April 2003
EASE YOUR MIND!
Yes, it is time to ease your mind and we at NBDCS would like to help
you do that by bringing you courses and events that we hope will focus
your mind on all things literary. It is during uncertain times like
these that attending enriching programs can help us bond and stimulate
our minds, something which will do a world of good for our confidence
and help take our thoughts off other matters! So get busy and get reading
and writing!
EVENTS AND COURSES
LITERARY APPRECIATION
TALKS
6-14 JUNE
In line with the book council’s mission of promoting literary
appreciation, these talks aim to give students fresh perspectives on
their prescribed ‘O’ level literature texts. While staying
relevant to the need to excel in their literature papers, we hope to
open their eyes to the beauty of these texts.
Time:
1.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Fee per student per talk:
$25.00
Date, Venue, Text
6 June 2003, Friday
Tampines Regional Library, Auditorium
Henry IV Part 1
7 June 2003, Saturday
Tampines Regional Library, Auditorium
Deep & Dangerous
13 June 2003, Friday
Tampines Regional Library, Auditorium
Twelfth Night
14 June 2003, Saturday
Tampines Regional Library, Auditorium
Touched with Fire
INDIAN BOOK AND
IT FAIR (IBIF)
21-22 JUNE
NBDCS is organising the
Indian Book and IT Fair (IBIF) 2003, a unique learning and stimulating
experience for Indians and lovers of Indian books and software. IBIF
is a key program in the National Library Board’s week-long inaugural
Indian Reading Festival showcasing about 20 programs involving more
than 40 organisations from 21-29 June 2003. The Fair will showcase a
series of creative and educational books, products, services and software
of Indian content and will stage educational and entertaining programs
as well.
For more information, please visit our website at http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/Events/1events.htm or contact us at tel: 68488290/4 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
TAMIL PUBLISHING
AND EDITING WORKSHOP
22, 24-25 JUNE
NBDCS is conducting a Tamil
Publishing and Editing Workshop on 22 and 24-25 June 2003 as part of
the inaugural Indian Reading Festival. S. Ramakrishnan (Cre-A:), an
expert in Tamil publishing and editing from India will conduct this
workshop. These workshops would be very useful for Tamil writers, editors,
publishers, curriculum developers, teachers and students who work on
publications and books. The course would equip you, step-by-step, with
the wide range of professional editing skills and techniques required
to write and edit books, textbooks, journals, newsletters and various
publications.
For more information, please visit us at http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/Courses/1courses.htm or contact us at tel: 68488290/4 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
ACS 2003 - REQUEST
FOR PROPOSAL
The Asian Congress of Storytellers
(ACS) is an annual event organised by NBDCS, in collaboration with the
Asian Storytelling Network. Now into its third year, the event has gained
reputation as the only storytelling event that focuses on Asian telling
and Asian stories. We are now inviting speakers or workshop leaders
who are keen to be part of this effort to submit proposals.
For more information please visit our website at http://www.nbdcs.org.sg/acf2003.htm or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
THERE’S NO BUSINESS LIKE THE BOOK BUSINESS
JUST LAUNCHED!
BY SNP
Authors Terry Ho and Raymond
Flower launched their respective books, published by SNP, “The
Manic Memoirs of Terry Ho” and “Playback-Writing an Autobiography”
on April 22 at the YMCA Function Room. Raymond Flower gave the 50-strong
crowd tips and pointers on writing an autobiography while Terry Ho backed
up with wacky reasons why everybody should and must write an autobiography
now!
BY ISEAS
The Institute of Southeast
Asian Studies (ISEAS) launched its latest book, “Indonesia's Population:
Ethnicity and Religion in a Changing Political Landscape” authored
by Leo Suryadinata, Evi Nurvidya Arifin and Aris Ananta on April 25,
2003 at the Institute. This is the first book that presents an analysis
of basic information contained in the 31 volumes of the official Indonesian
census conducted in the year 2000. It focuses on Indonesian ethnicity
and religion and their relevance to the study of politics. ISEAS regards
it as an indispensable book for scholars and practitioners who are interested
in Indonesia, in particular the relevance of ethnicity and religion
to political behaviour during elections.
BY LANDMARK
Straits Times cartoonist
Miel, recently launched his new book "Singatoons" which contains
a 100 cartoon drawings, all of which incorporate the geographical shape
of Singapore in innovative ways, on April 26 at a Haagen Dazs outlet
in Holland Village. Published by Landmark Books, "Singatoons",
according to the author, is a book that has been 10 years in the making
and inspired by Singapore. It also contains captions by former art and
picture editor of The Straits Times, Cherian George.
THE WORLD'S RICHEST
LITERARY PRIZE
The IMPAC Dublin Literary Awards are the world's richest literary prize
for a single work of fiction. The prize of £100,000 is awarded
to the author if the book is written in English and if the winning book
is in English translation, the author receives £75,000 and the
translator, £25,000. The aim of the award is to promote quality
literature on an international basis and libraries in major cities throughout
the world make the nominations. Visit http://www.literature-awards.com for
the 2003 shortlist.
BOOK SPOTLIGHT
Violet Wee's "I want! I want!" brings us back to a Singapore
that has all but vanished. Set in the sixties, it tells the tale of
seventeen-year old Poh Choo living in one of the many attap settlements
along Bukit Timah Road. It's her tale of yearning to live like the rich
folks in big houses across the busy road. In spite of her family's apprehension,
Poh Choo is adamant that marrying a rich guy is her passport to a better
life. Poh Choo does finally get her cake, in the form of a rich playboy,
but eating it is another issue ! Not just a simple-minded yearning by
a naive young girl, "I want! I want!" is a deeper longing
within us to seek out greener pastures.
ASIA AND PACIFIC
WRITERS NETWORK
An Asia and Pacific Writers Network is being developed by the Melbourne
PEN Cente and Asialink, a non-government organisation based at the University
of Melbourne. They are at the first stage of developing the Network,
which is identifying writers, academics and organisations in the region
who are interested in participating and adding them to a database. As
the database is accessible to all participants, they require permission
for people to be listed. If you are interested in participating in this
network or know of other writers who are interested, please contact
Berni M Janssen at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) directly.
HISTORICAL MAY
AT SELECT
The month of May will be history promotion month at Select. Their MEET
THE AUTHOR @ Select on Saturday May 10 (3.30pm to 5pm) will feature
2 authors currently attached to the National University of Singapore:
James Warren, from the Asia Research Institute and Brenda Yeoh, Department
of Geography. Drop by and catch a piece of history, also all History
titles are 20% off on weekends in May!
WELCOME ABOARD!
Josephine Mok is the latest to join the book council as we move forward in our objectives to serve the book community in bigger and better ways. Josephine graduated from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) with a major in Journalism. She has 3 years of retail experience with Books Kinokuniya and is very keen to promote the love of reading to more people. She enjoys reading and is now looking for another bookshelf to house the pile of ever increasing books on her bedroom floor. A match made in heaven! Welcome aboard Josephine!
