Incantations/ Incarcerations

by Bernice Chauly

Incantations/Incarcerations is a rumination on ageing, menopause, losing one's children to the world, climate change, and the slow decline of the body. In this collection, Bernice Chauly will once again chart the unsayable and the confessional, and speak from places where few dare to write from - of the older woman, desire and loneliness, and of the certainty of death. Chauly is one of Malaysia's most forceful contemporary poets, and remains one of the country's most urgent and necessary voices.

Genres: Poetry

63 pages

Published January 1, 2019

About the author

Bernice Chauly is the author of six books of poetry and prose: Once We Were There (2017, Winner of the Penang Monthly Book Prize), Onkalo (2013, “Direct, honest and powerful” —JM Coetzee), Growing Up With Ghosts (2011, Winner of the POPULAR-The Star Readers’ Choice Award for Non-Fiction), The Book of Sins (2008), Lost in KL (2008), and going there and coming back (1997).

Born in George Town, Penang to Chinese-Punjabi teachers, she read Education, TESL and English Literature in Canada as a government scholar. For over 20 years, she has worked extensively in the creative industries as a writer, teacher, photographer, actor and filmmaker and has won multiple awards for her work and her contribution to the arts in Malaysia.

Chauly has served as Festival Director of the George Town Literary Festival since 2011, the only state-funded literary festival in Malaysia. She was also an Honorary Fellow at the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program (IWP) in 2014, and was awarded residencies at the Nederlands Letterenfonds in Amsterdam and the Sitka Island Institute in Sitka, Alaska. She is the founder and Director of the KL Writers Workshop, and currently lectures at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus (UNMC). She lives in Kuala Lumpur with her two daughters.

Reviews

[Elvina Zafril · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first poetry book I read written by this author.

It was beautifully written and all the choice of words I found was amazing. But this book just not for me.

[Iqra M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Look... there's no doubt that Bernice Chauly is a great writer but this book was just not for me.
It was written and curated beautifully, yes. In some ways, it was also somewhat empowering. However, it felt a little too personal for my liking. Reading some of the pages almost felt like I was invading the author's privacy for a second.
I do have a few favourites from the book though. As I said before, this was a great read but it was just not for me. It would be lovely if the pages were accompanied by more beautiful illustrations such as the one on the cover.

Kudos to the author.

[Charissa Ty · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my kinda poems I guess...

[Losh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A confessional poet by nature, I expected nothing less from Bernice. Raw, powerful, honest. Each word is crafted with such precision, I couldn’t wait to keep reading, because every poem brought with it an unreal amount of emotion. Binge read this on my trip home and cannot wait to re-read this over and over again. She’s been referred to as one of the most powerful voices of her generation, and this collection is a testament to just that.

[Harith Zulkifli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Her writing is mystic, mysterious and complex. Beautifully, intricately and eloquently worded in describing the scenes in each line.
Some have deep meaning which I could understand everything, some too deep which I couldn't understand a thing.
Nature, her tales of the past, motherhood and the struggles thereof, are the focus of this book.
I like the honesty, brutality of the truths and how it is personal in nature, of what has been shared.
Though the book doesn't appeal much to me as I am unable to put myself in her shoes, I enjoyed it regardless. The writing is exquisite.

[Yan Yahaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's brilliant the topics chosen about. The author addressed quite a relatable topics. It made me awed, and blushed even. Relatable to some points. Love the metaphors and words choices. I read and finished it in a couple of hours. Not so much of the genre I'm into but the kind I'll revisit after a while when the mood suits.

[Plainqoma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got this signed copy for free when I purchased #booksonthemove box collaboration with #sembangsembang. I just cannot relate to most of it but some of my favourite :

- A letter to my never again
- Another Sunday
- 17 July 2014
- May 9th
- Incarcerations
- Wasps

[Evelyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars

It was okay. Some of the poems are a bit repetitive and the bahasa ones are cringey. Overall it was an average and i loved Pieces especially

[Vinotheni Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

"absurdly beautiful"

[sofiazee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I read poetry. There are a few proses here and there, and two Malay poems as well. Bernice writes a lot about ageing, motherhood, womanhood, the environment, and in general humanity. I find this collection very raw and very powerful. At many times I am moved by the emotions that was portrayed in the poem. I'll have another read to truly savour the emotions. Yes, this is one that you can read over and over again. This is what poetry should be.
Can't wait to discover her other works!

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting how poetry must be "relatable" or "relevant" to its readers, though my position has always been more of the appreciation of how the language is used or even mis-used.

Bernice remains one of my favourite local poets who's never afraid of bearing her personal side to readers. Her diction and poetic finesse shows, even in the simplest of poems.

[Kate Salvatore · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 is the actual rating from me.
I nearly quit to read, personally couldn't like it much when the author wrote about her motherhood, I feel so much of negativity in it.
But I do like it when the way the author writes about nature which sounds resonance.

[Kasthoori · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lines are raw and honest. Totally relatable to a 50 plus year old mother of three taking flight from the nest.