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A review by naaytaashreads
This is Where I Won't Be Alone by Inez Tan
2.0
Disclaimer: I receive a free copy of this book.
"Curie decided not to tell anyone about Edison's cutting. She didn't wish to expose her brother, she thought. Nor did she want to end his pain."
I don't read a lot of Singlit, and while I always try to support my local authors, I find it hard to read them sometimes; nothing wrong with the writing, but it's just my preference.
I've been nicely sent This Is Where I Won't Be Alone for TEXTURES 2023.
I enjoyed that it was a collection of short stories, there was not so much pressure and commitment for me to read.
The first read came in unexpectedly, and I wasn't ready for that.
I do wish there was a trigger warning, for some who could at least be prepared for what they would read.
We do not know what people go through and don't want to trigger them with memories, trauma and the situation they went through.
The writing wasn't bad, but the stories I enjoyed were Edison and Curie, Talking To Strangers and Home.
Edison and Curie was the first story, and it shocked me. It is a story I could relate to the most, the struggle and trauma I faced during my childhood with school, education, pressure and the standard the Singapore system set.
The rest of the stories were short reads and gave different characters stories of their relations with finding a place called home or belonging to a place, people or even a memory.
"Where does a sense of belonging come from? A place? Who you were there, and who you were with? All the people I love and leave leave holes in my body, empty sites. You were the one who told me that home is something we have to make for ourselves. I picture myself looking into old buildings that aren't there anymore. I can see us inside. A place we never were, as easy to imagine as a place we'll never be."
"Curie decided not to tell anyone about Edison's cutting. She didn't wish to expose her brother, she thought. Nor did she want to end his pain."
I don't read a lot of Singlit, and while I always try to support my local authors, I find it hard to read them sometimes; nothing wrong with the writing, but it's just my preference.
I've been nicely sent This Is Where I Won't Be Alone for TEXTURES 2023.
I enjoyed that it was a collection of short stories, there was not so much pressure and commitment for me to read.
The first read came in unexpectedly, and I wasn't ready for that.
I do wish there was a trigger warning, for some who could at least be prepared for what they would read.
We do not know what people go through and don't want to trigger them with memories, trauma and the situation they went through.
The writing wasn't bad, but the stories I enjoyed were Edison and Curie, Talking To Strangers and Home.
Edison and Curie was the first story, and it shocked me. It is a story I could relate to the most, the struggle and trauma I faced during my childhood with school, education, pressure and the standard the Singapore system set.
The rest of the stories were short reads and gave different characters stories of their relations with finding a place called home or belonging to a place, people or even a memory.
"Where does a sense of belonging come from? A place? Who you were there, and who you were with? All the people I love and leave leave holes in my body, empty sites. You were the one who told me that home is something we have to make for ourselves. I picture myself looking into old buildings that aren't there anymore. I can see us inside. A place we never were, as easy to imagine as a place we'll never be."