Teardrop Story Woman

Catherine Lim's controversial 1997 novel The Bondmaid introduced American readers to the exciting voice of Singapore's best-selling author. LIm's compelling novels fuse the elegance of Amy Tan with the authenticity of Jung Chang, creating a fascinating world with characters whose lives are determined by a heady mix of love, class, destiny, and the machinations of the gods.

The Teardrop Story woman is Mei Kwei, born in Malaya in 1934 and doubly cursed -- not only is she female,…