| Peculiar Chris | |
| Author: | Johann S. Lee |
| Country: | Singapore |
| Language: | English |
| Genre: | Novel |
| Publisher: | Cannon International |
| Release Date: | 1992 |
| Media Type: | Print (Paperback) |
| Isbn: | 981-00-3557-8 |
| Congress: | MLCS 92/05580 (P) |
| Oclc: | 29415955 |
Peculiar Chris is a novel which deals with gay themes by Johann S. Lee, published in Singapore by Cannon International in 1992.
Lee wrote the book, his first novel,[1] while doing his National Service in Singapore at the age of 19. It was published a year later. The book recounts the coming of age, and coming out, of Chris through his experience with the deaths of his father and his lover Samuel,[1] the latter from AIDS.[2] Chris meets his first lover, Kenneth, in Singapore, where Kenneth has traveled from Indonesia to study; he meets his second lover, Jack, in Sydney after he travels to Australia to come out,[2] [3] and leaves for London, the birthplace of Maurice, after Samuel's death.[2] It is also noteworthy for documenting how the military bureaucracy reacts when a soldier comes out in Singapore.[4]
The book was translated into Italian in 1997, under the shortened title of 'Chris'.
Singaporean playwright Alfian Sa'at adapted the novel into the play Happy Endings: Asian Boys Vol. 3. It was staged by W!LD RICE, a Singapore theatre company, from 11 to 29 July 2007.
It was reprinted in 2008.