Singapore Literature reviewed by an Angmoh

This episode is about Marylyn Tan's poems in her book ‘Gaze Back' from 2018.I was hoping to end the Top 50 list of best Singapore books with a book I really liked. But unfortunately, this is not the case.Gaze Back is not written for me. In fact, the writer makes this very clear – she wants to write to ‘a female, Singapore, fatigued audience who might be sexual deviant – but in no way less valuable as a person' (Ms. Tan's own words).Perhaps this is why I don't understand a word in ‘Gaze Back'.  Anyway, I do not recommend this book.

‘Parsetreeforestfire'. Debut book by poet Hamid Roslan, 2019.Great idea to bring both Singlish and English poems. But hopeless execution as both Singlish and English poems are unreadable.I concur with Mr. Roslan when he in an interview says that he is not looking for a readership. Clearly not.Don't waste your time reading this book.

‘The Best of Edwin Thumboo' by Edwin Thumbo. 150 of his best poems. Bravo Mr. Thumboo. Thanks for writing this book.

This week: ‘One to the Dark Tower Comes' – a collection of poems by Mr. Yeow Kai Chai.I don't understand this book. Not a word. Like in 'not at all'. Honestly, I am frustrated. To illustrate my frustration, I have picked a random poem in the book. I then read it out loud, discuss it and tell you why I don't understand.But to be clear: This book is not for me. Period.

Episode 46: Alfian Sa'at's 2012 book – or rather play – called ‘Cooling Off Day'. Alfian Sa'at interviewed a number of Singaporeans about their reflections and views after the 2011 General Election.This has resulted in a very interesting book. A book about fear, gratefulness and hope and dreams – or lack of same.PS I also explain the term ‘Cooling Off Day' 

Poh Soo Kai's book ‘Living in a Time of Deception' is not on the SingLit Top 50 book list. But it should have been. Because it is an important book, because it is a necessary book and because it is well written.Poh tells the story of his life as an opposition politician in Singapore in the 1960s and 1970s. And the price he paid for this, including years in prison without a trial.Has what Singapore has achieved since independence been worth the price?

Episode 44: Yeng Pway Ngon's book ‘Art Studio' is best forgotten. It is not a very good book.Instead, you should read his other book on the SingLit Top 50 list titled ‘Unrest'.In this episode I compare the two books and tell you why I think the first one is great, and the second one is best forgotten.If you want to know more about ‘Unrest' go to episode 3.

‘No Other City'. A collection of poems by more than 100 different Singaporeans. From 2000.Read this book. But don't expect 200 pages of just great poetry. Instead expect a different reading experience. A reading experience I fully enjoyed because of all the passion for both poetry and Singapore beaming from the writers.

This episode is about the book ‘Hikayat Abdullah' by Abdullah Bin Abdul Kadir. Written in 1845.It is an impressive piece of work. But this book is not for me. Not because it is a bad book – I am just not really interested.I think you have to a historian with a special interested in Singapore 200 years ago. And probably best if you are a Malay as Abdullah himself was a Malay and clearly writes from a Islamic and Malay perspective. 

This episode is about the book ‘The Shrimp People' by Rex Shelley. From 1991. I'll do the recording and this text short: Do not read this book. It is 500 pages of mental torture. 500 pages which should have been cut down to max 100 pages.If you want to write about revolution, terrorism, espionage and drama in Singapore in the 1950s and 1960s then do so. Do not mix with stories about bird watching and what have you. Why is 'The Shrimp People' on the list of best books in Singapore?

‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly' by Elangovan is the first book on the Top 50 list containing plays.All three plays are difficult reading. The text risks making you feel sick and uncomfortable. But the plays are necessary, and I am glad that I have had the chance to read this book. If society wants to tackle misogyny and the mistreatment of women, we need to understand what misogyny means.  What is means in terms of violence, being treated as a second-class human, shame and lack of respect. If we don't understand, how can we change?Erdogan's book truly deserves to be on the list of best books in Singapore.

Meira Chand's book ‘A Different Sky' is the kind of book which draws you into the story from page 1. A work of fiction – but based on real events in Singapore between the years of 1927-1956.500 pages, drama on almost every page, a historic background and a 20th century Singapore which really fascinates.I choose to label Meira Chand Singapore's parallel to Ken Follett.I loved reading ‘A Different Sky' – but does the book really belong on the Top 50 Sing Lit? 

This week's episode is about ‘The Collected Poems of Arthur Yap'.I wish I had more time to read all of Arthur Yap's poems more carefully. But when I have only one week to do so, and when the collection contains close to 250 poems, I will have to pick up this book again at a later time. And I certainly will.  Because I love Arthur Yap's pen. I will share two of them in this episode.

Sometimes a book is just not meant for you. Alvin Pang's ‘City of Rain' is that book. To me anyway.I have decided that rather than trying to understand Alvin Pang's poems, I just put away ‘City of Rain' and read something else.This is not meant as any kind of disrespect to Mr. Pang. He is highly respected as a poet, and he clearly has his fans. I am just not one of them.

This episode is about ‘Common Life'. By poet Anne Lee Tzu Pheng and illustrator Ho Chee Lick.As the title suggests this book is about common – or ordinary – life in Singapore. About the daily life, challenges, experiences and hopes of ordinary Singaporeans. It might sound a bit ‘ordinary' when I write this. But believe me it is really worth spending your time on reading the poems and admiring the drawings.I will never look at the ordinary things in Singapore quite the same way. Pheng and Ho have opened my eyes to a new perspective of Singapore.

This episode is about ‘A History of Amnesia: poems' by Alfian Bin Sa'at.I was very skeptical when I started reading this book. I just didn't find it very interesting. But then suddenly it took a dramatic turn and I really started paying attention. A Singapore political prisoner entered the stage and turned my reading experience upside down. By the end of the book, I was glad that I had kept turning the pages.So, listen to learn about a reading experience which went from unappealing to compelling' and fascinating'.

‘Pulp' by Shubigi Rao is a fascinating book – or rather a fascinating 10-year project about book destruction.In this episode I review Pulp volume 1 – the first of five volumes. Specifically, I focus on Rao's presentation of the Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza and his ground-breaking ideas presented in his book ‘Tractatus Theologico-Politicus. It is not as dry as it sounds – as a matter of fact quite the contrary – so hang on…. 

Gwee Li Sui's ‘Who Wants to Buy an Expanded Edition of a Book of Poems' is exactly the book you should hurry down to your bookstore to buy.A surprise of a book. A positive surprise. The kind of book I was waiting for – without knowing it. A book which is so strange, funny, twisted, and worthwhile reading that I have parked it permanently on my coffee table. You should too. 

In this episode I – and you – meet the writer Balli Kaur Jaswal again. I reviewed her book ‘Sugarbread' back in March in episode 6. Now I have the pleasure of reviewing another of her books. And it was a pleasure reading ‘Inheritance' – a story about a Singapore Sikh family and what I would call ‘a dissolution of a family'. Not a happy story, but still a story you want to read 

In this episode ‘Frottage' by Yong Shu Hoong. A short episode I am afraid. Because I don't really understand his poems, so hard for me to review them.But I do love the illustrations in his book – all done using the ‘frottage' technique.I just five minutes will tell you more about Frottage – both the book and the art technique. 

What a book. What an experience. What a joy to read. I enjoyed every word, every story, every page in Minfong Ho's book ‘Journeys'.13 short stories, 200 pages, and a few hours spent curled up in the sofa – totally immersed in this book.Rather than reviewing the individual stories I have chosen to focus on the tale of the Overseas Chinese. An interesting and surprising story to me. Heartbreaking and life-affirming at the same time.And boy can Minfong write!

In this episode: Latha's book called ‘The Goddess in the Living Room'. 14 short stories about the Tamil community and people living in Singapore.To be honest: I would have preferred just one long story instead of so many 10-page short stories. Latha writes really well, and you want to know more about the characters in her stories – but you leave them again before you really get the chance to get to know them. Quite frustrating.But Latha's book is a great introduction to the Tamil community in Singapore – certainly for an angmoh like me.

This week's episode is about Cyril Wong's book ‘Like a Seed with its Singular Purpose'. A bit of a strange title, and also a bit of a strange collection of poems. Poems which I find either great or incomprehensible. Listen to learn why I talk about Cyril Wong's poems being either pearls or beans. And why I love the design of the book.

Claire Tham in her book ‘The Inlet' needs to decide if she wants to write a crime story where the plot takes center stage – or a book which explores the social and cultural changes in Singapore.In ‘The Inlet' she sits between two chairs, and it doesn't really work. Not the best book I have read. Which is a real shame - because Claire Tham writes really well.

This week review is about Boey Kim Cheng's book ‘Between Stations'.A great book about a Singaporean's world journey before resettling in Australia. And his reflections on the transformation Singapore has gone through since his childhood in the 1960s and 1970s.I highly recommend you read this book. I learned so much about Singapore in the past.

The second time I review Catherine Lim. Here in episode 25 as well as in last week's episode. And again, this week's book called ‘Little Ironies, Stories of Singapore' is a collection of short stories. 17 fine short stories.Catherine Lim is still one of my new favourite Singaporean writers. But the stories in ‘Little Ironies' are quite similar to the stories in last week's reviewed book. So not much of a surprise this time. But listen yourself and see what you think...

Catherine Lim is now one of my new favourite Singaporean writers. So, I am glad that she has two books on the SingLit Top 50 list. Hence, both episode 24 and 25 will be about Catherine Lim. Both her books on the list are collection of short stories.This week's review book ‘Or Else, The Lightning God & Other stories' is a great book.  Let me tell you why...

Gopal Baratham's book ‘A Candle or the Sun' is the kind of book I plan to read again – and again. It is that good. End of review. No seriously, if you want to learn a bit more this excellent book listen to this week's review. And then hurry go buy the book.

A fantasy novel. By a Singaporean. Whau! ‘The Black Tides of Heaven' by Neon Yang might not exactly be ‘The Lord of the Rings'- but it is still on Time Magazine's Top 100 best fantasy novels of all time.Listen to this episode to find out what I think about the book.

Hmm - not always easy to review the Top 50 SingLit books. This week another collection of poems - and again me struggling to do a review of a book which I basically do not understand. Therefore I have decided to turn things upside down and let you do the review of Boey Kin Cheng's 'Clear Brightness'. To understand how this works, tune in to this week's episode for the next 10 minutes.

The best book about people, life, humanity in Singapore I have read so far. Amanda Lee Koh's book 'Ministry of Moral Panic' should be on your 'must read' list.  Her stories are often dark and depressing - but full of humanity. This is one of those few books you cannot put down again before you have finished it.

What a beautiful book. Thank you Linda Collins for sharing your book 'Sign Language for the Death of Reason'. Writing about your personal loss and pain cannot have been easy. But your book has made me think about what matters in life - and what does not. 

An episode which was supposed to be about 'The Teenage Textbook' by Adrian Tan. But in fact it is more about what qualifies a book to be on the Top 50 SingLit list. In my view The Teenage Textbook certainly does not deserve a spot on the list. Listen to why I think so in this episode.

Finally I understand poetry. I just love Pooja Nansi's collection of poems 'We Make Spaces Divine'.  Poems about identity, belonging, love, pain, minority. What a fine book.

Imagine that Singapore one day just disappears from the surface of the planet. Here one moment, gone the next. 'No other city' is one of 16 short stories by Ng Yi-Sheng. And it is one of the stories in his book 'Lion City' which I really recommend, It is a fascinating story - a fascinating thought experiment.

Samuel Lee's poems collection called 'A Fields Guide to Supermarkets in Singapore'. A rather short episode - I still have problems understanding poetry. But I try my best. Judge for yourself.

'The Art of Charlie Chan'. The best Top 50 SingLit book I have read so far. By far! This is episode 2. This time I discuss Charlie Chan's harsh criticism of Singapore politics and political leaders since independence. 

'The Art of Charlie Chan.' The best Top 50 SingLit book I have read so far. By far!This episode is Part 1. Next week I will do one more episode about this book. It is this good - it deserves two episodes.

This week Jee Leong Koh's 'Steep Tea' - a collection of poems.I am not normally a big poetry fan, but I am trying my best to understand 'Speep Tea'. And in this episode I discuss how one should actually read poems.

'The Earnest Mask' by Xi Ni Er. A collection off short stories - most of them really great stories. Stories which stay with you long after you finish them. In this episode - rather than reviewing the book - I read out loud two of the stories. I believe this will give you a very good idea about the book in general. And spark your curiosity to decide to read all 68 stories in this book. 

Today, a review of Claire Tham's book from 1990 - Fascist Rock, stories of rebellion.A great book, but also very provocative and indeed rebellious. In the eight short stories we hear from a group of young Singaporeans - and their criticism of Singapore and life in the island nation.

This week the book 'The Widower' from 2015 by Mohamed Latiff Mohamed.We follow Professor Pak Kahman as he grieves the loss of his wife because of a car accident. There is not much of a story in the book, but 'The Widower' is beautifully written. It takes an effort to read it - but the beauty will stay with you when you finish the 120 pages.

My review of Noraliah Norasid's book 'The Gatekeeper' isn't much of a review - simply because I didn't finish the book. In this episode I will tell you why.

This episode is about the book titled ‘State of Emergency' - written by Jeremy Tiang.As the title suggests, this novel is mostly set during the years of the Malayan Emergency of 1948 – 1960. During those years an active Communist insurgency was playing out in the jungles of Malaya (today's Malaysia) though the troubles reached as far south as Singapore itself as wel.In the novel we meet six different people in an extended family – in six chapters, and in each chapter the story focuses on one of the six. I enjoyed the book from first to last page.

This is my review of 'Sugarbread' -  Balli Kaur Jaswal's book from 2016Set in the 1990s, in 'Sugarbread' we follow Pin – short for Parveen – a young girl from Singapore's Sikh community. Pin lives with her somewhat withdrawn, but elegant mother Jini and her hotel-security guard father Ram. Pit wonders why her mother, whom she adores, repeatedly tells her she must not grow up to be like her. Jini is almost obsessed that her daughter does not become like her mother. She wants Pin to have a better life. When you read the book you will understand why.

In this episode: The book called ‘Gone Case' by Dave Chua. In 'Gone Case' we follow 12 year old Yong growing up in Singapore in the 1990s. We follow Yong in his everyday life, and what he experiences. The strength of the book lies not so much in the story – which I find rather ordinary – but in all the details which clearly portray many interesting characteristics of Singapore. As an angmoh this is very interesting to read about. I explain more in this week's episode.

This time I review the book called ‘Abraham's Promise' by Philip Jeyaretnam. Written in 1995.In ‘Abraham's Promise we meet an old man - Abraham Isaac, a Singaporean Tamil, teacher of Latin, philosopher and father. As a young man Abraham was active in the country's journey to an independent nation. But as an old man he is now a long way away from the idealism of his youth.So what happened? Everything changed when Abraham writes a letter to The Straits Times...

In this episode I will discuss the book titled 'Unrest' - written in 2002 by Yeng Pway Ngon.  We follow four people - who in the 1950s were young radicals in Singapore - and who some 30 years later are disillusioned middle aged. So what happened?Listen to find out more and learn about a very interesting story about a Singapore of the past. A Singapore which no longer is.

In this episode I review the book 'Fistful of Colours' by Suchen Christine Lim written in 1992.We follow the young teacher Suwen, and her struggles as a woman and an artist. Even more interesting are the many stories - and Suchen Christine Lim is indeed a great storyteller - of Singaporeans. The Singapore of yesterday. The focus here is on identity and what it means to be a Singaporean.

In this first episode I will share and review the book 'If We Dream Too Long' by Goh Poh Seng.In the book we follow a young man by the name of Kwang Meng in 1960s in Singapore. Despite being just 18 years old he is already a tired man. But despite following a disillusioned young man, 'If We Dream Too Long' is still a great book. I will tell you why in this episode 1.