The Rice Mother by Rani Manicka

The Rice Mother

Rani Manicka

This is an engrossing family story full of memorable characters set in exotic Malaysia. It tells the bad with the good but it's a beautiful book. I couldn't put it down.

Extract
Memories? Yes, I have memories but they are precious and far away, like butterflies. Tiny magic pieces of flying colour that the curious little boy of time has played with. No-one dares tell him, 'Don't touch them or the dust comes off their wings and they will blur and fly no more' .... The butterfly with the biggest, best wings I call Mother. When I was young she was a big bright shining light in our house. Undoubtedly the strongest influence in all our lives.
Parallels
  • The Flower Boy by Kren Roberts
  • The Teardrop Story by Catherine Lim
  • A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth