Word: lim
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Another dualism that Lim consistently manipulates is that which exists between the gods and goddesses of the Singaporean pantheon, and the mortals who supplicate to them. From the very beginning of the novel, the gods are denigrated and demonized by the poor women and bondmaids who have been victimized by their carelessness. Han's mother prays as a last resort before selling her daughter. But finally she is forced to realize that "Sky God has no eyes nor ears" for the helpless village women who "had cried to [him] from time immemorial" for relief from abusive husbands and yearly pregnancies...
...mythical feel of the novel is not without its problems, however. Lim often intersperses Han's dream sequences with the more direct prose of the remainder of the novel, presumably because these visions help to chronicle Han's transition, even within her lifetime, from a mortal to a goddess. This technique also results in a great deal of befuddlement for the reader; the line between a stylistic intent and a confused style becomes unclear. Events may occur rather believably in one chapter, before being contradicted when reality is revealed in the next...
...able to separate Han's hallucinations from reality. But meanwhile, as Han rants to everyone who will listen, "I gave birth to a son. I saw him. I touched him," the reader does not know whether to believe her claims or dismiss her delirium as does everyone else. But Lim may just intend to make the reader empathize with Han's own confusion at the admittedly odd circumstances of the delivery...
...study abroad. Perhaps it is liberal feminist indoctrination, perhaps inadequate character development, that makes an American reader wonder, "Is he really worth all this?" Whatever its cause, weariness is perhaps the one feeling a reader should not have towards the protagonist of a novel of this caliber. But Lim's Han arouses not only weariness but also impatience--of the sort one feels towards a roommate who talks just a little too much about the man she's been dating. You want to say "enough already...
...also because, when an author promises controversy, and indeed advertises on the premise of disturbing and shocking her audience, an extraordinarily daring and unique story is needed to live up to expectations. Although she offers her readers a worthy and challenging story, Lim falls short on fulfilling these very much self-prescribed goals...