I forgot how much I missed fiction and how much fiction I was reading a decade ago before work took priorities, but it’s been really good picking up fiction books at the library again. You never really know what you’re going to end up with. I thought The Shoemaker’s Wife by Adriana Trigiani would fall into […]

Tucked in the basement of Sanlitun Soho, Tonton & Tata is tricky to find for first timers. The décor is stark, if a little impersonal, and done on a budget. White fluorescent lighting does nothing to remind one of Alsace, the northeastern part of France that might be Germany today if the war ended differently. […]

Despite having a name that sounds neither Singaporean nor particularly enticing, Orchard 7 A Singapore Restaurant does honest and tasty renditions of local Singaporean fare. The stark, brightly lit restaurant filled with lackluster white furnishings could not take us further away from the sunny tropics, but the menu is comprehensive. We found typical local favourites […]

This collection of short stories bursts with revelation as China is presented through the eyes of diverse characters. The unique personalities depict the difficult years in China from the Maoist regime to the swift invasion of capitalism while holding on to their values. Exploring themes from homosexuality, fidelity to filial piety, Li gives an honest […]