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The Singapore Grip
The Singapore Grip | J.G. Farrell
5 posts | 3 read | 3 to read
Singapore, 1939: life on the eve of World War II just isn't what it used to be for Walter Blackett, head of British Singapore's oldest and most powerful firm. No matter how forcefully the police break one strike, the natives go on strike somewhere else. His daughter keeps entangling herself with the most unsuitable beaus, while her intended match, the son of Blackett's partner, is an idealistic sympathizer with the League of Nations and a vegetarian. Business may be booming—what with the war in Europe, the Allies are desperate for rubber and helpless to resist Blackett's price-fixing and market manipulation—but something is wrong. No one suspects that the world of the British Empire, of fixed boundaries between classes and nations, is about to come to a terrible end. A love story and a war story, a tragicomic tale of a city under siege and a dying way of life, The Singapore Grip completes the “Empire Trilogy” that began withTroubles and the Booker prize-winning Siege of Krishnapur.
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jenniferw88
The Singapore Grip | J.G. Farrell
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Librarybelle Thanks for posting! 4y
BarbaraBB I found the challenge of #52books. Nice prompts. I am tempted to join even though it‘s May already! 4y
jenniferw88 @BarbaraBB I've just checked the faq's - you can use books you've already read this year! I liked the prompts too - they're different to most of the other challenges that come out in the new year. 4y
BarbaraBB Yes they are quite original! I would have to use books that I read earlier this year, glad to hear that‘s possible! 4y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick And now I'm contemplating adding another challenge to my year! 🤣 Some of the books I've read already this year qualify. 4y
46 likes5 comments
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whimsy
The Singapore Grip | James Gordon Farrell
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Will be back here in exactly one month! The last time I was in Singapore, I didn't get to buy any books because the paper backs were selling at our hardbound prices. That said, there were a couple of books I've seen there that never got here so. I think I'll allow myself one or two books. Maybe.

whimsy @sisilia Headed to your 'hood soon! ^^ Would love to say hello if you have the time (I fear it would be inconvenient for you as we only have weekdays free x_x). 7y
sisilia So exciting! On which dates will you be here? 7y
whimsy @sisilia we arrive February 27 in the afternoon, depart March 4 afternoon. :D 7y
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whimsy @batsy hi! Sorry to be super random and not book related :x I was wondering if I could ask you for some advice, we're thinking of going to Melaka from Singapore via Starmart Express night bus, but very wary of the reviews we're seeing, would you have any experience on this? 7y
batsy Hey! No worries at all and l wish l had useful advice but I'm sorry that l've not travelled this route via bus/coach. I have heard that Grassland and Aeroline are reliable as I know people who have used it and they had no major issues. (Small delays, though, seem inevitable, unfortunately.) Sad fact about bus companies that service M'sian routes: the more you pay, the safer it is 😕 7y
whimsy @batsy Thank you so much! This definitely validates the advice I'm reading. I'm considering scrapping the Melaka plan altogether as there is no other reliable night bus, might could go for Johor Bahru instead. :D 7y
batsy Yeah, Melaka is fun but if daytime travel is difficult due to time limits then it would not be worth it to get on a night bus if you're feeling wary about it. JB can be fun too, though I haven't been! 😳 But you're guaranteed good food, and old architecture in some parts of the city...and Legoland 😀 7y
whimsy @batsy HAHAHA if only I'm into Legos, but food sounds good! Melaka at daytime is risky because of the border part, that might just give us 4 or 5 hours to explore before traveling back again (for the same time D:) Thanks again! 7y
2 likes8 comments
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Liz_M
The Singapore Grip | James Gordon Farrell
Panpan

There is aw wonderful 320 page novel hidden somewhere in this long, dull portrayal of British society in Singapore on the eve of the Japanese invasion during WWII. #1001books

Ole Hmm! I‘ve read the two first books of the Empire trilogy, and liked them. 7y
Liz_M @Ole I really enjoyed Siege, I thought it was quite clever and interesting. I found Troubles to be wonderfully atmospheric and good. But I just couldn't like this one. :-/ 7y
Ole Well, I have to read this anyway ... hope I‘ll disagree with you on this one 😉 7y
4 likes3 comments
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kristinshafel
The Singapore Grip | J.G. Farrell
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#Riotgrams, day 12: #Outside. This is Marina Bay in Singapore, from NYE. I haven't been reading outside much lately... I just like this picture 😊

cc @bookriot #bookriot #singapore

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Bookdwarf
The Singapore Grip | J.G. Farrell
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Pickpick

One of the best trilogies I've read! Only thematically related books so even cooler. Highly recommend!