Ripples and Other Stories

by Shih-Li Kow

25 wonderful stories full of wit and charm from Chinese-Malaysian writer Sih-Li Kow, Shortlisted for the 2009 Frank O'Connor Short Story Award.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction, The World, Asia

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 28, 2011

Reviews

[Faizah Roslaini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selalunya saya takut untuk baca tulisan penulis-penulis Malaysia dalam Bahasa Inggeris. Acapkali saya menganggap mereka representasi kepada elit Malaysia yang bourgeois lagi kaya-raya, yang kemungkinan besar cuma menulis tentang first world problem mereka. Dan saya takkan minta maaf untuk beranggapan macam itu.

Ripples, syukur pada Tuhan bukan saja fasal first world problem. Cerita-ceritanya merentas kelas, bangsa dan jantina dalam masyarakat. Walaubagaimanapun, cerita-cerita dari golongan marhaen (pekerja kilang, orang gaji Indonesia), pada saya masih belum cukup convincing. Cerita-cerita yang melekat dalam kotak fikir saya pula banyak bertemakan the good old days Malaysiana. Kalau tuan/puan ada membaca Preeta Samarasan, Evening is the Whole Day, mungkin boleh dikesan persamaannya di situ.

Shih-Li Kow menulis dengan elok, sepertimana yang boleh diharapkan dari Silverfish, dan berjaya menancapkan perhatian bila-bila saya membacanya (tapi sudah lumrah saya ini membaca serupa siput.). Ada juga cerita-ceritanya yang pendek-pendek saja tapi ada bisa. Ini saya suka sebab ia menunjukkan kemahiran menulis yang tinggi.

Ripples memang boleh baca, dan mungkin ada yang seronok membacanya tapi kalau anda terkesan dengan perubahan politik, ekonomi dan sosial masyarakat sekarang mungkin akan ada suatu rasa mual membaca satu dua ceritanya.

[Freddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an unapologetic and eclectic collection of Malaysiana stories, largely about the ordinary and the mundane. Not only aee the individual stories fun to read, but the stories are interconnected and I enjoy finding the threads that connect different stories together. The collection lacks the superficial edginess and sugarcoating that typically makes Malaysiana cloying or seem trying too hard.

[Anna Tan · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to say what I really think of this.

On one hand, I'm not a huge fan of this kind of writing. By themselves, each short story seems to be a rather banal slice of life that doesn't quite lead anywhere. There's some drama in a few of them, but in a majority of the stories, it's just a thing that happened, something that's being told; there's no inherent conflict, no quick emotional hit that we tend to look for in a short story. This thing happened, so-and-so said something, the end.

And yet, there is a certain something about the way Kow weaves the compilation together, centred around a few key characters and their families. Each person's actions, each person's story creates ripples that affect the next. The POVs shift, identities are sometimes unclear. Despite the utter normalcy and banality, there's a lingering mystery that draws the reader to want to go back and read it again to figure out where the interconnections are made, where the ripples were formed and how far they stretched. Did this thing referenced in this story really...? Is this the same person that...?

The language is fluid and beautiful; it's not the stiltedly polished English we tend to get in Malaysian literature (can you tell I'm jaded yet?). Instead, it's a true reflection of our tongues and inflections, the mix of languages that make up our everyday lives.

Ripples and Other Stories is unapologetically Malaysian in setting and in tone and definitely deserves a closer read.

[Shannon (That's So Poe) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like short story collections, you need to pick this up! I adored all the interconnected stories in here, especially with their dark humor, fabulism, and focus on Malaysian culture & issues. I discussed this book in depth with Freddie @ Sluggish Reader in a video discussion, so check that out if you want to hear more about what made us love this collection so much.

Content Warnings:
death, suicide, murder, violence, gore, sexual abuse, child physical/sexual abuse

[Wan Phing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the Fixi Novo edition of this short story collection and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Especially enjoyed that the characters are loosely linked; they are like Easter eggs and that's what kept me wanting to read the next story, to find out which character the author is going to expound on.

The first edition was published in 2008, so it's quite funny to read about how much things cost in the stories. But so little has changed as well in the Malaysian landscape, with common themes & problems still faced, like parental expectations, family dramas, migrant workers, corruption, racial politics, education etc.

There are 25 stories in total and one or two are in the sci-fi, fantasy realm. The rest are realist and rooted in the everyday, contemporary Malaysian life. A few are set in post-Merdeka 60's and one even describes the 1969 racial riots.

I read the author's latest collection 'Bone Weight' which is along the same veins as this one, 'Ripples'. But the stories that stuck out in 'Ripples' the ones written about city people with city problems. One is about art and idealism ("The Apprentice"), another is a cruel one about the workplace and its big-shot CEO ("Seeking Frangipani"). "Night Shift Blues" is insightful in the factory-technical kind of way and "Precious Things" is about a city girl going into an antique shop in a small town.

Needless to say the prose is beautiful, incisive and terse. 5 stars for this collection, and I know I will always enjoy any of Shih-Li Kow's works.

[Tyas · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the last few years, I've been thinking how, as an Indonesian, I know so little about our neighbouring countries. Sure, I've been to a handful of them on holidays, but what do I really know about them? About their people? How they think, how they go about their everyday lives? Why do I seem to have learnt a lot more about countries that have next to nothing of direct connection with me (arguably), such as the United States or the UK? Hence I've been interested in reading more works of Southeast Asian writers, even though it has to be in English as, again funny when you think about it, I know more about this language from a faraway country than the language of my neighbouring nations. That's why I was happy to see an indie bookstore in Jakarta had stock of Shih-Li Kow's books.

I really enjoyed this compilation of short stories - diverse in characters and even writing styles, sometimes banal, sometimes fantastic - as it opened new windows to the Malaysian experience. Many aspects of the Malaysian life feel relatable to me, but at the same time, new things abound for me. For example: I hadn't known before about the Malaysian racial riots in 1969. But when I read the short story that related the time period, I nodded in understanding how it must have been like, having lived through the 1998 riots. I'm looking forward to read more from Shih-Li Kow and other SEA writers, imagining that by doing so I'm doing handshake with fellow SEAns across time and space.

[Gianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learnt of Shih-Li Kow from a short story of hers called 'Golden Boys' and was taken in by the casual observation of problematic behaviours (in Malaysia). There were no judgment and merely a telling of a story, which led me to seek out more of her works.

As an unabashedly Malaysian book, I enjoyed it a lot in its unpretentiousness; as other reviewers have mentioned, the interlinking stories made everything more fascinating - perhaps it reminds me a bit of how learning about your neighbours' lives fleshes them out more as people with depth.

There were a story or two where I don't see how it fits into the rest of the book, and a few where I wished could be continued. While also entertaining, it had the same unflinching observation of ordinary lives here as it had in 'Golden Boys' and coming from the same culture, it was relatable and quite familiar. I'm particularly drawn to her portrayal of women; how they navigate cultural expectations albeit it's often not questioned, but seeds of discontent were felt.

Looking forward to reading more of her writings.

[Ismim Putera · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, I like the author's creativity in "linking" the characters from the previous story to the next one, thus shifting reader's perspective from one point to another. Characters & story arcs are well developed using overt descriptive terms and phrases. I like Deep Fried Devils, The Courting of Cik Zahirah & Dividing Walls. Some stories are difficult to finish in a day and the rest are just fine.

[Kathy Chung · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like 95% of the short stories in this book. Mostly about irony of life and each story somehow inter-related to others in the book. Some have unexpected twist. Love Dividing Wall, A Gift of Flowers, Private Tuition and A Woman's Work . But I don't understand Hungry in Guangzhou and Into Grandma Pathy. Too deep for me.

Because of this book, I have purchased 2 more books from the same author. Hopefully it will be just as good.

Overall, this book is for keeps.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lot of interesting stories with memorable characters.
My personal favourites: The Courting of Cik Zahirah, The Prize, Seeking Frangipani, Precious Things, Distraction, the brilliant A Gift of Flowers, Reunion, Lies Don't Die, Let The Bird Sing, Ripples, Night Shift Blues, Know My Name (another memorable piece, in my personal opinion).
There's something for everyone.
Read it. You won't regret it.

[frhh · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read this right after the Bone Weight collection. I love the writer's style. I don't know how to describe it but she has it, she knows things hahaha she knows about our culture the Malays, Indians and Chinese (of course). This collection is more 'Malaysia-based' compared to Bone Weight and Other Stories and makes it special as only Malaysian can relate to them, like the inside joke between us.

[Iryani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this too much. Shih-Li Kow got me thinking what is, what was, and what will be. Not going to lie, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by the amount of self reflection I've exercised while going through Ripples. The stories were told in a way that's provocative yet wholesome. It depicts the colourful fabric of Malaysian society so well. I also adore the occasional supernatural hue dyed in. Highly recommend you give Ripples a go. Excited to read other works from Shih-Li Kow!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ripples - like ripples in water, one small action stirs up another and another, from one person to another, these interconnected stories crossed all levels of society and even the realms of the spiritual. I have not enjoyed a local anthology more than this.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most of these stories are extremely short and some are barely even stories; more like anecdotes which end before they go anywhere. But the cumulative effect is interesting, and some of the later tales in the collection are deeper and more involving

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun and unique collection of short stories. I am not very familiar with Malaysian culture, but this collection explored so many different cultures and types of people, I found it really interesting.

[Quinns Pheh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Amazing.

[Lianaalin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters are somewhat related to each and the book relates the events around their lives.

[Manzil Dhillon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - generally love this format of interlinked short stories. also liked the peculiarity of some stories in otherwise standard settings.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked a few short stories from this book despite it being a slice-of-life genre which is not really my cup of tea

[Justine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of short stories. I'd say about half were semi-hits and the other half were misses.

[Yee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shih-Li Kow is restrained in her use of language, seldom descending into frivolous descriptions for the sake of adding a superficial level of 'character' or 'colour' as quite a few M'sian writers writing in English are wont to do. Although some stories are perhaps more one-dimensional and less consequential there are a number of solid, well-written stories (IMO), such as Seeking Frangipani, Ripples, Know My Name, and Private Tuition.

[Shafinaz Mink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories with a local insight into Malaysian culture. Maybe some of the terms or dialects are less familiar to non-natives. I mean there are things that only a Malaysian would be able to interpret and digest.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for my book project, it is an anthology, consisting different short stories of the Malaysian community. I liked some of the stories, and I liked the fact that they were sorta connected and so many plot-twists.

[Harry Rutherford · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book from Malaysia for the

[afiqah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly brilliant. I love this collection of short stories so, so much.

[Sara J. (kefuwa) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come... wonderful collection of short stories!