{"title":"2015 Epigram Books Fiction Prize","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinner:\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003eNow That It’s Over\u003c\/em\u003e by O Thiam Chin\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShortlisted:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eDeath of a Perm Sec\u003c\/em\u003e by Wong Souk Yee\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eLet’s Give It Up for Gimme Lao!\u003c\/em\u003e by Sebastian Sim\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eSugarbread\u003c\/em\u003e by Balli Kaur Jaswal\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLonglisted:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAltered Straits\u003c\/em\u003e by Kevin Martens Wong\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAnnabelle Thong\u003c\/em\u003e by Imran Hashim\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eKappa Quartet\u003c\/em\u003e by Daryl Qilin Yam\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead more about the 2015 Epigram Books Fiction Prize \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.epigram.sg\/ebfp-2015\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"lets-give-it-up-for-gimme-lao","title":"Let's Give It Up for Gimme Lao!","description":"\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePraise\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBook Trailer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #404040;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinalist for the 2015 Epigram Books Fiction Prize\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShortlisted for the Singapore Book Awards 2017 (Best Fiction Title)\u003cbr\u003eShortlisted for the Popular Readers' Choice Awards 2016 - English (Adult) Books Category\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/files\/GimmeLao_sample.pdf?14697544053020664336\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLook inside the book\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/farisbooks.com\/book\/244\/Lets-Give-It-Up-for-Gimme-Lao\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGet the E-book\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e    \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.storytel.com\/sg\/en\/books\/1384951-Let-s-Give-it-Up-for-Gimme-Lao?utm_source=Epigram\u0026amp;utm_medium=LetsGiveitUpforGimmeLao\"\u003eListen to the audiobook\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #404040;\"\u003e“I don’t aspire to be nice. I do what is necessary to get what I want.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #404040;\"\u003eBorn on the night of the nation’s independence, Gimme Lao is cheated of the honour of being Singapore’s firstborn son by a vindictive nurse. This forms the first of three things Gimme never knows about himself, the second being the circumstances surrounding his parents’ marriage, and the third being the profound (but often unintentional) impact he has on other people’s lives. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #404040;\"\u003eTalented, determined and focused, young Gimme is confident he can sail the seven seas, but he does not anticipate his vessel would have to carry his mother’s ambition, his wife’s guilt and his son’s secret. Tracing social, economic and political issues over the past 50 years, this humorous novel uses Gimme as a hapless centre to expose all of Singapore’s ambitions, dirty linen and secret moments of tender humanity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #404040;\"\u003e“The plot wanders in an apparently artless, but in fact artful way... There’s a real sense of control here, and a consistent, organic voice...”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #404040;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Philip Holden, editor of Writing Singapore and a judge of the Epigram Books Fiction Prize 2015\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #404040;\"\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/n0TnOWeR-bM\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #404040;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSebastian Sim\u003c\/strong\u003e grew up in a two-room HDB flat with parents who were part of the pioneer generation of independent Singapore.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #404040;\"\u003eNot one to shy away from the road less taken, he has travelled around the world to soak up different experiences and cultures, and tried his hand in diverse industries: a bartender at Boat Quay, an assistant outlet manager at McDonald’s, an insurance salesman, a prison officer in a maximum security prison, and a croupier in a casino.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #404040;\"\u003eHe published three Chinese wuxia novels between 2004 and 2012, and his first English-language novel, \u003ca style=\"color: #404040;\" href=\"https:\/\/shop.epigrambooks.sg\/collections\/fiction\/products\/lets-give-it-up-for-gimme-lao\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eLet’s Give It Up for Gimme Lao!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (2016), was shortlisted for the 2015 Epigram Books Fiction Prize.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Epigram Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":16317725382,"sku":"9789814757324","price":26.9,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/products\/Gimme_Lao_CVF_300.jpg?v=1626923402"},{"product_id":"death-of-a-perm-sec","title":"Death of a Perm Sec","description":"\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBook Trailer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #404040;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinalist for the 2015 Epigram Books Fiction Prize\u003cbr\u003eShortlisted for the Popular Readers' Choice Awards 2016 - English (Adult) Books Category\u003cbr\u003eShortlisted for Singapore Literature Prize 2018\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/files\/DeathofaPermSec_3rd_Sample.pdf?1153\" title=\"Death of a Perm Sec\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLook inside the book\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e  |\u003c\/strong\u003e   \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/farisbooks.com\/book\/245\/Death-Of-A-Perm-Sec\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGet the E-book\u003c\/a\u003e    |    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.storytel.com\/sg\/en\/consumables\/1212405-Death-of-a-Perm-Sec\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eListen to the audiobook\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eDeath of a Perm Sec\u003c\/em\u003e is a mystery about the demise of the permanent-secretary of the housing ministry, Chow Sze Teck, accused of accepting millions of dollars in bribes over his career. Set in 1980's Singapore, the novel examines \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe civil servant’s death, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewhich first appears to be suicide by a cocktail of alcohol, morphine and Valium. But upon investigation by a CID inspector who might not be what he seems, the family discovers there may be far more sinister circumstances behind his death, that reach to the very top of government.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe novel exposes the dark heart of power politics, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003efrom the country’s tumultuous post\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e-independence days to the socio-political landscape of the 1980s.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Trailer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/yx4ox_9PxOk\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWong Souk Yee\u003c\/strong\u003e, 57, is a playwright and former political detainee, who contested the 2015 General Election as a member of the Singapore Democratic Party. An adjunct lecturer at the National University of Singapore, she co-founded the now-defunct theatre group Third Stage. In 1987, she was detained for allegedly taking part in a Marxist conspiracy against the government. She co-directed and co-wrote the play Square Moon, staged in 2013, about detention without trial.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWong holds a PhD in Creative Writing and Literature from the University of New South Wales, Sydney; a Master of Arts (Honours) in Creative Writing from the University of Western Sydney; and a Bachelor of Accountancy from the then University of Singapore.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Epigram Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18491660166,"sku":"9789814901406","price":20.9,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/products\/EBFP-DeathofaPermSec-3rd-CVF-300.jpg?v=1626850617"},{"product_id":"now-that-it-s-over","title":"Now That It’s Over","description":"\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePraise\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBook Trailer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinner of the 2015 Epigram Books Fiction Prize\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWinner, Singapore Book Awards 2017 (Best Fiction Title)\u003cbr\u003eShortlisted for the Popular Readers' Choice Awards 2016 English (Adult) Books category\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/files\/OTC_sample.pdf?8125239982266787506\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLook inside the book\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e  \u003cspan\u003eI\u003c\/span\u003e   \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/farisbooks.com\/book\/242\/Now-That-Its-Over\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGet the E-book\u003c\/a\u003e   |   \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.storytel.com\/sg\/en\/books\/2507024-Now-That-It-s-Over\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eListen to the audiobook\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuring the Christmas holidays in 2004, an earthquake in the Indian Ocean triggers a tsunami that devastates fourteen countries. Two couples from Singapore are vacationing in Phuket when the tsunami strikes. Alternating between the aftermath of the catastrophe and past events that led these characters to that fateful moment, \u003cem\u003eNow That It’s Over\u003c\/em\u003e weaves a tapestry of causality and regret, and chronicles the physical and emotional wreckage wrought by natural and manmade disasters.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e“This novel has breadth, and at its core is a very interesting exploration of Singaporean Chinese childhoods and adolescences.”\u003cbr\u003e—Philip Holden, editor of \u003cem\u003eWriting Singapore\u003c\/em\u003e and Epigram Books \u003cstrong\u003eFiction Prize 2015 judge\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“A heart-stopping elegy to the unrelenting tragedy of time, the trauma of impermanence, set against the backdrop of a tsunami that devastated Thailand's coastlines. O Thiam Chin's characters are tested for their resilience and courage as relationships and self-deceptions are unforgettably wrung to the breaking point.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Cyril Wong, author of \u003cem\u003eTen Things My Father Never Taught Me\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBook Trailer:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/arzg3Dxpm-8\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eO Thiam Chin\u003c\/strong\u003e is the winner of the inaugural Epigram Books Fiction Prize, the richest literary award in Singapore, with a cash prize of S$20,000 and a publishing contract with Epigram Books. He is also the author of five collections of short fiction: \u003cem\u003eFree-Falling Man\u003c\/em\u003e (2006), \u003cem\u003eNever Been Better\u003c\/em\u003e (2009), \u003cem\u003eUnder The Sun\u003c\/em\u003e (2010), \u003cem\u003eThe Rest Of Your Life and Everything That Comes With It\u003c\/em\u003e (2011) and \u003cem\u003eLove, Or Something Like Love\u003c\/em\u003e (2013, shortlisted for the 2014 Singapore Literature Prize for English Fiction).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis short stories have appeared in \u003cem\u003eM\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eā\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003enoa\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eWorld Literature Today\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe International Literary Quarterly\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eAsia Literary Review\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eQuarterly Literary Review Singapore\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eCha: An Asian Literary Journal\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eKyoto Journal\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe Jakarta Post\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThe New Straits Times\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eAsiatic\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eEsquire (Singapore)\u003c\/em\u003e. His short fiction was also selected for the first two volumes of \u003cem\u003eThe Epigram Books Collection of Best New Singaporean Short Stories\u003c\/em\u003e anthology series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eO was an honorary fellow of the Iowa International Writing Program in 2010, a recipient of the NAC Young Artist Award in 2012, and has been thrice longlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. He has appeared frequently at writers festivals in Australia, Indonesia and Singapore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Epigram Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18648476550,"sku":"9789814757287","price":26.9,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/products\/EBFP-it_s_over_CV_draft_300.jpg?v=1626926941"},{"product_id":"sugarbread","title":"Sugarbread","description":"\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePraise\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBook Trailer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinalist for the 2015 Epigram Books Fiction Prize\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShortlisted for the Singapore Book Awards 2017 (Best Fiction Title)\u003cbr\u003eShortlisted for the Popular Readers' Choice Awards 2016 English (Adult) Books category\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/lifestyle\/arts\/mother-with-a-dark-secret\" title=\"Sugarbread ST Book of the Month\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Straits Times Book Of The Month (August 2016)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eShortlisted for Singapore Literature Prize 2018\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/files\/Sugarbread_Sample.pdf?7964253515942964800\"\u003eLook inside the book\u003c\/a\u003e   \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan mce-data-marked=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e  \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/farisbooks.com\/book\/243\/Sugarbread\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGet the E-book\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.storytel.com\/sg\/en\/books\/1021317-Sugarbread?utm_source=Epigram\u0026amp;utm_medium=Sugarbread\"\u003eListen to the audiobook\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePin must not become like her mother, but nobody will tell her why. She seeks clues in Ma’s cooking when she’s not fighting other battles—being a bursary girl at an elite school and facing racial taunts from the bus uncle. Then her meddlesome grandmother moves in, installing a portrait of a watchful Sikh guru and a new set of house rules. Old secrets begin to surface but can Pin handle learning the truth?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This novel is sensitively written, and raises important issues subtly: racism and racialisation; religiosity and its relation to identity; patriarchal values; class; and the intersection of Christianity and capitalism in the wonderful speech about 'spiritual bank accounts'. All the characters have depth and complexity and the two layers of the narrative (the experiences of Pin and of her mother Jini) are skilfully blended. There are some beautiful descriptive passages, and I like the way in which metaphors are used sparingly, but to good effect.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 1.4;\"\u003e—Philip Holden, editor of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem style=\"line-height: 1.4;\"\u003eWriting Singapore\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 1.4;\"\u003e and Epigram Books Fiction Prize 2015 judge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"line-height: 1.4;\"\u003e“Pin is an earnest and enchanting child, through whose curious and clear-sighted eyes we see family life and complications and childhood cliques and racism. But this entertaining book also has touching insights into love, hope and wisdom, and characters that will stay with you long after you finish it.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Ovidia Yu, author of \u003cem\u003eAunty Lee’s Chilled Revenge\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“This is the most glorious mic drop moment in Singaporean Literature. Sugarbread is such a tender and powerful response to the many celebrated voices in Singapore that represent minority experiences through tokenism or ignore them altogether. Balli Kaur Jaswal has made me feel like my ten-year-old self could be someone’s protagonist, like my skin belongs in the pages of books in my country. She’s turned the mirrors on Singapore and our conversations about identity in a spectacular fashion. Her prose is delicate, precise and aching. Her storytelling lingers with you for days. This novel is triumphant and absolutely essential reading for anyone who cares about living in this city.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Pooja Nansi, author of \u003cem\u003eLove is an Empty Barstool\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ezp-st8UTog\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBalli Kaur Jaswal\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is the recipient of The Sydney Morning Herald Best Young Australian Novelist Award 2014 for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/epigrambookshop.xyz\/products\/inheritance\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eInheritance\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which inspired a film adaptation directed by K. Rajagopal, called \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLizard on the Wall\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Her second novel, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/epigrambookshop.xyz\/products\/sugarbread\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eSugarbread\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, was shortlisted for the 2015 Epigram Books Fiction Prize and the 2018 Singapore Literature Prize, while her most recent book, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eErotic Stories for Punjabi Widows\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick in 2018. Born in Singapore and raised in Japan, Russia and the Philippines, she studied creative writing in the United States, and has received writing fellowships from the University of East Anglia and Nanyang Technological University. Her fourth novel, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, will be published in the USA and UK in 2019.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Epigram Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":18653558662,"sku":"9789814757300","price":26.9,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/products\/Sugarbread_SLP_by_Balli_Kaur_Jaswal_00.jpg?v=1626946230"},{"product_id":"kappa-quartet","title":"Kappa Quartet","description":"\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePraise\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eShortlisted for the Singapore Book Awards 2017 (Best Book Cover Design)\u003cbr\u003eEpigram Books Fiction Prize 2015 Longlist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/files\/KappaQuartet_Sample.pdf\"\u003eLook inside the book\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/farisbooks.com\/book\/560\/Kappa-Quartet\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGet the E-book\u003c\/a\u003e    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.storytel.com\/sg\/en\/books\/910606-Kappa-Quartet?utm_source=Epigram\u0026amp;utm_medium=KappaQuartet\"\u003eListen to the audiobook\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKevin is a young man without a soul, holidaying in Tokyo; Mr Five, the enigmatic kappa, is the man he so happens to meet. Little does Kevin know that kappas—the river demons of Japanese folklore—desire nothing more than the souls of other humans. Set between Singapore and Japan, \u003cem\u003eKappa Quartet\u003c\/em\u003e is split into eight discrete sections, tracing the rippling effects of this chance encounter across a host of other characters, connected and bound to one another in ways both strange and serendipitous. Together they ask one another: what does it mean to be in possession of something nobody has seen before?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Yam breaks new ground in Singaporean writing with his exploration of what it means to live in this weary world, to be human, to possess (or not possess) a soul. Weaving the stories of his characters into an intricate mosaic of love and yearning and heartache and loss and death and everything else intrinsically meaningful, Kappa Quartet is a shimmering and poignant novel, an immensely sympathetic and humane exploration of our existential condition.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e—Quarterly Literary Review Singapore\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.qlrs.com\/critique.asp?id=1295\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eVol. 15 No. 4\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e “Atmospheric, surreal and masterfully told through an off-kilter cast of characters lost and lonely, this exciting new read comes from the longlist of the 2015 Epigram Books Fiction Prize.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/lifestyle\/arts\/singapore-shelf-12\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e—The Straits Times\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Located somewhere between the shattered filmic worlds of David Lynch and Satoshi Kon's apocalyptic anime, Yam's narrative hypnotises us into questioning our reality in ways that are terrifying, revelatory and fundamentally profound.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Cyril Wong, award-winning author of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.epigrambooks.sg\/products\/ten-things-my-father-never-taught-me\" title=\"Buy now\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eTen Things My Father Never Taught Me\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Irreal and intricate, Daryl Yam's riveting debut teases the perimeters of what a Singaporean novel can be.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Amanda Lee Koe, award-winning author of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.epigrambooks.sg\/products\/ministry-of-moral-panic\" title=\"Buy now\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eMinistry of Moral Panic\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“\u003cem\u003eKappa Quartet\u003c\/em\u003e builds on the promise of Daryl Yam's short stories, and confirms that he is an author to watch. And read!”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—David Peace, Granta Best Young British Novelist and author of \u003cem\u003eTokyo Year Zero\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDaryl Qilin Yam\u003c\/strong\u003e is a co-editor of the \u003cem\u003eSingPoWriMo\u003c\/em\u003e anthology series, a director at Sing Lit Station, and a stageplay producer at Take Off Productions. He holds a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Creative Writing from the University of Warwick, and spent a year in Japan studying at the University of Tokyo. His prose and poetry have been published in a number of anthologies and literary journals. \u003cem\u003eKappa Quartet\u003c\/em\u003e is his first novel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Epigram Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":29724125452,"sku":"9789814757751","price":26.9,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/products\/EBFP-KappaQuartet-CVF-300.png?v=1626923098"},{"product_id":"altered-straits","title":"Altered Straits","description":"\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePraise\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLonglisted for Epigram Books Fiction Prize 2015 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/files\/AlteredStraits-Sample.pdf?10517505803043235448\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eLook inside the book\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGet the E-book on \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/dp\/B07N8LXSY7\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eAmazon\u003c\/a\u003e or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/books\/details\/Kevin_Martens_Wong_Altered_Straits?id=wtWFDwAAQBAJ\u0026amp;hl=en\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGoogle Play\u003c\/a\u003e    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.storytel.com\/sg\/en\/books\/1283767-Altered-Straits?utm_source=Epigram\u0026amp;utm_medium=AlteredStraits\"\u003eListen to the audiobook\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn an alternate 1947 filled with mystical creatures, Singapuran boy-soldier Naufal Jazair is bonded to the merlion Bahana and enlisted in a war against an aggressive neighbour. Meanwhile, in a dystopian Singapore in 2047, SAF officer Titus Ang is tasked with entering Naufal’s universe and retrieving a merlion to save the future of Singapore from the Concordance, a hive intelligence that is close to consuming what remains of humanity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“A powerful monster of a novel. Intertwining myth and history, gender and sexuality, human and animal,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eAltered Straits\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eadds its own unique voice to the growing tradition of speculative fiction in Singaporean writing.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Philip Holden, author of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.epigrambooks.sg\/products\/heaven-has-eyes\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eHeaven Has Eyes\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and Professor of English, National University of Singapore\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p2\"\u003e“A compulsively readable melding of SF and fantasy, intelligent and entertaining, with a refreshingly different world view.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Eric Brown, author of \u003cem\u003eHelix Wars\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKevin Martens Wong\u003c\/strong\u003e is a linguistics major at the National University of Singapore and the editor-in-chief of Unravel: The Accessible Linguistics Magazine. He won the NUS Creative Writing Competition in 2015 for his short story “A Merlion for His Majesty”, and his work has been published in Entlitled magazine. In his spare time, he also works to revitalise the endangered Kristang language in Singapore. He loves books, bicycles, cats, languages, science fiction, most marine mammals and the colour orange, and hopes to become the world’s first astrolinguist before advanced human civilisation ceases to exist in 2039.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Epigram Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":33587913484,"sku":"9789814757874","price":26.9,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/products\/Altered-Straits-CVF-300.jpg?v=1626847438"},{"product_id":"annabelle-thong-new-cover-1","title":"Annabelle Thong (New Cover)","description":"\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePraise\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBook Trailer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEpigram Books Fiction Prize 2015 Longlist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/files\/AnnabelleThong-2nd-sample.pdf?13970868732239520146\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eLook inside the book\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/farisbooks.com\/book\/559\/Annabelle-Thong\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eGet the E-book\u003c\/a\u003e    \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.storytel.com\/sg\/en\/books\/962482-Annabelle-Thong?utm_source=Epigram\u0026amp;utm_medium=AnnabelleThong\"\u003eListen to the audiobook\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDevout Catholic school teacher Annabelle Thong never thought her chastity was a liability – until she runs away to Paris to find Prince Charming.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEnrolling herself at the Sorbonne, she meets the suave Patrick Dudoigt, but he’s the one temptation she MUST resist. Annabelle’s belief system is challenged on all fronts, and her naïveté is seen as gauche in the City of Love. Guilt and confusion make for dangerous bedfellows, and when her fellow university students enthusiastically combine reading and rioting, Annabelle can’t help but wonder if everyone’s gone mad – or is it just her? \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAnnabelle Thong\u003c\/em\u003e takes a hilarious look at the sparks that fly when East meets West, and the passions these ignite.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"... a zippy page-turner set in the City of Lights that sparkles with sass and wit.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Lee Jian Xuan, \u003ca rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"http:\/\/www.straitstimes.com\/lifestyle\/arts\/culture-shock-in-paris\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Sunday Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Annabelle Thong is a fun summer read, and provides a great insider's point of view to life in France!\" \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e—Maxime Pilon, author of \u003cem\u003eThe French in Singapore: An Illustrated History (1819 - Today)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"A comic triumph. A delightfully funny debut that’s perfect for the beach – and Paris. Every page is replete with warmth and wit.\"\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e—The Business Times\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JWicV5NBQy4\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eImran Hashim\u003c\/strong\u003e fell in love with France a little late in life (in his teens) but made up for it by studying French with a vengeance at the National University of Singapore. He went on to win a French Government Scholarship for his postgraduate studies at the Sorbonne and Sciences Po Paris. Apart from providing the inspiration for his first novel, his time in Paris prepared him for jobs with an international focus, and is currently working for a British university.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Epigram Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32202244849777,"sku":"9789814785945","price":20.9,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/products\/EBFP-AnnabelleThong-2nd-CVF-300.jpg?v=1626669967"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0550\/0041\/collections\/2015_EBFP.png?v=1739424969","url":"https:\/\/epigrambookshop.xyz\/collections\/2015-ebfp.oembed","provider":"Epigram","version":"1.0","type":"link"}