by Joan Cher

While trying to find a starting point for this assignment, I was stumped. Having not read much ‘Singapore Literature’ in the first place, I had absolutely no idea what to write on! So, I decided to browse through the websites that Prof. Holden had suggested in the assignment description. I found When The Bough Breaks by Tammy Wong on the “Recently Published” list of the Ethos Books website, and I was quite intrigued by the blurb provided, which promised insights into the human condition (and in the Singaporean context, no less!). So, I brashly went forth and bought the book.

Now, to admit, I am not very interested in dance – no matter what, I can’t seem to cultivate much of an understanding (and thus, appreciation) of it. For me, it’s just people flailing around strangely on stage. (Sorry to any dancers out there!) And so, I was definitely not expecting it (or very enthusiastic about it, initially) when I flipped my new book open at a random page, only to be confronted by pictures of dance performances. Unfortunately, I had already purchased the book! So I soldiered on, hoping it wasn’t a colossal waste of money.

The narrative is split into two perspectives: Tammy’s and Elizabeth’s. We gain insights into their respective childhoods, learning about the trials that they faced growing up. Tammy skillfully weaves the two narratives intricately, effortlessly moving from the past to the present. Due to the autobiographical nature of the novel, Tammy’s voice is obvious and clear throughout the novel. What I found very impressive however, is the fact that she has managed to give Elizabeth her own district voice.

The storyline follows both Tammy and Elizabeth, through the ages. It is split under four headings: “Prelude”, “Tammy & Elizabeth, Elizabeth & Tammy”, “Some Choreographic Notes/Dance Musings” and “Serene Jade, Flawless Crystal”. “Prelude” starts out in the aftermath of September 11 2001, where Tammy decides to give up on her dance career. In the devastation of September 11, Tammy starts obsessing about Elizabeth Choy. She says that “All I wanted to know, was how a woman who had seen the beast in Man, found the courage to live on, and to live so fully”. “Tammy & Elizabeth, Elizabeth & Tammy” follows the life stories of both Tammy and Elizabeth, ending with both of them embarking on a new lease of life, with Elizabeth freshly freed from prison and Tammy’s flourishing dance company. The third heading speaks for itself, containing basically choreographic notes and musings on the dance. However, it is important to note a time skip here – this section would be the last if one were to go through the book chronologically. In “Serene Jade, Flawless Crystal”, we finally see the meeting of Elizabeth and Tammy that was set up in the first section, and the book concludes softly in Elizabeth’s voice.

Despite the misgivings I conceived when I first opened the book, I really enjoyed the book, despite (or perhaps, in spite) of the fact that I had little to no understanding of dance – in fact, I think I finished the book with a better understanding and appreciation of dance! The in-depth explanations that Tammy provided really helped shape my understanding of the art form. For example, in the chapter titled “Untitled Female Solo”, it states that “She (the dancer portraying the character of Elizabeth) bows her head and unfolds her hands as they lead her closer to the ground, to suggest the weight of her memories flowing forth.” The detailed explanation of the dance steps she provides not only serves to draw the reader into the inner workings of Tammy’s mind, but also helps to not alienate the ones challenged in dance appreciation (like me!). The fact that she includes a section solely dedicated to “Some Choreographic Notes/Dance Musings” shows the importance and influence of dance in her life – instead of simply talking about the significance of it for herself, she shows us. She takes the time to explain the meaning undergirding the dance steps she choreographs, allowing the reader to understand her and her motivations better.

Another facet I found really fascinating in the book was the portrayal of Elizabeth Choy. As I said earlier, I found the fact that she had a distinct voice in the novel very remarkable. The autobiographical nature of the novel would seem as if it would merely push to other Elizabeth’s voice in the novel, yet, it feels as if we can detect a tone other than simply Not Tammy – a characteristic of most of the other characters in the novel. This made the novel really enjoyable as it felt like I was not simply reading about a retelling of Elizabeth’s story through Tammy, but it felt like I was listening to Elizabeth tell her own story. The effect this created was quite thrilling for me, as she had been through so much, and it really felt like we, the readers, were listening to her tell us directly about her experiences.

Moreover, the fact that she did not lose her faith – even in humanity – was particularly poignant. She relies on her faith to sustain her at many points in the novel, when she is put in prison and especially when she is being tortured for information. At the end of the novel, we see that despite the torture she went through, she retains the strong faith that characterises her:

“I will tell you, young dancer, that when I had to face my tormenters again as court, when I was asked to identify them, the only thing left for me to say then was that war is evil, war makes people do bad things, and we must understand, God is the judge, not us, and so I will not wish to inflict any punishments to the Japanese man that had abused me so violently.

I see you listen attentively. I will tell you, I wish for their pardon instead.”

Thus, we find Elizabeth Choy remains a fantastic role model (as she has generally been touted) to girls and boys alike. Her grace under pressure and subsequent forgiveness of the people who have wronged her so grievously serve to set her as someone we can all look up to. The way in which she is portrayed in this novel plays true to what we all admire in her: the indomitable human spirit incarnate in the person of Elizabeth Choy.

The study of the human condition in the context of Singapore through the experiences of Tammy and Elizabeth brought an entirely new dimension to the novel, where a Singaporean reader can (and possibly, would) not only sympathise with the struggles of the protagonists but we can put ourselves in their shoes and empathise. In the case of Tammy, any young, struggling artist in Singapore can look at her example and see a glimmer of hope on the horizon. Additionally, the story of Elizabeth’s life from childhood until she is released from prison, gives us a better historical perspective on Singapore – what it was like to live through the war and occupation. Reading about her ordeals in the modern day Singapore, I cannot but feel grateful for the fact that we live in such a (comparatively) peaceful day and age.