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Was pointed to a blog that commented on City by Mantissa (no idea who he or she is). Excerpt:

" would say it reminded me of Murakami Haruki - in its simplicity and sweetness, alienating and yet beautiful language. But yes, it's reminded. He's not Murakami - he's not as brutal in content and sparse in language yet, he offered more hope than Murakami ... explained too much in some parts - too earnest to share, perhaps it's a rational, intelligent, responsible Singaporean thing - the inability to completely let go of your beloved creation.
If you're interested in why I loved it and regarded it so highly, then I shall attempt to share it here in as best a coherent manner as I could. My apologies, as I know I can't articulate well:-
It's a classic theme, of personal dreams and principles, manifested in the commitment to public service and loved ones, set against our nation-building years and hence, intertwined with the greater hopes of a young nation. [....] It's not all pretty, which is why those who read it carefully would know it's not propaganda, not pro or anti government.
[....]
It's beautifully-written - it asked not for perfection, but its insights and portrayal of the simple slips down the slippery slope actually bridged and helped create a particular empathy and common understanding.For instance, Bryan the protagonist was a kind, principled and sagacious man. A principled ex-principal [ =) ] in danger of losing himself as he get swept away by the struggle for his rented home at Seletar Airbase which was making way for the heroic economic project Seletar Aerospace Park. Just as Bryan fought for the pretty colonial houses, just as I tried to support the preservation of the nondescript Stamford Library which I loved, others whom I know have fought hard against great odds to make the Aerospace Park a reality. There's no right or wrong - space is always open to contention, up for definition. There's a historical, sentimental view of the intrinsic value tied to physical places, and there's the no less noble but much less romantic view tied to economic survival for our people - what kind of legacy should we leave, and can we afford it?And yet, happily or unhappily, there're some things which are clearer than those questions above. Bryan is someone who would have won my utmost respect. He mentioned that as an ex-principal, grown men who were students in his school had came up to him on occasions, with "you probably do not remember me, but I was....", and that they were right - he was a principal and not a teacher, and hence he seldom could remember the students. But he knew and appreciated their desire to be remembered in those formative years, so instead of a straight answer, he would ask for the years they were in the school, and then try to recall and share a few of his memories of the school and its people in those periods, so that they knew they were somewhat remembered in those years. However, when the politician whom he felt evaded the citizens' questions on the airbase during the two hours dialogue session came up to him with the familiar you-probably-don't-remember-me-but-I-was-a-student line, he reported that it gave him great satisfaction to respond with brutal honesty you-are-right, I-don't-remember-you. For that, he felt was a minute of honesty which much surpassed the two hours of double-speak.Was he wrong to do that? We could all empathise. Many of the people I know would applaud. I think it's poignant - it made him less of the man he was (although I do think he was a sage and no one could be expected to be infallible). In giving in to his need to mete out suitable punishment or similar pain to the politician, he also failed to see the clear parallel between his past action and those lofty and wonderful principles and the politician's possible good intent. We seldom can give straight solutions and answers; in any case, those simple yes-or-no oft don't fully represent the truth. The truths are much more nuanced and there're much more common grounds which we could find amongst those we think could be our adversaries. If only we could all give the others the benefit of the doubt and not be that quick to judge, the hurt we feel and the pain we give to others, in essence, the alienation would be a lot less. This is my personal belief for a fundamental tenet for the building of the Civil Society which Mr Tay so cherished. We can't always agree, but we should try to listen and appreciate one another's intent and point of view.
This is a book which I think all who think, dream and try to live by your principles in contributing to the creation of a home which you hope would not disappoint those who came before you, and would be somewhat meaningful to those who would come after you, and in it all, true to yourself, should read.

Reading in Singapore

Did a reading of City in Singapore. Some 20+ souls turned up in the book lovers store, "Books Actually". Took a decision not to stuff the room with friends but just see who is out there who may have read City already. Think it was the right thing to do.

In the nature of these things, though the crowd was self-selecting. If they didn't like the book, they would not have come.

I read the opening part in the first chapter up to the point when Bryan describes Anna asleep. Then I dipped into the middle of the book where their son Peter takes up one of the stories his mother told him.

It wasnt so painful for me, and no one walked out during the reading.

That much I can say

Reading

A reading will be held on 20 Feb in Singapore, at the book store, Books Actually. Not sure what I should read, really. Have read poems (not well), Parliamentary and GOH speeches (what can you say). Never a part of a novel.

Economic Contraction and City

It makes me think to hear about the economic contraction in Singapore and the budget deficits designed to help growth and avoid job losses. City of Small Blessings is set against the backdrop of a Singapore that is growing not just rapidly but even recklessly. Does the current downturn change its message? I think the book is more about the ambition for growth, rather than its achievement, the reckless hunger for so called "progress". I also remember that in the 12 yrs I took to write the novel, the economy went thru other ups and downs. There is a passage that describes the downtown Marina Bay that is planned for the future. At present there have been doubts about the viability of the casinos (ie. IRs). But that ambition and government direction will mean the towers will not be half completed hulks spoiling the view in The City of Small Blessings.

FB Group on CITY

Anyone reading this blog might want to know there is also a Facebook group on City of Small Blessings. It's at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=39206824396&ref=mf and there are maybe 140 people on it.

Why both a blog AND an FB?

I am not quite a technology dinosaur. I am a sabre tooth -- mammal and warm blooded, and not prehistoric, but long in the tooth.

My publisher suggested blogging, so I started it. Then he started a Facebook, so that ran too. Quite interesting how different they are.

city of small blessings: New York City

I am in New York for 2009. It feels strange to have published my novel about Singapore and then to leave so shortly. No, my departure was not because of the book. It feels strange because Singapore looks different to me from faraway, from the outside. This is especially from this city, the Big Apple, in the middle of winter.

In City, parts are written from the perspective of a son, Peter, who has migrated to a cold country faraway (Vancouver). He has to return to Singapore after an incident befalls his father, Bryan. He returns with a mix of feelings.

I feel somewhat the same, but in reverse.

Prime Time Morning

Hi, I did the TV thing this morning on Prime Times News. One of the anchors, Joanne Leow, pleasantly surprised me: she's read the book. Says she's doing her Masters in Lit and liked it.

How did it go? They asked some good questions. Like who would read the book? I answered "Thinking Singaporeans" but said I was not sure how many there are. We laughed a bit.

TV: It's a deceptive medium, visual and sound bytes, but an impression is created, for better or worse.

So it's done. But no idea who would be watching TV at 920 on the day after Xmas.