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Kebaya Tales: Of Matriarchs, Maidens, Mistresses and Matchmakers
Ten years after its initial publication, national bestseller Kebaya Of Matriarchs, Mistresses and Matchmakers returns with a brand-new story. This collection of short stories teems with fascinating characters, plot twists and turns, and cultural idiosyncrasies of the Peranakan community. Laced with humour and occasional satire, Kebaya Tales kickstarted the three collections of stories centred on the nonyas and babas of the Straits Chinese people. Kebaya Tales won the 2011 Popular-The Star Readers’ Choice Awards for fiction, Malaysia’s top literary prize.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 28, 2023
I've been fascinated by Malaysia over the past few years. I'm watching the shows & movies, reading (or at least buying) books, and even following some popular culture stuff. It's definitely a place I want to visit someday. Kebaya Tales gives a tiny glimpse into the lifestyle of the Babas and Nyonyas of Malacca and Penang. They call themselves Straits Chinese and the community has developed through the intermarriage of traders with the local population.
The book starts with some cultural snippets to describe the Baba Nyonya culture, which were enlightening. It's very basic and I didn't learn much new but it's a good addition to this book. There are fifteen short stories, interspersed with pictures of historical Nyonya objects belonging to the author. I would have enjoyed a more detailed look at these, but I enjoyed the stories. As with any anthology, the quality differs widely.
Hiram Manis and the Majestic Mayfair Hair Salon: A story about colourism and how such things can backfire on you. 3 stars
The Peephole: This one was highly evocative. A young child peeps through a peephole and sees things nobody knows about. I didn't quite understand what the purpose was, but the descriptions of life was fun to read. 3 stars.
The House on Jonker Street: A woman with an abusive past comes to terms with her past by purchasing a painting. She never tasted any toast throughout her childhood though she craved for it. Does the future hold any toast for her? Quite evocative in its own way. 4 stars.
Dead Men Tell No Tales: Oh, the untrustworthiness of men! A woman who keeps boasting of her husband's devotion suddenly finds he has mistresses galore when he dies suddenly. Sad, but happens. 4 stars.
Boxed-In Bibik: A nice family drama. The matriarch is dying, and the sons and daughters are fighting about who gets what. Meanwhile, favourite daughter-in-law and the one who hates confrontations, is rewarded quietly. Never happens in real life, but nice to read about! 5 stars
The Bachelor from Balik Pulao: Lian remains unmarried and is hounded by her sister to find a man. When said sister finds a hunchback by mistake, would Lian honour the promise? Interesting perspective. 3 stars.
The Breadman's Bicycle: A young girl's grandmother frowns upon her riding a bicycle, fearing for her wedding day when she would have to display blood. However, she breaks free of the shackles by marrying someone from another culture. 5 stars
The Goddess and the Japanese Officer: War has no winners. This story shows this so well. I didn't want to read about the Japanese occupation, but I loved the underlying theme. 5 stars.
My Old Baby: A young boy is able to see things that others can't, and eventually helps get rid of some evil influences. A horror story that I enjoyed. 4 stars.
The Wedding Photo: Tan Gek Kim stands out throughout her childhood, especially since her name is different than the others in the family. When she finds out the truth, it distances her from the family. 3 stars
Marry Me, Marianne: Peter and Marianne are in love and want to marry. Can they? An indictment of polygamy, which has been outlawed in Malaysia except for Muslims. 4 stars.
The Courtesan from Gion: This is the one story I did not enjoy, though it was well written. A young geisha from Kyoto has been sent to spy on the British during wartime. She becomes the wife of a local man and erases her previous identity. When she is caught, she is given choice between life and death, dishonour and honour. What would she choose? 2 stars
A Promise is a Promise: Bebe is pregnant again and Sue Kwan wants her child. If it's going to be a fourth daughter, Bebe promises to give the baby to Sue Kwan. It's a son, but the fifth child is ... different. Would either want to honour the promise? 4 stars
Son Boy and Sisters: My favourite in this collection. With four daughters and a son, Son Boy's dad is a misogynist and racist. His daughters don't really care and Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald forge their own way forward. I loved the humorous vein in which this was narrated. 5 stars
The Island: Two young kids take pork to an island trip unwittingly. A mild horror story with a fun misunderstanding. 4 stars
The book starts with some cultural snippets to describe the Baba Nyonya culture, which were enlightening. It's very basic and I didn't learn much new but it's a good addition to this book. There are fifteen short stories, interspersed with pictures of historical Nyonya objects belonging to the author. I would have enjoyed a more detailed look at these, but I enjoyed the stories. As with any anthology, the quality differs widely.
Hiram Manis and the Majestic Mayfair Hair Salon: A story about colourism and how such things can backfire on you. 3 stars
The Peephole: This one was highly evocative. A young child peeps through a peephole and sees things nobody knows about. I didn't quite understand what the purpose was, but the descriptions of life was fun to read. 3 stars.
The House on Jonker Street: A woman with an abusive past comes to terms with her past by purchasing a painting. She never tasted any toast throughout her childhood though she craved for it. Does the future hold any toast for her? Quite evocative in its own way. 4 stars.
Dead Men Tell No Tales: Oh, the untrustworthiness of men! A woman who keeps boasting of her husband's devotion suddenly finds he has mistresses galore when he dies suddenly. Sad, but happens. 4 stars.
Boxed-In Bibik: A nice family drama. The matriarch is dying, and the sons and daughters are fighting about who gets what. Meanwhile, favourite daughter-in-law and the one who hates confrontations, is rewarded quietly. Never happens in real life, but nice to read about! 5 stars
The Bachelor from Balik Pulao: Lian remains unmarried and is hounded by her sister to find a man. When said sister finds a hunchback by mistake, would Lian honour the promise? Interesting perspective. 3 stars.
The Breadman's Bicycle: A young girl's grandmother frowns upon her riding a bicycle, fearing for her wedding day when she would have to display blood. However, she breaks free of the shackles by marrying someone from another culture. 5 stars
The Goddess and the Japanese Officer: War has no winners. This story shows this so well. I didn't want to read about the Japanese occupation, but I loved the underlying theme. 5 stars.
My Old Baby: A young boy is able to see things that others can't, and eventually helps get rid of some evil influences. A horror story that I enjoyed. 4 stars.
The Wedding Photo: Tan Gek Kim stands out throughout her childhood, especially since her name is different than the others in the family. When she finds out the truth, it distances her from the family. 3 stars
Marry Me, Marianne: Peter and Marianne are in love and want to marry. Can they? An indictment of polygamy, which has been outlawed in Malaysia except for Muslims. 4 stars.
The Courtesan from Gion: This is the one story I did not enjoy, though it was well written. A young geisha from Kyoto has been sent to spy on the British during wartime. She becomes the wife of a local man and erases her previous identity. When she is caught, she is given choice between life and death, dishonour and honour. What would she choose? 2 stars
A Promise is a Promise: Bebe is pregnant again and Sue Kwan wants her child. If it's going to be a fourth daughter, Bebe promises to give the baby to Sue Kwan. It's a son, but the fifth child is ... different. Would either want to honour the promise? 4 stars
Son Boy and Sisters: My favourite in this collection. With four daughters and a son, Son Boy's dad is a misogynist and racist. His daughters don't really care and Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald forge their own way forward. I loved the humorous vein in which this was narrated. 5 stars
The Island: Two young kids take pork to an island trip unwittingly. A mild horror story with a fun misunderstanding. 4 stars
May 11, 2012
Awww, I really liked this. It was a birthday gift from my best friend, who said, "It's like a collection of all the old family stories your mom and aunties tell you!" and she was totally right. (Though I think my family's stories are even juicier ...) Also the gorgeous full-colour photos of kebaya and various accessories were a pleasure to look at. Lee is a fairly deft, humorous writer; the dialogue rang true to life; and it was fun contrasting the vocab with my family's. (My family tends to say "tak senonoh" or "tak tintu" for her "ta seronoh", e.g.)
The difference from my family is that the families in this book tend to be more rich.
Oddly enough the book reminded me most of L. M. Montgomery -- short stories set among a very particular community at a particular point of time, mostly prosperous, full of character (and characters!), proud of its culture, old-fashioned and perhaps a little bit insular. And the stories are very, you know, slice of life, you know my friend's sister-in-law, this happened to her ... Of course the Peranakan community is very different from the Canadian Maritimes of which Montgomery wrote, but the feeling is the same. Hah, there is even the same luxuriating in beautiful things! Except Lee provides colour pictures, not just verging-on-purple descriptions of beautiful dresses.
On a shallow note, I really liked the green and pink cover.
ETA: warning for racism/colourism and ableism typical of the community and period, expressed by the characters and not outright condemned by the narrative.
The difference from my family is that the families in this book tend to be more rich.
Oddly enough the book reminded me most of L. M. Montgomery -- short stories set among a very particular community at a particular point of time, mostly prosperous, full of character (and characters!), proud of its culture, old-fashioned and perhaps a little bit insular. And the stories are very, you know, slice of life, you know my friend's sister-in-law, this happened to her ... Of course the Peranakan community is very different from the Canadian Maritimes of which Montgomery wrote, but the feeling is the same. Hah, there is even the same luxuriating in beautiful things! Except Lee provides colour pictures, not just verging-on-purple descriptions of beautiful dresses.
On a shallow note, I really liked the green and pink cover.
ETA: warning for racism/colourism and ableism typical of the community and period, expressed by the characters and not outright condemned by the narrative.
February 27, 2023
February 2020: Kebaya Tales
Beautifully written. I can imagine myself somewhere in Peranakan house in Malacca. I love the description of empowerment beneath the kebaya and batik sarong.
"Bibik Chim always spoke in the gentlest of tones but everyone respected her"
"Everything must be seronoh, which means to be refined and graceful"
Beautifully written. I can imagine myself somewhere in Peranakan house in Malacca. I love the description of empowerment beneath the kebaya and batik sarong.
"Bibik Chim always spoke in the gentlest of tones but everyone respected her"
"Everything must be seronoh, which means to be refined and graceful"
November 18, 2017
Kebaya Tales by Lee Su Kim gotta be the best local short story book for me and one of the top 10 in my favourite short story book list.
The stories hit the spot and many beautiful, enchanting storylines. I wept a little, I got bit angry, I felt the joy; it is like a perfect spoonful of gula melaka cupcake that has the depth of sweetness from gula melaka, concoct with pandan flavour and sprinkles of dessicated coconut.
I really recommend this book to be added into your collection and even as a gift to your foreigner friends.
The stories hit the spot and many beautiful, enchanting storylines. I wept a little, I got bit angry, I felt the joy; it is like a perfect spoonful of gula melaka cupcake that has the depth of sweetness from gula melaka, concoct with pandan flavour and sprinkles of dessicated coconut.
I really recommend this book to be added into your collection and even as a gift to your foreigner friends.
January 14, 2018
I was fascinated by the stories written by Lee Su Kim. The short stories are all simple and entertaining. The book was so compelling that I couldn’t put it down.
February 22, 2018
This was both a joy and a sorrow to read; not because the book was written badly, but because I related heavily with the stories.
The little knowledge I have of my Nyonya history was passed down from my mother and my grandmother. It's funny that the small bit of my culture that I know of could be found in these stories. I hoped to learn more about the traditions and lifestyle of the Baba Nyonya, but all I received in return was a confirmation of all the things I've been told about!
There wasn't enough talk about food though. Maybe that will be for a different book!
Definitely recommend this anthology to everyone who loves reading about culture and traditions.
The little knowledge I have of my Nyonya history was passed down from my mother and my grandmother. It's funny that the small bit of my culture that I know of could be found in these stories. I hoped to learn more about the traditions and lifestyle of the Baba Nyonya, but all I received in return was a confirmation of all the things I've been told about!
There wasn't enough talk about food though. Maybe that will be for a different book!
Definitely recommend this anthology to everyone who loves reading about culture and traditions.
March 1, 2018
A wee bit disappointed. Expected tales related to kebaya but the title was deceiving indeed, if one took it literally, which I did. But at least I learnt a few things about kebaya, beaded shoes and nyonya must have accessories from the pictures in between the tales, which in all honesty, was just so-so stories.
August 25, 2023
3.5 stars.
I enjoyed this collection more than I expected to. While the theme is Stories from Nyonya Baba culture, the stories range in setting from the Japanese Occupation of Malaya to more contemporary times. The stories show case Nyonya culture of ancestor worship, patriarchal hierarchy within families and filial piety. Male heirs were a priority, daughters were groomed to be obedient and docile, daughters-in law were subservient to the mother-in-law who was the matriarch and ruled the household. Some families were polygamous, and many had servants.
The stories reflect a different time and mindset and many of the practices have been replaced especially as families grow and people move away. The writer is able to convey the thoughts of the people with tongue in cheek humor.
I enjoyed this collection more than I expected to. While the theme is Stories from Nyonya Baba culture, the stories range in setting from the Japanese Occupation of Malaya to more contemporary times. The stories show case Nyonya culture of ancestor worship, patriarchal hierarchy within families and filial piety. Male heirs were a priority, daughters were groomed to be obedient and docile, daughters-in law were subservient to the mother-in-law who was the matriarch and ruled the household. Some families were polygamous, and many had servants.
The stories reflect a different time and mindset and many of the practices have been replaced especially as families grow and people move away. The writer is able to convey the thoughts of the people with tongue in cheek humor.
January 26, 2021
Coming from a Peranakan family, reading this book felt like I was transported back to a family gathering. The tone, style and content is spot on. The author did a great job portraying the complex family dynamics, gender roles and expectations in a typical Baba Nyonya household in addition to explaining the intricacies and history of the kebaya.
It would be interesting to read more stories incorporating Portuguese or Hokkien or tales with a stronger musical influence (eg. jogek or dongdang sayang etc.), as well as common phrases used by Baba Nyonyas.
Overall it's an enjoyable, quick and light read!
(side note: it was surprising to see (some) dinner table rumors/gossip materialize into part of a book!)
It would be interesting to read more stories incorporating Portuguese or Hokkien or tales with a stronger musical influence (eg. jogek or dongdang sayang etc.), as well as common phrases used by Baba Nyonyas.
Overall it's an enjoyable, quick and light read!
(side note: it was surprising to see (some) dinner table rumors/gossip materialize into part of a book!)
March 29, 2022
*Kebaya Tales - 10th Anniversary Edition
I really wanted to like this book because of an interest in Peranakan culture. But certain parts of Lee's writing felt cringy. Like "til the cows come home" that seemed to be narrated by a 21st Century teenager in the story The Island. It was also as if she was trying a little too hard with the whole Manglish thing. Especially in one of the stories - Hitam Manis and the Majestic Mayfair Hair Salon.
Unfortunately, I could not appreciate the collection of photographs that appeared after every short story it felt very "potong stim". While reading I was wishing the writer could just compile those in a separate book that would have been more enjoyable in my opinion.
Nonetheless, the stories were entertaining and enjoyable, not particularly humorous but a good light read in between novels.
You won't be missing out if you decide not to read this.
I really wanted to like this book because of an interest in Peranakan culture. But certain parts of Lee's writing felt cringy. Like "til the cows come home" that seemed to be narrated by a 21st Century teenager in the story The Island. It was also as if she was trying a little too hard with the whole Manglish thing. Especially in one of the stories - Hitam Manis and the Majestic Mayfair Hair Salon.
Unfortunately, I could not appreciate the collection of photographs that appeared after every short story it felt very "potong stim". While reading I was wishing the writer could just compile those in a separate book that would have been more enjoyable in my opinion.
Nonetheless, the stories were entertaining and enjoyable, not particularly humorous but a good light read in between novels.
You won't be missing out if you decide not to read this.
June 14, 2018
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am originally from Melaka and although I'm not one, I actually know quite a lot of babas and nyonyas so it was nice to be able to read this book as I'm so familiar with the culture and language. This book contains a collection of short stories and some were sad, some felt like a mini thriller story, a couple of eerie or spooky ones and some were outright hilarious, made me laugh out loud for a good minute.
January 5, 2022
On one of my trips home to Malaysia, I picked up this book written by Lee Su Kim. I flipped through it and saw that it was filled with short stories. All the stories were simple and easy to read. Some stories were quite entertaining. Some of the tales felt familiar to me. Her stories made me feel closer to home like I was there watching and listening to my aunts and grandma. I do enjoy the photos that were included in the book.
March 1, 2018
Dr Lee Su Kim is a very talented author. This is my first experience reading her writing and I must say, I enjoyed reading it very much I wished there's a longer version/ novel of each short stories written in this book. Keep it up and keep it coming Dr Lee!
May 1, 2018
The title is a little deceiving, was expecting stories about the kebayas, and not stories of the kebayas. The brief introduction of the kebayas in between stories is a little weird, it has nothing to do with the stories except for the title.
August 4, 2021
Absolutely enjoyed reading this book! I love that the stories had bits that I could relate to as well as reminded me of stories my grandmother told. You will find stories infused with Peranakan cultural elements as well as a little bit of the language as well, which was so nostalgic for me.
February 18, 2018
very entertaining. i had a few great laughs. and one story still lingering in me. love it!! i finished the book in one seating ☺
January 21, 2024
Cute stories. Some terms were very familiar and reminds me of my Ah Ma (grandmother).
July 31, 2012
Tajuk buku : Kebaya Tales
Penulis : Lee Su Kim
Keluaran : Marshall Cavendish
Halaman : 178 m/s
Ulasan Ain Sabrina :
Kebaya Tales adalah kombinasi kisah-kisah yang berlaku di dalam masyarat Baba & Nyonya.
Di awal muka surat buku ini, penulis menceritakan tentang keturunan baba nyonya nya di mana bapa penulis adalah baba dari Melaka dan ibunya adalah nyonya dari Pulau Pinang. Kombinasi dari 2 negeri menjadikan penulis rapat dengan kisah-kisah juga warisan baba&nyonya.
Kemudian, penulis ada membuat beberapa pendahuluan dengan mengenalkan kepada pembaca apa itu baba & nyonya sebenarnya. Juga diceritakan budaya dan warisan baba&nyonya yang berlainan dengan kaum cina mahupun kaum melayu. Ini kerana baba&nyonya ini adalah kombinasi 2 kaum itu yang membawa kepada satu budaya yang unik.
Selepas itu, penulis mengarapkan 13 kisah pendek yang memperihalkan kisah-kisah fiksyen yang bersangkut-paut dengan masyarakat baba&nyonya. Ada kisah perkahwinan baba & nyonya yang juga seperti kisah perkahwinan melayu zaman dahulu dimana setiap perkahwinan diatur keluarga. Juga ada kisah perebutan harta dan juga kisah cinta. Semua kisah seakan menceritakan tentang budaya masyarakat baba&nyonya dalam cerita yang pendek dengan ayat yang mudah. Ini membuatkan pembaca seakan ‘duduk’ sekali dalam masyarakat baba&nyonya.
Di akhir setiap kisah pendek, penulis juga turut menyelitkan beberapa gambar yang berkisar tentang baba&nyonya. Ada gambar sulaman kebaya nyonya dan juga beberapa barangan yang unik kegunaan baba & nyonya. Penulis turut menyelitkan beberapa pantun mahupun kata pujangga dari baba & nyonya.
Komen Ain Sabrina :
Kebelakangan ini saya rasa tertarik untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut tentang masyarakat baba & nyonya ini. Bagi saya masyarakat baba & nyonya ini unik dan saya ingin tahu lebih banyak tentang masyarakat baba & nyonya ini. Jadi saya banyak baca artikel mengenai baba & nyonya di laman sesawang. Kebanyakkan artikelnya adalah artikel yang sama dan infonya nampak tidak realistik. Seakan artikel itu hanyalah kata-kata dari buku teks sejarah. Panjang , bosan dan infonya hanya di permukaan. Saya terus berhenti mencari sehinggalah saya terjumpa buku ini di kedai buku popular. Muka depannya menarik dan sinopsis belakangnya juga buat saya tertarik jadi saya terus ambil keputusan untuk beli buku ini, sedangkan saat itu saya tengah pegang buku lain. Memandangkan kewangan agak kurang dan hanya satu buku yang boleh dipilih, buku ini jadi pilihan saya.
Kisah-kisah pendek dalam buku ini seakan kisah-kisah melayu lama namun ini versi kisah baba & nyonya. Membaca kisah-kisah pendek membuatkan masyarakat baba & nyonya nampak realistik dan membuatkan saya rasa dekat dengan masyarakat unik ini.
Penulis mengarapkan kisah-kisah pendek ini dalam bahasa inggeris namun ada dialog-dialog dalam kisah ini yang menunjukkan keaslian masyarakat baba & nyonya itu. Contohnya dialog ini : “ umpph anak dara ta’ seronoh “(“ummph anak dara tak senonoh”). Dialognya ala-ala bahasa melayu namun ada dialek baba& nyonya.
Pantun dan kata-kata pujangga baba & nyonya yang diselitkan penulis juga sangat menarik dan unik. Ia nya juga seakan sastera bahasa melayu namun ada keunikannya tersendiri. Contoh pantun yang menarik :
“ ayam berkokok hari nak siang,
Murai bunyi pada pagi,
Sedeh hati kaseh nak pulang,
Bila kah bolih berjumpa lagi?”
Juga kata-kata punjangganya, ada yang lebih kurang sama dengan peribahasa melayu : “ kalu jodoh tak mana lari “ yang dalam peribahasa melayu kita ungkapkan seperti ini “kalau dah jodoh, tak ke mana”.
Juga ada satu lagi peribahasa yang bagi saya menarik, iaitu “ kalu mo mandi biar basah-basah” yang bermaksud ‘ jika mahu lakukan sesuatu, lakukannya dengan bersungguh-sungguh.
Selepas menghabiskan buku ini, saya simpulkan masyarakat baba&nyonya ini adalah masyarakat yang unik dan budayanya menarik. Ia jadi bertambah menarik apabila saya juga sempat ke Muzium Baba & Nyonya di Melaka .
Saat itu, buku ini baru saya habiskan setengah halamannya. Melawat muzium itu seakan kisah-kisah yang saya baca ‘dihidupkan’ di muzium itu . Dan selepas melawat muzium itu, pembacaan kisah-kisah dalam buku dibayangkan dengan lebih mudah.
Bagi saya buku ini sangat menarik kerana budaya baba&nyonya itu sendiri sudah menarik hati saya. Ia seakan dunia lain yang wujud di Malaysia ini. Timbul rasa memahami juga semangat 1 Malaysia.
Seakan kena pula ulasan buku dengan hari kemerdekaan dan hari Malaysia yang akan kunjung tiba. ^^
salam 1 Malaysia (^_^)
Penulis : Lee Su Kim
Keluaran : Marshall Cavendish
Halaman : 178 m/s
Ulasan Ain Sabrina :
Kebaya Tales adalah kombinasi kisah-kisah yang berlaku di dalam masyarat Baba & Nyonya.
Di awal muka surat buku ini, penulis menceritakan tentang keturunan baba nyonya nya di mana bapa penulis adalah baba dari Melaka dan ibunya adalah nyonya dari Pulau Pinang. Kombinasi dari 2 negeri menjadikan penulis rapat dengan kisah-kisah juga warisan baba&nyonya.
Kemudian, penulis ada membuat beberapa pendahuluan dengan mengenalkan kepada pembaca apa itu baba & nyonya sebenarnya. Juga diceritakan budaya dan warisan baba&nyonya yang berlainan dengan kaum cina mahupun kaum melayu. Ini kerana baba&nyonya ini adalah kombinasi 2 kaum itu yang membawa kepada satu budaya yang unik.
Selepas itu, penulis mengarapkan 13 kisah pendek yang memperihalkan kisah-kisah fiksyen yang bersangkut-paut dengan masyarakat baba&nyonya. Ada kisah perkahwinan baba & nyonya yang juga seperti kisah perkahwinan melayu zaman dahulu dimana setiap perkahwinan diatur keluarga. Juga ada kisah perebutan harta dan juga kisah cinta. Semua kisah seakan menceritakan tentang budaya masyarakat baba&nyonya dalam cerita yang pendek dengan ayat yang mudah. Ini membuatkan pembaca seakan ‘duduk’ sekali dalam masyarakat baba&nyonya.
Di akhir setiap kisah pendek, penulis juga turut menyelitkan beberapa gambar yang berkisar tentang baba&nyonya. Ada gambar sulaman kebaya nyonya dan juga beberapa barangan yang unik kegunaan baba & nyonya. Penulis turut menyelitkan beberapa pantun mahupun kata pujangga dari baba & nyonya.
Komen Ain Sabrina :
Kebelakangan ini saya rasa tertarik untuk mengetahui lebih lanjut tentang masyarakat baba & nyonya ini. Bagi saya masyarakat baba & nyonya ini unik dan saya ingin tahu lebih banyak tentang masyarakat baba & nyonya ini. Jadi saya banyak baca artikel mengenai baba & nyonya di laman sesawang. Kebanyakkan artikelnya adalah artikel yang sama dan infonya nampak tidak realistik. Seakan artikel itu hanyalah kata-kata dari buku teks sejarah. Panjang , bosan dan infonya hanya di permukaan. Saya terus berhenti mencari sehinggalah saya terjumpa buku ini di kedai buku popular. Muka depannya menarik dan sinopsis belakangnya juga buat saya tertarik jadi saya terus ambil keputusan untuk beli buku ini, sedangkan saat itu saya tengah pegang buku lain. Memandangkan kewangan agak kurang dan hanya satu buku yang boleh dipilih, buku ini jadi pilihan saya.
Kisah-kisah pendek dalam buku ini seakan kisah-kisah melayu lama namun ini versi kisah baba & nyonya. Membaca kisah-kisah pendek membuatkan masyarakat baba & nyonya nampak realistik dan membuatkan saya rasa dekat dengan masyarakat unik ini.
Penulis mengarapkan kisah-kisah pendek ini dalam bahasa inggeris namun ada dialog-dialog dalam kisah ini yang menunjukkan keaslian masyarakat baba & nyonya itu. Contohnya dialog ini : “ umpph anak dara ta’ seronoh “(“ummph anak dara tak senonoh”). Dialognya ala-ala bahasa melayu namun ada dialek baba& nyonya.
Pantun dan kata-kata pujangga baba & nyonya yang diselitkan penulis juga sangat menarik dan unik. Ia nya juga seakan sastera bahasa melayu namun ada keunikannya tersendiri. Contoh pantun yang menarik :
“ ayam berkokok hari nak siang,
Murai bunyi pada pagi,
Sedeh hati kaseh nak pulang,
Bila kah bolih berjumpa lagi?”
Juga kata-kata punjangganya, ada yang lebih kurang sama dengan peribahasa melayu : “ kalu jodoh tak mana lari “ yang dalam peribahasa melayu kita ungkapkan seperti ini “kalau dah jodoh, tak ke mana”.
Juga ada satu lagi peribahasa yang bagi saya menarik, iaitu “ kalu mo mandi biar basah-basah” yang bermaksud ‘ jika mahu lakukan sesuatu, lakukannya dengan bersungguh-sungguh.
Selepas menghabiskan buku ini, saya simpulkan masyarakat baba&nyonya ini adalah masyarakat yang unik dan budayanya menarik. Ia jadi bertambah menarik apabila saya juga sempat ke Muzium Baba & Nyonya di Melaka .
Saat itu, buku ini baru saya habiskan setengah halamannya. Melawat muzium itu seakan kisah-kisah yang saya baca ‘dihidupkan’ di muzium itu . Dan selepas melawat muzium itu, pembacaan kisah-kisah dalam buku dibayangkan dengan lebih mudah.
Bagi saya buku ini sangat menarik kerana budaya baba&nyonya itu sendiri sudah menarik hati saya. Ia seakan dunia lain yang wujud di Malaysia ini. Timbul rasa memahami juga semangat 1 Malaysia.
Seakan kena pula ulasan buku dengan hari kemerdekaan dan hari Malaysia yang akan kunjung tiba. ^^
salam 1 Malaysia (^_^)
December 24, 2023
Lee's art of storytelling is gentle and nuanced and extremely easy even for the foreign reader to digest. i finished all three books in this series (Kebaya Tales, Sarong Secrets, and Manek Mischiefs) in one sitting within the span of five days, and the only mild grievance i developed during this time is with regard to their dialogues; which felt to me consistently awkward, and the colloquialism unnatural. (i am a native Singlish speaker myself.)
nevertheless, it is but an isolated sentiment, and i found Lee to be otherwise impeccable and impressively meticulous in her craft. her first-hand insight to one of Asia's scarcest cultures comes priceless in the world of Asian literature; where Babas and Nyonyas rarely take any stage, let alone front and centre. despite their opulence and riches, the height of the Peranakans came at the culmination of the Second World War- which dramatically reshaped their lives and fortunes- and at the heart all these stories lies a perspective that is real, and authentic, and fully alive; imbued with the feelings and sensibilities of a voice that could almost have you believing that she was there herself.
.
i came across another reviewer who (rightly) noted that many of Lee's short stories could make for whole books, and i cannot agree more. many of the short stories in this trilogy feel extremely distilled yet spacious at the same time. this book was even more impressive than Sarong Secrets: i thoroughly enjoyed every piece set in this book, and three stories which i think could really hold its own as a book are:
- Boxed-In Bibik
- The Wedding Photo
- Marry Me, Marianne
nevertheless, it is but an isolated sentiment, and i found Lee to be otherwise impeccable and impressively meticulous in her craft. her first-hand insight to one of Asia's scarcest cultures comes priceless in the world of Asian literature; where Babas and Nyonyas rarely take any stage, let alone front and centre. despite their opulence and riches, the height of the Peranakans came at the culmination of the Second World War- which dramatically reshaped their lives and fortunes- and at the heart all these stories lies a perspective that is real, and authentic, and fully alive; imbued with the feelings and sensibilities of a voice that could almost have you believing that she was there herself.
.
i came across another reviewer who (rightly) noted that many of Lee's short stories could make for whole books, and i cannot agree more. many of the short stories in this trilogy feel extremely distilled yet spacious at the same time. this book was even more impressive than Sarong Secrets: i thoroughly enjoyed every piece set in this book, and three stories which i think could really hold its own as a book are:
- Boxed-In Bibik
- The Wedding Photo
- Marry Me, Marianne
August 13, 2020
I really love all the stories in this book. If I were to rank, i would put dead man tell no tales as number 1. That was easily my favorite one, it was funny and at the same time, reminds you of how karma can come back and haunt your life. Son boy and sisters would be Number 2. Prejudice and discrimination wont do you any good. The inter-marriage was once considered a disgrace and you can be shun for doing so. I would put 'Bachelor from balik pulau' and 'the wedding photo' tied as number 3. One story of spinster and another story of a child born out wedlock. Both faced a same treatment from the society whether it was insults, alienation or judgment. There's a few, here and there about Kebaya inserted in between pages of the book, but i was more invested how baba-nyonya culture is way more similar to malay culture than what i had in mind previously.
August 23, 2011
the euphoria of visiting the peranakan museum in singapore led me to buying this book. the stories are standard, particularly if one has read other accounts of peranakan life. in particular, some of the anecdotes felt through "typical" or cliche.
the narrative is okay lah, considering that the book is written by a professor, and not necessarily a novelist. when i finished the novel, it didn't really impressed me. but thumbs up have to be given to the fact that this book adds to the list of references of one of my most favourite subjects around: the lives of the chinese overseas in se asia.
the narrative is okay lah, considering that the book is written by a professor, and not necessarily a novelist. when i finished the novel, it didn't really impressed me. but thumbs up have to be given to the fact that this book adds to the list of references of one of my most favourite subjects around: the lives of the chinese overseas in se asia.
November 28, 2012
A book which someone who is fascinated by the Peranakan Art, Culture and Food will love. Perfect for the busy folks who dont have the time (or patience) to endure long chaptered fiction.
Expect an interesting blend of Rojak...a mixture of everything: history, culture, horror, romance, family and humor.
Expect an interesting blend of Rojak...a mixture of everything: history, culture, horror, romance, family and humor.
December 26, 2013
I love the little short stories which intertwined with gorgeous pictures of kebayas etc. Each story is very "Malaysian" as it is sprinkled with bahasa, hokkien, mandarin and cantonese phrases, which I could undoubtedly understand (impressed with the spelling!). This book reminds me of growing up in Malaysia - the hush-hush superstitions, nagging from aunties... etc. LOVE IT!
April 20, 2017
A collection of short stories which I felt got progressively worse, though there were a few good ones. Some characters were just plain ridiculous and some stories were just utter nonsense.The only plus to this book was the pictures of beautiful kebayas and peranakan families.
December 28, 2018
read the world: Malaysia
Chosen as the 2nd book in my read-the-world challenge, this collection of fun/poignant short stories provided a lovely counterbalance for my 1st book: a 600+page Thai epic published 50+ years earlier.
Chosen as the 2nd book in my read-the-world challenge, this collection of fun/poignant short stories provided a lovely counterbalance for my 1st book: a 600+page Thai epic published 50+ years earlier.
January 17, 2014
*3.5/5
August 27, 2014
Enlightening.
September 7, 2014
worth reading for a light collection of short stories that revolves around peranakan in Malaysia
November 19, 2014
Interesting book of short stories that take place in and around Singapore.
July 20, 2015
A sweet collection of stories about the Peranakan Chinese in Malaya, with photos of the beautiful garments the women wear.
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