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Little Ironies: Stories of Singapore
97 pages
First published June 1, 1978
34 people are currently reading
690 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Lim
51 books79 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
林宝音 in Chinese
Catherine Lim Poh Imm (Chinese: 林宝音; pinyin: Lín Bǎoyīn, born 21 March 1942) is a Singaporean fiction author known for writing about Singapore society and of themes of traditional Chinese culture. Hailed as the "doyenne of Singapore writers", Lim has published nine collections of short stories, five novels, two poetry collections, and numerous political commentaries to date.
(from Wikipedia)
林宝音 in Chinese
Catherine Lim Poh Imm (Chinese: 林宝音; pinyin: Lín Bǎoyīn, born 21 March 1942) is a Singaporean fiction author known for writing about Singapore society and of themes of traditional Chinese culture. Hailed as the "doyenne of Singapore writers", Lim has published nine collections of short stories, five novels, two poetry collections, and numerous political commentaries to date.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
May 13, 2008
Like the tittle, this short story collection is indeed about little ironic things concerning Singapore and its people. Trivial it may sound, but when i read the book, those stories quite blew me away, especially the twists that the Catherine Lim utilizes at the end of most stories. Wow.
March 28, 2017
Now this is how you tell stories. Each time when journalists ask me who is my idol in literary world, Catherine Lim name will always be mentioned. Was first introduced to her work by a Singaporean friend.... and i will pick up anything by Catherine Lim when i was bored in Brunei.
April 8, 2019
On A Little Street In Singapore
On a little street in Singapore, the Ugly One’s body was dragged out of the Singapore River, and on another little street in Singapore, the children ate the offerings that were supposed to be for their deceased sister. This is such an unassuming little book, with a dated cover and grainy picture, and it is a perfect fitting for the saying that you should never judge a book by its cover.
Catherine Lim comes from a generation when Singaporeans first started to write about themselves with greater intensity. Old enough to remember the (not so) good old times, yet able to translate these memories into brilliant stories, Lim paints a picture of a Singapore which is no more, a Singapore which was in transition, a Singapore which grew up too quickly. The essence of everyday futilities, worries and anxieties are captured with such clarity, and this has the effect of the stories coming to life in the theatre of your mind. The stories are not particularly happy ones, but indeed, they are quite ironic.
I cannot express my self any better, but I simply loved these stories, and I am lending this wee little book left right and centre, and all I receive are positive reviews. A little gem of brilliant story telling.
On a little street in Singapore, the Ugly One’s body was dragged out of the Singapore River, and on another little street in Singapore, the children ate the offerings that were supposed to be for their deceased sister. This is such an unassuming little book, with a dated cover and grainy picture, and it is a perfect fitting for the saying that you should never judge a book by its cover.
Catherine Lim comes from a generation when Singaporeans first started to write about themselves with greater intensity. Old enough to remember the (not so) good old times, yet able to translate these memories into brilliant stories, Lim paints a picture of a Singapore which is no more, a Singapore which was in transition, a Singapore which grew up too quickly. The essence of everyday futilities, worries and anxieties are captured with such clarity, and this has the effect of the stories coming to life in the theatre of your mind. The stories are not particularly happy ones, but indeed, they are quite ironic.
I cannot express my self any better, but I simply loved these stories, and I am lending this wee little book left right and centre, and all I receive are positive reviews. A little gem of brilliant story telling.
January 15, 2020
Nostalgia — a probing, bittersweet ache for a particular moment in the past. This book has evoked a gush of childhood memories for me. Suddenly, I’m transported to the exact moment when my eye was caught by cover design of this very book, nestled among hundreds of others on the shelves of Parkway Parade’s MPH bookstore. I thought: wow, this old lady (on the cover) looks a lot like my late ah-ma. She looks lonely, tired, and sad. But strong in spirit. Just like my ah-ma. I scrambled for whatever pocket money I had and bought the book.
Over a decade later, I chanced upon this title in my local library and saw it as a sign from above to read this little treasure again. While the stories were quite dated (set in the 1970-80s in Singapore), Catherine Lim proves to be a master in crafting down-to-earth, soulful short stories that resonates with the local community in Singapore. The sensitivity in her writing is a mark of keen observance and deep compassion for the heartlanders. And that makes a timeless piece of writing.
Kudos to one of the greatest local writers of all time.
Over a decade later, I chanced upon this title in my local library and saw it as a sign from above to read this little treasure again. While the stories were quite dated (set in the 1970-80s in Singapore), Catherine Lim proves to be a master in crafting down-to-earth, soulful short stories that resonates with the local community in Singapore. The sensitivity in her writing is a mark of keen observance and deep compassion for the heartlanders. And that makes a timeless piece of writing.
Kudos to one of the greatest local writers of all time.
January 18, 2025
Catherine Lim's "Little Ironies" is a captivating collection of short stories that offers a poignant and often humorous glimpse into the lives of ordinary Singaporeans. As the title suggests, irony is a key element, with many stories featuring unexpected twists and turns that leave a lasting impact. This collection truly blew me away with its insightful observations and skillful storytelling. It's no wonder that Catherine Lim is one of Singaporean literary icons; her ability to craft compelling narratives within just a few pages is remarkable. I was first introduced to her work by a Singaporean friend when I first arrived in Singapore and have been seeking out her books ever since.
"Little Ironies" paints a vivid picture of a Singapore in transition, a Singapore of the past that is rapidly disappearing. While the stories are set in the 1970s and 80s, the themes they explore—greed, materialism, love, family dynamics, and the pressures of modern life—remain relevant today. Lim captures the essence of everyday anxieties and worries with such clarity that the stories come alive in the reader's mind. Although the narratives aren't always cheerful, they are consistently insightful and thought-provoking.
The collection evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, particularly for those familiar with Singaporean culture. The mannerisms, superstitions, and cultural values of the characters feel authentic and relatable. It's like listening to stories told by a wise grandmother, albeit with more structured narratives and impactful twists. While the Singapore depicted in "Little Ironies" might be somewhat different from the highly modernized nation of today, the underlying human experiences and cultural nuances still resonate.
While the stories themselves are excellent, I did find the writing occasionally over-descriptive, with some repetitive word choices and slightly clunky phrasing. However, this minor flaw doesn't detract significantly from the overall impact of the collection. The themes explored are universal, but presented with a distinctly Singaporean (and broadly Asian) flavor. The stories offer insights into issues such as academic pressure, filial piety, and the complexities of human relationships, all within the context of a rapidly changing society.
Each story offers a unique perspective and a compelling narrative, but some of my personal favorites include "The Father," "The Teacher," "Adeline Ng Ai Choo," and "The Taximan's Story." Each of these stories, and many others in the collection, provide a satisfying twist at the end, leaving the reader pondering the ironies of life. It's easy to see why this book is often studied in Singapore secondary school literature classes; it offers rich material for discussion and analysis.
Despite some minor stylistic quibbles, "Little Ironies" is a truly captivating collection that I wholeheartedly recommend. It is a testament to Catherine Lim's skill as a storyteller and her deep understanding of the human condition. It's a book that stays with you long after you've finished reading.
"Little Ironies" paints a vivid picture of a Singapore in transition, a Singapore of the past that is rapidly disappearing. While the stories are set in the 1970s and 80s, the themes they explore—greed, materialism, love, family dynamics, and the pressures of modern life—remain relevant today. Lim captures the essence of everyday anxieties and worries with such clarity that the stories come alive in the reader's mind. Although the narratives aren't always cheerful, they are consistently insightful and thought-provoking.
The collection evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, particularly for those familiar with Singaporean culture. The mannerisms, superstitions, and cultural values of the characters feel authentic and relatable. It's like listening to stories told by a wise grandmother, albeit with more structured narratives and impactful twists. While the Singapore depicted in "Little Ironies" might be somewhat different from the highly modernized nation of today, the underlying human experiences and cultural nuances still resonate.
While the stories themselves are excellent, I did find the writing occasionally over-descriptive, with some repetitive word choices and slightly clunky phrasing. However, this minor flaw doesn't detract significantly from the overall impact of the collection. The themes explored are universal, but presented with a distinctly Singaporean (and broadly Asian) flavor. The stories offer insights into issues such as academic pressure, filial piety, and the complexities of human relationships, all within the context of a rapidly changing society.
Each story offers a unique perspective and a compelling narrative, but some of my personal favorites include "The Father," "The Teacher," "Adeline Ng Ai Choo," and "The Taximan's Story." Each of these stories, and many others in the collection, provide a satisfying twist at the end, leaving the reader pondering the ironies of life. It's easy to see why this book is often studied in Singapore secondary school literature classes; it offers rich material for discussion and analysis.
Despite some minor stylistic quibbles, "Little Ironies" is a truly captivating collection that I wholeheartedly recommend. It is a testament to Catherine Lim's skill as a storyteller and her deep understanding of the human condition. It's a book that stays with you long after you've finished reading.
December 17, 2022
I sat down with this book to have a snack, intending to read one or two of the stories, but couldn't stop reading and just finished the whole book in one sitting. Reading them made me feel like I was listening to one of my grandmother's stories, though these ones are obviously a little less gossipy and have more elaborate narrative arcs. Little Ironies was written in the 80s, but it presents a mundane, genuine Singapore that still somewhat exists, despite efforts by the government to sanitise and modernise its communities. The mannerisms, superstitions, and cultural values of these Singaporean Chinese characters are still more or less the same ones I see in my extended family, only slightly diluted by time, so I was able to fully appreciate Lim's exposition of different facets of this culture. For the most part, the stories aren't preachy, at least to my taste, but it is clear that by exposing, Lim meant to criticise, and in this respect it is sad to note that the issues she saw in Singaporean society forty years ago are still very real today (I just Googled and found that youth suicide in Singapore hit a record high last year, and I'd find it hard to believe that none of them were because of academic pressure, which if anything has only increased in the last forty years).
I will say one thing, which almost made me bump this down to a 4: while I thought that the stories were excellent, I wasn't always impressed by the writing, which I found to be a bit overdescriptive at times, with adjectives and adverbs that I felt made the reading clunky and might better have been omitted. Sometimes the use of a nice word would be somewhat marred by the use of the very same word two or three paragraphs later, which felt a bit amateurish.
Also the printing of my edition (republished by Hodder Education) is absolutely atrocious. Font sizes would randomly get bigger and smaller, and I found a typo every five or six pages (some were really egregious, such as spelling the main character's name wrong three times in one page, and once a footnote appeared four pages before the actual page that referenced it). This is just on one readthrough, which really makes me wonder if the manuscript even passed through an editor before heading to the press. Perhaps these things could be fixed in a later printing, or honestly, it would be nice if a better publisher could pick up this book and give it the typographical treatment it deserves.
I will say one thing, which almost made me bump this down to a 4: while I thought that the stories were excellent, I wasn't always impressed by the writing, which I found to be a bit overdescriptive at times, with adjectives and adverbs that I felt made the reading clunky and might better have been omitted. Sometimes the use of a nice word would be somewhat marred by the use of the very same word two or three paragraphs later, which felt a bit amateurish.
Also the printing of my edition (republished by Hodder Education) is absolutely atrocious. Font sizes would randomly get bigger and smaller, and I found a typo every five or six pages (some were really egregious, such as spelling the main character's name wrong three times in one page, and once a footnote appeared four pages before the actual page that referenced it). This is just on one readthrough, which really makes me wonder if the manuscript even passed through an editor before heading to the press. Perhaps these things could be fixed in a later printing, or honestly, it would be nice if a better publisher could pick up this book and give it the typographical treatment it deserves.
April 12, 2022
Another collection of stories by auntie Catherine.
It takes a great amount of wordsmithing skill to write a coherent yet moving story within a few pages.
She did it. Many times. So often she had to compile them into a book. Many times.
I won't go into details as I don't like to see nor spread spoilers. Spoiler spreaders are the worse and should be subjected to some of the worse fates I can's even think of.
Yet, I won't be surprised if those reviews are the most upvoted. That itself is a little irony, right there.
Which about sums up this book, I guess - people getting their comeuppance through their own doing or because of a thing they initially adored.
I would prefer this collection over "Or Else, The Thundergod" even though there were some overlaps and similarities between events and characters of the stories.
It takes a great amount of wordsmithing skill to write a coherent yet moving story within a few pages.
She did it. Many times. So often she had to compile them into a book. Many times.
I won't go into details as I don't like to see nor spread spoilers. Spoiler spreaders are the worse and should be subjected to some of the worse fates I can's even think of.
Yet, I won't be surprised if those reviews are the most upvoted. That itself is a little irony, right there.
Which about sums up this book, I guess - people getting their comeuppance through their own doing or because of a thing they initially adored.
I would prefer this collection over "Or Else, The Thundergod" even though there were some overlaps and similarities between events and characters of the stories.
December 31, 2020
I remember finding this book in my cupboard back when I was still in primary school, so when I re-read this book many of the stories were vaguely reminiscent of my childhood. Four stars because while I enjoyed most of the short stories, a few were not to my liking. My favourites are The Father, The Teacher, Adeline Ng Ai Choo and The Taximan's Story. I didn't enjoy "Miss Pereira" because the ending was very confusing for me, same for "Eggs" in general. What I really appreciate from this collection of short stories, other than the hugely-satisfying twists you receive like a gift at the end of each story, is the underlying themes behind each story - one can definitely understand why this book is studied in secondary school literature classes. Themes like greed, wealth, materialism, love, morals, education, filial piety, all with a distinct Singaporean (or Asian in general) flavour. A great read!
November 28, 2017
I loved Little Ironies! Lim has taken experiences and observations from her years in Singapore and has masterfully constructed them into windows into the complexities of humanity. Lim approaches each person and situation with as much objectivity as I have ever read. I can't wait to read the rest of her work!
July 24, 2021
I first read this at 12, when this was my Sec 1 Literature book. I didn't have strong impressions of it, each story being so short.
I finished this book again this time very quickly. Formulaic ironies, although I'm not sure what the irony in the last one is. That the friend has an Ugly heart? What's the irony in that?
It would have been fun to see different kinds of ironies.
I finished this book again this time very quickly. Formulaic ironies, although I'm not sure what the irony in the last one is. That the friend has an Ugly heart? What's the irony in that?
It would have been fun to see different kinds of ironies.
December 22, 2024
Some thoughts/observations on these stories:
The Father - Ironically, a father treats his dead child better than his living children. ⚰️
Paper - Buying shares is scary when you don’t know when to stop and become (literally) mad from losing so much money—and by extension your dreams of owning a beautiful house. 💸
The Teacher - Ironically, a pedantic teacher stupidly misses out on his student’s cries for help in her essay compositions. 📝
Miss Pereira - An ironic tale of Miss Pereira falling for a scammer and not realising it even until the end. 💰
Lottery - A gambler addicted with playing the lottery gets obsessed with searching for numbers—drawing them from her dreams and even from tragic accidents! 🚑
Male Child - Not having a male child becomes an excuse for a man to have an affair. 🤰🏻
Properly Married - A comical adventure of a kept woman desperately wanting to get “properly married” with her partner. 👰🏻
The Journey - A moving story of a dying man who chooses to go back to his relatives living in a shabby house in the village, instead of staying in his luxurious modern-day bungalow, to spend his last days. 🛤️
Love - Love is depressingly practical in Singapore’s society, where concerns of money and luxury play a big role in determining whether or not you fully love someone. ❤️
Eggs - Heartbreakingly, eggs become a source of trauma for a girl who gets scolded and beaten for eating eggs and playing with a doll with an egg-shaped face. 🥚
The Marriage - A hilariously ironic story of a woman who gets married to an old man for his money and because of that, has to keep up the pretense of love all the way, even when she has a much more attractive admirer! 😂
Adeline Ng Ai Choo - A tragic story that depicts how academic pressure imposed by parents can push a student to the brink of life. 💯
The Chosen One - An old woman who sells wares along the roadside is chosen by the goddess Kuan Yin to have special healing powers. ✨
Monster - An old and ugly bed frame belonging to a mother is a monster to her daughter-in-law, who only realises towards the end that this “monster” is worth a lot of money. 🛏️
The Taximan’s Story - A taximan recounts to his customer the story of his smart daughter who secretly engages in debauchery. 🚖
The Jade Pendant - The jade pendant is something to boast about in this story of class differences. 💎
The Ugly One - The ugly woman selling jade is not the ugliest woman in this story of deception and selfishness. 💵
Overall, Little Ironies is a very compelling and readable collection of short stories set in Singapore that had me captivated throughout. These stories feel so close to home and astutely depicts the turn of mind of Chinese Singaporeans, especially when Singapore was still a developing nation! 🇸🇬
4.75/5
The Father - Ironically, a father treats his dead child better than his living children. ⚰️
Paper - Buying shares is scary when you don’t know when to stop and become (literally) mad from losing so much money—and by extension your dreams of owning a beautiful house. 💸
The Teacher - Ironically, a pedantic teacher stupidly misses out on his student’s cries for help in her essay compositions. 📝
Miss Pereira - An ironic tale of Miss Pereira falling for a scammer and not realising it even until the end. 💰
Lottery - A gambler addicted with playing the lottery gets obsessed with searching for numbers—drawing them from her dreams and even from tragic accidents! 🚑
Male Child - Not having a male child becomes an excuse for a man to have an affair. 🤰🏻
Properly Married - A comical adventure of a kept woman desperately wanting to get “properly married” with her partner. 👰🏻
The Journey - A moving story of a dying man who chooses to go back to his relatives living in a shabby house in the village, instead of staying in his luxurious modern-day bungalow, to spend his last days. 🛤️
Love - Love is depressingly practical in Singapore’s society, where concerns of money and luxury play a big role in determining whether or not you fully love someone. ❤️
Eggs - Heartbreakingly, eggs become a source of trauma for a girl who gets scolded and beaten for eating eggs and playing with a doll with an egg-shaped face. 🥚
The Marriage - A hilariously ironic story of a woman who gets married to an old man for his money and because of that, has to keep up the pretense of love all the way, even when she has a much more attractive admirer! 😂
Adeline Ng Ai Choo - A tragic story that depicts how academic pressure imposed by parents can push a student to the brink of life. 💯
The Chosen One - An old woman who sells wares along the roadside is chosen by the goddess Kuan Yin to have special healing powers. ✨
Monster - An old and ugly bed frame belonging to a mother is a monster to her daughter-in-law, who only realises towards the end that this “monster” is worth a lot of money. 🛏️
The Taximan’s Story - A taximan recounts to his customer the story of his smart daughter who secretly engages in debauchery. 🚖
The Jade Pendant - The jade pendant is something to boast about in this story of class differences. 💎
The Ugly One - The ugly woman selling jade is not the ugliest woman in this story of deception and selfishness. 💵
Overall, Little Ironies is a very compelling and readable collection of short stories set in Singapore that had me captivated throughout. These stories feel so close to home and astutely depicts the turn of mind of Chinese Singaporeans, especially when Singapore was still a developing nation! 🇸🇬
4.75/5
September 13, 2017
One of my favourite works of Singaporean writing.
September 1, 2019
Literary snapshots of Singaporean everyday life with a recurring theme of "prosperity vs happiness".
May 13, 2020
superb collection of short stories. Some of the finest contemporary fiction writing in English to come out of SE Asia.
April 25, 2023
Every short story is gorgeous and well written. I read it all in one sitting.
September 7, 2024
Funny and depressing little stories that I remembered reading when I was much younger. Incisive.
August 16, 2025
4.25 stars.
These short stories packed a punch. Deep irony from each story and some were unsettling and cruel.
These short stories packed a punch. Deep irony from each story and some were unsettling and cruel.
March 17, 2025
These are short stories alright. Tiny in fact!
I enjoyed glimpses to the life of Singaporeans at the time. However, since the stories are short and quippy, I didn't feel like I was fully immersed in the atmosphere of the era or truly understood Singapore and its people. The latter was my goal in picking up this book, but maybe it was not necessarily the intention of the author so I can't fault her for that.
The writing feels very Singaporean for sure! I love that Singlish is used instead of standard English. This gave the proses an endearing quality that lacks in a guidebook of local culture for example.
All the stories live up to the title of the book: little ironies!
I enjoyed glimpses to the life of Singaporeans at the time. However, since the stories are short and quippy, I didn't feel like I was fully immersed in the atmosphere of the era or truly understood Singapore and its people. The latter was my goal in picking up this book, but maybe it was not necessarily the intention of the author so I can't fault her for that.
The writing feels very Singaporean for sure! I love that Singlish is used instead of standard English. This gave the proses an endearing quality that lacks in a guidebook of local culture for example.
All the stories live up to the title of the book: little ironies!
February 13, 2025
Was hoping to feel something more. Catherine Lim is the reason why I picked up this book, amazing writer in every way.
February 17, 2020
3.5 star
October 8, 2012
Short stories about conflicts between young and old, man and wife, parent and child, rich and poor. Yes, they do have a cultural context. Yes, some points are being made, but maybe the stories are a bit shallow.
December 7, 2015
Very perceptive and thought-provoking. The author joined our bookgroup discussion - what a treat! It added another dimension to our discussion, hearing how the stories evolved from early memories. The themes are just as relevant today, as they were when published nearly 40 years ago.
August 12, 2019
Had this as a reading text in school, and all I remember is the story of the girl who ate too many eggs, which tells you that it was quite forgettable.
October 6, 2013
I dont really finished the whole book but we were given the 'The Taximan's Story' part to be analyzed and so that is it. But I wish to read the whole book. Later maybe? :)
Read
July 25, 2014nice
September 2, 2014
4.5/5 stars
September 14, 2020
Didn’t quite appreciate this book till I picked it up again seventeen years later. Favourites include, The Taximan’s Story, The Jade Pendant, and Paper.
Read
February 18, 2017i want read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
bøgernes-verden
October 12, 2018Malaysia og Singapore
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