TAB: Hi Jiwon Lee, could you tell us about your book club?

JL: I moved to Singapore around nine months ago, and I started the book club right away. I’ve been hosting book clubs for about ten years now in Hong Kong and in Korea.

So I have done eight events so far in Singapore, the first one was where we discussed Demon Copperfield, co-recipient of the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. I thought it was a terrific book. But the participation for book club was only 6 people, and I was like, oh, yeah, it’s because it’s first and I should just promote my book club better. And then my next one was Crying in H Mart. It’s a beautiful novel and a worldwide bestseller, and only four people showed up. I started to think maybe I should change genre. So the 3^rd meeting we read The Upward Spiral neuroscience based self-help book. And suddenly a whopping 35 people came. And I was like, this is the genre that they want to read. So my next book was The Hidden Potential – practical motivational self-help book. And 35 people showed up again! And then next one was A man of Two Faces, a very nuanced essay memoir written by the Pulitzer Prize winning fiction writer Viet Thanh Nguyen, who wrote The Sympathizer. But then suddenly the numbers dropped down to 6 participates again.

That got me really interested, like why do Singaporeans have a strong preference for nonfiction. So this past month for June, we read a mental health self-help book, which is called The Anxious Generation. And it was back up to 30 participants. So it was pretty obvious to me that Singapore readers that I’ve come across at least want to read something practical and factual.

TAB: Why do you think that is?

JL: I think the main reason is they really want to learn. And you can use like a motivational book, like a hands on, like a root away knowledge that they can apply to their life. So it got me really interested in the topic. I looked up some data as well. So according to 2021 research done by National Library Board, a majority of adults read non-fiction books. And when they are asked like so why do you read in general? Why do you read? 79% answered to keep up with current events. And in 2009 the Singapore Journal of Library and Information Management did a survey as well. And the top two motives for reading were for personal development and information finding. And the bestselling  genre here is for business, economics, self-help, biography, science and technology all very fact based hands on knowledge books.

TAB: But in comparison to the other book clubs you hosted in Korea and Hong Kong is there something completely different here in Singapore?

JL: I think Singapore is definitely the most severe in terms of preferring nonfiction books compared to Korea and Hong Kong. Korea is similar like maybe about half, half and half. And in Hong Kong my book club was called Hong Kong Fiction Club, so pretty much everyone was just all into fiction. It was really shocking when I asked one of the participants in Singapore, what kind of books do you like to read? And then she answered, it’s mostly nonfiction. So you don’t read fiction at all? And she said, no, I think it’s a waste of time. Maybe she was brought up that way. It didn’t annoy me but it just makes me sad. Sad that you think if you don’t read hands on knowledge, it’s a waste of time. I think it’s just a lack of awareness. So, I want to promote the omnivore reading habit in the community because I’ve heard there are a lot of criticism and concerns in Singapore society. There’s lack of creativity. I think it all goes hands in hands, because they are so into material values and very practical and factual books. I’m not saying that’s wrong or bad, it’s just one sided and only tracks down the same road. There’s no stimulation for your creativity. I think the problem is intertwined. I think Singaporeans are very concerned about their income, their futures and are concerned with discrimination and class differences. They approach their reading in a very scientific and factual way. I admire that they are very enthusiastic learners. They always strive to learn something new. I just wish they could see the value in great literature and what it brings to us as individuals.

TAB: Thank you so much for you time Jiwon you have given some great insights into the world of Book Clubs here in Singapore. If anyone wants to join your group how can they find you?

JL: We are on Meetup and have a WhatsApp group called The Social Bookfly. The club is free and we encourage members to suggest books and then we take a poll and the winning book is chosen for that month.

I want to build a community here where it is, you know, safe and warm. And we welcome everyone. I am very passionate about literature. It gives me a lot of joy.