Malaysia is rich in culture, the intermingling of various communities, Indians, Malays, Chinese. Then we have the unique Baba Nynonya, a unique community born out of the communion of the Chinese with other races. Their own community has a lot to offer in terms of cuisine, clothing, history and most importantly culture.
In this story, which is weaved around the Baba Nyonya community in the early days, a lot of insights into one of Malaysia's special communities is revealed. Through this reading, it enables one to learn something about their traditions.
An intriguing, poignant and inspiring tale of a young Thai girl, Meh Nya, who escaped death during the murder of her aristocrat parents, fled from Thailand to Penang in Peninsula Malaya in the early 1900's. She grew up in the stately 'Pelangi' Mansion to emerge as a notable matriarch of a clan.
Find out what happened when a local mafia group, locked her in the mansion and set it ablaze and her agony watching her loved ones and friends raped, tortured and killed. Tear-jerker scenes depict her sharing in her daughter's intense persecution for intermarrying an Indian and the trauma of another daughter who lost her husband and son and tenciously fought for her life against tuberculosis.
Nevertheless, share in her blissful escapades and eye-opening Baba Nyonya traditions and practices as she belonged to this exclusive community whose intriguing culture flourished in the former British Straits Settlements of Singapore, Penang and Malacca.
Be awe-struck with her bizarre, mind-boggling experiences with the local cultures as well as repulsive homeopathic practices of the indigenous groups in Thailand, Malaya and ancient China (think powdered cockroach for toothache, yuck!).
In the last part of this story readers will come face to face with the atrocities of the Japanese during World War II in Malaya. Meh Nya's family advocated love, peace and forgiveness during these hard times, helping to reconstruct many battered, war-torn lives.
Informative in a narrative way, I found the storyline confusing at certain parts with the mish mash of dialogues and mind voices among the many characters in this book. This was the only drawback which made me less receptive towards the mood that the writer aimed to bring. However, it's a good introduction on Baba Nyonya culture without being stiflingly educational.
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