We got a number of comments this month which talked about how interesting so many of the books were on the list & I agree! But before we get to the results, I’m happy to note that I found another Malaysian cookbook—one which famed chef Ken Hom notes is “mouthwatering” & the “definitive book on Malaysian cookery.” Written by an award-winning Malaysian chef who’s also the official Food Ambassador for Kuala Lumpur, the cookbook looks outstanding.
Malaysian food is incredible!
Think vibrant, healthy dishes with dazzling flavours and textures. With over 100 recipes—using ingredients that you can find in any supermarket—this is the ultimate guide to cooking Malaysian food at home. Try an authentic satay, an aromatic curry, a laksa, or simply the perfect fluffy coconut rice.
“Norman’s knowledge and enthusiasm is fantastic and reflects in his incredible taste in food.” —Tom Kerridge
”This book is a 'love letter' to his native cuisine. Musa’s recipes . . . are straightforward and accessible.” —Daily Telegraph
“Musa captures this rainbow of cooking and presents to the rest of the world a portrait of what makes Malaysian home cooking unique.” —Booklist Online
But what book are we reading for the club?
One of BookPage's Best Books of 2021
Winner of AudioFile’s 2021 Best Audiobook
One of Book Riot's Best SFF Standalones of 2021
One of Tor Reviewers' Choice Best Books of 2021
A twisty, feminist, and enthralling page-turner steeped in Malaysian mythology. (BuzzFeed)
When Jessamyn Teoh starts hearing a voice in her head, she chalks it up to stress. Closeted, broke and jobless, she’s moving back to Malaysia with her parents—a country she last saw when she was a toddler.
She soon learns the new voice isn’t even hers, it’s the ghost of her estranged grandmother. Drawn into a world of Malaysian myth and real-world consequences filled with gods, ghosts, and family secrets, Jess finds that making deals with capricious spirits is a dangerous business, but dealing with her grandmother is just as complicated.
“[Focusing on] Malaysia’s Chinese diaspora culture. . . an immersive tale of family secrets, deities, spirits, and religious belief. Cho offers a complex emotional roller-coaster of a read.”—Library Journal
“Ghosts. Gods. Gangsters. Wildly entertaining…Black Water Sister has it all!”—Vulture
“Cho’s multifaceted characters, like her masterful plot, are never quite what they first appear. Unpredictable twists keep the pages turning while the comic but endearing relationship between Jess and her sassy grandmother provides the story’s heart. This is a must-read.”—Publishers Weekly
Note: Outstanding on audio!
(Group read suggestion from Beth McCrea, book club co-founder. +A staff recommendation of hers.)