Congrats to publisher Amir Muhammad, and editors Jerome Kugan and Pang Khee Teik for getting this project off the ground :
BODY 2 BODY: A MALAYSIAN QUEER ANTHOLOGY is the first of its kind: a compilation of original creative writing on the gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transsexuals and transvestites of the country. Long denied a voice in the mainstream, the queers of Malaysia are boldly and fabulously represented in 23 stories, fiction and non-fiction. From coming out to coming home, breaking up to breaking down, changing sex to changing heart, the stories are different from anything you may have read in – or about – Malaysia.A lot of very good writers have contributed stories to the collection, and I for one, can't wait to get my mitts on a copy :
1. Introduction - Jerome Kugan & Pang Khee TeikI'm so glad that the project has finally come to fruition - I remember the idea being first floated on a writer's e-group I was a member of, and I clearly remember the utter rabidity of some of the reactions to it. I guess for me that, in itself, was an awakening.
2. What Do Gay People Eat? - Brian Gomez
3. Breathing Pure Oxygen - Cheryl Leong
4. Roommates: Not A Love Story - Sharil Dewa
5. The Wedding Present - Sonia Randhawa
6. The Man From Berali Carpets - Maya Tan Abdullah
7. And I Love You - Hwa Yi Xing
8. Hafiz's Dilemma - Ann Lee
9. Dude, Don't Tell Me - Kung Khai Jhun
10. The Friendship Dictator - Faizad Nik Abdul Aziz
11. Muslim 2 Muslim - Shanon Shah
12. Cream Of The Crop - Pang Khee Teik
13. Pirate Girl - Marisa Repin
14. Good Job - O Thiam Chin
15. Harry Is Dead - Shih-Li Kow
16. The Old Fig Council - Zed Adam
17. The Wives' Story - Tan May Lee
18. Have You Seen My Son? - Abirami Durai
19. Friends Of Everyone - Julya Oui
20. Monsoon Massage - Paul GnanaSelvam
21. The Naked Meme - Ray Langenbach
22. In Search Of - Ho Sui-Jim
23. Alvin - Jerome Kugan
24. Sunset - Azharr Rudin
The book has its launch on Saturday, August 15, 2009, 4:00pm - 5:30pm at The Annexe Gallery, Central Market Annexe. (See the event's Facebook page here.) And it is dedicated to those two very special women who died too soon :
19 comments:
This should be an interesting read, provided I can take it to the counter without the cashier giving me a funny look (Oh yeah, this guy has that gay look).
[Rolls eyes].
Fadz - You mean the cashier didn't already give you that look when you bought the Twilight books? ;-)
Thanks Sharon! I am in the midst of writing an article (for Quill) on the occasionally slapstick process of getting this book off the ground.
Ahahaha. Touche.
I bought all three books long before the movie came out (Breaking Dawn wasn't out yet at that time), so I think the cashier only gave me the 'cash or plastic' look.
Hmmm, I'm not sure, but I think the dedication should read "To the MEMORY of YA and TK" and not "memories", since it's not directed at the store of memories held by the people being dedicated, but to their memory...
- Poppadumdum
...unless, of course, the editors DID mean for the book to be dedicated to the store of memories of YA and TK...then I stand chastised...
- PPDD
PPDD --
It probably should be "memory", unless they found a way to extract the memories of the two people :P
That's what I meant! :-)))) Thanks Anon! :-)
- PPDD
PPDD -
You're welcome. I also think "celebrated diversity" would sound better :P
Let's hope this publication marks the beginning of a drastic change in the present attitudes...
(Ok, so I am an optimistic idiot. But one can dream of a better future.)
Congrats to all involved. Don't think I can make the launch though - I just get in to KLIA in that morning after 22 hour flight.
Oh we did consider 'memory' but then decided that 'memories' is a much gayer word. A free book goes to the first person who can explain *why* it's gayer ;-)
Diversity and inclusivity were also considered. But the very concept of difference is more challenging, no? It's very safe to celebrate 'diversity', but how many can handle actual 'difference' ? :-)
Glenda: jetlag will make the launch much more entertaining!
Because it's so close to "Mammaries" ?
- Poppadumdum
I confess I do think "differences" is a more appropriate word in this case.
However, no clue why "memories" is better or gayer than memory....
This is a collection I am looking forward to...congrats to everyone involved with the project.
Is it because of Barbra Streisand (who sang 'Memories')?
Rebecca
Rebecca, how do I pass the book to you? Email me at matahari dot books at gmail dot com.
Damayanti :
"differences" maybe but "difference" ?
"While postmodernism tends to celebrate difference, schools of thought following Hegel seek to overcome it." - The Routledge Companion to Postmodernism (2001). Routledge, don't play play!
Having said that, there IS one hilarious typo on Page 2 of the book, which I am looking at now. Sheesh.
It still makes me feel funny, like the the line doesn't scan right or something.
Should be an interesting read!
Coming to the launch? :-)
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