November 2003
CLUBBING BACK IN BUSINESS
There has been a resurgence in book clubs in recent years, even in the local scene which bodes well for reading and books in general. Ever since, Oprah Winfrey launched her book club programme during her show in 1996, there has been a marked increase in book clubs. There is estimated to be over 500,000 book clubs in the United States but figures in Singapore are not available as there isn’t a conscious effort to tabulate them.
In any case, numbers are not the issue rather the good news that reading as an activity particularly among adults is taking place with enthusiasm. Libraries have traditionally been the place for book discussions and sessions but book-stores and online forums have supplemented the increased need to meet and talk about books. As society and libraries become more wired, having book clubs and other library programmes offer patrons a sense of community.
The Book Council has been organizing monthly book club sessions, called ReadAsia and these sessions have proven to be successful. Other library sites should take advantage of the increasing popularity of book clubs as they not only get to increase their loans but confirm that reading is well and truly alive. Book stores, on the other hand, can sponsor books or provide them at discounted rates for these regular book clubs. This helps to increase their visibility and sales. Moreover, the ReadAsia initiative promotes Asian literature and it is heartening to see many readers, young and old, appreciating the rich literary tradition coming out of Asia.
Reading is a personal activity but books come to live when they are discussed and shared with others. We learn more about ourselves when we articulate our thoughts and opinions. A lot of what we read can be related to our own lives. The proliferation of book clubs can only contribute to the development of reading and the vibrancy of the book industry in Singapore.
(Source: Davis, Donna, “Libraries and Book Clubs”, The Library of Hattiesburg, Petal and Forrest County)
COMING UP!
MAJOR NOVEMBER PROGRAMMES
Asian Congress of Storytellers
(14 & 15 November)
http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/acs.htm
Storytellers' Showcase (16
& 17 November)
http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/showcase.htm
Asian Children's Writers
And Illustrators Conference (20 & 21 November)
http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/acwic.htm
The Book Industry Nite 2003
(21 November)
http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/dinner.htm
BOOK LAUNCH I
7 November
Jessie Wee, Singapore's most prominent writer of children's books is back with her latest creation: "Supercat"- a sci-fi/fantasy story that is set to capture the imagination of your readers. The Book Council and the National Library Board are pleased to launch "Supercat". Jessie will share with you her experience writing children's stories.
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Venue: National Library, Stamford Road, Student Resource Centre (STRC), Level 1
Dress Code: Smart Casual
RSVP: Azrina, Tel: 6848 8290, e-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
BOOK LAUNCH II
18 November
Di Taylor and Tan Lak-Khee have formed an incredible partnership in their latest book "Singapore Children's Favourite Stories”. Age old Singapore legends retold beautifully by Di Taylor (a British who has lived 20 years in Singapore), coupled with breathtaking illustrations by the very talented Lak-Khee results in a book that every Singapore child should own and cherish. Come listen to Di Taylor's experience in writing the stories. There will also be an exhibition cum sale of Lak-Khee's wonderful illustrations.
Time: 5pm - 7pm
Venue: National Library, Stamford Road, Courtyard
Dress Code: Smart Casual
E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more details.
READASIA
20 November
Readasia is a book club organised by the Book Council and library@orchard to promote Asian literature. This is where you will meet like-minded people, fellow book lovers and find a captive audience to share your thoughts and views on the book you’ve read.
Time: 7 p.m.
Book to be discussed: “Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa
Lahiri
Venue: library@orchard, Programme Zone
Registration and enquiries:
Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE THE BOOK BUSINESS
2003 BOOKER PRIZE WINNER
First time novelist DBC Pierre
wins £50,000 with a satirical tale of contemporary America. Australian-born
author DBC Pierre was named on 14 October the winner of the 2003 Man Booker
Prize for Fiction with “Vernon God Little”, published by Faber
& Faber.
Log onto http://www.bookerprize.co.uk for more info.
2003 CULTURAL MEDALLION & YOUNG ARTIST AWARD
The Cultural Medallion was presented to three individuals at the Arts Awards 2003 Presentation Ceremony on 26 September 2003. Dr Lee Boon Yang, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts, also presented the Young Artist Award to four recipients at the same ceremony. Yeng Pway Ngon received the Medallion for Literature while Tan Hwee Hwee received the Young Artist Award for Literature. For more details, log onto http://www.nac.gov.sg/fullnews.asp?psno=276
TALK
8 November
A public Talk will be given by Stephen Dobbs on his research work on the Singapore River, which will complement the current exhibition and film screenings on the Singapore River.
Topic: Talking to the Past People and Place: An Historical Investigation of the Singapore River
Time: 2:30 pm
Venue: Auditorium, Singapore History Museum, 30 Merchant Road #03-09/17, Riverside Point
Admission is FREE.
ASEAN CULTURAL CONNECTION SEMINAR
12 November
ASEAN's cultural richness is at a threshold. Our sense of belonging to
our culture, family, community and nation is now sorely
tested. How well
are South East Asian societies coping with this cultural erosion? Can
education, mass media, and the promotion of ASEAN arts arrest the insidious
erosion of our ASEAN cultural values? Do the youth have a part to play?Come
and hear what the distinguished speakers and panellists have to say about
ASEAN cultural values and how an understanding of the cultures of ASEAN
can promote an ASEAN identity.
Time : 9am - 5.15pm
Venue : Holiday Inn Park View
If you have any queries on the Seminar, please contact Leong-Ho Ah Chan
at 6837 9660 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
ITS COCK 'N BULL NITE - THE NEW LOCAL COMEDY AND SPOKEN WORD VENUE
12 November
Launching on 12 November at the Union Square Club, Cock 'n Bull will present
every Wednesday night, if all goes well, some of Singapore's best established
as well as new upcoming artists. It will also provide an open mike for
wannabe stand-ups, songbirds, improvs, performance poets, mimes, wordsmiths,
yarn-spinners and downright brazen liars. Cock 'n Bull is the inspiration
of a collaboration of Union Square , Banter Magazine in conjunction with
Word Forward - a new arts company which has been attracting public attention,
artistic interest and monthly media coverage with its new novel monthly
event - The Poetry Slam Cabaret.
Union Square Club is situated @ The Amara (Shopping Centre) 165,Tanjong Pagar Road, Level 2. Hotline:62246116. If you are interested to participate in any way please contact Chris Mooney Singh at 91011844 or email him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
POETRY SLAM CABARET
Organised by 'Word Forward', is held at 7:30pm every last Tuesday of the month at the Velvet Underground (Zouk Club,17 Jiak Kim Street, Singapore 169429). Entrance is $10 per head. For more info, visit http://www.wordforward.org or email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
LAUNCHING
14 November
Landmark Books launches "The Singapore Letters of Benjamin Cook (1854
- 1855)", by Adrian G Marshall, with a postscript by John Bastin,
at Singapore's newest arts location, the Old Parliament House at 6pm.
Is it fiction or non-fiction? Please e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) if
you'd like to find out.
PULP: A RECIPE FOR
COLLABORATION
Street vs Art
28 - 30 November, The Substation.
Calling all young people with talent to perform at the Pulp Festival.
All art forms are welcome -- those interested in the literary arts can
submit written pieces, or do spoken word events. Set up a poet's show-down
with rappers. Combine written arts with visual arts. Develop stories based
on the language of hand signs. Artists keen on doing live works, e.g.
getting people to respond to their poetry, doing live "translation"
from normal speak to street-speak, etc, can go wild too. All are welcome.
Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). for more details.
NOW OUT: QLRS VOL.
3 NO. 1 OCT 2003: AT A CROSSROADS
Editorial : On the social contract. Poetry : Shazanah Hassan, W.B. Keckler,
Oswald LeWinter, Charles Lowe,Mark Pirie, Ronny Someck, Thow Xin Wei,
Short Stories : Chan Ziqian, Neil Grimmett, Daren Shiau. Essays : Ng Teng
Kuan on early love poetry; Amy Lai on commoditizing the female orgasm;
Miguel Jaime Ongpin on sports; Toh Hsien Min on pubs in Oxford, Criticism
: Chia Yueh Chin reviews Madeline Lee's "a single headlamp";
Richard Lord reviews Singapore theatre and Atomic Jaya and more at http://www.qlrs.com
HETERO POETRY
The September and October
issues of the bilingual ezine Hetero Poetry
Journal have been published and can be downloaded from:
http://www.heteropoetryclub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=372
http://www.heteropoetryclub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=375
Works in any languages welcome for upcoming issues and should be sent
to
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or posted in http://www.heteropoetryclub.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?f=26
THE WRITE PAGES
The Write Pages, a new free monthly online literary magazine, seeks contributions of unpublished poems, short fiction (under 2000 words) and true stories. For info or to submit contributions (include a brief bio) email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
ESPRESSO FICTION
Espresso Fiction will pay for short stories under 3000 words for weekly distribution. Email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for contributions or info.
JADE MAGAZINE
A five year-old Asian American
women's monthly online magazine based in New York City, will publish non-fiction
writing by Asian
women around the world. Stories from the Asian male viewpoint will also
be considered. Jade like most independent online magazines cannot pay
for published work. However, you are encouraged to include a bio, an e-mail
address and your website link to go with your article. Please e-mail Wena
Poon at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more details or visit http://www.jademagazine.com.
FLAME BOOKS
Flame Books is a new and innovative book publisher based on ethical foundations. Their aim is to publish the most exciting contemporary English-language fiction by the best new authors. They sell their books solely online through their website and thus can offer higher royalties to support future work. If you are a writer then Flame Books are still accepting submissions for Spring 2004. If you are a short story writer then you will be interested in the Short Story Competition 2004. The winners will be published in Summer 2004. To know more about Flame Books, visit http://www.flamebooks.com.
TASMANIAN WRITING
RESIDENCY
The Tasmanian Writers' Centre is offering international writers residencies
in Tasmania in 2004. Applications close on 19 January 2004. For more information,
go to http://www.tasmanianwriters.org and follow the links.
BOOKS SPOTLIGHT
BALZAC AND THE LITTLE CHINESE SEAMSTRESS (A READASIA SELECTION)
Dai Sijie, Ina Rilke (Translator)
New York: Knopf Publishing Group, 2002
In this enchanting tale about the magic of reading and the wonder of romantic
awakening, two hapless city boys are exiled to a remote mountain village
for re-education during China's infamous Cultural Revolution. There they
discover a hidden stash of Western classics in Chinese translation and
steal "subversive" novels of Honore de Balzac, Flaubert, Dostoevsky,
and Gogol and read them to the daughter of the local tailor. While reading,
both boys fall in love with the girl, and, through Balzac, discover "awakening
desire, passion, impulsive action, love, all the subjects that had, until
then, been hidden". The unsophisticated girl is deeply affected and
inspired by the literature and seeks to escape from the limitations of
her life. This is a book about the power of art to enlarge our imaginations
and the power of literature to free the mind.The novel was made into a
film and was France's nominee for Best Foreign Film at this year's Golden
Globe Awards.
THE SINGAPORE RIVER: A SOCIAL HISTORY 1819-2002
Stephen Dobbs
Singapore: Singapore University Press, 2003
Stephen Dobbs sets out the history of this waterway, and of the people—boatmen, coolies, rickshawpullers and prostitutes, to name a few—who made it their home and workplace. He describes the tidal swamp in the early days of the British settlement, where merchants ignored Raffles’ much-vaunted city plan and built their businesses on the limited high ground along the marshy riverbanks. Today the waterfront community has been relocated. The shophouses and warehouses along the river hold chic cafes, up market restaurants and condominiums. The river’s edge has been transformed yet again. Blending social history, geography, economic history and urban studies, this book will be of interest to anyone wishing to understand Singapore’s many transformations during the past two centuries.
Log onto www.nus.edu.sg/npu for more details.
GATEWAY TO CHINESE CULTURE.
Fu Chunjiang.
Singapore: Asiapac Books, 2003
Amply illustrated, some with the trademark Asiapac cartoons, this books attempts to encapsulate 5,000 years of Chinese civilisation and culture. It deals with topics such as the significance of the various vibrant festivals celebrated by the Chinese; the origins of the chopsticks as well as the characters of the written language.
Log onto http://www.asiapacbooks.com/ for more details.
MALAY CULTURE PACK.
Asiapac Editorial, Zaki Ragman (Illustrations).
Singapore: AsiaPac Books, 2003
The Culture Pack Series is an exciting development, which makes real for children -- as well as adults -- the nature of cultural diversity in daily life. This pack, ideal for a gift, features aspects of Malay life and traditions and includes a 176-page book, complete with recipes, photographs, cartoons and fine drawings. Other items in the pack are: a wall chart; translated lyrics and sayings; instructions and or kits for playing the games of dam, congkat, chapteh and sepak takraw -- all popular with children before the advent of computers! Also included are a kite-making kit; a pack of five stones -- a simple but fun game – and the nowadays-rather-rare paper ball, which would delight any youngster!
Log onto http://www.asiapacbooks.com/ for more details.
THE NEW GLOBAL THREAT:
SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME AND ITS IMPACTS
Editors: Tommy Koh, Aileen Plant & Eng Hin Lee
Singapore: World Scientific, 2003
In this book, for the first time, leading scientists and researchers converge
to shed light on the impacts and implications of this new global threat.
Collected together within the volume are more than 20 articles that discuss
and examine the SARS outbreak from wide-ranging perspectives — political,
social, economic and health. The reader is given insights into how the
SARS outbreak has altered public and political understanding of the threat
of infectious disease in general. There are lessons for global public
health that have emerged from the response to SARS, especially as they
pertain to preparedness for the next new disease.
Log onto http://www.wspc.com/books/general/5402.html
for more details.
THE IRAQ WAR AND ITS
CONSEQUENCES: THOUGHTS OF NOBEL PEACE LAUREATES AND EMINENT SCHOLARS
Editors: Irwin Abrams & Wang Gungwu
Singapore: World Scientific, 2003
An extraordinary collection of essays on the recently concluded Iraq War
by Nobel Peace laureates and leading scholars. “The Iraq War and
its Consequences” is the First and Only book that brings together
more than 30 Nobel Peace laureates and eminent scholars to offer opinions,
analyses and insights on the war that has drawn both widespread opposition
and strong support.
Log onto http://www.wspc.com/books/general/5381.html
for more details.
