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rebeccazh's review
4.0
A collection of essays responding to the theme, ecofeminism. The subjects are very wide-ranging, from topics like disability justice, kinship with non-human living beings, connection to places, to the mundane, like bread making. The essays were all very interesting, and some were particularly thoughtful and thought-provoking.
vivienliest's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
A brillant insightful touching Book, that really expanded my knowledge oh feminism and the Singaporean society
seeyf's review
4.0
The title "Making Kin" is drawn from an essay by Donna Haraway where she calls for us to expand our notion of kin beyond birth families or even humans. Many of the essays in this collection echo this, showing how environmental and feminist ideas intersect in many ways while bringing in queer, indigenous, neurodivergent and other perspectives. One essay that stood out for me was Tim Min Jie's "Care is Revolutionary", where she argues that slowing down and finding joy and care is deeply necessary, and even essential to the environmental activism she does. These personal essays might not all fall under the conventional definition of "environmental" at first glance, but they do demonstrate the "thinking-with" that is necessary to overcome the separation between the self and other, to know one's connection to their history, land and sea as nor says while talking about their family spread across the region — leading to a more expansive way of seeing the world.
c3rem0nials's review
informative
medium-paced
3.75
i read this with a good amount of admiration for the contributors to this book... i think my favorite essay had to be diana rahim's, whose personal family history of oil making intertwined perfectly with the subject of ecofeminism. especially in singapore, where our relationships with land and hearing marginalised communities on the subject of ecology is often unheard of. i appreciated that most of these contributors are brown, queer marginalised genders but i think the book would have benefitted more with a wider range of perspectives (ie indigenous communities).
twentycharm's review
5.0
5 stars. Thank you again to Ethos Books for sending me this amazing collection of personal essays discussing ecofeminism, women's roles in society, self-discovery, and so much more. In the following paragraphs, I will be reviewing each essay individually to talk more about the parts I enjoyed and my takeaways from them. My overall review will be uploaded on my Instagram @twentycharm!
Introduction and Editor Notes
Really insightful as it explored the inspirations for making kin, explained the meaning of the term and what they hope to achieve, and gave a brief overview of the personal essays to come. Densely packed with information and a little hard to decipher at times, but very meaningful. 4/5
The Field by Esther Vincent
My first time reading a personal essay and I finally understand the magic of it, feeling so close to the author and really getting into her mind. Vincent's descriptions blew me away, and I love the setting she's created, and the mentions of her relationship with her mother. 5/5
The Spell of the Forest by Prasanthi Ram
As usual, I love mentions of mythology, so I really enjoyed learning about some Hindu culture as well as the obstacles Ram faced as the caregiver for her father. So different from the first story but equally comforting. 5/5
The Seven-Year Cycle by Arunditha
a little more abstract than the previous two, but I like the longer timeline of this story. Many quotable lines and an overall beautiful message of life and death. 4/5
There Will Be Salvation Yet by Tania De Rozario
Already loving the title btw. Damn this was heavy, but so so well structured. I loved the references to horror stories related to Rosario's own experiences, and thank her for sharing her story. The ending is spectacular. There will be salvation yet. (ofc loving the queer rep too yasss queen) 5/5
Coming Home: Healing from Intergenerational Trauma by Nurul Fadiah Johari
Extremely insightful sharing on a different approach to mental health that I greatly appreciate. It's made me rethink my family relationships and see things in a new light. Society as a whole definitely needs to shift towards a collective mindset on healing and care. 5/5
Grappling by Andrea Yew
I really loved and strongly resonated with Yew's commentary on women's roles in society, and her explanations grounded by analogies to her hobby of martial arts were spectacularly written. Took down so many quotes from this one. 5/5
Scheherazade's Sea: Five Women and One by Dawn-joy Leong
I loved Leong's willingness to share her stories with others and allow readers to "make it their own". I am also thankful that, through this essay, I have a better understanding of autistic people and their view of the world through interconnectedness, which I believe is one neurotypical people should adopt as well. Also her drawings are so lovely! 4/5
The Sirenia Has Found Her Home by Serina Rahman
The play on words in the title is literal *chefs kiss*. Despite all the challenges she's faced as a woman working in STEM, Rahman continued to care for her small coastal community as best as she could, and that is inspiring enough. I wish her all the best in the future and thank her for the change she's encouraged. 5/5
As Big as a House by Matilda Gabrielpillai
it was so insightful to read Gabrielpillai's stories of the various houses and homes she's lived in thus far, as well as her cultural experiences in each one. Even as a young adult, I already consider the monetary significance of housing more than the emotional or cultural impact, so I'm really glad this essay was able to explain it to me. 5/5
Travelling in Place by Angelia Poon
Poon's exploration of "travelling in place" without actually moving about is ever relevant in the current pandemic, and I enjoyed going back to the past through her memories. I also took a liking to the literary examples she brought up to illustrate the treatment of women. 4.5/5
Marvels of Nature Just Outside My Window by Constance Singam
Absolutely loved Singam's cheerful and at times humorous voice in her anecdotes about animals, as well as the importance of green spaces to connect people. I especially appreciated the story of the strange dog, thank you for sharing! 5/5
The Bird Without a Name by Ann Ang
The story behind this essay's title is brilliant, and I'm glad to have found out more about birdwatching, as well as the flora and fauna in sunny little Singapore. Nature is truly there and ready to give, so long as we are willing to look for it. 4.5/5
The Power of Small Actions by Kanwaljit Soin
Though I appreciate her pacifist notions, I feel that Soin could have further explored the points she mentioned to better persuade readers to take her stand. Nonetheless, she brings a positive message and I am happy to know there are people who wish to see such change in our society. 3.5/5
Care is Revolutionary by Tim Min Jie
Though this was touched on in previous essays, I liked how Tim explored the importance of community and working together in hers. It has truly changed my mind on how I view success, especially women's success, which has been somehow distorted such that we must become "competitive and individualistic" to succeed in the patriarchal world. 5/5
Conquering Yeast by Grace Chia
This story shows how "domestic" mothers are empowered by providing and caring for their loved ones, showing love through food. It counters the common misconception that this notion isn't feminist as it "imposes a role onto women." 4.5/5
Finding a Home for Sebastien, My Autistic Son: from Peucang Island to Bali by Choo Kah Ying
It was interesting to hear about Choo's experience raising an autistic child and while I was originally appalled by her decision to have her son taken care of by someone else, I came to understand that it was with his best interests in mind. I'm glad it worked out for them, and hope they continue to thrive. 4.5/5
Semangat in Practice by nor
I really loved nor's exploration of the self, the land, and our history. It triggered me to think of the past differently from what we've been told, during precolonial times. a deeply meaningful essay that made me feel happy. 5/5
Liquid Emerald by Diana Rahim
I love the way fondness with which Rahim described her matrilineal heirloom, and appreciate her effort in explaining the importance of traditional medicine in terms of solace. 5/5
Introduction and Editor Notes
Really insightful as it explored the inspirations for making kin, explained the meaning of the term and what they hope to achieve, and gave a brief overview of the personal essays to come. Densely packed with information and a little hard to decipher at times, but very meaningful. 4/5
The Field by Esther Vincent
My first time reading a personal essay and I finally understand the magic of it, feeling so close to the author and really getting into her mind. Vincent's descriptions blew me away, and I love the setting she's created, and the mentions of her relationship with her mother. 5/5
The Spell of the Forest by Prasanthi Ram
As usual, I love mentions of mythology, so I really enjoyed learning about some Hindu culture as well as the obstacles Ram faced as the caregiver for her father. So different from the first story but equally comforting. 5/5
The Seven-Year Cycle by Arunditha
a little more abstract than the previous two, but I like the longer timeline of this story. Many quotable lines and an overall beautiful message of life and death. 4/5
There Will Be Salvation Yet by Tania De Rozario
Already loving the title btw. Damn this was heavy, but so so well structured. I loved the references to horror stories related to Rosario's own experiences, and thank her for sharing her story. The ending is spectacular. There will be salvation yet. (ofc loving the queer rep too yasss queen) 5/5
Coming Home: Healing from Intergenerational Trauma by Nurul Fadiah Johari
Extremely insightful sharing on a different approach to mental health that I greatly appreciate. It's made me rethink my family relationships and see things in a new light. Society as a whole definitely needs to shift towards a collective mindset on healing and care. 5/5
Grappling by Andrea Yew
I really loved and strongly resonated with Yew's commentary on women's roles in society, and her explanations grounded by analogies to her hobby of martial arts were spectacularly written. Took down so many quotes from this one. 5/5
Scheherazade's Sea: Five Women and One by Dawn-joy Leong
I loved Leong's willingness to share her stories with others and allow readers to "make it their own". I am also thankful that, through this essay, I have a better understanding of autistic people and their view of the world through interconnectedness, which I believe is one neurotypical people should adopt as well. Also her drawings are so lovely! 4/5
The Sirenia Has Found Her Home by Serina Rahman
The play on words in the title is literal *chefs kiss*. Despite all the challenges she's faced as a woman working in STEM, Rahman continued to care for her small coastal community as best as she could, and that is inspiring enough. I wish her all the best in the future and thank her for the change she's encouraged. 5/5
As Big as a House by Matilda Gabrielpillai
it was so insightful to read Gabrielpillai's stories of the various houses and homes she's lived in thus far, as well as her cultural experiences in each one. Even as a young adult, I already consider the monetary significance of housing more than the emotional or cultural impact, so I'm really glad this essay was able to explain it to me. 5/5
Travelling in Place by Angelia Poon
Poon's exploration of "travelling in place" without actually moving about is ever relevant in the current pandemic, and I enjoyed going back to the past through her memories. I also took a liking to the literary examples she brought up to illustrate the treatment of women. 4.5/5
Marvels of Nature Just Outside My Window by Constance Singam
Absolutely loved Singam's cheerful and at times humorous voice in her anecdotes about animals, as well as the importance of green spaces to connect people. I especially appreciated the story of the strange dog, thank you for sharing! 5/5
The Bird Without a Name by Ann Ang
The story behind this essay's title is brilliant, and I'm glad to have found out more about birdwatching, as well as the flora and fauna in sunny little Singapore. Nature is truly there and ready to give, so long as we are willing to look for it. 4.5/5
The Power of Small Actions by Kanwaljit Soin
Though I appreciate her pacifist notions, I feel that Soin could have further explored the points she mentioned to better persuade readers to take her stand. Nonetheless, she brings a positive message and I am happy to know there are people who wish to see such change in our society. 3.5/5
Care is Revolutionary by Tim Min Jie
Though this was touched on in previous essays, I liked how Tim explored the importance of community and working together in hers. It has truly changed my mind on how I view success, especially women's success, which has been somehow distorted such that we must become "competitive and individualistic" to succeed in the patriarchal world. 5/5
Conquering Yeast by Grace Chia
This story shows how "domestic" mothers are empowered by providing and caring for their loved ones, showing love through food. It counters the common misconception that this notion isn't feminist as it "imposes a role onto women." 4.5/5
Finding a Home for Sebastien, My Autistic Son: from Peucang Island to Bali by Choo Kah Ying
It was interesting to hear about Choo's experience raising an autistic child and while I was originally appalled by her decision to have her son taken care of by someone else, I came to understand that it was with his best interests in mind. I'm glad it worked out for them, and hope they continue to thrive. 4.5/5
Semangat in Practice by nor
I really loved nor's exploration of the self, the land, and our history. It triggered me to think of the past differently from what we've been told, during precolonial times. a deeply meaningful essay that made me feel happy. 5/5
Liquid Emerald by Diana Rahim
I love the way fondness with which Rahim described her matrilineal heirloom, and appreciate her effort in explaining the importance of traditional medicine in terms of solace. 5/5
teseyasfalcon's review
5.0
Loved, loved, loved this. A new favourite. Reading this was like a meditative exercise in regrounding in body, self, and the earth. With threads exploring decolonial sentiments, land reclamation, and cis/het/patriarchal norms, this is a book that insists on kindness and empathy--as Tim Min Jie puts it, "Centering joy and care... is a revolutionary act."
Standouts for me included:
- Tania de Rozario's "There Will Be Salvation Yet", which, throught the lens of horror movies, distills the exact intersectional discourses of madness, femininity, and queerness (with a good splash of religious trauma) that has lived in my brain rent free for years.
"Between broken belongings and a broken heart, you learn quickly: when they say something inside you needs casting out, it is you they are referring to.
And that is fine. Because you will cast yourself from this place. You will conquer the wilderness and become it. You will revel in your rage, be consumed by the jaws of your own wild hunger. And it will be delicious. And there will be salvation yet."
- Andrea Yew's "Grappling", about grounding the self through understanding the body, knowing limits and embracing strength, particularly those at odds with patriarchal constructs
"But are women really empowered or have we just raised the bar of what it means to be a successful woman without taking anything off her plate? (...) When there is no one explicitly pinning you down, how do you know when to tap out?"
- Ann Ang's "The Bird Without a Name", about birdwatching, reframing the way we/Singaporeans see nature as appendage to urbanity, and taking the time to know the names of the things in the ecosystem around us
"Perhaps the name of a bird attains its full, winged life only in the presence of the bird itself, and in the secret, ineffable rush of wonder that belongs to no one else but those who set eyes upon it. And so, a bird takes you out of yourself, only to return you to an enlarged perspective of where you sit in the wider ecology of our green earth."
- Tim Min Jie's "Care is Revolutionary", about centering care in activist work and its necessity for the sustainability of movements, as well as disability access
"We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors before us and so will future generations on us. We are not the start or end point. (...) Centring joy and care in our movements is a revolutionary act."
- nor's "Semangat in Practice", queering and exploring Nusantara and innate femininity from a trans perspective, and challenging the borders of nation-states in an interconnected archipelago
"Are the fishermen not our people too? Oftentimes, I wonder how differently Singapore and our neighbouring nations would be if we moved beyond the interests of our self-imposed borders. What if we looked at the sea as a connector and a living continuous flow of energy and resource instead of seeing ourselves as isolated islands? (...) To know one's self is to know one's history. To know one's history is to know one's land. To know one's land is also to know one's sea."
- Diana Rahim's "Liquid Emerald", which touches on traditional medicine and indigenous knowledge
"I understand that paracetamol works, that Xanax works, that Benazepril works, but I am not connected to these pharmaceutical drugs. They were not made with plants native to the land I come from. They are manufactured by experts in drug companies, not with the loving hands of women through generations, passed from one elder to the next."
Standouts for me included:
- Tania de Rozario's "There Will Be Salvation Yet", which, throught the lens of horror movies, distills the exact intersectional discourses of madness, femininity, and queerness (with a good splash of religious trauma) that has lived in my brain rent free for years.
"Between broken belongings and a broken heart, you learn quickly: when they say something inside you needs casting out, it is you they are referring to.
And that is fine. Because you will cast yourself from this place. You will conquer the wilderness and become it. You will revel in your rage, be consumed by the jaws of your own wild hunger. And it will be delicious. And there will be salvation yet."
- Andrea Yew's "Grappling", about grounding the self through understanding the body, knowing limits and embracing strength, particularly those at odds with patriarchal constructs
"But are women really empowered or have we just raised the bar of what it means to be a successful woman without taking anything off her plate? (...) When there is no one explicitly pinning you down, how do you know when to tap out?"
- Ann Ang's "The Bird Without a Name", about birdwatching, reframing the way we/Singaporeans see nature as appendage to urbanity, and taking the time to know the names of the things in the ecosystem around us
"Perhaps the name of a bird attains its full, winged life only in the presence of the bird itself, and in the secret, ineffable rush of wonder that belongs to no one else but those who set eyes upon it. And so, a bird takes you out of yourself, only to return you to an enlarged perspective of where you sit in the wider ecology of our green earth."
- Tim Min Jie's "Care is Revolutionary", about centering care in activist work and its necessity for the sustainability of movements, as well as disability access
"We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors before us and so will future generations on us. We are not the start or end point. (...) Centring joy and care in our movements is a revolutionary act."
- nor's "Semangat in Practice", queering and exploring Nusantara and innate femininity from a trans perspective, and challenging the borders of nation-states in an interconnected archipelago
"Are the fishermen not our people too? Oftentimes, I wonder how differently Singapore and our neighbouring nations would be if we moved beyond the interests of our self-imposed borders. What if we looked at the sea as a connector and a living continuous flow of energy and resource instead of seeing ourselves as isolated islands? (...) To know one's self is to know one's history. To know one's history is to know one's land. To know one's land is also to know one's sea."
- Diana Rahim's "Liquid Emerald", which touches on traditional medicine and indigenous knowledge
"I understand that paracetamol works, that Xanax works, that Benazepril works, but I am not connected to these pharmaceutical drugs. They were not made with plants native to the land I come from. They are manufactured by experts in drug companies, not with the loving hands of women through generations, passed from one elder to the next."
hyeyeongie's review
5.0
This book really put me in daze. I couldn’t write a review as eloquent as the essays, they’re all masterpieces!
Ecofeminism is an entirely new word for me so my first thought on this book would be collections of academic writings on feminism x ecology. But I was wrong from the start!
In fact it’s a collection of beautifully written life experiences. Everything is personal touch and I love how poignant these stories are covering various topics from adulthood, motherhood, home, traumas, mental illness, disability, martial arts, to name a few. Also subtly touching issues on environment and social patriarchy.
I was immediately drawn into reading by the brilliant use of symbolism & metaphor. Esther Vincent symbolises her growing up phases as fields, that kept changing mentally & physically by anthropocentric activities. Grace Chia conquered yeast-making in a way of showing that women have been the power of domestic breadwinning over centuries. Basically, everything is poetic!
And seeing that most authors are academicians &/ scholars, it is no wonder that such articulate essays are written. Myths aren’t simply ignored but scientifically inculcated in the writings too.
Reading this in perspective of a Malaysian, I did not feel disconnected at all. Malaysia and Singapore both have socioeconomic & geographical similarities. Like Kanwaljit Soin, I also wish my country to be more inclusive, equal, humane but less materialistic and dogmatic. Despite the turbulence we are currently facing, we couldn’t deny that ‘hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri, lebih baik di negeri sendiri’.
Anyway, I highly recommend everyone to pick this is up. As this is a book I will save for future generations to read & take heed. I hope by that time, social injustice & ecological disasters are no longer a concern to my grandchildren. Like how A. Samad Said felt in The Dead Crow.
I suggest you to devour the essays slowly. Taking your time to explore. As it speaks to you like a mother to her daughter. It can be soft & harsh sometimes but she meant nothing but good. Quoting nor, “ecofeminism asks us to think of our relations to the Earth and the environment in all aspects of our life…”
Thank you EthosBooks for sending me this review copy. Such an eye-opener, “looking at birds takes you out of yourself into the real world”
P/s: I am today’s years old when I realised Indonesian National Anthem shares similar verses to Sarawak State Anthem
Ecofeminism is an entirely new word for me so my first thought on this book would be collections of academic writings on feminism x ecology. But I was wrong from the start!
In fact it’s a collection of beautifully written life experiences. Everything is personal touch and I love how poignant these stories are covering various topics from adulthood, motherhood, home, traumas, mental illness, disability, martial arts, to name a few. Also subtly touching issues on environment and social patriarchy.
I was immediately drawn into reading by the brilliant use of symbolism & metaphor. Esther Vincent symbolises her growing up phases as fields, that kept changing mentally & physically by anthropocentric activities. Grace Chia conquered yeast-making in a way of showing that women have been the power of domestic breadwinning over centuries. Basically, everything is poetic!
And seeing that most authors are academicians &/ scholars, it is no wonder that such articulate essays are written. Myths aren’t simply ignored but scientifically inculcated in the writings too.
Reading this in perspective of a Malaysian, I did not feel disconnected at all. Malaysia and Singapore both have socioeconomic & geographical similarities. Like Kanwaljit Soin, I also wish my country to be more inclusive, equal, humane but less materialistic and dogmatic. Despite the turbulence we are currently facing, we couldn’t deny that ‘hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri, lebih baik di negeri sendiri’.
Anyway, I highly recommend everyone to pick this is up. As this is a book I will save for future generations to read & take heed. I hope by that time, social injustice & ecological disasters are no longer a concern to my grandchildren. Like how A. Samad Said felt in The Dead Crow.
I suggest you to devour the essays slowly. Taking your time to explore. As it speaks to you like a mother to her daughter. It can be soft & harsh sometimes but she meant nothing but good. Quoting nor, “ecofeminism asks us to think of our relations to the Earth and the environment in all aspects of our life…”
Thank you EthosBooks for sending me this review copy. Such an eye-opener, “looking at birds takes you out of yourself into the real world”
P/s: I am today’s years old when I realised Indonesian National Anthem shares similar verses to Sarawak State Anthem
sherry_001's review
reflective
fast-paced
3.75
Making kin reads like the product of a group project. The overarching theme of kinship through ecofeminism is approached vaguely with various interpretations by the authors.
+ Own-voices narratives.
+ All women authors.
+ Some essays contain extremely reflective and insightful concepts, well written and creatively executed.
- Some essays leave you wondering if the author forgot about their agreement to contribute and scribbled up something vaguely on theme to make a deadline.
The book gets 3.75 stars because it’s “kind of” good. In the same way not hating women is “kind of” feminist. The initial essays were a strong start but I honestly expected a deeper exploration of the theme given essays are an apt medium to deliver well structured and complex thought.
+ Own-voices narratives.
+ All women authors.
+ Some essays contain extremely reflective and insightful concepts, well written and creatively executed.
- Some essays leave you wondering if the author forgot about their agreement to contribute and scribbled up something vaguely on theme to make a deadline.
The book gets 3.75 stars because it’s “kind of” good. In the same way not hating women is “kind of” feminist. The initial essays were a strong start but I honestly expected a deeper exploration of the theme given essays are an apt medium to deliver well structured and complex thought.