: Malaysia Edition

Check out the full lineup of complimentary books that will be available!

Cheers booknerds!

This is the second episode of our Aesop Women's Library special. In this episode, Honey and Diana will be talking about some of their picks for the fiction and poetry collections that will be availble at the selected Aesop stores soon.

You will be spoilt for choice and we're here to help highlight some titles that might interest you.

Enjoy!

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Over the course of three days, the shelves of Aesop Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Aesop The Gardens Mall, Kuala Lumpur and Aesop Gurney Plaza will be cleared of products to make way for significant works of literature detailing the experiences of women-identifying authors and allies from around the region. The selection of over 20 titles—composed of recommendations from six collaborating publishing houses who champion local literary voices—is sprawling in genre and spirit: from emerging voices to seasoned authors, and short stories to novels and poetry. The featured writers include Viji Krishnamoorthy, 梁靖芬, Hanna Alkaf and Alina Rastam. As a way of supporting local independent publishers and booksellers in Malaysia, Aesop has purchased over 6,000 volumes from Lit Books, Clarity Publishing, Cite Book Garden, Gerak Budaya, Penwings Publishing and Buku Fixi.

Introducing The Aesop Women's Library!

During this time, the shelves of Aesop Pavilion, Aesop Gardens, and Aesop Gurney Plaza will be cleared of products to make way for significant works of literature by Malayisan women authors. The selection is sprawling in genre and spirit: from emerging voices to seasoned authors, and short stories to novels and poetry. To find out more, listen to this episode!

You'd be spoilt for choice as there will be 25 titles to choose from. Do visit the selected Aesop stores and these books will be complimentary, no purchase required.

Save these dates:
26-28 May 2023 (Aesop Pavilion, KL and Aesop The Gardens Mall)
2-4 June 2023 (Aesop Gurney Plaza, Penang)

Cheers booknerds!

Who knows you better than your best friend? Who knows your secrets, your fears, your desires, your strange imperfect self?

Get ready to be all in your feels with We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman.
Edi and Ash have been best friends for over forty years, and when Edi is diagnosed with terminal cancer and put into hospice care, Ash's life is reshaped.

Catherine Newman has managed to write a book that is both sad and funny, and we highly recommend this read. Buddy read with your best friend and make sure to have a good cry and hug after.

On a happier note, do stay till the end of the episode for a very exciting announcement! You don't want to miss it ;)

Cheers!

We're talking to Malaysian author Shivani Sivagurunathan on her book, What Has Happened to Harry Pillai? in this episode.

Shivani Sivagurunathan has been writing and publishing fiction and poetry for twenty years. She is an English professor at the University of Nottingham Malaysia and fun fact, she was Diana's professor when she was persuing her Masters!

What Has Happened to Harry Pillai? consists of two novellas and we got the opportunity to talk to Shivani about the two stories and all the juicy details.

If you'd like to hear Shivani live, Lit Books is having an author event with her on the 25th of March 2023 at 8pm and you can get your tickets here: Shivani Sivagurunathan Author Event at Lit Books

Enjoy the episode!