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whipcreamsucks's review against another edition
3.0
I'm truly embarrassed to admit I picked this up because I thought it was an alternate cover design of Crazy Rich Asians. This is, on surface-level, undeniable chick-lit, but it actually goes much deeper. Halfway through I realise its blurb describing it as a 'modern-day Emma.' I have never read it, but if I were to trust the Google result summary of Emma, then yeah, it makes sense.
Now the review: I thought this would be something like Crazy Rich Asians. I was correct in 2/3 of these aspects. No one here is filthy Kwan-level rich, and was actually bolder than all of the aforementioned trilogy combined. his had a unique vein of relatable, ribald humour and leaves no sentimental musings about Singapore.
And another thing: I liked Jazzy. She narrates in Singlish, never missing a beat, and was very fun. She peels back the layers of the modern Singaporean society fearlessly- anything about class, race, status, and GENDER. Gender became such a big point, and it may be my favourite thing about the book. There's thinly-veiled darkness underlying this theme, probably coming into full play in that moment when Jazzy reflects on all the women she's seen while eating dinner with Roy's crowd. It's written in a simple way, but when I read it I had to put down the book for a moment and reflect on it myself.
However, I feel that this definitely isn't a book for every Singaporean, let alone everyone regardless of nationality. I feel that some readers may take offence to how some of the things are written in this book, particularly about race, seeing how badly it can be misinterpreted out of context.
(And oh joy, if I never have to see the word 'rubba' again! Oh dear.)
Now the review: I thought this would be something like Crazy Rich Asians. I was correct in 2/3 of these aspects. No one here is filthy Kwan-level rich, and was actually bolder than all of the aforementioned trilogy combined. his had a unique vein of relatable, ribald humour and leaves no sentimental musings about Singapore.
And another thing: I liked Jazzy. She narrates in Singlish, never missing a beat, and was very fun. She peels back the layers of the modern Singaporean society fearlessly- anything about class, race, status, and GENDER. Gender became such a big point, and it may be my favourite thing about the book. There's thinly-veiled darkness underlying this theme, probably coming into full play in that moment when Jazzy reflects on all the women she's seen while eating dinner with Roy's crowd. It's written in a simple way, but when I read it I had to put down the book for a moment and reflect on it myself.
However, I feel that this definitely isn't a book for every Singaporean, let alone everyone regardless of nationality. I feel that some readers may take offence to how some of the things are written in this book, particularly about race, seeing how badly it can be misinterpreted out of context.
(And oh joy, if I never have to see the word 'rubba' again! Oh dear.)
misscbingley's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars. It took me a few chapters to get used to the Singlish syntax, but after a while, I noticed I was starting to incorporate certain phrases in my internal monologue, wanting to add "lah" on to sentences. Now I'm disappointed that the next book I pick up won't be written the same way. I can see how the narrator is a bit like Emma; I grew to like her, despite her snobbishness and often catty comments (still not sure how the reader is supposed to view the character's... classism and internalized misogyny/racism?). At heart, she cared for her friends and parents. The actual storyline reminded me more of Sex and the City mixed with Mad Men, than Emma, though. I thought it would be pure fluff, but it's actually kind of seedy and grim by the end. It ended a bit abruptly, and I wished there were more--I still felt a bit... worried for Jazzy, and where she'll end up.
simmerinwords's review against another edition
3.0
A shocking and discomforting read. Experience the shallow, materialistic life of Jazzy, a SPG, and the lengths she goes to rise the ranks in this capitalistic city state.
squibberoni's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
While singlish is not my fav diction to have to read an entire book in + shallow party characters with closed off inner minds, it was a pretty clear portrait of misogyny + the power of women and femininity and how it all comes down to the male gaze. The power balance n relationship between male & female are illustrated pretty well - the saving grace of this book for me. Also of class difference!
biancabooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
shallihavemydwarf's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book because of the comparisons to Emma and Breakfast at Tiffany's, but it actually reminded me most of A Clockwork Orange. Not only because of the linguistic tricks, but also because Tan's interrogation of a certain type of toxic hyper-femininity strikes me as similar to Burgess' treatment of Alex's views on masculinity.
mmllepoulain's review against another edition
challenging
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
jessica_lam's review against another edition
4.0
Synopsis: a book about three ethnically Chinese Singaporean women who set out on a quest to find rich white husbands so they can have maids and highrises. You'd think I'd hate it.
It's really a 3.5 star, but I rounded up since this book managed to surprise me. There comes a time, I think, in every woman's life when she realizes the degree to which systematic misogyny pollutes every part of her life and through this quest, Jazzy, at 26, is coming to realize that she's not as okay as she thought with the gender roles assigned to her in Singaporean society. She runs into problems with her job (the threat of being put to pasture where all late-twenties assistants go); her friendships; her romantic and sexual relationships as well as the issue of consent in situations where it's not so obvious the way a woman may feel pressured into sex. Jazzy has agency and is deeply, deeply flawed. She makes terrible decisions, but feels badly about them. She has prejudices and greed and throughout the book, she gets into situations that lead her to the realization that she deserves more than an okay guy who can provide for her; that happiness comes in different forms and perhaps their initial goal was not as much of a slam dunk as she thought.
Written in first person, Tan uses a lively Singaporish that takes some getting used to (think Clockwork Orange kind of slang), but once you do, it really sets a fun and fast rhythm in her cadence.
It's really a 3.5 star, but I rounded up since this book managed to surprise me. There comes a time, I think, in every woman's life when she realizes the degree to which systematic misogyny pollutes every part of her life and through this quest, Jazzy, at 26, is coming to realize that she's not as okay as she thought with the gender roles assigned to her in Singaporean society. She runs into problems with her job (the threat of being put to pasture where all late-twenties assistants go); her friendships; her romantic and sexual relationships as well as the issue of consent in situations where it's not so obvious the way a woman may feel pressured into sex. Jazzy has agency and is deeply, deeply flawed. She makes terrible decisions, but feels badly about them. She has prejudices and greed and throughout the book, she gets into situations that lead her to the realization that she deserves more than an okay guy who can provide for her; that happiness comes in different forms and perhaps their initial goal was not as much of a slam dunk as she thought.
Written in first person, Tan uses a lively Singaporish that takes some getting used to (think Clockwork Orange kind of slang), but once you do, it really sets a fun and fast rhythm in her cadence.
inkspitblog's review against another edition
1.0
Dnf @15%.
Incredibly sexist and the main character is extremely unlikeable.
Incredibly sexist and the main character is extremely unlikeable.
starduest's review against another edition
2.0
A light, beach holiday-type read. I don't know what to make of this book - it flowed along well enough although I'm unsure of its literary merit, and even less certain about how I feel towards the racist and classist overtones of the book. But it's definitely not as brilliant a novel as reviews have made it out to be and can't really be compared to Crazy Rich Asians in spite of some overt similarities.