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KAKI LIMA: Pictures and a Story
Kaki Lima is a story inspired by Malek Hue's photographs of five-footways across Malaysia. This work of fiction by Shih-Li Kow is about what happens when a municipal council decides to ban shopkeepers from cluttering the walkways with their goods. The shop owners, with a little help from other urban denizens of varying degrees of respectability, decide to counter this. Unexpected violence ensues, and the lives of all those involved are forever altered.
- GenresFiction
108 pages, Paperback
Published November 15, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 4, 2025
What did I just read? Nice pictures though.
April 13, 2026
this was such a restless and beautiful experience, but I have mixed feelings. on one hand, the vibe is totally my thing. it’s full of life and color, but with a sharp sense of irony. plus, the book quality itself is good, the unique cover and sewn binding are top tier.
i also love that the back of the book lists the exact locations where each photo was taken. it adds such a great layer of context.
on the other hand, it felt way too short. the character names got a bit confusing, and since the timeline is so fragmented, there isn't much of a story to hold onto. not many of the characters really stuck with me, either.
overall, it’s a good read, just wish there was more to it. definitely curious to check out more from this author 🤓
🏷️ POST Santa
🤍 3.7
i also love that the back of the book lists the exact locations where each photo was taken. it adds such a great layer of context.
on the other hand, it felt way too short. the character names got a bit confusing, and since the timeline is so fragmented, there isn't much of a story to hold onto. not many of the characters really stuck with me, either.
overall, it’s a good read, just wish there was more to it. definitely curious to check out more from this author 🤓
🏷️ POST Santa
🤍 3.7
January 29, 2025
First book of the year!! What an amazing read! Malek is a talented photographer and the stories accompanying the pictures are just mindblowing!!! Shih Li is such a slay! How would one connect the pics and and came up with one truly kaki-lima Malaysian story???
I read this together with my friend and it was just an amazing reading date!!
I read this together with my friend and it was just an amazing reading date!!
May 21, 2026
The narrative is such a great fit with the photos. Let me just find the words to describe my fascination with the story that revolves around walkways, the economic activities in it and the characters who run it, and use it. Enjoyed this book!
January 30, 2025
The photographs were gorgeous and were reminiscent of small town Malaysia in yesteryears. Malek Hue is truly a talented photographer.
The story, beautifully conveyed by the Shih-Li Kow, is a simple tale with layers of meaning and depth. When a local council decides to disallow trade along the five foot way of shops the impact on the local traders and how the situation progresses is the crux of the story.
I really enjoyed reading this.
The story, beautifully conveyed by the Shih-Li Kow, is a simple tale with layers of meaning and depth. When a local council decides to disallow trade along the five foot way of shops the impact on the local traders and how the situation progresses is the crux of the story.
I really enjoyed reading this.
January 1, 2025
Produced an interview about the story behind the book with Shih-Li and Malek Hue!
You can listen to it right here on BFM.
You can listen to it right here on BFM.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews