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clare_tan_wenhui's review
3.0
Strictly speaking a 3.5, though I'd be a bit harsher here, as I look forward to more taunt works by the author in the future.
The collection's pieces have the unifying theme of home and belonging, and they span a very interesting diverse range of genre and prose, some of which are very brilliant and touching short stories. However, this also becomes a weakness of sorts, and it gives this collection a feeling of "looseness", which comprises the reader's overall impression of this book.
The collection's pieces have the unifying theme of home and belonging, and they span a very interesting diverse range of genre and prose, some of which are very brilliant and touching short stories. However, this also becomes a weakness of sorts, and it gives this collection a feeling of "looseness", which comprises the reader's overall impression of this book.
fliplock's review
3.0
Quite interesting at the start but towards the end, it becomes so random. I skipped the last few stories
oneseventhree's review
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
sktxaryaw's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
wordrevel's review
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
naaytaashreads's review
2.0
Disclaimer: I receive a free copy of this book.
"Curie decided not to tell anyone about Edison's cutting. She didn't wish to expose her brother, she thought. Nor did she want to end his pain."
I don't read a lot of Singlit, and while I always try to support my local authors, I find it hard to read them sometimes; nothing wrong with the writing, but it's just my preference.
I've been nicely sent This Is Where I Won't Be Alone for TEXTURES 2023.
I enjoyed that it was a collection of short stories, there was not so much pressure and commitment for me to read.
The first read came in unexpectedly, and I wasn't ready for that.
I do wish there was a trigger warning, for some who could at least be prepared for what they would read.
We do not know what people go through and don't want to trigger them with memories, trauma and the situation they went through.
The writing wasn't bad, but the stories I enjoyed were Edison and Curie, Talking To Strangers and Home.
Edison and Curie was the first story, and it shocked me. It is a story I could relate to the most, the struggle and trauma I faced during my childhood with school, education, pressure and the standard the Singapore system set.
The rest of the stories were short reads and gave different characters stories of their relations with finding a place called home or belonging to a place, people or even a memory.
"Where does a sense of belonging come from? A place? Who you were there, and who you were with? All the people I love and leave leave holes in my body, empty sites. You were the one who told me that home is something we have to make for ourselves. I picture myself looking into old buildings that aren't there anymore. I can see us inside. A place we never were, as easy to imagine as a place we'll never be."
"Curie decided not to tell anyone about Edison's cutting. She didn't wish to expose her brother, she thought. Nor did she want to end his pain."
I don't read a lot of Singlit, and while I always try to support my local authors, I find it hard to read them sometimes; nothing wrong with the writing, but it's just my preference.
I've been nicely sent This Is Where I Won't Be Alone for TEXTURES 2023.
I enjoyed that it was a collection of short stories, there was not so much pressure and commitment for me to read.
The first read came in unexpectedly, and I wasn't ready for that.
I do wish there was a trigger warning, for some who could at least be prepared for what they would read.
We do not know what people go through and don't want to trigger them with memories, trauma and the situation they went through.
The writing wasn't bad, but the stories I enjoyed were Edison and Curie, Talking To Strangers and Home.
Edison and Curie was the first story, and it shocked me. It is a story I could relate to the most, the struggle and trauma I faced during my childhood with school, education, pressure and the standard the Singapore system set.
The rest of the stories were short reads and gave different characters stories of their relations with finding a place called home or belonging to a place, people or even a memory.
"Where does a sense of belonging come from? A place? Who you were there, and who you were with? All the people I love and leave leave holes in my body, empty sites. You were the one who told me that home is something we have to make for ourselves. I picture myself looking into old buildings that aren't there anymore. I can see us inside. A place we never were, as easy to imagine as a place we'll never be."
olivcho's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
Short stories are always hard to rate as they tend to be so uneven. I didn’t find any of the stories particularly brilliant. Most left me feeling and thinking very little- which is not a good sign. I thought the first 1/3 of this anthology is the strongest. The stories are good, they seem to flow seamlessly despite being separate tales. The background themes explored from different angles come back over and over again while all having a distinct Singaporean familiarity. But as the stories go on the author loses me. I simply started getting bored. The stories lost that smooth flow from one to the next. The theme is scattered. It started to feel disjointed and like they didn’t all belong together in one book.
“Lee Kwan Yu is not Always the Answer” was probably my favourite story. I can’t say I had a least favourite because I found most of them more bland than truly bad or awful. I really wanted to like it. Or rate it at least 3 stars but it just wasn’t a good experience.
“Lee Kwan Yu is not Always the Answer” was probably my favourite story. I can’t say I had a least favourite because I found most of them more bland than truly bad or awful. I really wanted to like it. Or rate it at least 3 stars but it just wasn’t a good experience.
whipcreamsucks's review
3.0
Kind of a mixed bag for me. Singapore, in this collection, is presented in a new way, in which we're introduced to it in futuristic settings, through the eyes of a collection of different people, and through commentary about how we live. This was also very easy to read.
It's very subtle in emotion, or at times has no emotion at all. Some of the stories and its characters just went over my head. I found myself not being able to sense real connections to these stories, save for a select few. "Edison and Curie" for example, is one of the best I've seen this year.
It's very subtle in emotion, or at times has no emotion at all. Some of the stories and its characters just went over my head. I found myself not being able to sense real connections to these stories, save for a select few. "Edison and Curie" for example, is one of the best I've seen this year.
smarkies's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
verychrisums's review
3.0
one of the stories about the ants made me feel smth idk what tho just like.... unsettling... but good writing. illuminating discussions about societal problems in SG (or maybe just the first story lol) also +stars just because she is an NYGH alumnus.