The Magic Circle

by Charmaine Chan

I sit by your bed and watch you, as I sometimes do. There are days when you are so beautiful and vivacious and alive, we cannot believe that you are going to die. Other days, we are convinced you are at death's door and that this, this is the day that we will lose you … Now I bear witness to the disease that is eating you up alive, ravaging your physical shell. I look at your wasted body, once so slim and graceful; at the jaundiced pallor of your once perfect skin stretched tight around the still lovely bones of your face; at the way shadows collect in the hollows around your eyes and your collarbones. And very slowly, inside me, something small starts to crack. A tiny fissure that spreads and widens, before splitting open entirely to let something hot and liquid well up like molten lava, threatening to spill out the sides of my mouth, as rich and bitter and metallic as blood. Is this then what heartbreak feels like?

*

The Magic Circle tells the story of what happens when Charmaine Chan’s sister Elaine is diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer. As the illness progresses, family members living on different continents gather together during Elaine’s last days. Striving to distract Elaine from the worst effects of the cancer, Charmaine takes to the pen: conjuring up the vanished world of their childhood in Singapore, and discovering a way to keep her promise to Elaine’s six-year-old daughter.

A contemplation on grief and loss, nostalgia and yearning, The Magic Circle is for anyone who’s been torn apart and put back again by the inexplicable power of memory.

304 pages, Paperback

Published November 1, 2017

Reviews

[Paul Shynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply could not put this book down and read cover to cover in one sitting. Touching account of three very different sisters growing up in Singapore and how tragedy brought them together again. Beautifully written, Elaine would be so proud of you Charmaine.

[Sgbabe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a poignant story that will speak to anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Charmaine takes us on a journey along the undulating landscape of a family shell shocked by grief and loss. Yet, there are also laugh out loud moments filled with joy when she recalls the shenanigans of her and hers sisters’ youth. I could not put this book down! Just a word of warning, do not read this in public as it could make your eyes leak and/or put a lump in your throat. Charmaine is a wonderful writer and I can’t wait to read her next book!

[Lukas Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every moment the author experiences causes her to reminisce the past as she repeats the words "Do you remember...". This influences the action she takes to care for her sister who is dying of cancer. A vivid recollection of memories filled with fun and laughter as well as tear-jerking moments, some of which I can relate to as a fellow Singaporean albiet in a different time. A story of a bond between sisters, unbreakable, even in death.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really struck a chord in me as I am dealing with my own feelings of coping with a very dear aunt who is having Parkinson's.

If you have siblings or cousins who grew up with you and form a big part of your childhood, you will also understand the loss of the author, as I have also lost a cousin who died mysteriously and suddenly in the prime of his life.

All in all a good read. Honest and beautifully written. It will make you cry and appreciate every person in your life more.

[Ling Yu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charmaine had a very relatable way of writing.

From where she stayed, how she grew up, to the mannerisms of her household. Growing up w a helper, w a Peranakan dad, in a predominantly english environment and having tutors.. its refreshing reading a local author recount stories of a childhood so similar to my own. Many times in the story I felt like I could relate to Elaine, but it varied back and forth between the sisters. Their lives, loves, interests and philosophies. Esp when she recounted back on her first day of school, packing exercise books and textbooks from a timetable sheet, or for her love for food and for public libraries. Or when she talked about Elaine's love of life, traveling and adventure, and the sibling rivalry and camaraderie that inevitably develops with sisters. It felt like her voice gave life to the stories of our childhood in the late 80s and 90s, and the environment and culture in which we grew up.

The familiarity of the book also hit close to home. Her frank and matter-of-fact writing confronted difficult topics with an openness and vulnerability, and it made me confront uneasy questions. What if I were in a similar situation, with a friend, an acquaintance, or god forbid, my own family - would the story have unraveled the same way? Would I have chosen to stay away like she did, or taken copious amounts of time and finances to be there till the very end? Would the family have banded together, through the challenging times, or would a tragedy like this break us?

In a way, the book is not just a memoir, or tribute to her sister, but Charmaine remembering Elaine in her own unique way. Preserving not just a legacy for her daughter Yazmin and her family, but also a cathartic release for her to celebrate all of Elaine.

Do you remember?

[Jonathan Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charmaine does a good job at recording aspects of her sister’s life and the interactions they shared, at once capturing her sister’s multifaceted character catching light at all angles then casting shadows in some. But even at the end of it it felt like Charmaine never really knew who her sister was nor what she valued - why are there sudden bouts of calm and generosity where hot-headed tempests were expected? There is seemingly no anticipating how her sister will act between situations, a point reinforced consistently throughout the text, which gets unexpectedly frustrating right up till the end - how can a person be without logic and consistency, so easily buffeted by the whirlwinds of emotions? Perhaps it is the way Charmaine arranged the contents of the book - organised around themes there is a disrupted sense of time which, if aligned, which could have aided in explaining her sister’s personal developments better, instead of a schizophrenic narrative that leaves her sister’s person ultimately an empty shell.
But in its closing Charmaine offers a disclaimer which summarises the aim of her storytelling, that she was aiming to present an unvarnished account of her experiences for her niece to remember her mum by, so diversity of experiences was probably central to Charmaine’s selection of anecdotes for storytelling.
Should you read it? I think it’s a good story for their family’s remembrance, integrating and interweaving tenets of fairy tales into this otherwise inaccessible personal account of family history - the Chan sisters spent more than a good half of their lives abroad, their childhoods and way of living an illustrious, tending on obnoxious, display of privilege. I reckon this is an okay read if you chance upon it, but if not you may be glad to know you’re not missing much.

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Magic Circle was not what I expected. I had bought it partly because I was also reading a book on cancer care ministry, and thought it would be helpful to read Charmaine Chan’s personal account of journeying with her sister who had cancer.

But the book was so much more.

It was a rumination of childhood, of growing up, a walk through a past that was all too familiar to me (since we are similar in age) but at once very distant (given her Namly Ave SES).

It was a stalwart testimony of her thoughtful and certain faith, the likes of which I have never seen in a SingLit book. It was so encouraging.

It is a story at once full of pain yet full of genuine love and strength. I was utterly gripped by the masterful prologue, which initially seemed self-absorbed, but which ultimately was just one segment of a book wholly written for another.

Sleuthed a bit about the author on Facebook, and was fascinated to find out that we had the same JC tutors. And that Danielle Lim (author of The Sound of Sch, which I utterly loved) was her classmate.

All in all, this book is the work of a skilled craftsman, haunting in its veracity, and totally worth reading. Best Singlit book of the year so far for me.

9/10 ⭐️


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[maybemacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully written memoir from one sister to the other; the kind of sisterhood I would very much envy myself, coming from a family of 3 daughters. I didn’t expect it to end on such a touching note as she dedicated this book to her niece, as a vow to immortalise her memory of her cancer-ridden sister.

Starting out on an intimate and sincere tone, you’ll find yourself drawn into the colourful descriptions of Singapore in the 80s, in the most relatable descriptions. From her recollections to how each sister eventually grew to live in different parts of the world, you’ll see heartwarming flashbacks and how they spent her sister’s last days together with the impending pain of death for both the sufferer and her loved ones. Through her sister’s last days with cancer and dealing with grief, closure and tensions, she rediscovered herself in the process, making this a poignant read that is heartwarming without sounding all too depressing nor cliche. Especially love the seemingly mundane incidents peppered through the book, where irl such memories form the strongest impressions because of how you felt when you were with them, even if they weren’t grand moments or huge milestones.

[Niki Wang · Rating 1 out of 5]

While The Magic Circle may have promising elements in terms of prose, its overall impact is diminished by the author’s frequent and often intrusive references to God and the Christian faith.

For readers who share the author’s worldview, this might offer a sense of affirmation or spiritual depth. However, for a broader audience seeking a more universally resonant story, the heavy-handed religious messaging may feel exclusionary or distracting. Rather than enriching the narrative, these repeated invocations of faith tend to overshadow the story’s core potential, making it difficult to engage with the book on a purely literary level.

Ultimately, The Magic Circle might appeal to a niche readership with strong Christian convictions, but it risks alienating others who prefer a more secular or nuanced approach to storytelling.

[Leong Chin Yee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I came across this book in some review and put it in my to-read list and just did a search at the library and found it. A deeply moving and intimate true story of the author and her sisters; their story growing up, living life and facing death when one of them was stricken with it. It was strangely nostalgic as I identify with some of the incidents and episodes growing up. I cried at different parts of this book and remembered having to stop reading cos I was reading it on the train and was afraid I couldn’t stop if I continued. The Magic Circle reminds me to celebrate life, family and love and even accept death as graciously as we can. Am considering having a copy for keeps. Appreciating our local authors!

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a poignant story that will speak to anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. Charmaine takes us on a journey along the undulating landscape of a family shell shocked by grief and loss. Yet, there are also laugh out loud moments filled with joy when she recalls the shenanigans of her and hers sisters’ youth. I could not put this book down! Just a word of warning, do not read this in public as it could make your eyes leak and/or put a lump in your throat. Charmaine is a wonderful writer and I can’t wait to read her next book!

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard Charmaine's voice -- it is the voice of a storyteller, a rememberer, a scribe. It tells of love displayed, love lost, love hidden.

Charmaine Chan made a poignant retelling of her precious memories, and it felt like I was there like a fly on the wall. I miss the school canteen mee pok tah she recounted as well. What tripped me up were the literary references to "three" that presumes knowledge of the classics. But other than that, it was a thoroughly engaging read.

[Tan Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sincere touching memoirs about her family and their journey through a family member's untimely yet impending death. Despite how the theme of grief never leaves the book, the joy and beauty of familial ties is strong, and there is also quite good insight into the 70s and 80s era of Singapore, particularly Western-inclined families' lifestyle.

[Cher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming. It is a unique and at times, musical voice that paints a vivid picture of this western family in an asian country in all its very real ups and downs. Many times, I was very moved by how the relationships were presented. However, the writing style, although beautiful, is sometimes too long and winding, and I get tired of reading it. Plentiful imagery.

[Maple L. Corea · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a book!
It is beautifully written and yet painful to read as well. I can relate a little to the writers feeling of losing a dear family member even though it was 30 years ago for me now...
A must read for people who have lost a dear one to cancer for sure.

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heard about this book from the Singapore Writers’ Festival a few years back and finally got the chance to read it. It was a poignant, genuine read, written from the heart, speaking volumes not only about the type of person Elaine is/was, but also of the entire family.

[Jean Ong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely relatable. I as well, learned the hard lesson of not flying from Norway to Singapore for my grandfather’s funeral. It is so true that grieving together as a family is an essential part of healing. And Charmaine so accurately describes how one experiences and intimately comprehends grief.

[Parveen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving and intimate. Will touch a chord with anyone who has experienced loss. Written for both local and non-local audiences.

[Ethan Teo · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first foray into Singaporean literature, 'The Magic Circle' tells the story of Charmaine's experience watching her sister suffer from a rare and aggresive cancer, and the way in which her family comes together. It is a story about the very specific kind of grief brought about by the loss of a loved one.

I found it a poignant and enjoyable read, not least because the Singaporean elements in the book hit close to home. Emotional pain is always harder to bear than physical pain. It is easier to say, that "my head hurts" rather than "my heart is in pieces". Yet, Charmaine resolves to accomplish this with an artistry which serves as a rumination on memory, familial struggle and heartbreak.

I recommend this to anyone who grasps with the value of memory.

[Guardian Yang · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book that is so honest and tactful.
Thank you.

[Audrey Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candid and from the heart, Charmaine truly honoured her late sister in the best way she knew how: keeping her memory alive for eternity with a labour of love. Highly encourage everyone to read it.