Fistful of Colours

by Suchen Christine Lim

Fistful of Colours is a elegant, multi-layered reflection on Singapore as experienced through one day in the life of Ong Suwen, a young teacher in search of her identity as a woman and an artist. Peering into the rich history of her stepfather's family, Suwen uncovers and reveals the hopes and struggles of Singapore's first generation of immigrants and residents - from Chinese collies, Indian doctors and Malay waiters, each is given a unique and vibrant voice. Woven into this narrative are stories of Suwen's fellow artists that touch upon themes of art, identity and the pursuit of personal and artistic freedom. It is their search for answers that give this lyrical, beautifully considered and well-loved book its restive spirit. Fistful of Colours is a seminal novel in Singapore's literary canon and was the first book to receive the Singapore Literature Prize in 1992. This brand-new edition from Straits Times Press incorporates the final text revisions from the writer and features a new cover and improved layout for easier reading. This novel has been adopted as a core text by some of the top schools in Singapore. It should be read in Singapore schools because it integrates literature with history and brings Singapore History to a personal level.

Genres: Fiction, Asia, The World

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Born in Malaysia in 1948, grew up on both sides of the causeway that separates Malaysia from Singapore. Came to Singapore at age 14, studied in the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus schools, and the National University of Singapore. Taught in a junior college and worked as a curriculum specialist in the Ministry of Education. Resigned in 2003 to write full time.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing exploration of the issues of race and gender in twentieth century Singapore. Set in the context of a female Chinese artist's controversial win in an artistic contest with a painting which depicted some of her own painful experiences at the hands of her step father and a colleague who was also an artistic rival, mentor and supposed friend, the story delves into the lives of several friends representing all of the major ethnic groups in Singapore. Along the way it vignettes a wide range of historical experiences of the forebears of the characters, defining how the island's population emerged eventually into the post-independence era of mature racial tolerance - and yet with an incomplete and uneasy co-existence on the part of some. The author, Suchen Christine Lim, is a substantial writer well respected in the Singaporean and wider literary sphere, and this novel confirms her reputation as well deserved. I did find the occasional glimpses into the 'future' from the novel's positioning in the 1970s and 1980s to be a little artificial and didactic, but overall the transitions of chronological setting were effective and natural. This novel should stand as one of the classics of Singaporean literature of the independent era.

[Kim Tong Lim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story won Suchen Christine Lim the Singapore Literature Prize in 1992. It was set in Singapore with story told of early Chinese immigrants setting foot in Singapore during the times after Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore. The history of these immigrants including those from other neighbouring countries and about Singapore during the British rule was brought to life by Suchen’s narration. I read about three generations moving from that early period to the Japanese Occupation and then later into modern Singapore. It is always interesting to read of lives in early Singapore and it reminded me of my father having gone through that kind of life coming to Singapore to earn a living and settled here. It is a kind of history told by the author and it is better than reading a history textbook.

“Fistful of colours” deserves a good read and the author was great in telling the stories of different characters in the book. It was colourful and it lives up to the title of the fiction.

[Judith Huang · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad I pushed past judging this book by its (hideous) cover and bought and read it. A landmark work in Singapore literature, it tells the tale of an artist in her late thirties as she comes into her own in her art and struggles in love. So much about this book resonated with me because of the accurate portrayals of race and gender relations in Singapore as well as the history of our ancestors. The particular dynamics of the two interracial relationships were very well observed and illuminating. Lim does show some teething problems with awkward transitions between the present day and stories from the past, but overall the prose is beautiful and nuanced and the characters well drawn. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope more people read it!

[Zhelana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was weird. Like part of it was a story about a break up of a relationship, told through art. And another larger part was these random vignettes about the main character's family and the immigrant experience in Singapore. I was really frustrated. It kept introducing characters that I liked and wanted to hear more from, but each of them got 10-15 pages worth of story and then were never heard from again. It was actually really frustrating. Any one of these stories could have made a book by itself but instead they were tossed in for a few pages and then disappeared. But there were enough of them that I never figured out what was the main plot line until the very end. I didn't remember the main character until I reread the book description and it told me what name to look out for. I understand that this is considered the best of Singaporean literature, but i just didn't get it, and was very frustrated by it.

[Jasmine Haider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I met the author, who’s a genial figure with a warm smile. Bought her book, but somehow it took me a long time to start reading it as I was put off by the illustration on the cover. Too Singaporean, heh. However, I was eager to know what she could offer as a Singaporean writer. I am pleased with some of the historical accounts she gave, especially about the harsh life of the coolies and the bondwomen. It made Singapore history way more interesting than those presented in the textbooks, exactly like what the character Nica has said. However, some parts were too contrived, as if deliberately explained for for non-local readers. I was also not very taken in by Suwen and Mark’s characters and relationship. Nevertheless, I enjoy reading the book and seeing through the eyes of characters from the past.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was structured just as its title suggests - each vignette a fistful of colour that’s stands boldly and in sharp relief. The transitions from one story to the next were sometimes confusing, like a blurring of lines on canvas. History is messy and I enjoyed some of the under-explored narratives of Singapore’s past and culture. Some themes, like the tension between eastern and western values, still hold true today.

[[ashes] · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-balanced novel, which is easy to read. Lim includes outsiders, like myself, who have never visited the SEA region, with stories and histories told from various perspectives. She does this without casting judgement or becoming preachy.

[Young Eagle 于高鹰 · Rating 4 out of 5]

还蛮有趣的新加坡小说，探索不同族裔不同背景的角色各自不同的历史记忆，但全都奇妙地并置在新加坡这个不大的城市里。互相对立的声音在结尾并没有收束，而是留下女主角的迷茫与孤独，最后去马来亚的农村继续“寻根”，或许昭示身份探寻永恒的未完结性。十几年前处处模仿英国人、拿卫理公会的教条压制子女，十几年后骄傲宣称“中华传统”、拿儒家孝道压制子女，改变的只是词汇。在“模范族裔”式的西化与“亚洲传统”的再发现之间的徘徊，新加坡华人可能提早给全世界老中做了示范。部分福建话和广东话的音译实在读不懂，时不时会心里嘀咕怎么不干脆用中文写算了——有趣的是，这种“嘀咕”本身构成了小说主题的一部分。

[Marissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the historical flashbacks and the discussion on race. However, the "modern" stuff (which I suppose takes place in the 80s?) was pretty awful. Suchen and Nica and Mark were insufferable and the weird sexual politics at the end didn't fit in well with the rest of the book.

Would have liked it better if it were something like Yaa Gyasi's "Homegoing" in that it was a collection of loosely related historical stories building up to the present.

[Colin McKell-Redwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as part of following the yearofreadingtheworld blog by Anne Morgan.

In the review on the back this book is characterised as a significant contribution to Singapore literature. That's about right, it has some great characters, good stories to tell and is a good read.

But the story line jumps around and it feels as if the author wanted to say a lot but could not quite work out the best way to do it. So there is a real cut and paste feel sometimes, and while the authors voice comes thru in some great passages, the overall impact feels like it could have been greater.

Still a good read, and as a white Englishman it changed how I viewed Singapore, having been there several times.

Hard to buy in Europe, I ordered it from Singapore.

[Sivasothi N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sketches of Singapore lives exploring race, culture and identity over several decades, engaging enough to be read in one sitting! Written when no one thought of local work featuring in a literature class.

[Maeyu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Singapore

[Diana Directo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is my review. http://pointblankclueless.wordpress.c...
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[Stephen Gordons · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrendous. If there is one book I read this year which you should avoid, it is this one.

[Joe Natan]

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