Assessment:

Plot: Thong's Datuk is an intriguing, but ultimately rather perplexing story of a family accepting how a once pivotal figure in their lives has slipped into frailty.

Prose: Thong's story is written clearly, but in a manner that may strike readers as overly formal and stiff in execution.

Originality: Stories of falls from grace are not uncommon, but few books focus explicitly on how old age changes us and the perceptions of others. Intriguingly, Thong integrates a surreal--but underdeveloped--element to the novel.

Character/Execution: Characters are unfortunately difficult to parse out, particularly as their interior lives are only superficially explored. Ultimately, the characters emerge primarily as archetypal, and their relationships with one another resonate largely within that framework.

Date Submitted: August 26, 2020