What's also interesting is that over here it's the nonfiction books that make the most sales. It used to be children's books but our declining birthrate has meant that fewer parents buy books for their children. So we are not creating tomorrow's readers today.
I don't know if it's because kids equate reading to school texts but somewhere along the way from sixteen to adulthood the idea of reading for entertainment stops and I believe that for many, it's a case of reading only because they must.
I hope I'm wrong. While I do enjoy a good video or two, apart from music, books are still my most basic form of entertainment.
What many people don't realise is that a lot of our top tv series or even movies are all adaptations of books.
Maybe it should not be a case about whether books should continue to be a thing but that storytelling continues to thrive. After all, our stories were originally of the oral tradition before books. And now it's moved on to electronic devices.
However, books still rank high as gifts so maybe that's where it will continue to survive. Keep giving books as presents!"
Comments are always welcome.
** https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2016/09/five-decades-of-pictures-and-news-items.html
Author: Christopher Toh.
16 comments:
Oh dear, I have not bought a single book for the last 2 years.
With your ambassadorial activities and singing engagements you wouldn't have much time to read, would you Jimmy? Ha, Ha!
Haha, Andrew. What a coincidence that this post contains the Simon and Garfunkel song, "The Dangling Conversation". Just last night, on my Youtube page, some Youtuber had put up Simon and Garfunkel's "25 Greatest Hits". "The Dangling Conversation" is one of the songs included in the selection.
It's such a sad song. Rather reflective of the duo's relationship. SL Tan
Oh, hi SL
Yes love the song with its sprinkling of book words n phrases I find somewhat suitable. Solemn though; breakups, usually are inevitable and sad
Books are always a treasure to me, all kinds.😌✌️
Please suggest more suitable songs relating to books, especially those from the 60s and 70s? I shall post them. Thanks.
It isn't an oft played song on the album, Parsley, Sage and Thyme, it appears in, isn't it? The others-- Homeward Bound, Scarborough Fair, 59th Bridge Song are more popular?
Yes
Not popular
Doesn’t resonate with general listeners?
Not much airplay, kinda introspective as compared to other pop S&G ones.
Cultural, social, educational parental pursuits may have this effect of the book reading disinterest in Singapore. Plus the dismantling of good English speech (Singlish is “pidgin English) a lack of depth of tha language as a result of disregarding essential English literature has caused disinterest and superficial understanding of the language.
A family member, in the UK has been a voracious reader since 10. She is emulating the same interest in reading and learning that that all the generations before have experienced.
And their Mandarin isn’t good as well because like English they are not studying the cultural, historical aspects of the language. Thus shallow Mandarin as well as a rough and unrefined speech
Yes, thanks Horace for an interesting topic and your comments.
I quite agree with Mr Toh. He says he feels sad that Singapore does not hold reading in high regard. I had noticed that Singaporeans did not read books as many as Japanese when I became familiar with them in 80s and 90s after I visited many times. They seemed to think that anything practical is more important.
Hiroshi Deguchi hi, thanks for your comment. Again you are being honest about some Singaporean habits. Yes, practicality and the ability to earn a living, if I am not wrong. Reading books for educational pursuit then could be more important than for leisure and pleasure. Any comment guys? Or are we both wrong?
I would have to agree with both Hiroshi San's and your comments. Reading books for educational pursuit in order to "cari makan" is definitely more important than for leisure. I would rather watch a James Bond movie than read a Ian Fleming's novel. However, I do resort to reading whenever I have difficulty falling asleep. A surefire remedy for my insomnia! 🤭
And you write so well Jimmy, with much enthusiasm and expressive phrases that can only come from a book enthusiast. ☺️
Thank you
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