There's no such thing as a skinny Bibik

With a carefully crafted, controlled and amusing plot, Sandra Chua clearly avoids too much ‘telling’, and the story unfolds fluently through the action and the characters. For example, the whole matriarchal feel of the Peranakan family is portrayed without using the word ‘matriarchal’. Even primary school children are taught to ‘show rather than tell’ in their writing but unfortunately, there is lots of ‘telling’ in Singapore literature (based on what I’ve read). Sandra Chua should therefore be congratulated for not falling into this very annoying practice.

Instead, she gives us Charlie Neo, an endearing, nuanced and unusual heroine, and her interesting mix of family and friends. All-important in a Peranakan family, there are the female elders, who have interestingly developed characters and backgrounds. This could easily turn into a melodrama of complicated family affairs with secrets dating from colonial days a la Mediacorp family drama but it does not, so well done, again, Sandra Chua! I do also detect little hints of K drama ingredients here and there, reflecting her self-professed love for it.

Like typically colourful Peranakan designs, the story combines various elements in a bright and lively combination – we have family issues, identity, culture, humour, romance, eco-crime and human trafficking!

This was a very entertaining read and the first local lit story that I enjoyed from beginning to end.

Selamat Taon Baru, all!

There’s no such thing as a skinny Bibik

by Sandra Chua

(Epigram, 2022)

Comments

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