Kebaya Tales is a delightful collection of short stories, teeming with fascinating and interesting characters, unexpected twists and turns, cultural rituals, beliefs and superstitions and poignant events in the life stories of the Peranakans.Lee Su Kim’s book brings you into another world, a world that many know little about—the world of the Babas and Nyonyas or the Straits Chinese, a colourful, flamboyant and unique community still in existence today in the former Straits Settlements of Malacca, Penang and Singapore. Like her previous books, Lee Su Kim’s stories in this book are laced with humour and occasional gentle satire. All the stories are based on or are inspired by real-life events which Su Kim has collected from her nyonya mother, grandmother, bibiks and nyonyas.This is a first-ever collection of short stories of a unique cultural community, at the crossroads as to its very survival, but presently enjoying a tremendous resurgence. Su Kim’s debut collection of stories are simply stunning and heartwarming, evocative of a bygone era and a cultural community renowned for its unique multicultural legacy.(Description extracted from :

Kebaya Tales

Lee Su Kim

Marshall Cavendish Editions

After Kebaya Tales and Sarong Secrets comes a rich, gutsy collection of short stories immersing the reader into the vivid, multi-hued world of the Peranakans. Here, the babas take centre stage: masculine perspectives, voices and protagonists are put under the spotlight, even as fiery and headstrong heroines pursue their passions in the face of powerful obstacles. The cast of characters seek to forge individual identities within a unique cultural heritage facing the challenges of modern times.The stories are accented with photographs peppered throughout – of exquisite beadwork, bejewelled adornments, vintage fabrics, gilded artefacts from private collections,personal belongings of the babas, and of course, twinkling, manek-encrusted accessories.

Manek Mischiefs: Of Patriarchs, Playboys and Paramours

Literature & Fiction

Genre Fiction

Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd

Now back after 20 years with brand new words, expressions and idioms, this hilarious classic remains packed with humour, irreverence and loads of fun. It bids all Malaysians to lighten up, laugh at ourselves and revel in our unique, multicultural way of life. Forget about tenses, grammar, pronunciation, and just relek lah ... Aiyoh. Manglish or Malaysian English is what Malaysians speak when we want to connect with each other or just hang loose. Borrowing from Malay, Chinese, Indian, Asli, British English, American English, dialects, popular mass media and plenty more, our unique English reflects our amazing diversity. Like a frothy teh tarik or a lip-smacking mouthful of divine durian, Manglish is uniquely Malaysian. Manglish is an entertaining, funny and witty compilation of commonly used Malaysian English words and expressions. Whether Malaysian, expat, visitor or a fresh-off-the-plane Mat Salleh, you'll never be at a loss for words when conversing with Malaysians.

Manglish: Malaysian English At Its Wackiest

Stephen J. Hall

Reference

Ten years after its initial publication, national bestseller Kebaya Tales: 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.

Kebaya Tales: Of Matriarchs, Maidens, Mistresses and Matchmakers

In 1996, Lee Su Kim, a Nyonya (ie. of Straits Chinese parentage), relocated to Texas in the US where she pursued a doctoral degree. With a young family in tow, she was doctoral student of English, wife, mother - and an alien. In this book, she describes the culture shock of moving into a country vastly different from her native country, Malaysia. She recounts some of the mystifying, amusing, reassuring or alarming experiences that she had in her new environment. The reader will laugh, though sometimes wryly!

A Nyonya in Texas

Marshall Cavendish