A review by somethingarosie
Dearest Intimate by Suchen Christine Lim

5.0

This book combines the horrific with the beautiful. The writing is poetic and wonderfully descriptive in parts, yet portraying scenes of grave violence and neglect while doing so. 

Dearest Intimate is a complex and intricate story. Each character and perspective are artfully crafted and connected. No storyline is left with a non-conclusion. It’s masterful storytelling. With multiple POVs and timelines, Lim vividly portrays Singaporean history and Cantonese culture. One of the POVs is an epistolary narrative too, which is an interesting way to introduce another POV and change timelines. 

 

This book was not on my radar at all. I am so grateful to have discovered it; it is astounding! I have not read much about Asian history or culture. I love Japanese translated fiction because it seems to spotlight books about cats (which I love) and its execution of magical realism feels ethereal, but beyond that, my reading habits are incredibly westernised. This book landed on my lap through Tandem Collective and it may be one of my favourite books of all time.

Set against the backdrop of Singapore’s rich cultural tapestry, the narrative weaves together themes of love, betrayal, and the search for identity. Through the lives of her characters, she explores the complexities of family relationships, societal expectations, and the challenges of navigating one’s place in a rapidly changing world.

Brilliant, 5⭐️

|AD-PR product; thank you Tandem Collective for having me on this readalong 💫

TW: Child loss, Stillbirth, Rape (on page), Sexual assault, Ableist language, Suicide (mentioned)