Corridor: 12 Short Stories

Author: Alfian Sa'at

Book Locations
  • Chinatown

    Walking through Singapore's Chinatown after reading Alfian Sa'at's Corridor, one becomes acutely aware of the layers of stories etched into its bustling streets and weathered facades. The scent of incense mingles with the aroma of hawker fare, a sensory reminder of the collection's exploration of Singaporean identity and the ever-present tension between tradition and modernity. The vibrant colours of the shops, selling everything from traditional medicines to cheap souvenirs, reflect the characters' diverse experiences and the complexities of navigating a rapidly changing society. Notice the way the light falls on the aging architecture, hinting at the unspoken histories and the quiet struggles of those who call this place home, echoing the book's sensitive portrayal of marginalized voices and their search for belonging within the corridors of Singaporean life.

  • Orchard Road

    To walk down Orchard Road after reading Alfian Sa'at's "Corridor" is to experience a disquieting dissonance. The avenue, famed for its glossy shopping malls and aspirational displays of wealth, becomes a stage for the anxieties simmering beneath Singapore's polished surface. The meticulously curated window displays now appear as hollow promises, reflecting the characters' struggles with identity, class, and the ever-present pressure to succeed in a relentlessly consumerist society. The air, thick with perfume and the murmur of countless transactions, feels heavy with unspoken tensions and the quiet desperation of those navigating the complex social hierarchies so acutely observed in Sa'at's stories. The glittering facade can’t quite mask the underlying unease; instead, it amplifies the sense of alienation and precariousness that haunts the characters within "Corridor," making the familiar landscape feel subtly, yet profoundly, unsettling.

  • Tanjong Pagar

    Tanjong Pagar, with its blend of preserved shophouses and modern skyscrapers, embodies the tensions simmering within Alfian Sa'at's Corridor. As you walk its streets, consider the characters grappling with tradition and modernity, belonging and displacement, mirrored in the architecture. The meticulously restored facades hint at the weight of history and inherited expectations, while the looming towers represent the relentless march of progress and the anxieties of being left behind. Notice how the area’s vibrant colours and bustling atmosphere contrast with the quiet desperation felt by many of the protagonists, each searching for connection and a sense of self in a rapidly changing Singapore. The air itself seems to hold the unspoken stories of those navigating the corridors of their own lives, much like the characters whose vulnerabilities are laid bare within the book.

  • Boat Quay

    NA

  • Raffles Place

    Stepping into Raffles Place after reading Alfian Sa'at’s Corridor is to enter a landscape charged with the anxieties and aspirations of Singaporean identity. The sterile, modern architecture, reflecting wealth and ambition, becomes a stark backdrop against which the characters’ internal struggles play out. Knowing their stories transforms the hurried pace of the crowds into a palpable tension, a collective striving that can feel both liberating and suffocating. The imposing skyscrapers, symbols of success, might appear less like monuments to progress and more like silent witnesses to the compromises and hidden costs of chasing an elusive dream. The air hums with the unspoken pressures felt by those navigating the corridors of power and personal fulfillment, making the district a physical manifestation of the collection's exploration of societal expectations.

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