Lake Malibu and other stories is a collection of short stories about various people from a small Malaysian town connected by a theme of escapism. Through the interlinked stories, we get to know the residents of Ipoh who struggle with various entanglements such as filial obligations, societal pressure, and increasing exposure to Western influences. In Lake Malibu, two young boys dream of greener pastures in a Western country. In Mrs Fernandez, a teenage boy falls in love with his best friend's mother. In Margaret, an elderly lady re-evaluates her relationship with her son who has settled down in Australia. The anthology is tied up by a final story - Camellias - which is about a Malaysian woman who has moved to Melbourne with her family. Highly Commended, 2021 Carmel Digital Literary Award
The stories in the collection explore themes of cultural identity and migration in a world that is more globalised and fluid than ever. Lake Corona and Other Stories is similar to work by authors such as Jhumpa Lahiri, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Yoko Ogawa, but they focus on a cultural experience and diaspora that is authentically Malaysian.
