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.

Book Sold Out!

Have heard from my publisher, Goh Eck Kheng of Landmark, and several friends that the book is sold out in a number of stores.

Promise you that I did not go around buying them up. Don't have that kind of ego, nor that kind of cash to spare.

Nice to know. But it's probably because the stores didnt stock many copies in the first place!