by Calista Chong (18A01A), Grace Lau (18S03I), Sheryl Gwee (18A01D)
with guest contributions by Harshini Rayasam (18S06B), Sun Shuwei (18A01E) from Writer’s Guild
This year, Raffles Reviews is honoured to receive books and support from the Literature-loving folks over at Singapore’s beloved local bookstore, BooksActually!
We thought we couldn’t be happier receiving books from our favourite independent bookstore until the folks from Writer’s Guild – RI’s very own club for all things Lit –agreed to contribute to these monthly reviews.
In this joint effort to promote Singaporean Literature, we have reviewed three local books from BooksActually, and our Guild collaborators have recommended a SingLit Pick of the Month for our beloved readers.
Rain Tree – Mahita Vas
Mahita Vas’ debut novel Rain Tree follows the journey of Ani, a spirited sixteen-year-old from Malaya as she is coerced into an arranged marriage with her uncle. Arriving in Singapore with her new husband, Ani must abandon her dreams of becoming a teacher to work as a servant in the colonial house — Rain Tree — where he is employed.
Bang My Car – Ann Ang
“One experiences a range of stories that freely embraces the language, without calling attention to it. Simply by surrounding us with its presence, Ang has made it become practically invisible.”
Dave Chua, on Bang My Car
Diving into the plot with a seemingly innocuous collision between two vehicles, Ann Ang seeks to portray the inner psyches and contradictions of Singaporeans and aptly utilises Singapore’s trademark tongue, Singlish, to accentuate her ideas.
Amongst the many short stories, ‘Fair is Fair’ and “Imaginary Geographies of the Singapore Heartland” left the deepest impression on us. The former broaches the subject of Singapore politics and elections from various relatable viewpoints, while the latter pieces together a tapestry of ground-level interpretations to explore if modern living for the average person in Singapore is defined by postmodern notion of hyperspace and liminality.
Unlike mainstream fiction plots, Bang My Car is thought-provoking and a force of contemplation. Look no further for an engaging and deeply meaningful read.
Perfection – Debbie Lee
Debbie Lee recounts her tumults and struggles with self-doubt and self-love in this honest and evocative memoir. The book shares plenty about issues otherwise regarded as taboo, such as sexual abuse and mental illness.
“Writing can actually be very therapeutic as you transfer all the painful memories to what you have learned down into a piece of paper. My writing is my voice.”
Lee treats her work as catharsis, but also as succor for those who are entangled in their own struggles, just like she once was. Perfection is a Bildungsroman meant to inspirit and inspire.
Guild’s Singlit Pick of the Week – It Never Rains on National Day
“I don’t really think of Singapore as home anymore. I don’t really know where I belong, but I like to be far away.”
Where the collection especially shines, however, is in its characterisation. Veering away from stodgy Singaporean caricatures, it presents an assortment of fresh, compelling, and quirkily complex characters.

Moreover, the stories are intertwined and contained within the same fictional universe – most stories’ protagonists make appearances in other stories, where their own narratives are challenged by other characters. Far from being off-putting, the equally flawed nature of all of these characters—from the foreign worker to the government official— conveys a sense of yearning and desire for an escape from the archetypal.
For those who want to try reading something new but aren’t ready to commit to the Dickensian novel, look no further. A very concise 185 pages, with each story taking no longer than the duration of a MRT ride to read, it is perfectly suited for the busy reader.
Jeremy Tiang’s It Never Rains on National Day is available in the Shaw Foundation Library and the Hullett Memorial Library.