Name: Jo Raskoph (Signed) · Date: 10 Feb 2021 12:38 PM · For: food, family, static

Teh! 

Can you please just turn this into a novel already?

I'm sitting here and I've been crying for half of it, and I'll be crying some more because this is so beautifully complicated and strained and cruel and hopeless and hopeful all at the same time.

You made me feel for the mother, so out of touch and so stuck in her role that she almost can't get out. And her pain is so real, the father's too. It's obvious that they were not equipped to handle their son's sexuality at all and they were scared and they tried the best they knew how, but it was still all wrong. It's a situation I fear as a mother - because of course we want what's best for our children and we'd do damn near everything for them but we'll inevitably fuck up in one way or another, we'll do what we know instead of what they need more times than we want and for them … it was just that one time where their efforts were too wrong to be forgiven. They didn't know better and they still don't really know how they can do better, but they are – or at least she is, from what we see – trying to break out of the beliefs/habits/prejudice that brought them there.

It's so heartbreaking that they really wanted to do what was best and hurt their son so much!

There's so much want in her actions and the disparity between the closeness a mother longs for and the closeness that can actually exist really hit home for me. It's something I'm dealing with every time I interact with my own mother and I think this angle is one many people will be able to identify with, even if they don't have any association with the LGBTQIAA+ world.

Generally, this story is so universal that it's absolutely relatable from many angles, while still offering a unique point of view, culturally and from the angle of sexuality. I was not exagerating when I said I'd love to read this as a novel.

I think you nailed the human interactions. There's a certain aspect I'm often marveling over: How two people having a conversation so often absolutely do not really talk about what their words seemingly talk about and then on top of that don't really talk about what the other is talking about. It's surprising we ever even manage to get to an understanding… And you did that beautifully here. There are so many layers to every interaction, so much left unspoken and the unspoken at least as powerfull as the spoken. It was a marvellous case of showing not telling all around and I would love to get lost in this story for hours – again, that novel!

I really wish I could write like you do here!

Thank you so much for creating and sharing this beautiful piece!

Love,
Jo

Name: Renacera (Signed) · Date: 10 Feb 2021 01:16 AM · For: food, family, static

I've read this story several times, but have been terrible about taking the time to review it. I'm happy to be here to do that now. <3

This story is phenomenal. I love everything about it. The authenticity of this as a story you've (in many ways) lived cannot be understated. This is one of the most honest, heart-wrenching portrayals of the struggles of queer people around the world that I've ever read. It makes me want to just hold Daniel's hand and tell him that I'm sorry for all he's been through.

You do such an amazing job writing about Daniel's depression in the wake of being rejected from his family and then his breakup with Aizzat. And the dichotomy there as both of those relationships begin to mend. Obviously most of the plot is about Daniel and his mother, but Aizzat is a constant presence too. While I'm glad they reconciled and are back together, I hope that Aizzat begins to understand Daniel's depression better so that they can truly support one another.

You do such an amazing job with the conversations between Daniel and his mom. You're able to show so many emotions on both of their parts and how there's still a connection there, despite the pain that lingers and the distance both physically and emotionally. There's such grace in Daniel reaching out. He's so strong, even if he doesn't really see that.

I love this story so much. You've done an incredible job, and your writing is outstanding. <3

Best,
Emily


*for the Fairyland review event*

Name: starbuck (Signed) · Date: 12 Jan 2019 04:40 PM · For: food, family, static

i think you know this already but i absolutely loved this story and you're an amazing writer for managing to convey so much meaning through a story that some people may find hard to understand (myself included) - the malaysian english parts. but the inclusion of those added another wonderful layer to this story and i didn't mind it at all, in fact, i think it makes the story even better.

i feel for daniel and aizzat. i can't even imagine how hard it must've been for the two of them to grow up in a country that's so openly discriminatory, and after the incident in which daniel's parents caught him and then outed aizzat to his family, i can understand the need to run away from it all, to find a place where the two of them wouldn't have to fear. i also feel for daniel's mother - she didn't openly reject him but still, she didn't really do anything to help him much either, at least in terms of what he truly needed and that was understanding.

i think it's fantastic that the story, while being sad and depressing and having the feeling of oppression drawn through it, still gives hope that one day, things might get better between mother and son. i hope they will, anyway.

kris

Name: Rumpelstiltskin (Signed) · Date: 06 Sep 2018 05:57 PM · For: food, family, static

Hey, Nicole! I'm here for your entry review to the Prefect's Celebration Challenge! 

 

First of all, I have to admit, this is one of the best short stories I've read in a while. It was incredibly unique and refreshing to read. The culture shone through spectacularly, albeit some of it not-so-pleasant as with Daniel's parents' reaction to (quite directly) discovering their son's sexuality. I'm really glad that you chose to write an LGBTQ+ story that was based out of Malaysia because, while not making for an incredibly fluffy and happy story, you were able to showcase the societal impacts of being gay in the community that are even so prominent to tear apart a family.

 

The very first section had that classic feel of "in a simpler time," before Daniel and Aizzat fully recognized their feelings...back when they were just friends, and Daniel's mother teased him for talking on the phone so much. I fully appreciated this section because it (one) highlighted Daniel and Aizzat's friendship in childhood before they were more than friends and (two) showed the relationship between Daniel and Kwai Sim before Daniel left home (following the incident).

 

Thus, there's an extreme difference of mood in the following section that carries on through the remainder of the story. I love that there is a mystery surrounding what happened and why Kwai Sim hadn't heard from her son in such a long time. You absolutely nailed the awkward tension in the first phone call (and for many phone calls following that). Although we, as readers, didn't know precisely the reason Daniel had been gone so long and what had happened, it was clear that SOMETHING had happened and possibly something to do with his relationship with Aizzat given the first section and Daniel's mention of him while speaking to Kwai Sim. (Of course, we later find out that that is a large part of the reason.)

 

There is a sincere longing coming from Kwai Sim, which largely makes sense because, despite everything, she misses her son. While it seems she didn't openly denounce Daniel for his sexual preferences, as Daniel said later in the story, she did stand by Ah Huat's side while he did and was also a part of the incident with Aizzat's parents. I can imagine how humiliated Daniel must have felt, having his parents walk in on him and Aizzat like that, most especially given the social repercussions of being gay in Malaysia, and especially with the women's clothes involved and in such a bared state. Of course, it didn't make matters any better that his parents essentially outed Aizzat by going to his house and flinging "blame" back and forth for what had happened. 

 

While his mother did try to make amends in the only way she seemed to know how (by making his favorite meals), it just wasn't enough. It makes sense that Daniel and Aizzat would want to travel somewhere where they could be (mostly) free of the damning prejudices against them. However, this did mean completely abandoning Daniel's family (and possibly Aizzat's as well). So, I love that Daniel does contact his mother out of the blue, as a way of starting to move forward from the past. And even while traveling around Europe with Aizzat, there's something that keeps drawing him to calling her, even if he doesn't want to give her his number.

 

In the end, it is very clear that there was a lot of work to be done to repair what relationship Aizzat had with his parents, but he and his mother were making strides in fixing it. I especially enjoyed the ending because while it wasn't joyous, it was hopeful. However, it is also very clear that his father hasn't truly come to terms with Daniel and Aizzat's relationship. And I especially adored the way the final phone call happened, where Kwai Sim finally gave in and learned how to use a smartphone. I felt like it was a symbol of Kwai Sim's ability to move forward and grow, and truly accept Daniel for who he is. 

 

Anyway, brilliantly done! Congratulations once again on taking First Place! Please get in touch with me on the Forums or on Twitter to let me know where you want your seven reviews to go (five for placing, and two bonuses for prompts).

 

Thanks for writing! 

 

-Rumpels

Name: Stella Blue (Signed) · Date: 04 Sep 2018 11:26 PM · For: food, family, static

Hi teh! This is a phone review so will be somewhat short, but just wanted to say that this was such an incredible story. I'm so happy to be seeing more of your writing showing up here - you're such an amazing writer. And this - as you said, it's not particularly happy, but it does feel like a very honest story. Particularly the character of Kwai Sim, who seems so real in how she's flawed; she disapproves of how Daniel lives his life and tiptoes around the topic, but she loves him, and it's a struggle for her to reconcile those two things, so she settles on small talk so she can still talk to her son but not have to confront what she disapproves of about him. And gah, it's heartbreaking that Daniel and Aizzat had to literally go halfway around the world to feel any acceptance and be themselves, but how at least in Daniel's case, that's still not enough because they're still so alone. :( This was such a powerful story. Thank you for sharing it.

Name: StarFeather (Anonymous) · Date: 17 Aug 2018 11:17 PM · For: food, family, static

Quodpot Review Match 3

 

Hi, Nicole! I stopped by yours grabbing the chance at the forum activity.

 

It's a beautiful piece of your works. I have emotional feeling after reading your story. It's hard to express it into the words. Just emotionally beautiful. I'll try my best to show how beautiful it is.

First, I was very impressed by the tone of your telling the story. You put the articles of the newspaper here and there, which tell us what was happening at that time and readers can sense the problems happening in the same timeline of this story. By that way, you succeeded in letting us feel each scene visually like we see this story in the film.

 

Second, the main theme is about transgender, however, I would like to focus, or could focus on the relationship between a mother and a son. This is the enternal theme for human-beings. It doesn't make difference, transgender or not, or the other problems. A parent tries hard to understand his/her child and accept all, it's simply affection. A child tries hard to behave as  the parent wishes and when he/she has to behave differently, he/she tries not to let the parent worry about him/her. So Daniel ran away with Aizzat for not only to make his boyfriend safe but also trying not to make his parents worry about him.

 

The third, each description of food added cultural essence to your story. Asian taste let us feel like we live in the same country reading the dialogues. Daniel travels all around the world, but readers feel relived to spot her mother's dishes, feeling "home". 

 

K