The late Sir VS Naipaul is one of my favourite writers. I do not read his fiction as the settings, in colonial Caribbean, is not…
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Month: July 2020
Interesting book – The Secret War for China: Espionage, Revolution, and the rise of Mao
This book is a fascinating book that focuses on the spies and their activities operated by the KMT, CCP, the Japanese, the Germans, and the…
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By V. S. Naipaul
Sir Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul, more known as VS Naipaul, is one of best writers of English prose. He writes both fiction and non-fiction. Here are…
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By Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner is Hitler’s favourite composer. He is famous for his 4 – opera Ring cycle. The entire Ring cycle takes 4 days to see.…
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Epic history – Baghdad: City of Peace, City of Blood – A History in Thirteen Centuries
This is an excellent history of the city of Baghdad from its founding by the Abbasid Caliph Mansur in 750 to 2011. Marozzi has read…
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A short history – Decisive Battles in Chinese History
This book is the only book in the English language that discusses the decisive battles fought on Chinese soil from the Warring States Period to…
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A delightful memoir – Come, Tell Me How You Live
This is a slim book by Agatha Christie, unlike her usual crime detective tales. She shows her playful style here. She lets us peep into…
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The plunder of Europe’s art treasures – The Rape of Europa
This 2-hour documentary is excellent. It details how the Nazis seized the art treasures of France and Italy as well as from the homes of…
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A giant of a man – The Singapore Story: Memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew
Rereading this wonderful memoir just prior to the Singapore general election, I can’t help but wonder whether the current generation of Singaporeans truly appreciate the…
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Not up to mark – Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar
Not up to the usual high standards of an Agatha Christie movie or a TV series, I am afraid. The movie is touted as a…
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