Reading habits in Singapore

43422POSTS

6 years ago

Hello everyone,

Books can be your greatest companions whether you have already settled in Singapore or are now planning your move. Are you an avid or occasional reader? We would like to know more about your reading habits.

What type of reading do you enjoy? Do you read novels, comics, magazines, newspapers, etc.?

Where do you purchase or borrow books in Singapore (bookstores, online, library subscription, etc.)? Do you prefer digital reading?

Do you have an average budget devoted to reading in Singapore? Do you buy books or pay a library membership fee? Do you spend more or less than in your country of origin?

In what languages can you find the books that you usually read?

What books or magazines would generally be found on your bedside table?

Thanks for participating,

Bhavna

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lucydayw Member

16POSTS

6 years ago

I am an avid reader of books, some printed and some digital. I keep a log of all the books I read on my website at:
http://spjg.com/book-log/

Here's my post on where and how to buy books in Singapore.
http://spjg.com/2017/04/02/buying-books-in-singapore/

If you prefer to check out books from the library, you can pay for a foreigner library membership. It will enable you to check out digital books as well as print books. Good value.
https://www.nlb.gov.sg/VisitUs/Membership.aspx

I am an active member of the Hungry Hundred Book Club, which is open to anyone who is interested. If you are curious what a book club is like and want to meet people who enjoy reading, I encourage you to drop in sometime!
***

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ralphperry Member

1POSTS

3 years ago

I enjoy travel narratives of the Paul Theroux ilk.

Second-best are international travel fiction, like Alex Garland's THE BEACH or any of George MacDonald Fraser's FLASHMAN books.

My recent favorite, which takes place throughout Southeast Asia, including Singapore, is PACIFIC DASH, about a young American expat's misadventures wandering the region. Breezy, can't-put-down type of read. Full title is "PACIFIC DASH- From Asia Vagabond to Casino King" and I picked it up at Amazon.

beppi Germany/Singapore Expert

15637POSTS

3 years ago

Although I myself am just an occasional reader of books, I witnessed lots of development about the topic since I first came to Singapore in 1993:

It is not a society great on reading for reading's sake, meaning literature and such. When I first came, a "book shop" meant mainly school books (with all volumes wrapped in plastic, so as to discourage browsing). There was only one proper book store in Singapore at the time: The now defunct MPH (in which I spent many hours).

Then came some kind of "revolution", when Borders (from USA) and Kinokuniya (from Japan) opened branches here in the late Nineties - in prime locations at Orchard Road, with a fun athmosphere and a cafe attached. Suddenly everybody wanted to be seen reading, and copy-cat bookstores opened in most malls.

Also public community libraries, which were stale places to study before, for students who didn't have the needed space and peace at home, got a similar facelift - and many more of them opened (incl. the new National Library building at Victoria St.).

That lasted until the Internet made reading physical books unattractive once more - and buying the electronic versions from local sources wasn't required any longer. So nowadays book stores in Singapore are dying again.

That said, some things have not changed: There is still a treasure trove of small, dusty and often obscure bookshops (mainly for Asian topics) at Bras Basah Complex - far predating the National Library next door. And many, mainly older, Singaporeans still see no value in fiction - I picture my in-laws telling their girl (now my wife) "What you waste time reading poems ah? Why no read book on accountancy - at least can get job make money later!"