I first came across Catherine's work in the 2017 Leicesterwrites anthology where her short story "Aunty" won the prize. It was described by judges as subtle, seamless, almost perfect. And indeed it was. Reading her short story collection "Subjunctive moods" was like entering a miniature universe with so many worlds encapsulated in the form.
Durga has come to visit her grandmother Mary in Pahang. After spending a decade in Canada, she has found a job at a University in Kuala Lumpur and has returned to her hometown for a visit. But things have not been smooth between her and her grandmother. The death of Francesca, her mother and Mary's daughter is a murky swamp that keeps them apart.
And now that Durga is back, the ghosts of the past are rising out of the swamp seeking answers.
What works:
- Loved the opening chapter that starts on a wet Diwali night. Just like Goddess Lakshmi who visits her devotees at their houses once in a year, so Durga (one of the names of the goddess) enters her hometown in Pahang on a wet night, that is spilling with all sorts of secrets.
- A strong sense of place pervades the story. Descriptive paragraphs breath life into the tropical country. I could imagine the verandah surrounded by swaying coconut trees and the sound of squelchy, muddy paths on rainy days.
- I have never been to Malaysia before. But reading about Mary's life, her immigrant parents and the events of the time acquainted me with the historical fabric of the country.
- But what stood out for me is the power of storytelling. There are different versions of truth depending upon who is telling it. For me that was one of the important features of the novel. The way the narrative twists and turns on itself, casting a doubt on the narrator and yet not deviating from the story. Menon manages it beautifully.
