By the Book: Saras Manickam on My Mother Pattu

Saras Manickam’s debut book is a collection written over nearly two decades, and features her 2019 Commonwealth Short Story Prize-winning entry as the titular story. In the anthology, flawed but authentic characters span the decades in a Malaysian setting, as Saras explores both intimate, personal struggles as well as broader societal themes. We speak with Saras about her writing process, and how she lets her characters wend their own way through her stories. We close off with a review of the book.