Connecting Through Casual Poet Library
Hey there book readers,
We're back! Our bookshop has found a new home—sort of. It's a cosy shelf at the wonderful Casual Poet Library. And here's the best part: we're a bookshop and a library all in one. Which means you can borrow the same books which are available for sale!
Books on the left: for sale
Books on the right: for borrowing
A little backstory: My connection with the library started a year ago when I got my own shelf there, when I paused for a career break. If you've been reading our newsletters, you'll know I mentioned getting my hands dirty with a lot of chickens. Well, I went to a bean, chicken and rice farm in Ibaraki, Japan.
It was incredibly refreshing. I'd wake up at 4am, work on the farm until noon, and since it was summer, I spent my afternoons reading, cleaning and napping before preparing dinner. The days were simple and repetitive. You know how you go somewhere to reset your mental health, only to realise your physical health is in much worse shape? That was me. My back, knees and arms were screaming. At 35, I was too embarrassed to complain when everyone else on the farm was at least in their 50s.
I'm happy to report that I'm a lot more physically able now, and the heavy boxes of books at Epigram no longer intimidate me.
On my return to Singapore, I started visiting the Casual Poet Library weekly. It was more than just a place to borrow books; it was a place of connection and rest. Being fun-employed can get lonely on weekdays, so it was a great way to talk to actual human beings instead of my cats. The conversations you can have there are magical—they don't start with "what do you do for work?" as if you're being forced to network. Instead, you talk about what people are reading, what they love about the library, their passions and their side hustles. The library has a unique energy you don't find anywhere else, especially in our pragmatic country.
So, for all the Easties out there, these are some of the books I've curated at the library. If you live on the other side of the island and can't bear the lengthy public transport ride, you can still get these titles!
My GIF of the week:
Warmly,
Chloe
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