Speed Camera & Other Stories by Thusitha De Silva; illustrated by Joyce Ng C.L. (2002)

In my plodding attempts to read more books about Singapore, I’m also trying to read more books from Singapore. This has led me back to my favorite little library in town curated by about 160 donors who supply their own favorite books. I’ve found more Singapore-focused books here than anywhere else in town.

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Why I Borrowed Speed Camera & Other Stories

This book intrigued me, as its backmatter touts itself as:

A peculiar look at ordinary Singapore things. Sometimes sad, but most of the time mad, Speed Camera comprises 16 stories, all written by a Singaporean author and illustrated by a Malaysian artist.

After a quick flip through the book, I sensed Shel Silverstein in the illustrations and noted that the “stories” were actually written in verse. I was immediately interested enough to add it to my small pile for the next few weeks.

Very likely, had I actually read any of the text, I’d not have borrowed it. It’s atrocious—one of the worst books I’ve read in a long, long time—though I did read the book in its entirety. I honestly can’t believe I finished it.

What a Terrible, Terrible Book

The stories are on-the-spot made up by a writer who admits that he has a knack for making his friends laugh at the pub with his witty rhymes. That’s all well and good—continue making up funny little “poems” at the pub and with your half-drunk friends. But garnering chuckles from knuckleheads across the table should in no way allow a person to rise to the caliber of Published Author.

There are so many writers and poets out there who submit their high-quality, blood-sweat-and-tears efforts to publishers, only to get rejected over and over. These people try, try, and try again, and most never get to see their names in print. So when I see something like this nonsense actually published (even if it’s self-published!), I get a little angry on behalf of the many would-be authors who didn’t have luck (or friendships or cash) on their sides to make their dreams a reality.

I’ve felt these emotions before, though rarely. One worthless book that comes to mind is Pre-K Alphafriends Big Book, the most atrocious kindergarten book on the planet—and there are some doozies! Another is 666 by Salem Kirban (1970).

Two Saving Graces

There are only two saving graces in this book. First are the illustrations by Joyce Ng C.L. (shamefully unnamed on the cover). Her drawings truly are in the Shel-Silverstein camp and are (for the most part) intelligible and quirkily humorous. They’re the main reason I kept reading the book.

Second is the author’s shortest poem, a quatrain called “Toe-Boy.” It’s an admittedly clean, pointed, silly poem that deserves its place in a compendium of children’s verse—though not a compendium entirely by this author.

Conclusion

This book had some slight cultural info about Singapore, though I didn’t learn anything important from it. I spent a wasted hour with it, and that’s all right. I “needed” another source of frustration besides the Singaporean immigration system or their cell-phone regulations, and this book became the perfect little punching bag.

©2026 E.T.

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