Revenge‘s matter-of-fact narrative belies the nuance, complexity and depth of thought and feeling this novel so capably explores. Lead Yannie is at the mercy of her circumstances, but knowingly so; insightfully even, as though a captive that holds the key.

Lim’s prose precision translates into intensity and largely introspective musings take on an uncommon and compelling urgency. I found myself admiring cleverly concise phrasing — the simplest of sentences, understated observations, that pack the punch of a sledgehammer. Continue reading >> https://www.bookloverbookreviews.com/2020/09/s-l-lim-on-revenge-murder-in-three-... ( )

Revenge, Murder in Three Parts, is author S.L. Lim’s follow-up to her debut novel, Real Differences, (which won the UTS Glenda Adams Award for New Writing in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, and which I reviewed here). Revenge is a very dark novel indeed.

The central character, Yannie, spends a good deal of her life nursing resentments from family life which favours the male, and when she gets the opportunity to ‘overcome the monster’ she doesn’t hesitate. The novel debunks the stereotype of Asian family unity, and reinforces the preconception that Asian males are favoured. Along the way the reader recognises that progress in acceptance of gay relationships has a long way to go in Singapore.

The third person limited narration means that the reader knows only Yannie’s perspective. The story begins with the narrator describing the physical abuse that her brother Shan dishes out, and her parents’ refusal to do anything about it. (It’s more than just sibling rough-and-tumble, much more). Yannie’s gender means that she is not only expected to endure her parents’ favouritism, but also to defer to their decisions that lead to him having a great career while she has to give up ambitions for further study and has to work in their shop.

To read the rest of my review please visit https://anzlitlovers.com/2020/07/28/revenge-murder-in-three-parts-by-s-l-lim/ ( )