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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 30, 2020
This 2017 National Literature Award winner portrays the life of a Myanmar migrant worker in Malaysia.
"A-Hsoe" possibly went to work in Malaysia in the old system when the government allowed Malaysian recruitment agents to play as the employer. That is to say, the worker cannot receive salary from the employer, rather from the agent. So, the agent held all the power. When the wages are being withheld, Myanmar workers decided to protest. But, the agent-guy has many methods to threaten and silence opposing workers including with the use of gangsters. One thing led to another and the protagonist ended up being an undocumented ("overstayed") worker. During this time, he experienced unexpected hostility from fellow countrymen. He found solace and camaraderie in hopeless places.
Generally being a depressing story, it paints the picture of many migrant workers' lives. I have met and talked with hundred of migrant workers but only under certain frameworks. This book showed all the other personal aspects of migrant worker and helped me sympathize with them even more. I guess this is how fiction works. Migration is and will still be a big part of our country and in Southeast Asia. It is good to have voices of workers are heard in fictional works too. I will definitely try to read more books of this writer on migrant workers' lives.
"A-Hsoe" possibly went to work in Malaysia in the old system when the government allowed Malaysian recruitment agents to play as the employer. That is to say, the worker cannot receive salary from the employer, rather from the agent. So, the agent held all the power. When the wages are being withheld, Myanmar workers decided to protest. But, the agent-guy has many methods to threaten and silence opposing workers including with the use of gangsters. One thing led to another and the protagonist ended up being an undocumented ("overstayed") worker. During this time, he experienced unexpected hostility from fellow countrymen. He found solace and camaraderie in hopeless places.
Generally being a depressing story, it paints the picture of many migrant workers' lives. I have met and talked with hundred of migrant workers but only under certain frameworks. This book showed all the other personal aspects of migrant worker and helped me sympathize with them even more. I guess this is how fiction works. Migration is and will still be a big part of our country and in Southeast Asia. It is good to have voices of workers are heard in fictional works too. I will definitely try to read more books of this writer on migrant workers' lives.
December 4, 2020
Happened to pick this book because its cover said 2017’s National Literature Award winner for novel. It was a quick read and I finished it one sitting but a painful one.
The story is about the life of a Myanmar immigrant worker in Malaysia and his struggles. I’ve heard stories about it but bits and pieces only. Never in detail like this.
Expecting something good will come at one page turn yet only to find another barrier to his road to success or freedom. I like almost everything about it except a couple of lines in there. 3.9 of 5 I’d rate.
The story is about the life of a Myanmar immigrant worker in Malaysia and his struggles. I’ve heard stories about it but bits and pieces only. Never in detail like this.
Expecting something good will come at one page turn yet only to find another barrier to his road to success or freedom. I like almost everything about it except a couple of lines in there. 3.9 of 5 I’d rate.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews