KL for Book Lovers
I love KL. Between a group of friends and me, KL is a place we get away to. For massages, cafes, food, wine, and for the creative vibe. A place where creativity hasn't been bumped out by the cost of rent (yet). Where artists, authors and other creatives can have spaces to do what they love. Maybe KL folks will disagree with me, but if you compare SG and KL, I think KL still has a lot more for creatives. If you are heading there, these are some places I'll recommend:
Indie bookstores in KL
|
Lit Books — English-language bookstore run by a pair of former journalists who share a deep love for the written word. I love their thoughtful curation, and the space itself is beautiful with so much natural light pouring in. Tintabundi — A bookstore with an eclectic collection. From contemporary literature to socio-economic analyses, each book is curated with both passion and community feedback in mind. I love their beautiful space as well; it's nestled in a quiet neighbourhood. Sunda Shelves — Nothing beats the warmth I received in this space. Being a nature-lover, I had a great time chatting with the bookshop staff. They had some great picture books here as well, all nature-themed. Gerak Budaya — I haven't been there personally, but Edmund says it's the kind of bookshop that makes you stay longer than planned. |
Where to eat & drink
Rinjin Shokudo @ Taman Paramount — This Japanese eatery is so local but also so well done. They have such a wide variety of food, and every set menu is so meticulously put together. It's an incredible value for what you pay. Along the same stretch at this Taman Paramount location is Ilaika Select Store with homewares, perfumes, candles, clothing, and little knick-knacks to bring home.
PsYCHoTiC OPeRAToR (WiNe SPaCe) — Same street at Taman Paramount, they offer an exciting range of wines at affordable prices in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere, complemented by a compact selection of well-executed dishes. I love that I can order wine without sounding too knowledgeable about it, and we can all wear t-shirts and shorts in this casual space. They're the same owners of Monster and Beer next door, so you can order beer and bring it over to their space.
Restaurant Mauceri — If you can taste happiness in a pasta, this is where it is. I was there with two other friends, and we shared everything—some pastas were surprising, some were amazing. But all were very well executed. You must not leave without having their Tiramisu.
Website Impersonation Warning
One of our authors highlighted a spam website to us. It appears to be impersonating our Epigram Bookshop website. This is what it looks like:
These types of websites will collect payment from you for the books, and ship nothing. They will take your email and contact details.
Please be careful! Our webstore's URL is epigrambookshop.xyz. When you order books from us, you will get a proper email confirmation, and when we ship them out, you will receive a notification too.
If you're unsure about your order, drop an email to shop@epigram.sg.
New Books
|
The Albatross File Unredacted: What the official story leaves out The official exhibition and accompanying book, The Albatross File, promised to disclose the inside story of Singapore's separation from Malaysia. But the newly declassified documents point to something more unsettling. Based on a close reading of these records, The Albatross File Unredacted challenges the official account of Lee Kuan Yew as a leader overtaken by events. It shows instead that Lee was not merely swept along by history: his choices helped push Singapore towards separation. The result is a fuller, more human portrait of Lee: not as myth, but as a brilliant and forceful political actor whose triumphs and failures shaped the birth of independent Singapore. Read the unredacted version |
|
StepUp: The Workers' Party of Singapore 2.0 — The Road to GE2025 and Beyond The Workers' Party's rise to Singapore's leading opposition didn't happen overnight. This book traces that journey—through the 2025 general election, behind-the-scenes constraints, and the volunteers who keep the party running. Author Yee Jenn Jong draws on first-hand experience from the frontline of opposition politics, with analytical insights from political historian Loke Hoe Yeong and commentary from established observers. The successor to Journey in Blue, and just as timely. Read the inside story |
Author Interview: Vivian Teo
Author of the Mikaela Kong and My BFF is an Alien series |
Which mythical being from Southeast Asian folklore do you think deserves way more airtime—and why? A more fun version of Sang Nila Utama. I would love to read a children's fantasy story that reimagines the legendary prince and is more exciting than the version children read about in Social Studies at school. Hmm, maybe I should write it? :D Every story has a moment that scared the writer a little. Did you have one? What was yours? I grew up reading True Singapore Ghost Stories, and they always left me spooked. Yet, I could never resist picking them up. Ironically, now that I'm an adult, I find myself with far less of a stomach for horror stories than I had as a kid. If your book's world were a real place you could walk through, where would you take us first? The Celestial Realm in the Mikaela Kong series. You'll see more of this realm in the fourth and last book of the series, which is set to be published early next year. I love creating beautiful worlds that also carry their own distinctive faults and flaws—like the alien planet Viridis in My BFF Is an Alien—and this time round, I can't wait for readers to experience my version of the Celestial Realm! Were you a rules-follower or a troublemaker as a kid—and which one is the better writer? I was definitely a rules-follower as a kid, but even then, I had a vivid imagination. I would spend hours scribbling fake diary entries, pretending to be a superstar. I also remember enjoying writing compositions in secondary school—I was already spinning stories about dead siblings and secret spies back then! A piece of advice to young writers: Write with your own unique voice. In this AI age, we're constantly surrounded by uninspiring, cookie-cutter writing and formulaic content on the internet. What the world truly needs now is human creativity, words that can inspire and move us. Originality is something AI cannot replicate. Develop your own style and be proud of your voice, because that uniqueness—something only you, as a human being, can bring—is what will make your writing stand out. |
As always, thank you for reading our newsletter. Here's your GIF of the week.
Warmly,
Chloe
I have more KL recommendations. If you'd like to find out about a stationery shop and a huge art and creative space, reply to this, and I'll share!
Leave a comment