Things to Make and Break
- 288 pages
- 11 hours of reading
A sublime and provocative debut from one of the UK's most exciting new writers, for fans of Miranda July, Carmen Maria Machado and Lydia Davis.
May-Lan Tan Books
May-Lan Tan is the author of the story collection Things to Make and Break and the chapbook Girly. Her literary world often delves into the depths of the human psyche, exploring complex relationships and unspoken desires. Tan is characterized by her keen insight into characters and a precise linguistic style that draws readers into the heart of their experiences. Her stories offer unsettling yet captivating glimpses into contemporary life and the internal struggles of individuals.
A coming-of-age tale of love and cultural reconnection set in modern-day Kuala Lumpur KATIE CHEN, 16, lives in the unremarkable suburb of Narre Warren in Australia with her somewhat reclusive Malaysian father. Coming to Australia when she was 5 and losing her mother at 7, she has always struggled with issues of identity. One day, she goes back to Malaysia for her grandmother's funeral and discovers that her mother - long-thought-dead - is alive. Set in a fictionalised Kuala Lumpur (KL), Katie struggles to reconnect with her mother whom she discovers is Malay. Navigating KL's underground music scene and the underlying tensions of a country she doesn't understand, how far is Katie willing to go to find a place to belong?