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The Punkhawala and the Prostitute
Finalist for the 2021 Epigram Books Fiction Prize
Beneath the façade of a land golden with opportunities dwell two destitutes shipped to Singapore in the late 1800s. Oseki, an ingenue forced into servitude as a karayuki, grapples with betrayal by her own father and transforms into a monster she can’t recognise. Gobind, a deaf convict from India, serves his sentence as a punkhawala to a tiger-hunting British master obsessed with killing Rimau Satan, the man-eating tiger; while on a hunt, his butchered memories lurk from the darkness, aching to pounce. When their paths intertwine, they face their inner demons to find humanity and their way back home.
Beneath the façade of a land golden with opportunities dwell two destitutes shipped to Singapore in the late 1800s. Oseki, an ingenue forced into servitude as a karayuki, grapples with betrayal by her own father and transforms into a monster she can’t recognise. Gobind, a deaf convict from India, serves his sentence as a punkhawala to a tiger-hunting British master obsessed with killing Rimau Satan, the man-eating tiger; while on a hunt, his butchered memories lurk from the darkness, aching to pounce. When their paths intertwine, they face their inner demons to find humanity and their way back home.
336 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2021
9 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Wesley Leon Aroozoo
3 books27 followersBased in Singapore, Wesley Leon Aroozoo is an artist with 13 Little Pictures, an educator with LASALLE College of the Arts and is pursuing his PhD at the RMIT University in the School of Media and Communication. Wesley received his Master of Fine Arts in Dramatic Writing from New York University and Bachelor of Fine Arts (with honours) in Digital Filmmaking from Nanyang Technological University.
A Singapore Book Awards Winner, Busan International Film Festival Mecenat Award Nominee, NUS Singapore History Prize Nominee and Epigram Books Fiction Prize Nominee, Wesley’s award winning works span across literary arts, film, television, performance and theatre.
A Singapore Book Awards Winner, Busan International Film Festival Mecenat Award Nominee, NUS Singapore History Prize Nominee and Epigram Books Fiction Prize Nominee, Wesley’s award winning works span across literary arts, film, television, performance and theatre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 3, 2022
Hands down one of the best Singaporean novels I've ever read! You know you’re reading an exhilarating page-turner that will hold your breath until the very last page when you decide to drop every single one of your current reads just so you can invest all your time in finishing it. And that’s exactly what happened to me upon picking up The Punkhawala and the Prostitute by @babearusian. Being one of my most anticipated reads of this year, I’d been so excited about its release since it got shortlisted for the 2021 Epigram Book Fiction Prize. Set in the late 1800s, this dual narrative features two poor souls who are forcibly uprooted from their homes and shipped to colonial Singapore where ordeals await them: Gobind, a deaf convict from India who is to serve his sentence as a punkhawala to British masters; Oseki, a young Japanese girl who is sold as a karayuki through deception. Essentially, it is a story about home and displacement, power, and obsession. As the colonial subjects under British rule, Gobind and Oseki’s state of choicelessness force them to obey their white masters. Yet, theirs isn’t some blind obedience without conscience of their own, but a performative one which they rely on for survival in the foreign territory. Though subjected to slavery and sexual exploitation, as well as the coloniser’s cruelty and numerous attempts to exert authority and inflict harm upon the colonised for his benefit - yet, ironically, to no avail - that is well represented by Osbert, Gobind’s master and an incompetent hunter obsessed with the idea of proving his masculinity through the killing of the infamous man-eating tiger Rimau Satan at all cost, both protagonists never give up on the hope of making way back to their homelands one day.
Their shared longing for home, which comes with a fear of loss rooted in forced separation, is observed in their inner conversations with their loved ones told in the narrative shift that I found magically executed. The narrative shift between the first and third-person point of view not only builds up and heightens the emotions and tension in the story, but also blurs the demarcation of what is past and what is present, what is political, and what is personal. An eye-opening read that gives voice to the forgotten in history, it is certainly not an exaggeration to call The Punkhawala and the Prostitute a marvellous literary jewel and a breath of fresh air to the South-East Asian literary landscape.
Their shared longing for home, which comes with a fear of loss rooted in forced separation, is observed in their inner conversations with their loved ones told in the narrative shift that I found magically executed. The narrative shift between the first and third-person point of view not only builds up and heightens the emotions and tension in the story, but also blurs the demarcation of what is past and what is present, what is political, and what is personal. An eye-opening read that gives voice to the forgotten in history, it is certainly not an exaggeration to call The Punkhawala and the Prostitute a marvellous literary jewel and a breath of fresh air to the South-East Asian literary landscape.
December 25, 2021
"Second chances. Isn't that what we all need?"
The Punkhawala and the Prostitute (a finalist for the 2021 Epigram Books Fiction Prize) revolves around Oseki and Gobind who were brought to Singapore unwillingly: Oseki (who was born in Japan) was sold by her own father to be a prostitute in a famous brothel in Singapore; Gobind was wrongly accused of murdering his abusive father and was sentenced to serve as a "punkhawala" (a servant who operates a fan manually by using a pulley system) to a British hunter, Osbert, who was obssessed with killing Rimau Satan (a man-eating tiger) in order to prove his masculinity. Alternating between the events of the past and present, Oseki and Gobind's fates were intertwined and it involves the mythic stature of Rimau Satan.
At the outset, I wish to state that this book to me, is one of the best Sing-lit that I've read to date. The strength of this book lies in the complexity of the narrative voice and the plot structure. Wesley's use of the first person and third-person narrative, alternating within a chapter itself, is executed brilliantly without a scintilla of awkwardness. Its complexity heightens when the characters' background/past, and characterization are inculcated within such a technique as it is clear that when the first-person narrative voice is used, readers are immersed in the past events, and on the other hand, readers are pulled back to the present events when the third-person narrative voice is used. The blending of historical fiction, magical realism, and fantastical elements would be another highlight of the story. An ample of Japanese/Singapore folklore/mythology were inculcated: the stories of the different types of Yokai (supernatural entities) including the mumashika (a strange-looking horse/deer yokai), kishaku (a spirit who infects one's stomach), yamabiko (the mountain spirit), the story of King Uttama and his wife Bahula, the Kodama who inhabit trees, the medicinal properties of the different body parts of a tiger and most importantly, the myth where the spirit of the tiger's victims who possess the tiger itself after being eaten. I am a sucker for stories that incorporate Asian folklore or myths as there are not many stories (in particular the fantasy genre) that amplify the beauty of these elements.
The obvious takeaway from this story would be the heartbreaking stories of the marginalized, albeit from the lower class (i.e. Oseki and Gobind) or the upper class (Osbert, who is apparently gay). "We are both being hunted simply because we are what we are. No one cares. We are chased out of our own homes like we are pariahs. No - like monsters". Rimau Satan is a figure which symbolizes a "second chance" to all three main characters, as the tiger is viewed as a vessel/tool to break off from the invisible shackles that were chained on them, as a result of the hauntings of their past or societal judgment. The Punkhawala and the Prostitute is a strong 4.8/5 star read to me and it is definitely a sensational Singapore literature which I would highly recommend to readers who enjoy reading a nice blend of historical fiction and magical realism!
The Punkhawala and the Prostitute (a finalist for the 2021 Epigram Books Fiction Prize) revolves around Oseki and Gobind who were brought to Singapore unwillingly: Oseki (who was born in Japan) was sold by her own father to be a prostitute in a famous brothel in Singapore; Gobind was wrongly accused of murdering his abusive father and was sentenced to serve as a "punkhawala" (a servant who operates a fan manually by using a pulley system) to a British hunter, Osbert, who was obssessed with killing Rimau Satan (a man-eating tiger) in order to prove his masculinity. Alternating between the events of the past and present, Oseki and Gobind's fates were intertwined and it involves the mythic stature of Rimau Satan.
At the outset, I wish to state that this book to me, is one of the best Sing-lit that I've read to date. The strength of this book lies in the complexity of the narrative voice and the plot structure. Wesley's use of the first person and third-person narrative, alternating within a chapter itself, is executed brilliantly without a scintilla of awkwardness. Its complexity heightens when the characters' background/past, and characterization are inculcated within such a technique as it is clear that when the first-person narrative voice is used, readers are immersed in the past events, and on the other hand, readers are pulled back to the present events when the third-person narrative voice is used. The blending of historical fiction, magical realism, and fantastical elements would be another highlight of the story. An ample of Japanese/Singapore folklore/mythology were inculcated: the stories of the different types of Yokai (supernatural entities) including the mumashika (a strange-looking horse/deer yokai), kishaku (a spirit who infects one's stomach), yamabiko (the mountain spirit), the story of King Uttama and his wife Bahula, the Kodama who inhabit trees, the medicinal properties of the different body parts of a tiger and most importantly, the myth where the spirit of the tiger's victims who possess the tiger itself after being eaten. I am a sucker for stories that incorporate Asian folklore or myths as there are not many stories (in particular the fantasy genre) that amplify the beauty of these elements.
The obvious takeaway from this story would be the heartbreaking stories of the marginalized, albeit from the lower class (i.e. Oseki and Gobind) or the upper class (Osbert, who is apparently gay). "We are both being hunted simply because we are what we are. No one cares. We are chased out of our own homes like we are pariahs. No - like monsters". Rimau Satan is a figure which symbolizes a "second chance" to all three main characters, as the tiger is viewed as a vessel/tool to break off from the invisible shackles that were chained on them, as a result of the hauntings of their past or societal judgment. The Punkhawala and the Prostitute is a strong 4.8/5 star read to me and it is definitely a sensational Singapore literature which I would highly recommend to readers who enjoy reading a nice blend of historical fiction and magical realism!
January 31, 2022
Delving myself into an emotional narrative through the veil of time during the colonization era in Singapore, following an eloquent story of two characters who get shipped to the island; Gobind, a deaf convict from India who gets to work as a punkhawala to a British hunter and Oseki, a Japanese girl who was forced into prostitution to work as a 𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘺𝘶𝘬𝘪.
Love how the premise highlighting these marginalized characters as its central with a great historical reflection of the inequity treatment on exploitation and repression they received. Descriptive and appealing, yet too poignantly written.
From River Valley to the famous Malay Street and the haunting Siranjong Forest also a pinch of flashback of the Ganges and Amakusa, Gobind and Oseki brought me to a story of longing and love, on trust and betrayal, and the heartrending broken pieces of hearts that would never be mend again. I love how the author opted to combine the premise with folk and urban tales; stories of yōkai, King Uttama and the mythical mystery of man-eating tiger which reminds me a lot to stories of 'harimau jadian' that I used to hear while growing up. Thrilled and engaging, and I fancy how it complement the whole story arc.
It relates a bit to psychological suspense-- addiction, hallucination and extreme trust issue which I find quite harrowing and disturbing. Bit devastating and draggy nearly the end but somehow I like how it was still having that slight mystery, like something is still lurking in the dark, twisted and concealed.
A recommendation for historical fiction readers and if you're new to this theme, no worries-- it was such an absorbing and so poetically prosed that you would definitely love it!
4.3 stars to this and huge thanks to the author, Wesley Zeon Aroozoo for sending me this complimentary copy in return for my honest review!
Love how the premise highlighting these marginalized characters as its central with a great historical reflection of the inequity treatment on exploitation and repression they received. Descriptive and appealing, yet too poignantly written.
From River Valley to the famous Malay Street and the haunting Siranjong Forest also a pinch of flashback of the Ganges and Amakusa, Gobind and Oseki brought me to a story of longing and love, on trust and betrayal, and the heartrending broken pieces of hearts that would never be mend again. I love how the author opted to combine the premise with folk and urban tales; stories of yōkai, King Uttama and the mythical mystery of man-eating tiger which reminds me a lot to stories of 'harimau jadian' that I used to hear while growing up. Thrilled and engaging, and I fancy how it complement the whole story arc.
It relates a bit to psychological suspense-- addiction, hallucination and extreme trust issue which I find quite harrowing and disturbing. Bit devastating and draggy nearly the end but somehow I like how it was still having that slight mystery, like something is still lurking in the dark, twisted and concealed.
A recommendation for historical fiction readers and if you're new to this theme, no worries-- it was such an absorbing and so poetically prosed that you would definitely love it!
4.3 stars to this and huge thanks to the author, Wesley Zeon Aroozoo for sending me this complimentary copy in return for my honest review!
March 6, 2022
Set in the late 1980s, The Punkhawala and the Prostitute surrounds the fate of two destitutes in colonial Singapore. Gobind is a deaf convict from India and sentenced to serve as a 'punkhawala' for a Britishman. ('Punkhawala' is a servant who operates the fan using a pulley system). Meanwhile, Oseki is sold by her father to work as a karayuki (prostitute) in a brothel. Somehow both lives are intertwined.
Told in alternative chapters, we learn about Gobind and Oseki's lives back in their respective birthplaces and their current struggles in Singapore. Both characters came from very different backgrounds, yet experienced similar treatments of disdain and prosecution.
As the story unfolds, the magical elements slowly seep in. From a quiet historical fiction, it turns into a high-tea drama filled with mythology, magical realism, hallucination and the absurdities of colonial masters. How the author ties the connection between the hunting of tigers and human exploitation is an interesting one. With the privileged of powerful nations, the masters enjoy all types of luxuries and wars of life at the expense of others.
However, I struggled to sympathise with Oseki. As a harayuki, what Oseki did is somehow expectable(?), but it doesn't mean that it's justifiable. She's reckless and keeps using her body for personal benefit. Both characters yearn for the loss of loved ones and often lash out impulsively. The story also felt longer than it should be.
Overall, I enjoyed the beginning of the story, but it became too comical in the latter half. If you're looking for a dark, twisty and hyperbolized story on Singapore's history, this is for you.
Rating : 3.5 stars
Told in alternative chapters, we learn about Gobind and Oseki's lives back in their respective birthplaces and their current struggles in Singapore. Both characters came from very different backgrounds, yet experienced similar treatments of disdain and prosecution.
As the story unfolds, the magical elements slowly seep in. From a quiet historical fiction, it turns into a high-tea drama filled with mythology, magical realism, hallucination and the absurdities of colonial masters. How the author ties the connection between the hunting of tigers and human exploitation is an interesting one. With the privileged of powerful nations, the masters enjoy all types of luxuries and wars of life at the expense of others.
However, I struggled to sympathise with Oseki. As a harayuki, what Oseki did is somehow expectable(?), but it doesn't mean that it's justifiable. She's reckless and keeps using her body for personal benefit. Both characters yearn for the loss of loved ones and often lash out impulsively. The story also felt longer than it should be.
Overall, I enjoyed the beginning of the story, but it became too comical in the latter half. If you're looking for a dark, twisty and hyperbolized story on Singapore's history, this is for you.
Rating : 3.5 stars
January 13, 2022
✨ "Here, I had the chance to be someone else and start anew. Sometimes, starting anew is the only thing you can do to survive."
Wow, what a ride this book took me on!
Weaving together history, magical realism as well as mythology and folklore from various cultures, this is one story that I was immersed in right from the first page. I really enjoyed following the journeys of the 3 main characters, all of whom find themselves in colonial-era Singapore in less-than-desirable circumstances:
• Gobind, a deaf Indian convict serving as a punkhawala (a slave who manually rotates the fan)
• Oseki, who was duped by her father into leaving Japan and sold to a brothel in Singapore
• Osbert, Gobind's master who is obsessed with hunting Singapore's most vicious man-eating tiger after being 'exiled' by his family in England
Despite their vastly different backgrounds, all 3 characters face discrimination and prejudice in some way. These are largely unrepresented perspectives in Singapore that I haven't read much about and I appreciate the author giving them a voice in his novel.
The author also paints a vivid portrait of Singapore in the late 1800s, from the opium houses of Pagoda Street to once-flourishing nutmeg plantations. I had no idea our first zoo was actually in the Botanic Gardens even, so this was both a fascinating and illuminating read for me.
The last 1/3 of the novel is pure brilliance.
A captivating book from start to end!
Thank you to the author for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Wow, what a ride this book took me on!
Weaving together history, magical realism as well as mythology and folklore from various cultures, this is one story that I was immersed in right from the first page. I really enjoyed following the journeys of the 3 main characters, all of whom find themselves in colonial-era Singapore in less-than-desirable circumstances:
• Gobind, a deaf Indian convict serving as a punkhawala (a slave who manually rotates the fan)
• Oseki, who was duped by her father into leaving Japan and sold to a brothel in Singapore
• Osbert, Gobind's master who is obsessed with hunting Singapore's most vicious man-eating tiger after being 'exiled' by his family in England
Despite their vastly different backgrounds, all 3 characters face discrimination and prejudice in some way. These are largely unrepresented perspectives in Singapore that I haven't read much about and I appreciate the author giving them a voice in his novel.
The author also paints a vivid portrait of Singapore in the late 1800s, from the opium houses of Pagoda Street to once-flourishing nutmeg plantations. I had no idea our first zoo was actually in the Botanic Gardens even, so this was both a fascinating and illuminating read for me.
The last 1/3 of the novel is pure brilliance.
A captivating book from start to end!
Thank you to the author for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
January 31, 2022
the punkhawala and the prostitute by wesley leon aroozoo is a riveting story set in late 1800s singapore following two marginalised characters, gobind (a deaf convict from india serving as a punkhawala) and oseki, a karayuki (a japanese prostitute). in this gripping tale we follow their journey on adapting to survive in a new environment that they were thrusted in as well as their struggles of being in it and their emotional longing to be back to their loved ones with their stories slowly entangled together by gobind’s master, osbert, who is obsessed with killing the mythical rimau satan who rumour has it is a man-eating tiger.
i think it is worth noting that this is my first singaporean literature that i’ve ever consumed in my entire life and it is too my first (if you don’t count high school history hahaha) venture into singaporean history hence i apologise on my behalf if there were any historical aspects of it that i may have misunderstood, but wow did the whole story captivated me from page one. it’s so interesting and eye-opening to be able to read about marginalised groups during the colonisation era. about their hardships serving as slaves, exploited by the privileged. my heart aches reading through the struggles gobind and oseki went through. it’s simply an eye-opening read as it reminds oneself of how important it is to treasure our motherland and the struggles that our ancestors have went through during the hard times of being colonised by higher power than them during that era. in this case, some were taken from their family to be shipped off to a new land, a new place, to be exploited by those with the utmost privilege. yearning to be back in the arms of their loved ones and yet unable to due to the situation that they have been thrusted in against their will. i think the author did such a good job in tugging on the readers heartstrings with the historical aspect of the book with such a well developed plot. it’s genius.
wesley leon aroozoo truly knows how to write such tragedies with a pinch of hope through sentences that are almost poetic. it is dark as well as it is beautiful. aside from the amazing plot, the writing too has been a factor of my focus towards this brilliant book. despite finding some of the parts of the book to be draggy, what led me on to the other good parts of it was—as i said before—his poetic sentences. if you know me, you know i’m a sucker for such poetic beauty that if you throw a good one or two in a book it’ll definitely lead me further no matter what and this was just that. nevertheless of that little personal bump of mine with this book, i truly think everyone of interests with historical fiction as well as books with magical realism should definitely give this book a go. it will claw its way into your heart from the very first sentence and tug you in for a long ride of adventures filled with a plethora of emotions that will leave you empty (in a good way) once you’re done with it. this gets a solid 4 stars from me.
my utmost gratitude goes out to the author himself, wesley, for kindly sending this book to me in exchange for an honest review. you have piqued my interest in reading more sing-lit now.
p.s. you can grab yourself a copy from bookalicious if you’re interested!
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December 1, 2021
To sum it up in a succinct one-liner, The Punkhawala and the Prostitute is a story about those living on the margins in 1800s colonial-era Singapore.
Switching between the perspectives of Gobind, a punkhawala (someone who manually rotated ceiling fans), and Oseki, a karayuki (a Japanese prostitute), this story details their longing for the past in the backdrop of a place completely foreign to them, where they must adapt to survive and hopefully one day meet those they had left behind. And in the midst of their stories lies a common thread, Osbert, Gobind's master who becomes increasingly obsessed with killing Rimau Satan, a man-eating tiger of mythic proportions.
While I enjoy reading historical fiction, I can't say I've read many about the British colonial period in Singapore, and much less so about those who'd been brought over from other countries. Aroozoo makes full use of this setting to not only ground us in the realities many different people faced during such a tumultuous period, but to also provide a stark contrast between the marginalised and those in power. Reading about the many different European nationals and their behaviour was so striking when comparing them to that of Gobind and Oseki; and as many have pointed out, their excess and pride resemble that of caricatures of these colonial masters.
In addition, reading this was such an experience since each chapter alternated not only between the perspectives of Gobind and Oseki, but also between different points of their life. Personally for me, I enjoy going through such storylines where I need to piece together these different bits of information to get the full picture. Moreover, Aroozoo's writing completely aligns with the golden rule of "show, don't tell", allowing readers themselves to pick up on the subtleties of his text. Overall, the writing style really added to the atmosphere of the story, where we slowly get to know more about our main characters and their past, as well as how this past influences their choices.
If you're looking for a historical fiction/magical realism/lowkey thriller read that'll keep you gripped from start to end, I highly recommend this one!
Thanks to the author for sending over this book in exchange for an honest review!
Switching between the perspectives of Gobind, a punkhawala (someone who manually rotated ceiling fans), and Oseki, a karayuki (a Japanese prostitute), this story details their longing for the past in the backdrop of a place completely foreign to them, where they must adapt to survive and hopefully one day meet those they had left behind. And in the midst of their stories lies a common thread, Osbert, Gobind's master who becomes increasingly obsessed with killing Rimau Satan, a man-eating tiger of mythic proportions.
While I enjoy reading historical fiction, I can't say I've read many about the British colonial period in Singapore, and much less so about those who'd been brought over from other countries. Aroozoo makes full use of this setting to not only ground us in the realities many different people faced during such a tumultuous period, but to also provide a stark contrast between the marginalised and those in power. Reading about the many different European nationals and their behaviour was so striking when comparing them to that of Gobind and Oseki; and as many have pointed out, their excess and pride resemble that of caricatures of these colonial masters.
In addition, reading this was such an experience since each chapter alternated not only between the perspectives of Gobind and Oseki, but also between different points of their life. Personally for me, I enjoy going through such storylines where I need to piece together these different bits of information to get the full picture. Moreover, Aroozoo's writing completely aligns with the golden rule of "show, don't tell", allowing readers themselves to pick up on the subtleties of his text. Overall, the writing style really added to the atmosphere of the story, where we slowly get to know more about our main characters and their past, as well as how this past influences their choices.
If you're looking for a historical fiction/magical realism/lowkey thriller read that'll keep you gripped from start to end, I highly recommend this one!
Thanks to the author for sending over this book in exchange for an honest review!
March 13, 2022
“When we were children staring out at the meadow from the rooftop, we had dreams,” she tells him gently. “We thought we could go anywhere in the world, be anyone we wanted to be. But at some point, we have to stop pretending. We have to accept who we are.”
Rating : 4/5
This is a book about the forgotten people in our history. The people that the world has took so much from, over and over again. The people that such a large part of our history was build upon. The people in between the lines of history books and newspapers. Those who were erased and unremembered.
What I loved so much about this book was its writing. The themes the author intended was so intricately woven within the the lines of the story that it was something that you could grasp with space for interpretations of your own. The essence of good storytelling 'show don't tell' was wonderfully represented in this one. The writing style of a good mix between poetic and clear cut made this a very easy read without it losing it's depth.
The characters in this was heartbreaking to read, yet from them you see what it means to be brave in different ways, and how even in the smallest ways, the refusal to be completely controlled and colonised is important. When survival is the only thing left to fight for, it is more crucial to put on a performance of obedience but the spark of rebellion is a small match of fire kept hidden way. Oseki, Gobind and Osbert represents different experiences of what it means to live in a world where power becomes the only thing that matters.
As always, south east asia literature tugs at my heartstrings in a way that books by white authors never could, pick this up if you are like me, a beginner in exploring books that represent what it means to be part of this though glorious at times but mostly a culture filled with too much unspoken trauma and buried memories that may yet just take generations upon generations to uncover.
March 10, 2022
The Punkhawala and the Prostitute was a compelling story about 2 deserted souls, Gobind and Oseki who aboard the ship bound for Singapore.
Gobind was a convict who underwent his punishment as a punkhawala and served his new master, Osbert who was obsessed with tiger hunting. The latter, was betrayed by her own father by being sold into prostitution and worked as a karayuki in Brothel Number Thirteen in Singapore.
Told in alternate points of views, the story was being told in a first person; from Gobind and Oseki’s perspectives and sometimes in third person.
Although it switched every now and then, I had no problem in following the storyline and it was comprehensible; I was aware of who was telling the story in the particular chapter.
Although the storyline was a bit draggy, I found myself immersed in the tragic fates of Gobind and Oseki@Panjang. I could feel their pain, regrets, longing, and yearning to go home and be with their loved ones.
It was devastating; of how imperialism, poverty and human exploitation could transform the lives of innocent people into the pit of destruction. We could see how Gobind and Oseki were deep in their own delusions that they couldn’t differentiate between reality and their own thoughts.
There was another underlying issue that the author brought into the light; of greed in the names of wealth and glory by the British colonial.
Rimau Satan, the mythical man-eating tiger was the symbol for this narrative. The greediness of the British imperial in hunting the creature was a cruel act and one of the many causes for tigers’ extinction.
An enjoyable read for my very first #singlit as I was engrossed in the reading.
Gobind was a convict who underwent his punishment as a punkhawala and served his new master, Osbert who was obsessed with tiger hunting. The latter, was betrayed by her own father by being sold into prostitution and worked as a karayuki in Brothel Number Thirteen in Singapore.
Told in alternate points of views, the story was being told in a first person; from Gobind and Oseki’s perspectives and sometimes in third person.
Although it switched every now and then, I had no problem in following the storyline and it was comprehensible; I was aware of who was telling the story in the particular chapter.
Although the storyline was a bit draggy, I found myself immersed in the tragic fates of Gobind and Oseki@Panjang. I could feel their pain, regrets, longing, and yearning to go home and be with their loved ones.
It was devastating; of how imperialism, poverty and human exploitation could transform the lives of innocent people into the pit of destruction. We could see how Gobind and Oseki were deep in their own delusions that they couldn’t differentiate between reality and their own thoughts.
There was another underlying issue that the author brought into the light; of greed in the names of wealth and glory by the British colonial.
Rimau Satan, the mythical man-eating tiger was the symbol for this narrative. The greediness of the British imperial in hunting the creature was a cruel act and one of the many causes for tigers’ extinction.
An enjoyable read for my very first #singlit as I was engrossed in the reading.
December 5, 2021
To avoid spoiling too much of the plot, I’ll just say that I really enjoyed this one. The novel alternates between Gobind’s and Oseki’s perspectives, and both their stories flow so beautifully, and with great sincerity and emotion, it’s impossible not to get carried away. The final third of this story also gets pretty damn wild and disconcerting, and I absolutely loved the drama of it all.
Despite their divergent storylines, a lot of Gobind and Oseki’s experiences are somewhat similar: Lost in a foreign land, discriminated against, and having to fight for survival and their way back to where they belong. I felt so much for them, and was so in awe of their spirit and gracefulness in the face of despair. While this book was definitely more plot-driven, there’s also so much life breathed into the characters (including the rather hilarious caricatures of the Westerners who dominated Singapore at the time) that made it such an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience.
I feel this book will reap new epiphanies/discoveries with each revisit, because there was truly so much packed into these 300-odd pages. And what an incredible ride it was!
Despite their divergent storylines, a lot of Gobind and Oseki’s experiences are somewhat similar: Lost in a foreign land, discriminated against, and having to fight for survival and their way back to where they belong. I felt so much for them, and was so in awe of their spirit and gracefulness in the face of despair. While this book was definitely more plot-driven, there’s also so much life breathed into the characters (including the rather hilarious caricatures of the Westerners who dominated Singapore at the time) that made it such an enjoyable and thought-provoking experience.
I feel this book will reap new epiphanies/discoveries with each revisit, because there was truly so much packed into these 300-odd pages. And what an incredible ride it was!
December 31, 2021
Did you know that St Andrew’s Cathedral was built by convicts? And that SMU is sitting on the site of the former Bras Basah prison?
These are such interesting facts of Singapore’s colonial history that I never learnt in school but now know thanks to “The Punkhawala and the Prostitute”, a historical fiction written by Wesley Leon Aroozoo.
In the late 1800s, two destitute souls were shipped to colonial Singapore. Gobind, a deaf convict from India, serves his sentence as a punkhawala (a servant who manually operates a ceiling fan using a rope and pulley system) to a British master obsessed with killing the man-eating tiger, Rimau Satan. Oseki, a young Japanese girl tricked into prostitution as a karayuki-san, struggles to come to terms with the fact that it was her beloved father who had sold her away.
As each chapter alternates between Gobind and Oseki’s perspectives, Wesley’s immersive writing transported me back in time to Singapore under British rule. I loved the show rather than tell manner of writing; it is almost cinematic. I also found it very interesting that the story was written in both first and third person, enabling us to get deep into the psyche of Gobind and Oseki, while also allowing us to see what’s going on outside.
I loved how Wesley wove so many interesting historical titbits into the story, from prominent figures like Robert Carr Woods and J. F. A. McNair, to places like Bras Basah prison and the Japanese brothels on Malay street. I spent quite a bit of time reading up on these bits of Singapore’s history (NLB is quite the treasure trove of information), and also about punkhawalas and karayuki-san.
This book truly is a tribute to the forgotten ones who had helped shape Singapore’s early history. It offers us a precious glimpse into the lives of the many different groups of people living in Singapore back then, and particularly of the oppression faced by those from the lower social classes. Gobind’s and Oseki’s stories are heartbreaking to read but a stark reminder of how difficult life must have been for these people back then. 4.5/5 ⭐️
Thank you Wesley and Epigram Books for so kindly sending me a copy of this book.
These are such interesting facts of Singapore’s colonial history that I never learnt in school but now know thanks to “The Punkhawala and the Prostitute”, a historical fiction written by Wesley Leon Aroozoo.
In the late 1800s, two destitute souls were shipped to colonial Singapore. Gobind, a deaf convict from India, serves his sentence as a punkhawala (a servant who manually operates a ceiling fan using a rope and pulley system) to a British master obsessed with killing the man-eating tiger, Rimau Satan. Oseki, a young Japanese girl tricked into prostitution as a karayuki-san, struggles to come to terms with the fact that it was her beloved father who had sold her away.
As each chapter alternates between Gobind and Oseki’s perspectives, Wesley’s immersive writing transported me back in time to Singapore under British rule. I loved the show rather than tell manner of writing; it is almost cinematic. I also found it very interesting that the story was written in both first and third person, enabling us to get deep into the psyche of Gobind and Oseki, while also allowing us to see what’s going on outside.
I loved how Wesley wove so many interesting historical titbits into the story, from prominent figures like Robert Carr Woods and J. F. A. McNair, to places like Bras Basah prison and the Japanese brothels on Malay street. I spent quite a bit of time reading up on these bits of Singapore’s history (NLB is quite the treasure trove of information), and also about punkhawalas and karayuki-san.
This book truly is a tribute to the forgotten ones who had helped shape Singapore’s early history. It offers us a precious glimpse into the lives of the many different groups of people living in Singapore back then, and particularly of the oppression faced by those from the lower social classes. Gobind’s and Oseki’s stories are heartbreaking to read but a stark reminder of how difficult life must have been for these people back then. 4.5/5 ⭐️
Thank you Wesley and Epigram Books for so kindly sending me a copy of this book.
July 2, 2022
"As though time has come to a standstill, the punkha hangs dormant above, never giving in to the will of the masters below.
Unnervingly still.
Uncomfortably silent.
But far from being at rest."
Rating: 4.75/5
I have had so many thoughts swirling around in my head ever since I finished this book, but let me start with a brief summary. The Punkhawala and the Prostitute is set during 1800s colonial Singapore, and alternates between the perspectives of Gobind (a young, deaf convict serving as a punkhawala) and Oseki (a japanese prostitute shipped to Singapore). As their paths inevitably cross, their fates get intertwined as they find themselves caught in a web of constant suspense, terror and impending doom, heightened by Aroozoo’s incorporation of historical fiction with mythology and magical realism into the story.
Aroozoo cleverly alternated between Gobind and Oseki’s past and present as a way of getting readers to follow the path chosen by the characters and to understand their plight. Though I initially found it a little confusing, the more I read the clearer it was to me. As someone who enjoys reading about mythology, I particularly loved his inclusion of South east asian mythology alongside East asian mythology as well. Ranging from the tiger myth surrounding Rimau Satan to the myth of the kodamas living in spiritually rich forests, the mix of these mythologies made this book extra appealing to me. Most importantly, Aroozoo’s brilliant storytelling along with his writing style gave me different perspectives of British Singapore by putting us in the shoes of minority voices who struggled to gain a proper, secure standing in a foriegn land filled with overwhelming uncertainties and never ending discimination. For this, I really appreciate his efforts in providing a different outlook of British Singapore.
As a whole, I can confidently say that this is by far my favourite singlit novel, especially with the inclusion of magical/mythical elements whilst portraying an aspect of Singapore’s history that I have not seen much representation for in Singlit fiction. I urge all historical fiction and thriller fans to grab a copy of this book as soon as possible!
Unnervingly still.
Uncomfortably silent.
But far from being at rest."
Rating: 4.75/5
I have had so many thoughts swirling around in my head ever since I finished this book, but let me start with a brief summary. The Punkhawala and the Prostitute is set during 1800s colonial Singapore, and alternates between the perspectives of Gobind (a young, deaf convict serving as a punkhawala) and Oseki (a japanese prostitute shipped to Singapore). As their paths inevitably cross, their fates get intertwined as they find themselves caught in a web of constant suspense, terror and impending doom, heightened by Aroozoo’s incorporation of historical fiction with mythology and magical realism into the story.
Aroozoo cleverly alternated between Gobind and Oseki’s past and present as a way of getting readers to follow the path chosen by the characters and to understand their plight. Though I initially found it a little confusing, the more I read the clearer it was to me. As someone who enjoys reading about mythology, I particularly loved his inclusion of South east asian mythology alongside East asian mythology as well. Ranging from the tiger myth surrounding Rimau Satan to the myth of the kodamas living in spiritually rich forests, the mix of these mythologies made this book extra appealing to me. Most importantly, Aroozoo’s brilliant storytelling along with his writing style gave me different perspectives of British Singapore by putting us in the shoes of minority voices who struggled to gain a proper, secure standing in a foriegn land filled with overwhelming uncertainties and never ending discimination. For this, I really appreciate his efforts in providing a different outlook of British Singapore.
As a whole, I can confidently say that this is by far my favourite singlit novel, especially with the inclusion of magical/mythical elements whilst portraying an aspect of Singapore’s history that I have not seen much representation for in Singlit fiction. I urge all historical fiction and thriller fans to grab a copy of this book as soon as possible!
January 5, 2022
The Punkhawala and the Prostitute is a moving tale of dual protagonists, Gobind and Oseki, who left their homeland under compulsion for Singapore in the late 1800s. Gobind, to serve as a punkhawala for his deranged English master preoccupied with hunting down Rimau Satan and Oseki, as a karayuki sold into the flesh trade by her father. Through the hardships and life’s twist and turns, they cross paths one day and their fates are forever changed…
//REVIEW//
From the get-go, I was sucked into Aroozoo’s brilliant writing. Vividly descriptive yet unpretentious, it was a treat for my mind and a wild ride cover to cover. The pace in which the events unfolded was comfortable and well-balanced with the right level of suspense. I usually feel more for the protagonist(s) and pay less attention to the supporting characters in a story but Aroozoo crafted an excellent set of personalities to make me invested in each and every one of them. It really felt that I had my safari hat on together with Osbert and Bastiani as they cut through the dense foliage of Siranjong (-swats mosquitoes-) for the elusive Rimau Satan.
I was caught by surprise in the last third of the book when magical realism was injected. A little dumbfounded at first but the dust settled quickly for me to comprehend what exactly happened. I am not a fan of fantasy but Aroozoo weaved it in seamlessly to make the story come even more alive while keeping the plot grounded. I also enjoyed reading about the many yokai (the Maneki-Neko is one!) and was googling away on them.
Same same but different as we Singaporeans love to say, this phrase certainly rings true for Gobind and Oseki. Despite how contrasting their backgrounds were, they shared the same quiet strength to overcome the turmoil in their hearts. It was overall an intimate reading experience with palpable emotions. I cannot rave enough about the book and I am so glad Aroozoo chose these two characters, who are so unassuming yet fundamental in Singapore’s history, to pen a tale on.
Thank you @babearusian for sending a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review 😊
//REVIEW//
From the get-go, I was sucked into Aroozoo’s brilliant writing. Vividly descriptive yet unpretentious, it was a treat for my mind and a wild ride cover to cover. The pace in which the events unfolded was comfortable and well-balanced with the right level of suspense. I usually feel more for the protagonist(s) and pay less attention to the supporting characters in a story but Aroozoo crafted an excellent set of personalities to make me invested in each and every one of them. It really felt that I had my safari hat on together with Osbert and Bastiani as they cut through the dense foliage of Siranjong (-swats mosquitoes-) for the elusive Rimau Satan.
I was caught by surprise in the last third of the book when magical realism was injected. A little dumbfounded at first but the dust settled quickly for me to comprehend what exactly happened. I am not a fan of fantasy but Aroozoo weaved it in seamlessly to make the story come even more alive while keeping the plot grounded. I also enjoyed reading about the many yokai (the Maneki-Neko is one!) and was googling away on them.
Same same but different as we Singaporeans love to say, this phrase certainly rings true for Gobind and Oseki. Despite how contrasting their backgrounds were, they shared the same quiet strength to overcome the turmoil in their hearts. It was overall an intimate reading experience with palpable emotions. I cannot rave enough about the book and I am so glad Aroozoo chose these two characters, who are so unassuming yet fundamental in Singapore’s history, to pen a tale on.
Thank you @babearusian for sending a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review 😊
March 30, 2022
{15/2022} 4/5🌟 317 pages
First of all, I love the front and back cover illustration. This book has been crossing my timeline a few times and had been in my TBR list for quite sometime until the author contacted me personally. Thank you for the generosity of this complimentary copy.
The background setting of this story was late 1800’s in Singapore, known as the British colony due to the vast development of its port. Behind all this facade, there were 1001 hidden stories of immigrants having to transform their lives differently on a new land which include Oseki, who was forced to become a karayuki; and Gobind, a deaf convict, fortunately to serve his sentence as a punkhawala. Although both of them came from different worlds and backgrounds, they shared something similar they longed for - the past. Only, their past was intertwined with a monster so-called as Rimau Satan. What and who was Rimau Satan?
I am a visual reader specifically when it comes to literary fiction. Therefore, I seriously applaud writers who are very generous in their descriptions and flow of words - this book is no exception. The scenery, the time, the people were all clearly narrated and visualised. Nevertheless, I have to admit, at some parts, I did cringe at how graphic was some of the scenes involving Oseki. There were also some enriching parts which include the historical facts about Singapore. I couldn’t help but to laugh at one part of a dialogue between two other characters, Osbert and Bastiani, involving the use of “peribahasa” which I thought was funny.
Although this book falls under the historical fiction category, I found it to have a quite unique, or perhaps quirky, storyline. The added mystery and suspense buildings were cleverly placed, halfway through it became unputdownable for me.
The story was built based on personal monologues of the two main characters with additional inclusions from a narrator. Although the story was constructed based on timeline jumping, it won’t burden the reader as the flashbacks were needed as reasonings to the present story.
I would say, the themes of the book would mainly be second chances and hope. The personal monologues of the main characters with their most loved ones became some sort of personal consolations - hope and light- for both Oseki and Gobind, who were faraway from home. These monologues became their personal channels of expressing their pain and anger.
At the same time, all the characters portrayed in the story seemed to be searching for second chances of life to be new individuals, different people - to be better.
Rimau Satan had been making appearances right from the beginning of the story but only towards the end would we know the hidden mystery. Apart from that, I don’t know about other people, I feel that I need more backstory of the two main characters, specifically Gobind, as I think there were some unfinished business about him. What had actually Dr Rothwell discovered? What did he know?
I have been getting the same vibes as when I read Yangsze Choo’s “The Night Tiger” and “Pachinko” while reading this. As a matter of fact, Pachinko’s Kim Min Ha had been crossing my visual reel as Oseki. So, if you have loved the books I mentioned above, there’s a great chance you would love this one too!
I really had a good read and can’t wait for what the author would have in store for his future writings!
#justreaddontbawang #singlit #thepunkhawalaandtheprostitute
First of all, I love the front and back cover illustration. This book has been crossing my timeline a few times and had been in my TBR list for quite sometime until the author contacted me personally. Thank you for the generosity of this complimentary copy.
The background setting of this story was late 1800’s in Singapore, known as the British colony due to the vast development of its port. Behind all this facade, there were 1001 hidden stories of immigrants having to transform their lives differently on a new land which include Oseki, who was forced to become a karayuki; and Gobind, a deaf convict, fortunately to serve his sentence as a punkhawala. Although both of them came from different worlds and backgrounds, they shared something similar they longed for - the past. Only, their past was intertwined with a monster so-called as Rimau Satan. What and who was Rimau Satan?
I am a visual reader specifically when it comes to literary fiction. Therefore, I seriously applaud writers who are very generous in their descriptions and flow of words - this book is no exception. The scenery, the time, the people were all clearly narrated and visualised. Nevertheless, I have to admit, at some parts, I did cringe at how graphic was some of the scenes involving Oseki. There were also some enriching parts which include the historical facts about Singapore. I couldn’t help but to laugh at one part of a dialogue between two other characters, Osbert and Bastiani, involving the use of “peribahasa” which I thought was funny.
Although this book falls under the historical fiction category, I found it to have a quite unique, or perhaps quirky, storyline. The added mystery and suspense buildings were cleverly placed, halfway through it became unputdownable for me.
The story was built based on personal monologues of the two main characters with additional inclusions from a narrator. Although the story was constructed based on timeline jumping, it won’t burden the reader as the flashbacks were needed as reasonings to the present story.
I would say, the themes of the book would mainly be second chances and hope. The personal monologues of the main characters with their most loved ones became some sort of personal consolations - hope and light- for both Oseki and Gobind, who were faraway from home. These monologues became their personal channels of expressing their pain and anger.
At the same time, all the characters portrayed in the story seemed to be searching for second chances of life to be new individuals, different people - to be better.
Rimau Satan had been making appearances right from the beginning of the story but only towards the end would we know the hidden mystery. Apart from that, I don’t know about other people, I feel that I need more backstory of the two main characters, specifically Gobind, as I think there were some unfinished business about him. What had actually Dr Rothwell discovered? What did he know?
I have been getting the same vibes as when I read Yangsze Choo’s “The Night Tiger” and “Pachinko” while reading this. As a matter of fact, Pachinko’s Kim Min Ha had been crossing my visual reel as Oseki. So, if you have loved the books I mentioned above, there’s a great chance you would love this one too!
I really had a good read and can’t wait for what the author would have in store for his future writings!
#justreaddontbawang #singlit #thepunkhawalaandtheprostitute
December 9, 2021
This book was the perfect escape during a time when I was immensely tired and stressed which is strange because it’s not typical escapism fare. However, Wesley Leon Aroozoo spun a tale that was equal parts sad and fantastical and that was just what I needed to recharge each night.
The Punkhawala and the Prostitute follows the lives of two seemingly unrelated souls, brought to the shores of Singapore against their will. I thought it was convincing, how none of the characters viewed Singapore as their home, they were just temporarily here. All too often, narratives about fledgling Singapore try too hard to force a Singaporean spirit but it never felt authentic? In the 1800s, Singapore was pretty much a place to earn a living and that was about it. So I really appreciate Aroozoo’s focus on each character as people from different countries and not “Singaporeans”. It also lent a lovely canvas upon which different myths and folklore could intermingle, especially toward the end of the book.
I have to admit that I was more invested in Oseki’s narrative at first, but that slowly changed as the story progressed. Her stubborn clinging on to her delusions regarding her father started to frustrate me. Although I understood how they were protective in nature, it was still so upsetting watching her grasp at straws, trying to reconcile her mental image of her father and reality. Gobind, on the other hand, started out rather uninteresting in comparison to me, but quickly became otherwise as I realised that not all was as it seemed with him. I really liked how Aroozoo doesn’t tell us plainly what is happening but chooses to show us. This is something I truly appreciate in books and was used really effectively here. Form-wise, I do wonder if this was a deliberate choice on Aroozoo’s part, to have the two narratives almost mirror each other - as Oseki descends into her desperation, pushing herself beyond even humanity, Gobind grows in his self-appointed role as protector, while maintaining a facade of respectability.
The one character I really struggled to empathize with was Osbert. His preoccupation seemed trite compared to Oseki’s and Gobind’s, reflecting the difference between the two classes. It wasn’t till the end of the book, where Osbert finally gets a moment of lucidity that I realise the driving force behind his madness. It made me feel bad about all the eye rolls I had made because of him which really speaks of how clever the writing is. Really, this book was much more layered than I expected and I do think that more can be unpacked if I read it again!
Diversity meter:
Migrant experience
Slavery
The Punkhawala and the Prostitute follows the lives of two seemingly unrelated souls, brought to the shores of Singapore against their will. I thought it was convincing, how none of the characters viewed Singapore as their home, they were just temporarily here. All too often, narratives about fledgling Singapore try too hard to force a Singaporean spirit but it never felt authentic? In the 1800s, Singapore was pretty much a place to earn a living and that was about it. So I really appreciate Aroozoo’s focus on each character as people from different countries and not “Singaporeans”. It also lent a lovely canvas upon which different myths and folklore could intermingle, especially toward the end of the book.
I have to admit that I was more invested in Oseki’s narrative at first, but that slowly changed as the story progressed. Her stubborn clinging on to her delusions regarding her father started to frustrate me. Although I understood how they were protective in nature, it was still so upsetting watching her grasp at straws, trying to reconcile her mental image of her father and reality. Gobind, on the other hand, started out rather uninteresting in comparison to me, but quickly became otherwise as I realised that not all was as it seemed with him. I really liked how Aroozoo doesn’t tell us plainly what is happening but chooses to show us. This is something I truly appreciate in books and was used really effectively here. Form-wise, I do wonder if this was a deliberate choice on Aroozoo’s part, to have the two narratives almost mirror each other - as Oseki descends into her desperation, pushing herself beyond even humanity, Gobind grows in his self-appointed role as protector, while maintaining a facade of respectability.
The one character I really struggled to empathize with was Osbert. His preoccupation seemed trite compared to Oseki’s and Gobind’s, reflecting the difference between the two classes. It wasn’t till the end of the book, where Osbert finally gets a moment of lucidity that I realise the driving force behind his madness. It made me feel bad about all the eye rolls I had made because of him which really speaks of how clever the writing is. Really, this book was much more layered than I expected and I do think that more can be unpacked if I read it again!
Diversity meter:
Migrant experience
Slavery
June 19, 2022
This is my first book of Singapore literature and I love it so much.
Based in 1800s, it is a sad story of 3 different person, Gobind, Oseki and Osbert.
I love the style of writing. Oseki and Gobind are writing to their love one. When Osaki wrote to her father telling him what happen in her daily life and been asking when is he coming to get him just break my heart. The fact that all those letters never reach her father’s hand. When she knew the truth of her circumstance coming to Singapore make me angry. This serious exploitation and betrayal should have never happen by someone of your family.
Gobind is wrongly convict to murder with injustice and shipped to Singapore to work as punkhawala which is a person that pull pulley-mechanical fan. Poeple has been jumped to conclusion from even before and cause a major hurt and changes in somebody’s life.
Two unfortunate people cross path and the fate intervene between them is soothing yet exhilarating. Osbert is the common denominator of how Oseki and Gobind met.
Even though I’m mad at Osbert for not being considerate to his punkhawala, I feel he still has a little bit of humanity in him. When he let Oseki just rest, pay her and not chase her immediately even though he is not interested. I feel like he has been pushed to prove himself and lead to this obsession of Rimau Satan. The highlight of hunting is brought upon. This is also another form of exploitation that happened before and still happening nowadays.
It was interesting to read magical realism and folklore aspect of the story. It makes me think of all the story I heard during childhood especially the one told by my late grandparents.
Based in 1800s, it is a sad story of 3 different person, Gobind, Oseki and Osbert.
I love the style of writing. Oseki and Gobind are writing to their love one. When Osaki wrote to her father telling him what happen in her daily life and been asking when is he coming to get him just break my heart. The fact that all those letters never reach her father’s hand. When she knew the truth of her circumstance coming to Singapore make me angry. This serious exploitation and betrayal should have never happen by someone of your family.
Gobind is wrongly convict to murder with injustice and shipped to Singapore to work as punkhawala which is a person that pull pulley-mechanical fan. Poeple has been jumped to conclusion from even before and cause a major hurt and changes in somebody’s life.
Two unfortunate people cross path and the fate intervene between them is soothing yet exhilarating. Osbert is the common denominator of how Oseki and Gobind met.
Even though I’m mad at Osbert for not being considerate to his punkhawala, I feel he still has a little bit of humanity in him. When he let Oseki just rest, pay her and not chase her immediately even though he is not interested. I feel like he has been pushed to prove himself and lead to this obsession of Rimau Satan. The highlight of hunting is brought upon. This is also another form of exploitation that happened before and still happening nowadays.
It was interesting to read magical realism and folklore aspect of the story. It makes me think of all the story I heard during childhood especially the one told by my late grandparents.
October 17, 2022
"I believe that we are all born to be a certain way. An individual can be clumsy, dim-witted or evil by nature. But I also believe that through nurture, an individual can change and be good." - Wesley Leon Aroozoo, The Punkhawala and The Prostitute
.
🖤 Behind the golden façade of a land filled with opportunities dwell two destitute souls, shipped to Singapore in the late 1800s. Oseki, an ingenue forced into prostitution as a karayuki, grapples with being betrayed by her own father and transforms into a monster she can’t recognise. Gobind, a deaf convict from India, serves his sentence as a punkhawala to a British hunter obsessed with killing Rimau Satan, a man-eating tiger of mythic proportions. Whenever Gobind hunts with his master, his butchered memories lurk in the darkness, aching to pounce. When Oseki’s and Gobind’s paths intertwine, they begin to face their inner demons to find their humanity and their way back home.
.
🖤 Took awhile to finish reading this book. Not because it was slow paced but I tried to read it line by line and didn't even want it to come to an ending but at the same time was intrigued to know how it wouId end. I was mesmerised with the whole story and also the background setting was described like it was so real. I feel like I am transported to the scene and watching them lively.
.
🖤 My favourite part in this book was that I learned a lot about Japanese folktales especially about the 'yokai' origins. And the way the author relates it in Rimau Satan's mythology, I found it is so clever.
.
🖤 The transition between the two characters didn't confused me. It was like reading a memoir and it really touched my heart. Both of them experienced the heartbroken and betrayal by their loved one. It crushed me a lot because they were helpless and as a reader, we could only sympathize and shared their emotion.
.
🖤 I would recommend you to read this book if you are into historical /folktales / mythologies with some thriller and mysteries. I am glad that I have read this book.
.
🖤 Behind the golden façade of a land filled with opportunities dwell two destitute souls, shipped to Singapore in the late 1800s. Oseki, an ingenue forced into prostitution as a karayuki, grapples with being betrayed by her own father and transforms into a monster she can’t recognise. Gobind, a deaf convict from India, serves his sentence as a punkhawala to a British hunter obsessed with killing Rimau Satan, a man-eating tiger of mythic proportions. Whenever Gobind hunts with his master, his butchered memories lurk in the darkness, aching to pounce. When Oseki’s and Gobind’s paths intertwine, they begin to face their inner demons to find their humanity and their way back home.
.
🖤 Took awhile to finish reading this book. Not because it was slow paced but I tried to read it line by line and didn't even want it to come to an ending but at the same time was intrigued to know how it wouId end. I was mesmerised with the whole story and also the background setting was described like it was so real. I feel like I am transported to the scene and watching them lively.
.
🖤 My favourite part in this book was that I learned a lot about Japanese folktales especially about the 'yokai' origins. And the way the author relates it in Rimau Satan's mythology, I found it is so clever.
.
🖤 The transition between the two characters didn't confused me. It was like reading a memoir and it really touched my heart. Both of them experienced the heartbroken and betrayal by their loved one. It crushed me a lot because they were helpless and as a reader, we could only sympathize and shared their emotion.
.
🖤 I would recommend you to read this book if you are into historical /folktales / mythologies with some thriller and mysteries. I am glad that I have read this book.
March 12, 2022
[Book Review] The Punkhawala and The Prostitute
Firstly, big thank you to Wesley Leon Aroozoo for kindly sending me this copy of his latest novel!
Definitely an action-packed page turner from the get-go, The Punkhawala and The Prostitute revolves around the lives of two people who find themselves migrating to Singapore in the late 1800s: Gobind, a deaf convict from the Indian continent who becomes a slave, he is tasked with pulling the strings of the punkah (non-electric fans were used in humid places especially in the South Asian/SEA region) and Oseki, a young Japanese girl who finds herself aboard a ship from Kyoto to Singapore, where she winds up being forced into the karayuki (Japanese prostitute) trade.
While I can 100% appreciate how writing a book is a really challenging, daunting and monumental task (I tried writing a story yesterday and only managed to churn out 563 words in one sitting), as a reader, I struggled with certain aspects of the book: found some parts difficult to stomach - in particular, the goriness, lens of male gaze and female objectification/sexualisation. That was frustrating and uncomfortable for me but I powered through it. I enjoyed all the little botanical and historical details (tidbits like how St Andrew's Cathedral was built by convicts), the protagonists, and the caricatures of the colonial masters: truly, a rare satirical treat. How often do we witness this poking fun at the colonialists?
I was invested in Oseki's and Gobind's stories and as a reader, reading their struggles, really felt this desire to cheer them on and for them to find closure and love (though they aren't real, their stories seem plausible). Will admit I am still a little confused by the open ending. But this was an interesting read, the closest novel I can compare it to is Yangsze Choo's The Night Tiger, with the tiger, folklore, Southeast Asia setting and magical realism. I've read Wesley's earlier novellas, Bedok Reservoir and I Want To Go Home, and I can say with certainty that I definitely see a progression with his work with this captivating, unique, character-driven novel, and look forward to his next book!
Firstly, big thank you to Wesley Leon Aroozoo for kindly sending me this copy of his latest novel!
Definitely an action-packed page turner from the get-go, The Punkhawala and The Prostitute revolves around the lives of two people who find themselves migrating to Singapore in the late 1800s: Gobind, a deaf convict from the Indian continent who becomes a slave, he is tasked with pulling the strings of the punkah (non-electric fans were used in humid places especially in the South Asian/SEA region) and Oseki, a young Japanese girl who finds herself aboard a ship from Kyoto to Singapore, where she winds up being forced into the karayuki (Japanese prostitute) trade.
While I can 100% appreciate how writing a book is a really challenging, daunting and monumental task (I tried writing a story yesterday and only managed to churn out 563 words in one sitting), as a reader, I struggled with certain aspects of the book: found some parts difficult to stomach - in particular, the goriness, lens of male gaze and female objectification/sexualisation. That was frustrating and uncomfortable for me but I powered through it. I enjoyed all the little botanical and historical details (tidbits like how St Andrew's Cathedral was built by convicts), the protagonists, and the caricatures of the colonial masters: truly, a rare satirical treat. How often do we witness this poking fun at the colonialists?
I was invested in Oseki's and Gobind's stories and as a reader, reading their struggles, really felt this desire to cheer them on and for them to find closure and love (though they aren't real, their stories seem plausible). Will admit I am still a little confused by the open ending. But this was an interesting read, the closest novel I can compare it to is Yangsze Choo's The Night Tiger, with the tiger, folklore, Southeast Asia setting and magical realism. I've read Wesley's earlier novellas, Bedok Reservoir and I Want To Go Home, and I can say with certainty that I definitely see a progression with his work with this captivating, unique, character-driven novel, and look forward to his next book!
September 1, 2022
Gobind and Oseki are two different individuals with a child trauma background, Gobind was expelled from his village and Oseki were tricked and sold to a brothel in Singapore. In an attempt to fit it in, they both experience life in a hard way and in the most heartbreaking possible. Set in 90's Singapore, this novel not only keeps its own puzzle and leaves minimal clues enough for the reader to interpret themselves but it also made me deep dive into emotion for the less fortunate people.
This book make me drawn and invested with the character's inner monologue. Their life was miserable enough yet all their decision are made based on their sole instinct to survive. The background setting and social issues in this book also rising a thousand questions worth to self reflect. With a spice of Gobind and Oseki's own beliefs simultaneously, the plot is getting interesting as what is happening is currently intertwined with their mental condition.
All I can say is this book seems like a dreamy reading for me, I didn't know if it happen to the characters or not as sometimes the chapter end and start with a new piece of information in a random timeline. Even so, that is the beauty of the author's writing, his elegant words and his mysterious characters were the essences of this amazing literature read.
Special thanks to the author for giving this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book make me drawn and invested with the character's inner monologue. Their life was miserable enough yet all their decision are made based on their sole instinct to survive. The background setting and social issues in this book also rising a thousand questions worth to self reflect. With a spice of Gobind and Oseki's own beliefs simultaneously, the plot is getting interesting as what is happening is currently intertwined with their mental condition.
All I can say is this book seems like a dreamy reading for me, I didn't know if it happen to the characters or not as sometimes the chapter end and start with a new piece of information in a random timeline. Even so, that is the beauty of the author's writing, his elegant words and his mysterious characters were the essences of this amazing literature read.
Special thanks to the author for giving this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 8, 2022
This was the first time I read the work of Wesley Leon Aroozoo, and hands down he is one of the best Singaporean authors.
The plot is an emotional narrative from the visions of Oseki, a Karayuki San and Gobind, a convict from India who is assigned to be the Punkhawala of a British man. Set in the Colonial era of Singapore's history, the book is an exhilarating page turner, with an in-depth research by the author. Through the amalgamation of History, magical realism and folklore from various cultures, the author brings to you a visual journey of the two protagonists in a strange land in less than desirable circumstances - yearning to go back to a place that was once home.
The plot is an emotional narrative from the visions of Oseki, a Karayuki San and Gobind, a convict from India who is assigned to be the Punkhawala of a British man. Set in the Colonial era of Singapore's history, the book is an exhilarating page turner, with an in-depth research by the author. Through the amalgamation of History, magical realism and folklore from various cultures, the author brings to you a visual journey of the two protagonists in a strange land in less than desirable circumstances - yearning to go back to a place that was once home.
February 7, 2022
The Punkhawala and the Prostitute is such a good read, with its stunning imagery of Japan and India and the people who were forced to abandon these countries, their homes, for "greener pastures" in Singapore. Gobind and Panjang's plight for redemption, their longing for their loved ones, and their finding solace in each other evoked so many emotions from me. Perhaps my only gripe is a missing glossary of all the different Yokais mentioned, but this omission didn't detract me from loving the story.
April 2, 2022
Engaging with a multi-layered plot, cleverly weaving Asian folklore and magical realism with the story about a punkhawala, a prostitute and a hunter in 19th century Singapore.
November 27, 2021
5 stars. This book took many turns, but as Suffian Hakim said, this is the singlit work I’ve been looking for. It’s told from the perspectives of two destitute souls shipped to Singapore in the late 1800s; Oseki’s, an ingenue forced into prostitution as a karayuki, and Gobind’s, a deaf convict from India serving his sentence as a punkhawala.
I felt very invested in both stories, and appreciated the rather “time jumpy” method of storytelling, each chapter satisfying my curiosity for something that just happened while creating new questions about the past. Though I’m typically not a fan of such abstract writing, this book had me hooked from start to finish, and was truly a wonderful read.
While most of my adoration is for the atmospheric writing, I loved the plot too, just that I cannot get into details without giving too much away. Perhaps my favourite thing was seeing the same event happen from each POV, including a third person, and noticing how each character’s perception affected their delivery.
Another praiseworthy aspect was how well fleshed out the secondary characters were, with their clear struggle between being a good person and letting greed take over, yes I’m talking about Bastiani and a certain other character.
Thank you again to the ever generous author for sending this over after seeing that I really wanted to read it!
I felt very invested in both stories, and appreciated the rather “time jumpy” method of storytelling, each chapter satisfying my curiosity for something that just happened while creating new questions about the past. Though I’m typically not a fan of such abstract writing, this book had me hooked from start to finish, and was truly a wonderful read.
While most of my adoration is for the atmospheric writing, I loved the plot too, just that I cannot get into details without giving too much away. Perhaps my favourite thing was seeing the same event happen from each POV, including a third person, and noticing how each character’s perception affected their delivery.
Another praiseworthy aspect was how well fleshed out the secondary characters were, with their clear struggle between being a good person and letting greed take over, yes I’m talking about Bastiani and a certain other character.
Thank you again to the ever generous author for sending this over after seeing that I really wanted to read it!
July 5, 2024
What an interesting turn of events that left me questioning for more! Kinda wanted to know more about the story of the tiger at the end though!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 3, 2023
Had me on the edge of my seat until we got to the ending which was one big question mark. Would be a perfect book if it was a few chapters shorter and a easier to follow ending. Other than that the two main characters tell incredibly compelling stories
November 14, 2021
"You don't need to know all about me to have all of me."
I may not read a lot of singlit/local lit but Wes’s writing never fails to entertain me in his world of storytelling.
This book got me hooked from the beginning.
It intrigued me on what's happening, who are the character and what are their stories.
Oseki and Gobind might come from different countries, facing different problems and the ghost of their past parallel to the reality of their current life, their stories intertwine together how they life they are living are not what they choose but they have to continue with them through all the sacrifices, decision making and surviving till the end.
The suspense of the book got me at the edge of my seat.
Not knowing which step will end up on a cliff, or will the next decision the characters make be the one that saves them.
Wes's writing was easy but very intellectual.
He knows how to pull you in to know the emotions of the characters and their stories that will bleed you through.
Historical fiction is always known for two things; its reality and it might not have a happy ending.
But the lesson taught along the way sometimes represents the current generation or the way society is.
"Do you think I chose to be like this? When we were children staring out at the meadow from the rooftop, we had dreams. We thought we could go anywhere in the world, be anyone we wanted to be. But at some point, we have to stop pretending. We have to accept who we are."
I may not read a lot of singlit/local lit but Wes’s writing never fails to entertain me in his world of storytelling.
This book got me hooked from the beginning.
It intrigued me on what's happening, who are the character and what are their stories.
Oseki and Gobind might come from different countries, facing different problems and the ghost of their past parallel to the reality of their current life, their stories intertwine together how they life they are living are not what they choose but they have to continue with them through all the sacrifices, decision making and surviving till the end.
The suspense of the book got me at the edge of my seat.
Not knowing which step will end up on a cliff, or will the next decision the characters make be the one that saves them.
Wes's writing was easy but very intellectual.
He knows how to pull you in to know the emotions of the characters and their stories that will bleed you through.
Historical fiction is always known for two things; its reality and it might not have a happy ending.
But the lesson taught along the way sometimes represents the current generation or the way society is.
"Do you think I chose to be like this? When we were children staring out at the meadow from the rooftop, we had dreams. We thought we could go anywhere in the world, be anyone we wanted to be. But at some point, we have to stop pretending. We have to accept who we are."
August 20, 2024
3.5*
tw: Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Suicide
video review: https://youtu.be/9ebk4eLbrfc?si=zNobr...
tw: Death, Gore, Sexual assault, Suicide
video review: https://youtu.be/9ebk4eLbrfc?si=zNobr...
November 10, 2021
I started this as soon as i received this in the mail. This story was set in the 1800s, which follows 2 main characters Oseki and Gobind. Oseki was forced to serve as a prostitute when she arrived from Japan into Singapore. Her father betrayed her in Japan. She believed that when she arrived in Singapore she will married someone and live a happy life. Later did she know that she was forced to sleep with other men as a job. Her nickname was "Panjang" as she had beautiful long legs. She tried many ways asking the men she slept with to help her end the misery and deport her back to Japan. Do you think anyone of them listened to her favours??
On the other hand, Gobind was a deaf convict from India, with his sentence as a punkhawala to the a tiger-hunting British master who was obsessed with killing Rimau Satan, the man-eating tiger. The way he was treated from his master was rather heartbreaking. His childhood was not an easy one to live as well.
Towards the end of the book, their paths intertwine with one another as they had to work together to conquer the inner demons which were after them. The ending of this book was rather a shocker to me because i was intrigued by the whole suspense of the story. The world building and plot was very raw which is rather hard to find in out singaporean books. The author really took alot of time researching about the cultures and setting of the historical time.
I would highly recommend this book as if you want a raw cultured story about how singapore was back in the day when our forefathers came into this land! Things were not as easy as it was. Don't take it for granted!
On the other hand, Gobind was a deaf convict from India, with his sentence as a punkhawala to the a tiger-hunting British master who was obsessed with killing Rimau Satan, the man-eating tiger. The way he was treated from his master was rather heartbreaking. His childhood was not an easy one to live as well.
Towards the end of the book, their paths intertwine with one another as they had to work together to conquer the inner demons which were after them. The ending of this book was rather a shocker to me because i was intrigued by the whole suspense of the story. The world building and plot was very raw which is rather hard to find in out singaporean books. The author really took alot of time researching about the cultures and setting of the historical time.
I would highly recommend this book as if you want a raw cultured story about how singapore was back in the day when our forefathers came into this land! Things were not as easy as it was. Don't take it for granted!
January 26, 2022
my rating : 4.25 / 5 stars
I actually have no idea where to start with this review except the fact that I loved this book so much! This is my first ever Sing-Lit and I think other books I will read next soon will really be put up against tough competition because this one is simply beautiful and I was hooked from the very first page. YOU HAVE NO IDEA. I ALMOST CRIED READING THE VERY FIRST PAGE. (I did though, a little sob) This book is set in the 1800s in which we follow the forgotten lives in Singapore. We have a prostitute and a punkhawala (a slave who manually operates fan by pulling the cords of a fan so it moves) and also a tiger hunter. I love the setting, it is very close to home, in our neighbouring country Singapore and it made me feel more connected with the story, because during those times, Malaysia was probably having a similar backdrop as well.
We follow Gobind the punkhawala and Oseki the prostitute as they were whisked away into this suny island, forcing themselves to toughen up and grow despite the hardships they faced. The narrative switches between first person and third person, this is definitely a refreshing take for something like this would confuse people if not executed well but in this case it works effortlessly and it adds more layers and history to the characters themselves. I loved Gobind’s longing for his wife and slowly we go back in time as he recounts his days with his wife, while in the third person narrative we see him live his life as a punkhawala.
We have Oseki, a karayuki (a Japanese prostitute) who revolves her life around her father, and being betrayed and shipped off to Singapore to become a prostitute, she has questions and hopes of returning back home to reunite with her father again. I loved her so much, I am moved by her story and I think I was drawn to Oseki’s chapters more (BUT I LOVE THEM BOTH EQUALLY SO YOU CANNOT COME AT ME) because I am more interested to see her path and how she would end up like. I felt so much emotions with her, and the things she’s been through left an impact on how fortunate we are right now, and how tough life is back then. I loved her resolution though in the end, I think the author has done such a great job wrapping up her arc!
We also see Osbert, who is literally obsessed with hunting a mystical beast, the Tiger Satan. I feel like I’ve read many reviews saying they did not connect to Osbert, but I feel the opposite. I like him as a character, but of course I despise him in the book. I feel like he is like many of us, seeking validation and also trying to prove himself and gain his footing in the society. I think his obsession is derived from how we long for approval and we feel like we must do something extraordinary and incredible to gain that, even if it means losing ourselves in order to achieve that and stepping into a completely different field. His drive and determination to hunt down the tiger has led to his downfall but I think it is from the moment he seeks to do whatever it takes to capture the beast he truly loses himself and everything after that is just the aftermath of him spiralling into madness and insanity.
The thing that has took some points off the rating is probably the last quarter of the book for me. I did not expect it to be a magical realism book so it was kind of confusing to me when (if you know you know) things started happening. Like the shift in storytelling. But after I adjusted myself (read some reviews and knowing that what I understood from my reading experience is completely on par with the delivery) I really loved it too! I love that the tale also incorporates various folklores and mythological creatures (no spoilers!) The ending, I must say, is super brilliant and smart! I loved that each character kind of comes full circle, like it may not be a perfect happily ever after, but it is definitely a satisfying one for readers. The writing is also so lyrical and beautiful I teared up multiple times throughout this novel and that says so much! HELLO? DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS BOOK.
Overall, I think this book is such a phenomenal read for me! I love the depth and the beautiful tale Wesley has woven, and I really recommend it to everyone out there who is interested in the forgotten lives throughout history. This is a magical read that intertwines with history and folklores that will keep you turning the pages and I really think this is such a unique novel I think everyone will get something out of the book itself!
Thank you so much to the author for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This book is now available to purchase! Malaysians, go get it from Bookalicious now!
“When we were children staring out at the meadow from the rooftop, we had dreams,” she tells him gently. “We thought we could go anywhere in the world, be anyone we wanted to be. But at some point, we have to stop pretending. We have to accept who we are.”
I actually have no idea where to start with this review except the fact that I loved this book so much! This is my first ever Sing-Lit and I think other books I will read next soon will really be put up against tough competition because this one is simply beautiful and I was hooked from the very first page. YOU HAVE NO IDEA. I ALMOST CRIED READING THE VERY FIRST PAGE. (I did though, a little sob) This book is set in the 1800s in which we follow the forgotten lives in Singapore. We have a prostitute and a punkhawala (a slave who manually operates fan by pulling the cords of a fan so it moves) and also a tiger hunter. I love the setting, it is very close to home, in our neighbouring country Singapore and it made me feel more connected with the story, because during those times, Malaysia was probably having a similar backdrop as well.
We follow Gobind the punkhawala and Oseki the prostitute as they were whisked away into this suny island, forcing themselves to toughen up and grow despite the hardships they faced. The narrative switches between first person and third person, this is definitely a refreshing take for something like this would confuse people if not executed well but in this case it works effortlessly and it adds more layers and history to the characters themselves. I loved Gobind’s longing for his wife and slowly we go back in time as he recounts his days with his wife, while in the third person narrative we see him live his life as a punkhawala.
“Just promise me you won’t do it again. Don’t suddenly walk away,” you pleaded as you grabbed my hand as you have done a thousand times before.
We have Oseki, a karayuki (a Japanese prostitute) who revolves her life around her father, and being betrayed and shipped off to Singapore to become a prostitute, she has questions and hopes of returning back home to reunite with her father again. I loved her so much, I am moved by her story and I think I was drawn to Oseki’s chapters more (BUT I LOVE THEM BOTH EQUALLY SO YOU CANNOT COME AT ME) because I am more interested to see her path and how she would end up like. I felt so much emotions with her, and the things she’s been through left an impact on how fortunate we are right now, and how tough life is back then. I loved her resolution though in the end, I think the author has done such a great job wrapping up her arc!
Both of us were being forced to grow out of our childhood early and harden our hearts. The only difference was that nobody helped me.
We also see Osbert, who is literally obsessed with hunting a mystical beast, the Tiger Satan. I feel like I’ve read many reviews saying they did not connect to Osbert, but I feel the opposite. I like him as a character, but of course I despise him in the book. I feel like he is like many of us, seeking validation and also trying to prove himself and gain his footing in the society. I think his obsession is derived from how we long for approval and we feel like we must do something extraordinary and incredible to gain that, even if it means losing ourselves in order to achieve that and stepping into a completely different field. His drive and determination to hunt down the tiger has led to his downfall but I think it is from the moment he seeks to do whatever it takes to capture the beast he truly loses himself and everything after that is just the aftermath of him spiralling into madness and insanity.
The thing that has took some points off the rating is probably the last quarter of the book for me. I did not expect it to be a magical realism book so it was kind of confusing to me when (if you know you know) things started happening. Like the shift in storytelling. But after I adjusted myself (read some reviews and knowing that what I understood from my reading experience is completely on par with the delivery) I really loved it too! I love that the tale also incorporates various folklores and mythological creatures (no spoilers!) The ending, I must say, is super brilliant and smart! I loved that each character kind of comes full circle, like it may not be a perfect happily ever after, but it is definitely a satisfying one for readers. The writing is also so lyrical and beautiful I teared up multiple times throughout this novel and that says so much! HELLO? DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS BOOK.
Overall, I think this book is such a phenomenal read for me! I love the depth and the beautiful tale Wesley has woven, and I really recommend it to everyone out there who is interested in the forgotten lives throughout history. This is a magical read that intertwines with history and folklores that will keep you turning the pages and I really think this is such a unique novel I think everyone will get something out of the book itself!
Thank you so much to the author for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This book is now available to purchase! Malaysians, go get it from Bookalicious now!
May 5, 2022
Just a disclaimer, I had no idea what a punkhawala is when I first started reading and had to google it multiple times. (And misspelling it countless times too oops). For anyone curious, a punkhawala finds its origins in India and is used to refer to servants who are tasked with manually operating a fan through a pulley system.
The Punkhawala and the Prostitute tells the interwoven tale of a punkhawala, Gobind, and a prostitute, Oseki (also referred to as Panjang) as forced immigrants to Singapore in the late 1800s. In this period, tiger hunting was prevalent amongst the British, which is also used as the main plot device in the book. We first follow the experiences of Gobind and Panjang in their respective servant roles in the homes of the British and the brothel respectively, catching glimpses of their individual struggles with their personal histories. As the story develops, the two seemingly separate storylines converge to tell a compelling one of immigration, colonialism and identity.
This read took me on a rollercoaster ride! I would have to be honest and say that the many characters introduced right at the start of the book did throw me off a little. But as we went along, I got comfortable with each of them and became less of an issue. To be fully immersed in the storytelling, I really recommend you to come with the biggest and most out-of-the-world imagination you can have. Aroozoo truly has a way with words, as with many other reviews too, he does amazing with his “show and not tell” storytelling. While it might be a little tough to keep up with the development, I felt so immersed in the world as I tried to piece together what was exactly happening. This was definitely a unique experience for me as a reader! I also enjoyed how there were abundant references to Asian folklore and how the beliefs in these folklores were an important element in the entire storyline. If you are a big fan of folklore, this book is definitely for you!
The Punkhawala and the Prostitute tells the interwoven tale of a punkhawala, Gobind, and a prostitute, Oseki (also referred to as Panjang) as forced immigrants to Singapore in the late 1800s. In this period, tiger hunting was prevalent amongst the British, which is also used as the main plot device in the book. We first follow the experiences of Gobind and Panjang in their respective servant roles in the homes of the British and the brothel respectively, catching glimpses of their individual struggles with their personal histories. As the story develops, the two seemingly separate storylines converge to tell a compelling one of immigration, colonialism and identity.
This read took me on a rollercoaster ride! I would have to be honest and say that the many characters introduced right at the start of the book did throw me off a little. But as we went along, I got comfortable with each of them and became less of an issue. To be fully immersed in the storytelling, I really recommend you to come with the biggest and most out-of-the-world imagination you can have. Aroozoo truly has a way with words, as with many other reviews too, he does amazing with his “show and not tell” storytelling. While it might be a little tough to keep up with the development, I felt so immersed in the world as I tried to piece together what was exactly happening. This was definitely a unique experience for me as a reader! I also enjoyed how there were abundant references to Asian folklore and how the beliefs in these folklores were an important element in the entire storyline. If you are a big fan of folklore, this book is definitely for you!
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