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If We Dream Too Long

by Goh Poh Seng, Koh Tai Ann
If We Dream Too Long
If We Dream Too Long

Singapore's youth navigating dreams versus reality.

"If We Dream Too Long" is more than just a piece of fiction; it's a cultural time capsule that offers a window into the dreams and struggles of young Singaporeans during a transformative era. If you have ever felt caught between your personal aspirations and societal expectations, you’ll find Kwang Meng's journey both poignant and relatable. This novel is like a conversation with a friend who understands the yearning for something more amidst life's pressures.

  • NBDCS (National Book Development Council of Singapore) Book Awards for English Fiction (1976)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

If We Dream Too Long

by Goh Poh Seng, Koh Tai Ann
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9789971694456
Authors: Goh Poh Seng, Koh Tai Ann
Publisher: NUS Press
Date of Publication: 2010-01-01
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction
Related Topics: Asian Literature, Literature
Goodreads rating: 3.64
(rated by 495 readers)

Description

Widely regarded as the first Singapore novel, If We Dream Too Long explores the dilemmas and challenges faced by its hero, Kwang Meng, as he navigates the difficult transitional period between youthful aspirations and the external demands of society and family. Shy and sensitive, he feels detached from mainstream life and is unable to identify with the values that animate his friends. Kwang Meng takes refuge in dreams of exotic faraway places, and imagines merging himself with the sea, which he loves. Yet amidst this uncertainty, the reader feels that all is not lost, that the young dreamer will eventually find his way. Kwang Meng's experiences reflect the author's fascination with the question of self amidst the dreariness and aimlessness of an increasingly urbanized and materialistic Asian society. This book also provides a fascinating portrait of Singapore as it was in the 1960s, a landscape and society that have undergone many changes but remain faintly visible in modern Singapore. Since its first publication in 1972, If We Dream Too Long has moved and delighted generations of readers. This much-loved novel has been used as a text in university literature courses in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines, and has been translated into Tagalog and Russian.
 

Singapore's youth navigating dreams versus reality.

"If We Dream Too Long" is more than just a piece of fiction; it's a cultural time capsule that offers a window into the dreams and struggles of young Singaporeans during a transformative era. If you have ever felt caught between your personal aspirations and societal expectations, you’ll find Kwang Meng's journey both poignant and relatable. This novel is like a conversation with a friend who understands the yearning for something more amidst life's pressures.

  • NBDCS (National Book Development Council of Singapore) Book Awards for English Fiction (1976)
Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.