The Ash House

The Tjoa ash house, once a sacred place for ancestral tablets, has fallen into disrepair. Arno Tjoa, a disabled man obsessed with a comatose maid, believes that releasing Bing Fa, a spirit trapped in a ghost marriage, can solve the family's misfortunes. However, as the family's skeletons are unearthed, the nun realizes she cannot save everyone. The story explores the legacy of love gone wrong and the sacrifices that must be made.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 280 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2021
Publisher: Penguin Random House SEA

For a century, the Tjoa ash house, once intended for ancestral tablets, has stood atop Kota Cahaya's exclusive Green Hill. However, it has now succumbed to decay, with drooping lintels and a sagging roof, giving it a haunting appearance. Within this dilapidated structure resides Arno Tjoa, a disabled individual who is deeply fixated on Barbie dolls. Sister Mary Michael, a clairvoyant nun, has been dispatched to set him free. Arno believes that Bing Fa, the captivating spirit of a pipa-diva trapped in a ghost marriage to his grandfather, holds the key to resolving the misfortunes plaguing the house. If Bing Fa is released from her doll-house prison, Arno believes that Girl, the comatose maid he is obsessed with, Irene Tjoa, his controlling aunt, and the Tjoa fortunes will be restored.

However, as the family's skeletons are unearthed, the nun realizes that her power is limited, and she cannot save everyone or everything. As the situation becomes increasingly dire, she must make difficult decisions about who must be sacrificed and what must be left to crumble into dust. The story unfolds against the backdrop of a 21st-century Southeast Asian port city where spirits still linger, adding an eerie dimension to the narrative. The Ash House skillfully weaves between the visible and invisible, delving into the complex web of family relationships and the unbreakable bonds of love. With its unexpected and heartbreaking ending, the novel leaves readers pondering the consequences of past decisions and the sacrifices that must be made to move forward.

Weight: 1g
Dimension: 1 x 1 x 1 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789814954273