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The Sum of Our Follies
The Sum of Our Follies is a novel set in Lubok Sayong, an imaginary Malaysian town.
Two narrators describe Lubok Sayong and its community of quirky inhabitants. The first is Auyong, a retiree from the city who operates a lychee factory in Lubok Sayong. The other is eleven-year-old Mary Anne, an orphan who is taken in by an irascible woman in charge of the Big House.
Through anecdotes and gentle humour, the two narrators observe the events that change the town and their lives as modernity sets in and Mary Anne grows up.
Two narrators describe Lubok Sayong and its community of quirky inhabitants. The first is Auyong, a retiree from the city who operates a lychee factory in Lubok Sayong. The other is eleven-year-old Mary Anne, an orphan who is taken in by an irascible woman in charge of the Big House.
Through anecdotes and gentle humour, the two narrators observe the events that change the town and their lives as modernity sets in and Mary Anne grows up.
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
March 23, 2018
4+
Thoroughly enjoyed this charming and surreal novel set in a small Perak town. The writing is beautiful, the characters deliciously quirky, and many of the episodes had me laughing out loud. Puts its finger on the pulse of Malaysian politics and social issues in a lighthearted way. For sure one of the finest Malaysian novels and a must-read for anyone interested I local literature.
Thoroughly enjoyed this charming and surreal novel set in a small Perak town. The writing is beautiful, the characters deliciously quirky, and many of the episodes had me laughing out loud. Puts its finger on the pulse of Malaysian politics and social issues in a lighthearted way. For sure one of the finest Malaysian novels and a must-read for anyone interested I local literature.
September 27, 2019
Il y a des romans qui restent dans notre wishlist un moment et qu’on finit par oublier, mais ça n’a pas été pas le cas de La Somme de nos folies. Depuis que j’ai écouté l’interview de l’autrice par Emilie dans le tout premier épisode de son podcast La Page Blanche, ce livre m’est resté en tête pendant des mois, et quand une amie m’a offert un exemplaire qui traînait chez elle, j’étais aux anges ! Tant et si bien qu’il n’est resté que 15 jours dans ma PAL avant que je l’en sorte, avide d’enfin découvrir cette histoire. Et quelle excellente lecture !
J’ai tout simplement adoré chaque page de ce délicieux roman, où on suit alternativement Auyong, vieux directeur d’une usine de conserves de litchi, et Mary-Anne, jeune orpheline dont le destin va basculer, et qui vont tous deux nous conter les aventures, légendes et rencontres liées à Lubok Sayong, petit village où toute la Malaise et ses paradoxes se retrouvent concentrés. Le format est plutôt unique, comme une succession de petits récits mais qui, les uns après les autres, composent un livre magnifique, tout en nuances et en ironie. Je trouve que Shih-Li Kow a un vrai talent de conteuse, que ce soit pour les légendes ou la vraie vie. D’ailleurs, comme dans la vraie vie, ce roman nous prend souvent par surprise avec des drames terribles auxquels je ne m’attendais pas mais qui mettent d’autant plus en valeur tous ces personnages pleins de résilience et de détermination.
Suite sur lottesofbooks.com
J’ai tout simplement adoré chaque page de ce délicieux roman, où on suit alternativement Auyong, vieux directeur d’une usine de conserves de litchi, et Mary-Anne, jeune orpheline dont le destin va basculer, et qui vont tous deux nous conter les aventures, légendes et rencontres liées à Lubok Sayong, petit village où toute la Malaise et ses paradoxes se retrouvent concentrés. Le format est plutôt unique, comme une succession de petits récits mais qui, les uns après les autres, composent un livre magnifique, tout en nuances et en ironie. Je trouve que Shih-Li Kow a un vrai talent de conteuse, que ce soit pour les légendes ou la vraie vie. D’ailleurs, comme dans la vraie vie, ce roman nous prend souvent par surprise avec des drames terribles auxquels je ne m’attendais pas mais qui mettent d’autant plus en valeur tous ces personnages pleins de résilience et de détermination.
Suite sur lottesofbooks.com
January 15, 2024
Sum of Our Follies features the inhabitants and daily happenings of a hypothetical small town called Lubok Sayong in the state of Perak, Malaysia. Kow Shih-Li has rendered a charming fable of a 'backwater' town complete with its own myth, topography (chiefly being prone to flooding and overflowing of lakes) and very Malaysian multicultural flavour. The narrators are an elderly Chinese businessman Auyong with a lychee canning factory originally a transplant from KL and an adopted girl Mary-Anne from an orphanage. The stream of memorable quirky characters include a Malay potter Ishmet, a woman Nain who cultivates leeches, a foul-tempered Tamil woman Beevi who inherits The Big House and inadvertantly releases a monster fish into the town waters. Kow boldly tackles hot potato topics like politics eg. Bersih and race relations but with a light deft satirical touch. I chuckled at the development of Lubok Sayong as an ecotourism spot (hornbills!) and the skewering of artificial cultural showcase villages by enthusiastic expatriate foreigners. Overdevelopment and gentrification of certain places in Malaysia are discussed, this book was first published by Silverfish Books in 2014. I just visited Penang a few months ago and am sorry to report it's suffering from the same gnarls as complained about in the book. On the same roadtrip, had the opportunity to visit a few places within Perak like Ipoh, Taiping and Kuala Sepetang.
I was thoroughly charmed by Sum of Our Follies and reveled in its thorough Malaysian rasa. So glad the book found a new publisher Buku Fixi after Silverfish shuttered its operations. 4.25 ⭐️
Will be looking into Kow's two short story collections
Ripples and other stories and BONE WEIGHT and other stories.
I was thoroughly charmed by Sum of Our Follies and reveled in its thorough Malaysian rasa. So glad the book found a new publisher Buku Fixi after Silverfish shuttered its operations. 4.25 ⭐️
Will be looking into Kow's two short story collections
Ripples and other stories and BONE WEIGHT and other stories.
March 28, 2015
I have been a fan of Kow since I read Ripples. She's an exceptional storyteller with a knack of inserting short witty lines that either make you laugh, cringe, or think.
The Sum of Our Follies tells about life in a fictional town of Lubok Sayong. it is a tale of its town folks and people who are connected to it. It brings forward political, race, culture and LGBTQ issues (plus internet scams) and makes you laugh at how true and funny they are.
I find the characters lively. They are the picture of folks I meet when I walk out to a kopitiam or a mamak stall. Each of them is unique and also, real. They speak about our concerns, about things that are happening and things that are lost.
Sad and nostalgic at times, I laughed and sniffled along with each page turn. I was quite disappointed to reach the last page and realized that I had overstayed my welcome in Lubok Sayong. I can no longer turn a page and take a peek to see what else happened to the kids, the adults, and the fish. Overall, it was a great read. A book that I'm glad to have come across to.
Fun fact: I thought Lubok Sayong was real because it was described in such detail that I could picture it in my head. Until I googled it and found out the hard truth.
The Sum of Our Follies tells about life in a fictional town of Lubok Sayong. it is a tale of its town folks and people who are connected to it. It brings forward political, race, culture and LGBTQ issues (plus internet scams) and makes you laugh at how true and funny they are.
I find the characters lively. They are the picture of folks I meet when I walk out to a kopitiam or a mamak stall. Each of them is unique and also, real. They speak about our concerns, about things that are happening and things that are lost.
Sad and nostalgic at times, I laughed and sniffled along with each page turn. I was quite disappointed to reach the last page and realized that I had overstayed my welcome in Lubok Sayong. I can no longer turn a page and take a peek to see what else happened to the kids, the adults, and the fish. Overall, it was a great read. A book that I'm glad to have come across to.
Fun fact: I thought Lubok Sayong was real because it was described in such detail that I could picture it in my head. Until I googled it and found out the hard truth.
September 29, 2020
The cover blurb for The Sum of Our Follies says, "In our town, we serve up our legend like nasi lemak bungkus - lukewarm and thinly garnished, in portions that fall short of satisfying the appetite and the imagination." Well, I'm pleased to report that this is not the case for the novel itself. It more than satisfied my appetite and imagination.
Ostensibly the story of Beevi, Auyong and Mary Anne, the real character in The Sum of Our Follies is the imaginary town of Lubok Sayong. And while magic realism is a term too often thrown around loosely these days, it is an accurate description of this work which sees an invasion of green bugs when a prominent government minister visits the town, a woman covering herself with leeches to save them from a flood, and a ghost baby.
The novel has a tenderness towards its characters that is rare in fiction these days. There are no real villians and no grand dramatic arc. While it does trace the development and growth of, in particular, Mary Anne, the novel is more a series of vignettes about life in this Malaysian small town so friendly that transexuals are welcomed. Not something that is likely to actually occur in a real Malaysian small town. A real charmer and highly recommended.
Ostensibly the story of Beevi, Auyong and Mary Anne, the real character in The Sum of Our Follies is the imaginary town of Lubok Sayong. And while magic realism is a term too often thrown around loosely these days, it is an accurate description of this work which sees an invasion of green bugs when a prominent government minister visits the town, a woman covering herself with leeches to save them from a flood, and a ghost baby.
The novel has a tenderness towards its characters that is rare in fiction these days. There are no real villians and no grand dramatic arc. While it does trace the development and growth of, in particular, Mary Anne, the novel is more a series of vignettes about life in this Malaysian small town so friendly that transexuals are welcomed. Not something that is likely to actually occur in a real Malaysian small town. A real charmer and highly recommended.
July 28, 2018
La traduction de Zulma est, comme toujours, d'excellente facture.
Le livre est une petite bouffée d'air frais, avec ses personnages tendres et attachants et l'autrice fait un très beau boulot pour retranscrire l'atmosphère de cette bourgade malaysienne.
Malheureusement c'est loin d'être inoubliable.
Le livre est une petite bouffée d'air frais, avec ses personnages tendres et attachants et l'autrice fait un très beau boulot pour retranscrire l'atmosphère de cette bourgade malaysienne.
Malheureusement c'est loin d'être inoubliable.
January 14, 2019
J'ai pris beaucoup de plaisir à lire l'histoire de Mary Anne, Auyong, Beevi et les autres ... J'ai fait durer ma lecture en longueur car ce roman se savoure, quelques chapitres tous les jours. J'ai eu la chance de voyager en Malaisie et c'est avec plaisir que j'ai pu goûter à nouveau à cette culture, cette atmosphère, ces paysages que j'ai tant appréciés. Ce roman est un petit bijou.
December 17, 2020
I was so completely engaged in this story of a small town in Malaysia! The fabulism and tall-tale nature of the incidents in this story gave it such a magical feel, while the stubborn female characters dealing with life's difficulties grounded it in reality. It has humor, heart, and also deals with some heavy topics in a way that makes you both feel the depth of that emotion while not drowning you in its weight. Definitely loved this and highly recommend it! I'll be reading more of Kow's work for sure.
December 1, 2018
Lubok Sayong est une petite ville au nord de Kuala Lumpur qui est inondée plusieurs jours par an. Des inondations qui lui valent son lot d'histoires mémorables. Là vit un trio insolite : Beevi, petite vieille qu'il ne faut pas trop chatouiller; Auyong, un de ses vieux amis chinois qui tient une conserverie de litchis; et Mary-Anne, orpheline rusée recueillie par Beevi par un concours de circonstances.
J'ai vraiment passé un agréable moment avec cette lecture peu commune à la fois drôle, touchante, et loufoque. À la lecture des premières pages, on se demande bien où on met les pieds! À mi-chemin entre le réel, l'imaginaire et l'insolite, ce roman c'est la somme des petites histoires quotidiennes qui se passent à Lubok Sayong. Histoires qui nous sont contées tantôt par Auyong, tantôt par Mary Anne. Personnellement, j'aime cette alternance de narrateurs qui permet de changer de point de vue, de perspective, et de ne pas "s'ennuyer".
Dans ce roman se mêlent l'humour, le fantasque, et une émotion singulière liée aux valeurs humaines qui y sont sous-jacentes (la tolérance, la solidarité, l'amitié). Auyong, notamment, est un personnage qui m'a beaucoup touchée. Malgré un caractère un peu nonchalant et "effacé", on sent au fil de la lecture qu'il a le coeur sur la main.
Difficile d'en dire plus sans trop vous en dévoiler =) Si vous avez envie de voyager le temps d'une lecture dépaysante, foncez!
J'ai vraiment passé un agréable moment avec cette lecture peu commune à la fois drôle, touchante, et loufoque. À la lecture des premières pages, on se demande bien où on met les pieds! À mi-chemin entre le réel, l'imaginaire et l'insolite, ce roman c'est la somme des petites histoires quotidiennes qui se passent à Lubok Sayong. Histoires qui nous sont contées tantôt par Auyong, tantôt par Mary Anne. Personnellement, j'aime cette alternance de narrateurs qui permet de changer de point de vue, de perspective, et de ne pas "s'ennuyer".
Dans ce roman se mêlent l'humour, le fantasque, et une émotion singulière liée aux valeurs humaines qui y sont sous-jacentes (la tolérance, la solidarité, l'amitié). Auyong, notamment, est un personnage qui m'a beaucoup touchée. Malgré un caractère un peu nonchalant et "effacé", on sent au fil de la lecture qu'il a le coeur sur la main.
Difficile d'en dire plus sans trop vous en dévoiler =) Si vous avez envie de voyager le temps d'une lecture dépaysante, foncez!
March 4, 2021
Premier roman de cette autrice d’origine chinoise qui écrit en anglais.
L’autrice nous plonge dans la petite communauté de Lubok Sayong, en Malaisie. On y rencontre des personnages colorés, comme Beevi, femme autoritaire qui élève un poisson bizarre dans un aquarium trop petit. Auyong, protecteur, serviable et entrepreneur. Il est propriétaire d’une usine de conserves de litchis. Mary Anne, une orpheline de 11 ans qui a grandi dans un couvent où toutes les filles ont un prénom qui commence par Mary… Sitôt adoptée, son destin bascule vers une autre vie.
La plume de l’autrice vagabonde entre différents faits divers cocasses, sérieux et improbables. Parfois drôle, elle sait rendre attachant ses personnages.
Citation:
« La famille, c’est comme les fourmis. On peut suivre la colonne, mais dès qu’il y en a trop, tout le monde se ressemble, une masse indistincte dans le nid. Il arrive qu’un individu s’éloigne du groupe, il s’affole et court dans tous les sens jusqu’à ce qu’il retrouve la colonne, mais on n’est jamais certain d’avoir réintégré la bonne. » p. 274
L’autrice nous plonge dans la petite communauté de Lubok Sayong, en Malaisie. On y rencontre des personnages colorés, comme Beevi, femme autoritaire qui élève un poisson bizarre dans un aquarium trop petit. Auyong, protecteur, serviable et entrepreneur. Il est propriétaire d’une usine de conserves de litchis. Mary Anne, une orpheline de 11 ans qui a grandi dans un couvent où toutes les filles ont un prénom qui commence par Mary… Sitôt adoptée, son destin bascule vers une autre vie.
La plume de l’autrice vagabonde entre différents faits divers cocasses, sérieux et improbables. Parfois drôle, elle sait rendre attachant ses personnages.
Citation:
« La famille, c’est comme les fourmis. On peut suivre la colonne, mais dès qu’il y en a trop, tout le monde se ressemble, une masse indistincte dans le nid. Il arrive qu’un individu s’éloigne du groupe, il s’affole et court dans tous les sens jusqu’à ce qu’il retrouve la colonne, mais on n’est jamais certain d’avoir réintégré la bonne. » p. 274
January 19, 2024
The writer is able to bring to life the characters of a fictional small town and weave in contemporary issues like transgender rights, politics and environmental issues seamlessly. There was no feeling that she was making a point, it was just part of the events in a small town.
September 17, 2024
I have a Lot of Thoughts on this book.
I do love it, the way you love a family member despite all their flaws and occasional disagreements. This almost unconditional love is brought on by the warmth and familiarity I feel with the anecdotes and scenery it paints - the book really does capture growing up as a Malaysian in the 2010s REALLY well.
The writing is poignant, colourful, and easy to read (thought I do have some criticisms later). The characters are lovable; this was one of the biggest strengths of the novel to me.
For me, the book fluctuated between 5 and 2 stars depending on the episode. Some I really loved and were incredibly accurate in capturing the intricacies of its setting (such as the disillusionment with politics, worries about love and marriage, school shenanigans), through the lens of enjoyable narration by Auyong/Mary Anne. The story’s strength lies in creating the perfect atmosphere and contrasting the perspectives on the same events as someone growing up (Mary Anne) and growing older (Auyong). I especially enjoyed their relationships with Beevi, and how these vastly different people paint a whole picture of such a complex woman. I found the Said Hameed backstory pretty compelling, though I wish the tWiSt was hinted at more slowly throughout the book, instead of dumped on us at the climax.
These strong parts tend to be when life in Lubok Sayong just… happens?
Unfortunately, some episodes were much weaker imo for different reasons:
A. Disbelief at some of the more fantastical events: e.g. the suddenness of Mr Miller’s death, the Freedom Parade, the ghost boy. These are weaved in-between the really grounded/accurate ones (the egg-standing eclipse fad, the flood, the KL visit) that it’s jarring when something so… unnatural (thanks Beevi) happens. Maybe I’m missing the point though, and that Beevi’s exaggerations are meant as a sign that Auyong too is exaggerating his memoirs.
B. A “dirty old man” undertone that Auyong sometimes had - I wouldn’t have minded as much if these weren’t so contrasting with the otherwise cozy/nostalgic tone of the rest of the story. The tonal whiplash between “old friends discussing politics in a barbershop” to “we could see under their skirts” took me out. Again, maybe I’m just picky in my reading, and that I’m a bit more prudish when it comes to sexually dubious behaviour that goes uncommented on.
C. The handling of the LGBTQ+ element: I don’t think this was covered in the most tactful way, or with the weight and seriousness it deserves. One thing I do commend is Auyong’s development in changing the pronouns he refers Boon with. However, the fact that this switch happens mid-narration during the recollection of a R*PE scene rubbed off EXTREMELY wrong to me - why does he finally see her as a woman only when she gets r*ped, as if THAT is what makes her a woman in his eyes… Though I’m sure the author intended well, this scene deserved more thought (perhaps an author review with sensitivity readers from the trans community). Somehow this is even more undercut by the fantasy of an openly publicised Pride event in a Malaysian kampung.. though I really do wish such dreams were realistic, the setting’s climate (around Bersih era) would result in far worse consequences for Auyong and co. than some animal corpses & nail bombs in the mail.
It’s kind of depressing that the most unbelievable elements of the story is that things were TOO nice… people weren’t as racist, transphobic, or homophobic in the story as I expected them to be.
Maybe this was meant as an escapist fantasy; in which case I would give it 5 stars. Unfortunately, I think at least the Boon arc SHOULD have been covered with the weight of real life.
Regardless, this was a wonderful read, and I’m definitely more mindful of the little joys of Malaysian life.
I do love it, the way you love a family member despite all their flaws and occasional disagreements. This almost unconditional love is brought on by the warmth and familiarity I feel with the anecdotes and scenery it paints - the book really does capture growing up as a Malaysian in the 2010s REALLY well.
The writing is poignant, colourful, and easy to read (thought I do have some criticisms later). The characters are lovable; this was one of the biggest strengths of the novel to me.
For me, the book fluctuated between 5 and 2 stars depending on the episode. Some I really loved and were incredibly accurate in capturing the intricacies of its setting (such as the disillusionment with politics, worries about love and marriage, school shenanigans), through the lens of enjoyable narration by Auyong/Mary Anne. The story’s strength lies in creating the perfect atmosphere and contrasting the perspectives on the same events as someone growing up (Mary Anne) and growing older (Auyong). I especially enjoyed their relationships with Beevi, and how these vastly different people paint a whole picture of such a complex woman. I found the Said Hameed backstory pretty compelling, though I wish the tWiSt was hinted at more slowly throughout the book, instead of dumped on us at the climax.
These strong parts tend to be when life in Lubok Sayong just… happens?
Unfortunately, some episodes were much weaker imo for different reasons:
A. Disbelief at some of the more fantastical events: e.g. the suddenness of Mr Miller’s death, the Freedom Parade, the ghost boy. These are weaved in-between the really grounded/accurate ones (the egg-standing eclipse fad, the flood, the KL visit) that it’s jarring when something so… unnatural (thanks Beevi) happens. Maybe I’m missing the point though, and that Beevi’s exaggerations are meant as a sign that Auyong too is exaggerating his memoirs.
B. A “dirty old man” undertone that Auyong sometimes had - I wouldn’t have minded as much if these weren’t so contrasting with the otherwise cozy/nostalgic tone of the rest of the story. The tonal whiplash between “old friends discussing politics in a barbershop” to “we could see under their skirts” took me out. Again, maybe I’m just picky in my reading, and that I’m a bit more prudish when it comes to sexually dubious behaviour that goes uncommented on.
C. The handling of the LGBTQ+ element: I don’t think this was covered in the most tactful way, or with the weight and seriousness it deserves. One thing I do commend is Auyong’s development in changing the pronouns he refers Boon with. However, the fact that this switch happens mid-narration during the recollection of a R*PE scene rubbed off EXTREMELY wrong to me - why does he finally see her as a woman only when she gets r*ped, as if THAT is what makes her a woman in his eyes… Though I’m sure the author intended well, this scene deserved more thought (perhaps an author review with sensitivity readers from the trans community). Somehow this is even more undercut by the fantasy of an openly publicised Pride event in a Malaysian kampung.. though I really do wish such dreams were realistic, the setting’s climate (around Bersih era) would result in far worse consequences for Auyong and co. than some animal corpses & nail bombs in the mail.
It’s kind of depressing that the most unbelievable elements of the story is that things were TOO nice… people weren’t as racist, transphobic, or homophobic in the story as I expected them to be.
Maybe this was meant as an escapist fantasy; in which case I would give it 5 stars. Unfortunately, I think at least the Boon arc SHOULD have been covered with the weight of real life.
Regardless, this was a wonderful read, and I’m definitely more mindful of the little joys of Malaysian life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 16, 2022
This is the first novel I've read from Malaysian author Shih-Li Kow. The story is set in contemporary times in a small rural village located between rivers and valleys before being hit with urban development. The story is narrated by 2 individuals:
- one elderly man who moved to the village escaping the big city after retirement and
- one teenage orphan girl, who was adopted and brought to the village.
Both narrators and leading characters are from 2 different generations, but both are from out of town and seem happy to live there among the local and participate in everything the town has to offer. The characters are well developed and readers can easily get attached to them.
The author depcits well the image of a small village, its people, its History, and its stories where everything happening is personal and known to all. It doesn't have the rudeness or sense of loneliness of the big modern city developed too fast.
- one elderly man who moved to the village escaping the big city after retirement and
- one teenage orphan girl, who was adopted and brought to the village.
Both narrators and leading characters are from 2 different generations, but both are from out of town and seem happy to live there among the local and participate in everything the town has to offer. The characters are well developed and readers can easily get attached to them.
The author depcits well the image of a small village, its people, its History, and its stories where everything happening is personal and known to all. It doesn't have the rudeness or sense of loneliness of the big modern city developed too fast.
August 31, 2025
This was a fun read, and I love that it's so uniquely Malaysian! Lubok Sayong is a fictional, charming small town with its dubious mythical lore, supernatural happenings, and quirky inhabitants. Through the narration of Au-Yong and Mary Anne, you get glimpses of their small-town bickerings, interactions, and day-to-day happenings. It is a place where one would feel safe, accepted, and sheltered.
Shih-Li Kow deftly navigates her way through messy local politics and deals with tricky issues like gentrification, racism, and trans-rights with her cheeky commentary. I had a good chuckle from her witty lines at the end of some chapters. The kopitiam conversations are so real and hits different, it's such a Malaysian thing 😂
I'd like to think Lubok Sayong is her vision of a kinder, more tolerant, and peaceful Malaysia. Definitely give it a read if you see it around ❤️🔥
Also, Selamat Hari Merdeka!!
8.5/10
Shih-Li Kow deftly navigates her way through messy local politics and deals with tricky issues like gentrification, racism, and trans-rights with her cheeky commentary. I had a good chuckle from her witty lines at the end of some chapters. The kopitiam conversations are so real and hits different, it's such a Malaysian thing 😂
I'd like to think Lubok Sayong is her vision of a kinder, more tolerant, and peaceful Malaysia. Definitely give it a read if you see it around ❤️🔥
Also, Selamat Hari Merdeka!!
8.5/10
February 12, 2019
Since learning that Malaysian writer Shih-Li Kow’s collection of short stories – Ripple and Other Stories - was shortlisted for the 2009 Frank O’Connor Short Story Prize, coming ahead of collections by prestigious authors like Ali Smith and Kazuo Ishiguro among others, I’ve been meaning to get around to reading her work.
In the mean time she wrote her first novel, The Sum of Our Follies, which has been translated into French (by a blind man) and Italian, and also won the French 2018 Prix du Premier Roman étranger.
Last November I met the writer herself in person at the George Town Literary Festival and I had to confess that to my shame that beyond a single short story published in a collection of Malaysian writing I still hadn’t read any of her work. This obviously needed to be remedied, so I bought both of her books at Gerakbudaya’s new bookshop in Hikayat on George Town’s Beach Street.
I started by reading her most recent work, The Sum of Our Follies. I was not disappointed. While her writing hasn’t (yet) attained the quite the same sort of international recognition as high-profile Man Booker listed Malaysian writers like Tan Twan Eng or Tash Aw, she is most certainly deserving of being mentioned in the category of Malaysia’s top contemporary English-language writers.
The Sum of Our Follies is part Bildungsroman, following the progression of Mary Anne from a near-institutionalized orphan to a worldly and competent part-manager of a guesthouse in semi-rural Perak. This transition is not an easy one and Mary Anne is scarred, literally and figuratively, by her experiences.
The novel’s alternate narrator is Auyong, an older man who owns a lychee-canning factory in the small town that Mary Anne slowly learns to think of as home. Each gives their own take on a series of event that vary from the mundane to the extraordinary, with touches of magical realism worked in as seamlessly as in stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
The novel is touching, without ever veering into sentimentalism. In fact it is often wry and witty, with several oblique references to Malaysian current affairs that readers unfamiliar with the context might not pick up on (a female political figure with hair piled up like candy floss). But an in depth knowledge of Malaysia is far from a prerequisite to enjoy this wonderful novel.
Every scene is beautifully constructed, in writing that is evocative but never florid. For readers curious about contemporary Malaysian writing I highly recommend The Sum of Our Follies as a starting point. And for those already familiar with the genre but who haven’t gotten around to reading this one yet, you won’t be disappointed. Ripples and other stories is still on my to-read shelf, but I’m looking forward to it all the more for having read this wonderful novel.
In the mean time she wrote her first novel, The Sum of Our Follies, which has been translated into French (by a blind man) and Italian, and also won the French 2018 Prix du Premier Roman étranger.
Last November I met the writer herself in person at the George Town Literary Festival and I had to confess that to my shame that beyond a single short story published in a collection of Malaysian writing I still hadn’t read any of her work. This obviously needed to be remedied, so I bought both of her books at Gerakbudaya’s new bookshop in Hikayat on George Town’s Beach Street.
I started by reading her most recent work, The Sum of Our Follies. I was not disappointed. While her writing hasn’t (yet) attained the quite the same sort of international recognition as high-profile Man Booker listed Malaysian writers like Tan Twan Eng or Tash Aw, she is most certainly deserving of being mentioned in the category of Malaysia’s top contemporary English-language writers.
The Sum of Our Follies is part Bildungsroman, following the progression of Mary Anne from a near-institutionalized orphan to a worldly and competent part-manager of a guesthouse in semi-rural Perak. This transition is not an easy one and Mary Anne is scarred, literally and figuratively, by her experiences.
The novel’s alternate narrator is Auyong, an older man who owns a lychee-canning factory in the small town that Mary Anne slowly learns to think of as home. Each gives their own take on a series of event that vary from the mundane to the extraordinary, with touches of magical realism worked in as seamlessly as in stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
The novel is touching, without ever veering into sentimentalism. In fact it is often wry and witty, with several oblique references to Malaysian current affairs that readers unfamiliar with the context might not pick up on (a female political figure with hair piled up like candy floss). But an in depth knowledge of Malaysia is far from a prerequisite to enjoy this wonderful novel.
Every scene is beautifully constructed, in writing that is evocative but never florid. For readers curious about contemporary Malaysian writing I highly recommend The Sum of Our Follies as a starting point. And for those already familiar with the genre but who haven’t gotten around to reading this one yet, you won’t be disappointed. Ripples and other stories is still on my to-read shelf, but I’m looking forward to it all the more for having read this wonderful novel.
July 5, 2018
J'ai vraiment beaucoup aimé ce roman. Il est une invitation au voyage dans la Malaisie moderne, les personnages sont incroyablement attachants, et tout se déroule dans une atmosphère à la fois villageoise et fantasque, où la frontière entre réalité et mysticisme est parfois floue. C'était un vrai bonbon, que j'ai dégusté à petites touches, quelques courts chapitres à la fois.
Résolument une très très belle découverte !
(livre envoyé gracieusement par les Éditions Zulma, cela ne modifie en rien mon jugement... difficile de faire semblant d'aimer un livre !)
Résolument une très très belle découverte !
(livre envoyé gracieusement par les Éditions Zulma, cela ne modifie en rien mon jugement... difficile de faire semblant d'aimer un livre !)
July 31, 2024
A gentle story of life, loss, love, and diversity in a fictional, Malaysian town. I have visited Malaysia only once (where I bought this book), and this adds some extra flavour and paints a more detailed picture of people and life. I liked the writing very much and enjoyed the different cultural aspects.
February 28, 2025
Bien aimé
March 16, 2022
Would rate it 3.5 if I could. Very easy page turner, a humorous way to plunge into Malaysian idiosyncrasy.
September 9, 2024
3.5 étoiles - J'ai beaucoup ri dans le premier tiers de ce roman. Mention spéciale à ces quelques moments risibles vis-à-vis des élites ministérielles en place et pour cet autre parenthèse où Mami Beevi critique le tourisme mondial et l'industrialisation des petites contrées. Ça m'a donc bien satisfaite! :D
J'ai également particulièrement aimé les chapitres où on découvre la vie malaisienne à travers le regard de Mary Anne, la jeune orpheline, qui débarque dans le quotidien de Mami Beevi, une vieille dame qui ne flirte pas avec la patience, mais qui se fait drôlement attachante... et fantaisiste! La dimension fantastique de certains événements dépeints dans ce roman m'a d'ailleurs surprise, sans pour autant me déplaire. À partir de la deuxième moitié, j'ai néanmoins perdu un peu le fil conducteur, ne comprenant plus trop où nous amenait l'autrice. Certains détours emprunté m'ont même un peu ennuyé. Mais l'écriture du tout dernier chapitre a créée une petite magie, dans le portrait simple et universel des relations jeunes-ainées qui clot humainement ce récit de personnages.
Définitivement un livre qui se lit bien en été, quand on n'est pas pressé, et que la pluie tambourine...
J'ai également particulièrement aimé les chapitres où on découvre la vie malaisienne à travers le regard de Mary Anne, la jeune orpheline, qui débarque dans le quotidien de Mami Beevi, une vieille dame qui ne flirte pas avec la patience, mais qui se fait drôlement attachante... et fantaisiste! La dimension fantastique de certains événements dépeints dans ce roman m'a d'ailleurs surprise, sans pour autant me déplaire. À partir de la deuxième moitié, j'ai néanmoins perdu un peu le fil conducteur, ne comprenant plus trop où nous amenait l'autrice. Certains détours emprunté m'ont même un peu ennuyé. Mais l'écriture du tout dernier chapitre a créée une petite magie, dans le portrait simple et universel des relations jeunes-ainées qui clot humainement ce récit de personnages.
Définitivement un livre qui se lit bien en été, quand on n'est pas pressé, et que la pluie tambourine...
February 7, 2021
Un premier roman pour cet auteur et une première lecture d'un roman malais pour moi. Le style est simple, agréable et doux. Mais j'ai comme l'impression d'être un peu passée à côté de l'histoire. I' me manque sans doute trop de références culturelles pour saisir l'essentiel. L'histoire est donc un peu plate pour moi.
Mais il y a tout de même quelques chapitres savoureux et émouvants. D'où les 3 étoiles.
Mais il y a tout de même quelques chapitres savoureux et émouvants. D'où les 3 étoiles.
January 7, 2019
The essence of Southeast Asia (could have been the Singapore my parents grew up in) in under 300 pages. Finished it in one day. Funny, touching, tender.
Borrowed from the library but I need to buy a copy when it comes out on Kindle!
Borrowed from the library but I need to buy a copy when it comes out on Kindle!
June 20, 2024
This is my first Shih-Li Kow book, and it definitely won’t be my last. I'm officially a fan! 🥹🤍
The Sum of Our Follies is set in the fictional town of Lubok Sayong, near Kuala Kangsar in Perak. It beautifully captures the multicultural essence of Malaysia with a touch of magical realism.
The characters are deeply amusing and quirky. The story alternates between Auyong, a retired Chinese businessman who owns a lychee factory, and Mary Anne, an orphan adopted by Assunta, who tragically dies in a car accident on the day of the adoption. Mary Anne then goes to live with Beevi, a fiery Indian woman who takes over the Big House after Assunta's death. The village is full of entertaining characters who feel like people you’ve met in real life, like Ismet, a young Malay man passionate about the art of labu sayong but undermined by political schemes. And Cikgu Teh, the strict teacher with a crush on Cikgu Nooraini. 😂
The book transported me back to my childhood in Taiping, with its hilarious satirical take on taboo topics like LGBTQ+ issues, politics, and racism. At the same time, it cultivates good values across cultures and races, showing how diverse communities can come together, without conditions. The details are beautifully written, full of keen observations. I had a wonderful time reading this book. It’s truly impressive!
You have to read it because there are so many amusing subplots and backstories, just like how we always marvel listening to the gossip of aunties during family gatherings! 😆
January 29, 2019
Quel roman enchanteur !
Nous suivons Auyong et Mary Anne dans un petit village près de Kuala Lumpur.
Mary Anne est arrivée par hasard dans le village. Elle a grandi dans un orphelinat de KL, mais un jour, une famille est venue l’adopter. Malheureusement, le jour où le père et la mère viennent la chercher, ils sont victimes tous les 3 d’un accident de voiture qui tuent les deux adultes et la laisse défigurée.
Auyong est lui un ancien du village qui connait ses traditions et chaque habitant.
J’ai aimé Mary Anne qui vit avec son temps et crée le site de réservation de la Grande Maison.
J’ai aimé la Grande Maison et ses fantômes, Beevie la directrice et ses histoires inconcevables (adjectif qu’elle affectionne).
J’ai aimé que les rapports de Mary Anne avec son amie Mary Beth évoluent car les deux filles grandissent.
J’ai aimé le garçon du jardin, énigmatique.
J’ai aimé Miss Boonsidik et ses lady-boys.
La vie est un peu folle, mais c’est pour cela qu’on l’aime.
L’image que je retiendrai :
Celle du poisson du lac de la Quatrième épouse capable de manger un homme.
Une citation :
C’est particulier, ce va-et-vient entre chagrin et apaisement qui nous prend. Dans l’intermède entre nos marées distinctes, nous échangeons de menus propos sans grande portée. (p.362)
https://alexmotamots.fr/la-somme-de-n...
Nous suivons Auyong et Mary Anne dans un petit village près de Kuala Lumpur.
Mary Anne est arrivée par hasard dans le village. Elle a grandi dans un orphelinat de KL, mais un jour, une famille est venue l’adopter. Malheureusement, le jour où le père et la mère viennent la chercher, ils sont victimes tous les 3 d’un accident de voiture qui tuent les deux adultes et la laisse défigurée.
Auyong est lui un ancien du village qui connait ses traditions et chaque habitant.
J’ai aimé Mary Anne qui vit avec son temps et crée le site de réservation de la Grande Maison.
J’ai aimé la Grande Maison et ses fantômes, Beevie la directrice et ses histoires inconcevables (adjectif qu’elle affectionne).
J’ai aimé que les rapports de Mary Anne avec son amie Mary Beth évoluent car les deux filles grandissent.
J’ai aimé le garçon du jardin, énigmatique.
J’ai aimé Miss Boonsidik et ses lady-boys.
La vie est un peu folle, mais c’est pour cela qu’on l’aime.
L’image que je retiendrai :
Celle du poisson du lac de la Quatrième épouse capable de manger un homme.
Une citation :
C’est particulier, ce va-et-vient entre chagrin et apaisement qui nous prend. Dans l’intermède entre nos marées distinctes, nous échangeons de menus propos sans grande portée. (p.362)
https://alexmotamots.fr/la-somme-de-n...
February 23, 2025
Oh, that was a good read... I have always loved stories of small towns that feel so real, yet so full of magical and supernatural things. It's just that some parts are a bit shocking, and the way those shocking events are told (by one of the protagonists) in a rather fleeting, light way can be a bit... uncomfortable at times. (Even though the effect is still strong, so much that I think of it as something worth writing in this short review.) However, I think the way of writing works when it comes to the racial tensions and stereotypes in Malaysia. Probably just how like it is in Indonesia, these things are always there, they are part of our daily lives, we might pretend they do not exist, yet we might sneer at each other behind closed doors (or at least behind internet anonimity). It too permeated the life in the little town in this book, and we saw it everywhere, from the open hatred shown by her Chinese half-sisters to Beevi, to the comical way of Auyong feeling embarrased for having run amok since it's something preserved for the Malays. Another thing I found very interesting, and was very well delivered in English, and made me think of how it would be if it's translated into Indonesian, is the change in Auyong's use of pronouns towards Miss Boonsidik.
I've read two books by Shih-Li Kow so far, I hope I can get another one soon!
I've read two books by Shih-Li Kow so far, I hope I can get another one soon!
January 21, 2019
Je n'ai pas (encore) fini ce roman. Je compte le finir, mais pas immédiatement. J'ai abordé La somme de nos folies comme toutes mes autres lectures : une heure tous les matins, puis deux minutes par-ci par là dans la journée.
J'ai ressenti une lassitude passée 200 pages, et je crois savoir pourquoi. La somme de nos folies se déguste, je pense, comme un bon vin (dis celle qui n'en boit pas) : petit à petit, en longueur, doucement. La suite d'anecdotes sans fil conducteur apparent (à part la vie qui passe) fait effet d'avalanche quand on les enchaine les unes après les autres, alors que je pense qu'il faut les lire chacune leur tour, se pauser entre chaque, en absorber les détails, comme lors d'une longue conversation entre amis.
C'est un roman très agréable, les personnages sont attachants à leur manière, et je sais que d'ici quelques jours, après ma prochaine lecture, je reviendrai y lire quelques chapitres de plus, en prenant mon temps.
J'ai ressenti une lassitude passée 200 pages, et je crois savoir pourquoi. La somme de nos folies se déguste, je pense, comme un bon vin (dis celle qui n'en boit pas) : petit à petit, en longueur, doucement. La suite d'anecdotes sans fil conducteur apparent (à part la vie qui passe) fait effet d'avalanche quand on les enchaine les unes après les autres, alors que je pense qu'il faut les lire chacune leur tour, se pauser entre chaque, en absorber les détails, comme lors d'une longue conversation entre amis.
C'est un roman très agréable, les personnages sont attachants à leur manière, et je sais que d'ici quelques jours, après ma prochaine lecture, je reviendrai y lire quelques chapitres de plus, en prenant mon temps.
July 31, 2021
Shih-Li Koh’s The Sum of Our Follies is an exceptional novel about Malaysians’ calm way of living especially in rural areas that does not share the spotlight of main cities like Kuala Lumpur or Selangor. It centers on the lives of the people in a fictional town Lubok Sayong, a place that does not attract the interests of the visitors because it lacks the beautiful landscapes. Nevertheless, through the mesmerizing tales of its town folks, it is clear that this place is worth exploring as it still has a charm of its own. The story is narrated by Auyong, who is the old manager of a lychee canning factory, Beevi who is a homestay owner, and Mary-Anne who is an orphan who becomes Beevi’s adopted daughter. The town itself has a local legend related to the lakes, but what makes it interesting is not the myths about the lakes, but the characters with their own uniqueness and their perseverance to strive in this small town.
June 13, 2024
I have enjoyed reading this novel very much. Every chapter seems like a short story, with a beginning and a satisfactory ending and the chapters flow in between.
Somehow, I feel everything fits. The locale, the characters, the plot, the writing. The setting seems surreal yet so grounded. The same goes for the plot. Even though outrageous and sad things happen, there is always a positive undercurrent and a humorous take on it. The characters are lovable, nuanced and so real and lovable. I feel wit and charm are the soul of the book, the characters, the two protagonists especially who display exceptional and quiet courage in living. The sentences are beautiful and seem perfectly measured for whatever there is to say, and every word is important. There is something important to say. The sleepy town seems to have a life of its own through the events and characters in the book. And what a book it is.
Somehow, I feel everything fits. The locale, the characters, the plot, the writing. The setting seems surreal yet so grounded. The same goes for the plot. Even though outrageous and sad things happen, there is always a positive undercurrent and a humorous take on it. The characters are lovable, nuanced and so real and lovable. I feel wit and charm are the soul of the book, the characters, the two protagonists especially who display exceptional and quiet courage in living. The sentences are beautiful and seem perfectly measured for whatever there is to say, and every word is important. There is something important to say. The sleepy town seems to have a life of its own through the events and characters in the book. And what a book it is.
April 1, 2021
I would gladly give this book a 4 stars. The Sum of Our Follies is a character-oriented story, told from alternating 1st POV of Auyong & Mary Anne. Despite having told from the perspective of two person, the story expands and well-explored in terms of setting. I wholeheartedly enjoyed the first 1/3 of the book where the author introduced the place called Lubok Sayong. The story then becomes a bit slow and dull at the middle and quickly bounces back to grab my attention at the final 1/3. The characters are varied and surprisingly it has one transgerder person further varying the spectrum. The story touches on family, decision making in life, various forms of relationship, love and appreciating beauty of a place. This is a good book. I would like very much to go to Lubok Sayong and stay a few days there.
May 21, 2019
The narrative of this book is shared between 2 main characters - Mary Anne and Auyong, and is set in a fictional Perak town (in Malaysia) called Lubok Sayong. The tale is endearing. It evokes the atmosphere very much, lots I could relate to as I did spend some parts of my growing up years in rural Perak. Although this story was more in recent times as it refers to the Bersih rally in KL, among other more recent references. It also touches issues of transgenderism and multiculturalism within the same family. I did guess the history of Mary Anne's origins, but it was beautifully played out, also with the otherworldly boy who appears in the garden and his exorcism.
All in all, a quaint, enjoyable book by a Malaysian author whom I'd like to read again.
All in all, a quaint, enjoyable book by a Malaysian author whom I'd like to read again.
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