Bitter-Sweet Harvest

Malay Quadrilogy

by Chan Ling Yap

When An Mei fell in love with Hussein, she could not have foreseen the tragic events that were to follow. Set in Malaysia emerging from the outbreak of racial conflict in 1969, Bitter-Sweet Harvest tells of the difficulties and tensions involved in a marriage between a Malay Muslim and a Chinese Christian. Atmospheric, dramatic, action-packed and intriguing, this is a spell-binding journey through contrasting cultures: from the learned spires of Oxford in England to the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia; from vibrant Singapore to Catholic Rome and developing Indonesia. Bitter-Sweet Harvest is the sequel to the novel Sweet Offerings. The stories can be read in any order and are complete in themselves.

Genres: Fiction, Asian Literature

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Chan Ling Yap (Yap Chan Ling when in Asia) was born in Kuala Lumpur. She was educated in Malaysia and subsequently in England where she obtained a PhD in Economics. She lectured at the University of Malaya before joining the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome where she worked for nearly two decades. She now lives in the UK with her husband and family. For more information visit www.chanlingyap.com and http://www.thesundaily.my/news/386907
http://thesun-epaper.com/wed/23052012...

Reviews

[elise · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75*

[Johan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outstanding! I was captivated by Chan Ling Yap's 'Bitter-Sweet Harvest'. In the immediate afterglow of contentment, I think I enjoyed this novel even more than 'Sweet Offerings', which I also rated highly. The author succeeds admirably in evoking an emotional response from the reader for a young and educated Chinese girl, An Mei, against the backdrop of racial tensions that has rocked Malaysia during turbulent times in its history - and remains topical even today! The accomplished author seamlessly integrates cultural insights into An Mei's tale and transports the reader into the heart of iconic cities like Rome, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. My only criticism? Could An Mei not have slapped the haughty Datin somewhere in the story - even if only once! Apologies, that is the gweilo in me, but an indication of the depth of my emotional involvement in An Mei's trials and tribulations. An excellent read and I look forward to Chan Ling Yap's next book!

[Izuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel yang berlatarkan selepas peristiwa 13 Mei 1969 yang memberi sedikit gambaran tentang keadaan masyarakat pada ketika itu. Tema utama novel ini adalah perkawinan campur. Novel ini adalah sebuah novel yang merakamkan tentang kisah cinta sepasang kekasih yang berlainan bangsa, budaya dan agama: lelaki berbangsa Melayu anak kepada golongan elit atau bangsawan dengan wanita berbangsa cina, anak kepada peniaga yang akhirnya membawa kepada perkahwinan dan kemudiannya bercerai. Sebuah novel yang sarat dengan paparan konflik. Konflik penerimaan, konflik keluarga dan konflik diri.
Buku ini pada pandangan aku, cuba menggetengahkan pandangan dan gaya permikiran kedua-dua bangsa(Melayu & Cina) terhadap sesuatu isu.

[Sometimes IRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where are all my makjang lovers? Because this is the book for you.

Bitter-Sweet Harvest is the second standalone novel in Chan Ling Yap’s Malay Quadrilogy, with the first being Sweet Offerings which I read in June. The books do read independently of each other but do follow the same Malaysian Chinese family. In this book, the focus is on An Mei, an Oxford educated Malaysian Chinese, who falls in love with Hussein, a Malaysian Malay from a prominent family. Will the star-crossed lovers be able to overcome the obstacles in their way amidst the wider backdrop of racial conflict in Malaysia?

This book could definitely have delved deep into the complex issues of race, religion, and politics. However, Yap chooses the soap opera route, resulting in a story that is entertaining fluff. We have elopements, house prisoners, and obviously bad guys, just to name a few. If you start getting outrageous plot point vibes, you are absolutely right. Yet, Yap keeps things enjoyable with tight writing and characters that one can’t help but root for. I never thought myself as a makjang fan but this was still fun for me. Makjang lite perhaps.

One thing that kept niggling at the back of my head as I read was how one-sided the story was. Although characters from either side of the pairing have their turn at narration, yet it is the Chinese side that is given more characterization and sympathy. By conflating the Malay side with typically negative viewed themes of corruption, opulence, and politicking, it was hard to ignore Yap’s views. Even the question of religion felt more like a negative rendering of Islam, with it being the only featuring religion in the mix despite An Mei supposedly Christian. Where are the Bible-toting men quoting 2 Corinthians and ladies whispering in hushed tones that they would pray for you? It might have been more believable if she were atheist and I would definitely have enjoyed a more nuanced approach to the matter.

Still, like any makjang, as long as one doesn’t squint too hard, the plot zips along quite nicely. I would definitely categorize this read as a guilty pleasure read, when one just wants to switch off one’s brain and read something fluffy, the book version of a k-drama binge.

Diversity meter:
Malaysian Chinese characters

[Desca Ang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is taken from my Instagram: @descanto

Brava 👏🏻

My heart was all captured by Chan Ling Yap's 'Bitter-Sweet Harvest'. This is the second novel after Sweet Offerings - which I also adore. Yap tells a story about An Mei, a young educated Chinese Malaysian girl who experiences living in the UK. During the study, An Mei falls in love with another Malaysian: Hussein and vice versa.

The love obstacles rise because they both come from different background and religions - following the racial riot in Malaysia at its period of time. Both decided to elope to Malaysia and ask Hussein's parents to bless their relationship. Little that they know, it only leads An Mei to another heartache after a heartbreak.

I admire Chan Ling Yap's ability to mix different culture in her story: Singaporean, Indonesian, Malaysian, Chinese, Italian, and British. I think it's fascinating. I also love An Mei's portrayal of character. I wish she slaps Datin, her mother in law when she is being cynical to her. She should know that mother in law can turn into monster in law sometimes. I also wish she will pull Shalimar's hair when she deceives Hussein and traps him into a marriage. And I wish she will choke Hussein's neck till death for staying with the sneaky second wife while An Mei is conceiving their baby.

Ah, I have found a new favourite author from Malaysia. Promise to read more of her books this year.

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[Squilvia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea was there but the author failed to execute it well. The novel also slowly turned into a typical, cliche Malaysian novel that you will find almost everywhere in local bookstores with the family status, love triangle and of course kidnapping crime. The ending was disappointing because the writer just decided ultimately in her book that there's no way interracial marriage will work between Malay and Chinese. She also didn't spend a lot of time describing the whole racial tragedy that happened in Malaysia back in 1969. So the whole racial conflict that happened because of the marriage seems rather bleak. Plus, some of the facts about shariah's law was also wrong. As a Malaysian, I was quite dissapointed with how the story ended with new love interest that has been thrown into the book way too late and just decided to kill off one of the MC by again... Cliche Malaysian's novel death: cancer, just so the story ended there. Also, too much scene break that I can't keep up with who is who and the way the story jump from the same scene over and over is making me crazy.

[Danesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it more than I thought I would. That I actually felt for the characters meant I was emotionally invested. That’s a good thing. Enough in there to make it into a Netflix series.

[Kiran · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautifully written....

[Camy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very keen on reading this book - I am on a mission to increase my readership of asian authors besides my keen interest on British novelists. I was interested in the story and the writing was very descriptive and captured the period of time and certainly a good sense of being on Malaysia and Singapore. I think I just felt that the story could have wrapped up a few more loose ends but then I guess that is left to the read to make the surmises on how the other story lines wrapped up. If I can find a copy of this author's first book I look forward to reading it.

[Soby · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually write longer reviews but I don't have much to say about this book except that it wasn't enjoyable. The historical details were questionable and not at all engrossing, and all the characters were either one-dimensional or impossible to relate to.

I'm giving this two stars mainly because of the happy ending our main character gets.

[Yoni Elina]

Nice ending and fair , after bad discrimination held by Hussein's family . It's very important for An Mei to has her happiness after what she had gone through during her childhood life , She deserved Mark , which was way a better person then Hussein; the sweet talker.

[Kathy Chung · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed at Mama Kucing Books : Bitter-Sweet Harvest by Chan Ling Yap(SPOILER ALERT)

A delightful read

[Sharon Jong · Rating 4 out of 5]

It captivates me the moment I laid my hands on. The story line was mesmerizing, and with an Asian background, I found myself caught in the story line in which I can relate to.