Saturday, September 12, 2009

Body2Body: A Malaysian Queer Anthology

Finally finished Body 2 Body: A Malaysian Queer Anthology today. Edited by Pang Khee Teik and Jerome Kugan and published by Matahari Books, it's 23 essays about GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual and Queer) issues in Malaysia, probably the first of its kind locally. Like America electing a black man as President, I never thought I would live to read an anthology of this nature.

Because of the nature of the book, it's only available in a few physical bookstores, which you can find here. To put it mildly, it was easier looking for it in the Valley than out. You can also get it on Amazon for people that are neither in Singapore (where it's more widely available, compared to) or Malaysia. At least this was better than an outright ban, unlike publisher Amir Muhammad's previous motion picture works...

You know you like the book when you're taking it slow to let it all soak in and enjoy it at your own pace.

Most of the stories in this anthology were better and more satisfying than the other local anthology that came out recently. There was one piece that I couldn't bring myself to finish, and that was it. There were a few that had weird endings that I can't appreciate. But all in all, it was a good read, even with the occasional typo here and there (they should've proof-read better). Heck, you can even read the first story (Brian Gomez's What Do Gay People Eat?) here for a taste.

I say buy it because it's not often that a book like this comes to fruition. You could do worse with RM34 spent, I reckon.

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