In One Word: RealityA Beautiful Sentence: “You never put sacred words where somebody could trample on them., his father had shouted.” The Plot: This story follows a Punjabi family living in Singapore during its transition to independence. They face challenges like mental health, societal expectations, and cultural shifts. Themes of identity, tradition, and belonging run…
Category: Singaporean Historical References
Lieutenant Kurosawa’s Errand Boy by Warran Kalasegaran – Review
In One Word: HeartbreakingA Beautiful Sentence: “But I have more salt than my grandson has had rice.” The Plot: Set during Singapore’s Japanese Occupation, the story follows an eight-year-old Tamil boy who is separated from his father and forced to serve the Japanese military. Renamed Nanban, he learns their language, customs, and martial arts under…
Heartland by Daren V.L. Shiau – Review
In One Word: Mesmerizing.A Beautiful Sentence: “And once again, Singapore would be defined not by the people who belonged to it but by the person it belonged to.” The Plot: Wing Seng, a young Singaporean, navigates life transitions in the early 1990s, moving from school to National Service. He grapples with identity, relationships, and his…
A Candle Or The Sun by Gopal Baratham – Review
In One Word: WittyA Beautiful Sentence: “…she probably regards me as a tango come to grief.” The Plot: Hernando Perera, a furniture department manager and writer, leads a quiet life. He avoids questioning much until he loses his job. Slowly, he begins to question his own passivity and to take action. This book reminded me…