Book review: Madeleine Thien's The Book Of Records an exquisitely interlaced time-travel novel
Canadian writer Madeleine Thien's The Book Of Records is a tessellation of ideas and worlds threaded to pinpoint anxieties of modern times.
PHOTOS: SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY, GRANTA BOOKS
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Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Straits Times
Book review: Madeleine Thien's The Book Of Records an exquisitely interlaced time-travel novel
Canadian writer Madeleine Thien's The Book Of Records is a tessellation of ideas and worlds threaded to pinpoint anxieties of modern times. PHOTOS: SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY, GRANTA BOOKS
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Straits Times
Show Picks: Concerts by Valley, Qiu Feng Ze and Wayne Huang; LingOrm fan meeting
(Clockwise from left) Canadian indie-pop band Valley; Singaporean singer Qiu Feng Ze (right) and Taiwanese singer Wayne Huang (left); and Thai actresses Sirilak Kwong (Ling, left) and Kornnaphat Sethratanapong (Orm, right). PHOTOS: LIVE NATION SINGAPORE, REASON ENTERTAINMENT, CHANNEL 3 THAILAND Infinity Feng Ze X Wayne Concert At One Love Asia Festival Singapore 2024, Qiu Feng Ze and Wayne Huang took the stage as members of Taiwanese boy band W0LF(S), together with the other members – Nine Chen, Lai and Shou. This time, Qiu, who is Singaporean, and Huang, who is Taiwanese, will perform as a duo in their own concert. They released the duet Infinity in April and contributed to the lyrics of the tender ballad. The singers met on Taiwanese variety show 100% Entertainment (1997 to present) in the 2010s, and later became part of W0LF(S) in 2019. Each has also dropped solo works, which they are expected to perform during the show. Where: The Theatre at Mediacorp, 1 Stars Avenue MRT: one-north When: June 7, 7pm Admission: $58 to $198 via Sistic (go to or call 6348-5555) Valley: Water The Flowers, Pray For A Garden Asia Tour 2025 In Singapore Canadian indie-pop band Valley consist of (from left) drummer Karah James, bassist Alex Dimauro and lead vocalist Rob Laska. PHOTO: LIVE NATION SINGAPORE If you missed Valley's last concert here in 2023, catch the Canadian indie-pop band on June 13 as part of their Water The Flowers, Pray For A Garden Asia Tour. It kicked off in Osaka on June 3, and will also travel to Nagoya, Tokyo, Shanghai, Bangkok and Taipei before arriving here. Valley's new tour has the same name as their latest album, which was released in August 2024. The work is an exploration of grief and resilience, with its mid-tempo title track focusing on nurturing one's connections with others. The trio consist of lead vocalist Rob Laska, bassist Alex Dimauro and drummer Karah James. Where: Capitol Theatre, 17 Stamford Road MRT: City Hall When: June 13, 8pm Admission: From $78 via Ticketmaster (go to or call 6018-7645) LingOrm 1st Fan Meeting In Singapore Thai actresses Sirilak Kwong (Ling, left) and Kornnaphat Sethratanapong (Orm, right) were named among the 48 most influential figures in Thailand in 2025 by Thai newspaper Matichon in January. PHOTO: CHANNEL 3 THAILAND Rising Thai model-actresses Ling Sirilak Kwong and Orm Kornnaphat Sethratanapong will hold their first fan meeting in Singapore on June 14. After starring in the hit Thai series The Secret Of Us (2024), they were named as one of the 48 most influential figures in Thailand in 2025 by Thai newspaper Matichon in January. Ling is known for her roles in the dramas Makkali The Love Tree (2022) and Royal Doctor (2023), while Orm – daughter of veteran Thai actress Naruemon Pongsupap – found fame with the shows Hotel Stars (2019) and To The Moon And Back (2023). Both will be co-headlining the upcoming Thai action-romance series Only You, which is slated to premiere in July. Where: Arena @ Expo, 9 Somapah Road MRT: Expo When: June 14, 4pm Admission: $208 to $388 via Ticketmaster (go to or call 6018-7645) Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- Straits Times
T.H.E Dance Company's cont·act festival returns with new collaborative works
Sloth Canon, featuring dancers from Singapore and Vancouver, is one of four new pieces for cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival 2025. PHOTO: CRISPIAN CHAN SINGAPORE – Expect a dynamic new dance work in Sloth Canon, which is built around dancers' personalities and their decision-making in real time, according to co-creator Anthea Seah. She created the piece with Canadian choreographer Josh Martin, co-artistic director of Vancouver-based dance group Company 605. Sloth Canon features three dancers – Billy Keohavong, Haruka Chan and Chang En – from Singapore, and two dancers – Brandon Lee Alley and Rebecca Margolick – from Vancouver. The work is one of four new pieces in the line-up for cont·act Contemporary Dance Festival 2025. Organised by The Human Expression (T.H.E) Dance Company, the annual celebration of new and rising dance talents is on from June 13 to 29. Kuik Swee Boon, 52, founder and artistic director of T.H.E Dance Company, says 2025 is a milestone. The company is marking the 15th anniversary of the festival, so the programme is both a celebration of the past and a look forward at its aspirations. cont·act is one of Singapore's longest-running festivals dedicated to contemporary dance, and Kuik admits there are challenges to organising such an event. He says: 'At present, our most pressing challenge lies in the rising costs of production, which have not been matched by an equivalent increase in revenue or grants.' He adds that slow ticket sales are also 'cause for considerable concern' and attributes this to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Our experiences during local and international tours over the past few years have shown us that this is a global issue. These are fundamental issues faced by the arts community.' Nonetheless, T.H.E. is committed to the festival as a platform for younger choreographers. Hence, Seah, 35, who has been with the company since 2015 and was appointed resident choreographer in April, is working on Sloth Canon. The work will debut in Canada on June 5 before coming to Singapore. It is travelling to Jakarta from June 28 to 29. Seah says discussions on the partnership began in 2022 and has now become a full-fledged co-production between the two dance companies. 'It was an experience watching how Company 605's and our methodologies mesh to make a world. Having dancers from Vancouver as well as Singapore has also been crucial to the collaborative process.' Other smaller collaborative works at the festival include Singaporean Pat Toh and Australian Jenni Large's Mothership and a duet by Singaporean Adele Goh and South Korean Kwon Hyuk under the Open Stage programme. Seah says: 'I hope more Singaporean audiences can come and experience what contemporary dance is. Sloth Canon is based on the human need to make and create something preposterous. I hope people can come and see that reflected, or even just come in to laugh or cry and feel befuddled with life.' Book it/ Sloth Canon Where: Esplanade Theatre Studio, 1 Esplanade Drive When: June 20 and 21, 7.30pm, June 21 and 22, 3pm Admission: $30 Info: Go to Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
