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17A Keong Saik Road
Mummy, why do you always have to leave for 17A…
17A Keong Saik Road recounts Charmaine Leung’s growing-up years on Keong Saik Road in the 1970s when it was a prominent red-light precinct in Chinatown in Singapore. An interweaving of past and present narratives, 17A Keong Saik Road tells of her mother’s journey as a young child put up for sale to becoming the madame of a brothel in Keong Saik. Unfolding her story as the daughter of a brothel operator and witnessing these changes to her family, Charmaine traces the transformation of the Keong Saik area from the 1930s to the present, and through writing, finds reconciliation.
A beautiful dedication to the past, to memory, and to the people who have gone before us, 17A Keong Saik Road tells the rich stories of the Ma Je, the Pei Pa Zai, and the Dai Gu Liong—marginalised, forgotten women of the past, who despite their difficulties, persevered in working towards the hope of a better future.
17A Keong Saik Road recounts Charmaine Leung’s growing-up years on Keong Saik Road in the 1970s when it was a prominent red-light precinct in Chinatown in Singapore. An interweaving of past and present narratives, 17A Keong Saik Road tells of her mother’s journey as a young child put up for sale to becoming the madame of a brothel in Keong Saik. Unfolding her story as the daughter of a brothel operator and witnessing these changes to her family, Charmaine traces the transformation of the Keong Saik area from the 1930s to the present, and through writing, finds reconciliation.
A beautiful dedication to the past, to memory, and to the people who have gone before us, 17A Keong Saik Road tells the rich stories of the Ma Je, the Pei Pa Zai, and the Dai Gu Liong—marginalised, forgotten women of the past, who despite their difficulties, persevered in working towards the hope of a better future.
272 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
December 21, 2017
Picked this up after watching the author speak during a session at the Ethos Festive Sale and also due to the recommendation of a friend. The story is riveting the way personal stories can be and ultimately valuable for the purposes of understanding what would otherwise be entirely forgotten against the tide of development here in Singapore. It's not every day that you can read the story of a girl who grew up in a brothel, and can articulate and comprehend the emotional difficulties of her and those around her with such emotional intelligence. This is tagged as a "personal story" but of course it is also one that speaks a lot about the changing social landscape of the times the women in her family lived through, and the gender politics is something that stood out very strongly too.
The first half of the book was more "general", or perhaps less personal in the sense that she spoke more about her mother, and the history of Keong Saik Road. It was heartbreaking to read of how her mother was sold as a child because she was regarded by her father not to be as worthy or useful of being since she is female, and her subsequent adoption by Yu Lin and her mistreatment by Yu Fu, and I thought that it was great that the author supplemented these parts with some historical facts about the Ma Je, Pei Pa Zai, and the background of migrant women from China who came here to work, and the circumstances that usually propelled them to find work so far from home and how they are able to survive and adapt.
I think the writing is quite clear and simple to read, and I think the dialogue is a bit cheesy at times, or a bit unsubtle and direct. I guess I mention this because I recognise that the emotional turmoil the author went through is anything but simple and direct. There was some struggle I sensed in the writing to communicate the sheer density and weight of the loneliness she felt as a child, and then growing up, along with the loneliness of the other women in her family. I think these required a kind of finer language that the writing did not have, but I sympathise very much with what she has managed to say. I read a review that said it was "draggy" to read through this & find that a little insensitive, but I guess this dragginess is from this struggle to communicate how big this pain & loneliness must have been.
Towards the end it became sort of like a wrap up of how the district looks like now, which is good for contrast after reading through the whole book. Not sure I was quite into the whole Lee Kuan Yew part. Overall I would recommend this read for the story itself. I think it's definitely one worth telling and I am grateful that the author took the time to share this story with an audience, and that I could read it.
The first half of the book was more "general", or perhaps less personal in the sense that she spoke more about her mother, and the history of Keong Saik Road. It was heartbreaking to read of how her mother was sold as a child because she was regarded by her father not to be as worthy or useful of being since she is female, and her subsequent adoption by Yu Lin and her mistreatment by Yu Fu, and I thought that it was great that the author supplemented these parts with some historical facts about the Ma Je, Pei Pa Zai, and the background of migrant women from China who came here to work, and the circumstances that usually propelled them to find work so far from home and how they are able to survive and adapt.
I think the writing is quite clear and simple to read, and I think the dialogue is a bit cheesy at times, or a bit unsubtle and direct. I guess I mention this because I recognise that the emotional turmoil the author went through is anything but simple and direct. There was some struggle I sensed in the writing to communicate the sheer density and weight of the loneliness she felt as a child, and then growing up, along with the loneliness of the other women in her family. I think these required a kind of finer language that the writing did not have, but I sympathise very much with what she has managed to say. I read a review that said it was "draggy" to read through this & find that a little insensitive, but I guess this dragginess is from this struggle to communicate how big this pain & loneliness must have been.
Towards the end it became sort of like a wrap up of how the district looks like now, which is good for contrast after reading through the whole book. Not sure I was quite into the whole Lee Kuan Yew part. Overall I would recommend this read for the story itself. I think it's definitely one worth telling and I am grateful that the author took the time to share this story with an audience, and that I could read it.
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July 19, 2022tw: physical abuse, misogyny, sexism, sex trafficking, rape, sexual abuse, suicide attempt, abandonment, neglect, sexual harassment
AHHH THIS WAS SO GOOD!! i don't rate non-fiction but know that this is one of my favorites omg!!
EVERYONE PLS READ THIS!! i got to learn more about my own country's history, customs & traditions, food (THE FOOD!!) and empathized for so many characters.
AHHH THIS WAS SO GOOD!! i don't rate non-fiction but know that this is one of my favorites omg!!
EVERYONE PLS READ THIS!! i got to learn more about my own country's history, customs & traditions, food (THE FOOD!!) and empathized for so many characters.
August 10, 2022
People have been telling me to read this book since 2021. But because I’ve got a long TBR list, and because this book doesn’t sync to my kobo, I’ve procrastinated on reading it. However, after my IRL bookclub/food discussion club chose this as our next book to read, I decided it was time to pick it up (after the book club had already met haha).
17A Keong Saik Road is a very unique Singaporean memoir that covers an aspect of Singaporean history that we definitely do not learn about in school – the sex trade. This book is Charmaine’s story about her family’s history and her childhood growing up as the daughter of a brothel owner. It’s a fascinating story that mixes history and memoir and I was captivated from page one onwards.
Perhaps the most fascinating thing I learnt is about the evolution of evolution of Keong Saik Road. In the beginning, Keong Saik Road was not a red light district. Instead, during the late 1940s and early 1950s, it was an entertainment district where the Pei Pa Zai (‘Little Pipa’) worked. The pei pa zai were songstresses who sang Cantonese and Huangmei opera. Some not only sang but also played a string instrument! They were also consummate hostesses known for their witty banter. The pei pa zai charged their customers using a time-based system, starting with a cost of $5 for a set of songs, and an addition $5 for every fifteen minutes of conversation and drinks. If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s because this system is very similar to how the geisha’s operate!
However, as time went on, the pei pa zai faded away and masseuses took their place, only to be slowly replaced by prostitutes and thus turning Keong Saik Road into a red light district. It really feels like there’s a trend where if a woman tries to make a living from her talents and personality, somehow the environment moves things down the road of prostitution, thus conflating courtesans and prostitutes. Thinking about it, it’s also pretty amazing how the geisha managed to take back their reputation, moving away from their false image of prostitutes to one of artists.
Overall, this was a fascinating book that I really should have picked up sooner. I’ve been to Keong Saik Road, but I never realised it had such a history! I would definitely recommend this to people who are looking for a unique look at Singapore’s past.
P.s. this book made me think of Geisha of Gion by Iwasaki Mineko – another must read if you’ve got some misconceptions about geisha and want to learn about them from someone who was one of the most famous geishas of her time.
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
17A Keong Saik Road is a very unique Singaporean memoir that covers an aspect of Singaporean history that we definitely do not learn about in school – the sex trade. This book is Charmaine’s story about her family’s history and her childhood growing up as the daughter of a brothel owner. It’s a fascinating story that mixes history and memoir and I was captivated from page one onwards.
Perhaps the most fascinating thing I learnt is about the evolution of evolution of Keong Saik Road. In the beginning, Keong Saik Road was not a red light district. Instead, during the late 1940s and early 1950s, it was an entertainment district where the Pei Pa Zai (‘Little Pipa’) worked. The pei pa zai were songstresses who sang Cantonese and Huangmei opera. Some not only sang but also played a string instrument! They were also consummate hostesses known for their witty banter. The pei pa zai charged their customers using a time-based system, starting with a cost of $5 for a set of songs, and an addition $5 for every fifteen minutes of conversation and drinks. If this sounds familiar, it’s because it’s because this system is very similar to how the geisha’s operate!
However, as time went on, the pei pa zai faded away and masseuses took their place, only to be slowly replaced by prostitutes and thus turning Keong Saik Road into a red light district. It really feels like there’s a trend where if a woman tries to make a living from her talents and personality, somehow the environment moves things down the road of prostitution, thus conflating courtesans and prostitutes. Thinking about it, it’s also pretty amazing how the geisha managed to take back their reputation, moving away from their false image of prostitutes to one of artists.
Overall, this was a fascinating book that I really should have picked up sooner. I’ve been to Keong Saik Road, but I never realised it had such a history! I would definitely recommend this to people who are looking for a unique look at Singapore’s past.
P.s. this book made me think of Geisha of Gion by Iwasaki Mineko – another must read if you’ve got some misconceptions about geisha and want to learn about them from someone who was one of the most famous geishas of her time.
This review was first posted at Eustea Reads
September 10, 2017
Strange that I learned about this book through the German media. So being curious to find out more about Keong Saik Road, I signed up for the guided tour in July conducted by the author and organised by the Singapore Heritage Society.
I was frustrated for not having an opportunity to read through the book at once, it was indeed a very good read. My first thought was, the author is extremely brave to present the taboo in a book, certainly many considerations must have been taken on penning the part of her mom as well as those loved ones. I specially enjoyed imagining the character Mary how she would have looked...
The author’s curating of her childhood was cleverly written. I love the layered and flashback style of the various sections, with interesting characters well-developed and on a few occasions nicely linked to form wonderful conclusion.
This book has reconnected me, it gave me a chance to recall memory of my youth, experience the love, joy, sadness and in part reconciliation.
My suggestion for the next print; it would be nice to include a map with name of the interesting landmarks and businesses of that area.
I was frustrated for not having an opportunity to read through the book at once, it was indeed a very good read. My first thought was, the author is extremely brave to present the taboo in a book, certainly many considerations must have been taken on penning the part of her mom as well as those loved ones. I specially enjoyed imagining the character Mary how she would have looked...
The author’s curating of her childhood was cleverly written. I love the layered and flashback style of the various sections, with interesting characters well-developed and on a few occasions nicely linked to form wonderful conclusion.
This book has reconnected me, it gave me a chance to recall memory of my youth, experience the love, joy, sadness and in part reconciliation.
My suggestion for the next print; it would be nice to include a map with name of the interesting landmarks and businesses of that area.
December 1, 2020
4/5. Super interesting and well written. As someone who lives in Singapore and has actually been to Keong Saik Rd I am probably more invested in the story than the average reader but I would definitely recommend this book!!
November 16, 2025
the writing style felt very factual and maybe just not up my alley but i did enjoy reading about this lost slice of Singapore (growing up w a parent who runs and brothel house and the tight knitted community of sex workers in keong saik road !)
October 27, 2019
17A Keong Saik Road is valuable for its preservation of a slice of personal Singapore history, but falls short from a literary perspective.
Keong Saik Road used to be an entertainment district from back in the 1930s, and housed a community of Chinese immigrants. This included women from China looking to support themselves and buck the scripted narrative of a woman’s role, aka marry a man and become his domestic slave. Worried about their retirement, these women sought to adopt unwanted girls (and boy was there a supply — a modern Chinese wedding still shoves the wish for a son in your face) to take care of them in their old age. One of those adopted was Leung’s mother, Koon, who eventually inherited the brothel at 17A Keong Saik Road.
The most interesting parts of the book for me were the evolving nature of Keong Saik Road as well as the backgrounds of the motherly figures in Leung’s life. Business meetings held on the road gave rise to the entertainment business, which initially looked more like geisha houses: the focus was more on performing songs and drinking with male clients than on sex. Leung broadly describes the charged dynamics between Koon’s guardian and her sister and the trajectory of their lives, together with that of Koon and Leung’s caretaker, Feng. The reader gets a sense of how constricted an immigrant’s world in the 1900s feels, constrained largely to an area spanning a few roads and the same few people, and buffeted by world events like the war. To a Singaporean reader, especially one starved of family history, such a perspective is immeasurably valuable as one seeks to find personal grounding separate from the approved national narrative.
From a literary angle though, the book really could have benefited from a less simplistic conception of its characters, including of Leung herself. The understanding the book gives us of each character remained at surface level — it was like each character had a short list of adjectives that they adhered strictly to in their behaviour. Dialogue was often superfluous, tedious, and artificial-sounding —
— and there was a strong tendency to tell instead of show. If only Leung had dared to delve deeper into her feelings of confusion and shame, instead of repeatedly stating how her social development was stunted from her shame of being a brothel-owner’s daughter!
Keong Saik Road used to be an entertainment district from back in the 1930s, and housed a community of Chinese immigrants. This included women from China looking to support themselves and buck the scripted narrative of a woman’s role, aka marry a man and become his domestic slave. Worried about their retirement, these women sought to adopt unwanted girls (and boy was there a supply — a modern Chinese wedding still shoves the wish for a son in your face) to take care of them in their old age. One of those adopted was Leung’s mother, Koon, who eventually inherited the brothel at 17A Keong Saik Road.
The most interesting parts of the book for me were the evolving nature of Keong Saik Road as well as the backgrounds of the motherly figures in Leung’s life. Business meetings held on the road gave rise to the entertainment business, which initially looked more like geisha houses: the focus was more on performing songs and drinking with male clients than on sex. Leung broadly describes the charged dynamics between Koon’s guardian and her sister and the trajectory of their lives, together with that of Koon and Leung’s caretaker, Feng. The reader gets a sense of how constricted an immigrant’s world in the 1900s feels, constrained largely to an area spanning a few roads and the same few people, and buffeted by world events like the war. To a Singaporean reader, especially one starved of family history, such a perspective is immeasurably valuable as one seeks to find personal grounding separate from the approved national narrative.
From a literary angle though, the book really could have benefited from a less simplistic conception of its characters, including of Leung herself. The understanding the book gives us of each character remained at surface level — it was like each character had a short list of adjectives that they adhered strictly to in their behaviour. Dialogue was often superfluous, tedious, and artificial-sounding —
“Mummy, can I please go downstairs to play? There’s nothing to do at home.”
…”No, the roads are wet and slippery, you may fall down running around. I want you to stay at home.”
“I’ll be fine. Auntie Ting said she’ll take care of me, can I please go?”
“I already said no. It doesn’t matter who takes you. The weather is wet, you might catch a cold out there.”
“Mummy, please, please let me go…”
— and there was a strong tendency to tell instead of show. If only Leung had dared to delve deeper into her feelings of confusion and shame, instead of repeatedly stating how her social development was stunted from her shame of being a brothel-owner’s daughter!
July 30, 2022
It's in the memoirs that you can find something that cannot be found in any history book. Or, maybe, there is one out there that tells readers of the 'less important' details of history, but it's not particularly known. Reading this makes me appreciate memoirs more, and I've learnt so much about how the red-light district grew and died in Singapore at Keong Saik Road. Honestly, I didn't even know Keong Saik exists until this book. What a local I am!
As a Chinese Singaporean, I also appreciated learning about why so many people migrated from China. There was a period of time when there was an influx of Chinese women, even, because of how poor their prospects were in their home country. Working women were frowned upon there, and it was difficult to avoid arranged (forced) marriages into families that treated women as nothing but lesser beings. For the lucky ones, they were able to avoid these by fleeing to Singapore and finding work. At the time, there was a demand for them in Singapore, so it was a win-win. Among other things, there were also further explanations and introductions about me je and the other women akin to geishas in Japan, back in those times when women were only required to entertain and not provide sex services.
Highly recommended to anyone interested to learn this side of Singapore. Certainly interesting outside of all that we had to learn in school, which covers mostly about Raffles, William, and World War II. The author's self-discovery after having left to live at Hong Kong for more than a decade is beautiful as well.
I got the physical book for free during an event held by Aesop Women's Library that helped bring exposure to local women authors.
As a Chinese Singaporean, I also appreciated learning about why so many people migrated from China. There was a period of time when there was an influx of Chinese women, even, because of how poor their prospects were in their home country. Working women were frowned upon there, and it was difficult to avoid arranged (forced) marriages into families that treated women as nothing but lesser beings. For the lucky ones, they were able to avoid these by fleeing to Singapore and finding work. At the time, there was a demand for them in Singapore, so it was a win-win. Among other things, there were also further explanations and introductions about me je and the other women akin to geishas in Japan, back in those times when women were only required to entertain and not provide sex services.
Highly recommended to anyone interested to learn this side of Singapore. Certainly interesting outside of all that we had to learn in school, which covers mostly about Raffles, William, and World War II. The author's self-discovery after having left to live at Hong Kong for more than a decade is beautiful as well.
I got the physical book for free during an event held by Aesop Women's Library that helped bring exposure to local women authors.
May 27, 2017
Very engaging personal story & insights into a relatively obscure aspect of Singapore history located in Keong Saik Road. It is also a story about these women, their courage & resilience to deal with what life threw at them. Highly recommended.
September 13, 2020
Maybe one of my favorite memoirs!! Would have technically given it 4.5 stars. It tells the story of a very different Singapore that existed in the not so distant past. I love a redemption story & this felt like just that. Also, how fun to be able to picture the story because you’ve walked the streets & seen the buildings & neighborhoods!!
“No matter what our past was, in no longer defines us. It’s the journey ahead that illuminates our paths, & leads ya to life’s many possibilities.”
“No matter what our past was, in no longer defines us. It’s the journey ahead that illuminates our paths, & leads ya to life’s many possibilities.”
October 6, 2025
This is a story about intergenerational trauma between a mother and daughter, set against the backdrop of Asian values such as filial piety. But it’s so much more than that, it’s such a beautiful tribute to the strong women who raised her. I especially loved learning about the colourful history of Keong Saik Road. Didn’t expect to enjoy this book so much!
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January 7, 2022No rating.
I'm never comfortable giving ratings to memoirs, someone's own personal story.
I appreciate the insights into Keong Saik Road's culture and history. We need more voices to Singapore's past. Definitely.
But I could not quite get into the narrative tone. It was an awkward balancing of documenting the past and narrating subjective experiences. It may have benefitted from two separate publications - one as a memoir and another as a non-fiction piece.
Overall, however, I respect Leung's 17A Keong Saik Road. This book has personal value. And I think that's wonderful.
I'm never comfortable giving ratings to memoirs, someone's own personal story.
I appreciate the insights into Keong Saik Road's culture and history. We need more voices to Singapore's past. Definitely.
But I could not quite get into the narrative tone. It was an awkward balancing of documenting the past and narrating subjective experiences. It may have benefitted from two separate publications - one as a memoir and another as a non-fiction piece.
Overall, however, I respect Leung's 17A Keong Saik Road. This book has personal value. And I think that's wonderful.
May 28, 2020
“It is in learning to forgive and accept my past—my identity as a madame’s daughter, the lack of normality in my life, my inadequacies—that I could unfetter its hold on me, and begin to see what a unique and blessed life I have had.”
I knew about this book when it appeared as an answer to my question: What is the best #SingLit non-fiction book to read?
17A Keong Saik Road is a personal memoir written by Charmaine Leung, in which she recounts her growing-up years on the eponymous street in the 1970s when it was a prominent red-light precinct in Chinatown in Singapore. With an interweaving of past and present narratives, she vividly describes her mother’s journey as a young child put up for sale to becoming a madame of a brothel in the Keong Saik area.
Sharing her experiences as a daughter of a brothel operator, Charmaine Leung sheds light on stories of the Ma Jie, the Pei Pa Zai, and the Dai Gu Liong—marginalised, forgotten women of the past who are rarely mentioned about.
This is such an insightful and enlightening read. Reading this book allowed me to witness the less explored part of Singapore’s heritage, something I never got to learn in my history lessons in school.
Somehow this book also reminded me of Educated by Tara Westover, where both the authors’ childhood environment wasn’t particularly conducive for their growth from childhood to adulthood. In both cases, they had to struggle emotionally to adapt to the “world” outside.
I’m glad I picked this book up and I definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested to learn more about the transformation of the Keong Saik area and the challenges a child has to face when his or her parents have an unusual occupation.
I knew about this book when it appeared as an answer to my question: What is the best #SingLit non-fiction book to read?
17A Keong Saik Road is a personal memoir written by Charmaine Leung, in which she recounts her growing-up years on the eponymous street in the 1970s when it was a prominent red-light precinct in Chinatown in Singapore. With an interweaving of past and present narratives, she vividly describes her mother’s journey as a young child put up for sale to becoming a madame of a brothel in the Keong Saik area.
Sharing her experiences as a daughter of a brothel operator, Charmaine Leung sheds light on stories of the Ma Jie, the Pei Pa Zai, and the Dai Gu Liong—marginalised, forgotten women of the past who are rarely mentioned about.
This is such an insightful and enlightening read. Reading this book allowed me to witness the less explored part of Singapore’s heritage, something I never got to learn in my history lessons in school.
Somehow this book also reminded me of Educated by Tara Westover, where both the authors’ childhood environment wasn’t particularly conducive for their growth from childhood to adulthood. In both cases, they had to struggle emotionally to adapt to the “world” outside.
I’m glad I picked this book up and I definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested to learn more about the transformation of the Keong Saik area and the challenges a child has to face when his or her parents have an unusual occupation.
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February 26, 2022Emotionally rich, raw, and overall a beautiful glimpse into the author’s life. Felt it would be pretty inappropriate to give it a rating, given its autobiographical nature.
March 20, 2026
3.5*
learned a lot about the history of keong saik road and the community there through the author’s own experiences. so much heart was put into the writing
learned a lot about the history of keong saik road and the community there through the author’s own experiences. so much heart was put into the writing
December 23, 2024
A good narrative. Vivid descriptions which helped me have a deeper understanding into a piece of Singapore's history.
August 10, 2024
a delightful read! i loved how personal this book was and how it is deeply interwoven with singapore’s history, the kind of history that is rarely spotlighted
every character in this book had a rich and nuanced story that was told in a way that i found myself being deeply moved by. i especially appreciated how this book centred around women’s stories, specifically how they subverted and navigated the expectations of women during their time.
overall, this book is an ode to the women of singapore’s past, the communities they have built for themselves, and their tenacity in working towards a better life.
every character in this book had a rich and nuanced story that was told in a way that i found myself being deeply moved by. i especially appreciated how this book centred around women’s stories, specifically how they subverted and navigated the expectations of women during their time.
overall, this book is an ode to the women of singapore’s past, the communities they have built for themselves, and their tenacity in working towards a better life.
August 10, 2019
This book started out with a lot of potential, and was truly a riveting read on how the bustling, hipster Keong Saik area had been in the past - a place where pei pa zai and later dai gu liong struggled to make ends meet, each with their own stories and reasons why they have chosen to take this path.
Towards the end, the storytelling sadly became rather jumbled, touching on Lee Kuan Yew, etc., which did not seem that relevant to the core story of Keong Saik / the author's personal struggles growing up in the area. It was perhaps even confusing at times what certain parts of the book were trying to convey, and I felt that a more careful organisation would have greatly improved the story's readability.
Towards the end, the storytelling sadly became rather jumbled, touching on Lee Kuan Yew, etc., which did not seem that relevant to the core story of Keong Saik / the author's personal struggles growing up in the area. It was perhaps even confusing at times what certain parts of the book were trying to convey, and I felt that a more careful organisation would have greatly improved the story's readability.
August 3, 2017
Though it was interesting to read about the historical aspect of the street, I felt like this should have been a blog post and not a full length book.
August 18, 2020
This was the first Sing-lit book I've laid my eyes on and I'd recommend this to any local, tourist, or anyone who is keen to know more about Singapore's heritage. There's more to Keong Siak than meets the eye. In this beautifully written memoir, Charmaine has opened my eyes to a vibrant, resilient Singaporean generation that I wasn't familiar with previously. With the turn of every page, I was teleported to this time and space which gave me a cinematic reading experience akin to watching a vintage Chinese film. Nostalgia-laced sentences filled every page like precious memories contained in a time capsule for safekeeping, forever frozen in time.
17A is a personal story weaved into the social fabric that transformed into the larger Singapore society today. Just like how the author needed to make peace with the place and the people of the past, I too, need to reconcile with my version of Singapore after I came back from my study overseas in 2019. I wasn’t present then, but I am now.
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As a lady myself, this book has also challenged how I perceived gender roles and sexual performance. The stories of the Pei Pa Zai (female entertainers) and Dai Gu Liong (prostitutes) made me uncomfortable when I read them from the point of view of a lustful male. I was largely uncomfortable with the fact that some of the patrons in the story were married men with families, and thus, would be betraying and cheating on their wives in patronising the brothel—a fact not explicitly mentioned in the book. I begun to conjure up nameless, faceless characters that were no other than these men's wives, and tortured myself by imagining myself in their shoes. It was unbearable.
Hence prostitution is a vice for me. No doubt these women were strong women and many of them did not choose to enter the sex trade by choice. It was not their fault, but my upbringing and environment was still somewhat conservative, and I found the existence of a sex trade where sexual immorality was rampant repulsive. Women being objectified to satisfy men’s selfish, carnal urges, and never-truly-going-to-be-satisfied desires at the expense of their own soul. It doesn't help that the story also illustrated that women is the gender to be looked at, with men sexually harassing the author and Je Je at Keong Siak. Prostitutes being called derogatory terms, made to be enjoyed and used by men.
My explanation/thoughts could be better elaborated with this quote:
"Men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at. This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relation of women to themselves. The surveyor of woman in herself is male: the surveyed is female." —John Berger, Ways of Seeing
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This book also made me think about the importance of early childhood education in parents so that children can grow up in a safe space, ensuring their well-being. The concept of sex as taboo, the Asian concept of shame and ‘saving face’ are all factors that contributed to Charmaine’s struggles as she grapples with confusing questions in her childhood. For example, a ‘hush-hush’ attitude from her mother about her own family background led her to feel shameful and inferior to others. Many victims of sexual abuse in the story also stayed silent—all because of the same reason of ‘saving face’ in the Asian culture. The lack of proper communication between Charmaine and her mother also unfortunately led her to conclude that sex is something dirty and shameful, when the truth is that it is not.
Due to the neglect by her mother (or maybe her lack of proper education), Charmaine picked up harmful learned behaviours such as emotional blackmail when she was very young and internalised her feelings, which escalated to bitterness and resentment. This led me to think about how privileged we are as a generation to be educated on mental health, well-being and proper parenting.
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Overall, this year was the year I started reading sing lit and I must say the experience so far was an immersive one. Reading these books changed me. I feel a sense of belonging to Singapore now. I finally felt like I truly cared about Singapore and wanted to see her at her best, instead of just criticising her and dreaming of migrating elsewhere. This story, like many others, made me appreciate Singapore much more.
17A is a personal story weaved into the social fabric that transformed into the larger Singapore society today. Just like how the author needed to make peace with the place and the people of the past, I too, need to reconcile with my version of Singapore after I came back from my study overseas in 2019. I wasn’t present then, but I am now.
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As a lady myself, this book has also challenged how I perceived gender roles and sexual performance. The stories of the Pei Pa Zai (female entertainers) and Dai Gu Liong (prostitutes) made me uncomfortable when I read them from the point of view of a lustful male. I was largely uncomfortable with the fact that some of the patrons in the story were married men with families, and thus, would be betraying and cheating on their wives in patronising the brothel—a fact not explicitly mentioned in the book. I begun to conjure up nameless, faceless characters that were no other than these men's wives, and tortured myself by imagining myself in their shoes. It was unbearable.
Hence prostitution is a vice for me. No doubt these women were strong women and many of them did not choose to enter the sex trade by choice. It was not their fault, but my upbringing and environment was still somewhat conservative, and I found the existence of a sex trade where sexual immorality was rampant repulsive. Women being objectified to satisfy men’s selfish, carnal urges, and never-truly-going-to-be-satisfied desires at the expense of their own soul. It doesn't help that the story also illustrated that women is the gender to be looked at, with men sexually harassing the author and Je Je at Keong Siak. Prostitutes being called derogatory terms, made to be enjoyed and used by men.
My explanation/thoughts could be better elaborated with this quote:
"Men act and women appear. Men look at women. Women watch themselves being looked at. This determines not only most relations between men and women but also the relation of women to themselves. The surveyor of woman in herself is male: the surveyed is female." —John Berger, Ways of Seeing
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This book also made me think about the importance of early childhood education in parents so that children can grow up in a safe space, ensuring their well-being. The concept of sex as taboo, the Asian concept of shame and ‘saving face’ are all factors that contributed to Charmaine’s struggles as she grapples with confusing questions in her childhood. For example, a ‘hush-hush’ attitude from her mother about her own family background led her to feel shameful and inferior to others. Many victims of sexual abuse in the story also stayed silent—all because of the same reason of ‘saving face’ in the Asian culture. The lack of proper communication between Charmaine and her mother also unfortunately led her to conclude that sex is something dirty and shameful, when the truth is that it is not.
Due to the neglect by her mother (or maybe her lack of proper education), Charmaine picked up harmful learned behaviours such as emotional blackmail when she was very young and internalised her feelings, which escalated to bitterness and resentment. This led me to think about how privileged we are as a generation to be educated on mental health, well-being and proper parenting.
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Overall, this year was the year I started reading sing lit and I must say the experience so far was an immersive one. Reading these books changed me. I feel a sense of belonging to Singapore now. I finally felt like I truly cared about Singapore and wanted to see her at her best, instead of just criticising her and dreaming of migrating elsewhere. This story, like many others, made me appreciate Singapore much more.
January 5, 2025
17A Keong Saik Road is a poignant memoir charting Charmaine Leung's life on Singapore's Keong Saik Road. Growing up in the 1970s, when it was a prominent Chinatown red-light district, she intertwines her childhood memories with her mother's story—from being sold as a child to becoming a brothel madame. Tracing the area's evolution from the 1930s, the book offers a unique perspective on Singapore's rarely discussed sex trade history. It details the lives of majie (Cantonese women who migrated to Southeast Asia in the 1930s), working as domestic servants, forming close-knit communities and observing traditions like the sor hei celibacy ritual. While Keong Saik Road also housed a small Indian community and the Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple (a Thaipusam focal point), Leung emphasizes her rich immersion in Chinese culture: folklore, mythology, dynastic history, heroic tales, and Cantonese opera were all part of her daily life.
In the 1970s and 80s, Keong Saik Road was a bustling mix of businesses alongside brothels: a seamstress, a dentist, provision shops, and businesses connecting with China (a calligraphy shop and a sundries importer).
17A Keong Saik Road offers a unique perspective on Singaporean history, focusing on family history and the rarely discussed sex trade. It reveals Keong Saik Road's fascinating evolution from an entertainment district in the late 1940s/early 1950s, featuring pei pa zai (songstresses similar to geishas), before transitioning to masseuses and then a full-fledged red-light district. By the late 1980s, however, Keong Saik had become primarily a brothel district, similar to Geylang.
This shift highlights the troubling trend of conflating women's performance-based livelihoods with prostitution. The book also explores the immigrant experience in 1900s Singapore, offering invaluable insight for Singaporean readers seeking perspectives beyond the official national narrative.
While the literary craftsmanship is not the primary focus—character development and dialogue could be more nuanced—the raw honesty of Leung's story and the fascinating details of Keong Saik Road's past create a captivating read. The lack of deep emotional exploration does not detract from the overall value of this unique memoir. It illuminates the growth and decline of Keong Saik Road's red-light district and the motivations behind Chinese female migration to Singapore, driven by poverty and limited opportunities. The book provides context for the women similar to geishas, focusing on their entertainment roles before the association with sex work. Leung’s self-discovery after living in Hong Kong adds further depth.
Today, Keong Saik Road is a trendy destination with restored shophouses, hosting modern restaurants and bars, attracting many tourists, boosted by Lonely Planet's 2017 ranking (4th best travel destination in Asia that year), describing it as a "reinvented 'poster-child for hip 'New Singapore'." This transformation underscores the importance of preserving intangible heritage alongside physical structures. 17A Keong Saik Road serves as a valuable contribution, sharing the story of a street that was once her home, and reminding us of the diverse and often hidden histories that shape our city. This book is highly recommended for those seeking a unique perspective on Singapore's past beyond standard narratives; it is valuable for preserving a slice of personal Singaporean history.
In the 1970s and 80s, Keong Saik Road was a bustling mix of businesses alongside brothels: a seamstress, a dentist, provision shops, and businesses connecting with China (a calligraphy shop and a sundries importer).
17A Keong Saik Road offers a unique perspective on Singaporean history, focusing on family history and the rarely discussed sex trade. It reveals Keong Saik Road's fascinating evolution from an entertainment district in the late 1940s/early 1950s, featuring pei pa zai (songstresses similar to geishas), before transitioning to masseuses and then a full-fledged red-light district. By the late 1980s, however, Keong Saik had become primarily a brothel district, similar to Geylang.
This shift highlights the troubling trend of conflating women's performance-based livelihoods with prostitution. The book also explores the immigrant experience in 1900s Singapore, offering invaluable insight for Singaporean readers seeking perspectives beyond the official national narrative.
While the literary craftsmanship is not the primary focus—character development and dialogue could be more nuanced—the raw honesty of Leung's story and the fascinating details of Keong Saik Road's past create a captivating read. The lack of deep emotional exploration does not detract from the overall value of this unique memoir. It illuminates the growth and decline of Keong Saik Road's red-light district and the motivations behind Chinese female migration to Singapore, driven by poverty and limited opportunities. The book provides context for the women similar to geishas, focusing on their entertainment roles before the association with sex work. Leung’s self-discovery after living in Hong Kong adds further depth.
Today, Keong Saik Road is a trendy destination with restored shophouses, hosting modern restaurants and bars, attracting many tourists, boosted by Lonely Planet's 2017 ranking (4th best travel destination in Asia that year), describing it as a "reinvented 'poster-child for hip 'New Singapore'." This transformation underscores the importance of preserving intangible heritage alongside physical structures. 17A Keong Saik Road serves as a valuable contribution, sharing the story of a street that was once her home, and reminding us of the diverse and often hidden histories that shape our city. This book is highly recommended for those seeking a unique perspective on Singapore's past beyond standard narratives; it is valuable for preserving a slice of personal Singaporean history.
October 28, 2022
Goodreads author Eustacia Tan recommended this book and was kind enough to help me secure a copy from Singapore when I couldn't find one in the U.S. It was an excellent read!
The book is a memoir of the author's life as a young child in the red light district known as Keong Saik Road and then follows her as she matures. But, it is much more.
Charmaine Leung introduces us to her family, two generations earlier in West Malaysia, where Koon was sold off as the youngest member of the family because her parents couldn't afford her. She was brought to Singapore and purchased by Yu Lin, who lived and worked on Keong Saik Road in the "entertainment" industry. YuLin was part of a community of many single women who had come to Singapore seeking a better life. She bought Koon so she could help take care of her in her old age.Time would pass and Koon took over operations of what by then had become a brothel, got married and had a child, the author, who was raised next door.
We meet other women in the neighborhood who helped look after Charmaine, who explores her environment both shameful and sheltered. These are women who have led difficult lives and will do whatever they can to survive and provide for their children. Of course, it may take quite a while for the kids to realize this--including the author!
Charmaine gives us a history of the Keong Saik district, which did not start out as a place to procure sex. She also relates an inevitably sad tale of the hardships the women of Keong Saik had to endure.
This is a personal journey--an intimate portrait of the author's life and how she comes to terms with her difficult past to find understanding and fulfillment.
In the end, this is a story about mothers and daughters living in extremely demanding circumstances; how those circumstances affect their relationships and in some cases tear them apart.
Leung writes clearly and with much emotion. It's a great story!
The book is a memoir of the author's life as a young child in the red light district known as Keong Saik Road and then follows her as she matures. But, it is much more.
Charmaine Leung introduces us to her family, two generations earlier in West Malaysia, where Koon was sold off as the youngest member of the family because her parents couldn't afford her. She was brought to Singapore and purchased by Yu Lin, who lived and worked on Keong Saik Road in the "entertainment" industry. YuLin was part of a community of many single women who had come to Singapore seeking a better life. She bought Koon so she could help take care of her in her old age.Time would pass and Koon took over operations of what by then had become a brothel, got married and had a child, the author, who was raised next door.
We meet other women in the neighborhood who helped look after Charmaine, who explores her environment both shameful and sheltered. These are women who have led difficult lives and will do whatever they can to survive and provide for their children. Of course, it may take quite a while for the kids to realize this--including the author!
Charmaine gives us a history of the Keong Saik district, which did not start out as a place to procure sex. She also relates an inevitably sad tale of the hardships the women of Keong Saik had to endure.
This is a personal journey--an intimate portrait of the author's life and how she comes to terms with her difficult past to find understanding and fulfillment.
In the end, this is a story about mothers and daughters living in extremely demanding circumstances; how those circumstances affect their relationships and in some cases tear them apart.
Leung writes clearly and with much emotion. It's a great story!
September 20, 2017
Curiosity level: Aren't you curious about how life is like in a red light district?
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"At an age where most girls had dreams about meeting their prince in a shining armour on a white horse, my mother was hard at work in a flesh market learning how to intermingle with men who were the furthest away from a young girl's fantasy." - p.71
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Little Charmaine spent most of her childhood in curious bewilderment. Why? She had lived under the roof of a thriving brothel house helmed by her own mother without an inkling of what was really going on! Naturally inquisitive, Charmaine asked her mother about the pretty girls who stayed briefly in the many rooms at night. “Why are there so many rooms, mommy?” Her mother would always avoid the questions.
•
Without any explanations on the strange men or leering uncles who hung around the area, Charmaine grew to distrust her emotionally and physically absent mother. She was stigmatised for having a mom who ran a brothel and didn’t have many friends. Finally the opportunity came when she was old enough to leave Singapore behind for Hong Kong, in hopes of forging a brand new life.
•
But memories of 17A Keong Saik road wouldn’t leave her alone. And when she finally does return, everything has changed; Keong Saik is no longer a red light district. Will the past still have a terrible grip on her? Can she forgive her mother?
•
This book is very easy to get into: written matter-of-a-factly, with sharp observational skills of her environment, Charmaine easily catapults her readers into the wild, tragic and colourful world of Keong Saik Road - you take in the atmosphere and characters profoundly.
•
I enjoyed how it wasn’t on the overly sentimental side, but honest and real. Details of olden-time Singapore was also another pleasant surprise! Thank you @ethosbooks for this wonderful read <3
•
"At an age where most girls had dreams about meeting their prince in a shining armour on a white horse, my mother was hard at work in a flesh market learning how to intermingle with men who were the furthest away from a young girl's fantasy." - p.71
•
Little Charmaine spent most of her childhood in curious bewilderment. Why? She had lived under the roof of a thriving brothel house helmed by her own mother without an inkling of what was really going on! Naturally inquisitive, Charmaine asked her mother about the pretty girls who stayed briefly in the many rooms at night. “Why are there so many rooms, mommy?” Her mother would always avoid the questions.
•
Without any explanations on the strange men or leering uncles who hung around the area, Charmaine grew to distrust her emotionally and physically absent mother. She was stigmatised for having a mom who ran a brothel and didn’t have many friends. Finally the opportunity came when she was old enough to leave Singapore behind for Hong Kong, in hopes of forging a brand new life.
•
But memories of 17A Keong Saik road wouldn’t leave her alone. And when she finally does return, everything has changed; Keong Saik is no longer a red light district. Will the past still have a terrible grip on her? Can she forgive her mother?
•
This book is very easy to get into: written matter-of-a-factly, with sharp observational skills of her environment, Charmaine easily catapults her readers into the wild, tragic and colourful world of Keong Saik Road - you take in the atmosphere and characters profoundly.
•
I enjoyed how it wasn’t on the overly sentimental side, but honest and real. Details of olden-time Singapore was also another pleasant surprise! Thank you @ethosbooks for this wonderful read <3
October 12, 2020
This biography excellently archives an important slice of Singaporean history - that of its seedy underbelly (female subalterns), and of twentieth century cultural representations of Chinatown/Tanjong Pagar. In addition, its descriptions of pei pa jie and majie, are particularly valuable, as sources on these are few and far in between (and often somewhat sketchy).
I thank the author for being brave and generous enough to come forth to share about her family's history in this manner. I do hope we see more accounts like this.
The things that knocked a star of this book were mostly editorial:
- Very slow beginning (totally put me off two years ago when I first picked it up, until I decided to give it another shot again recently and fast forward thru the draggy bits)
- Draggy at places
- Chunky sentences in one part, and rapid fire sentences in another. Hard to follow stylistically.
- some parts were repetitive, such as her struggle to fit into secondary school (emotional rabbit holes are understandable for a subject close to the heart like these, but could have been removed during editing)
Other than that, I thought it was a very good effort. And I did truly appreciate this account as capturing an important part of Singapore's developing years. Those memories of the various women Foong grew up with were particularly valuable in shedding light into their mindsets, thoughts and histories and tracking their trajectories of growth as women borne into different generations and eras (Yim Zhen, Fei, Awyong, Yu Lin, Yu Fu, Je Je, Happy Jade, even Foong herself).
I was invested enough in the book to try to find out how Fei, Awyong looked like. Also discovered that the author managed to do quite well for herself despite her gritty beginnings, so good on her for that.
I thank the author for being brave and generous enough to come forth to share about her family's history in this manner. I do hope we see more accounts like this.
The things that knocked a star of this book were mostly editorial:
- Very slow beginning (totally put me off two years ago when I first picked it up, until I decided to give it another shot again recently and fast forward thru the draggy bits)
- Draggy at places
- Chunky sentences in one part, and rapid fire sentences in another. Hard to follow stylistically.
- some parts were repetitive, such as her struggle to fit into secondary school (emotional rabbit holes are understandable for a subject close to the heart like these, but could have been removed during editing)
Other than that, I thought it was a very good effort. And I did truly appreciate this account as capturing an important part of Singapore's developing years. Those memories of the various women Foong grew up with were particularly valuable in shedding light into their mindsets, thoughts and histories and tracking their trajectories of growth as women borne into different generations and eras (Yim Zhen, Fei, Awyong, Yu Lin, Yu Fu, Je Je, Happy Jade, even Foong herself).
I was invested enough in the book to try to find out how Fei, Awyong looked like. Also discovered that the author managed to do quite well for herself despite her gritty beginnings, so good on her for that.
November 26, 2023
Charmaine has a delicate, yet riveting, writing style that directly speaks to the times, hearts, and experiences of the women she writes about. Framed with Singapore throughout different eras, from pre-WW2 to modern day, Charmaine tells the story of the marginalized and stigmatized ma je, pei pa zai, and dai gu liong, and how their stories mingled in the prominent red light district that Charmaine grew up in.
While being Chinese Canadian, I had the pleasure of living in Singapore for a year, and being equipped with skills and understanding Cantonese, Mandarin, Singlish, and the Peranakan culture. This made following and understanding the stories, references, and cultural backdrop much easier. I imagine if you did not speak any Chinese, it may be slightly more difficult to keep track of and understand the delicate details in the story-telling. The learning curve would be steep, but not impossible. For example, for my non-Singaporean folks, be prepared to keep track of ethnic names like Yu Lin vs Yu Fu, Foon vs Foong, and a multitude of food names and terms unique to Singapore. Even for me I had to Google things sometimes out of sheer curiosity and what the elements looked like.
I deducted one star only because the rhythm and flurry of events dropped a little mid-way through the book as the author shifted from the colourful lives of the women in her story to herself. The pace shifted to a slightly slower, more introspective recount of Charmaine’s life. While still impactful, I wish these elements paralleled each other more throughout the book so that the pace didn’t drop as suddenly.
Otherwise, this was a delightful and impactful read about tragedy and, most importantly, hope.
While being Chinese Canadian, I had the pleasure of living in Singapore for a year, and being equipped with skills and understanding Cantonese, Mandarin, Singlish, and the Peranakan culture. This made following and understanding the stories, references, and cultural backdrop much easier. I imagine if you did not speak any Chinese, it may be slightly more difficult to keep track of and understand the delicate details in the story-telling. The learning curve would be steep, but not impossible. For example, for my non-Singaporean folks, be prepared to keep track of ethnic names like Yu Lin vs Yu Fu, Foon vs Foong, and a multitude of food names and terms unique to Singapore. Even for me I had to Google things sometimes out of sheer curiosity and what the elements looked like.
I deducted one star only because the rhythm and flurry of events dropped a little mid-way through the book as the author shifted from the colourful lives of the women in her story to herself. The pace shifted to a slightly slower, more introspective recount of Charmaine’s life. While still impactful, I wish these elements paralleled each other more throughout the book so that the pace didn’t drop as suddenly.
Otherwise, this was a delightful and impactful read about tragedy and, most importantly, hope.
October 3, 2025
It is a deeply moving memoir that takes readers back to a bygone era of Singapore, where entire communities were built around survival, sacrifice, and resilience. Through her personal story, Leung sheds light on the hidden history of Keong Saik Road—once a red-light district—and weaves in themes of social mobility, family, and the power of education to transform lives.
The book opens with a heart-wrenching revelation: Author’s mother, due to her family’s difficult circumstances, was given up for adoption. At just eight years old, faced the painful separation from her family when circumstances forced them apart. These early chapters shattered my heart, as they capture the fragility of childhood and the weight of poverty on family bonds.
Yet beyond its intimate storytelling, the memoir is also a reflection on Singapore’s growth. The author highlights how education and opportunity can break the cycle of hardship, allowing families like hers to rise above the limitations of their circumstances. Her narrative is not only personal but also national—it underscores how social mobility has been, and continues to be, crucial to Singapore’s progress.
What makes 17A Keong Saik Road remarkable is its ability to preserve voices from the past while making us reflect on the present. It is a tribute to the struggles of earlier generations, and a reminder of the importance of compassion and opportunity in shaping a society.
A poignant and beautifully written memoir, this book lingers long after the last page. It’s both a window into a Singapore that no longer exists and a universal story about resilience, love, and the pursuit of a better future.
The book opens with a heart-wrenching revelation: Author’s mother, due to her family’s difficult circumstances, was given up for adoption. At just eight years old, faced the painful separation from her family when circumstances forced them apart. These early chapters shattered my heart, as they capture the fragility of childhood and the weight of poverty on family bonds.
Yet beyond its intimate storytelling, the memoir is also a reflection on Singapore’s growth. The author highlights how education and opportunity can break the cycle of hardship, allowing families like hers to rise above the limitations of their circumstances. Her narrative is not only personal but also national—it underscores how social mobility has been, and continues to be, crucial to Singapore’s progress.
What makes 17A Keong Saik Road remarkable is its ability to preserve voices from the past while making us reflect on the present. It is a tribute to the struggles of earlier generations, and a reminder of the importance of compassion and opportunity in shaping a society.
A poignant and beautifully written memoir, this book lingers long after the last page. It’s both a window into a Singapore that no longer exists and a universal story about resilience, love, and the pursuit of a better future.
May 17, 2019
17A Keong Siak Road is a personal story revolving around the then tainted environment and community that was Keong Siak Road; but despite it all, it was home to the different walks of life.
By retelling her own story, Charmaine has managed to weaved in a lot of information about the olden days Singapore which the younger generations may have little knowledge about.
As a young Singaporean, my knowledge of Keong Siak Road was restricted to the tiny pockets of history that my parents fed me with. It was then that I catch a glimpse to the life back in time and came to understand that the area was well known for being a redlight district. However, these information often felt incoherent to what I saw as the new facade of the area showed little, if not no signs of its tainted history. It was through reading this book that I got deeper understandings and insights to the Keong Siak Road of the past.
Reading this book is like entering a time machine where I could almost imagine myself being a bystander in Keong Siak Road, looking at how the lives of the people unfold. Highly recommend this read for those who are interested in the little known story in Keong Siak Road on this little red dot.
By retelling her own story, Charmaine has managed to weaved in a lot of information about the olden days Singapore which the younger generations may have little knowledge about.
As a young Singaporean, my knowledge of Keong Siak Road was restricted to the tiny pockets of history that my parents fed me with. It was then that I catch a glimpse to the life back in time and came to understand that the area was well known for being a redlight district. However, these information often felt incoherent to what I saw as the new facade of the area showed little, if not no signs of its tainted history. It was through reading this book that I got deeper understandings and insights to the Keong Siak Road of the past.
Reading this book is like entering a time machine where I could almost imagine myself being a bystander in Keong Siak Road, looking at how the lives of the people unfold. Highly recommend this read for those who are interested in the little known story in Keong Siak Road on this little red dot.
April 24, 2022
Can I just say that Ethos is knocking it out of the park lately with the kinds of stories and ideas they are publishing? This is one such example. It’s a memoir about growing up the daughter of a brothel owner on Keong Saik street. As with all things Singapore, this is a place whose history has now been completely paintbrushed away by the glitzy facades of high end restaurants and cocktail bars, partygoers with high levels of disposable income and no regard for the particularities of the place. Beneath the surface is a street steeped in Singapore working class history, as we learn in this book. Charmaine Leung’s descriptions of life in this former red light district before the 1980s are evocative and uncover a hidden history we should all be mindful of. As a memoir, it’s honest and raw, although it does veer into therapy journal-type mundanity at times (and it could certainly have done with a stronger editing hand). If you’re looking for smutty depictions of whorehouses or insight into brothels themselves you’ll be disappointed. What this book does is humanise the people who lived, worked and made their lives as a community in this district, and for that its existence is invaluable.
October 9, 2022
As a true-blue Singaporean, I'm ashamed to say that I don't know much about the history behind Keong Saik Road. As a millenial, all I know is that Keong Saik is home to plenty of 'atas' restaurants, the most popular of which are Potato Head and of course, Keong Saik Bakery. Did I know that Keong Saik used to be a full-blown red light district in Singapore? Definitely no. Heck, my first thought going into this book was: "Eh, isn't it commonly pronounced as Keong 'Siak'?"
Yet, Charmaine's memoir was lovely and personal. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her childhood as she grew up as the daughter of a brothel owner at 15 Keong Saik Road. As the memoir points out, growing up in such an exclusive and particular enclave meant she was separated from the rest of the world, and at the same time, she struggled to navigate amongst the familiar streets of Keong Saik. Sandwiched between two different realities, Charmaine did what she could to survive.
It's a brave and honest written retelling that rightfully touches on a stunted childhood and fractured parental relationships, and I can't imagine how much growth and strength it must've taken Charmaine to put her entire experience into words.
Yet, Charmaine's memoir was lovely and personal. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her childhood as she grew up as the daughter of a brothel owner at 15 Keong Saik Road. As the memoir points out, growing up in such an exclusive and particular enclave meant she was separated from the rest of the world, and at the same time, she struggled to navigate amongst the familiar streets of Keong Saik. Sandwiched between two different realities, Charmaine did what she could to survive.
It's a brave and honest written retelling that rightfully touches on a stunted childhood and fractured parental relationships, and I can't imagine how much growth and strength it must've taken Charmaine to put her entire experience into words.
September 30, 2025
It was interesting to read about how Keong Saik Road transformed into and away from a red light district, as well as different lives that crossed paths in this area and how it shaped the district as a whole. The first part of the book focused on the author’s mother and grandmother, but eventually the flow of the book heavily relied on the author’s stream of consciousness which made it a little confusing at times.
additionally, when narrating memories of author when she was younger, the author used dialogues which came off abit awkward at times personally. while it could have been written in a better way, it still managed to shed light into how the environment shaped the author’s personality.
enjoyed the ending and how the author came to a reconciliation of how to manage and view her relationships with others in the past, but not sure if i dig into the random LKY and meritocracy part which seemed abit unwarranted imo. felt the author could have mentioned more about different characters but also understand that these are based off personal recounts and might be limited/hard to get in nature.
additionally, when narrating memories of author when she was younger, the author used dialogues which came off abit awkward at times personally. while it could have been written in a better way, it still managed to shed light into how the environment shaped the author’s personality.
enjoyed the ending and how the author came to a reconciliation of how to manage and view her relationships with others in the past, but not sure if i dig into the random LKY and meritocracy part which seemed abit unwarranted imo. felt the author could have mentioned more about different characters but also understand that these are based off personal recounts and might be limited/hard to get in nature.
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