Social

ká-sióng #4

by Lamulu Pakawyan, Wen-chi Li (Translator), Colin Bramwell (Translator)

A woman has fallen off the roof of her house in what was either a drunken accident or an attempted suicide and now lies in a coma. Over the course of the next seven days, the unnamed narrator watches over her while tracking the comments the incident has attracted online.

Genres: Short Stories

30 pages, Paperback

Published November 30, 2024

Reviews

[Heidi ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfection. The topics of online and indigenous identity were explored with such nuance and precision and the framing device was perfect for this short form. Loved this book.

[Lilia Colledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Social is an exploration of the complex identity of oneself, being torn between culture and gender. Pakawyan’s interrogation of appearance, as a defining element of our identity, creates a tension that permeates the story as the main character desperately paints and morphs her features until she becomes someone else. Continually, Pakawyan plays with the idea of silence, and how taking the voice of someone can be the catalyst to a loss of identity. Our main character is repeatedly overridden by the voices of others, to the point of readers never hearing her own words, but only snippets of carefully crafted social media posts. In this sense, we are only given the image of her that she intended, until we too are as lost as her about who she really was. Poignantly, Pakawyan’s description of the main character’s suicide and coma demonstrates how a struggling with self-identification in the face of expectation, of family, friends and society, can isolate oneself on the cusp of humanity, to the detriment of others. I’d highly recommend this read, especially in light of current events detailing a decline in people’s mental health due to social media and the ridicule of society. 

[jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

social is a fresh yet scarily relevant take on identity, which is pieced together by fragments rooted in culture, gender, and all sorts of norms. so when those different parts are in conflict, it can lead to a loss of one’s sense of self.

in hopes of remedying that, the main character turns to the internet to seek support and clarity, but the internet is a centrifuge–things spin out of narrative and get twisted within seconds. one’s voice get buried under the cacophony of posts and comments, majority of them from strangers. all of this can snowball and drive someone over the edge, just like it did for the protagonist of this book.

given that pakawyan is taiwanese, social reflected an honest account of generational asian familial relations and traditional norms. it depicted how it feels to defy your elders whom you still deeply respect. how draining it is to express your thoughts and feelings that you know they will disapprove. how it’s a balancing act to stay connected to your culture while keeping up with the progressing times. so as an asian myself, and although i have never experienced to the extent of what the main character faced, i could effortlessly symphatise. social hit quite close to home, and i thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Social by Lamulu Pakawyan explores the heart-breaking journey of a young woman’s determination to place and cultivate her identity not only within her indigenous community by also within herself. Returning home to immerse herself within her native tribe, she is faced with overwhelming disregard from her family, who have exchanged local traditions for Christianity, and a backlash online relating to posts concerning her understanding of indigenous identity. Her gender and sexuality also come under fire as she deviates from expectations; dressing and acting in ways often regarded as non-feminine and falling in love with woman. Receiving little support from her family and a facing the constant battle of trying to prove her place within her tribe, she is faced with the constant strain of bailing out her brother from jail whilst struck with the decision that her family home will be left to him rather than her.
This tragic story revolving around identity crisis speaks volumes about the battle many young people face in a fast-paced and constantly changing modern world. What makes someone indigenous? Can you lose your indigenous identity? Are past traditions better off left within the past? These are but some of the many questions explored, ending, or beginning, with the tragic fall of a woman searching for answers.

[Elena L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

[ 4.5/5 stars ]

In SOCIAL (Lamulu Pakawyan), a project director jumps from her bedroom window and she is now in coma. In the tribal culture, the story offers a glimpse of those who leave x who stay and this is a searing examination of the dangers of social media, meaning of indigeneity, belonging and the association between language and identity. Delivering much to mull over, this is personally a favorite.

[ I received a complimentary copy from the publisher - Strangers Press . All thoughts are my own ]

[Zuzaꕥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A one big wow. It left me speechless