3 Works

Ian McEwan, Black Dogs

This book can be broken into two sections. It gives us the perspectives of two different worldviews through the eyes of two different characters who are an estranged couple. June is a mystic and Bernard is a person who believes in Science and progress. The story is narrated through their son-in-law, Jeremy. The backdrop is after the Berlin wall collapses and the residue of its effects are still being felt. The black dogs represent a metaphor that takes on multiple meanings.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Love in the Time of Cholera

This novel is about the lives of Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza. They are young lovers, but when Fermina’s father finds out about the relationship, he forces his daughter from seeing him. Fermina is later made to marry Dr Juvenal, who is a rich doctor. Florentino Ariza chooses to keep himself spiritually pure and wait for Fermina. The novel complicates the notion of love and purity.

Alfian Sa’at, Malay Sketches

This book includes multiple short stories. It records the fictional stories of Malay people and perspectives in Singapore. Some examples would include people in lower economic statuses struggling to find purpose in Singapore. There are also stories about younger Malays who are struggling with their Malay identity in Singapore.

This particular book could be used in secondary schools for literature. Firstly, it is a local text that the students could readily relate to. Also, It discusses themes from the perspective of minority races, enabling students to expand their scope with regards to how problems of race still exist in Singapore. Furthermore it discusses themes related to relationship and love. These particular stories will resonate with students and draw them to read the other stories, especially for students who do not read expansively. The stories are also steeped in figurative language, which will enable students to develop their literary techniques while also studying the book