{"product_id":"if-only-they-knew","title":"If Only They Knew","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis novel asks the questions about the role of women in\nmarriage, the burden of cultural inheritance, the oppression inherent in being\na minority and ultimately, the costs of not being true to oneself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nSet in the 2010s of Singapore, the story begins with protagonist, Saloma Salem,\nan entrepreneur who believes that her ethnicity has impeded her success in\nlife. As a result, she steadfastly rejects her race and culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\nThis strains her relationship with her mother who still lives alone in their\nsmall family flat. Determined to be independent, she leads a simple life\ndespite Saloma’s generous allowance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eTheir fractious relationship breaks down when she forces her\nantiquated beliefs about a wife’s role on Saloma.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe story tells how far Saloma would go to deny her culture,\nthe efforts she takes to save her marriage and to maintain the image of a\nperfect life. But her plans go awry, forcing her to confront her own demons.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eAnita Othman\u003c\/b\u003e is a born and bred Malay Singaporean who\ngrew up with a love of reading at a young age. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eSecond-hand book stores became her second home for many\nyears. She graduated from the National University of Singapore with a degree in\nLiterature and English Language. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eShe was a civil servant for more than a decade until her\nhusband was posted to Germany. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eAs a result, she stopped working and joined him together\nwith their daughter. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eWith time on her hands, she focused on her love of creative\nwriting. After Germany, the family moved to Jakarta where she became a regular\ncolumnist for the \u003ci\u003eJakarta Globe \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eJakarta Post\u003c\/i\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eOn her return to Singapore, she started on her debut novel\nwhile pursuing a Diploma in Sports Science. Her novel \u003ci\u003eStill Waters\u003c\/i\u003e was\npublished in 2021.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"TIMES DISTRIBUTION PTE LTD","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44958185685199,"sku":"9789815058086","price":27.14,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0574\/5662\/3823\/files\/download_bef31acb-6851-404e-ba7d-b701102edab9.jpg?v=1774833535","url":"https:\/\/popular.com.sg\/products\/if-only-they-knew","provider":"Popular Book Company Pte Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}