Lead Review (The Heartsick Diaspora)

• Book: The Heartsick Diaspora
• Location: World
• Author: Elaine Chiew

Review Author: tripfiction

#fromourbookshelves

The lyrical storytelling brings Asian lives and tradition into colourful focus.

There are fourteen stories in this anthology and the first one titled The Coffin Maker is set in Singapore. It melds the due process of finding the right wood for a coffin and the story of a comfort woman. Each page is infused with food, and the aromas of the delicate dishes emanate from the pages. In Run of the Molars, the story of mothers and daughters is set in London.

Several stories are set in the USA and I particularly enjoyed Chronicles of a Culinary Poseur. It forms a real insight into how it feels to be torn between different cultures, always juggling, learning and adapting. There are Tiger Mothers and a story of the samsui women, who are Singapore’s thrifty, hardworking construction workers.

These stories are eye-openingly entertaining and thought-provoking and swirls of beautiful dishes accompany the very competent storytelling.

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