In One Word: OK
A Beautiful Sentence: “They spoke it with their different accents, maybe because of how they spoke their own language, but when we neighbours chatted, we understood one another.”
The Plot: Set in 1941 Singapore, this story follows twelve-year-old Zak, who dreams of becoming a sepak raga trainer despite his father’s insistence that he learn the family trade of tailoring. As the threat of war looms, Zak embarks on a journey of self-discovery, navigating family expectations, and the harsh realities of a world on the brink of conflict.
I struggled to start this review. On the one hand, I loved how the author focused on just one street: Bussorah Street. This choice gave her the freedom to explore the events happening in this small area. The reader doesn’t get distracted by a larger setting.
The writer depicts the relationships between neighbours beautifully. I could see the tailor shop bustling with one neighbour or client entering one after the other. Each brought their own stories and problems, creating a soap opera-like atmosphere.
On the other hand, the story sometimes felt like a sequence of day-to-day events rather than a cohesive plot. I struggled to connect with Zak because his emotions felt distant. Even when his friend Albert died, Zak’s reaction seemed restrained and detached.
The disconnect maybe stems from the book’s deep roots in the Malay-Muslim culture, which I am not very familiar with. I often got lost in the various ways characters addressed one another. Trying to figure out who spoke to whom distracted me from Zak’s journey. Despite this, the book opened a window into traditions I had only heard about, but never seen up close.
One fascinating example was the description of the circumcision ritual. The author didn’t just explain the ritual but also explored its emotional impact. Zak’s feelings, his friends’ reactions, and the ritual’s significance showed how it marked a big change in his life. The close-knit family dynamics also stood out. And so did the depiction of sepak raga (football with a rattan ball). I only recently heard about this sport and enjoyed learning more about it through the story.
Takeaway:
A nice coming-to-age story that doubles as an excellent introduction to the Malay-Muslim community, but could have used a little bit more tension to make the plot stronger and more compelling.