Impractical Uses of Cake

by Yeoh Jo-Ann

Winner of the 2018 Epigram Books Fiction Prize

Sukhin is a thirty-five-year-old teacher who lives alone. His life consists of reading, working and visiting his parents' house to rearrange his piles of "collectibles". He has only one friend, another teacher who has managed to force Sukhin into a friendship by sheer doggedness.

While on an errand one afternoon in Chinatown, he encounters a homeless person who recognises him. This chance reunion turns Sukhin's well-planned life upside down, and the pair learns about love and sacrifice over their shared fondness for cake.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Asia, Asian Literature, Novels, 21st Century, Romance

240 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2019

About the author

Yeoh Jo-Ann is the author of Impractical Uses of Cake, winner of the 2018 Epigram Books Fiction Prize. Formerly a features editor, she is currently eyebrows deep in digital media/marketing. Her fiction has been anthologised in We R Family, In Transit and Best New Singaporean Short Stories: Volume Three.

Reviews

[Xueting · Rating 2 out of 5]

The use of a cardboard cake is perfect for this novel, because it has a whimsical feel and, to me, it tries to be more than it ultimately delivered. At least for me! I wanted to read this novel because it won the 2019 Epigrams Books Fiction Prize in Singapore, where I live, and I saw quite a number of favourable reviews. But I couldn't get into both the story and the characters. It tries to be and tackle a lot of things - there's (supposed) romance, a little spotlight on the Singapore homeless community, commentary about our education system and how it's like being a literature teacher, and then an abrupt bit about mental illness. I didn't know about the Singapore homeless community (those who voluntarily left their homes and sleep on the streets) so that was interesting, and I like that the author didn't make it sensationalised nor pity them. The teacher parts were interesting too, and real, from what I remember as a student. The romance and mental illness parts, though, the novel could have done without.

The premise sounds like a romance: Sukhin is an anti-social literature teacher in his mid-thirties who finds his job very unfulfilling and a huge chore. One day he stumbles upon Jinn, his ex-girlfriend from junior college living in a makeshift cardboard house, and they reconnect over cake. But I say it's "supposed" romance because there's zero romantic development between them after their chance reunion. And I couldn't imagine that there was ever anything romantic between them because they don't talk or behave like they're close; it's like Sukhin is just pining for Jinn and it's an unrequited love.

The story doesn't really have a plot; it's more character-driven and based. Yet one of its two main characters was not fully developed. I wanted to know so much more about Jinn than the story gave. The Jinn arc - why she's homeless, how she suddenly turned up again in Sukhin's life - is basically created in service of Sukhin. The story is from his perspective, but it's still a third-person narrative that could have given us more about Jinn beyond how she affects Sukhin's life and personality. In the end, she felt flat and even what makes her interesting - her independence, which helped her to fend for herself and lead the homeless community after running away from her affluent family - became what makes her ~quirky~. She felt disappointingly like a manic pixie dream girl. We don't even find out why she chose to run away from home until nearing the end of the novel! And the revelation just dumps in something about mental illness that feels little-researched by the author and needed a LOT thoughtful more delving into. To me, Jinn's mental illness was pretty much treated like another of her quirks.

On the other end, Sukhin was much more developed but I struggled to connect to him. Our main protagonist is an irritable, always grumpy, misanthropic and anti-social person. He's unlikable, but that's not a problem. He's real - there are definitely Singaporean men out there like him - and relatable. But the author gives us too little to help me understand why he's unhappy, why he finds his job unfulfilling... and it's confusing especially because he clearly loves books and literature, and he has the power as the Head of Department to improve the syllabus but choose not to! As with the manic pixie dream girl trope, Jinn re-entering his life makes him open up a bit more, but the change doesn't get developed further or endure, which makes it seem superficial. It's so strange, because he goes to great lengths to do things for her he'd never do for other people, just to please her, yet he still scolds her "Damn this woman" inside his head... ugh, what?

Sorry this review kinda turned into a rant! I think the novel is a solid debut effort, one that I'm not surprised to know is a debut novel, but I'd still be interested in reading future works by the author. The writing is good and vivid most of the time, with many lines and moments that made me stop and re-read them to savour them again. I enjoyed reading about the homeless community and the teaching. However I wish the characters were stronger, the narrative less one-sided between the two main characters, and the overall tone of the novel more consistent. The whole novel felt a little bit too whimsical and quirky for me, especially when it's dealing with some serious and complex topics.

Thank you to Epigram Books for sending me copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Bevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up after a colleague recommended it in passing and finished it in one sitting. The tone is convincing, intimate and comforting. I disagree with one user’s review that it tries to do too much. I think the various issues - homelessness, education system, mental states, etc - were woven together nicely into a compelling story that I was glad to follow along with the two protagonists.

[Ernest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I'm looking for- so strongly grounded in Singapore, relatable situations and sharp dialogue. If you forced me to put it in a genre it would be romance, but in a way it is just a book about life too. For the working adults here, or hell, even if you even took lit in JC, an unmissable read.

[Guacamole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked this up on a bit of a whim and boy, was this book a major disappointment. It was a struggle to finish this which has very little depth. Like reading a cardboard (see what I did there?). It paints an adequate picture of Singapore's homeless community but it could've been stretched out to something more imperative if the author had bothered to do her research. What nagged me the most with the book is the impractical decision to make Sukhin non-Chinese (especially judging/assuming the author herself is Chinese) with no significant impact on the book. I felt like it was tokenism on the author's end just like it was 'important' to have a flamboyant, gay character for representation sakes. If this book won the Epigram Books Fiction Prize, I won't be picking up books by this publication house ever again.

[Tan Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I've been thinking about whether I should stop. I'm not much of a teacher"
"Would not being a teacher make you a better human?"
"I don't know. I don't know what else I would do."
"Well, would not being a teacher make you want to be a better human?"
"I don't know."
"You must think carefully about this. If we don't try being better humans, we start becoming worse humans."

Extracted from "Impractical Uses of Cake" by Yeoh Jo-Ann

An existentialism tale, somewhat like Singapore's version of Lucky Jim, though milder.
Have a taste and enjoy.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply beautiful! One of the best books I've read this year. Quirky and heart-warming, words I would never expect to use about a book written by a Singaporean! Definitely add this to your reading list!!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picked this up on a bit of a whim, but ended up really enjoying it. The main character is both frustrating and so relatable. I laughed in recognition at several of his thoughts. And the book poses questions I enjoyed asking.

[Khin (storyatelier_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautifully written without being too intelligently incomprehensible/intimidating. Sukhin and the homeless woman from his past (his ex-girlfriend, Jinn) become key points of contrast throughout the novel, as we see Sukhin’s materially fulfilled, stable “Singapore dream” life and how empty his life feels to him, who has to drag out a daily, isolated existence. In contrast, Jinn didn’t fall into bankruptcy and find herself on the streets, but made the conscious choice to live the way she does - yet her life seems more fulfilling that Sukhin’s. Several times in the book, we learn more and more about the “invisible” homeless network in Singapore, the ones who fall through the cracks because they aren’t meant to exist, all this done without dramatising or relying on “poverty porn.” I can’t coherently express what I loved about this book, but I finished it wondering what I could take away from it and its characters, finding a lot of myself in its trapped and disgruntled protagonist (funny how our names are similar), and wishing I too, could disappear from the world and experience life of anonymity, un-bogged-down by my past and expectations of normality. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this.

[Cheryl Tan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot remember the last time I laughed out loud so much while reading a novel. I would actually be sitting on my couch cackling.

The specificity of the experience is really well carved. The characters are rounded and carefully observed, the treatment of mental health is respectful but not overbearing. The depiction of the struggle to survive in Singapore is somehow unflinching but also calm and loving?

I love all the little vignettes of the side characters like the CNY decoration shopkeeper. SO FUNNY. And Sukhin's relationship to his students and other teachers. If you've ever felt like an awkward introvert who is a bit too clever to be widely accepted, this book is for you.

I think people who don't like the book maybe can't really relate because they don't identify with this kind of language and worldview, or don't go in for so much quirky flavour.

I really want to see the thing that Sukhin builds in the end.

[Dhruv Doshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read the book over a weekend and loved it! Couldn't put it down.

I hadn't read a lot of SingLit before and am glad that this was the first one that I picked. I thought the descriptions of life in Singapore were quite accurate - and really did appreciate that the author did bring up issues like mental health and homelessness - and well Otters!!

On the downside, I did feel the story was a bit rushed towards the end - and maybe there could have been more done towards the end but all in all - would recommend it!

[Gill Schell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite flashes of humour, this book left me feeling very sad. Although it looks at many global themes - choices, wealth, homelessness, relationships - it becomes more meaningful if you've actually grown-up / lived in Singapore, and seen/experienced society and its expectations there. Beautifully written.

[JoAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impractical Uses of Cake focuses on Sukhin, a grouchy 35-year-old Literature teacher who seems to dislike everyone around him and would rather have the company of his own books. One afternoon, he chances upon a homeless person who recognises him, and this unexpected encounter leads him to explore the lesser-known side of Singapore.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Impractical Uses of Cake. This book has a bit of the slice-of-life, easygoing feel to it while also asking us to think more deeply about what we want out of life—is following the 'Singaporean dream' of a steady job, career advancement and getting married by your 30s the only, singular way to go, or is there something else you have in mind? Sukhin as a character fully internalises this dilemma; although he outwardly appears to be decisive, opinionated and stubborn, he finds himself unable to truly break free from what society deems as 'wise, no-brainer' decisions.

Additionally, the book also introduces the topic of homelessness in Singapore, as well as the idea of mutual aid and solidarity through the people Sukhin meets, which was really heartening to read. I was afraid that there would be some kind of saviour trope going on because of the way the plot unfolded, but I'm glad there wasn't any of that.

As a whole, though Impractical Uses delves into these heavier topics, it still maintains a very light-hearted and at times, comical prose which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The book had a somewhat abrupt ending, but in retrospect, I liked that it ended off as a hopeful, open one. I highly recommend this if you're looking for a rather sweet and uplifting story.

[Kes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about being lost in Singapore - Sukhin runs into Jinn, and she provides him the meaning in his otherwise colourless life. Sukhin is basically the Department Head in school, and he doesn't like dealing with people. I do wonder why he just stays there, but it appears that he just... drifts through life. He's a filial son to his parents, he cleans, he likes things neat.

Then Jinn appears, and he just... follows her around. I suspect this is meant to be love or affection from his end, but it comes off as boring from mine. Jinn is basically leading her life as a homeless person - and this appears to be by choice (she just decided to leave her home - I've read other reviews saying it's mental illness, but I don't think the narrative points strongly enough to a definitive armchair diagnosis).

So Sukhin's life improves but eh... I liked it for the perspective of Singapore society, but I'm not that keen on the characters.

[Jörg Dietzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mesmerising (and thought-provoking).

A fascinating read that draws you in from the first page - the sights and sounds and smells of Singapore, the daily routines and challenges are so vividly described that you catch yourself nodding: yes, I’ve experienced that.

For a while, the descriptions of daily life and the challenges of being a teacher are enough to keep you going, but you also feel: there’s something more. A big disruption is coming.

The chance meeting that occurs changes the protagonist - suddenly he becomes a different person, leaving the-oh-so-comfortable zone of his typical Singapore life behind.

The same happens to us, the reader: we’re turning the page with anticipation, excited to find out what happens next. Excited and also a bit scared - because we feel that what changes the (anti-) hero’s life could change ours, too.

[Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

As Singapore literature goes, one can definitely see why this won the 2018 Epigram Books Prize. It captures Singapore society well, where anyone can draw comparison to the characters from people in our own lives, dialogue is interesting enough and there is genuine unforced humor.

Yet the biggest drawback I may have is that there is very little development of the main two characters. Their relationship at the end is almost identical to how it started and although there is emphasis on the main character making a key decision that signals personal growth, taking a step back and evaluating him is quite unsatisfying.

Overall not bad, but would recommend reading Gimmie Lao and Ministry of Moral Panic as Sing Lit staples before this.

[Cleve Arguelles · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s about Singapore as seen through the (in)visible cracks, a close encounter with Alfian Sa’at’s Merlion looking at its own reflection in the same water that it spews. Yeoh Jo-Ann’s Impractical Uses of Cake is a slow-moving but intriguing journey of finding the values of the impractical in— of all places— the ground zero of all things hyperpractical. But could also be just about baking & eating the most heavenly of cakes. 🐢🧜🏼‍♀️

[Jane Koh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! Once I started, I couldn’t put the book down. As someone who is about to join the teaching profession, this gave me an insight into the life of a teacher. It was a simple and enjoyable read and one can’t help to fall in love with the characters in the story and also cake !

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking on what is really needed to live a happy life. The juxtaposition of Jinn’s homelessness and Sukhin’s predictable, mind-numbing life highlighted that they were both more content when connecting with others. Loved the Singaporean references to landmarks and the sprinkle of Singlish.

[Hkscoutress · Rating 1 out of 5]

The narrative structure is quite interesting, although the voices of the characters are quite fake, unreal, artlessly trivialised, and the author cannot get into the psychological skin of the characters. I read about forty pages and give up. A third-rate novel.

[Auntie Terror · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable novel about the power of affection - and cake. The characters are lovably honest to themselves, and it's such a tender story without being soppy or just focused on romance and romantic relationships.

[Ziqin Ng · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book, only the ending felt a bit underwhelming. Sukhin was such a relatable character.

[Er Kuan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating read about a HOD - English Lit, a homeless EX-girfriend and the dynamics of people in Singapore; is there a real definition of normal?

[Joey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sukhin was super relatable with all his pragmatic, practical, and as-a-result hilarious thoughts, quotes and euphemisms; I was a fan of the descriptions of trudging through work (especially school work) and the distracting school environment. The plot, however, was dismal and I was so let down by Jinn's story towards the end. Would the story end on a better note if it was left unsaid, rather than the rushed ending of a mere mention of a mental illness? Sukhin was such an interesting character with all these quirks, non-PC thoughts and minority representation (chindian!) but seemed to have succumbed to the lacklustre plot. The italics sub-chapters were hella confusing when I was reading it - but when I finished the book and reread it, it made more sense. Wonder if something could be done about the placement/naming of these chapters?

P.S.: who was the unidentified voice who was bad-mouthing Sukhin in the pantry at the end...... Dennis?????? If it is I'd be seriously disappointed because he is so cool! He cares about Sukhin so much and at the same time DOES NOT care about what others think - him going over to his place, sitting suggestively on his desk (haha), aloha shirt and all - I REALLY LIKE HIM.

[Weiqi · Rating 3 out of 5]

the ending was so abrupt, I was actually very confused when I flipped the page and saw the “acknowledgements” instead. the book feels like a lighter read, there were a lot of themes and issues that it touched upon but never got to explore in depth.

I really enjoyed Sukhin’s narrative point of view though! other reviewers didn’t seem to connect with him but I found him very endearing and a joy to see the world through the odd workings of his mind. I also enjoyed all the local references without it feeling at all like a typical Singaporean tale, and I especially appreciated the inclusion of poems by Alfian Sa’at and Cyril Wong. an overall quirky, somewhat whimsical read, but was underwhelmed by the end.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
i enjoy the writing but i struggle to connect with the characters :(

[Francine Chu · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lukewarm read. I felt hard pressed to muster some empathy for the two protagonists who are under some existential crisis throughout the book. Always they have some clever elitist retort in almost every line they speak; which is quite irritating. However, Yeoh’s command of English is good and I did like some of the minor characters like Dennis.

[Tony Alleven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quirky book. Enjoyed it though. A professor finds his girlfriend, who he thought died. She really just became homeless to go off grid and live a life worth living through service.

[Qiu Ting · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern day love story between two people bound with their own fair share of idiosyncrasies. I appreciate how honest the characters are!

[Mazter_of_Dizazter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Witty. Whimsical. And very relatable. Devoured it in a single sitting.

[Gerrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Surely everyone’s a little mad? How mad does one have to be in order to be properly mad?”

What could possibly be impractical about cake? As it turns out, this cake has more layers than expected. Beneath the sweetness of its playful title lies a deeper story about quiet routines, unexpected connections, and reflections on contentment.

I chose Impractical Uses of Cake almost at random from a selection of books about Singapore to read during my recent work trip. I have visited Singapore a few times before, but I thought reading a novel set in the city would add something different to the trip. I did not finish the book during my stay, but I continued reading after returning home. So, in a way, the book extended my Singapore experience, letting me revisit the city through the people and everyday life portrayed in the novel.

I found Sukhin relatable in some ways. As an introvert myself, I could relate to his preference for staying home, keeping to himself, and finding comfort in familiar routines. He is practical, reserved, and content with his own company. It was interesting to watch someone so comfortable with routine discover that life rarely sticks to one.

I also enjoyed the food references throughout the book. As someone who loves food and exploring Singapore’s food scene, even small details like Sukhin’s regular teh si gao kosong and curry puff added to the sense of place. Ironically, despite all the cake in the book, that was probably the food I related to least since I don’t have much of a sweet tooth.

I liked how the book feels distinctly Singaporean, especially through its everyday settings, school life, humor, local language and expressions, and its portrayal of the often-unseen homeless community. The writing is simple and engaging, although I felt some of the characters (particularly Jinn) could have been developed more. The ending also felt a little rushed, leaving some of the book’s more serious themes underexplored.

Overall, I still enjoyed the book, even if it left me wanting more from some of its characters and ideas. Its humor, setting, and quieter moments still made it a worthwhile read. And perhaps that is the point of the cake. Sometimes the seemingly impractical things are what make an ordinary life more meaningful.

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