Along the avenues of nostalgia
YEAREND is usually about appraisals – unfortunately, not self-appraisals -- but a work-related kind of evaluation.
And it would be presumptuous of me to say I am not being appraised by others. We all are one way or another.
It’s been a while since I have taken stock of where I am heading. A short trip to the little red dot (I call it Singful-land) was quite an eye opener though I actually planned to stroll along the pathways where - I ambled with my late Mama almost three decades ago.
Nostalgia. It is the yearning within me to step into the time tunnel and recover the irrecoverable.
The slightly sloppy Paterson Road that merges into Orchard Road where Mama and I left many footprints, including a midnight walk because I craved for a burger in my early pregnancy days, still runs as serene even when more malls have mushroomed along Orchard Road.
I have often wondered how Mama would entertain nostalgic feelings if she were to visit the Singful-Land again.
Probably, she would find it a little more confusing getting on the right Mass Rapid Transport (MRT) to her destination as I had with more change of stations.
Yes, Mama would have been amazed to take the nostalgic journey to Tiong Bahru where we both enjoyed the simplicity and friendliness of the interesting community of locals and expats.
This special neighbourhood -architecturally distinct from the rest of the island state with its 1930’s low-rise Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats -- is quickly becoming known as one of the trendiest locales in Lion City with the presence of unique cafes, bakeries and bookshops.
Oh how I love books! Then as if by instinct, I walked into a store called BooksActually. A curious little cat looked at me and tagged along like a dutiful chaperon as I browsed.
My friend Jocelyn was attracted to the lovely collections of vintage typewriters, cameras, CDs, cassettes tapes, accordions and toys said to belong to the shop owners.
The setup with wall-to-wall, floor-toceiling bookshelves is a little cramped but there is a strict “organised feel” about it -- a “feel” that is homely with criticallyacclaimed works, classics and special editions. It’s probably like a learned person’s study room!
It’s a very quaint shop with lots of classic and interesting books and a generous selection from Singapore’s own writers and Asian authors.
It’s definitely not a place to go if you are looking to buy Twilight, Evernight or Forty Shades of Grey.
Before visiting this independent bookshop, I read about its events of inviting emerging artists, authors and playwrights to hold events there.
Well, some texts are meant to be performed, not read quietly by yourself, I guess.
It’s basically a bookshop for authors and readers, and, of course, the owners themselves as I was told the books on the higher shelves belong to the owners themselves!
It offers something different from most other bookshops.
I was most impressed by the knowledge of the girls in the shop in recommending authors and books – something I never expected, to be honest.
BooksActually is a beacon for those who worry the bounded word will fade into obscurity and with it, the sweet smell of hope that comes with each book stacked on its shelves.
As the cat continued to keep an eye on me with typical feline curiosity while I sauntered to the nostalgic retro corner of the shop, I found a moment to soliloquize: “Indeed, the founders of BooksActually have found their calling -- through promoting reading and allowing book lovers a different space in the shop to call home.”
I later came across this quote by BooksActually co-founder Kenny Leck: “The bookstore is a house of books, a home for authors and a cosmos for the written word.” How appropriate, I thought. A few shops down the street is a whimsical children’s bookstore stocked with pop-up books and graphic novels called Woods in the Books. It is said the opening of this bookshop was BooksActually-inspired.
The picture book repository carries a comprehensive range of illustrated books by internationally renowned authors such as Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Missing Piece by Shel Silverstein and The Red Tree by Shaun Tan.
There are also books with a more local flavour such as The Kampung Boy by Lat and The Diary of Amos Lee by Adeline Foo under a dedicated section for local authors.
No, it’s not just for children but also a breather for adults with its self-made stuffed toys lining the shelves and painted walls. Woods in the Books actually comes right out of the books and colourful world of children.
I love A day, A dog -- a wordless book told in charcoal sketches by French author Gabrielle Vincent which weaves pictures and words together to form a beautiful story.
And how can I miss Shel Silverstein’s The Missing Piece that stands tall – albeit in black and white illustrations.
It is the story, the artistic and creative deliveries and, of course, a sense of nostalgia that Wood in the Books has to offer!
Right across BooksActually is a cafe called Forty Hands.
I asked the staff why such an interesting name.
The explanation: “On average, 20 people are involved in the production of coffee -- from field to cup -- that is served to your table. Therefore, 40 hands.” Sounds logical.
Forty Hands serves breakfast all day long – not just in the morning. And what do you know? A Big Boy Breakfast with grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, bacon, chiptotle sausage and eggs at 7pm!
It is popular kopi tiam, having been named the best coffee joint in the city state.
Bag some books from BooksActually and snag a table at this cosy cafeteria is probably a heavenly treat.
The girl at the counter said Forty Hands seeks to educate its customers that coffee is not a traded commodity but a gift given by the 40 hands of 20 people.
The recent years had seen the PAP government luring international artists and architects to Singapore – an effort towards the stated goal of turning the island republic into a global arts city by 2015.
BooksActually, Woods in the Books and Forty Hands are booming creative expressions cultivated in this once tagged “cultural desert” island to foster an authentic cultural identity for Singapore.
Kenny Leck was quoted in the New York Times as saying: “In Singapore, creativity is no longer frowned upon.”
A trip to Tiong Bahru has immersed me in nostalgic charm and challenged my impression of the Singful-Land as being better known for its sparkling high-rises and mall culture than an independent arts and culture scene.