06 Nov Women on the Verge of a Holy Breakdown with Karina Robles Bahrin and Preeta Samarasan | Friday 25 November, 2022 at 7.30pm

We are delighted that Books@Hikayat returns with a very special event. It features two of Malaysia’s most eloquent, powerful writers: Karina Robles Bahrin and Preeta Samarasan. Under the deliberately piquing theme – Women on the Verge of a Holy Breakdown – Karina and Preeta will be in conversation with Sumitra Selvaraj.

Here are the details for your diary.

WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A HOLY BREAKDOWN

Karina Robles Bahrin and Preeta Samarasan

with Sumitra Selvaraj

Friday 25 November 2022

7.30–9.00pm

We are expecting a full house – please register in order to reserve your place.

➽ The theme

Authors Karina Robles Bahrin and Preeta Samarasan explore the impact of institutionalised religion and identity on the lives of the principal female characters in their recently published novels, The Accidental Malay and Tale of the Dreamer’s Son. Guaranteed to be an honest and lively discussion, the conversation will be moderated by Sumitra Selvaraj.

➽ The speakers

Karina Robles Bahrin got her first break as a guest editor for a weekly teen column in the New Straits Times. Her short fiction has been published in a number of anthologies, including A Subtle Degree of Restraint and Other Stories (2013) and KL Noir: Blue (2014). She currently lives and works in Langkawi. The Accidental Malay is her debut novel and won the 2022 Epigram Books Fiction Prize.

Preeta Samarasan grew up in Ipoh and received her education in Malaysia and the United States before moving to France in 2006. She is the author of two novels: Evening Is the Whole Day (Fourth Estate, 2008), longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, and Tale of the Dreamer’s Son (World Editions, 2022). Her short fiction and essays have appeared in literary journals around the world.

➽ The moderator

Sumitra Selvaraj is a writer and public relations consultant. She works primarily in healthcare communications and is also known as @sareesandstories on Instagram.

Signed copies of The Accidental Malay and Tale of the Dreamer’s Son will be on sale.

Free admission Refreshments will be served