READING MARATHON 2009

Reading Marathon aspires to complete 144 hours of continuous reading aloud of fiction stories at The Plaza, National Library Building. So make a date with us and come experience the inspiring journeys and tales told by the readers from

Friday, 3 July, 1.00pm - Thursday, 9 July, 1.00pm.

Witness the read and answer three simple questions and stand a chance to win attractive prizes. 35 prizes are for grabs- SilkAir Ticket, MP3 Player, iPod and vouchers!

So wait no more and come down to The Plaza, National Library Building, 100 Victoria Street!

Synopsis for selected English READ!Singapore 2009 titles

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Novels

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Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck published by Penguin Books

George and Lennie are migrant American labourers - one alert and protective and the other strong, stupid and potentially dangerous. This is the powerful story of their relationship and their dreams of finding a more stable and less lonely way of life. Of Mice And Men is also a 1992 film starring John Malkovich and Gary Sinise, and directed and produced by Sinise. It is the third movie adaptation of John Steinbeck’s novel of the same name. The first adaptation was made in 1939, and a made-for-TV movie version was produced in 1982.

The book is now available for loan. Call number: English STE

About the author:  John Ernst Steinbeck III (February 27, 1902 – December 20, 1968) was an American writer. He wrote the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Grapes of Wrath, published in 1939, and the novella Of Mice and Men, published in 1937. In all, he wrote twenty-five books, including sixteen novels, six non-fiction books and several collections of short stories. In 1962, Steinbeck received the Nobel Prize for Literature.

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The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd published by Headline Group Publishing

The Secret Life of Bees boldly explores life’s wounds and reveals the deeper meaning of home and the redemptive simplicity of “choosing what matters.” In the end, though she could not find the mother she lost, Lily discovered and came to terms with her mother’s past, found a hive of new mothers, and fell in love with the great universal mother.

Now available for loan. Call number: English KIDD -[MO]

About the author:  Sue Monk Kidd is a writer from southern United States, and is best known for her novel, The Secret Life of Bees. She got her start in writing when a personal essay she wrote for a writing class was published in Guideposts and reprinted in Reader’s Digest. She went on to become a Contributing Editor at Guideposts.

Short Stories

“No Looking Back” by Robert Shearman (from the book, Tiny Deaths, published by Comma Press)

This story is like a modern version of the Greek legend poet Orpheus and his wife Eurydice. It examines the choice Orpheus had to make about redeeming his wife’s soul when she accidentally passed away and in this comical modern version, Orpheus wondered if he did the right thing as Eurydice proved to be annoying. 

“My Cousin Tim” by Simon Tay (from the book, Stand Alone, published by Landmark Books )

In “My Cousin Tim”, the author depicts the dilemma of a young man Tim, who lived the life of a spendthrift and disappointed his father, and of the cousin Eddie, who grew up with him and realised the ambitions and dreams of the older generation. Eddie and Tim were brought up in a typical family with high parental expectations to follow a dictated life of which decisions were made by his parents. However, there is a critical and significant difference between them that separates them into opposing sides of the coin.Tim and Eddie serve as a juxtaposition of characters: Eddie is the epitome of a typical ‘good’ person; a filial son; a dutiful husband and father. Tim, on the other hand, is the unconstrained individualist who lives for himself and seeks the intangible things in life.

About the Authors:

Robert Shearman

Also credited as Rob Shearman (born 10 February 1970,near London, England), Robert Shearman is currently best known as a writer for Doctor Who, a British science fiction television programme. His first book, Tiny Deaths, a collection of short stories, was short listed for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize and made the long list for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award. In November 2008, it was named Best Collection at the annual World Fantasy Awards. Shearman describes himself as a comedy writer, but it might be truer to call him an absurdist; most of his work, whatever the medium it is written for, is concerned with the effect on ordinary people when they are propelled into extraordinary or fantastical situations. 

Simon Tay 

Simon Tay is an award-winning writer of stories, poems and essays, as well as a professor and public intellectual. His book of stories, Stand Alone, published by Landmark Books, was short listed for the Commonwealth Prize and “5” was highly commended for poetry by the National Book Development Council.  In public service, he initiated in 1995 Singapore Volunteers Overseas, a programme for development and assistance in other countries.   In 1997 to 2001, he served as Nominated Member of Parliament.  From 2002 to 2008, he was Chairman of National Environment Agency.    He is Associate Professor of international law and public policy at the National University of Singapore and has also taught at Harvard Law School.  He is concurrently Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, an independent think tank, and a regular contributor of comments in the national and international media.  He lives in Singapore but works in the USA as a Schwartz Fellow at the Asia Society in Manhattan and teaches at Yale University.

Synopsis for selected Malay READ!Singapore 2009 titles

MALAY LANGUAGE

Novels

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Detective Indigo (Detektif Indigo) by Faisal Tehrani published by Utusan Publications and Distributors Sdn Bhd

The story centres on the exploits of a group of gifted children led by the Chinese Muslim boy named, Cheng Chung. Cheng Chung and his fellow adventurers, known as the Indigo detectives, are whiz kids par excellence. Each was bestowed with gifts, ranging from the telepathic ability of the girl, Mihrimah, to the acute sense of smell of Ruzbihan and the photographic memory of Cheng Chung. This is a tale of adventure and discovery where each of these children discovered within them the strength and desire to achieve their dreams. The protagonist, Cheng Chung, got his chance to prove his worth and skill when he was called upon to prove the innocence of two of his teachers accused of a diabolical terrorist plot.  

Now available for loan. Call number: Malay FAI

About the author:  Faisal Tehrani is the pen name of Mohd Faizal Musa, one of the most read novelists from Malaysia. He was born on August 7, 1974 at Hospital Kuala Lumpur and grew up in Malacca, Malaysia. This novelist has won prizes and awards, including the prestigious Anugerah Seni Negara in 2006. His kind critics predicted this talented writer is a ‘Malaysian National Laureate’ in the making.  

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My Life’s Journey (Perjalananku)
by various secondary school-students published by Angkatan Sasterawan ‘50

The book is a compilation of 20 award-winning short stories that are in line with the READ! Singapore 2009 theme. These short stories were winning entries in a writing competition organised by the Malay Literary Group, ASAS 50.  

Now available for loan. Call Number: Malay PER

About the authors:  The writers of the short stories are various secondary school students.  

Short Stories 

“Behind The Rainbow Elegi” (Elegi Di Tabir Pelangi) by Helmilina (from the book, Kumpulan Cerpen, Millenia 2 published by Anuar Othman & Associates Media Enterprise)

The story reflects the life struggle of a foreign construction worker from India, Girish. He travelled far to seek a better life for his poor family back home. He worked hard and scrimped so that he could send more money to his old mother and siblings. Tragedy struck when Girish was inspecting a metal beam in an underground basement. The metal beams were falling apart, putting the workers at risk of being buried alive. Girish was contemplating whether to escape or remain behind. Knowing that his life was insured upon his death, he chose to stay.

Now availble for loan. Call Number: Malay HEL 

“The Woman In Black Shawl” (Perempuan Kerudung Hitam) by Suratman Markasan (from the book, Perempuan Kerudung Hitam / Dewan Bahasa & Pustaka)

The writer related his experience while doing Hajj with his late wife. He was pick-pocketed while on his way out from the mosque after Friday prayers. Surrounded by a crowd of worshippers, he managed to catch hold of the thief, a lady in black clothing. He was deliberating whether to release the thief or hand her over to the police for punishment. Choosing the latter will result in the lady losing her hand. While still holding her as “captive”, the writer witnessed a man’s hand being chopped off for stealing in public. He reluctantly released the lady and recovered his stolen money from her. The story portrays the dichotomy of faith that is faced by the writer. He fulfilled his dream of completing the Hajj, which signified the culmination of his devotion to his God. He was compelled by personal interest to apprehend the thief. Yet, having done so would be to subject her to the strict and, what he found to be, an inhumane interpretation of the requirements of his faith. In releasing his captive and circumventing to extreme interpretation of his faith, he realised that the simple act of humanity on his part had allowed him to achieve more for him.  

Now available for loan. Call Number: Malay SUR

About the authors:  Helmilina

Helmilina, born on 18 June 1979, graduated with honours in Malay Language and Literature. The former pre-school teacher began writing short stories and came out with the first collection, Millenia, back in 2003. Now, a secondary school Malay Language teacher, Helmilina has since been involved with a Malay programme on a local radio station and received awards from Suria MediaCorp. Her involvement has not only attracted the interest of many but is also an example for her students to follow. 

Suratman Markasan

Suratman Markasan is a profilic author. The inner conflicts of the community often serve as a theme in his works that are full of satires. He has also written poetry and working papers relating to literature, language and cultural arts.

Synopsis for selected Tamil READ!Singapore 2009 titles

TAMIL LANGUAGE

Novels  

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White Ship (Vellai Kappal) by Sujatha
Published by Uyirmmai Pathippagam

 This is an exclusive READ! Singapore edition. It contains eight short stories based on the theme “Dreams and Choices” and are specially selected for this campaign. Each story uniquely depicts the issues of “dreams” and “choices” of the characters. In the first story, a daughter hid her love relationship from her parents by framing her neighbour who is in love with her. Why did she choose to do that? Read this story and others to discover!

The book is now available for loan. Call Number: Tamil SUJ

About the author:

Sujatha (original name S. Rangarajan), one of the most prolific writers of contemporary Tamil literature, had written over 100 novels and 250 short stories. He was a regular contributor to topical columns in Tamil weeklies such as Ananda Vikadan, Kumudam and Kalki. These columns were widely read and fetched him numerous fans in all age groups. He had drawn thousands of youngsters to Tamil literature with his lucid and engaging style. He had written screenplays and dialogues for several Tamil movies. He died in 2008 at the age of 72.

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Colours of Love (Kaathalenum Vaanavil) by Vaasanthi
Published by Kavita Paplikesan

 An Indian family returned from America to India. Life was not the same for the family as they needed to make several choices to adapt to their new environment. The story revolves around the main protagonist, Meera, and her dreams, aspirations and the choices she had to make to make a newfound life colourful and meaningful. 

 This book is now available for loan. Call Number: Tamil VAS

About the author:  The multi faceted Vaasanthi has written over forty books, including novels and short stories. Her writings have been translated into other languages, like Czech, Dutch, English, Hindi, Malayalam and Norwegian. She has earned wide recognition for her works and has received the Punjab Sahitya Akademi Award for her contribution to Indian literature. Other honours include the Uttar Pradesh Sahitya Sansthan Award, the Gyana Bharathi Award and the Best Novel of the Year Award for Ammani.
A graduate from Mysore University, Vaasanthi holds a post-graduate Certificate of Merit from the University of Oslo. She worked as editor of the Tamil edition of India Today newsmagazine for nine years.

She currently freelances as a print and visual media consultant.
 
 

Short Stories 

“Mirage” (Kanal Neer) by N. Palanivelu (from the book, Kavigar N.Palanivelu Padaippu Kalanjiyam 2 

The story revolves around the protagonist, Thiruselvam. Orphaned at a young age, he ran away from his maternal uncle’s home due to ill treatment. He ended up working for an up-and-coming businessman, Kannappar. Kannappar was impressed with Thiruselvam’s sincerity and hard work and promised to marry off his daughter to him. Hearing this, Thiruselvam worked harder, dreaming that the girl would be his wife one day.  

“What A Life?” (Eppadiyum Oru Pilaippu) by Pon Sundararaju (from the book, Pon Sundararajuvin Sirukathaikal/ published by Tamil Art Printers Pte Ltd)

The protagonist of the story, Ayyavoo, is a road sweeper who took pride in his work. Often, he was chided by his superior Manian who disliked elderly workers. One day, Ayyavoo received a pleasant surprise when Manian suddenly appointed an assistant for him and spoke with respect to Ayyavoo. Will Ayyavoo succumb to his newfound privilege or will he not?  

About the authors: N. Palanivelu

N. Palanivelu had been an active writer since 1935. He had authored several poems, short stories and plays. His writings centred on the themes of community, family, romance and literature. Palanivelu received several awards in his lifetime. He was bestowed the title of “Naadaga Sigamani” (Master Playwright) by the Bhaskar’s Dance Academy in 1978, the Cultural Medallion for Drama in 1986, “Kala Rethna” by the Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society in 1987, and the “Tamizhavel” award by the Association of Singapore Tamil Writers in 1987. For more information, please visit:  http://exhibitions.nlb.gov.sg/literarypioneers/writers/tamil/npalanivelu/index.php 

Pon Sundararaju

Mr Pon’s love for the Tamil language inspired him to be a writer at the tender age of fourteen. To date, he has written 40 plays for television and 30 plays for radio. He has also written numerous short stories and published two book compilations of his short stories. His short stories are well-received by the Indian community as they focus on issues challenging the Indian community. His latest publication “Pon Sundararaju’s Padaipugal” was highly commended by a number of well-known people in the Tamil literary field. A good number of his short stories and plays have won first and second prizes in various literary and creative competitions over the years. His contributions to the literary and creative field have won him the prestigious ‘Kalai Chemmal’ award by Singapore Indian Artistes Association, and the ‘Thirukural Award’ by Singapore Tamil Language and Cultural Society in 2005. In 2007, he received the ‘Pulamai Thendral’ award by Tamil Nadu’s World Tamils Society, in recognition for his literary talents and contributions.

Synopsis for selected Chinese READ!Singapore 2009 titles

CHINESE LANGUAGE

Novels

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Dreams on Wings (追梦的翅膀) by Wang Wenxian
Published by Lingzhi Media Pte Ltd

 Written by local writer Wang Wenxian, the story is about a young female teacher who was unprepared when faced with a group of delinquent adolescent students who gave her countless problems in class.  Teaching was her first dream and despite the initial setback, she did not quit but persevered, juggling her roles as teacher, mentor and friend. In the end, she won over the students. 

Book is now available for loan. Call Number: Chinese WGWX

About the author:  Mdm Wang Wenxian, a Chinese language teacher in Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School, was born in China and is now a citizen of Singapore. In her leisure, Mdm Wong writes prolifically and her writings have been published in newspapers and journals in both Singapore and China.  Besides Dreams on Wings, Mdm Wang has published another two novels, namely Ding Xiang’s First Love and The City of Love.  

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A Collection of Writings (共拥一片书香) by various local writers
Published by Lingzhi Media Pte Ltd

Edited by Kap Koon Chan, this book comprises writings by 42 local Chinese writers, including well-known authors such as Hu Wei, Liu Peifang and Aw Yew Pak.  “My Childhood Days” by Miao Mang, for example, reminisces about life in the kampung days, social turmoil and poverty, as well as the simple joys during childhood.  Looking back, it seems impossible that Singapore has made so much progress in the past forty years. It is indeed a dream come true for the kampung boy. 

Book is now available for loan. Call Number: Chinese C814.3 GYY

About the authors:  There is a total of 42 local Chinese writers in this book, including well-known authors such as Hu Wei, Liu Peifang, Miao Mang and Aw Yew Pak. 

Short Stories

“Oh, Xiang Xue” (香雪) by Tie Ning

“Oh, Xiang Xue”, written in 1982, is the first published fiction work by Tie Ning who is presently the Chairman of China’s Writers Association. A young girl named Xiang Xue had a most unusual adventure when she took an unexpected train ride to the next town fifty kilometres away. The people in the village had never dreamt that they could travel beyond their village on the modern train. When Xiang Xue returned home, she was given a hero’s welcome. The novel celebrates the power of dreams.  

Abridged version of “Red Cliff” (赤壁) (from Romance of the Three Kingdoms)

Written by Luo Guanzhong and based loosely on the history of the Three Kingdoms, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms, a book about military wit and statecraft, is one of the best-known Chinese novels. “Red Cliff” is one of the most intriguing stories in the novel which is about the defeat of the Wei army led by the warlord, Cao Cao. 

About the authors:

Tie Ning

Tie Ning, born 1957, is a Chinese author whose works include short stories “The Red Shirt Without Buttons”, “June’s Big Topic”, “Wheat Straw Stack”, “Cotton Stack”, “The Village Road Takes Me Home”, “Rose Door”, “How Long is Forever” and “Da Yu Nv” (Big-Bath Woman). Works in her early stage mainly depict ordinary people and daily life. Her works exquisitely portray the inner world of her characters, and reflect the dreams, pursuit, contradiction and suffering of the people in the various era.

 Luo Guanzhong

Luo Guanzhong, born Luo Ben, was a Chinese author attributed with writing Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and editing Water Margin, two of the most revered adventure epics in Chinese literature.

READ!Singapore 2009- Dreaming A Good Read?

Yes fiction lovers, it is back. You can wake up now.With a new theme called “Dreams and Choices”, READ!Singapore 2009 will hope to grab your attention from the 22nd May to 31st Aug. As always, a selection of short-stories and novels will also be featured. Aptly chosen, 2009’s selection will mirror the theme as the characters embark on their life journeys which will definitely entice our fellow readers. Here is a quick peek into some of the titles featured this year.

In one of the chosen novels titled, Of Mice And Men, the characters George and Lennie pulls us along into their dreams of finding that perfect life. We also have Sue Monk Kidd’s novel, The Secret Life of Bees, which explores life’s wounds and reveals the deeper meaning of home and the redemptive simplicity of “choosing what matters”. Also if you prefer short stories with a comical twist, then Robert Sherman’s No Looking Back will certainly capture a smirk or two. In My Cousin Tim, our very own author, Simon Tay, vividly brings us back to the nostalgic days as his main character, Eddie reminisces about growing up with his cousin. While some stories revolves around faith, culture and compassion as with Suratman Markasan’s beautifully written, The Woman in the Black Shawl, others dwell into deceit and lies, as portrayed in one of the stories found in White Ship. And yet, there are still more book titles included. This year’s selected short stories are also translated to the four official languages for everyone to enjoy. Even more, the audio books will be making another appearance for the 2nd year running. So be sure to keep a lookout for the quality featured books, readily available in a library near you! For all you know, you might even have watched some of them, in a theatre near you but it is only through reading that your imagination runs with no boundaries. So, please read on.

Cast your Vote!

Many thanks for all your nominations!

we have short-listed five titles for voting.

Vote for your favourite one and win attractive prizes!

About READ! Singapore

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Background

NLB launched its first ever nation-wide reading initiative, READ! Singapore 05 on 24 May 2005. This initiative, adapted from the highly successful reading programmes around the world like the “One Book, One City” project in the US, Australia and others, was conceived in alignment with the Government’s strategic outcome of “Community”, READ! Singapore 05 was held over a 10-week period from 24 May to 6 August 2005, to encourage communal reading, flowed by facilitated discussions on the selected story.

To promote a culture of reading fiction in our country, it was aimed at encouraging more Singaporeans to read and share the joy of reading. To promote local creative literature, at least one book by a local author was included in each official language out of the 12 titles selected.

Objective

The key objective of the READ! Singapore initiative is to promote a culture of reading among Singaporeans as it aims to provide Singaporeans with an opportunity to rediscover the joys of reading, by creating a common topic of discussion and conversation amongst people. Hopefully, this nation-wide reading initiative will have an “infectious” quality and energy of its own, with people all over the island reading the same books and discussing them

READ! Singapore also aims to help develop Singaporeans’ critical thinking skills, creativity, expressions and imagination through the varied activities such as story dramatisation and book discussions.