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liseplease's review against another edition
4.0
Highly recommend the audiobook. Though the storyline deviated so much from Emma it wasn't particularly recognizable, I still thought it was quite good, and especially enjoyed the ending.
kura2ninja's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Racism
ambershah's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
modernoddity's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
sumyungguy2005's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The cover of this book was giving 'It Girl' energy, and the story inside delivered!
Sarong Party Girls reminded me of Sayaka Murata's novels, Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings, in the way that the author put society on blast with this novel; the author discussed things that people never actually address out loud (even if they acknowledge these things internally), and that's what I enjoyed most about this book.
Additionally, I adored how strong the Main Character's voice was.
I don't know why this book has such a low overall rating (because I haven't read the other reviews to find out why, lol), but I'm assuming it's because the narrator was shallow and unlikeable / as well as how uncomfortable and upsetting some of the events that took place in this book were, but I'd argue that the point of the novel was to make the reader upset with the fact that this is the world we live in, and that people like the awful men in this book actually exist.
I'm not saying that anyone's invalid for rating it low for these reasons, but for the people who haven't read this yet, I just wanted to point out that in between all of the Fun 'Wannabe Rich Girl' Mess, there is a lot of heavy topics that are discussed; topics that may make your blood boil. So just be aware!
Some of my favorite quotes:
"From now on, just call me Jazeline. [...] Jazeline is not Jasmine or Celine or any boring name like that-- it's damn special. In the whole of Singapore, only I have this name. When people hear it, they confirm they'd better pay attention to me." (page 34)
" 'So, Jazeline, what is it like to be a modern Singaporean woman?' [...] The truth is, even if I felt like I could speak honestly, I didn't know how to explain everything--- or anything, really. How to tell him about a society where girls grow up watching their fathers have mistresses and second families on the side? Or one in which you find out one day that it is your mother who is the concubine and you are the second family? A society that makes you say, when you are twelve or fourteen or seventeen, 'No matter what, when I grow up, I am never going to be the woman that tolerates that!' But then you actually grow up and you look around, and the men who are all around you, the boys you grew up with, no matter how sweet or kind or promising they were, that somehow they have turned into the men that all of our fathers were and still are. And you suddenly know what you have to accept--- that yes, no matter what you hoped for before, well, fuck, lumpar, kani nah etc., this cock road is just how my life is going to turn out also. Unless, unless... you can find your own way out to a different life." (page 105)
"I am Jazzy--- and Jazzy doesn't lose!" (final page)
I assumed Jazzy was going to end up with Seng when she realized she would never find an ang moh who would treat her right, but I was surprised (and beyond happy for her) when Jazzy realized that she didn't need a man to get the life she deserves, and that she was going to put herself first.
Sarong Party Girls reminded me of Sayaka Murata's novels, Convenience Store Woman and Earthlings, in the way that the author put society on blast with this novel; the author discussed things that people never actually address out loud (even if they acknowledge these things internally), and that's what I enjoyed most about this book.
Additionally, I adored how strong the Main Character's voice was.
I don't know why this book has such a low overall rating (because I haven't read the other reviews to find out why, lol), but I'm assuming it's because the narrator was shallow and unlikeable / as well as how uncomfortable and upsetting some of the events that took place in this book were, but I'd argue that the point of the novel was to make the reader upset with the fact that this is the world we live in, and that people like the awful men in this book actually exist.
I'm not saying that anyone's invalid for rating it low for these reasons, but for the people who haven't read this yet, I just wanted to point out that in between all of the Fun 'Wannabe Rich Girl' Mess, there is a lot of heavy topics that are discussed; topics that may make your blood boil. So just be aware!
Some of my favorite quotes:
"From now on, just call me Jazeline. [...] Jazeline is not Jasmine or Celine or any boring name like that-- it's damn special. In the whole of Singapore, only I have this name. When people hear it, they confirm they'd better pay attention to me." (page 34)
" 'So, Jazeline, what is it like to be a modern Singaporean woman?' [...] The truth is, even if I felt like I could speak honestly, I didn't know how to explain everything--- or anything, really. How to tell him about a society where girls grow up watching their fathers have mistresses and second families on the side? Or one in which you find out one day that it is your mother who is the concubine and you are the second family? A society that makes you say, when you are twelve or fourteen or seventeen, 'No matter what, when I grow up, I am never going to be the woman that tolerates that!' But then you actually grow up and you look around, and the men who are all around you, the boys you grew up with, no matter how sweet or kind or promising they were, that somehow they have turned into the men that all of our fathers were and still are. And you suddenly know what you have to accept--- that yes, no matter what you hoped for before, well, fuck, lumpar, kani nah etc., this cock road is just how my life is going to turn out also. Unless, unless... you can find your own way out to a different life." (page 105)
"I am Jazzy--- and Jazzy doesn't lose!" (final page)
minxtte's review against another edition
emotional
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
3.0
dozenthhoney's review against another edition
2.0
If you'd like to read an entire book as narrated by the Vietnamese prostitute of Full Metal Jacket - this is your book. Couldn't finish because of the awkward prose. I love the "Crazy Rich Asian" series, where they just sprinkled the Singlish around to give you a taste. (Singlish—colorful Singaporean English with its distinctive cadence and slang).
readingintherain's review against another edition
Slow moving narrative about a misogynistic woman looking for a white husband. The characters were unlikeable and i just couldnt get into it
lavanderdetergent's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
3.5