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mochiwaffles's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-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
4.25
sleepmotif's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sometimes_iread's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I really should stop procrastinating writing my reviews, especially for books that I’m not entirely sure on how to approach. After the past few days, I’m left with barely any details of each individual story in Ministry of Moral Panic by Amanda Lee Koe, just a vague feeling of unease.
I wonder if this unease stems from how different the characters in Lee’s short stories are from what I expect from narratives about Singapore. Most of her characters live on the fringes of society, from the aged and infirm to the very much single office lady, from the domestic helper transplanted to our shores to Maria Hertogh, plucked from her adoptive family and shipped to the Netherlands. Yet, each and every one of them are quintessentially Singaporean, chafing against the societal mould and longing to be free. It sounds so trite when I phrase it as such but Lee’s prose is anything but.
I do think that some of the stories deserve multiple readings and I actually might do so! Wow, is Lee actually going to convert me to reading more short stories?
Diversity meter:
Singaporean characters
pannamarchewka's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
teseyasfalcon's review against another edition
5.0
leaving review because I didn't have GR when I read this years ago, but fully convinced this book changed my brain chemistry. formative part of my unhinged writing. ALK is truly something !
wcb31's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Some uh, interesting! ones in this book. Some of the stories were really quite impactful for me- many of the transgressive relationships in this book were also highly uncomfortable and a bit too far for me! But they were all brilliantly creative and especially interesting given that they are all set in Singapore, possibly one of the least "transgressive-facing" (whatever that means lol) countries on the planet. Hats off to Amanda Lee Koe, her creative voice shines in every story. I liked best Carousel, the Maria Hertogh story, Flamingo Valley, and The Ballad of Arlene and Nelly, especially the last two which were particularly gentle but heart-wrenching- the contrast between the tender idealization of love and the brutal realities of life-course- how life/cultural expectations get in the way of love.
____w____'s review against another edition
2.5
i thought a lot of these stories felt 'obvious'. i hated the Bear story, or rather, i really hated the Bear character. my favourite was Delia -- the maid was 'made' for love.
huskerbee's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. One of the better Singlit short story collections I've read, I think; certainly not in composition-voice, and some of the stories were thought-provoking, though sometimes it tends towards tropey or trite.