Penang, Malaysia: A Writer's Paradise
Postcards from Asia, Part 23
Dear friends,
Penang, Malaysia, is famous for its food culture, but it’s also very much a city of literature. With silent reading clubs, flash fiction workshops, and a Festival of Authors, I was in writers heaven.
Flash Fiction Workshop with Malaysian Writer Shi-Li Kow
My new favorite travel activity is to sign up for a writing workshop or retreat when visiting a city.
In Penang, I went to a flash fiction workshop hosted by acclaimed Malaysian author Shih-Li Kow. The workshop was part of the Festival des Auteurs Francophones, and it was fascinating to learn from Malaysian, Tunisian, and Belgian authors about their work and writing process.
Shih-Li Kow is a master of the short story, and I also bought a copy of her novel The Sum of Our Follies, about a mythical town in Malaysia with elements of magical realism, reminding me of Gabriel García Márquez.
She was so warm and welcoming to her students, and I was happy to hear, that like me, she was an editor and had worked in the corporate world before writing fiction.
At the workshop, I sat next to a woman who ran an independent press called Elaton Publishing and met Jack, a member of the Malaysian Writers Society, who told me more about this writing nonprofit, and their retreats, festivals, and anthologies. Penang is home to several writing-focused events including the George Town Literary Festival, Malaysia's largest international literary festival.
Silent Reading and Book Clubs
My friend Shenny runs a silent reading club every Sunday at a cafe in George Town. Everyone is welcome, and we had readers from various countries including Malaysia, Vietnam, Holland, the US, Suriname, Indonesia, and England.
I also accompanied Shenny to her monthly book club hosted by a lively group of Malaysian women. One of the leaders recently opened up a “book nook” at a cafe in George Town, where they leave books for customers to check out.
The group was reading the famous Malaysian novel The House of Doors, which is set partially in Penang, and were even planning a literary walking tour of places featured in the novel. We had tea and snacks and talked about our favorite books and Malaysian literature.
Indie Bookshops and Open Arts Events
I love visiting indie bookshops and choosing a book that gives me a clearer idea of the region where I’m traveling. I went to Areca Books, which was participating in Open Arts events with other organizations around Penang. I checked out Revolusi about Indonesia’s independence movement and bought Writer’s Postcards by writer and sociolinguist Dipika Mukherjee, who writes a literary column for The Edge in Malaysia.
I was impressed with Penang’s cultural scene. The city is brimming with world-class street food, batik museums, and vibrant murals. Whether you’re a foodie, reader, art lover, or writer, Penang has a place for you.
Until next week,
Ash
Hi there!
Just passing by. This was such a lovely read. Penang sounds like a literary gem and the workshop and the silent reading club especially seems quite interesting.
Don't stop adventuring and be free!
- Antonio
Getting a taste of the literary scene in Penang sounds like a special experience, Ashleigh. I've seen events like "Shut up and Write" but hadn't heard of silent reading clubs. Very cool!