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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

October 18, 2018

MIRAGE by Somaiya Daud

October 18, 2018

Book cover & rating - MIRAGE by Somaiya DaudFor some reason, I’ve had a significant slow down with YA novels this year. I’ve just not been able to settle down and focus on reading, no matter how intriguing various books sound. Most of the time I’ve resorted to audiobooks for which I tend to pick non-fiction books. Thanks to a long haul flight though, I had no distractions to keep me from Mirage. I was happily entertained.

· Categories: Fiction Keywords: american authors, betrayal, bi- or multiracial characters, diverse authors, diverse books, doppelganger, ethnicity, family myth, friendship, grandparents, insurgency, kidnapping, nobility, poetry, politics, racism, romance, secrets

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

April 26, 2017

THE HOUSE OF MOUNTFATHOM by Nigel McDowell

April 26, 2017

Book cover & rating - THE HOUSE OF MOUNTFATHOM by Nigel McDowell

The House of Mountfathom is a difficult book to review. Personally, I didn’t enjoy reading it very much. On some fronts, it felt like things were missing — as though there was supposed to me more. The premise intrigued me but the execution failed to charm. When I looked up the author, I found out this book was published posthumously. He was in his mid-thirties when cancer took his life. Knowing this, I was tempted to rate The House of Mountfathom for its potential but decided not to. That would skew my rating scale against other books I’ve read.

· Categories: Fiction Keywords: dragons, family, family myth, magic, monsters, shapeshifting

March 24, 2017

MARGOT & ME by Juno Dawson

March 24, 2017

Book cover & rating - MARGOT & ME by Juno DawsonMargot & Me, while set in contemporary times also grapples with the past set during World War II through a diary. What I loved about this book was how the stories of three generations knitted together. Fliss and her grandmother, Margot, were so at odds that Fliss’s mother was the only reason they put up with one another. Watching that relationship develop throughout the pages was immensely touching. Although, how Fliss came to read Margot’s diary didn’t entirely sit well with me. But you know, curiosity and what not…

· Categories: Fiction Keywords: cancer, dance, death, diaries, diverse authors, epistolary, family, family myth, forgiveness, friendship, grief, high school, inter-generations, lgbtq characters, mothers and daughters, on love, poc characters, race relations, racism, second world war, single parenthood, war

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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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