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A review by marjanabosnjak
Dinner on Monster Island: Essays by Tania de Rozario
4.5
This book follows the author's life and reality growing up in Singapore, forced to never be safe and grow up in an environment where their identity was not accepted.
This series of essays touches upon many topics such as being queer in a conservative family, how deep do our roots grow and whether we inherit their mental struggles, how important it is have community but still never be safe. The author talks about Singapore censoring and policing queer voices, still having a death penalty which is only encouraged by its people, policing each other, almost craving violence because they've grown up with the belief it was normal.
The author talks about racism and the gap between rich and poor. How leaving Singapore made them feel relieved because they subconsciously lived in fear.
And how damaging Crazy Rich Asians was to the community.
I thought this book was beautifully written, intertwining honesty, humanity, bitterness and love. It didn't hide the ugly and emphasized the pretty. I hope the author finds peace and love in their life and that they can heal. I hope every queer, fat or brown person in Singapore knows they are loved and worthy of happiness.
This series of essays touches upon many topics such as being queer in a conservative family, how deep do our roots grow and whether we inherit their mental struggles, how important it is have community but still never be safe. The author talks about Singapore censoring and policing queer voices, still having a death penalty which is only encouraged by its people, policing each other, almost craving violence because they've grown up with the belief it was normal.
The author talks about racism and the gap between rich and poor. How leaving Singapore made them feel relieved because they subconsciously lived in fear.
And how damaging Crazy Rich Asians was to the community.
I thought this book was beautifully written, intertwining honesty, humanity, bitterness and love. It didn't hide the ugly and emphasized the pretty. I hope the author finds peace and love in their life and that they can heal. I hope every queer, fat or brown person in Singapore knows they are loved and worthy of happiness.