Ayam Buah Keluak and the Art of Writing: a memoir on living creatively
Available in paperback and e-book format. Paperback + E-book bundle available below: Get the e-book at 50% off with each purchase of a paperback.
Your creativity is your gift to the world.
Award-winning author Josephine Chia illustrates this in Ayam Buah Keluak and the Art of Writing, an account of her own emotional journey of becoming a writer. She believes that creativity is a portal to our inner strengths and talents, and can help us delve deeper into more meaningful experiences.
Josephine shares the parallels between two of the things she loves most—cooking and writing. As a craft and art, each goes through similar processes of creation. Being a Peranakan, she shares her culture’s quintessential recipe, Ayam Buah Keluak, as a metaphor for her philosophy.
In this heartbreaking memoir, Josephine bares her soul so that others who are experiencing what she had gone through, will take steps to uplift, and even save, themselves. This book is her gift to them.
An inspiring read for anyone looking to delve deeper into living fully and creatively.
"Ayam Buah Keluak is a masterful piece of Singapore literature. One part memoir, one part philosophy, and one part writing guide, it offers a look into the soul of one of Singapore’s most celebrated writers. This is a story of a person who finds healing, joy and renewal in the creative process."
—Lin Suling, Senior Columnist, The Straits Times
This book contains references to topics such as alcoholism and domestic abuse. We recognise that the ways in which readers might respond to and deal with these issues may vary, as our relationships to these topics are unique. If you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or not in the right headspace to experience the memoir, do put the book down and talk to someone about how you feel.
Ayam Buah Keluak and the Art of Writing: a memoir on living creatively
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Paperback
$20.00 SGD
E-book
$20.00 SGD
Reviews
"The book’s philanthropic scope expands to offer nothing less than an antidote to the poisonous, self-alienating excesses of modern life. Engaging and accessible, this little book speaks to the times in which we live.” —Dr Simon Peter Hull, Independent Scholar in British Romantic and Asian Colonial literature
"Josephine Chia weaves her recipe for making ayam buak keluak, writing and healing from trauma into a literary tapestry of her life. She courageously speaks of her journey, while exemplifying the success of her recipe for self-care and happiness. Her book offers comfort and fortitude to both survivors of abuse and writers, just like a good ayam buah keluak!" —Sugidha Nithiananthan, Director, Advocacy, Research and Communications, Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE)
"Our beloved Singapore Literature Prize Winner Josephine Chia takes us into the secret spaces of her existence. By giving us access to how she creates her art and has overcome difficult circumstances-from poverty, chauvinism and domestic violence-she helps us all make our way to lives of greater joy. This is a rare and beautiful memoir. It glitters with the compressed wisdom of an indomitable woman that life cannot hold down. Whether you are 15 or 50, there is something here that will help light your way forward. " —Michelle Martin Journalist, Broadcaster, Speaker
"In sharing her life and personal experiences, Chia shares her creativity, joy and pain with the world. The book imparts wisdom you wish you could tell your younger self and inspires one to find the up-side even when things are down." —Charmaine Leung, Author of 17A Keong Saik Road
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Attunement
Is life hustling you out of tune? As the week roars by, we invite you to a slice of attunement penned lovingly by our authors, friends, and yours truly. Freshly delivered weekly with care. Intimacy guaranteed. Read selected letters below.
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