These 8 books will completely transport you from your quiet life to the sunny shores of Malaysia, and have you feeling like it’s your home away from home!
Ever wanted to just hop on a plane and go and visit the white sandy beaches and crystal blue waters of Malaysia? Or run through the lush green forest and explore the incredible, brightly lit cities bursting at the seams with tourists and adventurers?
Well, now you can, all without even needing to shell out the money for a plane ticket. With these eight books, you’ll feel like Malaysia’s a second home, and you won’t even need to leave your bed.
Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint
Following Singaporean Inspector Singh, a portly, lovable protagonist, as he’s sent to Kuala Lumpur to clear the name of a former model accused of killing her Malaysian husband, this book is just good fun.
The story has all the clichés and wonder of a classic whodunnit story but with the political context of the rivalry between Malaysia and Singapore, as well as some truly brilliantly written characters. Those looking for a fun, intriguing mystery will revel in the Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder.
The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Aw
A bizarre yet brilliant multi-narrative story, this novel follows the life of Johnny Lim, a character whose reputation is brutally destroyed for the reader, only to be built back up, destroyed again, and presented as completely misguided.
Aw has created a beguiling, unreliable narrative that explores a time of high political conflict in what used to be Malaya. The characters are at the core of the novel, but for those who want to learn more about how Malaysia came to be, and the strife that the colonial era put the inhabitants of the country through (as well as an interesting story), then this is the Malaysian novel for you.
The Casuarina Tree by William Somerset Maugham
This book is a collection of short stories, all published in 1926 and set in the 1920s. They’re set in what was once called the Federated Malay States, in the British Community.
The stories are all, in some way or another, about the contradictory human desire to seek both change and familiarity. They contain mediations on changes in British society and identity, as well as highlighting British behaviors during the time of the empire. Once again, a great pick for those who wish to know the history of Malaysia, but also want to see and experience the nature of the country.
The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng
Connected to the novel above, in The House of Doors, Tan Twan Eng has imagined the life of W. Somerset Maugham, a prolific author. Bringing him back to life in this story set in Penang, Malaysia, in 1921. It sees W. Somerset Maugham, or Willie, meet Lesley, who begrudgingly lets him stay at her house.
The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng
The Gift of Rain follows an older man, Philip, who is half Chinese and half British, living in Penang. In his early seventies, he is the lone resident of a large house that has been in his family for generations.
The story begins when a Japanese woman named Michiko arrives at Philip’s house. She shares a mutual friend with him, and when she arrives with presents and tales of the past, a story unfolds of an old man’s life in Malaysia during the war.
The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo
The most fantastical book on this list, The Ghost Bride, is a wonderful combination of Malaysian history, scenery, characters, Chinese folklore, and romance.
The story is set in 1890s Malacca and follows the daughter of a bankrupt family, whose hand in marriage has been requested by none other than the son of the rich Lim family. The only issue? He’s dead. What continues is an exploration of love, adventure, death, and everything in between, all in the beautiful Malaysian backdrop.
The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo
We’re in Malaya in the 1930s in this story, following Ren, a young houseboy serving a foreign doctor. His previous master died, but he cannot rest until his severed thumb is returned to his body.
At the same time, we’re also following Ji Lin, a dressmaker’s apprentice who dreams of becoming a doctor. As a tiger roams the village, and people start to die, can the two young people come together to save the people of Malaya and put a soul to rest?
The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng
Set in the heart of Malaya following the Japanese invasion, this story is hard to endure at times, but it is worth the read.
It follows Teoh Yun Ling, who was held for three years in a brutal camp with her sister and ended up as the sole survivor. The story is of Yun Ling at seventy, a retired Supreme Court judge, suffering from an incurable illness that affects her memory.
She travels back to the garden of Yugiri, where she had once been an apprentice. There, the narrator tells the story of her life, her love, and everything else.
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Millie Ramm
Millie has been writing since she was a child, and has spent more time with her nose in books than anywhere else. She has been ghostwriting novels and editing for the past few years, and when not working she is curled up with her cats, looking for her next read.
