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The Minorities
A quasipotent, biracial Singaporean inventor is struggling with the fact that his father had died - but did not come back as a ghost.
Attempting to come to terms with it, he creates the Soundloft, a device that turns dreams into music. Helping him out are three of his best friends - Cantona, a promising Bangladeshi artist on the run from a construction company; Tights, a Chinese illegal immigrant with a pop culture fascination; and Shanti, a gifted lab technician hiding from her abusive husband.
But when a powerful metaphysical entity begins haunting them, looking to find her way in the world of the living, he and his friends find themselves embroiled in a supernatural showdown that will result in either cartharsis, or the end of the world.
Attempting to come to terms with it, he creates the Soundloft, a device that turns dreams into music. Helping him out are three of his best friends - Cantona, a promising Bangladeshi artist on the run from a construction company; Tights, a Chinese illegal immigrant with a pop culture fascination; and Shanti, a gifted lab technician hiding from her abusive husband.
But when a powerful metaphysical entity begins haunting them, looking to find her way in the world of the living, he and his friends find themselves embroiled in a supernatural showdown that will result in either cartharsis, or the end of the world.
- GenresFiction
328 pages, Paperback
Published November 4, 2017
12 people are currently reading
251 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
November 5, 2017
I may be the editor, and by that account, you'd think I'd be biased. But why would I bother spending a whole year co-working on a story which I did not think was good?
I am a reader first. And as a reader, this story was very well written. There have been books which I have struggled to finish because the writing and storyline did not sustain my attention. This is not one of those books. Right from the get-go, Suffian gives us a prologue that hits us right in the feels. The characters are so well fleshed out that you can't help but root for them throughout the whole story despite some of their more questionable habits and depositions. In essence, they're very human.
Suffian's trademark humour is still evident in the story, peppered at the right moments for you to still get a chuckle even when things seem to be taking a turn for the worse for our characters. There's enough action and humour in this to make it a very memorable read, and even some social commentary if you pay attention enough.
I am a reader first. And as a reader, this story was very well written. There have been books which I have struggled to finish because the writing and storyline did not sustain my attention. This is not one of those books. Right from the get-go, Suffian gives us a prologue that hits us right in the feels. The characters are so well fleshed out that you can't help but root for them throughout the whole story despite some of their more questionable habits and depositions. In essence, they're very human.
Suffian's trademark humour is still evident in the story, peppered at the right moments for you to still get a chuckle even when things seem to be taking a turn for the worse for our characters. There's enough action and humour in this to make it a very memorable read, and even some social commentary if you pay attention enough.
March 28, 2020
This one brings chill to the bone la. The fighting & haunting. Especially the latter. Ya la kan, it's written there on the cover "a ghostly novel. So many ghosts cramped in one book. I laughed erratically in the beginning nevertheless. Now, I'm scared. 😨
November 29, 2018
I found this story quite amusing. As I a foreigner living in Singapore for the past 4.5 years I actually enjoyed how certain social and political issues were raised spot-on but with subtlety and humor. Definitely worth the time if readers are not bother by the supernatural element.
April 4, 2025
The writing style is solid, and the premise is interesting. But the execution is a bit messy. The biggest problem for me was the tone. Is it horror? Fantasy? Satire? Comedy? I couldn’t tell at all.
The characters are a bit cartoonish and feel flat, which surprised me. With a title like ‘The Minorities,’ I expected a deeper exploration of what it means to be part of a minority or a migrant. Apart from the prologue and a few pretentious lines here and there, it touches on these themes in ways that feel stereotypical at best. I even found the character Tights to be a rather racist portrayal of Chinese migrants. On top of that, the plot is filled with ghostly figures and random details that just pop up out of nowhere to move things along—it’s hard to follow and even harder to believe.
So… why did I finish it? Because it’s so easy to read. The author knows how to keep a plot moving, and every time I sat down to read a page or two, I’d look up and realise I’d read 60. (Mostly while rolling my eyes, yes—but still turning pages!)
The characters are a bit cartoonish and feel flat, which surprised me. With a title like ‘The Minorities,’ I expected a deeper exploration of what it means to be part of a minority or a migrant. Apart from the prologue and a few pretentious lines here and there, it touches on these themes in ways that feel stereotypical at best. I even found the character Tights to be a rather racist portrayal of Chinese migrants. On top of that, the plot is filled with ghostly figures and random details that just pop up out of nowhere to move things along—it’s hard to follow and even harder to believe.
So… why did I finish it? Because it’s so easy to read. The author knows how to keep a plot moving, and every time I sat down to read a page or two, I’d look up and realise I’d read 60. (Mostly while rolling my eyes, yes—but still turning pages!)
April 22, 2019
In its unbridled enthusiasm to deliver its message that what lies in common in humanity should be more important than what separates us, The Minorities ends up only scratching the surface of the ambitious themes it covers: loss, alienation, the ties that bind, and a sense of belonging.
Our protagonist shares his flat with three other people who are all on the run of some sort, and whom he generously hosts despite -- at least for two of them, who are also running from the law as illegal immigrants -- only just meeting them. One of them has an unfortunate habit of crapping in public as and when he feels the urge, and this leads to the characters being haunted by a pontianak named Diyanah when he desecrates her space. After some aggressive overtures, Diyanah turns out to be the sweetest pontianak who just wants to return home to Malacca, but can only do so with the help of our four main characters, because the undead are bound by covenants that limit their locations to a certain radius of those they haunt.
Unfortunately, Diyanah also belongs to the Council Of Metaphysical Entities (COME) of Singapore, who are preparing for an uprising of some sort against the living because they want to reclaim their freedom. Diyanah's wish to go home depletes their numbers, and hence she has to be made an example of. This climaxes in a showdown between the five characters and the undead in a deserted forest in Malacca.
The premise is wacky and fun, and has the potential to reach into that delicious realm of the tragicomic, where catharsis is achieved from a kind of laughter that draws its source from the deepest grief -- and emerges from it. However, the execution doesn't quite get there because characters don't feel fully realised. There is a sense that each character is defined by a single tragic backstory, but having established their individual sources of pain, the book doesn't seem to have a grasp of the texture and shape of grief, how it undulates beneath the surface and manifests in bewildering ways.
Much was made about the protagonist's need for closure following the death of his strict father, but beyond his proclamations of his father's lack of affectionate gestures towards him, and a couple of flashbacks of his father's dying days, there wasn't much in the way of understanding the relationship between the two of them. I wanted to know: why did he feel that lack so acutely? Where did that need for closure come from; where is the power behind the force of that loss? Similarly, the relationships between the characters felt perfunctory, in the sense that they were doing things that showed their reliance and trust in each other, but in a manner that seemed more form than substance.
I don't mean that the book had to go deep into the psychology of characters, or be a different kind of novel, in order to achieve the depth I wanted. This is a plot-driven novel with grand ambitions of elucidating something about humanity in the process, and Hakim's offbeat humour -- not to mention daringness in rendering a comedic supernatural fight scene, something I haven't quite seen in Singlit which tends towards taking itself rather too seriously -- puts him in good stead. I just think that Hakim could have gone further if he was more specific with his characters -- their cultures and their relationships -- and let go of that need to find the goodness within them. As it is, the picture of humanity he sought to paint is too pastel, as though trying to convince himself and readers of an understanding rather too simplistic to reach truth.
(Also I wish the title was something else! Feel like it does a disservice to the fun factor of the plot; a little too heavy-handed with what it wants to convey.)
Nevertheless, I look forward to Hakim's future novels, as he matures as a writer.
Our protagonist shares his flat with three other people who are all on the run of some sort, and whom he generously hosts despite -- at least for two of them, who are also running from the law as illegal immigrants -- only just meeting them. One of them has an unfortunate habit of crapping in public as and when he feels the urge, and this leads to the characters being haunted by a pontianak named Diyanah when he desecrates her space. After some aggressive overtures, Diyanah turns out to be the sweetest pontianak who just wants to return home to Malacca, but can only do so with the help of our four main characters, because the undead are bound by covenants that limit their locations to a certain radius of those they haunt.
Unfortunately, Diyanah also belongs to the Council Of Metaphysical Entities (COME) of Singapore, who are preparing for an uprising of some sort against the living because they want to reclaim their freedom. Diyanah's wish to go home depletes their numbers, and hence she has to be made an example of. This climaxes in a showdown between the five characters and the undead in a deserted forest in Malacca.
The premise is wacky and fun, and has the potential to reach into that delicious realm of the tragicomic, where catharsis is achieved from a kind of laughter that draws its source from the deepest grief -- and emerges from it. However, the execution doesn't quite get there because characters don't feel fully realised. There is a sense that each character is defined by a single tragic backstory, but having established their individual sources of pain, the book doesn't seem to have a grasp of the texture and shape of grief, how it undulates beneath the surface and manifests in bewildering ways.
Much was made about the protagonist's need for closure following the death of his strict father, but beyond his proclamations of his father's lack of affectionate gestures towards him, and a couple of flashbacks of his father's dying days, there wasn't much in the way of understanding the relationship between the two of them. I wanted to know: why did he feel that lack so acutely? Where did that need for closure come from; where is the power behind the force of that loss? Similarly, the relationships between the characters felt perfunctory, in the sense that they were doing things that showed their reliance and trust in each other, but in a manner that seemed more form than substance.
I don't mean that the book had to go deep into the psychology of characters, or be a different kind of novel, in order to achieve the depth I wanted. This is a plot-driven novel with grand ambitions of elucidating something about humanity in the process, and Hakim's offbeat humour -- not to mention daringness in rendering a comedic supernatural fight scene, something I haven't quite seen in Singlit which tends towards taking itself rather too seriously -- puts him in good stead. I just think that Hakim could have gone further if he was more specific with his characters -- their cultures and their relationships -- and let go of that need to find the goodness within them. As it is, the picture of humanity he sought to paint is too pastel, as though trying to convince himself and readers of an understanding rather too simplistic to reach truth.
(Also I wish the title was something else! Feel like it does a disservice to the fun factor of the plot; a little too heavy-handed with what it wants to convey.)
Nevertheless, I look forward to Hakim's future novels, as he matures as a writer.
November 12, 2022
I wanted to like it more, but it suffers from the opposite of Hakim's more famous debut work Harris bin Potter. Harris started strong and fizzled out trying to wrap things up coherently while maintaining the funny. Minorities started really ploddingly and portrayed its characters very unconvincingly. People do neurotic things like let out the bad (aka take a shit) ASAP or try their darnedest to summon their father's ghost but the poor reader is left in the dark as to WHY they may be like that. This is detrimental to the suspension of disbelief needed to keep the magical realism setting going. Things pick up once the 5th member of the party joins and the group has an actual well-defined goal, clichéd as it becomes. The supernatural fights are the highlight of the action, as is the narrator's long overdue resolution of his daddy issues in a twilight zone. stick with it past the first 100 pages, it gets better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 30, 2017
If you are look for a book that stands out from the rest of the genres out there, you would want to pick up this book and give a good read. It has themes that are similar to a modern fairy tale - forbidden love, complexity of friendship, misfits, loyalty, self-acceptance, daddy issues and a whole lot of adventure together. It has vampires, ghosts and all the Asian supernatural beings. If you are into the Twilight Series, this might be something that fit the bill as a stand alone book.
July 10, 2022
Such a fun easy read that had its fair share of laugh out loud moments and some excellent commentary on love life and horror ☺️
November 9, 2025
A wildly wacky tale about grief and kindness. I liked this for its creativity but not so much for its writing. The action scenes were not engaging and the touching moments didn’t peak.
July 31, 2021
It feels like there are two different stories patched together in this book, each with very different moods, characters and themes. The story, when it's centred on the humans, is engrossing - it has entertaining characters with great backstories, poignant moments and tender ones, and many very funny lines. That unseen darkness, lapping at the edges of perception, brings in a delicious narrative tension.
The midpoint of the book marks a very abrupt shift, though - all the characters and conflicts we were previously introduced to are suddenly discarded and disappear into the background, and another full cast of ghostly characters, with their own customs, conventions, and motivations, rolls to the forefront. Out of all the characters, the pontianak has perhaps the least interesting personality and backstory. The central conflict morphs into a very, very straightforward one - helping her to return to her hometown, with the other ghosts being their main adversaries.
The trouble with this is that we never spend enough time with all these new ghostly characters to take them seriously as antagonists, and more and more of them keep sprouting out of the woodwork in a ludicrous fashion. By the end, I really couldn't care less about any of the characters or the resolution of the conflict.
All in all, there's much to love about Suffian Hakim's writing. He's very funny, his command of English masterful, and the characters and situations he writes are fresh and original. I think he'd benefit from better editing, though, and greater clarity on what the story he's trying to tell is.
The midpoint of the book marks a very abrupt shift, though - all the characters and conflicts we were previously introduced to are suddenly discarded and disappear into the background, and another full cast of ghostly characters, with their own customs, conventions, and motivations, rolls to the forefront. Out of all the characters, the pontianak has perhaps the least interesting personality and backstory. The central conflict morphs into a very, very straightforward one - helping her to return to her hometown, with the other ghosts being their main adversaries.
The trouble with this is that we never spend enough time with all these new ghostly characters to take them seriously as antagonists, and more and more of them keep sprouting out of the woodwork in a ludicrous fashion. By the end, I really couldn't care less about any of the characters or the resolution of the conflict.
All in all, there's much to love about Suffian Hakim's writing. He's very funny, his command of English masterful, and the characters and situations he writes are fresh and original. I think he'd benefit from better editing, though, and greater clarity on what the story he's trying to tell is.
August 22, 2022
I want to encounter this book for the first time all over again. It's a wacky, thrilling adventure that follows a cast of incredibly loveable characters. It's Trese-Neil Gaiman-Scooby Doo with Gilmore Girls dialogue and all the heartache of placelessness and grief. I haven't read anything like this and I'm hungry for more of Hakim's writing.
February 25, 2020
An excellent piece of Singaporean literature - suffers from some pacing issues, but the characters are wonderfully fleshed out and the world-building is beautiful. 10/10 recommend.
May 15, 2023
THERE IS A saying in Malay: takutkan hantu, terpeluk bangkai. Directly translated, it means, "In fearing a ghost, one embraces a corpse." I never quite understood the proverb's translation. I first heard it as a child, and until now, I could not understand it in any way other than my first interpretation of it which was that one was so frightened of a ghost, that one would hug a corpse just for comfort. What the proverb implies is that in avoiding a small, possibly imagined danger, one could end up facing an even larger, actual threat. I fared poorly in the Malay language as a student.
- The Minorities by Suffian Hakim
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.
3.5 is my actual rating - i rounded it up simply because i find this book fun , eccentric and haunting at the same time. Singaporean story that still confronted racism, sexism and taboo subject but also explored the connection that doesnt have to be bound by blood ties, the complexity of identity and sense of belongingness and the fixation on supernatural beings. The story highlighted how other minority helping other minority ; in this book, We were introduced to a quasi Malay man (Remain Nameless for almost half of the book) , A Bangladeshi man (Cantona) , A chinese man from China (Tights) and An Indian girl (Shanti). Different circumstances brought them together and they lived together in Yishun’s HDB flat. 2 are illegal immigrants, 1 ran away from an abusive husband and 1 are trying to revive his father in a ghost form. I have to admit that the first 90 pages is boring and i almost put it aside simply because i cannot see which direction this story is going to take me. Then, the ‘Pontianak’ or ‘Diyanah’ appeared in-front all of them and eventually caused havoc in the house. This is where it becomes interesting (at least to me) because i am all in whenever Malay folklore and the absurdity of modern world got entangled in the story. They met the ‘Bomoh’ to get rid of the pontianak only to end up befriending her. Then, they somehow found that there are others like Diyanah and has been part of ‘COME’ - an acronym of Council of Metaphysical Entities. It was so ridiculous but i am here for a fun ride specifically when they decided to help Diyanah who’ve wanted to return to her homeland (Malaysia) and stay there for good. I understand that this is not everyone’s cup of tea, heck - i don’t even know how non-Southeast Asian (putting Non SEA simply because i believe SEAsians can) read this novel. They may not be able to get the nuances , culture and even might find too many ghosts / apparition types mentioned in the book overwhelming. BUT don’t dismiss it yet, keep on reading and maybe you will end up laughing and even felt second-hand embarrassment for whatever these characters attempt to do. I will not review it any longer as i don’t want to spoil the story so i just shared what i don’t like about this book. First, the relationship that the Main character has with his father. The plot mentioned sense of abandonment, gaslighting and lack of attention but it was addressed briefly. Only towards the end it got cleared up but even then, it felt inadequate. It’s frustrating because it was supposed to the major plot tool but it got sidelined by the Pontianak’s Homeland Quest (for what its worth, i do like Pontianak thingy but the synopsis of the book highlighted ‘wanting his father to come back as a ghost so he brought whores home’. Second, placing, trusting and living with strangers in your own home took guts. But i wanted to know how the solid bond is being established. Everyone has a sob story and its normal for us to be empathetic and try to help each other out but using your saving to sustain and feed 2 illegal immigrants and one battered wife without any expectation of rewards seems too good to be true. That being said, while this book is amusing - some gaps in the story is obvious and some readers might not take this lightly. Anyway, if you just want to read something that might boggle your mind but not in serious way - more like humorous and weird way, this is the one.
- The Minorities by Suffian Hakim
.
.
3.5 is my actual rating - i rounded it up simply because i find this book fun , eccentric and haunting at the same time. Singaporean story that still confronted racism, sexism and taboo subject but also explored the connection that doesnt have to be bound by blood ties, the complexity of identity and sense of belongingness and the fixation on supernatural beings. The story highlighted how other minority helping other minority ; in this book, We were introduced to a quasi Malay man (Remain Nameless for almost half of the book) , A Bangladeshi man (Cantona) , A chinese man from China (Tights) and An Indian girl (Shanti). Different circumstances brought them together and they lived together in Yishun’s HDB flat. 2 are illegal immigrants, 1 ran away from an abusive husband and 1 are trying to revive his father in a ghost form. I have to admit that the first 90 pages is boring and i almost put it aside simply because i cannot see which direction this story is going to take me. Then, the ‘Pontianak’ or ‘Diyanah’ appeared in-front all of them and eventually caused havoc in the house. This is where it becomes interesting (at least to me) because i am all in whenever Malay folklore and the absurdity of modern world got entangled in the story. They met the ‘Bomoh’ to get rid of the pontianak only to end up befriending her. Then, they somehow found that there are others like Diyanah and has been part of ‘COME’ - an acronym of Council of Metaphysical Entities. It was so ridiculous but i am here for a fun ride specifically when they decided to help Diyanah who’ve wanted to return to her homeland (Malaysia) and stay there for good. I understand that this is not everyone’s cup of tea, heck - i don’t even know how non-Southeast Asian (putting Non SEA simply because i believe SEAsians can) read this novel. They may not be able to get the nuances , culture and even might find too many ghosts / apparition types mentioned in the book overwhelming. BUT don’t dismiss it yet, keep on reading and maybe you will end up laughing and even felt second-hand embarrassment for whatever these characters attempt to do. I will not review it any longer as i don’t want to spoil the story so i just shared what i don’t like about this book. First, the relationship that the Main character has with his father. The plot mentioned sense of abandonment, gaslighting and lack of attention but it was addressed briefly. Only towards the end it got cleared up but even then, it felt inadequate. It’s frustrating because it was supposed to the major plot tool but it got sidelined by the Pontianak’s Homeland Quest (for what its worth, i do like Pontianak thingy but the synopsis of the book highlighted ‘wanting his father to come back as a ghost so he brought whores home’. Second, placing, trusting and living with strangers in your own home took guts. But i wanted to know how the solid bond is being established. Everyone has a sob story and its normal for us to be empathetic and try to help each other out but using your saving to sustain and feed 2 illegal immigrants and one battered wife without any expectation of rewards seems too good to be true. That being said, while this book is amusing - some gaps in the story is obvious and some readers might not take this lightly. Anyway, if you just want to read something that might boggle your mind but not in serious way - more like humorous and weird way, this is the one.
October 7, 2021
It’s been a while since I last sank my teeth into something meaty that I thoroughly enjoyed. Having Singapore as the backdrop to The Minorities by Suffian Hakim made everything so much more fun. From HDB living and famous landmarks, to snooty attitudes in an exhibition meant to challenge those very attitudes, it all felt so familiar to me. Also, it is always a good thing to be reminded of how privileged I am, no matter how subtly.
While we’re on the topic, I really appreciated the theme of how humanity is universal. No matter the arbitrary differences that seem to separate us into various groups across various parameters, we are all still human. Each of the five main characters are people who live on the fringes of Singaporean society so it was lovely how each of them had a story to tell.
I would have loved it if the story had just kept to its original vein without veering off into frenzied action but that might just be me. As it stands, I felt that quite a lot of detail introduced in the first half wasn’t fully addressed. Plus, events unfolded in a way that really wouldn’t hold up to scrutiny. For example, how would the narrator’s injuries not trigger a police report on the part of the hospital? And in all honesty, did none of the five think about how they would get back home while planning their little road trip? I guess if we’re already going to believe in Pontianaks and toyols, we can suspend our disbelief a little more.
Still, home as where our loved ones are was a nice way to end the book. It doesn’t need to be a physical place, but just being with people who accept you for who you are. In a way, it felt quite open ended because suddenly everyone became displaced and I’m pretty sure jail is looming in the horizon for them. But they still had each other and our unnamed narrator can finally let go of his need for his father’s approval as symbolized by that infernal mouldy almond.
Diversity meter:
Migrant characters
Mixed heritage character
Strong female characters
While we’re on the topic, I really appreciated the theme of how humanity is universal. No matter the arbitrary differences that seem to separate us into various groups across various parameters, we are all still human. Each of the five main characters are people who live on the fringes of Singaporean society so it was lovely how each of them had a story to tell.
I would have loved it if the story had just kept to its original vein without veering off into frenzied action but that might just be me. As it stands, I felt that quite a lot of detail introduced in the first half wasn’t fully addressed. Plus, events unfolded in a way that really wouldn’t hold up to scrutiny. For example, how would the narrator’s injuries not trigger a police report on the part of the hospital? And in all honesty, did none of the five think about how they would get back home while planning their little road trip? I guess if we’re already going to believe in Pontianaks and toyols, we can suspend our disbelief a little more.
Still, home as where our loved ones are was a nice way to end the book. It doesn’t need to be a physical place, but just being with people who accept you for who you are. In a way, it felt quite open ended because suddenly everyone became displaced and I’m pretty sure jail is looming in the horizon for them. But they still had each other and our unnamed narrator can finally let go of his need for his father’s approval as symbolized by that infernal mouldy almond.
Diversity meter:
Migrant characters
Mixed heritage character
Strong female characters
November 12, 2018
Picked up the book because I was curious on what kind of commentary it would give regarding the Singaporean society. The book also tried to represent people who are not usually represented but I don’t know if this was done in a good way. The author’s wit and humour is his best tool used to talk about foreign talent and some of their rather unsingaporean behaviour. The weaving of the supernatural and Malay folklore in a very zombie/apocalypse-like setting was artfully done. It shares certain resemblances to Nuraliah Nurashid’s The Gatekeeper. Though I feel that the book’s Singapore created in relation to the real world felt a little contrived. I mean it’s a story right of course it’s not real. But apart from the uncanny name changes and the magical realist backdrop, I was just not sucked into this new world order that Hakim has created. An escapist read for me but it didn’t change my life most definitely. Or make me see things differently at the very least.
January 26, 2020
This is a book meant to be fun or funny but... it sort-of missed the mark. The main character does make quips that no one gets - and I can see how he's trying hard, but it just doesn't come off as funny.
Similarly, this book also means to touch on themes - belonging, being a minority - but it misses the mark. The prologue about being a minority (/ the god is a minority) is thought-provoking but unnecessary to the story. There is some fun action, and gore - Shanti's husband, .
Overall 2/5, added one star for the Singapore connection.
Similarly, this book also means to touch on themes - belonging, being a minority - but it misses the mark. The prologue about being a minority (/ the god is a minority) is thought-provoking but unnecessary to the story. There is some fun action, and gore - Shanti's husband, .
Overall 2/5, added one star for the Singapore connection.
June 9, 2023
Honestly I don’t know what to take away from this read. It felt somewhat immature, ridiculous and amateurish. There is a thin line between fantasy and idiocracy and this just falls into the category of the latter. There is no book I wanted to end more than this, what a waste of time. I mean the author clearly is well versed in literature and used bombastic words every other line, but he failed to understand that words aren’t just what makes a good book, but truly the plot which was less than mediocre in this book. Meh, give it a pass if you would.
October 30, 2019
It's a wacky wild ride involving refugees and wandering spirits in search of home and finding kindred spirits in unlikely scenarios. There are brief snatches of feeling and connection that offer intimations of home. Unfortunately, the story falls short of the grand themes it's prologue stridently addresses. Personally, I find the flat characterisation and shifts from irreverance to melodrama uncompelling.
March 6, 2019
Quite an inspirational story that makes your spirit lifted up! Gives me hope to just ignore those who wants me to suffer and just keep on live my life to the fullest! Getting an eBook version of this book was an excellent decision because it was worth it! The link for the eBook is here:-https://www.e-sentral.com/book/info/2...
May 21, 2020
A very intriguing book with a couple of hidden meanings behind the story, of which I really appreciated was conveyed by the author. The story was nothing scary at all, more of conveying some messages dear to the author & character blended with some humour. The only lacking was that I wished the ending was more completed, it was sort of a cliffhanger.
October 2, 2020
This was a pretty good read - an entertaining story with the right mix of touching and humorous, all the better because it brings together key interests of mine i.e. Malaysia/Singapore, migrant rights, and the supernatural beings of Nusantara. Plus every chapter title is a pun and the author photo is delightfully extra.
May 27, 2021
The Minorities was in fact an impulsive buy for me because of its beautiful cover and promising title but it turned out to be much more. A quirky, chilling (at times) and heartfelt read laced with Suffian Hakim's witty humour, I enjoyed the supernatural plot, wacky loveable characters and message on losing and loving.
April 2, 2022
I really wanted to enjoy this book, but it fell flat for me. The characters were funny and entertaining, but they were way too funky for me and I had a really
hard time getting into the plot. The first few pages were good, but I was already checked out by the 50th page mark. The premise of the book sounded good, but this one just didn’t do it for me.
hard time getting into the plot. The first few pages were good, but I was already checked out by the 50th page mark. The premise of the book sounded good, but this one just didn’t do it for me.
May 13, 2021
The story was very creative and some parts were exciting, but the plot seemed to drag at points. There were many details that felt disjointed, hard to follow, and hard to accept. I enjoyed the characters, but the story felt like it had potential to be better formulated.
July 4, 2019
3.5 here too. The dude committed to the tale man and I like the familiar feel of stuff and all the Sporean asides. Ooo... some of them are so snarky 😬
April 15, 2020
Intriguing read blending the supernatural with the dreams and struggles of our unsung heroes in Singapore!
July 16, 2020
Super hilarious with unique, diverse characters. Finished it in one sitting!
August 19, 2020
*3.5
Strangest yet captivating book I've read this year.. maybe ever
Strangest yet captivating book I've read this year.. maybe ever
February 22, 2021
Started off pretty well, but got a little draggy towards the end. It was still entertaining nonetheless. Will be moving over to Harris Bin Potter next.
August 20, 2022
Epic, hilarious and heartwarming story. Intriguing, too.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews