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Heartland
Hailed as “the definitive Singaporean novel”, this new edition of Heartland is accompanied by a new preface by author Daren Shiau and a publisher’s foreword that contextualises the novel’s imprint on the Singapore literary landscape since its first publication in 1999.
An iconic work, Heartland explores the paradox of rootedness and rootlessness in fast-changing Singapore. Set in the early 1990s, the novel follows the years of Wing Seng as he leaves school and is conscripted into full-time National Service. As Wing tries to reconcile his past with his future amid transitions through different phases of life, he finds meaning in his intense attachment to his surrounding landscape. Yet, as relationships and the years slip by, Wing is forced to question his own certainties and the wisdom of the people he values.
Set in Singapore’s heartland at the turn of the century, Heartland’s capturing of the texture of everyday life provides the backdrop essential to the bildungsroman’s exploration of identity, belonging and connection in an increasingly urbanised Singapore.
An iconic work, Heartland explores the paradox of rootedness and rootlessness in fast-changing Singapore. Set in the early 1990s, the novel follows the years of Wing Seng as he leaves school and is conscripted into full-time National Service. As Wing tries to reconcile his past with his future amid transitions through different phases of life, he finds meaning in his intense attachment to his surrounding landscape. Yet, as relationships and the years slip by, Wing is forced to question his own certainties and the wisdom of the people he values.
Set in Singapore’s heartland at the turn of the century, Heartland’s capturing of the texture of everyday life provides the backdrop essential to the bildungsroman’s exploration of identity, belonging and connection in an increasingly urbanised Singapore.
276 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 23, 2021
Heartland by Daren Shiau has one of the most relatable protagonists I’ve ever read in my life — largely due to the age and life stage of the protagonist.
In it, we see Wing Seng as he leaves Junior College and gets conscripted into full-time National Service. On the threshold of adulthood, as he grows out of a boy and starts to become a man, Wing Seng grapples with questions of identity and root(ed/less)ness in an ever-evolving land.
Set in the familiar heartlands of Singapore, this novel is like a love letter to Singapore in all its authenticity, depicting life here in the early 1990s. There is nostalgia. There is vernacular. There is an uncertainty of a nation not yet fully grounded in its history.
Meaningful and wistful, this is a story that captures echoes of a past lost forever to memories.
4/5
In it, we see Wing Seng as he leaves Junior College and gets conscripted into full-time National Service. On the threshold of adulthood, as he grows out of a boy and starts to become a man, Wing Seng grapples with questions of identity and root(ed/less)ness in an ever-evolving land.
Set in the familiar heartlands of Singapore, this novel is like a love letter to Singapore in all its authenticity, depicting life here in the early 1990s. There is nostalgia. There is vernacular. There is an uncertainty of a nation not yet fully grounded in its history.
Meaningful and wistful, this is a story that captures echoes of a past lost forever to memories.
4/5
January 10, 2024
A sensitive, very earnest coming-of-age story about a boy's time in JC and NS. It's "HDBcore", a term the author himself acknowledges in the introduction. The thoughts and feelings of the main character aren't exactly groundbreaking but are still poignant due to their sincerity, and definitely relatable. Those stray little reflections you have while looking around at the people and places that surround you.
The book clearly cares about its characters - most of them ostensibly drawn from real life. While we mostly read about Wing, we also get nice little snippets following the other characters from time to time. But, having made the choice to include these passages, the book also feels a bit underwhelming at points where these other characters are not then satisfyingly developed. For example, an emotional encounter with a neighbour's maid in Part I seems to be setting something up, but she's only mentioned two more times later in the novel, and her sideplot feels hastily resolved.
I'm also not fully sure that Part III was a satisfying conclusion to the book. While Parts I and II have a mundane, meandering feel that I enjoyed, Part III features some sad or unexpected events that, once again, don't always feel properly developed.
Still, this was an enjoyable and immersive read. Wing is just some guy who finds comfort in his neighbourhood, cares for his mother, tries his best to find love and keep his friends... I'm not asking more of him, okay? Because then I would be asking more of myself.
The book clearly cares about its characters - most of them ostensibly drawn from real life. While we mostly read about Wing, we also get nice little snippets following the other characters from time to time. But, having made the choice to include these passages, the book also feels a bit underwhelming at points where these other characters are not then satisfyingly developed. For example, an emotional encounter with a neighbour's maid in Part I seems to be setting something up, but she's only mentioned two more times later in the novel, and her sideplot feels hastily resolved.
I'm also not fully sure that Part III was a satisfying conclusion to the book. While Parts I and II have a mundane, meandering feel that I enjoyed, Part III features some sad or unexpected events that, once again, don't always feel properly developed.
Still, this was an enjoyable and immersive read. Wing is just some guy who finds comfort in his neighbourhood, cares for his mother, tries his best to find love and keep his friends... I'm not asking more of him, okay? Because then I would be asking more of myself.
February 20, 2023
When Lonely Planet rated this "the definitive Singaporean novel", they weren't kidding. I feel like I just watched a typical 2000s Channel 5 drama but in book form. Featuring Sang Nila Utama, cringey teenage drama, NS, and of course who could forget, racism. Rated should have moved to Malacca.
January 3, 2025
I deducted one star for the ending. It doesn’t feel like it gives closure.
Wing grows up - although it’s not explicitly mentioned, he’s probably from Raffles JC (top junior college in Singapore). We follow his school time romance, there are small segues with his acquaintances (what’s the point of the Eugene POV chapter?), and his journey into National Service. He doesn’t do well for his A levels - so there’s a looming question of further studies which goes unanswered at the ending.
What is great is the writing. The prose was pretty and full of quotable lines - “History always held a fascinating for Wing. The study of past events always gave one an odd assurance. It gave everyone a chance at immortality. Yet, one had to be exceptional in one’s society. The millions of factory workers and clerks and managers and lesser leaders just faded into oblivion in one generation.”
I also liked the class differences - Wing isn’t well off. He dates Chloe, whose father is rich. He dates May, whose family is much poorer. But Wing’s educational background gives him a different outlook than May and her friends - which in turn causes its own difficulties.
It was a bit strange to read about people calling home phones and not being able to reach each other - this is before the turn of the century though, so I liked that difference.
I liked how Singaporean it is.
Wing grows up - although it’s not explicitly mentioned, he’s probably from Raffles JC (top junior college in Singapore). We follow his school time romance, there are small segues with his acquaintances (what’s the point of the Eugene POV chapter?), and his journey into National Service. He doesn’t do well for his A levels - so there’s a looming question of further studies which goes unanswered at the ending.
What is great is the writing. The prose was pretty and full of quotable lines - “History always held a fascinating for Wing. The study of past events always gave one an odd assurance. It gave everyone a chance at immortality. Yet, one had to be exceptional in one’s society. The millions of factory workers and clerks and managers and lesser leaders just faded into oblivion in one generation.”
I also liked the class differences - Wing isn’t well off. He dates Chloe, whose father is rich. He dates May, whose family is much poorer. But Wing’s educational background gives him a different outlook than May and her friends - which in turn causes its own difficulties.
It was a bit strange to read about people calling home phones and not being able to reach each other - this is before the turn of the century though, so I liked that difference.
I liked how Singaporean it is.
March 12, 2025
Mooi boek en tegelijkertijd heb ik geen idee wat ik nu eigenlijk gelezen heb. Heel veel introspectie, soms mooi vaag, soms té vaag (het einde, hoe dan?) maar echt geen spijt dat ik het gelezen heb.
April 4, 2022
a book that reminds me about my time in RI. that’s why it resonated with me, but i’m not sure if it would with everyone. some chapters were a bit dreamy and random - it didn’t fit in a seamless flow with the rest of the novel - but that’s possibly the point. dreamy yet practical storyline.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews