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April 3, 2022

MIMI FAN by Lim Chor Pee

April 3, 2022

Book cover & 4.5-star rating - Mimi Fan by Lim Chor Pee

What I really enjoy about theatre is that it’s a liberating art form. It’s often used to explore ideas that aren’t mainstream. Mimi Fan is a prime example of this in Singapore literature. When it was first staged in 1962, it shocked more than a few sensibilities because it was rather progressive and liberal for its time. The annex even features a newspaper article touting Mimi Fan as a controversial play.

· Categories: Plays Keywords: cheating, culture, dating, diverse authors, diverse books, feminism, infidelity, multiculturalism, plays, realistic fiction, romance, singapore literature, singaporean authors

November 27, 2018

I WANT TO GO HOME by Wesley Leon Aroozoo

November 27, 2018

Book cover & rating - I WANT TO GO HOME by Wesley Leon AroozooI Want to Go Home is a little different from most non-fiction books because the same material was used to produce a companion documentary with the same title. I’ve not watched the documentary but I did view the trailer. Based on the synopsis and the trailer, I expected the subject of I Want to Go Home to be Mr Takamatsu. As I read the book, however, I found this not to be the case.

· Categories: Non-Fiction Keywords: diverse authors, diverse books, grief, hope, lawsuits, memories, natural disasters, singaporean authors

November 20, 2018

SOFIA AND THE UTOPIA MACHINE by Judith Huang

November 20, 2018

Book cover & rating - SOFIA AND THE UTOPIA MACHINE by Judith HuangSofia and the Utopia Machine fills an important space in Singapore literature not only as an young adult book but as science fiction. I don’t remember coming across any local YA books when I was in primary and secondary school. In fact, when I was still in secondary school, I wasn’t interested in Singapore literature precisely because it seemed to be geared towards adults. In that regard, it’s heartening that local YA books have gained more visibility in recent years.

· Categories: Fiction Keywords: diverse authors, diverse books, family myth, family problems, imprisonment, inequality, legends, marriage, mythology, on the run, politics, poverty, singaporean authors, singlish, social commentary, surveillance

August 9, 2018

SUICIDE CLUB by Rachel Heng

August 9, 2018

Book cover & rating - SUICIDE CLUB by Rachel HengIf you could live for hundreds of years, if not, forever, would you want to? In Suicide Club, those who deserve it are given immortality. In exchange, they have to take good care of their health — eat well, exercise and all that jazz. What I liked about this premise was that it plays on our contemporary obsession with health and wellness. Food diet movements abound from “clean eating” to keto to paleo, claiming to detox, strengthen the immune system, etc. Rachel Heng pushed these ideal to the extreme in her futuristic science fiction novel set in New York City.

· Categories: Fiction Keywords: death, diverse authors, diverse books, euthanasia, fathers and daughters, health, inequality, life, memories, mental institution, on the run, secrets, singaporean authors, suicide, utopia, violence, work life

July 25, 2018

PONTI by Sharlene Teo

July 25, 2018

Book cover & rating - Ponti by Sharlene TeoSharlene Teo writes well and chooses her words very precisely. Her prose is at once cutting, yet atmospheric, which fit Ponti well. Teo’s very talented and the years of hard work she put into honing her craft are evident in her debut novel.

· Categories: Fiction Keywords: acting and actors, ambition, clairvoyants, death, diverse authors, diverse books, family myth, family problems, friendship, high school, history, loneliness, memories, mental health, mothers and daughters, poc characters, singaporean authors, work life

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About

Joséphine. Word reveller. Loves books. Reads books. Talks about books. Photographs books. When she’s not blogging, she can be found on Instagram under @wordrevel.

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