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Floating Petals
From the back page of the print edition:
You can sit by a river all day long just to watch what the current carries past. Depending on the day and where you live, it could be small boats with fishermen, young children on inner tubes, paper lanterns lit by candles, or bodies. And the only thing they will have in common is the river itself. The same is true of these stories. They range from a first day at school, to running away from home, to the breaking of feet, to the death of a husband still alive. And all they have in common is me, and what flowed through my mind on the day I wrote them.
You can sit by a river all day long just to watch what the current carries past. Depending on the day and where you live, it could be small boats with fishermen, young children on inner tubes, paper lanterns lit by candles, or bodies. And the only thing they will have in common is the river itself. The same is true of these stories. They range from a first day at school, to running away from home, to the breaking of feet, to the death of a husband still alive. And all they have in common is me, and what flowed through my mind on the day I wrote them.
121 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 14, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 22, 2017
I HAD Leela Devi Panikar’s “Floating Petals” lying in my library for 10 months. I was thinking Leela’s book to be a run-off-the-mill stuff, so I wasn’t giving it much importance. However, towards the beginning of this month I thought I shouldn’t be jumping to conclusions, so I picked it up and started reading it. Right at the beginning of the book I found Leela’s entry to the BBC World “My Hometown” 200-word writing competition. One reading it I realized what a stupendous writer Leela is. There was no stopping me now from reading the book from front cover to back cover. One more thing: Leela had won the BBC writing competition.
“Floating Petals” is a book containing 14 short stories, each more beautiful than the other.
Hip author Leela.
“A Piece of Bread” is a lovely story about a girl’s first day at school. She is only interested in reading. She has probably learnt to read at home while waiting two years for school to reopen during the Japanese occupation. I am not sure but it could be a story about Leela’s childhood itself.
She is a brave and determined girl as, while most of the other students are crying or feeling morose, she is the only one who wants to read. Ironically, the first day of school is disappointing for her as there is no reading but only the eating of bread and butter.
A baby sucks a mango.
Here is the first sentence followed by the first paragraph from the story:
“Now I am tall.
“I lean over the sink as I suck on a large yellow mango stone. There are bits of mango flesh around my mouth and on my cheeks. Mango juice runs in rivulets down my chin and drips into the sink. Ugh! Now it runs down my arm and drips off my elbow.”
The difference between free and enslaved feet in the China of bygone days.
“Floating petals” is a cutting-edge story about a Chinese woman with four-inch feet. Here short feet are supposed to be a sign of beauty. In reality, babies in China during the 18th and 19th century had their feet tightly wrapped with a bandage so that they would not grow. Once they were married, it would be impossible for them to run away from home. In fact, they would be walking extremely slowly taking short baby-like steps. This tradition was carried out as women could not be trusted, not in the least bit.
“The woman rubbed Ma-ling’s feet with ground almond and frankincense and a generous amount of alum. She bound her feet with strips of wet cotton back and forth in a figure of eight, curling her toes back to the soles of her feet.”
It is a melancholic but beautiful story.
Chinese female mourners in hooded dresses.
The last story “After the Wedding” is absolutely beautiful and extremely touching. It is the story about an illiterate farm girl, Wenli, who gets married to a city man. Her husband hardly ever speaks to her. All of Wenli’s desires and wishes seem to have been crushed after marriage.
Here is an excerpt from the story: “Handfuls of perforated paper were thrown into the breeze to frighten away the spirits. After the funeral, the mourners were given red packets of money for good luck. Attending a funeral was an act of courage and they were rewarded.”
Howrah Station (West Bengal, India) circa early 1960s.
In “At the Railway Station”, Leela witnesses pin-drop silence when she arrives there at dawn. It could be any station in India. Soon with the emergence of light, a quick transformation is seen at the station with the hustle and bustle of passengers, rushing of porters (who are called coolies in the subcontinent), and the opening of shops. There is a beggar child too who overwhelms Leela with melancholia.
“Running Away” is a fabulous story about a girl who runs away from home as a blind woman, whom she took care of once, had told her that she would love her to stay with her. The day she runs away she is so excited that she even forgets to wear her shoes. However, running away is not as good as it seemed at first, as she misses her parents, her Mom’s cooking, and the fish her mother cooked which she earlier had found to be extremely smelly.
The long migration of the sparrow occurs in the dark, with only the stars and an imprint in the brain to guide them.
“Homeless Sparrow” is the story of a sparrow who has been guided by his mother to fly far away in search of a new home when their much-loved habitat has been destroyed. “The Shadow” is unique with the story being narrated by the shadow of a person. “Love is All You Need” is one of my favourite stories in the book, so read it and find what it is all about. “The Couple” is about a ghost couple who visit their home (which has been reoccupied), the terrace of an office building, and a disco just below the terrace where they dance on the strobe-lighted floor with many living couples.
Have you ever read a story where one of the planets or one of the stars is the narrator? Well, "Moon" is just that. She travels to earth and a man falls in love with her.
The book is highly recommended for all those who love reading fiction. Each of Leela's short stories is amazing in its own way. I must also add here that her English is top-notch and her creative writing is superb. Her stories are full of alliterations. She uses simple language which even a layman reader will be able to understand.
If you don't read "Floating Petals", you will truly be missing a beautiful work of art.
“Floating Petals” is a book containing 14 short stories, each more beautiful than the other.
Hip author Leela.
“A Piece of Bread” is a lovely story about a girl’s first day at school. She is only interested in reading. She has probably learnt to read at home while waiting two years for school to reopen during the Japanese occupation. I am not sure but it could be a story about Leela’s childhood itself.
She is a brave and determined girl as, while most of the other students are crying or feeling morose, she is the only one who wants to read. Ironically, the first day of school is disappointing for her as there is no reading but only the eating of bread and butter.
A baby sucks a mango.
Here is the first sentence followed by the first paragraph from the story:
“Now I am tall.
“I lean over the sink as I suck on a large yellow mango stone. There are bits of mango flesh around my mouth and on my cheeks. Mango juice runs in rivulets down my chin and drips into the sink. Ugh! Now it runs down my arm and drips off my elbow.”
The difference between free and enslaved feet in the China of bygone days.
“Floating petals” is a cutting-edge story about a Chinese woman with four-inch feet. Here short feet are supposed to be a sign of beauty. In reality, babies in China during the 18th and 19th century had their feet tightly wrapped with a bandage so that they would not grow. Once they were married, it would be impossible for them to run away from home. In fact, they would be walking extremely slowly taking short baby-like steps. This tradition was carried out as women could not be trusted, not in the least bit.
“The woman rubbed Ma-ling’s feet with ground almond and frankincense and a generous amount of alum. She bound her feet with strips of wet cotton back and forth in a figure of eight, curling her toes back to the soles of her feet.”
It is a melancholic but beautiful story.
Chinese female mourners in hooded dresses.
The last story “After the Wedding” is absolutely beautiful and extremely touching. It is the story about an illiterate farm girl, Wenli, who gets married to a city man. Her husband hardly ever speaks to her. All of Wenli’s desires and wishes seem to have been crushed after marriage.
Here is an excerpt from the story: “Handfuls of perforated paper were thrown into the breeze to frighten away the spirits. After the funeral, the mourners were given red packets of money for good luck. Attending a funeral was an act of courage and they were rewarded.”
Howrah Station (West Bengal, India) circa early 1960s.
In “At the Railway Station”, Leela witnesses pin-drop silence when she arrives there at dawn. It could be any station in India. Soon with the emergence of light, a quick transformation is seen at the station with the hustle and bustle of passengers, rushing of porters (who are called coolies in the subcontinent), and the opening of shops. There is a beggar child too who overwhelms Leela with melancholia.
“Running Away” is a fabulous story about a girl who runs away from home as a blind woman, whom she took care of once, had told her that she would love her to stay with her. The day she runs away she is so excited that she even forgets to wear her shoes. However, running away is not as good as it seemed at first, as she misses her parents, her Mom’s cooking, and the fish her mother cooked which she earlier had found to be extremely smelly.
The long migration of the sparrow occurs in the dark, with only the stars and an imprint in the brain to guide them.
“Homeless Sparrow” is the story of a sparrow who has been guided by his mother to fly far away in search of a new home when their much-loved habitat has been destroyed. “The Shadow” is unique with the story being narrated by the shadow of a person. “Love is All You Need” is one of my favourite stories in the book, so read it and find what it is all about. “The Couple” is about a ghost couple who visit their home (which has been reoccupied), the terrace of an office building, and a disco just below the terrace where they dance on the strobe-lighted floor with many living couples.
Have you ever read a story where one of the planets or one of the stars is the narrator? Well, "Moon" is just that. She travels to earth and a man falls in love with her.
The book is highly recommended for all those who love reading fiction. Each of Leela's short stories is amazing in its own way. I must also add here that her English is top-notch and her creative writing is superb. Her stories are full of alliterations. She uses simple language which even a layman reader will be able to understand.
If you don't read "Floating Petals", you will truly be missing a beautiful work of art.
December 15, 2025
This book is amazing. It has amazing stories like 'A Piece of Bread' covering the Japanese occupation. Personally, to anybody who would like touching, incredible tales, this book is perfect for you.
December 31, 2024
such a good story to end the year xox a few short stories with the use of amazing metaphors during each story ❤️
July 26, 2018
I enjoyed this collection of 14 short stories by Leela. The stories are based in Hong Kong and Malaysia, two countries where the author has lived. They are eerie, haunting, bordering on the macabre and weird, but also insightful and complex.
Leela is a keen observer of the details of other people’s lives, of human interactions, their wants, needs and fears - making her a great literary writer and a rare gem in the Malaysian writing scene. Her prose is tight and succinct, setting the pace of her stories which move along very quickly. The stories are really short, some are only 5 pages long and the longest is at 25 pages.
At the start of the book, you’ll find that she was the winner of the BBC World “My Hometown” writing competition, where she writes about coming back to Penang. I enjoyed her stories of Hong Kong more than Malaysia, perhaps because I am Malaysian and prefer to be transported abroad when I read fiction.
The story that really stood out for me is the only one in the collection with an element of horror and the supernatural. The Singeing Shadow is about an ordinary couple in Hong Kong protecting their newborn from a baby-eating monster. The premise may not sound very complex, but it’s the way she tells the story, building up the suspense and leaving you with a lingering sense of horror at the end.
I highly recommend this collection to anyone looking to dip into the lives of Hong Kongers and Malaysians or looking for a great read from this part of the world.
Leela is a keen observer of the details of other people’s lives, of human interactions, their wants, needs and fears - making her a great literary writer and a rare gem in the Malaysian writing scene. Her prose is tight and succinct, setting the pace of her stories which move along very quickly. The stories are really short, some are only 5 pages long and the longest is at 25 pages.
At the start of the book, you’ll find that she was the winner of the BBC World “My Hometown” writing competition, where she writes about coming back to Penang. I enjoyed her stories of Hong Kong more than Malaysia, perhaps because I am Malaysian and prefer to be transported abroad when I read fiction.
The story that really stood out for me is the only one in the collection with an element of horror and the supernatural. The Singeing Shadow is about an ordinary couple in Hong Kong protecting their newborn from a baby-eating monster. The premise may not sound very complex, but it’s the way she tells the story, building up the suspense and leaving you with a lingering sense of horror at the end.
I highly recommend this collection to anyone looking to dip into the lives of Hong Kongers and Malaysians or looking for a great read from this part of the world.
March 5, 2018
Floating Petals is an eclectic mix of short stories. Shifting from slice-of-life to horror, to the almost fantastical, you're never quite sure what you'll be getting next. Despite its dreamlike title, Floating Petals isn't quite a happy book: the 14 stories contained here mostly touch on dark themes, whether its the cruelty of bound feet, unhappy marriages, murder, or death.
Actually, death features quite a lot.
Leela's prose is tight, economical. There's a strong sense of place, whether the story wanders through Hong Kong (where she first published this book) or Malaysia (where she grew up), in the city or out in rural farmlands. Having lived in various countries, she scatters her prose with Cantonese phrases, Indian terms and Malaysian sensibilities, making it a wonderful window into life on this side of the world.
Actually, death features quite a lot.
Leela's prose is tight, economical. There's a strong sense of place, whether the story wanders through Hong Kong (where she first published this book) or Malaysia (where she grew up), in the city or out in rural farmlands. Having lived in various countries, she scatters her prose with Cantonese phrases, Indian terms and Malaysian sensibilities, making it a wonderful window into life on this side of the world.
July 28, 2018
Love the “short” short stories...easy fun read but none of the stories made an impact on me
December 11, 2013
I reread Floating Petals in order to write this review and enjoyed it just as much the second time as I had done the first. The story which shares its name with the title of the book remains my favourite. 'Floating Petals' is about Ma-Ling, an older Chinese woman, who refuses to have her feet amputated despite warning from the doctor that the gangrene may kill her.
The last scent of blossoms was still in the air. She was five when her mother and the servants gathered around her on the east terrace, close to the Kwan Yin altar. On the altar, among the offerings of dumplings, fruit and flowers, joss sticks and candles, was a very special item - a pair of hand-embroidered red satin shoes. (p.10)
Leela Devi Panikar is a gifted storyteller with the ability to create and transport us into different worlds, whether they be other countries, other relationships or even other realities. She does this with apparent ease as her prose flows gently and beautifully. Some of her stories are sad, some are humourous, but what they have in common is that they are all deeply human - even 'Moon' which is based around the moon travelling to the earth - and evoke strong emotions.
I would highly recommend this to any lover of stories, short or long.
The last scent of blossoms was still in the air. She was five when her mother and the servants gathered around her on the east terrace, close to the Kwan Yin altar. On the altar, among the offerings of dumplings, fruit and flowers, joss sticks and candles, was a very special item - a pair of hand-embroidered red satin shoes. (p.10)
Leela Devi Panikar is a gifted storyteller with the ability to create and transport us into different worlds, whether they be other countries, other relationships or even other realities. She does this with apparent ease as her prose flows gently and beautifully. Some of her stories are sad, some are humourous, but what they have in common is that they are all deeply human - even 'Moon' which is based around the moon travelling to the earth - and evoke strong emotions.
I would highly recommend this to any lover of stories, short or long.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews