Scribbles from the Same Island by Humphreys, Neil (2004) Paperback

by Neil Humphreys

Neil Humphreys is back with more 'Scribbles from the Same Island'. He is not rich, doesn't own an apartment, and doesn't have many expatriate privileges, but nonetheless manages to remain the same funny bloke happily living in the small estate of Toa Payoh in Singapore. One year after his best-selling, 'Notes From An Even Smaller Island' had the whole of Singapore laughing helplessly, Neil Humphreys is still madly in love with his humble but stimulating existence on the sunny island of Singapore. So much, in fact, that he now makes a living poking gentle fun at every oddball aspect of Singaporean life. Expect to find more of his take on SPG, sex, doctors, toilets, farecards -- all seemingly innocuous subjects but made hilarious through his witty observations.

Romance campaigns? Public transport system? Nothing is safe from Neil's humorous scrutiny. Not even the unsuspecting creatures at the zoo, and certainly not the bawdy nightlife at Geylang.

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Humor

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Neil Humphreys is a British humour columnist and author of three best-selling books about Singapore - Notes From an Even Smaller Island (2001), Scribbles from the Same Island (2003) and Final Notes from a Great Island (2006). The last of these was on Singapore's bestsellers list for several consecutive weeks, proving the popularity of his writings among Singaporeans. His latest book in this series - Return to a Sexy Island - was released in June 2012.

Brought up in Dagenham, London, England, Humphreys arrived in Singapore in 1996 and had initially planned on staying in Singapore for only 3 months. However, he instantly fell in love with the island-state and decided to settle there. Humphreys has always lived in Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats in Toa Payoh, a public housing estate in central Singapore, despite moving twice. Although he is a foreigner, he has chosen to assimilate himself into the Singapore culture through living in HDB flats, eating at local kopitiams and trying out many things that the locals do. He often pokes fun at Western expatriates working in Singapore by comparing their living habits with his own, criticising them for their aloofness from the local society and their extravagant lifestyles.

Reviews

[Xin Ru Toh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book consisted of a collection of newspaper columns written by an expatriate living in the Singapore heartlands. He poked fun at issues which were current affairs back in the early 2000s, such as government campaigns to improve romance and birth rates, popularity of gambling and prostitution, 'kiasu' or competitive ideologies and behaviour, as well as biased attitudes toward white expatriates. Although this book was not as laugh-out-loud funny as I remembered his previous book Notes From An Even Smaller Island to be, this was nonetheless a witty take on the Singaporean psyche (which seemingly has not changed all that much since the book was published in 2003).

[Niva Manivannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The articles in the book are funny. Maybe since I’m reading it in 2024 the book seems outdated? It’s a fun read, not for someone who is easily offended! :)

I definitely needed something light like this after the much heavier books I’d been reading:)

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tales of Singapore but the author's writing style begins to grate after a while. He's a bit of a juvenile twat...

[Paige Kilian · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Crystal Riley Koenig · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first book was great, but the second one came up a little short. Humphreys said that he never intended to write a second book but was convinced by his editor. I thought his reluctance showed through.

Aside from feeling a little forced, the book was even more negative than the first. Humphreys' cynicism was hilarious in the first book, but in the second he just ended up sounding whiny. And he never stops criticizing other foreigners- for driving cars, for living in condos instead of HDBs, for not hanging out at hawker centres. BUT if the foreigners get too close and marry a Singaporean, he castigates them for that too. Apparently white people just can't do Singapore the right way...unless they're Neil Humphreys, of course. He acts like he's the only white guy to ever truly experience Singapore. His self-righteousness is exhausting.

More of my thoughts on the book are here: http://cbsingapore.blogspot.com/2010/...

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really like reading about Singapore's culture and the inclusion of our well known Singlish.

Neil did bring out some cultural tidbits that even as local born native Singaporeans we sometimes do miss out. If you're a 'Singaphile', it is a good book that would get you laughing.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

another good read. (:

[Lia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Neil Humphreys' second book on his experiences on the social aspects of Singapore. Humorous anecdotes broken down into small chapters, that were originally published in a newspaper column.

[Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Part 1 was good. Whereas the sequel is boring and bland...