LAURIE Hashim is an American novelist based in California who has a soft spot in her heart for the island of Penang. Her debut novel, A Paradise of Illusions, has recently been published by Penguin Singapore.
This historical novel is set on the island in the waning days of British rule in Malaya, including the Japanese occupation, and delves deep into themes of marriage, love, loss and expectations – against a backdrop of what we often nostalgically see as a less complicated era, both socially and culturally, in a country moving into a modern age.
When a character runs into conflict with their expectations and desires, how do they choose to proceed and what are the consequences of their actions? Laurie shares her perspective as someone on the outside looking in, both culturally and from another time, on why this story and its themes transcend time. – The Vibes, August 17, 2022
Produced by Shazmin Shamsuddin and Sound Engineered by Ethan Phoon
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