apollosmichioreads's review
5.0
A thought-provoking bildungsroman that centrals itself around a twelve year old boy. Well written with varied use of figurative language and clearly described. Although the conversations are filled with vernacular terms, their usage makes the story extremely realistic. Excellent literature.
hellapalooza's review
5.0
It's been a while since I read a local book but I stumbled upon Gone Case during the Buy Singlit festival this year. Fast forward a couple of days later, it's 4.23am and I am writing this review just seconds after I have put the book down. The past few hours I spent poring over this novella was nothing short of amazing - it was heartbreaking, funny, relatable and a whole whirlwind of emotions for me. This book is so important for the Singapore narrative - a wonderful coming of age story set in the country's heartland.
The narration is static and unsentimental which brings out the authenticity and rawness of the relationship the protagonist has with the people around him. The experiences that the narrator goes through are candid and tender, woven together so perfectly that it had left me near tears when I was done.
This book is great and not just "great for a local book" but simply, standalone great. Definitely shelving this as one of my all time favourites.
The narration is static and unsentimental which brings out the authenticity and rawness of the relationship the protagonist has with the people around him. The experiences that the narrator goes through are candid and tender, woven together so perfectly that it had left me near tears when I was done.
This book is great and not just "great for a local book" but simply, standalone great. Definitely shelving this as one of my all time favourites.
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