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Nusantara: A Sea of Tales
A collection of fairy tales, folklore, fables, myths, epics, legends, wonder and magic tales from all around Southeast Asia.
Nusantara - A Sea of Tales is the most comprehensive collection of folktales, fairy tales, myths and legends from the Nusantara and Southeast Asian region, and was written to sit alongside the great anthologies of folklore from other parts of the world.
Although it is impossible to trace the origins of most of these traditional tales, we do know that these stories were used as a means to discover ourselves and the world around us. Like a living creature, these tales came into existence at some point, and have since evolved and adapted to suit the needs of the community that it finds itself in. The seafaring nature of the people in this region has no doubt contributed to the spread of these tales and explains the fascinating variations across Southeast Asia.
These rich and layered tales contain all manner of wonder, marvels and strange curiosities, and have been written to enthral a new audience. The author has delved into the history and the meaning behind these tales but like all good fairy tales and folktales, each reader will extract their own meaning from these stories. The symbols in these stories engage our imagination and challenges us to question, discuss and unravel life's conflicts and mysteries. Herein lies the true power of these stories and the reason why these tales must be preserved and allowed to live and breathe once more.
Nusantara - A Sea of Tales is the most comprehensive collection of folktales, fairy tales, myths and legends from the Nusantara and Southeast Asian region, and was written to sit alongside the great anthologies of folklore from other parts of the world.
Although it is impossible to trace the origins of most of these traditional tales, we do know that these stories were used as a means to discover ourselves and the world around us. Like a living creature, these tales came into existence at some point, and have since evolved and adapted to suit the needs of the community that it finds itself in. The seafaring nature of the people in this region has no doubt contributed to the spread of these tales and explains the fascinating variations across Southeast Asia.
These rich and layered tales contain all manner of wonder, marvels and strange curiosities, and have been written to enthral a new audience. The author has delved into the history and the meaning behind these tales but like all good fairy tales and folktales, each reader will extract their own meaning from these stories. The symbols in these stories engage our imagination and challenges us to question, discuss and unravel life's conflicts and mysteries. Herein lies the true power of these stories and the reason why these tales must be preserved and allowed to live and breathe once more.
232 pages, Paperback
Published December 14, 2021
13 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Heidi Shamsuddin
12 books8 followersHeidi Shamsuddin is a Malaysian author and collector of Nusantara folk tales.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 11, 2022
This book comprises of 61 stories from all around Malay Archipelago or Nusantara. Famous for its seafaring nature, most of the tales, myths and legends are spread orally before it is written.
Being a literature student and a fan of folklore, I truly enjoy and marvel at the wonder of these tales. Some of the tales are familiar to me but most of it are new and it is such a fun experience to explore the new tales.
I am constantly being impressed by the creativity of the olden folks and their ability to deliver such great stories purely for entertainment and to instill moral values as well as the lessons.
The language used is simple and makes reading the tales easier. I also appreciate the author’s effort to inform readers about the background of each story and its history of origin at the end of every tale.
Among the 61 stories, these are what I enjoy the most:
•The Legend of Ulek Mayang (from Malaysia)
•Cencewi and Puteri Manis (from Malaysia)
•The Sembilang Curse (from Malaysia)
•The Curse of Mahsuri (from Malaysia)
•Pak Pandir and The Hungry Giants (from Malaysia)
•The Tale of Hang Nadim (Singapore)
Being a literature student and a fan of folklore, I truly enjoy and marvel at the wonder of these tales. Some of the tales are familiar to me but most of it are new and it is such a fun experience to explore the new tales.
I am constantly being impressed by the creativity of the olden folks and their ability to deliver such great stories purely for entertainment and to instill moral values as well as the lessons.
The language used is simple and makes reading the tales easier. I also appreciate the author’s effort to inform readers about the background of each story and its history of origin at the end of every tale.
Among the 61 stories, these are what I enjoy the most:
•The Legend of Ulek Mayang (from Malaysia)
•Cencewi and Puteri Manis (from Malaysia)
•The Sembilang Curse (from Malaysia)
•The Curse of Mahsuri (from Malaysia)
•Pak Pandir and The Hungry Giants (from Malaysia)
•The Tale of Hang Nadim (Singapore)
November 6, 2022
I went into a mythical adventure for the past few days delving into this collection of fairytales, folklores and traditional legends from around Nusantara; consists of 61 stories compiled through a vivid exploration and fascination muse by the author who grew up listening to her father’s story of Si Tanggang, this collection highlighted a wider theme of tales that were once written or orally told through generations.
I love how these stories bring out the nostalgic hue from my childhood as few stories were once I read/heard while growing up like Bawang Merah Bawang Putih and The Magic Swing (also included another version from Indonesia of these two rival sisters with a magic pumpkin premise), Legend of Ulek Mayang, Mahsuri, Singapura Dilanggar Todak as well as few tales of Sang Kancil and Pak Pandir. I fancy the historical (I appreciate the inclusion of few stories from Sulalat al-Salatin) and culture nuances (some were originated from tribe/ethnic groups like Tale of Gamong and The Crocodile Prince) for each and on how it contains a story of humankind and animals, of moral lesson and social criticism, on good deed vs bad deed and one’s spiritual beliefs. Having few that were written/told based on geomythical premises like Tasik Dayang Bunting and Akinabalu which quite engagingly narrated and picturesque for me.
My most fav would be Puteri Sanggul Berjuntai, Timun Mas and The Three Princesses and Prince Andriamohamona stories. Also few tales giving me a nice escape to a dreamy world like Puteri Bunga Tanjong and Jura’s Trip to Pleiades which so surreal and majestically told. Loving the two versions of The Owl and The Moon that reminds me to the proverb of bagai pungguk rindukan bulan; not a happy vibe story yet I love the magical element of it.
A great read to revisit the timeless and authenticity of our wondrous folktales and legends as the author shaped each narrative with a short explanation of meaning, related infos and personal thoughts at the end. So richly amusing and such an utterly enjoyable collection to me, would go for 4.3 stars to this!
Thank you Times Reads for sending me a copy of this gem!
January 10, 2022
Nusantara: A Sea of Tales by Heidi Shamsuddin is a collection of mythical tales and folklore spanning across the Malay archipelago. It contains both stories that I'm familiar with as well stories that I haven't even stumbled across before which makes it an overall fun and interesting read.
This book has 61 stories in total and each one of them are such a delight to read. I absolutely like the fact that the author didn't stop to write just about Malaysian folklores but decides to write tales over Nusantara too. Even though the majority of the stories originated from Malaysia, but I got to broaden my horizon across Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Madagascar, Vietnam and The Philippines too.
Some of my favourite stories are The Origins of Akinabalu, The Curse of Mahsuri and both the Bawang Putih Bawang Merah stories (because of nostalgia reasons).
I would totally recommend you to pick up this book because we should totally spend some more time getting familiarised with our country and neighbouring countries' fairytales. A book that you can basically breeze through yet once you close the book after finishing the last page, it might just give you an impactful and memorable read.
This book has 61 stories in total and each one of them are such a delight to read. I absolutely like the fact that the author didn't stop to write just about Malaysian folklores but decides to write tales over Nusantara too. Even though the majority of the stories originated from Malaysia, but I got to broaden my horizon across Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Madagascar, Vietnam and The Philippines too.
Some of my favourite stories are The Origins of Akinabalu, The Curse of Mahsuri and both the Bawang Putih Bawang Merah stories (because of nostalgia reasons).
I would totally recommend you to pick up this book because we should totally spend some more time getting familiarised with our country and neighbouring countries' fairytales. A book that you can basically breeze through yet once you close the book after finishing the last page, it might just give you an impactful and memorable read.
February 10, 2022
Nusantara: A Sea of Tales by @heidishamsuddin is a collection of folklore, fairy tales, myths and legends from the Nusantara region.
This book consists of ✨61 short stories✨ from various countries within the region.
The author uses the term Nusantara to group tales from countries that share the Austronesean language. Some of these countries are – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Southern Thailand, the Philippines, East Timor, Madagascar, Taiwan and Guam (map in blog post)
💖What I Liked:
I simply want to appreciate the fact that the cover design is very fitting and well thought-out.
This is because Nusantara is often referred to as Maritime SEA. I also like the play of words in the title – “sea of tales”.
After every tale, the author adds a note on not only her thoughts but also a few facts about the origins of the tale and in which journals they’ve been recorded in.
She also explains different types of tales and why these tales might have come into existence in the first place.
❌What I Disliked:
Instead of 61 stories, I would have preferred less stories and for them to be more in depth.
💡I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Asian lit, mythology and also fantasy!💡
Thank you Times Reads for the review copy.
Full review: https://brewingwriter.com/nusantara-a...
This book consists of ✨61 short stories✨ from various countries within the region.
The author uses the term Nusantara to group tales from countries that share the Austronesean language. Some of these countries are – Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Southern Thailand, the Philippines, East Timor, Madagascar, Taiwan and Guam (map in blog post)
💖What I Liked:
I simply want to appreciate the fact that the cover design is very fitting and well thought-out.
This is because Nusantara is often referred to as Maritime SEA. I also like the play of words in the title – “sea of tales”.
After every tale, the author adds a note on not only her thoughts but also a few facts about the origins of the tale and in which journals they’ve been recorded in.
She also explains different types of tales and why these tales might have come into existence in the first place.
❌What I Disliked:
Instead of 61 stories, I would have preferred less stories and for them to be more in depth.
💡I would recommend this book to anyone who loves Asian lit, mythology and also fantasy!💡
Thank you Times Reads for the review copy.
Full review: https://brewingwriter.com/nusantara-a...
January 21, 2023
Nusantara: A Sea of Tales is a wonderful collection of fairy tales, folklore, and fables from the core geographic area of the Malay Archipelago or what used to be called Nusantara. A large majority of the stories come from Malaysia, both East and West (since Heidi Shamsuddin is Malaysian), and Indonesia (because both countries share quite a lot of the same folklore), which I guess automatically includes Singapore (because they were historically always linked before they became their own country).
There are a smattering of stories from other Southeast Asian countries - the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand - and, oddly, one story each from Guam and Madagascar. Heidi justifies the latter two as being included because they share the Austronesian language. Frankly, I felt they were just a little too far away to share much cultural similarity and probably could have been kept for a later collection.
Some of the more familiar tales (to me) are several Sang Kancil stories, variations of the Bawang Putih, Bawang Merah tale, Si Tanggang, The Swordfish Attack of Singapore and The Curse of Mahsuri. Some of the other tales are vaguely familiar - whether because I have heard of/read them before in other collections or they are similar to European tales, I cannot quite tell. But quite a few were new to me, especially those from Borneo and from other countries. I was delighted to discover Pak Pandir stories for the first time. How did I not know these exist?
Heidi includes notes at the end of each tale or, sometimes, at the end of a group of similar tales. This provided a lot of background knowledge about where the story comes from (and where similar stories are told across the region), explanations of untranslated words and names (where they hold specific meanings that add nuance to the story), as well as some hidden meanings behind cultural practices that are not quite apparent face value.
Some other books you may be interested in checking out include: Tales of Superhuman Powers: 55 Traditional Stories from Around the World, Pearls on a Branch: Arab Stories Told by Women in Lebanon Today, Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic.
Nusantara: A Sea of Tales is a timely book that collects tales from oral storytellers and
older print sources that are increasingly hard to find before they are lost to us altogether.
There are a smattering of stories from other Southeast Asian countries - the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand - and, oddly, one story each from Guam and Madagascar. Heidi justifies the latter two as being included because they share the Austronesian language. Frankly, I felt they were just a little too far away to share much cultural similarity and probably could have been kept for a later collection.
Some of the more familiar tales (to me) are several Sang Kancil stories, variations of the Bawang Putih, Bawang Merah tale, Si Tanggang, The Swordfish Attack of Singapore and The Curse of Mahsuri. Some of the other tales are vaguely familiar - whether because I have heard of/read them before in other collections or they are similar to European tales, I cannot quite tell. But quite a few were new to me, especially those from Borneo and from other countries. I was delighted to discover Pak Pandir stories for the first time. How did I not know these exist?
Heidi includes notes at the end of each tale or, sometimes, at the end of a group of similar tales. This provided a lot of background knowledge about where the story comes from (and where similar stories are told across the region), explanations of untranslated words and names (where they hold specific meanings that add nuance to the story), as well as some hidden meanings behind cultural practices that are not quite apparent face value.
Some other books you may be interested in checking out include: Tales of Superhuman Powers: 55 Traditional Stories from Around the World, Pearls on a Branch: Arab Stories Told by Women in Lebanon Today, Tales of Japan: Traditional Stories of Monsters and Magic.
Nusantara: A Sea of Tales is a timely book that collects tales from oral storytellers and
older print sources that are increasingly hard to find before they are lost to us altogether.
March 27, 2022
{14/2022} 4/5🌟 223 pages
Reading this book has certainly brought back all my childhood memories when we were told all the stories of fairytales and fables; mesmerised by all kinds of folk tales. My siblings and I would be surrounding our grandmother and sometimes our mother while listening to all the magical tales. Sometimes, the stories were spontaneously told whenever something which reminded or connected to it happened.
These were mainly our alternative entertainment sources. Storytelling, especially involving all the folk tales during those days where social medias, I think, would surrender to its magnaminous power - is every child favourite past time.
“Nusantara” contains 61 collection of stories from mainly around South East Asia, that most of us would have grown up listening to. Characters like Pak Pandir, Sang Kancil, all those beautiful princesses and handsome princes have become synonymous and are staple tunes to our ears.
Interestingly, these stories would always have their connections to sometimes the history and geological landscapes of where the stories come from. What makes them more interesting, not only these stories have strong familiarity and similarity between the SEA counterparts, but also to some of their Western counterparts in terms of the characters and storylines like Cinderella, Rapunzel and others.
I love the fact though how gullible could children be in terms of their belief to the stories, subconsciously, they would be able to instill the in-depth moral values and life lessons from them, as each story has its own valuable moments.
Some of these stories also meticulously deliver constructive social criticism that never get lost in time. So apt and applicable even at the present moment no matter how one would argue how “ancient” they have become.
This is a book that I would gladly pass down to my kids and become the centre of our discussions. No matter how modern is the life that they were born into, they must never forget their roots - how their ancestors have diligently deliver special lessons through time.
A must read if you wanted to go down that memory lane.
#justreaddontbawang
Reading this book has certainly brought back all my childhood memories when we were told all the stories of fairytales and fables; mesmerised by all kinds of folk tales. My siblings and I would be surrounding our grandmother and sometimes our mother while listening to all the magical tales. Sometimes, the stories were spontaneously told whenever something which reminded or connected to it happened.
These were mainly our alternative entertainment sources. Storytelling, especially involving all the folk tales during those days where social medias, I think, would surrender to its magnaminous power - is every child favourite past time.
“Nusantara” contains 61 collection of stories from mainly around South East Asia, that most of us would have grown up listening to. Characters like Pak Pandir, Sang Kancil, all those beautiful princesses and handsome princes have become synonymous and are staple tunes to our ears.
Interestingly, these stories would always have their connections to sometimes the history and geological landscapes of where the stories come from. What makes them more interesting, not only these stories have strong familiarity and similarity between the SEA counterparts, but also to some of their Western counterparts in terms of the characters and storylines like Cinderella, Rapunzel and others.
I love the fact though how gullible could children be in terms of their belief to the stories, subconsciously, they would be able to instill the in-depth moral values and life lessons from them, as each story has its own valuable moments.
Some of these stories also meticulously deliver constructive social criticism that never get lost in time. So apt and applicable even at the present moment no matter how one would argue how “ancient” they have become.
This is a book that I would gladly pass down to my kids and become the centre of our discussions. No matter how modern is the life that they were born into, they must never forget their roots - how their ancestors have diligently deliver special lessons through time.
A must read if you wanted to go down that memory lane.
#justreaddontbawang
December 26, 2022
Here’s the thing. Folktales are an oral tradition, and when they’re read, it should be a few at a time, not a hundred in a couple sittings. The beauty of the tales wore off very quickly and soon became a devolution into violence, patriarchy, and the unnecessary, brutal death of women which is always the result of violence+patriarchy.
The first few tales are promising. They encourage women to listen to their instincts and warn them about treacherous men, but soon, tale after tales is about deception and destruction which can be useful for pedantry but not for enjoyment when you’re reading them one right after the other in a single sitting. I put the book down for a few days and came back. Unfortunately, it’s not organized in a way that allows the reader to find what they’re looking for. Similar tales are grouped together, but you don’t know what the tale is until you begin reading.
Quite honestly, I often wished I were reading the original sources the author cites. They seem to be more thorough and provide more context. When she does context it’s 98% of the time to Europe or The States, as if Africa isn’t right next door to the region. Except for one Anansi reference, she completely missed the connections to African folkloric traditions. At some point, I wondered whether she just republished folklore other people had already documented. It often felt like something was missing from her version.
I know a lot is lost in translation and again a book is not oral tradition, but some were so matter of fact, I know they weren’t told that way. I know there was more description of nature, more repetition, more slang than she included. All in all, if you’re looking for folklore from the southeast Asian corner of the world, this book includes it, but if you’re looking for the flavor of region, intercontinental connections, critiques of violence and patriarchy in folklore, then this book isn’t it.
The first few tales are promising. They encourage women to listen to their instincts and warn them about treacherous men, but soon, tale after tales is about deception and destruction which can be useful for pedantry but not for enjoyment when you’re reading them one right after the other in a single sitting. I put the book down for a few days and came back. Unfortunately, it’s not organized in a way that allows the reader to find what they’re looking for. Similar tales are grouped together, but you don’t know what the tale is until you begin reading.
Quite honestly, I often wished I were reading the original sources the author cites. They seem to be more thorough and provide more context. When she does context it’s 98% of the time to Europe or The States, as if Africa isn’t right next door to the region. Except for one Anansi reference, she completely missed the connections to African folkloric traditions. At some point, I wondered whether she just republished folklore other people had already documented. It often felt like something was missing from her version.
I know a lot is lost in translation and again a book is not oral tradition, but some were so matter of fact, I know they weren’t told that way. I know there was more description of nature, more repetition, more slang than she included. All in all, if you’re looking for folklore from the southeast Asian corner of the world, this book includes it, but if you’re looking for the flavor of region, intercontinental connections, critiques of violence and patriarchy in folklore, then this book isn’t it.
August 9, 2022
Nusantara: A Sea of Tales is a collection of folk tales, myths, legends, and fables from all around Southeast Asia. I’m familiar with some of these fables and it’s such a joy reading them again - this time in English! The stories range from the darkness of murder, jealousy and vengeful spirits, but there’s also the lightness of hope, humour, and happy ever afters. Some of my favourite Malaysian tales here include The Curse of Mahsuri, Bawang Putih Bawang Merah, and Sang Kancil. I also enjoyed reading stories from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and more.
The origins of these fables are hard to trace, so the author has collected these stories with the intention of keeping them alive for future generations. The author also included background notes for each story. If you’ve never read Southeast Asian folklores, you absolutely must read this book!
Thank you to the publisher and Times Reads for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
The origins of these fables are hard to trace, so the author has collected these stories with the intention of keeping them alive for future generations. The author also included background notes for each story. If you’ve never read Southeast Asian folklores, you absolutely must read this book!
Thank you to the publisher and Times Reads for a review copy.
book blog | twitter | instagram
Want to read
November 12, 2022pre-reading
i spent way too much money but also: where else am i gonna get a collection of seasian myths with explanatory notes at the end of each tale. anyway the legend behind bukit merah still haunts me to this day and i can only anticipate just how many more folk tales in this book will proceed to rewire my brain chemistry.
i spent way too much money but also: where else am i gonna get a collection of seasian myths with explanatory notes at the end of each tale. anyway the legend behind bukit merah still haunts me to this day and i can only anticipate just how many more folk tales in this book will proceed to rewire my brain chemistry.
June 11, 2023
Banyak cerita yang berulang. Mungkin pointnya nak bagitau cerita banyak dari asas yang sama tapi kalau dipelbagaikan ceritanya, mungkin lebih menarik.
December 29, 2022
"The more I read, the more I discovered that these tales had a special kind of magic which enabled them to travel long distances, moving and adapting to suit the needs of a particular society at a particular time." - Nusantara: A Sea of Tales by Heidi Shamsuddin
I have always been a fan of folk tales. As a young child, my mother would read both English and Malay story books to me, so I was just as familiar with Cinderella as I was with Bawang Putih and Bawang Merah. Reading this compilation of folklore from the Nusantara was a delight.
This book is made up of 61 wonderful adaptations of fables, myths and folk tales that hail from various countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Bruneis. They are filled with romance, adventure, tragedies and most importantly, a hint of magic and fantasy. Richly layered and concise, these short stories make for a very enthralling and engaging read.
I particularly enjoyed how the stories were categorised based on various themes. For example, there are many variations to the story of Si Tanggang. The reader learns of how the story differs when being told in different countries in the Nusantara. It is an illuminating insight into in spite of time and even location, the essence of the story remains the same.
It is also always a welcome treat for readers to experience diversity and the celebration of the culture and traditions of the Nusantara. I for one enjoyed the treat of a compilation of familiar and fantastic fables that remind me of my race's culture and history. It is definitely a book I would want to have in my personal collection.
I have always been a fan of folk tales. As a young child, my mother would read both English and Malay story books to me, so I was just as familiar with Cinderella as I was with Bawang Putih and Bawang Merah. Reading this compilation of folklore from the Nusantara was a delight.
This book is made up of 61 wonderful adaptations of fables, myths and folk tales that hail from various countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Bruneis. They are filled with romance, adventure, tragedies and most importantly, a hint of magic and fantasy. Richly layered and concise, these short stories make for a very enthralling and engaging read.
I particularly enjoyed how the stories were categorised based on various themes. For example, there are many variations to the story of Si Tanggang. The reader learns of how the story differs when being told in different countries in the Nusantara. It is an illuminating insight into in spite of time and even location, the essence of the story remains the same.
It is also always a welcome treat for readers to experience diversity and the celebration of the culture and traditions of the Nusantara. I for one enjoyed the treat of a compilation of familiar and fantastic fables that remind me of my race's culture and history. It is definitely a book I would want to have in my personal collection.
February 12, 2022
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Nusantara: A Sea of Tales is a collection of myths, legends and folklores across Southeast Asian with a few tales from another region in the world. Most of these stories are familiar to me but I just found out we don't know the origins of most tales.
I remember knowing that the mythical tales are often passed down for generations to make sure it does not lost in time. This book sparks the memories of me reading short tales or hearing people talk about the tales and even discussing them in class when I was a child. These tales are golden as some of them shape the person we are today.
I really loved how the author compiles all 61 short stories into one book. I was hoping there are more stories in this book but that's fine with me. This book is very entertaining as well as enlightening. Asia is so rich in culture and these tales are one of them. Other than that, I liked how at the end of every story, the author explained the origins and lessons learned from it. Among 61 stories, I enjoy most are Bawang Putih Bawang Merah, The Curse of Mahsuri, The Sembilang Curse, The Legend of Ulek Mayang and The Lake of Pregnant Maiden.
However, even though this book is compact with tales, I wish the author would write a more in-depth background of the story. Other than that, I think the author did a good job at retelling all of the folktales. Fan of Asian Literature would love this book!
Thank you @times.reads and @putrifariza for this beautiful copy<33
Personal rating: 4.5/5🌟
Nusantara: A Sea of Tales is a collection of myths, legends and folklores across Southeast Asian with a few tales from another region in the world. Most of these stories are familiar to me but I just found out we don't know the origins of most tales.
I remember knowing that the mythical tales are often passed down for generations to make sure it does not lost in time. This book sparks the memories of me reading short tales or hearing people talk about the tales and even discussing them in class when I was a child. These tales are golden as some of them shape the person we are today.
I really loved how the author compiles all 61 short stories into one book. I was hoping there are more stories in this book but that's fine with me. This book is very entertaining as well as enlightening. Asia is so rich in culture and these tales are one of them. Other than that, I liked how at the end of every story, the author explained the origins and lessons learned from it. Among 61 stories, I enjoy most are Bawang Putih Bawang Merah, The Curse of Mahsuri, The Sembilang Curse, The Legend of Ulek Mayang and The Lake of Pregnant Maiden.
However, even though this book is compact with tales, I wish the author would write a more in-depth background of the story. Other than that, I think the author did a good job at retelling all of the folktales. Fan of Asian Literature would love this book!
Thank you @times.reads and @putrifariza for this beautiful copy<33
Personal rating: 4.5/5🌟
March 5, 2022
[Review copy from Times Reads]
An Asian version of bedtime stories - that's what I'll say if you ask me to capture it in a sentence.
What's great about this book is its nearly-universal appeal. Each story is about 3-5 pages long, taking only about 5-10 mins to complete. Anyone can finish a story...literally!
As I was going from one tale to the next, it didn't feel like I was reading fiction. The experience was a blend of bedtime stories and encyclopedia, if you will. Heidi Shamsuddin infused her own touch with commentaries of the stories. Insightful. We've heard of several of these tales but never under the kind of light the author shines through her writing. A well-researched masterpiece.
My favourite tale would be The Sembilang Curse, in which a woman turns into a fish for taking what's forbidden. I had goosebumps!
The section on Sang Kancil took me many, many years back. Loved the nostalgic feeling as I read those tales. I'm betting many of you will enjoy this portion of the book.
🌺 WHY I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK:
🍂 Bite-size stories for everyone, no matter how hectic your schedule is.
🍂 Versions of similar tales are neatly gathered, affording you a new experience.
🍂 Simple but compelling writing style. No difficulties in transitioning from one sentence to the next.
🍂 Some rare tales you may have never heard of.
An ideal choice for those seeking to build a reading habit. Perfect for a gift. Suitable for pre-bedtime reading. This is almost "functional" in a way 🤓. Hope you pick this up!
An Asian version of bedtime stories - that's what I'll say if you ask me to capture it in a sentence.
What's great about this book is its nearly-universal appeal. Each story is about 3-5 pages long, taking only about 5-10 mins to complete. Anyone can finish a story...literally!
As I was going from one tale to the next, it didn't feel like I was reading fiction. The experience was a blend of bedtime stories and encyclopedia, if you will. Heidi Shamsuddin infused her own touch with commentaries of the stories. Insightful. We've heard of several of these tales but never under the kind of light the author shines through her writing. A well-researched masterpiece.
My favourite tale would be The Sembilang Curse, in which a woman turns into a fish for taking what's forbidden. I had goosebumps!
The section on Sang Kancil took me many, many years back. Loved the nostalgic feeling as I read those tales. I'm betting many of you will enjoy this portion of the book.
🌺 WHY I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK:
🍂 Bite-size stories for everyone, no matter how hectic your schedule is.
🍂 Versions of similar tales are neatly gathered, affording you a new experience.
🍂 Simple but compelling writing style. No difficulties in transitioning from one sentence to the next.
🍂 Some rare tales you may have never heard of.
An ideal choice for those seeking to build a reading habit. Perfect for a gift. Suitable for pre-bedtime reading. This is almost "functional" in a way 🤓. Hope you pick this up!
May 26, 2022
3.5, rounded up.
This is a collection of 61 folklore or mythological stories from various countries in the Nusantara region. I’m not really a fan of Western fairytales, though I do enjoy mythology, but I thought I’d give this one a go as I haven’t read many books from or set in this region before. I did really enjoy it, though admittedly more for learning a little about these different countries and their storytelling than for the stories themselves. It’s really interesting to see how the stories differ from country to country, but also are similar to stories from outside the region as well. This is a pretty small collection and while there are a few notes about where the stories come from and what they might mean, it was just a very basic explanation so I’ll definitely consider looking out for some other collections of stories from the Nusantara region with more of that analytic side to them in the future!
This is a collection of 61 folklore or mythological stories from various countries in the Nusantara region. I’m not really a fan of Western fairytales, though I do enjoy mythology, but I thought I’d give this one a go as I haven’t read many books from or set in this region before. I did really enjoy it, though admittedly more for learning a little about these different countries and their storytelling than for the stories themselves. It’s really interesting to see how the stories differ from country to country, but also are similar to stories from outside the region as well. This is a pretty small collection and while there are a few notes about where the stories come from and what they might mean, it was just a very basic explanation so I’ll definitely consider looking out for some other collections of stories from the Nusantara region with more of that analytic side to them in the future!
April 1, 2024
I love how the author shared her insights on what’s the meaning & moral value told from our local folklore stories after each of it. The stories compiled in this book really just proves to us on how rich our culture, belief and values were embedded in it. Though I’m way past my usual finish book reading, because of the richness of the stories with some have different and similar story arc.
Petition for this to translate in Bahasa Melayu too please 😂 it has been a while since we have this compilation of our local folklore which also includes from our neighbouring countries 🫶🏻
Petition for this to translate in Bahasa Melayu too please 😂 it has been a while since we have this compilation of our local folklore which also includes from our neighbouring countries 🫶🏻
August 7, 2023
This brings back my childhood so much. I didn't realise much of the stuff that I've read are actually folklore of nusantara and they are absolutely beautiful. We might be divided geographically and politically but our ancestors have proven that we have a lot more in common than we thought.
December 3, 2023
Entertaining and informative.
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