A review by blau_elmo
Ministry of Moral Panic by Amanda Lee Koe

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.
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