QUOTES FROM ISLAND VOICES....
Tanjong Rhu
"like a clove of garlic or what, talking bout peeling my eye"
this shows that ah ma's eyesight was very bad and she doesnt want to be treated in the modern way. she doesnt like the thinking of peeling her eyes.


Evening under frangipani
"I don't suppose you have much in the way of soup at home . Difficult to drink soup with your hands"
Elaine's mother was attacking Prakash by throwing insults at him teling him that his kind used hands to drink soup and not spoons but, he attacked back saying that middle east and India was the first to invent cutleries.


Lee
"meat is poison"
this shows that Lee was vegetarian and doesnt eat meat. she even raised the point saying that maet was poison.


A history of tea
"a storm in the teacup"
its a saying that means a small matter could escalate into a BIG problem.


A dream of china
"could I get him out of china"
He wants to get him out of his own countr and internal conflict struggle with their own feelings


Release
"our dog is pregnant"
the neighbour was being impolite and rude in his words.


An obituary for fifth aunt come late
"a bronchial cough that wouldn't go away"
she was very sick and unhealthy and already in a bad state of health. without medication and treatment she would die.


Corridor
"who said I would not be happy at home"
this shows that the mother loves her home and like to stay at home. maybe she was old and dont like to travel.


Mid autumn
"I forbid you"
this shows that the mother doesnt want her daughter to go to Uganda. the mother is also trying to control her daughter's life and make choices in her life. the mother also didnt want her to go because she had sacrificed alot of things for her and doesnt want her efforts to be wasted.


Hamid and the hand of fate
"salmah fished out two ten dollar notes and stuff them in her bosom''
salmah kept asking money from hamid since she knew that hamid had received alot of money from the freak accident. She also knew that Hamid would not spend the money.


Pastime
"even simple things are so difficult"
he did not have the courage to face the girl and knowing the truth. he was scared about the truth as he know it was going to be painfull.


Paper
"do you know , mother , if I sold all my shares today , I would have the money to buy fifty terrace houses like one you have"
it shows that they earned alot of money from the shares. the money they earned could even buy fifty terrace houses. he aws like showing off his money.


The martyrdom of Helena Rodrigues
"enable her to tyrannize most people with normally sensitive consciences"
Helena make people feel guilty. She loves to play with people's feelings. She make her "VICTIMS" feel guilty and bad about their actions.


Sundowner
"no doctor tuan, but the bidan says tijah is alright"
this shows that Aman did not believe in modern medicine and used traditional medicine and ways.