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The Orchid Folios
A pot shatters. An arrangement falls apart. A florist finds herself amidst the scattered leaves of history. At once a poetry collection and a documentary novella, The Orchid Folios reimagines the orchid as a living, breathing document of history: a history that enmeshes the personal, colonial, linguistic, and biotechnological with the Vanda Miss Joaquim, the symbol of Singapore’s postcolonial hybridity. While the Orchid has shaped the fantastical narratives that govern our multiracial City in a Garden, it continues to shape-shift and bloom on its own terms, challenging us to imagine a decolonised Singapore. This is the organism at the heart of The Orchid Folios—by turns stark and unruly, documenting and challenging the narratives that are the roots of our national consciousness.
144 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 10, 2020
The Orchid Folios is a unique experience for me in #singlit. It's a collection of poetry, snippets of historic articles, speeches, and letters, put together lovingly by Mok Zining. On her bio it states that she is obsessed with orchids - I can't imagine a better way to put it.
It was ethereal and vulnerable. I found myself surprisingly moved by her descriptions of the way she took care of her orchids, and her relationship with them, and in turn, her mother.
I love the tongue-in-cheek essay questions about Singapore's political history. It's so quintessentially Singaporean. Everyone who went through the MOE system will remember these current affairs, history, or political essay questions that you have to prepare for. They are often state narratives written with a single accepted answer in mind. Mok turns that around by introducing alternate histories using the same pointed questions. It's so gently sardonic I love it.
One thing that jarred (but surprisingly, in a rather nice way) was the political commentary alongside her personal musings about her relationship with herself and her mother. The only thing they have in common is that they are tied to the orchid. In someway this feels like a diary and scrap book. I'd classify this (hah) as a stream of consciousness piece.
Even so, it was very well done. There was a lot of parallel symbolism comparing the growth of the orchid to the growth of colonial and post-colonial Singapore. You have to snip off weighty bits of the orchid for it to flower. The history of the discovery, classification, and growth of international status of the orchid also parallels that of Singapore. But the nation is not a flower. She included a list of orchid varieties we have named after celebrities and politicians. How does that reflect our nation's relationship with these people? Mok doesn't tell, she guides you to reflect.
Many thanks to Ethos for the ARC! You can preorder this book now at bit.ly/theorchidfolios
It was ethereal and vulnerable. I found myself surprisingly moved by her descriptions of the way she took care of her orchids, and her relationship with them, and in turn, her mother.
I love the tongue-in-cheek essay questions about Singapore's political history. It's so quintessentially Singaporean. Everyone who went through the MOE system will remember these current affairs, history, or political essay questions that you have to prepare for. They are often state narratives written with a single accepted answer in mind. Mok turns that around by introducing alternate histories using the same pointed questions. It's so gently sardonic I love it.
One thing that jarred (but surprisingly, in a rather nice way) was the political commentary alongside her personal musings about her relationship with herself and her mother. The only thing they have in common is that they are tied to the orchid. In someway this feels like a diary and scrap book. I'd classify this (hah) as a stream of consciousness piece.
Even so, it was very well done. There was a lot of parallel symbolism comparing the growth of the orchid to the growth of colonial and post-colonial Singapore. You have to snip off weighty bits of the orchid for it to flower. The history of the discovery, classification, and growth of international status of the orchid also parallels that of Singapore. But the nation is not a flower. She included a list of orchid varieties we have named after celebrities and politicians. How does that reflect our nation's relationship with these people? Mok doesn't tell, she guides you to reflect.
Many thanks to Ethos for the ARC! You can preorder this book now at bit.ly/theorchidfolios
October 5, 2020
The Orchid Folios is a collection of poetry by Singaporean writer Mok Zining that both documents the course of Singapore's development, and challenges us to rethink our history.
In Mok’s inspired, ingenious hands, the orchid—specifically, the Vanda Miss Joaquim, Singapore's national flower—becomes a living symbol of Singapore's evolution. And as a flower blooms on its own terms, so has postcolonial Singapore continued to grow and develop. So how much should our country continue to be shaped by its colonial roots? And how much of our colonial history is as beneficial as it's made out to be, anyway?
This book - an amalgamation of poetry, official documents and political excerpts, and personal prose - is unlike anything I've ever read. I loved the linkage of horticulture to Singapore's history, how Mok likens it to the way it has been meticulously shaped and trimmed, resulting in its subsequent bloom. She reflects on how Singapore has carefully pruned and cultivated itself by cutting off unwanted facets of its history, and only preserving what it determines beneficial to its growth—
Singapore’s precolonial Malay roots: 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱. Our “founder" Sir Stamford Raffles's plan to segregate the different races, and esteem Europeans over native, non-Europeans: 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱. The true extent of our multiracial society, comprising of numerous other races besides the main 4 Singapore has chosen to focus on: 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱, 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱, 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱.
I found this book a rather elusive, open read; Mok doesn't declare - she suggests, alludes to, contemplates. I thought about her reference to flower cuttings and their ability to grow roots and bloom on their own, and their relation to Singapore’s carefully pruned history—how, despite efforts to erase the ‘pernicious’ parts of our past, these “cuttings” have grown roots of their own, and continue to resurface in our political discourse today. That’s what stood out to me, but someone else could pick out something entirely different. Another reason why I enjoyed this book so much!
A huge thanks to Ethos for the ARC! You can preorder this book now at bit.ly/theorchidfolios ♥️🌺
In Mok’s inspired, ingenious hands, the orchid—specifically, the Vanda Miss Joaquim, Singapore's national flower—becomes a living symbol of Singapore's evolution. And as a flower blooms on its own terms, so has postcolonial Singapore continued to grow and develop. So how much should our country continue to be shaped by its colonial roots? And how much of our colonial history is as beneficial as it's made out to be, anyway?
This book - an amalgamation of poetry, official documents and political excerpts, and personal prose - is unlike anything I've ever read. I loved the linkage of horticulture to Singapore's history, how Mok likens it to the way it has been meticulously shaped and trimmed, resulting in its subsequent bloom. She reflects on how Singapore has carefully pruned and cultivated itself by cutting off unwanted facets of its history, and only preserving what it determines beneficial to its growth—
Singapore’s precolonial Malay roots: 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱. Our “founder" Sir Stamford Raffles's plan to segregate the different races, and esteem Europeans over native, non-Europeans: 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱. The true extent of our multiracial society, comprising of numerous other races besides the main 4 Singapore has chosen to focus on: 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱, 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱, 𝘴𝘯𝘪𝘱.
I found this book a rather elusive, open read; Mok doesn't declare - she suggests, alludes to, contemplates. I thought about her reference to flower cuttings and their ability to grow roots and bloom on their own, and their relation to Singapore’s carefully pruned history—how, despite efforts to erase the ‘pernicious’ parts of our past, these “cuttings” have grown roots of their own, and continue to resurface in our political discourse today. That’s what stood out to me, but someone else could pick out something entirely different. Another reason why I enjoyed this book so much!
A huge thanks to Ethos for the ARC! You can preorder this book now at bit.ly/theorchidfolios ♥️🌺
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April 30, 2022my reading of this is hopelessly inflected by the orchid thief : this is not a review so much as a critique of the potentials of such a project that remain unfulfilled (in my opinion). metaphors of botany are good and all, but i think there is so much epistemological potential of the orchid (their hybridity, etc.) that could be more potently explored/mapped onto singapore.
the darker history of the orchid, as a resource that the us/britain plundered southeast asia for, razing patches of forest of the ground to, is something that I feel is conspicuously amiss from this book, unfortunately. the orchid folios gestures and gestulates in lots of directions, but is always vague in its overall thesis of anti or post colonial rehabilitation, implying but never saying outright
the darker history of the orchid, as a resource that the us/britain plundered southeast asia for, razing patches of forest of the ground to, is something that I feel is conspicuously amiss from this book, unfortunately. the orchid folios gestures and gestulates in lots of directions, but is always vague in its overall thesis of anti or post colonial rehabilitation, implying but never saying outright
November 6, 2020
i really love how beautiful & charming this book is - enjoyed the lyric poems & knowing more about the history of orchids in such an interesting format.
Read
December 18, 2022read this in a sick and smoggy haze fighting nausea on my first plane flight in three years. that is probably part of the reason why my currently standing impression of this collection isn’t as dazzling as i thought it would’ve been. i’m a sucker for linguistics horticulture jargon meditations on singapore’s history (the tatters of it) and its state of colonial hangover but somehow during my reading these pieces unfortunately did not click for me. i feel like this collection touches on a myriad of things in a way that’s light as a flutter, which is not a bad thing in and of itself but connections between said things feel … quite tenuous in a slightly jarring way. in short i feel like i didn’t really… /feel/ much when reading this; i didn’t really feel like there was something going on beneath the surface of the text that i could discern and put my fingers into to try and figure out; something sweet and thick and heady like the name orchid suggests
though thats just stereotype. and on the whole this is just what /i/ think. writers write for themselves!! and if writing this collection, putting together these politics and botanicals and memories of a mother and whatnot was catharsis for the author then i am no one to fault its publishing. that is the sort of final thought i’ll settle on for this first review i think. anyway. maybe my not so complimentary thoughts here are tinted by my own misgivings towards singapore and what it means to stay n live here. singapore’s gravity making something sick sink down my throat while reading even with the aeroplane‘s ascent. singapore and its roots thorns
definitely warrants a reread sometime and i hope i will be able do so in a more lucid and discerning way, hopefully in botanic gardens on a warm sunny day
though thats just stereotype. and on the whole this is just what /i/ think. writers write for themselves!! and if writing this collection, putting together these politics and botanicals and memories of a mother and whatnot was catharsis for the author then i am no one to fault its publishing. that is the sort of final thought i’ll settle on for this first review i think. anyway. maybe my not so complimentary thoughts here are tinted by my own misgivings towards singapore and what it means to stay n live here. singapore’s gravity making something sick sink down my throat while reading even with the aeroplane‘s ascent. singapore and its roots thorns
definitely warrants a reread sometime and i hope i will be able do so in a more lucid and discerning way, hopefully in botanic gardens on a warm sunny day
May 22, 2021
It is rare that I come across Singlit that articulates Singapore through a unique perspective. In this book, Mok pieces together an arrangement of prose, poetry, documents and examinations to reflect the pertinent question of what it means to be Singaporean when our history is short and perpetually changing.
#theorchidfolios references many local speeches that I’ve become familiar with in my years of studying local theatre and politics. That context made it particularly easy for me to identify the author’s approach, and I imagine it would be most thought provoking for those who have had little interaction with politics to take a closer look into the ways in which our nation has been articulated and built.
That being said, some commentary felt a little contrived for my liking, since I was able to grasp the author’s intention from an early point. On the whole, I would’ve personally resonated more with a subtler approach, so that the text might feel less didactic. I must say, however, that those instances were a minority, and the strength of ‘The Orchid Folios’ is undoubtedly in the metaphor of the orchid that is deconstructed and assembled across the book. I especially loved the sections titled “Lesson on Cuttings: Trimming Unnecessary Affixes” – an artful look into what is lost when we try to compress and rewrite our narrative.
I’m rating this text a 3/5 and recommend it to those who are interested in delving into a fresh perspective of Singapore.
#theorchidfolios references many local speeches that I’ve become familiar with in my years of studying local theatre and politics. That context made it particularly easy for me to identify the author’s approach, and I imagine it would be most thought provoking for those who have had little interaction with politics to take a closer look into the ways in which our nation has been articulated and built.
That being said, some commentary felt a little contrived for my liking, since I was able to grasp the author’s intention from an early point. On the whole, I would’ve personally resonated more with a subtler approach, so that the text might feel less didactic. I must say, however, that those instances were a minority, and the strength of ‘The Orchid Folios’ is undoubtedly in the metaphor of the orchid that is deconstructed and assembled across the book. I especially loved the sections titled “Lesson on Cuttings: Trimming Unnecessary Affixes” – an artful look into what is lost when we try to compress and rewrite our narrative.
I’m rating this text a 3/5 and recommend it to those who are interested in delving into a fresh perspective of Singapore.
February 23, 2024
There’s a certain charm to reading a collection of local works scattered with questions the authors asked along the way. The author tries to use the orchid as a metaphor to demonstrate a certain viewpoint on how Singapore social studies is taught; and at various points links it back to her personal life.
It gives me joy to see disses at raffles and pointing out the influences on our education even way back. The nice scribblings on the side definitely are amusing to read, and the SBQ style of positing the question in a contrived way that signposting you to think a certain way; that’s amazing critique of our education system. I wish it went further with the orchid metaphor; especially on how we hybridises it for different celebrities.
It won’t do much to teach what you don’t already know but it’s a nice read for those who might not know much about Singapore history and interested to learn at least one new aspect about it not touted in mainstream education.
Fair warning: I got this book after attending a library workshop promoting this; and got a lot of background information + a much more detailed understanding on the history of orchids in Singapore (and around the world) + how to grow/hybridised orchids (and their difficulties). It also gives a certain perspective on how the author views her place and her feelings regarding orchids that contextualises stylistic choices, and being local, my review is (IMO) pretty biased and YMMV.
It gives me joy to see disses at raffles and pointing out the influences on our education even way back. The nice scribblings on the side definitely are amusing to read, and the SBQ style of positing the question in a contrived way that signposting you to think a certain way; that’s amazing critique of our education system. I wish it went further with the orchid metaphor; especially on how we hybridises it for different celebrities.
It won’t do much to teach what you don’t already know but it’s a nice read for those who might not know much about Singapore history and interested to learn at least one new aspect about it not touted in mainstream education.
Fair warning: I got this book after attending a library workshop promoting this; and got a lot of background information + a much more detailed understanding on the history of orchids in Singapore (and around the world) + how to grow/hybridised orchids (and their difficulties). It also gives a certain perspective on how the author views her place and her feelings regarding orchids that contextualises stylistic choices, and being local, my review is (IMO) pretty biased and YMMV.
January 10, 2021
3.5 stars
Definitely an interesting book. The author collects the history and myths surrounding Singapore's national flower, and Singapore itself. The messages she wants us to take away from both the stories are delivered subtly and lyrically.
One of the most interesting things about the book was its format(s). There are poems, short essays, historical clippings, advertisements which I truly cannot tell are real or not, and history essay writing questions (??) that the author leaves mock annotations on. A lot of it was remarkably clever and I was smiling throughout as I was reading them.
The core history/message/theme was also interesting, but not unique. Rather, it felt that the book was written in conversation with a lot of other recent publications as well as online conversations about Singaporean history (especially around the Bicentennial celebrations). But then, it did not need to be absolutely unique either, particularly when the format of the writing was so refreshingly novel.
Overall, a remarkable debut. Can't wait to see what the author gets obsessed with next!
Definitely an interesting book. The author collects the history and myths surrounding Singapore's national flower, and Singapore itself. The messages she wants us to take away from both the stories are delivered subtly and lyrically.
One of the most interesting things about the book was its format(s). There are poems, short essays, historical clippings, advertisements which I truly cannot tell are real or not, and history essay writing questions (??) that the author leaves mock annotations on. A lot of it was remarkably clever and I was smiling throughout as I was reading them.
The core history/message/theme was also interesting, but not unique. Rather, it felt that the book was written in conversation with a lot of other recent publications as well as online conversations about Singaporean history (especially around the Bicentennial celebrations). But then, it did not need to be absolutely unique either, particularly when the format of the writing was so refreshingly novel.
Overall, a remarkable debut. Can't wait to see what the author gets obsessed with next!
November 26, 2023
I thought that this was quite the stunning debut collection by Mok. I am no flower aficionado, much less orchids. But Mok's creative and experimental usage of poetry forms made the subject matter appealing and engrossing to read. I also thought it was quite interesting how this collection is also a documentary novella, as she inserts multiple historical records and speeches, and adds her own annotations on top of them. I enjoyed her attempt at engaging with such a wide range of themes, such as decolonisation, imperialism, grief, loss, censorship and etc. My favourites were the "Lesson on Cuttings: Trimming Unnecessary Affixes" and "Exemplary Arrangement" segments.
I do wish she explored more of her relationship with her mother! The bits that she dedicated to her mother were heartfelt and my heart broke for her when I read about her passing. It was nonetheless fascinating how after the page on the mother's death, the subsequent pages featured orchid tendrils and black pages, a very unique and creative visual depiction of her grief.
Highly recommend this for people looking for a quick but interesting dive into Singapore's decolonised history through the unique lens of Singapore's national flower!
I do wish she explored more of her relationship with her mother! The bits that she dedicated to her mother were heartfelt and my heart broke for her when I read about her passing. It was nonetheless fascinating how after the page on the mother's death, the subsequent pages featured orchid tendrils and black pages, a very unique and creative visual depiction of her grief.
Highly recommend this for people looking for a quick but interesting dive into Singapore's decolonised history through the unique lens of Singapore's national flower!
April 14, 2024
Picked this book up after a talk at NLB on writing & orchids - my favourite bit about this text was how easily it juxtaposes beauty (orchids) and violence (to clip, to cut, to sever, to plunge).
It was also nice to have the orchid, for me at least, taken down from its pedestal of commodity and tourist icon à la the Vanda Miss Joaquim, and regarded more fully. I also really enjoyed the metaphor of a word as a cutting, and of life as foliage. (I've tried to reproduce some text here but the formatting is wonky - sorry! Have at it anyway.)
a sentence,
a bouquet. when
the inflorescence
wilts,
scatter
cuttings in
a tub of water,
allow words
to float as
(.........)
But I do find the woven-in critique of (post-)colonial S'pore and its capitalist assemblages a little tired, if staid - only 'cos it seems to have been done so many times before. I'd be interested in a reading of orchids sans that singular narrative to refer back to and depart from.
It was also nice to have the orchid, for me at least, taken down from its pedestal of commodity and tourist icon à la the Vanda Miss Joaquim, and regarded more fully. I also really enjoyed the metaphor of a word as a cutting, and of life as foliage. (I've tried to reproduce some text here but the formatting is wonky - sorry! Have at it anyway.)
a sentence,
a bouquet. when
the inflorescence
wilts,
scatter
cuttings in
a tub of water,
allow words
to float as
(.........)
But I do find the woven-in critique of (post-)colonial S'pore and its capitalist assemblages a little tired, if staid - only 'cos it seems to have been done so many times before. I'd be interested in a reading of orchids sans that singular narrative to refer back to and depart from.
October 6, 2023
Imagine a single flower could tell the story of a nation's identity, from its colonial past to its postcolonial present... Yes, it's orchid in Singapore.
Analogous to the orchid hybridisation, this book merges art and science: poetry, historic snippets, speeches, and personal reflections. The fusion compels to reevaluate Singapore's narrative by drawing parallels between the cultivation of orchids and the nation's trajectory.
Just as orchids require careful pruning and nurturing for growth, Singapore's story is shaped by its colonial past. But here lies the real question: How much of Singapore's "modern" identity is still influenced by that colonial shadow?
At its heart, Singapore isn't just a single blossom; it's a vibrant garden with countless colors and fragrances. However, these blooms don't always benefit everyone equally, more often than not, mostly to majority ethnicity, capitalism, or neocolonialism.
Analogous to the orchid hybridisation, this book merges art and science: poetry, historic snippets, speeches, and personal reflections. The fusion compels to reevaluate Singapore's narrative by drawing parallels between the cultivation of orchids and the nation's trajectory.
Just as orchids require careful pruning and nurturing for growth, Singapore's story is shaped by its colonial past. But here lies the real question: How much of Singapore's "modern" identity is still influenced by that colonial shadow?
At its heart, Singapore isn't just a single blossom; it's a vibrant garden with countless colors and fragrances. However, these blooms don't always benefit everyone equally, more often than not, mostly to majority ethnicity, capitalism, or neocolonialism.
December 8, 2020
I really liked the seed of the idea behind this book - uncovering the hidden history behind Singapore’s national flower and using it as an entry-point to unravel other aspects of the country’s politics and history. There was also an intensely personal aspect to the collection of short essays, poetic verse and vignettes that I think will appeal to a wide range of readers. The prose is evocative, the content revealing. But I think in the end, this book suffers from timidity. The narrative device of secondary school-like ‘background and discussions’ was limiting - it seemed like the author was clearly trying to say things without actually saying them. Even the scribbles at the sides of the paragraphs (which I liked) died out after the first few sections. In short, worth a read but also worth thinking beyond.
December 30, 2020
This is so unlike anything I've read (and in a spectacular way!)
The Orchid Folios is equal parts a poetry collection as well as a a clever documentation that questions the main narrative behind Singapore's national flower, the Orchid (or more specifically, Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim). Zining uses the Orchid inventively to also reflect and ponder over Singapore's own colonial past and the questions we need to ask about its history and politics.
All in all, I adored how Mok Zining tied in so many different elements - ranging from historical accounts of speeches and texts, instructions, guidebooks, evocative and at times deeply personal poetry, memories of her relationship with her mother and even sardonic GCSE type essay questions and talking points.
I did feel that she could have pushed a little deeper, been a little bolder but perhaps it is a book that is meant to leave you with more questions than answers.
The Orchid Folios is equal parts a poetry collection as well as a a clever documentation that questions the main narrative behind Singapore's national flower, the Orchid (or more specifically, Papilionanthe Miss Joaquim). Zining uses the Orchid inventively to also reflect and ponder over Singapore's own colonial past and the questions we need to ask about its history and politics.
All in all, I adored how Mok Zining tied in so many different elements - ranging from historical accounts of speeches and texts, instructions, guidebooks, evocative and at times deeply personal poetry, memories of her relationship with her mother and even sardonic GCSE type essay questions and talking points.
I did feel that she could have pushed a little deeper, been a little bolder but perhaps it is a book that is meant to leave you with more questions than answers.
January 18, 2021
3.5 stars* Mok's collection oscillates between poetry and prose - she recounts fond memories with her mother, and makes a valiant attempt to critically interrogate the ways in which colonization has shaped the way we view our nation's narrative. I especially enjoyed the prose poems, though I would have liked to learn more about the speaker's relationship with her mother. My only suggestion would be to strengthen the thematic connection between colonization and the speaker's anecdotes.
"I see so many potted orchids discarded in the corridor of flats - some have root rot, but most have roots, still green and plump, draping in tangles. People seem to think that, just because its stems are bare, the orchid is dead. Often it is simply dormant, preparing quietly for the next boom." (107).
"I see so many potted orchids discarded in the corridor of flats - some have root rot, but most have roots, still green and plump, draping in tangles. People seem to think that, just because its stems are bare, the orchid is dead. Often it is simply dormant, preparing quietly for the next boom." (107).
October 28, 2020
Both hybrid and arrangement, The Orchid Folios is an elegant collection consisting of select ‘cuttings’ of texts that speak to and with one another. Mok ambitiously intersperses excerpts from historical texts (playfully edited and/or redacted) with instructions, stories, poems, essay questions (think SBQ) and even advertisements. As you progress through the pages, these disparate threads gradually unfold and bloom, leaving you with the sense of holding a bouquet of a book. I found this read delightfully intertextual and experimental.
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April 18, 2022mok's rerum vulgarium fragmenta
some of the poems were too enjambed for my liking; this is purely subjective, like i get the importance of the "just after" (Wallace Stevens), or the concept of liu bai in Chinese ink painting, but i like my poems with more meat on their bones
in any case, what a fresh, inspired debut collection this is, worthy of many singaporeans' attention
i'm excited to see what mok does next
some of the poems were too enjambed for my liking; this is purely subjective, like i get the importance of the "just after" (Wallace Stevens), or the concept of liu bai in Chinese ink painting, but i like my poems with more meat on their bones
in any case, what a fresh, inspired debut collection this is, worthy of many singaporeans' attention
i'm excited to see what mok does next
March 7, 2023
This was a short read - but not a simple one. The complexities confused me, at first, I wasn’t a fan. I felt dazed and lost - orchids?? Why orchids?? But as I spent more time with this book I could feel the pain of the nation of Singapore and the author, Mok. She looks into the creation and building of Singapore by their “founders” and how that has impacted their people in a really beautiful way. Poignant and strong themes through gentle words, poetry, and accounts of history.
February 19, 2024
Inspiring! Read this immediately after attending a panel by NLB, with the author present as well! As a Singaporean and a landscape student, I've made many personal connections with the written work and it will continue to inspire me as I further my career as a Singaporean gardener hahaha. I'm not fond of poetry books at all and this is one I now hold dear!
September 22, 2025
This was a short 115-page book that's written in the form of short prose, poems, and even social study questions [with marks]. There were coloured pictures in it as well! I liked how it used our national flower to explore Singapore's colonial and current identity. Liked that I learnt a few new facts. Wished it was longer!
July 26, 2026
it was a moving collection of poetry assembled like a carefully crafted cuttings of orchids, woven into the colonial past of Singapore, documenting the act of forgetting, reforgetting, and assimilating that follows the post-colonial trajectory, intimately composed through the perspective of an ordinary florist living and growing in this city
May 3, 2025
The author did a great job showing us how awesome her mother is. I also really enjoyed the stylistic choices made in this book, though some of the word choices were baffling. I'm interested to see what she creates next.
February 20, 2021
It is meaningful and insightful and creative, but it’s really not my kind of books :’)
August 11, 2021
Amazing collection! I really adored this. I felt such a strong connection with the work. The author is incredibly candid and open in this work
October 30, 2021
Amazing.
January 8, 2022
It was not simply a book, it was a journey.
January 4, 2023
Rep: Singaporean cast & setting
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February 20, 2023innovative format & an enjoyable read! more later.
March 6, 2023
Interesting! Rasanya kayak baca puisi di sela-sela arsip dan soal ujian.
March 16, 2024
A Singlit must-read!
March 16, 2025
A little preachy at times, a perfect imitation of the textbook and examination paper.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews