Tales of real life

Malaysian readers love true tales of personal experiences, culture and overcoming hardship, if the winners of this year’s Popular-The Star Readers’ Choice Awards are anything to go by.

THEY are both books that draw upon their authors’ childhood experiences. One explores the rich Peranakan culture through a series of short stories inspired by the writer’s memory of tales told by her grandmothers, mother and aunties. The other is a true-life accounting of her father’s life and legacy as a poor Chinese immigrant to Malaya in the 19th century, who eventually became one of the country’s richest businessmen.