Balik Kampung (Stories of Connection/Disconnection with Different Parts of Singapore) - Edited by Verena Tay

Book Summary: Eight established and upcoming writers. Eight experiences of living in different parts of Singapore for at least ten years. Eight tales written based on those impressions of life. Welcome to the world of Balik Kampung where we invite you to read our stories, return in your imagination to the village that you call ‘home’ and explore your sense of who you truly are.

My thoughts: This book immediately caught my eye simply because of the title - 'balik kampung'. This is a Malay phrase that is loosely translated as returning ('balik') to one's village/home ('kampung'). Having recently moved to Singapore, I wanted to learn about what this particular phrase meant within in a context with so many exceptions and extremities. From the skyscrapers to the colorful shopfronts, the little nooks within neighborhoods, I was always perplexed by the sheer contrasts within such a fast-paced city, intrigued by what stories lie behind them. There's a certain charm hidden within the kampungs, and this book ultimately provides that door inward.

The novel has an overall atmosphere of nostalgia, a yesteryear where the newfound independence saw a rapid change in buildings and overall landscape, some of which to the dismay of some story writers within the novel. With the destruction of old buildings and cultural practice came a sense of duty to look inward, to retain traditions and customs that have been around for decades.

Whilst there were eight stories within the book in total, three of them particularly stood out to me:

• 'Seven Views of Redhill' by Dora Tan
• 'Beginnings' by Wong Shu Yun
• 'The Flowering Tree' by Rosemarie Somaiah 

I enjoyed these three specifically because of their ability to describe Singapore during it's hay-day, drawing from their own personal experiences within that area. At the end of each story, there is a short explanation of the author's connection to that area, and it's interesting start drawing conclusions in which part of the story is fiction and reality. 

A sense of place, and ultimately sense of self is ever changing, especially when one's sense of self is ultimately connected to the very place where they grew up, and that very place is changing before their eyes. This collection of stories will evoke the reader to rethink Singapore and reminisce on its past that forms part of its citizens today. Not only has it made me rethink Singapore, but also about where my kampung is - is it Australia or Indonesia? Or is it Serbia? Who knows, but I definitely know that this is a great choice for those who want to get to know Singapore better.