Sembawang: A Novel

Sembawang: A Novel
Author: Kamaladevi Aravindan
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish International Asia Pte Ltd
Total Pages: 198
Release: 2020-09-24
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 981492802X

Singapore, 1960s: Sembawang is home away from home for a tightly-knit community of bachelors and families who work at Her Majesty's Naval Base. Behind closed doors, a matriarch controls her daughters-in-law's movements. A bachelor from Kerala pines by his window for his forbidden lover. A maid from a rubber estate across the border aches to hold her young son once more. An inter-racial love between a conservative Tamil woman and a worldly Chinese man wreaks havoc in the life of an innocent bystander. The idyllic village life is shaken when two midwives are viciously attacked at the maternity clinic, and again when one of their own beloved residents meets with an unnatural death. As catastrophes strike, the village comes together as one. A dramatic, sweeping saga of Sembawang families across five decades.

A Spoonful of Malaysian Magic

A Spoonful of Malaysian Magic
Author: Collin Yeoh
Publisher: Teaspoon Publishing
Total Pages: 252
Release: 2023-11-23
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9671963471

A burong descends from Tansang Kenyalang in the midst of a dire catastrophe. A shapeshifter frees Kedah from the dreaded Raja Bersiong only to uncover a darker secret. A woman learns to channel her family’s food magic. A young huntress of supernatural creatures charts her own path of love. This anthology of short stories offers fresh takes on Malaysian folklore and fairy tales, adds enchantment to the ordinary, and bursts with new, wonderful flavours. Stir a little spoonful of magic into your tea, whether you’re from these shores or from far away. Stories by: Collin Yeoh · Hamizah Adzmi · Ilnaz A. Faizal · Ismim Putera · Joni Chng · Joshua Lim · Julia Alba · Rowan C · Sharmilla Ganesan · Stuart Danker · Syazwani Jefferdin · Zufar Zeid

Saini Subramanyam vs. 2020

Saini Subramanyam vs. 2020
Author: Avinash Matta
Publisher: Avinash Matta
Total Pages: 84
Release: 2021-03-10
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

Idli vs. Aloo Paratha? Music vs. Engineering? Love vs. Arranged Marriage? Arjun Saini Subramanyam is a confused teenager with a life full of conflicting choices. Even as he struggles to pick the better choice, life throws more challenges at him as the lockdown is announced. His paternal grandparents arrive from Amritsar and his maternal grandparents from Visakhapatnam. His Mom and Dad are busy working from home and board exams are indefinitely postponed. Arjun has to single-handedly deal with his constantly brawling gang of grandparents and try to unite them. As family secrets are revealed, promises broken, lies exposed, Arjun experiences a roller coaster of emotions before finding stability and a zen-like wisdom on accepting life.

The Best Of Samaithu Paar

The Best Of Samaithu Paar
Author: S M Ammal
Publisher: Penguin UK
Total Pages: 245
Release: 2001-12-04
Genre: Cooking
ISBN: 9351184374

Recipes treasured by more than three generations of women The first volume of Samaithu Paar was published in 1951. More than just a cookery book, it was intended to serve as a manual for daily use. Over the years, those who did not find time to learn cooking in the traditional way from their mothers have used the three volumes of Samaithu Paar to set up home and manage kitchen all over the world. The Best of Samaithu Paar brings together 100 most-loved recipes chosen from the three-volume original. Maintaining the simplicity of language, easy-to-follow directions and the adherence to the smallest details, the recipes have been suitably revised and adapted using universal measures of cups and spoons and modern utensils and appliances in place of the more traditional ones. Recipes range from the basic idli, dosai, sambar and rasam to their many variations that are not so familiar to all Indians. The book also includes specialities like Moar Kuzhambu, Mysore Rasam, Pongal, Murukku and Jangiri, as well as pachadis and pickles. A must-have for all those who enjoy traditional Indian cuisine.

Tiffin

Tiffin
Author: Rukmini Srinivas
Publisher:
Total Pages: 344
Release: 2013-05
Genre: Cooking, Indic
ISBN: 9788129123909

Evening Is the Whole Day

Evening Is the Whole Day
Author: Preeta Samarasan
Publisher: HMH
Total Pages: 357
Release: 2009-05-12
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0547526121

A “psychologically acute and boldly plotted” tale of a wealthy, dysfunctional family in Malaysia (Booklist, starred review). Set in Malaysia, this internationally acclaimed debut novel offers an unflinching look at relationships between parents and children, brothers and sisters, the wealthy and poor, a country and its citizens—all through the eyes of the prosperous Rajasekharan family. When Chellam, the family’s rubber-plantation-bred servant girl, is dismissed for unnamed crimes, her banishment is the latest in a series of losses that have shaken six-year-old Aasha’s life. A few weeks before, Aasha’s grandmother Paati passed away under mysterious circumstances and her older sister, Uma, departed for Columbia University—leaving Aasha to cope with her mostly absent father, bitter mother, and imperturbable older brother. Moving backward and forward in time, Evening Is the Whole Day explores the closely guarded secrets that haunt the Rajasekharans: What was Chellam’s unforgivable crime? Why was Uma so intent on leaving? What did Aasha see? And, underscoring all of these mysteries: What ultimately became of her father’s once-grand dreams for his family and his country? “A delicious first novel . . . [Samarasan’s] ambitious, spiraling plot, her richly embroidered prose, her sense of place, and her psychological acuity are stunning.” —The New York Times Book Review “A surpassingly wise and beautiful debut novel about the tragic consequences of the inability to love.” —Booklist, starred review “The language bursts with energy.” —Publishers Weekly

Nine Yard Sarees: a short story cycle

Nine Yard Sarees: a short story cycle
Author: Prasanthi Ram
Publisher: Ethos Books
Total Pages: 183
Release: 2023-11-17
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 981186036X

Nine Yard Sarees is a multigenerational portrait of a fictional Tamil Brahmin family. Comprising eleven interlinked stories, this short story cycle traces the lives of nine women from 1950 all the way to 2019, shedding light on the community and its evolution through the decades. As the stories take us from India to Singapore, Australia and even America, we follow the experiences of the women in the family: Raji the matriarch who lives in seclusion at an ashram; her daughter Padma who struggles to raise her family the traditional way; Padma’s daughter Keerthana who is about to be married and don the nine yard saree, a symbol of womanhood. Tender, dynamic and full of heart, this cycle is a resonant portrayal of female solidarity and the complexities of the diasporic experience in contemporary Singapore.

Cooking at Home with Pedatha

Cooking at Home with Pedatha
Author: Subhadra Krishna Rau Parigi
Publisher: Wisdom Tree
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2013-08-15
Genre: Cooking
ISBN: 9788183282994

Awarded "Best Vegetarian Book in the World 2006 by the prestigious Gourmand awards, this cookbook features more than 60 traditional vegetarian recipes. It is a tribute to an illustrious Indian Grandmother, Mrs Subhadra Rau Parigi (aka Pedatha). She was the daughter of India s former President Bharat Ratna Dr. V V Giri. Her recipes, much sought after by friends and relatives, retain the regional flavours of Andhra Pradesh, a state of India known for its delicious chilli-hot food. Intrigued by her passion which had not diminished with age, Jigyasa and Pratibha took the initiative to record this culinary legacy for posterity. Some special features of this book are: Traditional recipes with interesting variations, Guidelines for tempering or tadka, Vegetarian meal plans, Photo glossary of spices, lentils and vegetables, Exquisite food photography, and Special tips by Pedatha throughout the book. Recipe sections are divided into Chutneys (Pachchadi), Powders (Podi), Rice (Annam), Vegetables (Koora), Dals (Pappu, Chaaru), Yogurt (Perugu), Sweets (Theepi), and Crispies (Vadiyalu). With attention to detail and an easy-to-follow format, the book is a treat to the novice as well as the veteran. The excellent photography & layout add to the aesthetic appeal of this tribute coffee table book.

Three Days of Catharsis

Three Days of Catharsis
Author: Atrayee Bhattacharya
Publisher: Educreation Publishing
Total Pages: 255
Release: 2016-07-19
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

The story revolves around the reminiscences of Katyayani Krishnan, an NRI girl from Singapore, who comes to IIM Kolkata on a student exchange program. She is born to a Bengali mother and a Tamil Iyer father. A sarcastic interactive session with two IIM officials needles her to start questioning her identity. Furthermore, when her maternal grandfather introduces her to the norms of a patriarchal society, she reminisces about several incidents where her parents pedantically make her understand that she is a cultural blend and unique. Her cathartic journey continues when she meets her gamophobic cousin, Thia. A series of conversations makes Katyayani to reveal the nitty-gritties of an intercultural family, her learning process to speak a multitude of languages, how God provided her a channel to start eating non-vegetarian food, and most importantly her fun-filled journey amidst the behavioral and cultural differences between her bloodlines. The story continues with her past chequered love life with a Bengali cultural bigot, Sudhanshu, marking an attendance in her present. Amidst the god-fearing family members, Katyayani reveals her open relationship with God and her concept of spirituality to Thia. Even after knowing the minutiae of her life when Thia still questions her identity, she finds her mind free from befuddlement. She defines the true meaning of culture to Thia, she declares her accomplishments as her virtue and she redefines her identity as an outcome of true love and a cultural blend. This book is an effort to bring about the monumental change in humanity to grow and survive as homo sapiens and not to cling on to a particular language or culture to define ourselves.

Thukpa for All

Thukpa for All
Author: Praba Ram
Publisher: Karadi Tales Picturebooks
Total Pages: 48
Release: 2019-10
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9788193388983

Told from a blind child's perspective, this warm and delectable picture book from India is about friendship and community in gorgeous Ladakh.