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Post by Kalvien on May 17, 2009 1:28:09 GMT -5
Hi there, just recently joined the forum. I am novelist, and have published my novel two years ago (written in Indonesia). Anyone else writer/novelist here? Does your eurasian somehow influence the cultural background and atmosphere in your fiction?
I just recently aware that, because my mixed heritage, I tend to use people from mixed heritage. The main character usually came from particular culture, but she/he didnt really practice the custom because either moved to different place or fed up of the culture. I guess I unconsciously retell the feeling of being mixed heritage, the culture confusian and all. It's not a bad thing though since it makes the story felt more universal.
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Post by meep on May 17, 2009 1:55:36 GMT -5
^ That's cool. I am not a writer, but I can imagine the influence of culture confusion and the notion of cultural belonging coming into the story that a Eurasian writes.
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Post by betahat on May 17, 2009 2:09:34 GMT -5
I think there is a large and growing literature dealing with these themes of "hybridity." People like Hari Kunzru and others. I don't know much about it, but my father is an expert on "post-colonial" literature even though he is not mixed himself - he still has the immigrant background, the cultural confusion, etc. If anything, I have less cultural confusion than him since I most grew up in Canada whereas he grew up in Burma, Singapore and Canada.
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Post by Paddy on May 17, 2009 6:21:48 GMT -5
Hi there, just recently joined the forum. I am novelist, and have published my novel two years ago (written in Indonesia). Anyone else writer/novelist here? Does your eurasian somehow influence the cultural background and atmosphere in your fiction? I just recently aware that, because my mixed heritage, I tend to use people from mixed heritage. The main character usually came from particular culture, but she/he didnt really practice the custom because either moved to different place or fed up of the culture. I guess I unconsciously retell the feeling of being mixed heritage, the culture confusian and all. It's not a bad thing though since it makes the story felt more universal. What is the name of your novel and what name do you write under? I take it you write fiction? I recently purchased a copy of 'Mrs Spring Frangrance' by Sui Sin Far. From what I gather, she was the first Eurasian author, publishing books before the turn of the 20th Century. Her subject was looking at the lives of Chinese in north America. She was born in Britain, but became a naturalised Canadian. Do you write for the purpose of discussing Eurasian experience, or is it that your protagonists are Eurasian because its easier for you to relate and recreate their experience and fit them into your fictional reality?
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Post by halfbreed on May 17, 2009 6:32:57 GMT -5
I've thought about writing something about Eurasian gangsters, but I don't know enough about mafia activity. But in it, the EA's would work both sides and the Asian mafia would be like 'it was that white guy!' and attack the European mafia, and vice versa for the Europeans ("get that Asian dude!").
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Post by Nikki on May 17, 2009 9:50:56 GMT -5
He's not Eurasian -- he's half African American and half Jewish, but James McBrides' "The Color Of Water" is another novel that explores the idea of "hybridity." Good read.
I read it when I was in uni for a writing course and was constantly underlining things because his thoughts and my sentiments were so closely connected. I ended up writing a paper being mixed and started doing research online to find other people's experiences. Oddly enough that book is what brought me here to EAN. Funny how things turn out.
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Post by rob on May 20, 2009 9:25:58 GMT -5
Kalvien - welcome to EAN. waiting to hear more about this novel you published and would love to have a read of anything you've got floating around on the web.
oh, and my favourite eurasian writer is definitely Michael Ondaatje... don't think he's broached any EA topics tho.
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fei
Full Member
Posts: 274
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Post by fei on May 27, 2009 7:54:21 GMT -5
Anyone know of Eurasian author who write about being an EA? Maybe recommend few good book about the subject?
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Shock
Full Member
Posts: 261
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Post by Shock on Jun 20, 2009 2:56:57 GMT -5
I am a post writer. Does it count?
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Post by Kalvien on Jun 22, 2009 9:46:28 GMT -5
feiI think I someone recommended about a novel of that eu recently, I will post again after I remember the title. It's story about eurasian woman in east indie (Indonesia during dutch colonialism). Back then in colonial era, being eurasian means disaster, I read several articles about eurasians during colonial times, and most received discrimination from both natives and european.
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fei
Full Member
Posts: 274
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Post by fei on Jun 23, 2009 7:13:04 GMT -5
Thanks Kalvien, I know how they feel. I get sh*t alot growing up cause i look different. Anyway pls get back to me on the noval. Is it in english? cause i cant read indo that well.
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Post by Kalvien on Jun 29, 2009 1:52:21 GMT -5
fei, you might want to check these following books of indo people (indonesia-dutch/eurasian), in english of course:
-"Memoirs of an Indo Woman" by Marguerite Schenkhuizen, edited/translated by Lizelot Stout van Balgooy (I think I saw this at local periplus for $5) -Silenced Voices: Uncovering a Famiky's Colonial History in Indonesia by Inez Hollander -"The Song and the Truth" by Helga Ruebsamen: story about jewish girl born in Indonesia. this is an interesting book because now jewish is probably the rarest ethnic in Indonesia, most are probably conceal their blood as european because presence of radical islams. -As I have Loved You by Kitty De Ruyter Bon
From what I read, Indo people have long history of discrimination from both colonial government. They were seen inferiors by the pure dutch, but the local natives never consider them as same ethnic because difference nature of their physique. Most were working in low official and petty jobs, actually the term Indische was associated with negative meaning.
In the modern day, most of 3rd generations Indo in Indonesia are still concealing their identity. Their grandparents usually have experienced the discrimination, the 2nd generations were told to forget their mixed heritage (no matter how much indo people felt as indonesians, they are seen as dutch colonials here), and 3rd generations dont know anything about their history. sounds like a cultural genocide in my opinion.
as myself... to be honest I dont have serious problem during my childhood except everyone said I was very white, I thought that was just exaggeration, because I thought most of chinese people are white anyway, but the joke went as far telling me sissy because they said "I am too beautiful for a boy", "too white for chinese", etc. I guess that was indirect racism only because I was slightly whiter than most of my friends. >.>
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hypeforlife91
Full Member
fashionEAsta!
Crazy for Dots.
Posts: 464
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Post by hypeforlife91 on Aug 13, 2009 0:43:23 GMT -5
I am an aspiring fashion journalist, does that count as being the writer you have in mind? xD
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Post by Kalvien on Aug 13, 2009 12:42:14 GMT -5
well you better start working a novel or else also, I'm happily announce I will publish my next novel by the end of 2009, wish me luck.
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Yoomy
Junior Member
Posts: 175
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Post by Yoomy on Aug 15, 2009 4:38:01 GMT -5
Kalvien what was the name of your novel and does anyone here know which books are good that are based around eurasian ethnicity?
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