Life, love, loneliness and death are the four poles that limn this collection of memorable stories. The characters are varied—women torn between marriage and emancipated lives of their own, a young boy whose taste or memory is shaped by May 13, mixed-race couples split by the walls of race and religion, gay men whose ‘love cannot be understood by their family or nation’, sassy stories showcasing the clash between superstition and modernity. Cool, clever and controversial, these stories show the shadow and light of contemporary Malaysia through the small, daily lives of its unforgettable characters.

–  Danton Remoto, poet, novelist, short story writer and essayist

In these stories, Malachi Edwin Vethamani bravely explores the intersections and conflicts between family and sexuality that are typical in contemporary Asian societies, yet also universal. Few Malaysian writers have dared to approach sexuality and sexual diversity with such candour and courage. Vethamani’s characters are endearingly familiar, but the quandaries and moral dilemmas they face remain unusual in Malaysian English fiction.

Vethamani’s stories compel the reader to reflect on the future of his characters. You hope they find what they are looking for. Or you hope they ultimately know what they are looking for. Either way, they are memorable and remain with you long after you have put aside these beautiful nuggets. Peopled with characters of Tamil origin, these slices of life in Malaysia are more palpable after this fine read.