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yongxiang's review against another edition
5.0
The dry, questioning voice of the 12-year-old narrator works really well. It goes from humorous to poignant with ease, although as the book goes on it's the melancholic tone that takes over.
I find that Singaporean fiction can be unsatisfyingly straightforward at times. In comparison, this book is understated and better for it, sensitively teasing out nuances in the characters and their relationships.
For example. One of the main relationships explored in the book is the fracturing friendship between the narrator and his classmate Liang, a brusque boy from a troubled family. At one point, the narrator pulls back from the dialogue and thinks: I feel cold talking to him. There is something about him now, his hopelessness. And without saying more, it's clear that things between them will never be the same.
All this is tied together by good writing, with interesting images and fluid language. Mattresses are "draped out of windows like multicoloured tongues" while, from a rubbish bin burnt in an act of vandalism, "melted plastic hangs from one side like a shirt sleeve frozen in the wind".
It's good! One of the most enjoyable Singlit reading experiences I've had in a while.
I find that Singaporean fiction can be unsatisfyingly straightforward at times. In comparison, this book is understated and better for it, sensitively teasing out nuances in the characters and their relationships.
For example. One of the main relationships explored in the book is the fracturing friendship between the narrator and his classmate Liang, a brusque boy from a troubled family. At one point, the narrator pulls back from the dialogue and thinks: I feel cold talking to him. There is something about him now, his hopelessness. And without saying more, it's clear that things between them will never be the same.
All this is tied together by good writing, with interesting images and fluid language. Mattresses are "draped out of windows like multicoloured tongues" while, from a rubbish bin burnt in an act of vandalism, "melted plastic hangs from one side like a shirt sleeve frozen in the wind".
It's good! One of the most enjoyable Singlit reading experiences I've had in a while.
apollosmichioreads's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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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