Start stockpiling your GrabRewards; come March, you’ll be able to use them to redeem a piece of local literature.
Called Grab SingLit, the collaboration between online SingLit retailer Localbooks.sg and Grab Singapore will allow Grab users to redeem a selection of SingLit titles from as low as 50 points. Once you’ve redeemed your voucher, you’re free to pick it up at any of the 14 partnered bookstores around the island. Act fast; there are just 8,000 books up for grabs, with titles including Balik Kampung by Verena Tay, available Mar 8-31. For sure, it’s a handy way for bookworms on-the-go to pick up some new reads—but also to entice newbies to dip their toes into local literature.
The inaugural programme is just one of many initiatives to look forward to when nationwide reading movement #BuySingLit returns next month. Happening from Mar 8-17, this third edition has been bumped up to take place over two weekends, to spread the love for local writing to even more people. From kopi sessions with local authors to interactive storytelling, the line-up of more than 50 programmes is set to make SingLit more accessible than ever.
Can’t wait till then? Check out these other bookworm-approved literary events happening in Feb here.
If you enjoyed last year’s Tikam Books initiative, you’ll be pleased to know that more souvenirs await this year. Organised by Sing Lit Station, an all-new programme Sing Lit Cloud will be dispensing snippets of Singaporean bestsellers to the public for free, packaged in a fun, interactive way. At three unique locations (Our Tampines Hub, Mapletree Business City and Library@Harbourfront), look out for special self-order machines with printers installed—the printers will dispense the bite-sized excerpts, and include a #BuySingLit book voucher should you feel suitably inspired.
Another highlight is the launch of Pestu Buku Melayu, Singapore’s first Malay-centric book fair. The collaboration between six local publishers and arts groups aims to cultivate a reading culture among Malay-language readers, and will include book launches, performances and storytelling sessions. The featured authors were chosen for their dedication in championing traditional Malay reading forms—such as the rhythmic poetic form pantun, regaining popularity amongst youths these days.
#BuySingLit Book Bazaar at Textures 2018. Photo credit: The Arts House
Don’t miss out on the two parties bookending the movement (hey, nerds know how to have fun too). On the first weekend, Textures—A Weekend with Words returns for a second edition at The Arts House, complete with 40 programmes in three days. Themed “Love and Loss (and some things in between)”, the mini arts fest will include multi-disciplinary exhibitions, performances, panels, workshops, and the all-important #BuySingLit book bazaar. Ticketed performances include a five-room storytelling sesh of spooky tales inspired by Russell Lee’s True Singapore Ghost Stories, and a stage adaptation of Alfian Sa’at’s Malay Sketches presented by The Second Breakfast Company.
And wrapping up the festivities is the Yong Siak Street Party on the last weekend, organised by BooksActually in collaboration with their neighbouring F&B outlets. On the agenda are book launches, panel discussions, lunch opportunities with local authors at the family-run Hainanese restaurant Cheng’s, and book club sessions at Forty Hands and Creamier. Keep your eyes peeled, and you might even run into mystery local writers roving the block party, ready to churn out personalised flash fiction at your request.
It’s going to be lit(erature).
#BuySingLit 2019 is happening Mar 8-17 at various locations. More information here.
