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First Loves
The first 19 stories in the collection trace the countless experiences and escapades of Ah Leong, inextricably interwined with those of his family and friends. As the stories develop, Ah Leong comes of age, gets a job, falls in love, enlists in National Service, and learns, often with youthful ingenuity and zeal, how to sidestep some of life's complications. This book also includes two prizewinning stories: "Campfire" won 2nd prize in the 1983 National Short Story Writing Competition, and "Evening Under Frangipani" won 1st prize in the same competition in 1985. Both stories effectively explore the vulnerability of first love and the emptiness that follows.
Published in 1987, First Loves topped the Singapore Times Book International best-sellers list and stayed on the list for 18 months.
Published in 1987, First Loves topped the Singapore Times Book International best-sellers list and stayed on the list for 18 months.
199 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 1987
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32 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 3, 2011
I picked this book off the HSSM Library shelf because I was dying to understand more of the culture I'm immersing myself in, at least for the next three and a half years. And even though the author is not a Chinese Singaporean (he has Sri Lankan and English descent in his blood), he portrayed the life quite accurately. Or at least I think so. It explains a lot of actions going around me.
This book is a collection of short stories that are meant to be read consecutively. It chronicled Ah Leong's life in stories as he went through his life, some of which are funny, sad, happy etc. There's a feeling of inevitability in it. The divisive nature of education there. The judgmental quality of the people and the system. The middle-class drama unfolding everyday. The bus-taking, love-sick couples. I don't know about the depiction of the people's attitude to sex though.
The award winning stories are very fresh, especially if you remember that they were written in the 1980's. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Singapore.
This book is a collection of short stories that are meant to be read consecutively. It chronicled Ah Leong's life in stories as he went through his life, some of which are funny, sad, happy etc. There's a feeling of inevitability in it. The divisive nature of education there. The judgmental quality of the people and the system. The middle-class drama unfolding everyday. The bus-taking, love-sick couples. I don't know about the depiction of the people's attitude to sex though.
The award winning stories are very fresh, especially if you remember that they were written in the 1980's. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Singapore.
June 7, 2021
I don't remember where I bought this but I think it was from when I was in secondary school a few years back.
Some of the stories were endearing, but I don't think I'm the target demographic for this book. Maybe if I were older or experienced life in the 80s, I would have enjoyed this more. It's not something that I would pick up again since it's not the type of stories or writing style I would gravitate towards. However, I can see maybe an older person enjoying this, perhaps one who grew up in Singapore during the 80s.
Some of the stories were endearing, but I don't think I'm the target demographic for this book. Maybe if I were older or experienced life in the 80s, I would have enjoyed this more. It's not something that I would pick up again since it's not the type of stories or writing style I would gravitate towards. However, I can see maybe an older person enjoying this, perhaps one who grew up in Singapore during the 80s.
July 27, 2019
The slice of life style was great. Bite-sized stories of growing up in a radical time in Singapore's history. Quite enjoyed it
February 13, 2013
I picked this book off the HSSM Library shelf because I was dying to understand more of the culture I'm immersing myself in, at least for the next three and a half years. And even though the author is not a Chinese Singaporean (he has Sri Lankan and English descent in his blood), he portrayed the life quite accurately. Or at least I think so. It explains a lot of actions going around me.
This book is a collection of short stories that are meant to be read consecutively. It chronicled Ah Leong's life in stories as he went through his life, some of which are funny, sad, happy etc. There's a feeling of inevitability in it. The divisive nature of education there. The judgmental quality of the people and the system. The middle-class drama unfolding everyday. The bus-taking, love-sick couples. I don't know about the depiction of the people's attitude to sex though.
The award winning stories are very fresh, especially if you remember that they were written in the 1980's. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Singapore.
This book is a collection of short stories that are meant to be read consecutively. It chronicled Ah Leong's life in stories as he went through his life, some of which are funny, sad, happy etc. There's a feeling of inevitability in it. The divisive nature of education there. The judgmental quality of the people and the system. The middle-class drama unfolding everyday. The bus-taking, love-sick couples. I don't know about the depiction of the people's attitude to sex though.
The award winning stories are very fresh, especially if you remember that they were written in the 1980's. Highly recommended for anyone interested in Singapore.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews