White Turtle

by Merlinda Bobis

Alternately mythic, wistful, and quirky, this short story anthology resonates with an original and confident storytelling voice. An anomalous kiss, a white turtle ferrying the dreams of the dead, a working siesta in a five-star hotel, a woman’s 12-meter hair trawling corpses from a river, and a queue of longings in Sydney: these are some of the subjects of the 23 enigmatic tales brimming with chance and hope.

Genres: Fiction, Asia

189 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Merlinda Bobis is an award-winning contemporary Philippine-Australian writer who has had 4 novels, 6 poetry books and a collection of short stories published, and 10 dramatic works performed. For her, ‘Writing visits like grace. Its greatest gift is the comfort if not the joy of transformation. In an inspired moment, we almost believe that anguish can be made bearable and injustice can be overturned, because they can be named. And if we’re lucky, joy can even be multiplied a hundredfold, so we may have reserves in the cupboard for the lean times.’

Born in Tabaco in the Philippines province of Albay, Merlinda Bobis attended Bicol University High School then completed her B.A. at Aquinas University in Legazpi City. She holds post-graduate degrees from the University of Santo Tomas and University of Wollongong where she taught Creative Writing for 21 years. She now lives and writes on Ngunnawal land (Canberra, Australia).

Her literary awards include the 2016 Christina Stead Prize for Fiction NSW Premier's Literary Award for her novel 'Locust Girl. A Lovesong'; three Philippine National Books Awards (2016: 'Locust Girl', 2014: 'Fish-Hair Woman', 2000: 'White Turtle'); 2013 MUBA: 'Fish-Hair Woman'; 2000 Steele Rudd Award for the Best Published Collection of Australian Short Stories: 'White Turtle'; 2006 Philippine National Balagtas Award for her poetry and prose (in English, Filipino and Bikol); 1998 Prix Italia, 1998 Australian Writers' Guild Award and 1995 Ian Reed Radio Drama Prize for her play 'Rita's Lullaby'; three Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards in Literature Poetry Category (2016: Second prize, 1989: Second, 1987: First). Her poetry collection, 'Accidents of Composition' was Highly Commended for the 2018 ACT Book of the Year.

Reviews

[Bill Brydon · Rating 5 out of 5]

notes are visible
"...he felt as if the white turtle had somersaulted into his eyes. That night of the readings, it dived into him again, down to the depth of his irises, as he acted as interpreter. After she sang each scene, he would read his translation. Theirs was a dialogue in two tongues blending and counterpointing. Strange to hear the turtle voice in English, Lola Basyon thought. She rather liked its sound though— I am your cradle rocking your babydreams past anemone; the hundred fingers curling around sleepgurgles passing…"

"There was a faint buzz of praise in the room. Lola Basyon felt the warmth rippling in her stomach then invading her arms, flushing her hands to their fingertips. She abandoned her tapis and lay her hands on the table. “Salamat…maraming salamat…thank you very much.” They saw the white turtle after all, thank God. They’re talking about it now. “Imagine, doing harmonies in her throat.” “It’s like listening to three voices singing. Amazing.” “I’ve never heard anything quite like that before. An unusual way to produce sound, don’t you think so?”

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love her prose. Something filipina and hungry about it. I think that her works have themes of desire and hunger somewhere and I like that because while the Philippines is an abundant country of natural resources we are starved with poverty. Like we appear happy on the outside but we are always craving for more than this wretched life. And so we fly away.

Wait so I'm still your tropical baby trust me ~

On god the triptych has my dramarama sa hapon soul in pieces. Sorry idk if this is because I'm a filipino or I'm just naturally dramatic.

THE WIND WITCH TOLD ME TO EMBRACE THE "I'M CRINGE BUT I'M FREE" MINDSET

[Jhon Gaming]

Its a good turtle

[Chris Farmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am once again mesmerized and swept away in the delicious and often surprising prose of Merlinda Bobis! White Turtle is a collection of stories that washes away the boundaries of imagination!

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

We studied this at university. Lots of magic realism, and an amazing imagination. Really nice author who took the time to provide us with a lecture ... recommended.

[A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would reread again.
What incredible imagination someone can share to the world.