Epigram Books’ NOTBOOKS, of course. Launching this month, these pocket-sized (A6, to be exact) notebooks come in a jellybean-esque range of 16 colours and designs, complete with a unique, cheeky tagline and 128 pages of high-quality blank paper for your dormant mordant to wreak havoc with.

Want to get your hands on one of these little beauties? Stand to win 1 of the following NOTBOOKS (worth $11.90 each) by answering the simple question below:

Question: How many NOTBOOK designs are there?

Email your answer to contests@theurbanwire.com by Nov 24. Winners will be notified by email.

Prizes proudly sponsored by Epigram Books.

And spread the love with Epigram Books’ current free NOTBOOKS promotion:

• buy at least 5 books, get 1 additional free NOTBOOK of your choice
• purchase at least 9 books, get 2 additional free NOTBOOKS of your choice
• splurge on at least 13 books, get 3 additional free NOTBOOKS of your choice

NOTBOOKS will be available from Epigram Books’ website, and bookstores and lifestyle outlets such as Woods in the Books, Basheer Graphic, Cat Socrates, and Pluck.

While strolling down Orchard Rd on a busy weekend, you might encounter either branch of The House of Robert Timms’: you could be heading down to *SCAPE for a jostle at the flea market or browsing through the discount pile at Borders’.

A glance at their décor and Blondie starts ringing in my head…

Many of you who are habitués of gourmet coffee joints like Papa Palheta and The Plain may also have heard of Timms’ prowess in the world of gourmet coffee.

Adored by Aussies, The House of Robert Timms is one of the very few Australian cafés that still roast and blend their beans in their home ground. But in Singapore, The House of Robert Timms’ has been gaining a reputation outside their coffees…

Get your forks and knives ready to bog in, my fellow sheilas and blokes!

Being a bona fide Australian restaurant, it doesn’t come as a shock to see marsupials (mammals that are indigenously Australian, like wallabies and koalas, to name a few), but you’d be flabbergasted to see them… in the menu?!

If you found Kangaroo Jack to be a horrible movie, you’re not going to have a problem stomaching this dish. They are visible on the Australian coat of arms, and even on some Aussie currency! But who thought that they could be delicious (and a healthier alternative to beef).

Stout Braised Kangaroo Loin ($26.90)

Don’t smack yourself for mistaking this dish for your date’s beef stew – it doesn’t look that much different! Loosen your belt buckles; this is a gargantuan portion of diced, tender kangaroo chunks in mouth-watering brown stout gravy, topped with julienned zucchini and carrots. And what’s a meal without some carbs – a nice plop of mashed potato and crispy strips of puffy pastry seals the deal.

Plunge the end of your fork into a wedge of kangaroo, swish it around in some brown sauce (dab on some mashed potato if you’d like) and be impressed by the chewy tenderness of the meat. You’ll be reaching for more. Don’t worry about being unhealthy as you gorge on kangaroo, because it has half the fat as beef, and if you’re looking to put on some muscle, you’re in luck, because kangaroo has the highest protein content out of meats (chicken, lamb, beef, and pork)!

You must be curious to know how kangaroo tastes. To many, kangaroo tastes like a combination of beef and venison, and some think it tastes (and smells) like mutton. So if you found Old Beauty World’s mutton soup too pungent, this would be pretty hard to swallow.

And if you thought that was the end to exotic meats… crikey!

Braised Crocodile Casserole ($23.80)

Most Singaporeans are probably open to the idea of drinking nutritious herbal crocodile soups, so some croc on your fork shouldn’t be too much of a leap.

Served braised and with chopped up melt-in-your-mouth carrots, zucchini, and eggplant with a generous dollop of mash (except you don’t get the crispy pastry here), this dish might prove challenging, even for the most adventurous of eaters… but try, and you will be rewarded, most deliciously.

Unlike crocodile that has been double-boiled for hours, those wearing dentures or braces, or find eating tough steak a chore, should avoid this dish. Crocodile tastes like a mixture of chicken and fish, with a leathery texture, and comes with a kick – feel the Crocodile Hunter’s spirit coursing through your veins as you chow down on this.

And why not some Mussels & Clams to share?


Mussels & Clams in White Wine Sauce

With all the ‘alien’ meats on the table, it’ll be good to have a dish to that brings you back to Earth – something familiar – maybe something from under the sea.

Served in a deep pan of deliciously light, white wine sauce, these mussels and clams ($18.50 a pot) are succulent and are just bursting with the slight flavor of the wine. A whiff of the aroma in the air reveals the freshness of the stock and the shellfish.

Dip a breadstick into the lip-smacking broth and let it soak up the goodness, and enjoy. Don’t be shocked if you find yourself lapping it all up – it’s good to the very last drop!

And after…

Feel free to rummage through their extensive menu to gratify your desires for sweets, or to combat the post-lunch (or dinner) dip with a fix of caffeine (you’re in the right place!).

The Pavlova with Strawberry Ice Cream might just be what you’re looking for if you’re looking to gratify your desires for sweets – the Pavlova collapses and dissipates to fine clumps of sugary goodness upon entry to your mouth, and a nice cuppa of Hazelnut Coffee should brighten up your senses, as you swallow its velvety smoothness and take in the nutty fragrance exuded by the cuppa.

Rating:

Robert Timms has two houses here:

Wheelock Place
501 Orchard Road, #01-02/03
Opening Hours: Sunday to Thursday from 8am – 1am, Friday and Saturday from 8am – 3am for all day breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Tel: 6735 9201

Orchard Shopping Centre (Opened on 27 March)
321 Orchard Road, #1-01/02
Opening Hours: Daily from 11am – 11pm for all day breakfast, lunch and dinner
Tel: 6733 0609

Thriller writer Oliver Stark’s debut novel is a lengthy wild goose chase with all the trappings of a Saw flick – liberal helpings of gore, surprising plot twists, and at its very core, one very twisted individual.

The story opens with the grisly murders of two young socialites, with the New York Police Department scrambling to quickly solve the cases. Meanwhile, their go-to man, star detective Tom Harper, is on administrative leave and faces being dismissed from the force for breaking his superior’s jaw.

A concession is made – if Tom undergoes therapy sessions with police psychologist and profiler Denise Levene to sort out his anger issues, he’s back on the case. It may be an odd comparison, but a Good Will Hunting-esque relationship develops between them, with Denise playing mentor/counselor to Tom’s brooding tortured genius.

As the death toll mounts, a pattern emerges from the victims. They’re all young, rich Caucasian females; their bodies specially positioned and missing one of their body parts. It is clear that the ‘American Devil’, nicknamed as such by a fear-mongering news reporter on her first big break (with a dubious but never-failing secret source), is trying to send out a message of some sort.

It may be the workings of a madman, but it is a madman with a cause. Stark doesn’t mince words when describing the gruesome details of the murders and the pain the victims suffered before death. If you’re a fan of crime fiction, but not one of gratuitous carnage, it will be difficult to sit through this book.

In his ambitious first novel, Stark seems to still be finding his bearings. He has some really clichéd passages that contrasts starkly with the engrossing detail paid to the development of Tom’s character.

Hard-going in the first two or three chapters, the story picks up speed quickly. Stark carefully shows little glimpses of the American Devil’s identity but never really gives away his identity, keeping the suspense taut as a tightrope.

However, there are a few faults in American Devil. One of the biggest ‘surprises’ in the plot can spotted from a mile away. Also, despite Stark crafting out a sense of involvement with each character, there still remains the question of the American Devil’s motivations. The reasons for him going on a killing spree are not that convincing and give a lackadaisical attempt at providing insight into the mind of a serial killer.

The ending of the book is unsatisfying, as after the final terrifying but expected plot twist, the story descends into a muddled confusion, jumping back and forth between the American Devil’s, Tom’s and the victims’ points of view.

If the plans to make the novel into a series come through, Stark will need to continue building on Tom’s background and avoid falling into the trap of further plot clichés and cringe-worthy dialogue.

Fingers crossed that he doesn’t get caught up in competing for the title of ‘Master of Gore’.

Title: American Devil
Author: Oliver Stark
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Headline Publishing

Borne of owners Karen Wai and Kenny Leck’s shared love for reading, this compact establishment didn’t survive 4 years just by sitting pretty in an old shophouse. The shop has achieved much this past year, and on closer review of the rustic mix on display, they offer a lot more than just books, actually.

UrbanWire drops by for a look at the shop’s hallmarks.

^{Meet Karen and Kenny.}

First Impressions
Entering the shop on a rainy December afternoon, you’d think you stepped into the storybook department of Santa’s Workshop; The walls are tightly packed with various literary works – from Nabokov and Orwell to classic fairy tales –, you hear a typewriter hard at work somewhere on the upper floors, soft music plays, and the place smells of fresh paper and wood.

The second floor houses a brocante (secondhand market). On display are common items from bygone days – cream glass marbles from our parents’ childhood, and old rubber stamps. Their non-fiction sister shop, Polymath and Crust, is on the third floor. It carries titles including food, nature, geography, and history.

“It’s like another world,” said Helene Mayne, a first-time customer, “You can tell these people really love books. This shop is a sensory experience.”

Literary Installations
At present, there are a number of installations at the store. Here’s a quick look at our favourites:

1)    Brillat- Savarin’s Literary Orders: Just by the entrance, you’ll find stacks of vintage paper and a coin box. Typewritten on each piece is a passage from Karen and Kenny’s favourite poems and novels. They’re free, but you can drop them a little reward.

2)    We Share Stories: An exhibition initiated by the Singapore Design Festival. “We Share Stories” invites you to drop off a roll of film of pictures you took, and exchange it for a roll taken by someone else.

They liked this so much at BooksActually, they’ve asked to continue this little project after the festival ended in November. So it’s still there, and an almost permanent feature.

Intellectual wall-art at the entrance: Spot your favourite author’s portrait.

“These installations are something for people to think about,” said Karen, “You don’t necessarily have to come in to buy a book.”

Installations will be up for the rest of the year.

Birds and Co.
Amongst the range of books, you’ll also find the shop’s handmade stationery on display.

^{(Image courtesy of BooksActually)}

Birds and Co. is BooksActually’s stationery line. The collection includes pencils with famous authors’ names on them, and a good variety of whimsical handmade notebooks, like the “Chronicles of the Deer” and “Portions for Foxes” ranges.

“We like the old way of bookbinding, so we do a lot of handmade stationery, with hand-stitching. All the covers of our notebooks are hand-printed, since we really like the letterpress,” Karen told us.

Notebook prices start from $3.

Hand-stitched book spines.

Publishers Too
Unpublished writers take note: BooksActually also has a publishing arm, Math Paper Press.

“Publishing’s a very personal process. Both of us edit the works, and if we like something, we try to incorporate our ideas,” said Karen, “if we feel illustrations suit the writing a lot, we will try to get in touch with our artist friends to do a collaboration, things like that”.

Book launches and author readings are held for free as well, both for the author and the public. This is their way of showing support for the local writing scene.

And if all that wasn’t enough, the couple hand-picks every title the shop carries.

“It sort of reflects our own tastes,” said Karen.

Kenny summed it up in 2 words: “Processing Hell”. But hey, hard work pays off, evidently.

The average novel is sold at $35 a copy.

BooksActually is certainly a very busy 4-year-old. With so much going on, we find it amazing that the owners whole-heartedly micromanage everything about the business.

“It’s our labour of love, so we have to see that we’re involved in every aspect,” said Karen happily.

What Lies Ahead
From their humble beginnings making rounds at university book bazaars, BooksActually has come a long way. From their original second-storey shop space, they now occupy an entire shophouse.

Polymath and Crust, their non-fiction collection, started just this May. Also, the shop was approached to be the official festival bookstore of the Singapore Writers Festival, held in October.

“We’re happy we’re still surviving. We hope to create a legacy and be around for the next 10 to 20 years, or more,” said Karen.

They’ve only just turned 4, but the 2 owners already have some new goals to work toward.

“We’d love to expand more on our title selection,” Karen said.

There are also hopes for Polymath and Crust and Birds and Co. to become separate entities and have shop units of their own.

To us at UrbanWire, it looks like BooksActually might actually get to create the legacy they hope to have. If it’s love and passion that drives a place, then they ought to be sticking around for another 4 years and more, easily.

BooksActually
86 Club St
Contact: +65 6222 9195
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday – 11am to 9pm
Sunday – 12 pm to 6pm
Getting There:
Tanjong Pagar MRT Station, Exit G

The journey was no smooth ride. Kate McCaffrey said, “In Australia, you have more chances of making the Olympic team, than… getting a book published.”

The Aussie Writers, from left to right, Omar Musa, Maree Dawes, Chris Pash and Kate McCaffery

Embrace your life experiences

Life experiences are good sources of inspiration for authors, so embrace them.

Omar Musa, a poet and rapper, who, while coming into contact with the impoverished conditions where Aborginals live, realised “that as artists, sometimes …you have to speak up, and you have to be political, and there are some things that just can’t be ignored.” Now he also writes, among other issues, about racial inequality in Australia. Such an example is the rap “Open Your Eyes”, which discusses stereotypes he encounters, such as airline staff thinking he is a threat because of his “Arabic sounding” name.

Similarly, Chris Pash, the author of The Last Whale, was introduced to the world of whaling at 19 as a rookie reporter at the Albany Advertiser. He later decided to return some 30 years later to chronicle the story of both whalers and activists. He explained that while “whaling stopped, … I felt some sort of obligation somehow, to have a conscious representative of the last whalers.”

Get inspired

Keep on the lookout for ideas everywhere. Kate McCaffery found her initial spark of inspiration through the TV programme Dr Phil, which features the celebrity psychologist as host of his own show, giving advice on a range of topics. They were talking to a girl who had been abused by text messaging and blog and email. Her interest was sparked off on how despite new technology and changing times, the act of bullying had not changed. The notes she took while watching the talk show eventually grew to become her first novel, Destroying Avalon.

Have a muse, and the researching and refining part of writing becomes less of a drag. The importance of this comes as writing a novel or collection of poems isn’t without its complications, and having a passion in your subject will certainly help the process.

Maree Dawes, who penned a collection of poetry called Women of Minotaur about wives and mistresses of Picasso, is such an example. She explained that while she started out penning a poem, fascination for the subject soon grew in her. She became intrigued by Broadway pieces and articles about the women’s lives in the 1800s and 1900s, learnt how Picasso painted, and even familiarised herself with crimes committed in that era.

Above all, persevere

However, good ideas alone aren’t enough to bring a book to completion. Many people give-up halfway, but with the goal in mind, you’ve got to press on. For instance, despite having a full-time job, Chris Pash would squeeze precious time to put his thoughts on paper while having dinner and before going to bed. Time doesn’t free itself up.

Omar Musa gave possibly the most important word of advice for aspiring authors.

As a rapper, he often writes his lyrics on the spot at the studio. However, he’s quick to make the distinction that it’s not just raw talent that allows him to write. To him, this is a common mistake that writers make, thinking they can “wait for the great moment, where they can save up all their ideas and write a masterpiece, without actually practising”. Instead, doing it frequently, which he likens to “push-ups”, is all-important to become a good writer.

He said, “a writer writes. You don’t wait … just constantly write. I always do sometime where I just write songs, and I never release these songs, but this is just so I can keep my game at top level”.

Through the eyes of time

By Josceline Foo

Henry DeTamble is an average librarian who lives in Chicago, save for one thing: Due to a genetic disorder, he gets swept off to another chapter of his life at fate’s whim every once in a while. Told through the viewpoint of his faithful wife Clare Abshire, readers are pulled into a heartbreaking tale of two lovers whose romance is put through the fire by the whimsical…(read more)

Wild things in all of us

By Tanya Lai

What if you had to turn a 10-sentence children’s book into a full-length feature film? Seems like an impossible job only meant for overachievers and the brilliantly creative, doesn’t it? That brilliant and creative overachiever arrives in the form of Spike Jonze, whose directorial credits include Being John Malkovich and Adaptation…(read more)

Colour my world grey

By Wong Yeang Cherng

If you wake up to a world devoid of life and stained grey from hopelessness and death, would you rather die or carry on with life? Brace yourself to ponder over this question when you watch the film adaptation of Pulitzer prize-winning novel The Road. Written by Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men), The Road is about…(read more)

Screening the Moon

By Lin Zicheng

If you thought that Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight series is all about a steamy fairytale romance between a perfect vampire and a regular teenage human girl, New Moon will definitely make you think twice. Compared to its fluffy romantic prequel, New Moon is driven by the internal turmoil and paranoia faces Bella when Edward…(read more)