Hook and Eye: Stories from the Margins

by Philip Joseph Holden (Editor)

Short story collection that has been commissioned by the Ministry of Education for study by O-level students, from ages 15 to 16 who are taking Literature.

211 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2018

About the author

See also: Philip Holden.

Philip Holden was born in Boston in 1962. He grew up in the United Kingdom, and has lived and studied in London, the United States, China, Canada and Taiwan. In 1994 he moved to Singapore, and he currently teaches literary studies at the National University of Singapore.

He is the author of several books of literary criticism and history, focusing on auto/biography, and Singaporean and Southeast Asian literatures; these include the historical anthology Writing Singapore, co-edited with Angelia Poon and Shirley Geok-lin Lim. His short stories have been published in Wasafiri, The Carolina Quarterly, Prism International, QLRS and Cha. Holden has served as Vice President of the Singapore Heritage Society, and Deputy Director of the NUS University Scholars Programme. His first fiction collection is Heaven Has Eyes, published by Epigram Books in 2016.

Reviews

[Ummu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the stories, Identity by Latha is the most outstanding for me. As a daughter-in-law, she has to please her mother-in-law; as a wife, she has to listen to her husband; as a mom, she wants to instill as much values as she can to her children; but as a person? She seems to be look down upon by everyone in the house.

I thought that this story is quite powerful. It delivers a lot more than just identity.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book.

[Heather Sledzinski · Rating 4 out of 5]

some stories were good, some were bad. i think overall it presents a very idealized version of what singapore really is, with very digestible short stories. it was an entertaining read, but im only giving a good rating because the stories that were good were really good—presenting universal truths or challenging me to think about the culture ive experienced this far in singapore. stijn library is free though (as opposed to singapore libraries) so i will take advantage of his book collection LOL bc pdf books succkkk

[Ershen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A somewhat motley collection of short stories — I enjoyed Alfian’s short story The Borrowed Boy best — a story about class and ‘charity’, with his usual astute observations and implicit questions tossed forward for the reader. I’ve also never come across Koh Choon Hwee’s writing before this and I was drawn to “Margarine and the Syrian Refugee Project”, which presents socioeconomic class in the school setting, discussing the stances on political issues we can afford to take depending on our positionalities. Oddly enough I enjoyed the introduction by Philip Holden most — he reminds us of the power of the short story, “unlike a novel...the short story can often be read in one sitting...the process of reading takes us into the world of the story, but then [quickly] returns us to our own world. We return to our own world, but remain slightly troubled by the world of the story.”

[A A · Rating 4 out of 5]

As an anthology some of the stories in this book were 5 stars, some were 3 stars, so I averaged it out to 4 stars.

Favorite story: Rich Man Country, which tells the tale of a migrant worker from India. Encapsulates the optimism of earning a high income for an impoverished family in his home village and contrasts it with the reality of harsh working and living conditions as a worker in Singapore, conditions that as a tourist you wouldn’t imagine exist there.

Most shocking twist: The Boy with the Missing Thumb.

Most relatable story: Everest, the story of an immigrant family from India developing a sense of belonging in their HDB flat and lives in Singapore.

Dullest (i.e. had potential but missed the mark): Sophia’s Party could have had stronger characterization and clearer purpose of characters to bring out the story. It did however critique propaganda and nationalism.

It must also be noted that this anthology was commission by the Curriculum Planning and Development Division of the Ministry of Education of Singapore, so it does not carry the same level of cynicism or critique of Singapore as Claire Tham’s Saving the Rainforest, published about two decades prior to this book. Nonetheless, we see some of the harsher realities of living in Singapore, which is the goal of this book, highlighting stories and lives from the margins.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I deeply enjoyed the anthology and appreciated the attempt to unify them as a single thread. While it is possible to examine these stories under broad themes of marginality, inequality or identity etc., I don't necessarily think that there is a need to. For me at least, the stories when read independently already sufficiently prompts reflection and offers significant amount of perspectives on the themes they attempt to draw attention to. I'd highly recommend this for its ability to dissect everyday phenomena - from your void-deck funerals to the National Day Parade.

[Jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't read all 11 stories. Read "Sophia's Party" & "Identity" previously from Jeremy Tiang and Latha's short stories collection. I'd never know if I missed out on Clara Chow's "Cave Man" & Leonora Liow's "Rich Man' Country"; think they're the only two I didn't manage to finish.
A slightly odd bag of short stories in my humble opinion, some more memorable and enjoyable than others. "The Boy with the Missing Thumb" was a lil abstract for me.

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love the book. Being a series of 11 short stories it takes the pains and struggles of Singaporeans from all walks of life, especially those whose lives we don't see because we do not take enough effort to. It takes the reader and forces us to see things from their perspective. That in many ways hurts because it is true. The situations are diverse, some even fictional but it all allows varied experiences and perspectives which are very good for both Singapore and international readers.

[Paricha duangtaweesub · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid collection of shorts that deserves to be studied in a classroom. I particularly liked Identity, Cave Man, and The Borrowed Boy, though others are possibly more haunting and do a better of showcasing marginalization in Singapore.

[halcyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hook and Eye is an ecclectic collection of stories that implores the reader to see themselves in people who live by the very margins. Personal standouts include Alfian Sa'at's The Borrowed Boy and Yu-Mei Balasingamchow's What They're Doing Here.

[Aye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the Boy with the Missing Thumb.

[Guardian Yang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a cute book with different stories that are so close to home

[Isaac · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can someone please explain to me what painting the eye is about?!

[Javier · Rating 1 out of 5]

wish I could give it something lesser than 1

[vieon · Rating 5 out of 5]

studied this book for 2 years for lit. the borrowed boy and rich man country are my favourite stories. pls give me a1 for lit olvl ❤️

[Mira Purnamasari · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, had a few hits and misses with this collection but damn Alfian Sa’at is so damn talented. Consider my soul ripped with that ending

[Becca Lafferty · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s really hard to review a collection of short stories! Some of these are really beautiful and real. Some of them feel disconnected and disingenuous.

[Grace H · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 - Average rating, Everest was my favorite short story.

Very nice collection of short stories that define education, gender roles and disabilities in Singapore.

[melanie · Rating 1 out of 5]

lovely observations about different groups of people living on the margins of society

[vernessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Unlike a novel, which immerses us in a different world, sometimes for days on end, the short story can often be read in one sitting. The process of reading takes us into the world of the story, but then returns us to our own world." — Philip Holden

"we return to our own world, but remain slightly troubled by the world of the story." — Philip Holden

"We are back in our everyday reality, but it is not quite the same, and we begin to question what we have previously taken for granted." — Philip Holden

Rating of short stories:
Everest • 5/5
Margarine and the Syrian Refugee Project • 3/5
Cave Man • 3/5
Sophia’s Party • 3/5
The Moral Support of Presence • 3/5
Painting and the Eye • 3/5
Rich Man Country • 5/5
Identity • 5/5
The Boy with the Missing Thumb • 3/5
What They’re Doing Here • 3/5
The Borrowed Boy • 5/5

[mardhiyah :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

will b searching for more short stories revolving around hari raya because alfian saat's story made my heart whoooooooooooosh with longing & fondness.. also i especially loved (or was hit with the most emotions for): rich man's country and identity. they hit me the hardest & caused such sharp pain

[Jac · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather mixed bag of stories featuring characters people tend to pass over or make certain assumptions of, however none really drew me in.

[nicole ♕ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this for Lit class.

[Namirah Bint Roslan · Rating 3 out of 5]

My lit text wasnt as boring as others and stories are quite interesting

[Shelved by Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

identity and rich man country live rent free in my mind. absolutely insane how such a short prose could pack such a large punch to the gut.