THE SECRETS OF MY UNIVERSE

"Glitz, Gossip, and Greed: Ong Chin Huat's Harmony Heights Exposes the Underbelly of Opulence"

Harmony Heights by Ong Chin Huat

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

Harmony Heights by Ong Chin Huat

Authors: Ong Chin Huat

ISBN: 978-9815144512

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Dramedy

Length: 288 Pages

Publication Date: February 2024

Publisher: Penguin Random House SEA

Cover Designer: Chinmayee Samant | Website: chinmayeesamant.com

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3PRgeva

About the Writer: After graduating from the London School of Economics with a law degree and later called to the Bar in both the United Kingdom and Malaysia, Ong Chin Huat studied History of Art at the British Institute of Florence in Italy. Deciding to pursue a career in journalism, he became the first Chinese person to work at the Hong Kong Tatler as the Social Editor. After a stint as a columnist at the South China Morning Post, he started his own PR Consultancy specialising in fashion and luxury goods. He has been a judge for the Miss Asia Pageant in Hong Kong, Miss Charm de Chine in Shanghai and Mrs.International Global Grand Final in Kuala Lumpur. Currently, he is a freelance writer, fashion stylist and TV Host and has contributed to The Star, Life Inspired, Luxurious Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Design Anthology, Elle and Conde Nast Traveller among others. He hosted a TV Show called ‘Hong Kong High Life’ on ATV Hong Kong as well as a talk show named ‘Driven’ on TheStarTV.com. Voted as one of Hong Kong’s Best Dressed Personalities by the Hong Kong Fashion Designer’s Association, he has met and interviewed everyone from movie stars and business tycoons to politicians and world-class athletes.

Ong Chin Huat (Source: Tatler Asia)

Instagram: @chinhuat_ong

Disclaimer: This review is only intended to initiate discussions. The opinions and views presented in this article are my own and do not reflect anything about the book's author.

REVIEW

Ong Chin Huat's Harmony Heights takes us on a whirlwind tour of a Malaysian condominium complex. The setting is idyllic – a low-density condo retreat on the outskirts of KL. But beneath the surface of manicured lawns, designer facades, wealth, respectability lurk dysfunctions, deceit, mental health struggles, and a hunger for power.

The novel lays bare the hypocrisy of a society that prides itself on status while rotting from the inside out, where acts of desperation and greed could be seen as personal failings and systemic issues that perpetuate the cycle of disparity.

The strength of Chin Huat's novel lies in its characters. They're a fascinating bunch, each harbouring secrets that could shatter the illusion of their perfect lives. We've got a cast that's more crowded than a Black Friday sale. We have typical high-society types with closets so deep that you could lose a pair of Jimmy Choos in there and not find them until next season. Here, gossip flows faster than teh tarik at a mamak stall. But then we also get a glimpse of the struggles of the domestic workers and the immigrants trying to make ends meet. And the secrets? Oh, they're juicier than a ripe mango on a hot day.

Chin Huat throws us into this melting pot of cultures, nationalities, and social classes. There's Jan and Erika, a lesbian couple with their adopted Bangladeshi daughter, and Azizah, a former singer, alongside the wannabe aristocrat Padma and her equally troubled daughter Shivana. Widya, the Indonesian maid, harbours a secret romance with the groundskeeper, Iqbal, who lives with Asperger's. Let's not forget Dr. Desmond, a controlling patriarch who paints a far cry from the image of a respectable doctor. And many more! All with a side of drama that could give any soap opera a run for its money.

From Azizah's battle with menopause and its psychological effects to Padma's ****mania and Shivana's ****mia, Chin Huat paints a vivid picture of individuals struggling to cope with their personal demons. (**** - Mental health issues not mentioned to avoid spoilers.)

The initial chapters meander slowly, like a monsoon breeze. We're bombarded with introductions, each character sketch accompanied by a peek into their past and present woes. Just when you think it can't get any wilder, the narrative explodes around the 100-page mark. Flaws unfurl, secrets spill, relationships combust, and the narrative transforms into a full-blown suspenseful noir.

Despite the meticulously crafted build-up, the resolution is both abrupt and unbelievable. The individual character arcs are conveniently left dangling to readers' imagination. "Harmony Heights" stumbles in its attempt at a grand finale. The climax feels rushed, failing to deliver a satisfying resolution to the multitude of brewing conflicts.

Instead of a grand, unifying climax, we get a series of individual denouements. The individual resolutions feel underwhelming. The ending is open-ended, not in a way that tantalizes but in a manner that feels incomplete. It's like devouring a seven-course meal only to find the main course missing.

Harmony Heights gets bogged down by its sprawling cast and melodramatic climax. The constant brand-dropping becomes a distraction. It's like the characters are walking advertisements, but it gets a bit eye-roll-inducing after a while.

There's also a nagging sense of missed opportunities. The overarching societal issues teased throughout the novel remain unexplored. Each resident is a potential protagonist, brimming with a backstory and struggles begging to be explored. Honestly, this feels like the first season of a killer show - this gossip rag of a novel deserves a second act! (I can't wait to see where Chin Huat takes things next.) Each book could delve into the lives of a specific character or group, tackling social issues and personal battles with greater nuance. Each book could culminate in a character arc that feels earned, delivering the closure that the sprawling narrative of the single novel lacks.

Despite its shortcomings, the novel has flashes of brilliance. The characters, especially Jan, Erika, Widya, and Iqbal, are endearing and complex. The book is a reflection of life's complexities, and while it may not offer all the answers, it certainly raises some thought-provoking questions. Through its characters, the book challenges readers to look beyond the surface and see the actual cost of fake elitism. It's a reminder that the most dangerous kind of poverty is the one that affects empathy, equality, and justice.

Harmony Heights is a juicy, fast-paced read. It's a peek into the lives of the privileged, the struggling, and everyone in between, reminding us that appearances can be deceiving. Harmony Heights will keep you turning the pages. It's a front-row seat to the greatest show of human nature in all its flawed glory. And trust me, you don't want to miss this spectacle.

Happy Reading!

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