Sing Lit as Recommended by Singaporeans
Welcome to the third and final article of my reflections on Singapore Literature as a university student doing my internship at the public libraries. (Read here for Part 1 & Part 2) Recommendations are, by far, the most tried and true way of finding new literary gems to sink your teeth into. As we continue to delve into the treasures of Sing Lit, who better to ask than fellow Singaporeans?
We asked you, our readers, to recommend local books you love, and you have delivered! Try out the titles below — you never know, any one of them could be your introduction to a whole new world of possibilities!
1. Sonnets from the Singlish by Joshua Ip
“It whimsically captures interesting facets of Singapore.” — Aloysius C. H. L. Lim
Taking inspiration from Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnets from the Portuguese, Joshua Ip’s works feature a distinctly local turn. While Browning, who was English, titled her collection as such to distance her works from herself, Sonnets from the Singlish aims for the opposite effect and situates itself firmly in its writer’s experiences.
Ip modernises poetic traditions by marrying them with everyday Singaporean experiences expressed through local lingo. In so doing, he breathes new life into a classic literary form and opens it up for a wider audience. Who knew that all Shakespeare needed to do was take a trip down Changi Road?
Get it here: Physical Copy
2. The Minorities by Suffian Hakim
“We all need our dose of lightheartedness in dark times like COVID.” — Nurul ‘Ain
Have you ever felt a little out of place or tried to run away from issues you didn’t want to face?
If those are familiar quandaries to you, you might find yourself identifying with the characters of The Minorities. They find themselves at the intersection of marginalised identities, whether it’s living as an illegal immigrant from China or being a woman on the run from her abusive husband, all bound by circumstance and the need to start their lives afresh.
When a Pontianak starts haunting them, they take it as a sign to try more drastic measures. Embarking on a road trip to escape their fears, they soon find out that the only way to get rid of your problems is to face them.
Get it here: eBook
3. Aunty Lee’s Delights (A Singaporean Mystery) by Ovidia Yu
“The series is a charming read with great characters and reflects Singapore (past and present) in a casual yet very perceptive manner.” — Sharon Chia
If you’ve ever been a fan of Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, you’ll feel right at home following along the adventures of Aunty Lee, Singapore’s premier busybody-turned-amateur-detective. Aunty Lee’s day job as a café owner selling Singaporean delicacies and the familiar local patois peppered generously throughout the pages ensure the story serves local flavour by the spades.
Although murder drives the plot, it’s the characters that colour the world vibrantly, from Aunty Lee’s faithful domestic helper Nina, her henpecked stepson Mark with his social climber wife, and an Australian tourist who seems as though he’s hiding a secret. Not to mention Aunty Lee herself, a familiar figure to anyone who has met an ever-too-helpful aunty, who gets caught up in the case after deciding that the police could surely use her assistance!
Get it here: Physical Copy, eBook, Audiobook
4. Imaginary Friends by Melanie Lee
“[A series of] tongue-in-cheek fables that relates to the normal dailies of a Singaporean that one might have come across in one way or another.” — Bellabelle Gib
This is not a children’s book. In spite of the colourful illustration and easily digestible short fables that run in alphabetical order, Imaginary Friends is a series of stories that relate to the everyday struggles of the average Singaporean. Whether it’s the friend that gets easily burnt out or the overachiever who’s always showing up everyone else, there’s at least one character that’ll have you thinking “I know someone like that”. At the very least, prepare to have your sides splitting with laughter as you’re taken along for the ride of these funny fables.
Get it here: Physical Copy, eBook
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Text by
Darienne Sim
National Library Board
