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emburger's review
3.0
Ponti accurately captured how it feels to be an insecure teenage girl, the tenuous push and pull of a friendship that feels like 2 drowning people sharing a very flimsy life buoy. I also quite like how messed up all the three main women are (though Szu appears to have gotten her shit together eventually). Refreshing to not have female protagonists who are beyond reproach.
That said, pace is was super slow, not sure where the story was going most of the time, too many set-ups left discarded, leaving unsatisfying gaps. (What's up with Novita??? What's up with the aunt's uneasy disapproval of her appearance?)
That said, pace is was super slow, not sure where the story was going most of the time, too many set-ups left discarded, leaving unsatisfying gaps. (What's up with Novita??? What's up with the aunt's uneasy disapproval of her appearance?)
laineyb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
clarissasushicat's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Beautifully written. My first local book and I’m so proud of it! Singapore was described so accurately; I could feel the sweat and heat as I read. The coming-of-age story was so relatable and heartbreaking. It was interesting reading the different perspectives of the 3 women and their interactions. Loved it!
nowayjade's review
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I wanted to give higher and before I finished I was going to rank the book 4.5. This was a super fun read and I really enjoyed the concept, the characters and the way it was written. The relationships between the characters is explored in a interesting way and you really get a feel for each person and why they act the way they do. The only thing holding me back is the fact that at the very end I felt like a lot of the ‘loose ends’ that were tied up weren’t really relevant or even thing I was really thinking about from the story and they pointed to a mysticism in the story that had been forgotten to be woven throughout and I was left feeling more confused at the end even though it was a clear attempt to wrap up the story neatly by connecting points from the plot. But don’t let this put you off this is a really worthy read.
thereadingmum's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This is the kind of book that makes you insanely jealous of the author.
This is the second time I'm giving 5 stars to a Singaporean author and it is my second favourite Singaporean based book. My favourite being The Teenage Textbook.
This is a story of three different women. Friendless gentle giant, Szu lives under the shadow of her mother, Amisa's unearthly beauty in a decrepit house bought from her absent father's lottery winnings. She meets Circe, an ascerbic, equally friendless nouveau rich, at school and the unlikely pair become best friends. However Szu's life is coming to a crisis, as is Circe's 17 years later, while Amisa's twenty years ago fizzles disappointingly.
Sharlene Teo writes irritatingly well. Her prose is beautiful without being pretentious. I love how strange and awkward Szu and Circe are and how well they complement each other for the brief period that they were best friends. I love Amisa's back story and brush with cinematic cult fame. The fable of the pontianak, a scorned/grief-stricken woman turning into a monster, goes well with the overarching story of the three women struggling through their own neuroses and journey through and past adolescence. Szu and Circe's friendship and personal stories spiral together yet on different grooves that come together in a poignant but subtle clash at the end.
It's a shame Teo hasn't written anything since.
This is the second time I'm giving 5 stars to a Singaporean author and it is my second favourite Singaporean based book. My favourite being The Teenage Textbook.
This is a story of three different women. Friendless gentle giant, Szu lives under the shadow of her mother, Amisa's unearthly beauty in a decrepit house bought from her absent father's lottery winnings. She meets Circe, an ascerbic, equally friendless nouveau rich, at school and the unlikely pair become best friends. However Szu's life is coming to a crisis, as is Circe's 17 years later, while Amisa's twenty years ago fizzles disappointingly.
Sharlene Teo writes irritatingly well. Her prose is beautiful without being pretentious. I love how strange and awkward Szu and Circe are and how well they complement each other for the brief period that they were best friends. I love Amisa's back story and brush with cinematic cult fame. The fable of the pontianak, a scorned/grief-stricken woman turning into a monster, goes well with the overarching story of the three women struggling through their own neuroses and journey through and past adolescence. Szu and Circe's friendship and personal stories spiral together yet on different grooves that come together in a poignant but subtle clash at the end.
It's a shame Teo hasn't written anything since.
persistentcreations's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
luisams's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
thebooktrail88's review
4.0
Visit the locations of Ponti in Singapore!
Ponti is a fresh, and very unique tale told in three very distinct voices. Three women of various ages and backgrounds are all living in Singapore. Their lives linked in various ways by a series of now cult horror movies, called Ponti. Ponti, it turns out is a female vampire figure of Malay legends. Was I going to have to read this behind the sofa? Well no. It’s a symbol, an idea and a fascinating way of linking culture and experience rather than anything horror like.
The novel flits back and forth which could almost short vignettes in the same film with the snow from the TV screen separating one character from another. These are snapshots of their lives, their chance to tell their story and it works very well indeed. The timelines, the gaps inbetween the years felt very well handled by this author.
This is a novel of many themes and layers – it’s definitely focused on characters and their shared background. And what a background it is. Obsessive friendships, ugliness and beauty, overpowering mothers and so much more. There is a lot of sharp social commentary which reveals just as much about the cultural setting and the time than the characters do.
That’s not to say Singapore is not a character. The heat steams from each and every page. The colourful streets, the noise, the grey tower blocks all play their role as the characters move around like chess pieces. Each thing has an effect on someone and something else.
Unique and recommended.