An Ordinary Tale about Women and Other Stories - by Fatimah Busu (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

EVOCATIVE PORTRAYALS OF THE EVERYDAY STRUGGLES, JOYS, AND TRAGEDIES OF RURAL MALAY SOCIETY BY A MASTER OF THE SHORT STORY FORM This collection offers a selection of short stories by Fatimah Busu, one of the foremost Malay women writers of the past century. A master of the short story form, Fatimah Busu's writing is known for her bold subject matter, fresh approach to language, and idiosyncratic style. Her short stories offer an acute portrayal of the inner contradictions of Malay society, particularly the realities of women in rural Malaysia, grappling with the forces of tradition and modernity. This collection features many of Fatimah Busu's iconic early short stories, which won prizes in national literary competitions, and several lesser known stories, which underscore her distinctiveness of style and subject matter. Fatimah Busu's evocative fiction blurs the boundaries of social realism, dreamscapes, reimagined mythology, and magic realism. The stories gathered here have been translated into English for the first time.

About the Author

Pauline Fan is a writer, literary translator, and cultural researcher. She is creative director of cultural organization PUSAKA and currently serves as adjunct professor at the Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Pauline was director of the George Town Literary Festival (2019 to 2023) and is a founding-curator of KALAM-- Confluence of Writers & Ideas, a literary gathering in Kuala Lumpur. Fatimah Busu is an award-winning Malaysian novelist, short-story writer, and academic. Born in 1943 in Kampung Pasir Pekan, Kelantan, she is considered one of the most formidable Malay women writers of her generation. Her award-winning short stories include Mawar Yang Belum Gugur (1971), Nasinya Tumpah (1972), and Anak-anak dari Kampung Pasir Pekan (1975). Her first novel, Ombak Bukan Biru, was published to acclaim in 1977, and was followed by other notable novels, including Kepulangan (1980) and Salam Maria (2004).