Shze-Hui Tjoa is an innovative Singaporean writer whose debut memoir, 'The Story Game,' masterfully intertwines genres. She discusses her unique approach to storytelling, exploring themes of memory, grief, and identity. Tjoa shares insights into her grandfather's traumatic history and how it shapes her writing. The conversation dives deep into the complexities of personal narrative and authenticity, reflecting on the nature of familial bonds and the impact of silence. Expect a captivating blend of introspection and creativity as she navigates her literary journey.
Shze-Hui Tjoa's memoir, The Story Game, challenges traditional genre boundaries by intertwining personal history and broader themes of identity and trauma.
The episode highlights the importance of independent bookstores like All It Up in promoting emerging Canadian literature and nurturing a vibrant literary community.
Tjoa's innovative narrative structure incorporates an imagined sister figure, facilitating a deeper exploration of memory, self-representation, and familial dynamics.
Deep dives
The Role of Independent Literature in Canada
The episode highlights the significance of All It Up, an independent online bookstore in Canada, dedicated to promoting emerging and acclaimed indie literature. This platform serves as a comprehensive resource for readers, offering access to award-winning fiction, poetry, and author interviews. The bookstore features titles from 60 different literary publishers, making it a unique hub for discovering contemporary Canadian literature, including ebooks and accessible formats. It emphasizes the importance of supporting independent bookstores in fostering a vibrant literary community.
Exploration of Family Dynamics in Smothermos
The episode introduces Elisa Allering's novel, Smothermos, which focuses on the intricate relationship between two sisters set against the backdrop of a shocking crime in 1980s Appalachia. This haunting narrative intertwines themes of familial bonds and the impact of traumatic events on personal relationships. Sheila and Angie, the sisters, embody contrasting personalities, which adds depth to their interactions and the evolution of their story. The tension surrounding the brutal murder of two female hikers serves as a catalyst for their complex and dangerous dynamic.
Shihui Chua's Unique Memoir Contribution
Shihui Chua's memoir, The Story Game, is portrayed as a groundbreaking work that defies traditional memoir conventions. The episode discusses how Chua's writing intertwines personal history with broader themes of memory, identity, and trauma, challenging readers' expectations of the memoir genre. By exploring her experiences through a blend of narrative styles, particularly incorporating audio-visual elements, Chua engages with her audience in innovative ways. Her contribution to the bonus audio archive adds another layer to her storytelling, showcasing her linguistic skills and musicality.
The Intersection of Memory and Fiction in Chua's Work
There is an exploration of how Chua's memoir blurs the lines between fiction and nonfiction, particularly through her use of an imagined sister figure. This character serves as both an editor and critic, pushing Chua to confront her own truths and unconscious biases in her narratives. The structure of her book includes disembodied dialogues within a conceptual space called 'The Room,' which highlights the interplay between memory and storytelling. This creative approach deepens the readers' engagement with the writing, prompting them to consider the complexities of self-representation and familial dynamics.
Cultural Context and Self-Reflection in Writing
Throughout the episode, Chua reflects on her experiences in Singapore and the cultural expectations that shaped her understanding of identity. She discusses how the rigid educational and social systems influenced her perception of self and the narratives she constructed around her family history. The pressures of conforming to societal norms led to feelings of alienation and a struggle for authenticity. Through her memoir, she seeks to unravel these connections, building a framework that allows for self-exploration and the acceptance of her multifaceted identity.
Activism and Artistic Engagement
The podcast also touches on Shui Chua's involvement in activism, particularly around issues like environmental justice and social equity within the literary world. She shares insights into her work with the initiative Fossil Free Books, advocating for a divestment from companies supporting oppressive regimes. This activism not only reflects her values but also aligns with the themes of her writing, intertwining personal and political narratives. By engaging in these efforts, Chua emphasizes the power of literature in driving change and the necessity of ethical considerations within the publishing industry.
Today’s guest, Shze-Hui Tjoa, has written a book that is remarkably unique. Is it an essay collection or a memoir? A detective story or a fantasy? A journey of self-individuation or an examination of power and control? Improbably it is all of these things, and perhaps more than any of them, it is the record of a writer finding her form by breaking form, but doing so in a way that invites us into the process as it unfolds. T Kira Madden declares: “The Story Game introduces a major debut work from a most astounding talent. Shze-Hui Tjoa’s memoir not only challenges genre, it upends and splits it wide open. In meditations on grief, displacement, mental health, and family, Tjoa will have you wondering how and why we remember, and what we can’t forget. The Story Game is hypnotic, wise, and thunderously innovative. I will teach this book, I will treasure it, and I will continue to learn from its astute and hopeful insights.”
For the bonus audio, Tjoa contributes a 30-minute video reading of a favorite childhood picture book that she translates for us from Chinese to English. To learn how to subscribe to the bonus audio archive and to explore the other potential benefits of joining the Between the Covers community as a listener-supporter, head over to the show’s Patreon page.