pinkhydroflask's review against another edition
3.0
theres a lot to unpack in this book, a lot of issues and struggles the two protagonists face that are deeply grounded in singaporean norms and ideals. i enjoyed its simultaneous relatability and novelty, along with a relatively smooth plot that moved just slow and quick enough. i wish there was more resolution at the end, i wish that there was a stronger oomph element to the plot. overall an enjoyable beach read, but not something i would ever find myself daydreaming about.
natexy's review
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I’m biased because it’s my first time being able to recognise the road names and imagine the plot unfolding in a cityscape I’m so familiar with. I’ve always been lost in the cities of US/ UK in books but never have I had the privilege to be lost in Singapore in a fictional story. It’s a pretty magical experience!
I liked the writing style, very self-referential, witty and also full of literary references. I found the characters pretty unlikeable though 😅 The humdrum routine of Sukhin’s life was depressing and I also found it frustrating that he refused to speak his mind and COMMUNICATE to Jinn till the last quarter. . .
The storyline was a little unrealistic too, but it is a story afterall 😀
I appreciated the cultural references and local slang, but I wonder if I’d like this story as much if I didn’t understand its nuances.
Overall, it was still a heartwarming read. Always lovely to be reminded that we shouldn’t lap up society’s expectations of what’s “normal” and “successful” mindlessly.
I liked the writing style, very self-referential, witty and also full of literary references. I found the characters pretty unlikeable though 😅 The humdrum routine of Sukhin’s life was depressing and I also found it frustrating that he refused to speak his mind and COMMUNICATE to Jinn till the last quarter. . .
The storyline was a little unrealistic too, but it is a story afterall 😀
I appreciated the cultural references and local slang, but I wonder if I’d like this story as much if I didn’t understand its nuances.
Overall, it was still a heartwarming read. Always lovely to be reminded that we shouldn’t lap up society’s expectations of what’s “normal” and “successful” mindlessly.
auntie_terror's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
eininthebird's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
seeyf's review against another edition
3.0
This whimsical story of a JC English literature teacher approaching a middle age crisis and his ex-girlfriend whom he suddenly discovers living homeless on the streets was a fun and quick read. It may have tried to cram in too many themes (education, homelessness, mental illness, food waste, homosexuality) to treat any one of them substantially, but the light prose and quirky characters make up for it.
popiloey's review
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
clarxvizconde13's review
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
14bellini's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
enjoyed the writing style, and the use of recurring motifs and characters throughout the books. the two main characters were strongly written and characterised, but a few of the other side characters lacked more depth that i wish they could've had. the protagonist's sardonic tone and how it softens in the face of certain situations and people was very nicely done. wish some smaller plotlines could've been wrapped up and expanded on with a little more clarity. also, in the first few chapters, while it becomes more evident later on, i felt that i had no idea where the book was going, and there wasn't really much attempt at detailing this. while i appreciate that the story unfolded bit by bit, and that it's ultimately character-driven and slice-of-life/stream of consciousness in style, i wish there could've been slightly more direction. otherwise, though, i quite liked this book and how it discussed various topics in singapore that deserve more attention. at the same time, though, i feel like more depth is required for better dialogue to happen. despite this (and contrary to many of the reviews here), i liked the open ending. in fact, if you read the parts between chapters, i think you'd find that the ending is not quite so open after all.
ngudle's review
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
simmerinwords's review against another edition
3.0
I don't read much singlit and was super excited to dive into this one. The storyline is pretty unique. We follow a main character who's a literature teacher in a local junior college (I really love teacher characters), get a glimpse into homelessness (something I don't read a lot about, especially in Singapore) and everyday issues - dealing with societal expectations, marriage, relationships.
The main character, Sukhin, was such a grumpy and practical character and I adored that. Not everybody is rainbows and butterflies, and I appreciate when authors craft characters who have flaws that are relatable. Some chapters were written in the POV of the side characters and I enjoyed seeing him through their lenses as well.
I also enjoyed the easy interaction between Sukhin and Jinn (his ex-lover). Not wholly romantic, but they had a special connection that came with being ex-lovers.
However, my issue with this book is how there's so much more to offer. I wanted more information on the volunteers at the soup kitchens, the lives of the homeless, Sukhin's school life, Jinn's back story etc. A lot of these details were condensed and resulted in a surface level examination of these issues.
And also, the ambiguous ending did not work for me.
Nonetheless, there were some interesting points brought up by the book. Like how although the depiction of Sukhin's unassuming life that may seem boring, it is in fact, a glaring reflection of what many of our lives may turn out to be eventually. Some food for thought on how we can unknowingly get sucked into a life of routine and mundanity.
Would recommend this book for a glimpse into Singapore society but don't expect a deep examination.
The main character, Sukhin, was such a grumpy and practical character and I adored that. Not everybody is rainbows and butterflies, and I appreciate when authors craft characters who have flaws that are relatable. Some chapters were written in the POV of the side characters and I enjoyed seeing him through their lenses as well.
I also enjoyed the easy interaction between Sukhin and Jinn (his ex-lover). Not wholly romantic, but they had a special connection that came with being ex-lovers.
However, my issue with this book is how there's so much more to offer. I wanted more information on the volunteers at the soup kitchens, the lives of the homeless, Sukhin's school life, Jinn's back story etc. A lot of these details were condensed and resulted in a surface level examination of these issues.
And also, the ambiguous ending did not work for me.
Nonetheless, there were some interesting points brought up by the book. Like how although the depiction of Sukhin's unassuming life that may seem boring, it is in fact, a glaring reflection of what many of our lives may turn out to be eventually. Some food for thought on how we can unknowingly get sucked into a life of routine and mundanity.
Would recommend this book for a glimpse into Singapore society but don't expect a deep examination.