weian1999's review against another edition
4.0
In Singapore, one of the most prosperous countries in Asia, meritocracy, and creativity are prized. The Singaporean poet and author, Goh Poh Seng, wrote the first Singaporean English novel set in the 1960s, the decade when Singapore transitioned into an independent nation. Singapore is described as poverty-stricken but growing, while some citizens, though doubtful about the young nation’s future, are content with what they have. A contrast to modern-day Singapore.
Goh introduces Kwang Meng, the protagonist who is a clerk struggling to find his purpose in his work and by extension, the Singaporean society. His name, in Chinese, means to be clear, elucidated and bright - a direct juxtaposition of his unmotivated and dreamy personality. This simple but eye-catching detail gives readers a deeper insight into Kwang Meng’s escapist desires and pensive contemplations.
In "If We Dream Too Long", Goh constructs a bildungsroman where Kwang Meng is surrounded by a cast of characters who forces him out of his childish dreams, through harsh reality checks, into adulthood. Kwang Meng is compelled to continue his dull work, albeit his more ambitious aspirations. Slowly, his dreaminess turns into a sense of dreadful acceptance that his wishes may not be fulfilled.
This tension between personal dreams and what needs to be done reflects the atmosphere and nature of Singapore in the 1960s. In order to progress as a nation, the working population has to make certain sacrifices - more working adults, like Kwang Meng, took up “boring” blue-collared jobs. This allowed Singapore to survive, thus bringing her economic progress.
Besides the powerful socio-economical commentary, readers may also be pleasantly surprised by the carefully written depictions of old Singapore. From the neighborhood of Tanah Merah to the shophouses of Chinatown, the sights, smells and sounds of these settings elicit a sense of nostalgia for some Singaporean readers.
The novel is also used as study texts in South-East Asian universities and schools. Though there are some criticisms (such as the blatant stereotypes and awkward use of Singlish), Goh’s poignant novel has become an iconic Singaporean classic. Personally, my experience of reading this book was pleasant and I believe this book will continue to distinguish itself from the many works that followed it.
Goh introduces Kwang Meng, the protagonist who is a clerk struggling to find his purpose in his work and by extension, the Singaporean society. His name, in Chinese, means to be clear, elucidated and bright - a direct juxtaposition of his unmotivated and dreamy personality. This simple but eye-catching detail gives readers a deeper insight into Kwang Meng’s escapist desires and pensive contemplations.
In "If We Dream Too Long", Goh constructs a bildungsroman where Kwang Meng is surrounded by a cast of characters who forces him out of his childish dreams, through harsh reality checks, into adulthood. Kwang Meng is compelled to continue his dull work, albeit his more ambitious aspirations. Slowly, his dreaminess turns into a sense of dreadful acceptance that his wishes may not be fulfilled.
This tension between personal dreams and what needs to be done reflects the atmosphere and nature of Singapore in the 1960s. In order to progress as a nation, the working population has to make certain sacrifices - more working adults, like Kwang Meng, took up “boring” blue-collared jobs. This allowed Singapore to survive, thus bringing her economic progress.
Besides the powerful socio-economical commentary, readers may also be pleasantly surprised by the carefully written depictions of old Singapore. From the neighborhood of Tanah Merah to the shophouses of Chinatown, the sights, smells and sounds of these settings elicit a sense of nostalgia for some Singaporean readers.
The novel is also used as study texts in South-East Asian universities and schools. Though there are some criticisms (such as the blatant stereotypes and awkward use of Singlish), Goh’s poignant novel has become an iconic Singaporean classic. Personally, my experience of reading this book was pleasant and I believe this book will continue to distinguish itself from the many works that followed it.
teseyasfalcon's review against another edition
2.0
I really appreciate reading a book set in this time period of Singapore and early Singlit, and it's definitely a valuable piece from that standpoint, also because it is well-written. But I can't overstate how unsympathetic I am to a straight middle class Chinese boy whose only problem is that he's bored and feels no purpose, and goes around estimating girls' measurements, having meaningful relationships with them only if he wants to get with them, and gets all pissy and sad when the Exotic Bar Girl who has sex with him wants to break up and refuses to marry him right after he let his friends objectify and solicit her. The women are all either exotic sensual objects or suffering wives/suffering wives-to-be pining after the MC for no reason and at least three times it's specifically mentioned how they need to be doing the cooking (while the men laze around). I know it's the 60s but the whole thing doesn't help. Homophobic that I read this in pride month tbh. There's also some questionable racial remarks sooo
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