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Solo in Singapore
Quirky, overweight and emotionally insecure Munmun Menon, a kid born of a Bohemian Bengali mother and a number-crunching Malayali father, has been dreaming of true love forever. With an expired shelf life (she is thirty!), a no-go job as a correspondent, and an unfaithful lover, she decides to make a clean break. She buys a one-way ticket to Singapore, the city where her long lost father lives, and arrives carrying a heart full of hurt and a host of dreams.
Solo in Singapore is a rip-roaring, side-splitting account of a young girl's experience in an alien land and her efforts at keeping herself buoyed in choppy waters.
Solo in Singapore is a rip-roaring, side-splitting account of a young girl's experience in an alien land and her efforts at keeping herself buoyed in choppy waters.
248 pages, Paperback
First published March 16, 2016
About the author
Tanushree Podder
66 books59 followersA BRIEF BIO
Born at New Delhi, she worked in the corporate sector for eight long years before Tanushree quit the rat race to wield her pen and found her calling.
A well know travel writer and novelist, she is also known for the hundreds of ‘Middles’ that entertained readers of almost all English dailies in the country for over a decade. Tanushree is passionate about travelling and writing. If the lady is not packing her bags to zip around the world, she is sure to be found tapping the keys of her computer.
Among her bestselling books in non- fiction genre are Death of a Dictator - The Story of
Saddam Hussein, Secrets of Happiness, The Ultimate Food for Body, Mind and Soul, The
Power of Relaxation. The book Smart Memory has also been translated into Tamil and Spanish.
She has published 15 novels till date. Nurjahan’s Daughter, Boots Belts Berets, Escape from Harem, On the Double, Solo in Singapore, I fell in love with a soldier, Cakewalk Murder, No Margin for Error, A Closetful of Skeletons, The Breath of Death, Decoding the Feronia Files, The Teenage Diary of Rani Laxmibai, The Girls in Green, Spooky Stories, An Invitation to Die, are a few novels written by her.
Boots Belts Berets and On the Double - are soon to be adapted into web series.
She lives with her husband in Pune.
Tanushree can be contacted by email via her website at http://www.tanushreepodder.com. on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/tpodder
Instagram
@poddertanushree
Twitter
@tanushreepodder
Her travel stories can be found at http://tanushreez.wordpress.com
Born at New Delhi, she worked in the corporate sector for eight long years before Tanushree quit the rat race to wield her pen and found her calling.
A well know travel writer and novelist, she is also known for the hundreds of ‘Middles’ that entertained readers of almost all English dailies in the country for over a decade. Tanushree is passionate about travelling and writing. If the lady is not packing her bags to zip around the world, she is sure to be found tapping the keys of her computer.
Among her bestselling books in non- fiction genre are Death of a Dictator - The Story of
Saddam Hussein, Secrets of Happiness, The Ultimate Food for Body, Mind and Soul, The
Power of Relaxation. The book Smart Memory has also been translated into Tamil and Spanish.
She has published 15 novels till date. Nurjahan’s Daughter, Boots Belts Berets, Escape from Harem, On the Double, Solo in Singapore, I fell in love with a soldier, Cakewalk Murder, No Margin for Error, A Closetful of Skeletons, The Breath of Death, Decoding the Feronia Files, The Teenage Diary of Rani Laxmibai, The Girls in Green, Spooky Stories, An Invitation to Die, are a few novels written by her.
Boots Belts Berets and On the Double - are soon to be adapted into web series.
She lives with her husband in Pune.
Tanushree can be contacted by email via her website at http://www.tanushreepodder.com. on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/tpodder
@poddertanushree
@tanushreepodder
Her travel stories can be found at http://tanushreez.wordpress.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 15, 2017
A coming-of-age story. Sort of. It starts off by outlining how being 30 is being past "shelf-life", which is regressive from the get-go. But I picked it up nevertheless, knowing that the story easily could be better than the blurb.
While Ms Podder writes well; her prose is tight and she drives the plot at a brisk pace that is comfortable to keep up with, the characters don't ring true. The lead, Munmun, is someone who considers herself to be independent, and yet she very openly comes off as emotionally needy, unstable and and at times entitled. For instance, when she's trying to get close to a man she's interested in, a whole month of her life is spent with her mother cooking for him, chatting with him about art and his interests, while she has does...absolutely nothing. Actually, I can't say "absolutely nothing" --- she does have a five second conversation with him about heart-breaks. After reading that entire section, it would be completely OK to say that Munmun's mother is a better match for the man than Munmun herself.
On the other hand, a character like Munmun's female boss, who is single and running a tight-ship of a company, is made to seem bitter and aggressive and permanently nicknamed as "Tsarina" --- a depiction of what the world should consider career-oriented women to be. The writer, at constant intervals, refers to how a woman can only be whole when she's married (at the most) or in a relationship with a man (at the least). And because of that, the main character, who is trying to find herself and trying to deal with her difficult past, instead of discovering her own true strength, goes back to pining for a man for the sole reason that he's "brooding, and intense".
It's not a light read, it's an extremely light read. As a woman who has traveled and lived solo in a ton of destinations around the world, the character of Munmun kept me confused about the definition of "strong and independent woman" --- because she's neither.
It would be a good read for anyone looking to understand writing light prose or looking to understand Singapore's glitzy surface.
While Ms Podder writes well; her prose is tight and she drives the plot at a brisk pace that is comfortable to keep up with, the characters don't ring true. The lead, Munmun, is someone who considers herself to be independent, and yet she very openly comes off as emotionally needy, unstable and and at times entitled. For instance, when she's trying to get close to a man she's interested in, a whole month of her life is spent with her mother cooking for him, chatting with him about art and his interests, while she has does...absolutely nothing. Actually, I can't say "absolutely nothing" --- she does have a five second conversation with him about heart-breaks. After reading that entire section, it would be completely OK to say that Munmun's mother is a better match for the man than Munmun herself.
On the other hand, a character like Munmun's female boss, who is single and running a tight-ship of a company, is made to seem bitter and aggressive and permanently nicknamed as "Tsarina" --- a depiction of what the world should consider career-oriented women to be. The writer, at constant intervals, refers to how a woman can only be whole when she's married (at the most) or in a relationship with a man (at the least). And because of that, the main character, who is trying to find herself and trying to deal with her difficult past, instead of discovering her own true strength, goes back to pining for a man for the sole reason that he's "brooding, and intense".
It's not a light read, it's an extremely light read. As a woman who has traveled and lived solo in a ton of destinations around the world, the character of Munmun kept me confused about the definition of "strong and independent woman" --- because she's neither.
It would be a good read for anyone looking to understand writing light prose or looking to understand Singapore's glitzy surface.
June 19, 2016
I was intrigued by the cover and the title and had to pick up the book. It promised to be an interesting read about a single woman's coming of age story. And the book more than delivers on that promise. Munmun Menon (Moon) is a cocktail child--the progeny of a Malayalee father and Bengali mother--who is going through a ton of issues. The deadly combo of being overweight and having her boyfriend cheat on her just about pushes her over the edge. Determined to make a clean break she decides to flee to Singapore. The author describes Moon's coming of age journey with gentle humour, wit and interesting secondary characters. There is also a romance woven into the plot but that, however, is not the main plot of the story. I only wish the author had amped up the "quirky" incidents, that every single woman traveling alone faces, a bit more. The climax was a tad predictable but nevertheless it was an enjoyable read.
November 29, 2025
In my perspective, Solo in Singapore is a heartwarming read. The recollections of Munmun Menon’s experiences make the story a relatable one at best. This book is a solid cocktail of work life, personal experiences, romance, family, friendships, and explorations. The author has brilliantly written the cultural aspects of Singapore in this story too, while preserving the true identity of the main character. Munmun wears her heart on her sleeve, which is what makes me adore her even more. I reckon this book would make a wonderful adaptation into a show or a movie.
The only parts I find off putting, were the number of fancy words used, as well as some inconsistencies in spelling and punctuation in the book, probably due to editing mistakes.
Apart from that, this book is ideal for those looking to read something different, real, and full of culture. I say this book is a solid 9/10.
The only parts I find off putting, were the number of fancy words used, as well as some inconsistencies in spelling and punctuation in the book, probably due to editing mistakes.
Apart from that, this book is ideal for those looking to read something different, real, and full of culture. I say this book is a solid 9/10.
September 26, 2018
This book made me want to drop everything and move to Singapore!
October 9, 2021
Entertaining!!! Makes you miss Singapore :) Light read.
March 22, 2016
The story is a Bildungsroman narrated by the protagonist herself that deals with the psychological and moral growth of Munmun who is in her 30s. Tanushree gives a glimpse into the culture, cuisine, traditions, language, social life and vibrancy of Singapore. The influence of China on the city cannot be overlooked and plays a major role in the story. The readers are treated with a ‘Slice of Singapore’ through the travelogue of Munmun.
The complete book review can be read on my blog!
The complete book review can be read on my blog!
May 29, 2016
another OK types added on my shelf. But the point that has been tried to put fwd is not matching with the flow. like the main character is already strong she don't hv to go alone to some unknown place to overcome brkup, hers is a strong character ,this is shown on the first day hotel 88
. again no mention of Ali , why all of s sudden her mother was ready to surprise her by calling her dad, what abt akash nd her mom. just an average read
. again no mention of Ali , why all of s sudden her mother was ready to surprise her by calling her dad, what abt akash nd her mom. just an average read
April 1, 2016
Solo in Singapore is a good and light fiction. Its about a women stepping in her thirties, single, hurt, managing in a foreign land with a heart full of hope. And then goes a love story with lots of bong dishes playing the lead role.
its a bit funny yet emotional story.
Received a free copy through goodreads giveaway.
its a bit funny yet emotional story.
Received a free copy through goodreads giveaway.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews