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jjlim1996's review
4.0
Dr Kirpal Singh was not lying when he mentioned that this book is one "which once we start reading, seems reluctant to have us put it down before finishing". Maybe I had enough time to finish it in one read, but this book clearly made me want to read more. Stella Kon's approach is direct and clear, illustrating the struggle for identity through the eyes of Boon Jin, a scholar with modest ideas.
I had an education in Singapore history, but only a brief one: history textbooks taught us from the days of British colonialism, but never went into detail regarding the involvement of Nanyang with mainland China. This book is a great platform for readers to know more about this particular period in time, especially for the young like me, who would have had absolutely no idea about the ideological struggles then. Who then, to portray this dilemma than the protagonist Boon Jin, who was caught between sticking with his chauvinistic Chinese roots and embracing the new modern ideas of democracy. Boon Jin's development as a person exudes maturity: he learns to adapt obsolete ideas, and also to maintain traditional, but equally reasonable virtues.
What I really liked about this novel is the addition of epigraphs at the start of every chapter, which serves to give a rather succinct overview of the events in that chapter. I enjoyed the sophisticated ideas of Boon Jin, and one struck me with its universal beauty and application:
"Heaven and earth exist forever, mountains and rivers never change, but a man's existence is impermanent."
A truly mature and astute remark for the scholar.
This book is one to read, especially for the younger adults looking to identify with a piece of Singapore's history.
I had an education in Singapore history, but only a brief one: history textbooks taught us from the days of British colonialism, but never went into detail regarding the involvement of Nanyang with mainland China. This book is a great platform for readers to know more about this particular period in time, especially for the young like me, who would have had absolutely no idea about the ideological struggles then. Who then, to portray this dilemma than the protagonist Boon Jin, who was caught between sticking with his chauvinistic Chinese roots and embracing the new modern ideas of democracy. Boon Jin's development as a person exudes maturity: he learns to adapt obsolete ideas, and also to maintain traditional, but equally reasonable virtues.
What I really liked about this novel is the addition of epigraphs at the start of every chapter, which serves to give a rather succinct overview of the events in that chapter. I enjoyed the sophisticated ideas of Boon Jin, and one struck me with its universal beauty and application:
"Heaven and earth exist forever, mountains and rivers never change, but a man's existence is impermanent."
A truly mature and astute remark for the scholar.
This book is one to read, especially for the younger adults looking to identify with a piece of Singapore's history.
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