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Selected by NLB librarians and endorsed by a selection committee chaired by Professor Edwin Thumboo, 82 poems, SIngaPoetry: An Anthology of Singapore Poems features 82 poems that highlight the experiences, places, observations and pivotal moments in the daily lives of Singaporeans. Visit <a href="http://www.nlb.gov.sg/readsingapore" title="ReadSingapore website" target="_blank">www.nlb.gov.sg/readsingapore</a> for the audio version of the anthology.
Ten-a-city: Stories Built to Last is an anthology containing twenty works of short fiction and four poems from local and international writers. This unique collection commemorates the 10th anniversary of the National Library Board’s Read! Singapore campaign by bringing together well-loved stories that have appeared in previous Read! Singapore anthologies. The stories celebrate our cultural and linguistic diversity, with works in English and translations of storiesoriginally written in Chinese, Malay and Tamil. Ten-a-city is an anthology that reminds us of the power and endurance of great writing – be inspired by these Stories Built to Last.
Sorting through Abu Bakar’s belongings after his death, his daughter Jamilah discovers a video camera – newly-bought for the Haj he was about to go on with his wife Maimon. Amidst unspoken grief and deep-seated family tensions, this video camera unexpectedly helps mother and daughter find closure after his death.
The protagonist and her nephew witnessed how the exhumers dug out her late mother’s grave to retrieve her disinterred remains for cremation. The jade bangle that had been on Mother’s wrist when she was buried, was still intact and had not lost its shine. The jade bangle rekindled fond memories of Mother.
Love unites two souls from different religions. They wed against their parents’ wishes. Their first child reunites the families. Their happiness is short lived. The child is diagnosed as mentally challenged. The husband leaves her blaming her for bearing him an abnormal child. She starts a new life with her child in a neighbourhood. The love of her friends, maid and neighbours allows her son to participate in a sports event and win the race. A moving story that beautifully narrates the plight of single mothers who are forced to raise mentally challenged children in today’s society.
This is a tale that explores human relationships. Raised by a widowed mother, the protagonist struggles to appease his mother and wife. Things turn ugly and the mother leaves home to fend for herself. The man discovers the true meaning of the bond between a mother and child after witnessing his son’s birth.
A thought provoking story that revolves around a four year girl name Jaani. She is chided by her Math teacher for providing an alternate answer to an assigned question. When queried by the grandfather the school advises that student should not challenge the teaching method and simply follow what is taught to them.
The son of an American father and a Chinese mail-order bride, Jack would play with the origami animals that his mother had made when he was a child. Her magical creations are cast aside as their relationship becomes strained. When Jack finally picks up an origami animal again, he finds a message left by his mother.
Nalini is worried when she only manages to get one pot of water for the day. Today, her mother-in-law will be furious as she needs two pots of water to cook a special meal for her son. In a dilemma, she tries her best to get another pot of water but is met with mostly unsympathetic responses.
This short story narrates the reflective and critical undergraduate who ponders over the plight, history and destiny of her people, encountering several historical personalities in the Malay society. Encounter brings the reader to the discursive ideas of the universality of human experiences and the needs of particularity in the Malay society.
The mysterious appearance of a white elephant in the Kampong of Taman Tiga Warna’s mosque compound leaves people frightened and in shock. Not knowing if it is evil or benign, the villagers get together to decide the fate of the mysterious white elephant.
Angah is from Negeri Sembilan, a state in Malaysia which practices the matrilineal custom of ‘adat pepatih’, where family wealth is inherited by the women. Angah feels he is unfairly treated because of his family’s strict adherence to the practices of the customs. His teenage daughter pesters him to teach her how to cook lemang, but he refuses. He soon realises the importance of family and traditions through his daughter’s insistence.
The protagonist's thumb was stung by a bee and even after she pulled out the bee stinger, the overwhelming pain caused him to lose sleep. She woke up trying to relieve the pain using various methods like rinsing the thumb under cold running water, applying toothpaste on it, etc. However, the pain did not go away. Out of desperation, she drew the curtains and looked out of the window, pleading to Heaven for help. It was then she realised the beauty of the darkness.
The author talks about two wooden trunk boxes passed down from his parents. They served as luggage for them in the earlier days. As time passed, the author took possession of the trunk boxes after his parents and stepmother passed away. Memories of his family came to his mind when he examined the old trunk boxes.
A story about a hungry but lazy lion that gets tricked by other animals while hunting for food.
Carabao does not want to be a coward so he takes up Turtle’s challenge to race over seven hills! (Story from The Carabao Turtle Race & other classic Philippine animal folk tales)
A folktale from Vietnam about a wise farmer and a boastful Tiger who covets wisdom.
Badang is a poor, young slave who is given superhuman strength that makes him the strongest man in Singapura. When word of his strength gets out, he receives invitations to challenges from the strongest men in the region. Is Badang the strongest of them all?
Have you ever wondered how the common stray cat got its stumpy tail? Find out how from this folktale that dates back to pre-colonial Singapore!
Kancil, the mouse deer, drinks water from the river every day, but the river is also the home of a hungry crocodile named Sang Buaya. Find out how Kancil outsmarts the crocodile every day!