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blau_elmo's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of local short stories. It covers many aspects of Singaporean culture in an explosive and unique way. A large theme of this book is the breaking of various taboos in our society. Below are my favourites:
Chick -A woman who grows up without love sexually and emotionally manipulates all the men around her to get what she wants. It is messed up in its cruelty, but that makes it very striking and memorable. It is a story of the necessity of love and compassion, and of the propensity for certain people to be unkind just to be cruel.
Carousel & Fort - A story about the art scene in Singapore. Carousel represents the cyclic failures of love, and fort represents the ire of controversy that is concomitant with producing art.The destruction of both arts at the end, coming together to form a brutal showpiece, that was beautifully put together. Very visceral and raw.
Chick -
Carousel & Fort - A story about the art scene in Singapore. Carousel represents the cyclic failures of love, and fort represents the ire of controversy that is concomitant with producing art.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Self harm and Violence
jinglebellyee's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Read this book a few years ago, can’t rmb when or how, but am glad I picked it up again because even having read them before, the short stories are still fun and thought-provoking! I think this book is about how one finds oneself, and how does one navigate around “being Singaporean”. The themes explored may not be typical of Singapore (LGBT, sexuality, crime & deviance) but they are essentially part of us and that’s what makes the characters so interesting
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual violence, and Murder
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