Scan barcode
A review by simmerinwords
Impractical Uses of Cake by Yeoh Jo-Ann
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.