tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-349743712024-03-13T23:09:27.159+08:00Events<b>Book readings, signings, discussions at Silverfish Books and elsewhere. </b>SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-78569020028203687792014-08-18T17:45:00.000+08:002014-08-18T17:59:58.691+08:00100 Years of Investigative Journalism from Around the WorldSilverfish Public Talk by Anya Schiffri<br />
<br />
<b><i>GLOBAL MUCKRACKING</i></b><b> is now available at Silverfish Books for RM77.90 only)</b><br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/schiffrin_anya.jpg" height="200" width="150" />Topic: <b>100 Years of
Investigative Journalism from Around the World</b><br />
Time and Date: 5:30pm on Saturday, 6 September, 2014<br />
Venue: Silverfish Books, 28-1, Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100
Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603-228 448 37 (email: info@silverfishbooks.com)<br />
<br />
This is an open event. (We expect a good turn out, so please RSVP by email or telephone, to tell us how many will be coming.)<br />
<br />
<b>About the speaker</b><br />
<br />
Anya Schiffrin is the editor of the soon to be published (August
2014) book: <i>Global Muckracking -- 100 Years of Investigative
Journalism from Around the World</i> (New Press, 256 pgs, ISBN:
978-1-59558-973-6). <br />
<br />
She is the director of the media and communications program at
Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.
She spent ten years working overseas as a journalist in Europe and
Asia. She is also the editor of <i>Bad News: How America’s Business
Press Missed the Story of the Century</i> and a co-editor, with
Eamon Kircher-Allen, of <i>From Cairo to Wall Street: Voices from
the Global Spring (all published by The New Press).</i> She is
married and lives in New York City.<br />
<br />
<b>Other speakers</b><br />
<br />
<b>Ying Chan</b> is journalism professor and director of the Journalism
and Media Studies Centre at The University of Hong Kong. She has worked
as a journalist in New York City for 23 years and has edited six books
on the media in China.<br />
<br />
<b>Anton Harber</b> was founder-editor of the anti-apartheid newspaper
the Weekly Mail (now the Mail & Guardian). He is now Caxton
Professor of Journalism at the University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg, chair of the Freedom of Expression Institute, a board
member of the Global Investigative Journalism Network, writes a column
in Business Day, and is the author of several books.<br />
<br />
<b>About </b><b>Anya Schiffri's work</b><br />
<br />
<img align="left" alt="" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/global_muckraking.jpg" height="225" width="150" />This <i>(Global Muckracking</i>) is
no mere collection of exposés. It is a global look at the
20th-century writers who have dared to uncover stories of injustice
and abuse. (<i>Kirkus Revie</i><i>w</i>).<br />
<br />
Anya Schiffrin (Media and Communications/Columbia Univ.; editor: Bad
News: How America’s Business Press Missed the Story of the Century,
2011, etc.) literally dug through boxes of articles that
disintegrated in her hands. Many of the included contributors
suffered imprisonment or died at the hands of those they exposed.
“This book is a collection of pieces that launched campaigns,
exposed military atrocities, and called for justice for the
downtrodden and the colonized,” writes the author. Each article
includes an introduction and background information by carefully
chosen journalists or activists well-informed and often deeply
involved in the subject. The articles are especially noteworthy
since the problems are indeed global, from the smallest villages in
Africa to India, Colombia and New Zealand. Over the decades, a host
of different writers have covered the same situations again and
again. Schiffrin shows writings that span the entire 20th century,
examining such situations as labour abuse, which has been evident in
dozens of different locales across the world. Among the other topics
are anti-colonialism, corruption, oil and mining, food shortages and
famine, and military and police. What factors are required for these
exposés to be effective? The author suggests that local interest and
elite support is vital, as well as social movements pushing for
reform; most importantly, wide media coverage brings the situation
to the attention of the world. The collection begins with a 1904
article by E.D. Morel (introduced by Adam Hochschild), and other
important contributors include Robin Hyde, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Alma
Guillermoprieto and Christian Parenti.<br />
<br />
The incredible amount of work that Schiffrin put into the selection
of the articles and those who explain them makes this a top-notch
anthology of significant journalism.SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-49505884658494199082014-06-05T15:31:00.003+08:002014-06-16T15:09:06.493+08:00Silverfish 15th Anniversary Party<img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/commonimages/misc/op%204.gif" height="74" width="200" />INVITATION<br />
<br />
Yes, it has been fifteen
years since Silverfish Books first opened its doors in Desa Seri
Hartamas 1999, in the wake of the Asian Currency crisis,the
Reformasi movement, and the public sacking of a Deputy Prime Minister. In
the 15 years, we have made many friends, offended a few, published
almost 60 books, five of which have been on the short- or long-list of
various international book prizes since 2009, organised two
International Literary Festivals in Kuala Lumpur, and organised many
readings book
launches an public talks, fought many battles, won some, lost some,
still fighting others, and may have made a tiny dent in the
Malaysian literary world. So to celebrate, we are inviting all
Silverfish authors, other Malaysian authors and old friends of
Silverfish Books who have traveled with us on this often challenging
the journey, who have helped make it all possible, who have made a
difference, to our fifteenth birthday party. So, please, please, please
accept this invitation and come to our do on:<br />
<br />
Date: Saturday, June 21, 2014<br />
Time: 5.30 to 7.30 pm, <br />
Venue: Silverfish Books, 28-1, Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru. Tel: 228 448 37<br />
<br />
Special invitations will be going out to all Silverfish authors
(some of whom are pictured below), including Antares, Chua Kok Yee,
Dina Zaman, Farish A Noor, Huzir Suleiman, Isa Kamari, Kow Shih-Li,
Matthew Thomas, MA Quayum, Rozlan Mohd Noor, Salleh ben Joned;
non-Silverfish authors like Alfian Sa'at, Cecil Rajendra, Amir
Muhammad, Chua Guat Eng, Kee Thuan Chye, Mahbob Abdulah, Mohamad
Jayzuan, Peter Brown, Rehman Rashid, Robert Yeo, Rumaizah Abu
Bakar, Sufian Abas, Tash Aw, Tan Twan Eng, Tengku 'Abidin Mukriz,
Wong Phui Nam, etc; and friends of Silverfish who have grown with
us. (We do not know how many will be free to turn up on the day, though.)<br />
<br />
The occasion will be a time for us to forget about
books and simply have a party: There will be no readings, no book
launches, and no public talks, only mingling, the odd book signing
(if you manage to corner your favourite author) and <i>makan </i>and
<i>minum, </i>that is, a mini literary festival of authors and
readers without the boring stuff. <br />
<br />
And talking about <i>makan </i>and <i>minum</i>, since this is a
party for friends, feel free to bring a pot (or a tray) or a bottle.
We will be organising some refreshments, of course.<br />
<br />
RSVP: info@silverfishbooks.com<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" style="width: 500px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="" src="http://www.theglobalexperts.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/farish_noor.jpg" height="98" width="100" /></td>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><img align="middle" alt="" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/Dina.jpg" style="height: 129px; width: 100px;" /></td>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/hsulaiman.jpg" style="height: 133px; width: 100px;" /></td>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/antares.jpg" style="height: 140px; width: 100px;" /></td>
<td style="text-align: center; vertical-align: top;"><img alt="" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/salleh.JPG" style="height: 125px; width: 100px;" /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top"><img alt="" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/Shi_li_vignette.jpg" height="109" width="100" /></td>
<td align="center" valign="top"><img alt="" height="100" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/10007464_10152792835895620_385613151986562770_n.jpg" width="100" /></td>
<td align="center" valign="top"><img alt="" src="http://m.c.lnkd.licdn.com/mpr/pub/image-GjINoD35wPAt8Vd4lMhSEItEGdBGq7vPGSDsPHaVGnqm3-lpGjIskGe5G2ts3oqZlbol/rumaizah-abu-bakar.jpg" height="100" width="100" /></td>
<td align="center" valign="top"><img alt="" src="http://www.thesundaily.my/sites/default/files/thesun/Catalogue/Isa_c160580_11107_451.jpg" height="125" width="100" /></td>
<td align="center" valign="top"><img alt="" src="http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/pix/2012/0311/Kosmo/Rencana_Utama/ru_02.1.jpg" height="128" width="100" /></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-47730779119705307292014-04-01T10:59:00.004+08:002014-04-01T10:59:44.949+08:00Book event: The Sum of Our Follies<img align="right" alt="" height="327" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/Shi_li_vignette.jpg" width="300" />Yes, we are not calling it a
book launch (it is such a cliche), but a book event. Shih-Li will
talk about the process of writing her book, which she says took
longer than she expected. We can imagine the process and thoroughly
enjoyed editing her work (which turned out to be minimal). No
sledgehammer work here, nor slash and burn. <br />
<br />
<b>Details</b>:<br />
<br />
Speaker: Shih-Li Kow (Author)<br />
Venue: Silverfish Books, 28-1 Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100
Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-228 448 37<br />
Date and time: Saturday, 12 April 2014, 5.30pm.<br />
Admission is free.<br />
<br />
<b>About the author:</b><br />
<br />
Shih-Li Kow is a home-grown Malaysian writing sensation who came to
light with her first book of short stories, Ripples and other
stories, in 2009, which was immediately shortlisted for the Frank
O’Connor International Short Story Award that year, beating Ali
Smith and Kazuo Ishiguro to the list.<br />
<br />
Shih-Li Kow's short stories have appeared in several anthologies
since her first publication in 2007. She currently works in real
estate management and lives in Kuala Lumpur with her extended
family, cat and a beehive.<br />
<br />
<b>About the book:</b><br />
<br />
Stylish, subtle and funny, Shih-Li is an amazing storyteller. <i>The
Sum of Our Follies</i> is the story of characters living in a
backwater town, Lubok Sayong, in Malaysia with no claim to fame
apart from its annual floods, a dubious legend and entrenched
mediocrity, struggling with modernity; one that could be compared to
the little towns and characters of Amado and Narayan, with just a
touch of Calvino. It is not surprising that it attracted much
interest in Frankfurt in October last year, and Italian rights have
been sold. (All this before the manuscript was finalised and
published!)<br />
<br />
<b>An extract:</b><br />
<br />
“Call us Tim and Peggy,” they said. Mami kept getting their names
wrong and she called them Tom and Jerry. I thought that she did it
on purpose. I wondered if Tim and Peggy shared my suspicion. They
wanted to know about the house. Everyone who came wanted to know
about the house.<br />
“My father built this house. He was an unnatural man,” said Mami.<br />
“An unnatural man?” Mr Miller raised his eyebrows at his wife. They
didn’t know that Mami used the word ‘unnatural’ a lot. They must
have thought she meant her father was a perv.<br />
“Yes, unnatural. Funny funny, you know. Not normal, not your usual
father. He built this house for the loves of his life,” explained
Mami. “He had many loves in his life, but the greatest were these
four. The rest, he did not marry. More interestingly … eh … Jerry,
was that these four agreed to marry him, considering he was not half
as good-looking as your Mr Tom here. My father was as ugly as a
monkey crossed with goat, but he was very charming. He could talk
birds down from trees.”SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-58455830199907829652014-04-01T10:57:00.003+08:002014-04-01T10:57:31.999+08:00 Rabindranath Tagore book event by Prof Dr MA Quayum(This event is in early May, but I may not have enough time to send
out the mailers before that because I will be back from the US just
then.)<br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="" height="258" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/quayum.jpg" width="200" />Speaker: Prof Dr MA Quayum
(of the International Islamic University Malaysia)<br />
Venue: Silverfish Books, 28-1, Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100
Kuala Lumpur<br />
Date and Time: Saturday, 3 May, 2014 at 5.30 pm<br />
Admission is free.<br />
<br />
The book, <i>The Ruined Nest and other stories</i> was planned to
be released in 2013, 100 years after Rabindranath Tagore's Nobel
Prize for Literature in 1913. But Prof Quayum, the perfectionist
that he is, decided it would be better to publish a good book late
than rush one out that we're not fully satisfied. This is in full
agreement with the ethos of Silverfish Books. The date for the book
event was not picked accidentally, as the 153rd anniversary of
Tagore's birthday would fall on 7 May, 2014.<br />
<br />
After reading just one of the 20 short stories (the title story is
actually a novella), we were convinced that this was not the work of
a journeyman translator but by a master and a lifelong scholar of
the works of Rabindranath Tagore. Add this to the fact that Prof
Quayum is a native Bengali speaker and a professor of English, and
we have a work that can only be described as beautiful. Although
universally acknowledged for his poems, and dubbed <i>gurudev</i>
(master teacher), <i>kabiguru</i> (master poet) and <i>bishwaskabi</i>
(world poet), Tagore was a master of the short story form in
Bengali, having written 95 and compared favourably to Anton Chekhov
and Guy de Maupassant.<br />
<br />
<b>Praise for Prof Quayum</b> from The Daily Star, Bangladesh.
(There are literally dozens of them, but this is one we like).<br />
<br />
In any translation it is very difficult to keep intact the sense of
each context. Quayum’s translation is as close as one can get:
clear, contemporary and accessible to a modern English-reading
global audience. It is not handicapped by the ignorance of the
translator of certain delicate nuances of the Bengali language,
especially in the context of intimate household expressions. There
is commendable fidelity and honesty in Quayum’s translation. It once
again opens up the possibility of discovering a relevance of
Tagore's creations more than a century after they were composed….
Without hesitation I recommend Professor Quayum’s volume as an
authoritative and eminently readable translation, an essential
Tagore for collectors. It should find a place on every discerning
reader’s shelf. <br />
<b><br />
</b><b>About the author</b><br />
<br />
Mohammad A. Quayum is professor of English at International Islamic
University Malaysia, and Adjunct of Professor in the School of
Humanities, at Flinders University, Australia. He has previously
taught at universities in Bangladesh, Singapore and the United
States. Quayum is the author, editor or translator of 27 books far
too numerous to be listed here. His essays on American and
Postcolonial Literatures have appeared in prominent literary
journals in Australia, Canada, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South
Africa, Taiwan, the UK and the USA. Quayum is a leading literary
scholar in South and Southeast Asia. He is the Founding Editor and
Editor-in-Chief of Asiatic: IIUM Journal of English Language and
Literature, and is on the Advisory Board of several distinguished
literary journal around the world.SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-7429208155605703092014-02-28T12:34:00.001+08:002014-02-28T12:34:37.298+08:00Silverfish Public Talk -- March 2014Topic: <b>Uneasy Alliances, Writers and the University: A Report from Both Sides of the (Diasporic) Border</b> by Shirley Lim<br />
Venue: Silverfish Books Sdn Bhd, 28-1, Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-22844837<br />
Date & time: Saturday, 15 March, 2014 at 5.30pm<br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="" height="273" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/whitemoonfaces.jpg" width="180" />An
abstract by Ms Lim says: "While writing is often constructed as a
solitary endeavour undertaken by an individual talent, works of
literature, particularly contemporary fiction and poetry, achieve their
reputation and after-life through the circuits of public reception,
often with academics and scholars as gatekeepers. This talk looks at the
cognitive dissonance, complicity and negotiations undertaken in that
relationship in the U.S., and asks what and why is the state of that
relationship in Malaysia." <br />
<br />
Okay. If that was a mouthful, Shirley clarifies: This will NOT be an academic paper with endless citations, but an <i>Alice through the Looking Glass,</i> let's go down that rabbit hole together evening ...<br />
<br />
As Malaysians, we like to claim Shirley Lim as our own. Universities
teach her books, she continues to sell steadily in our bookshops, and
she has lots of friends and relatives here. If Lin Yutang was right when
he said, "What is patriotism but the love of the food one ate as a
child?" then she is thoroughly Malaysian. Yet, by citizenship she's
American, and a proud one at that.<br />
<br />
Her biodata is a mile long, so we shall simply highlight a few points.(If you want to know more, look <a href="http://silverfishevents.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-shirley-lim-writing-workshop-is.html">here</a>.)
She was born in 1944 in Malacca, Malaysia, and describes herself as "a
wild girl who ran with the boys and alone through the streets" (<i>Among the White Moon Faces, 49</i>).
In interviews, she has talked about her "stubborn spirit" that she
utilized in school, making her a leader as well as an outcast. She has
reportedly said, "Growing up when I did, there weren't many other
recreational alternatives, and I had a pretty unhappy childhood ...
Reading was a huge solace, retreat, escape. I was a really obsessive
reader. Somewhere along the line, I had a sense I should write about
things I knew rather than read about things I didn't know. I wanted to
write my own voice, my own community."<br />
<br />
Her early education was at a Catholic convent school under the British
colonial education system. She won a federal scholarship to the
University of Malaya which she attended from 1964 to 1969, earning a BA
with First Class Honors in English. In 1969, at the age of twenty-four,
she entered graduate school at Brandeis University in Waltham,
Massachusetts, earning her Ph.D. in English and American Literature in
1973. <br />
<br />
She says that poetry is her driving passion. "That was my first form of
literary expression and is the most primal for me." Her first poem was
written and then published in the<i> Malacca Times</i> when she was ten. Her first book of poetry, <i>Crossing the Peninsula and Other Poems</i>, won the Commonwealth Poetry Prize in 1980. She was the first woman and the first Asian to receive the award.<br />
<br />
Shirley Lim is disarming, articulate, intelligent and a wonderful human
being. So, come, let's go down that rabbit hole together with a glass of
red -- bring a bottle if you can! -- or tea, or water (plain or
sugared).<br />
<br />
Admission is free, but do RSVP by replying this email, or call Phek Chin
at the number above. (We need to know how many chairs we need to put
out.)SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-35768148381241401142014-02-06T13:45:00.003+08:002014-02-06T13:47:55.705+08:00 The Shirley Lim writing workshop is here againThis is the third time we are holding a writing workshop by Shirley Lim. The last two were sold very quietly. She is a very good teacher indeed.<br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/shirley_lim_geok_lin.jpg" height="261" width="300" /><i>Sources, Selves and
Stories: Mimesis and Mirrors</i>.<br />
Silverfish 2014 Writers Workshop, facilitator Shirley Geok-lin Lim.<br />
Sunday, March 16, 2014, 9.30am -- 5.00pm. (One-day workshop)<br />
Fee: MYR: 400.00 (Earlybird fee of MYR360.00 will apply to fully
paid registrations before 5 March 2014)<br />
Limited to 16 participants.<br />
Registration link:<a href="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=1987">
http://www.silverfishbooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=1987<br />
</a><br />
The day’s prompt is writing on what you know, what you see, what you
don’t know, and what others see. The time is dedicated to generating
writing as content and as literary stylistics. The workshop is
structured as quadrants, with individual, small group and whole
workshop activities. <br />
<br />
Schedule summary:<br />
<br />
9.30 am --11.00 am: The first quarter is composed of introductions,
as others see you, as you see yourself, and to know your own
strengths and goals.<br />
11.00 am --1.00 pm: The second quarter will focus on time spent on
writing, either beginning a new project or working with an on-going
project.<br />
1.00 pm -- 2.00 pm: Lunch break<br />
2.00 pm -- 3.15 pm: The third quarter is workshop-focused:
small group sharing, critiquing, revisioning the big picture, and
minding/mining the particulars.<br />
3.15 pm -- 4.15 pm: The last quarter is rewriting the workshop
project: reframing, cutting, expanding, refining, and polishing.<br />
4.15 pm -- 5.00 pm: The last segment of the workshop is celebrating
your work with readings and final assessments on takeaways.<br />
<br />
About the facilitator:<br />
Shirley Geok-lin Lim’s (Fulbright and Wien International
Scholar; Ph.D. Brandeis University)<i> Crossing the Peninsula</i> received
the Commonwealth Poetry Prize. She’s published seven poetry
collections; three books of short stories; two novels (<i>Joss and Gold</i>
and <i>Sister Swing</i>); a children’s novel, <i>Princess Shawl</i>, translated
into Chinese; and <i>The Shirley Lim Collection</i>. Her memoir, <i>Among the
White Moon Faces</i>, received the American Book Award. Author of two
critical studies, she edited/co-edited <i>Reading the Literatures of
Asian America; Approaches to Kingston’s The Woman Warrior;
Transnational Asia Pacific; Power, Race</i> and <i>Gender in Academe;
Transnational Asian American Literature; The Forbidden Stitch: An
Asian American Women's Anthology</i> (1990 American Book Award winner);
<i>Writing Singapore</i>; and other volumes; edited/co-edited <i>Journal of
Transnational American Studies</i> and other journals. She served as
Women’s Studies Chair (UCSB) and Chair Professor of English (HKU)
and is Research Professor at University of California, Santa
Barbara. Awarded the Multiethnic Literatures of the United States
Lifetime Achievement Award and UCSB Faculty Research Lecture Award,
she has taught at CUNY, SUNY, MIT, National Institute of Education
(NTU), National Sun Yat-Sen University, National University of
Singapore, and City University of Hong Kong.SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-60952950609637054202013-12-31T12:47:00.000+08:002013-12-31T12:47:54.653+08:00Silverfish Public Talk -- Rehman Rashid Silverfish Public Talk -- January 2014<br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="Rehman Rashid" height="201" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/LitMagNews/images/rehmanrashid.jpg" width="200" />Topic: Articulating a
Nation<br />
Venue: Silverfish Books Sdn Bhd, 28-1, Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru,
59100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-22844837<br />
Date & time: Saturday, 18 January, 2014 at 5.30pm<br />
<br />
Rehman Rashid's <i>A Malaysian Journey</i>, when it was first
published in 1993, practically exploded on the Malaysian cultural
and literary conciousness with its warts and all, non-tourism
approach to the society and culture. It was a nation we all knew
existed, which we loved (and still do) immensely, but dared not (and
many of us still dare not) speak its name. It was a book that dared
to escape (no, tear off) long-existing literary (and cultural)
shackles of parochialism that had confined us to our own race and
religion for so long, and to embrace our real identity as
all-inclusive Malaysians. <i>A Malaysian Journey</i> told us that
it's all right to love ourselves for what we are; no apologies
needed. One could say, it was a much-awaited (and needed) turning
point in Malaysian literature.<br />
<br />
Rehman Rashid's <i>A Malaysian Journey</i> commemorated its 20th
anniversary in 2013, with a new edition in hardback, with a new
preface and end-paper maps. The book, that was hailed as a 'modern
Malaysian classic', still is now, perhaps more than ever before,
speaking to a new generation of readers, explaining why things are
the way they are in this country.<br />
<br />
The author's topic for the public talk at Silverfish Books, <i>Articulating
a Nation</i>, will focus "on the need to speak for others in
a nation now composed entirely of them." A reviewer wrote in
Amazon.com that "as more Malaysians become like Rehman, the accuracy
of this book will fade into fable." Sorry, not happening. More
Malaysians are, certainly, thinking like Rehman Rashid, but we are
also seeing more circling of wagons.<br />
<br />
Expect Rehman Rashid to be articulate and engaging. It will be an
interesting evening. (Bring a bottle of red if you can!)<br />
<br />
Admission is free, but do email us if you are attending, for us to
estimate the numbers.SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-84988522272015138992013-11-30T17:04:00.003+08:002013-11-30T17:04:27.175+08:00Launch of Rozlan Mohd Noor's new books.<br />
<img align="right" alt="" height="314" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/bayu2front.jpg" width="207" />Rozlan Mohd Noor will launch his new book, Bayu, on Saturday,
December 7, 2013, at 5.30pm at Silverfish Books, 28-1, Jalan Telawi,
Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: +603-22844837.<br />
Everyone is welcome, but do let us know how many will be turning up.<br />
<br />
Bayu is a departure from the Inspector Mislan series, and is altogether more ambitious, telling the story from the
point of view of the criminal.<br />
<br />
You know the author, here's something about the book:<br />
<br />
<small>“Encik, how shall I address you?”<br />
The line goes quiet as TJ considers the question. He remembers the breeze as he lay on the beach cooking up this scheme.<br />
“You may call me Bayu.”<br />
“Bayu, you mean like the wind?”<br />
“Yes.”<br />
“Encik Bayu, how do we contact you?”<br />
“You know you cannot contact the wind. You can only hear it when it chooses to let you,” TJ chuckles.</small><br />
<br />
Bayu is a master criminal, also known as The Planner, who wants to
retire with a signature caper, by testing his wits against the best.
What better way to achieve that than to kidnap an American and engage
the CIA, he reasons. Robberies give quick highs and rewards, but he is
interested in worldwide notoriety. He settles on kidnapping because the
adrenalin rush lasts longer and he’ll get more coverage. <br />
<br />
<small>“No, this is no ordinary kidnapping. He is taking this public and
it is to his advantage. He is not communicating with the family and
that can only mean he's not open to negotiations.”<br />
“More importantly, by not communicating with the family, he has
eliminated the one method we had to nail him,” Ong points out. “We can’t
track his calls.”<br />
The two men look at him. <br />
“He calls himself Bayu. Does that mean anything?” Jack asks.<br />
“Bayu is wind or breeze in Malay. He is telling us we can hear, feel and see his handiwork, but not him.”</small><br />
<br />
But there is one problem: the target he chooses turns out to be the
grandson of the US Secretary of State, and the second anniversary of the
death of Osama bin Laden is coming up. When news of the kidnapping gets
out and into the press, every one is on the alert: governments, every
Islamic terrorist group trying to make a claim to fame, the CIA, the
Interpol and ... very quickly becomes an “oh, shit!” situation. A
wonderful romp.<br />
<br />SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-19635144335389930792013-11-06T11:39:00.003+08:002013-11-06T11:39:57.949+08:00Barbara Ismail at the Lincoln Corner
<img align="right" alt="" height="213" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/barbara_ismail.jpg" width="200" />This is on short notice,
yes. The Lincoln corner is organising a roundtable with
Barbara Ismail (the author of Shadow Play) on Saturday, November 9,
at the Lincoln corner at the Kuala Lumpur Library (Jalan
Raja/Dataran Merdeka) at 10:00 am – 11:00 am. She will be discussing
the influences on her writing work, her passion, and her time in
Kelantan. She would also like to get a feel for Malaysian writing
and publishing while she's here. Please email Gerard George of
the Lincoln Center: GeorgeG2@state.gov if you are interested
to attend. We believe that places are limited.<br />
<br />
<b>About this author</b><br />
Barbara Ismail spent several years in Kelantan, Malaysia in the
1970s and '80s, living in Kampong Dusun and Pengkalan Chepa,
studying Wayang Siam and the Kelantanese dialect. She holds a Ph.D
in Anthropology from Yale University, and is originally from
Brooklyn, New York. Shadow Play is the first in Barbara Ismail's
series of "Kain Songket Mysteries" based in Kelantan.<br />
SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-13863067811775080982013-10-02T11:27:00.003+08:002013-10-22T20:43:00.063+08:00Islamic Feminism for dummies<b>Silverfish Public Talk by Norani Othman</b><br />
Subject: Islamic Feminism for dummies<br />
Date and time: 26th October, 2013 at 5.30pm to 7.30pm<br />
Address: Silverfish Books, 28-1 Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100
Kuala Lumpur<br />
<br />
<b><img align="right" alt="" height="253" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/noraniothman.jpg" width="200" />Briefly</b><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
My Muslim friends tell me that
Islam is a simple religion. Yet to others, everything seems frightfully
complicated. To make it worse, it appears that there constantly is, 'A battle outside and
it is raging.' <b> </b>Thank God for some sane voices like Norani Othman who will try to unravel
it for us.</div>
<br />
<b>Synopsis</b><br />
Islamic Feminism: The current Islamic-feminism began in Malaysia and
Indonesia (and some other Muslim countries in the Middle East) in the
1980s. It is now part of a global movement in which Islamic feminism
seeks to speak out against patriarchal distortions of Islam. Dr Norani's
presentation traces the formulation and emergence of an Islamic
feminist movement in Malaysia, and of alternative interpretations of its
laws. It describes the various strategies of the Islamic feminist group
in Malaysia: SIS Forum Malaysia, better known as Sisters in Islam. <br />
<br />
Background/Context: In the beginning of the third millennium, Muslim
women throughout the world are still struggling to claim their rights
in the private and public domain. A large part of that problem is the
dominance of male-oriented, oppressive or misogynistic readings of the
religious texts that promote practices, rules and laws that discriminate
against women, these purportedly being requirements of ‘authentic' or
'pristine Islam’. More important, these interpretations have become so
internalised that even moderate mainstream Muslims assume them to be the
final truth. Yet these Muslims (half of them women) are increasingly
confronted with different realities in their everyday lives that are far
removed from the classical formative period of Islam. <br />
<br />
<b>A bio of the author:</b><br />
In earlier times, troublesome women, when their arguments became
irresistible, were burnt as witches. These days their books are banned.<br />
<br />
Norani Othman is a well-known academic and founding member of SIS
Forum Malaysia, a Muslim Women's group, popularly known in Malaysia as
Sisters-in-Islam. She is also the editor of the book, "Muslim Women and
the Challenge of Islamic Extremism", published by Sisters in Islam that
was 'banned' by the Malaysian Government, a prohibition order that was
lifted only after a long court battle.<br />
<br />
She graduated from the University Malaya in Sociology and
Anthropology, and obtained her MPhil from the University of Hull, and
later also pursued postgraduate studies at Wolfson College, University
of Oxford. She was also a lecturer in the Department of Anthropology and
Sociology at the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (National University of
Malaysia) and, from 2005 a Professor in Sociology (of Religion).<br />
<br />
(Note: SIS & other feminist groups (their allies) in Egypt,
Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, etc., also do work on health and
reproductive rights of Muslim women as well as on equal access to
education for the girls.)<br />
<br />
Admission is free (but seats are limited, so do come early).<br />
<br />SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-30056620397577474132013-08-01T11:48:00.002+08:002013-08-01T11:48:26.053+08:00August Public Talk at Silverfish Books<img align="right" alt="" height="299" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/One_hundred_years.jpg" width="200" />Title: "Revisiting Magic
and Magical Realism in South America". <br />
Venue: Silverfish Books, 28-1, Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, Kuala
Lumpur. Tel: 228 4448 37<br />
Time and Date: 5.30pm - 7.30pm on Saturday, 24th August 2013<br />
Admission is free. All are welcomed.<br />
<br />
We have been hearing about this 'magic realism' thing for quite a
while now, basically in relation to <i>One hundred Years of
Solitude </i>by Garcia Marquez and <i>Midnight's Children</i> by
Salman Rushdie<i>.</i> What is it, anyway? Is is something real, or
merely an affectation of Europeans and American academics who can
only exoticise and romanticise that they cannot understand. Magic is
Asian culture too, as it is African and South American. (Ask any
Malaysian.) Our lives include magic and realism daily, and the two
can co-exist quite seamlessly.<br />
<br />
Fernando Rosa Baragül examines the phenomena from an anthropological
view, and gives an interesting perspective, different from, but
complementary to, those of literary criticism. <br />
<br />
"Magical Realism" has often been associated with Latin American
fiction (and Salman Rushdie a proponent). The conjunction of 'magic'
and 'realism' is intriguing and thought-provoking. Although some
South American authors like Vargas Llosa (whose work is not
'magical realism') refer to '<i>lo real maravilloso</i>' (literally,
the wondrous real), South American writers do not label themselves
'magical realists' (García Márquez is an example). The works of earlier authors,
like Machado de Assis, in late nineteenth and early twentieth
century, works were both realist and magical. <br />
<br />
The speaker is a Brazilian anthropologist based in Kuala Lumpur and
Melaka. He has, before this, worked in the Caribbean, Cape Town,
Kerala, and was until 1999 in Macau, China. He is also interested in
Dutch-Afrikaans, Arabic, and Malay writings, besides Portuguese one, and the possible
overlap between them. <br />
SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-76391295880816597872013-07-02T17:42:00.002+08:002013-07-02T17:42:43.944+08:00Fynn Jamal at Silverfish Books<img align="right" alt="" height="198" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/fynn_jamal.jpg" width="150" />Rabak-Lit presents poetry of Fynn Jamal -- readings from <i>Puisi Tepi Jalan</i> on 6 July, 2013, Saturday, from 1.00 pm to 3.00pm at <br />
Silverfish Books, 28-1 Jalan Telawi, <br />
Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 22844837 (Call for directions only.)<br />
<br />
Be prepared for an entertaining counter-cultural experience. (The last time we had her at Silverfish, it was quite a happening!)<br />
<br />
Admission is free and all are welcome.<br />
<br />
Below in Malay.<br />
RABAK-LIT mempersembahkan 'Bacaan 'live' Puisi Tepi Jalan oleh FYNN JAMAL'<br />
<br />
FYNN JAMAL akan membaca 'Puisi Tepi Jalan' dalam suasana santai
intimate. Mungkin ada nyanyian, atau celoteh-celoteh bijak-gila dia yang
biasa kita dengar. Acara ini untuk semua yang menyokong; untuk
mendengar, bersosial, beramah-ramah dan berkumpul bersama-sama merayakan
seorang penyajak kultus luar biasa.<br />
<br />
MASUK PERCUMA!<br />
<br />
Sebarang pertanyaan sila ajukan ke:<br />
<br />
www.facebook.com/rabaklit<br />
www.twitter.com/rabaklit<br />
<br />
atau:<br />
<br />
www.facebook.com/projekrabak<br />
www.twitter.com/projekrabakSilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-53512202846398039342013-06-03T16:15:00.001+08:002013-06-03T16:15:50.948+08:00Silverfish's 14th birthday and public talk by Sean Matthews
<img align="right" alt="" height="180" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/SeanMatthews.jpg" width="150" />Silverfish Books will be celebrating its birthday on June 26, 2013.
Yes, it was fourteen years ago that we first opened shop in Desa Seri
Hartamas. We made a lot of friends, offended some, published over 50
books, organised two International Literary Festivals and many
readings and book launches, had a few battles, won some, lost some,
still fighting others, and we had hope we made a small dent in the
Malaysian literary world, and we believe we have. (The presence of
so many indie publishers both in Malay and English is a testimony of
sorts. We hope more will join the wagon.)<br />
<br />
We are organising our fourteenth birthday party on Saturday June 29,
2013 at 5.30 pm, and on our invitation list will include all our
authors including Antares, Chua Kok Yee, Dina Zaman, Shih Li Kow,
Farish Noor, Ganese Jaganathan, Huzir Sulaiman, Isa Kamari, Iskandar
Albakri, Matthew Thomas, Rozlan Mohd Noor, Rumaizah Abu Bakar,
and Salleh ben Joned, and several of our former editors.<br />
<br />
Special guest and speaker for the evening will be Dr Sean Matthews,
the Head of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, Faculty of
Arts, University of Nottingham, Malaysian Campus. His areas of
expertise are Twentieth century and contemporary literature and
theory; cultural studies, internationalization and transnational
higher education. Sean Matthews teaches at all levels of the International
Communications Studies programmes, specialising in cultural theory
and intellectual history. He directed the 2007 D.H. Lawrence
International Conference, 'Return to Eastwood', and co-curated the
exhibition 'Lawrence Among the Women' at the Weston Gallery.<br />
<br />
Dr Sean Matthews will talk about DH Lawrence at Silverfish Books on
June 29, 2013 at 5.30 pm as part of our 14th Anniversary
celebrations and 100 years of <i>Sons and Lovers.</i><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #000099;">In May 1913, a 27-year-old DH Lawrence received an
advance copy of his third novel and wrote to his literary advisor and
editor Edward Garnett expressing his pride in it: “Sons and Lovers has
just come – I am fearfully proud of it. I reckon it is quite a great
book. I shall not write quite in that style any more. It’s the end of my
youthful period.” The enduring appeal of the celebrated Nottinghamshire
author’s most autobiographical novel is to be marked by Dr Sean
Matthews' talk at Silverfish Books on 29th July 2013, 100 years after
its first UK publication.</span><br />
<br />
This is an open invitation to all friends of Silverfish Books who
have supported and nurtured us to adolescence. Well have food,
drinks and balloons!<br />
<br />
(RSVP: Tel: 22822837, or email phekchin@silverfishbooks.com -- we
only need to know numbers.) <br />
SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-23682084593487057912013-05-02T16:46:00.000+08:002013-05-09T12:33:06.250+08:00Silverfish Public Talk by Jothiratnam<img align="right" alt="" height="196" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/jothiratnam.jpg" width="300" />Topic: What Darwin did<br />
Time and place: 5.00-7.00pm, Saturday, May 25, 2013, at Silverfish Books, 28-1, Jalan Telawi,
Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03- 228448 37<br />
<br />
Who's Jothi?<br />
<br />
A quick visit to the website, <a href="http://ssjothiratnam.com/"><i>Jothi's
World</i></a>, will indicate a man inordinately curious about
all manner of things, and has been trying to understand the way the
world works, in all its myriad facets, works, as well as to convey his
understanding of this to all and sundry for most of his life.
Originally trained as a scientist, he has explored the world of
knowledge widely, and has tertiary-level academic qualifications in
a variety of different fields, ranging from the hard sciences,
through the social and behavioural sciences, to the humanities. He's
studied, lived, and worked in several countries, and as a result
speaks several languages. <br />
<br />
As a college professor, he has taught a range of subjects (from
mathematics & the hard sciences, through the soft sciences, to
the humanities). He has worked (in no particular order) as a
professional photographer, a DJ, a bartender, a research scientist,
a wildlife biologist, a clinical psychotherapist, a theatre
lighting-designer, and a musician. In addition, he part-owns a chain
of bars and restaurants, and manages a variety of industrial
investments. He has serious professional and personal interests in
physics, chemistry, biology, palaeontology, geology (especially
tectonics & vulcanism), evolutionary theory, ecology &
conservation, astronomy, cosmology, particle physics, string theory,
number theory, bio-mechanics, engineering & technology,
neuropsychology, cognition, critical & scientific thinking, the
sociology, history & philosophy of science, history, political
theory, political-economics and literature. He enjoys extreme
sports, and flies, sails, and rides both motor-cycles as well as
horses, camels & elephants. <br />
<br />
All things told, Jothi Ratnam is an incredible person, a wonderful
gentle human and Malaysian. We have chosen <i>What Darwin did</i>
as first his public talk at Silverfish Books. (We certainly hope to have
more, if he's willing.)<br />
<br />
Darwin wrote: ‘From my early youth I have had the strongest desire
to understand and explain whatever I observed - that is to group all
facts under some general laws ...’ One Hundred and fifty years after the <i>Voyage of the Beagle</i> we're
still reeling from its aftershocks. Let's here what Jothi has to
say.<br />
<br />
When Silverfish Books was established in 1999, a keystone of our
vision was to raise the level of intellectual debate in the country.
The talk by Terrence Gomez on April 22 the first in a series of
monthly events we hope to organise for people who are curious, who
want to know a little more. Jothi Ratnam is our second speaker. <br />
<br />
We have organised many author events at Silverfish Books. This
present endeavour will be a series of talks by people who read
widely, and who know stuff. Topics could cover literature, art,
philosophy, political theory (not political), history, science,
economic theory -- generally anything that contributes to knowledge
and points the lay public in the right direction. Suggestions
for speakers and topics are welcomed.<br />
<br />
You may wish to bring a bottle of red (Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz,
Merlot, whatever) to share with your friends. Water (both mineral
and sugared) will be on the house. We will organise tea, as well.
(Would anyone likes to volunteer cookies?)SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-28105282443817067472013-05-02T16:34:00.004+08:002013-05-02T16:34:37.342+08:00Children's Book Week
<img align="right" alt="" height="180" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/childrensbookweek.JPG" width="240" />Update on Children's Book Week, 11-18 May 2013 at Silverfish Books,
28-1 Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-228 448
37<br />
<br />
Children's Book Week is here again. Selected Malaysian children's
books will be available at special promotional prices throughout the
week. There will be storytelling and activity sessions for children
on Saturday, 11th May and 18th May, in addition to meetings with
children's book writers and illustrators. And lots of balloons will
be given away! The Children's Book Week is organised by Yusof Gajah
Lingard Literary Agency and Oyez!Books for Children, with the
support of Silverfish Books. <br />
<br />
Saturday, 11th May 2013; 3-5pm<br />
Make your own picture book - for parents and children.<br />
With the help of an instructor, guide your child to make his/her own
picture book. Your children will learn how to build different parts
of a book and they get to take home their work. All material will be
provided by the organisers. Limited to 8 children. This is a joint
activity for children and parents. All children must be accompanied
by their parent/s. (This session is now closed as we are fully subscribed.)<br />
<br />
Author appearance<br />
Author and illustrator Emila Yusof will be at Silverfish Books to
talk about her work as an illustrator and her new books.<br />
<br />
Saturday, 18th May 2013; 3-5pm<br />
Storytelling with Linda Tan on two of Mama Tok's books.<br />
Award-winning Malaysian storyteller, Mama Tok, has published two
books, <i>The Greedy Eagle</i> and <i>Nyam-Nyam Nyit</i>. The story telling
(in English) will be followed by a drawing and colouring
activity. (This session is now closed as we are fully booked.)<br />
<br />
Author appearance<br />
Author and illustrator Yusof Gajah will be at Silverfish Books to
talk about his new book, Dill the Little Elephant. SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-65250343053652553372013-04-13T11:23:00.002+08:002013-04-13T11:23:41.265+08:00Malaysia's 13th General Elections: Policies, Institutions and Social Change
<img align="right" alt="" height="431" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/Terrencegomez.jpg" width="300" /><b>INVITATION</b><br />
<br />
Talk by Prof. Dr. Edmund Terence Gomez of Department of
Administrative Studies and Politics, Faculty of Economics and
Administration, University of Malaya.<br />
<br />
Topic: "Malaysia's 13th General Elections: Policies, Institutions
and Social Change"<br />
Address: Silverfish Books, 28-1 Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100
Kuala Lumpur.<br />
Date and time: 5.00pm to 7.00pm, Saturday, April 20, 2013.<br />
<br />
Edmund Terence Gomez specializes in state-market relations and the
linkages between ethnicity, politics and capital development. He
received a doctorate in Development Studies from the University of
Malaya in 1993. He is Professor of Political Economy at the Faculty
of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya, which he
joined as a lecturer in 1994, and where he teaches graduate and
undergraduate courses on developmental state and social change,
Malaysia's political economy, and state, business and ethnicity in
Southeast Asia.<br />
<br />
The G13 election buzz has been going on for months (or should
that be years) and the date has been finally announced, May 5, 2013.
Many discussions take place daily, everywhere in the country, mostly
from positions of total ignorance based on prejudice, hype,
soothsayer predictions and speculation. This will be a non-partisan
talk by a world renowned expert (not by one between inverted commas) who has
written and spoken extensively about Malaysian politics and the
economy for two decades.<br />
<br />
When Silverfish Books was established in 1999, a keystone of our
vision was to raise the level of intellectual debate in the country,
which was, as it is today, dismal. This talk by Terrence Gomez is
the first in a series of monthly events we hope to organise at
Silverfish Books for people who like to think.<br />
<br />
So far, at Silverfish Books, we have only organised author events.
We feel it would be good to have a series of talks by people who
read widely, and who know stuff. Topics could cover literature, art,
philosophy, political theory (not political), history, science,
economic theory -- generally anything that contributes to knowledge
and points the lay public in the right direction for further
enlightenment (or merely to look clever). <br />
<br />
If you like your spirits a little elevated during the talk, you may
wish to bring a bottle of red (Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot,
whatever) to share with friends, but if you prefer to remain firmly
grounded, water (both mineral and sugared) will be on the house. We
can organise tea, too. (Would anyone likes to volunteer cookies?)<br />
<br />
Admission is free, but do RSVP by email to <a href="mailto:into@silverfishbooks.com">info@silverfishbooks.com</a>
by Thursday, April 18, because we can only accommodate about 50.
(Feel free to pass on this email to friends you think might be
interested -- contrary to popular belief, we do hot have everyone's email.)<br />
<br />
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: verdana; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #222222; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span><br />
SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-42098219014698624122013-04-01T15:50:00.001+08:002013-04-01T15:50:12.317+08:00Children's Book Week 11-18 May 2013<img align="right" alt="" height="164" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/Agency%20LOGO.jpg" width="199" />Children's
Book Week is here again at Silverfish Books, 28-1 Jalan Telawi,
Bangsar Baru, 59100KL. Selected Malaysian children's books will be
available at special promotional prices throughout the week. There will
be story telling and activity sessions for children on Saturday 11th May
and 18th May, in addition to meetings with children's book writers and
illustrators. And lots of balloons will be given away! The Children's
Book Week is organised by <i>Yusof Gajah Lingard Literary Agenc</i>y and <i>Oyez!Books for Children</i>, with the support of Silverfish Books. <br />
<br />
<b>Saturday 11th May 2013; 3-5pm</b><br />
Make your own picture book - for parents and children.<br />
With the help of an instructor, guide your child to make his/her own
picture book. Your children will learn how to build different parts of a
book and they get to take home their work. All material will be
provided by the organisers. Limited to 8 children. This is a joint
activity for children and parents. All children must be accompanied by
their parent/s. Participation is FREE. Suitable for children 5-12 years.
To reserve your place, contact<a href="mailto:%20lindalingard@gmail.com"> lindalingard@gmail.com</a> or sms 012-3320937.<br />
<img align="right" alt="" height="200" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/emila.jpg" width="200" /><br />
Author appearance<br />
Author and illustrator Emila Yusof will be at Silverfish Books to talk about her new book, <i>My Mother's Kitchen</i>.<br />
<br />
<b><br />
Saturday 18th May 2013; 3-5pm</b><br />
Storytelling with Mama Tok<br />
Award-winning Malaysian storyteller, Mama Tok, will tell stories from her books; <i>The Greedy Eagle</i> and <i>Nyam-Nyam Nyit</i>.
This will be followed by a drawing and colouring activity. All
materials will be provided and participation is FREE. Limited to 10
children. Suitable for children 4-12 years. To reserve your place,
contact <a href="mailto:%20lindalingard@gmail.com"> lindalingard@gmail.com</a> or sms 012-3320937.<br />
<br />
Author appearance<br />
<img align="right" alt="" height="231" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/yusofgajah.jpg" width="200" />Author and illustrator Yusof Gajah will be at Silverfish Books to talk about his new book, <i>Sang Mongtel</i> or <i>Tiny the Elephant.</i><i><br />
<br />
<b>Malaysian illustrators resource centre</b><br />
</i><br />
Please visit the 100++ Malaysian Illustrators <a href="http://www.100plus-malaysianillustrators.com/">website </a>sponsored by Kota Buku to see how it works.<br />
<br />
If you are an illustrator who has done work for books, magazines,
animation, games, walls and others, you can get listed on the 100++
Malaysian Illustrators site: <a href="http://www.100plus-malaysianillustrators.com/">www.100plus-malaysianillustrators.com</a> to increase your profile.<br />
<br />
Please send the following to lindalingard@yahoo.com<br />
1. your photo (face must be shown)<br />
2. your bio: current and past projects; education profile; interests and others<br />
3. Awards received<br />
4. Exhibition participation<br />
5. Publications (please give title and year)<br />
6. Your website<br />
7. Your Facebook link<br />
8. 3-5 illustrations in soft copy, or allow us to select from your Facebook/DA/website pageSilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-53921090654018394712013-03-04T12:39:00.001+08:002013-03-04T12:39:29.461+08:00The London Book Fair<br />
<img align="right" alt="" height="179" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/LBF_2013.jpg" width="250" />The London Book Fair this
year is from April 15 to 17 at Earl's Court. I'm familiar enough with
the city to know where that is, and I've been asked by several
people if I'd be going to which I've saying,"No." I used to say the
same about Frankfurt until four years ago, but the reasons were
different (or at least that's what I tell myself). Those who had been to it would
tell me that Frankfurt is an experience not to be missed by anyone
in the trade, and it's not that I didn't believe them. It was just that I didn't
think I was ready: I didn't have anything worth showing. (Many have
gone to such shows and festivals with much less, but that's them,
not me.) And when I finally thought I had something, and went to
Frankfurt, I was stunned by what I saw. What do I like about it?
First, it's a trade fair, not a consumer fair (though the public is
allowed in on the last two days of the five-day event), and, second,
it's amazing how much publishing there is in the world.<br />
<br />
As for London Book Fair, I'm not that excited. Someone (a
Malaysian book-trade person) described it: "It's like Hall 8 in
Frankfurt." Hall 8 is where all the American and British publishers
are, and where one would find most countries that publish in
English. I visited it the first time I was in Frankfurt. It's the
only hall where there is a security check, and they look into your
bags before you enter. (After three visits, I've still not been able
to figure that out. Looking for suicide bombers? Why? Is there a
threat?) <br />
<br />
After three visits, I'm still kind of underwhelmed by Hall 8. What
was I expecting to find, anyway? Surprises? Yes, surprises. While
the other six halls are full of small publishers (apart from the big
boys) with all sorts of interesting stuff, Hall 8 is predictable and
boring (except for the free wine flow on the Friday of the fair),
with the usual bestsellers, unimaginative book designs and the
suits. <br />
<br />
On my first Frankfurt Book Fair, I had the honour of sitting at the
same table with Peter Weidhaas, then just retired as Director of the
FBF. He asked me how I was enjoying the fair, and I admitted it did
exceed my expectation. Then we talked about this and that, and then
he told me something about Hall 8, "The Americans and the British
only like to sell. I tell them they must also buy, but they only
want to sell. For a successful book fair, one must buy and sell." <br />
<br />
I have heard many versions of this since. Many UK, US publishers and
agents tell you point-blank, "We are not interested in buying." I
guess they feel that with so many people simply queuing up for
their best-selling stuff, why bother? I've met several literary
agents who've been intrigued by Silverfish titles in English and
think publishers would be interested, but only if they have
exclusive rights to the Malaysia/Singapore market. What good would
that do for us? They'd like to buy the book, but want the market that
we've taken years to build, as well. Duh?! We'd rather sell to the
Europeans, and others. Some say that they only buy non-English
books. That's fine.<br />
<br />
So, I'm not very excited about the LBF. Maybe, things will change.
(Maybe, things already have.) I'll wait until I receive some positive
feedback from neutrals like, "You must go to the London Book Fair,
it's fantastic!" For now, I'll sit out this year's.<br />
<br />
Just for the record; The London Book Fair is little over forty years
old. The Frankfurt Book Fair was started about 500 years ago, soon
after Johannes Gutenberg developed printing in movable letters in
Mainz near Frankfurt, by local booksellers.SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-41569951881902648832013-02-04T12:25:00.004+08:002013-02-05T14:40:58.359+08:00Readings from Tash Aw’s new book<br />
<img align="right" alt="" height="231" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/FiveStarBillionaire.jpg" width="150" />Silverfish Books has been
invited (by MPH Distributors) to host a reading from Tash Aw’s latest
book <i>Five Star Billionaire.</i><i><br />
</i><br />
Venue: Silverfish Books, 28-1 Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, Kuala
Lumpur<br />
Tel: 03-228 448 37 Fax: 03-228 448 39<br />
Email: info@silverfishbooks.com<br />
Date & Time: (originally proposed ) Saturday, February 23, 1.30pm – 3.00pm<br />
<b>(The date and time have been confirmed, but you may still befriend us on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SilverfishBooks?ref=hl">Silverfish Fan Page</a> on Facebook, at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SilverfishBooks?ref=hl">http://www.facebook.com/SilverfishBooks?ref=hl</a> .)</b><br />
<br />
A synopsis of <i>Five Star Billionaire</i><br />
<br />
In this stunning new novel, the award-winning Tash Aw charts the
overlapping lives of migrant Malaysian workers, forging lives for
themselves in sprawling Shanghai.<br />
<br />
Justin is from a family of successful property developers. Phoebe
has come to China buoyed with hope, but her dreams are shattered
within hours as the job she has come for seems never to have
existed. Gary is a successful pop artist, but his fans and marketing
machine disappear after a bar-room brawl. Yinghui has businesses
that are going well but must make decisions about her life. And then
there is Walter, the shadowy billionaire, ruthless and manipulative,
ultimately alone in the world.<br />
<br />
In ‘Five Star Billionaire’, Tash Aw charts the weave of their
journeys in the new China, counterpointing their adventures with the
old life they have left behind in Malaysia. The result is a
brilliant examination of the migrations that are shaping this
dazzling new city, and their effect on these individual lives.SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-43546983414527338702012-12-01T16:30:00.000+08:002012-12-01T16:31:16.678+08:00All You Ever Wanted to Know About Creating Books for Young Readers<img align="right" alt="" height="320" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/daphnelee.jpg" width="240" /><br />
<br />
Date: <b>Saturday, 26th Jan 2013 <span style="color: red;">(NEW)</span></b><br />
Time: 10am-5pm (with a one-hr lunch break)<br />
Place: Silverfish Books, 28-1 Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur<br />
Fee: RM300 inclusive of all course materials.<br />
Registration: Online <a href="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/buybooks/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=999" target="_blank">(link)</a> or at Silverfish books (Tel: 603-22844837, email: info@silverfishbooks.com)<br />
Facilitator: Daphne Lee<br />
<br />
Participants may also submit one manuscript per person for evaluation
(which will be delivered via email not more than one month after the
date of the course).<br />
<br />
This 6-hr session is based on the many questions I receive from aspiring
authors and illustrators who wish to create books for young readers,
amongst them<br />
<br />
What should a children’s book be about?<br />
How many words are there in a children’s book?<br />
Should I write a picture book or storybook?<br />
Should I use difficult words in my story?<br />
Should I write in rhyme?<br />
Are there subjects I should avoid when writing a picture book/story book?<br />
What’s the difference between a picture book and illustrated book?<br />
What are the pictures in a children’s book for?<br />
What is a picture sequence and why is it important?<br />
Who will publish my book?<br />
<br />
These and other questions will be answered and discussed with the aim of
shedding some light on the art and science of writing and illustrating
for children.<br />
<br />
In this session, participants will also …<br />
<br />
Read and evaluate published and unpublished texts and picture book art.<br />
Learn the basics of creating good picture books/story books,
including the fundamentals of planning plots, writing dialogue, creating
characters, establishing a voice and deciding on Point of View.<br />
Be introduced to an interesting and wide range of picture books and story books.SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-26584223824692862312012-10-31T15:53:00.001+08:002012-10-31T15:53:14.043+08:00Children's book reading and story-telling
<img align="right" alt="" height="130" src="http://silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/alexandra_carey.jpg" width="150" />EVENT: Children's book reading and story-telling<br />
Date: Saturday, 24th Nov<br />
Time: 5.30 pm<br />
Place: Silverfish Books, 28-1 Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur<br />
Reader: Alexandra Carey<br />
<br />
English author Alexandra Carey will be coming in to read extracts from her children’s books <i>Ted Ted and the Dhobi Ghats</i> and <i>Ted Ted, Trouble in Tokyo</i>.<br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="" height="292" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/tedted_dobi_ghat.jpg" width="206" />Based on a true story, <i>Ted Ted and the Dhobi Ghats</i>
is about a little English teddy bear who gets lost in Mumbai and ends
up at the city’s famous open-air laundry, the Dhobi Ghats. Following
the success of this first book, Alexandra Carey decided to write a
follow up – the recently released, <i>Ted Ted, Trouble in Tokyo</i>.
The much-loved English teddy bear continues his adventures this time in
Japan’s capital city where he gets into all sorts of scrapes including
an encounter with a Sumo wrestler, Nasty Noriko and a Japanese cat fish.<br />
<br />
Both books are suitable for children aged between 6 and 10 years and are
beautifully illustrated by Antonia Ghazlan. They are hardback, cost RM
45 each and all author’s profits are donated to charity. The profits
from <i>Ted Ted and the Dhobi Ghats</i> go to a charity in India, Door Step School that provides schooling for slum children. The profits from <i>Ted Ted, Trouble in Tokyo</i> go to a Malaysian charity, Dignity and Services which helps children and young people with learning disabilities.SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-84758622231369776272012-10-31T15:52:00.002+08:002012-11-01T16:55:22.360+08:00Children's writing workshop<img align="right" alt="" height="320" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/daphnelee.jpg" width="240" />EVENT: <b>All You Ever Wanted to Know About Creating Books for Young Readers</b><br />
Date: Saturday, 17th Nov<br />
Time: 10am-5pm (with a one-hr lunch break)<br />
Place: Silverfish Books, 28-1 Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur<br />
Fee: RM300 inclusive of all course materials.<br />
Registration: Online <a href="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/buybooks/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=13&products_id=999" target="_blank">(link)</a> or at Silverfish books (Tel: 603-22844837, email: info@silverfishbooks.com)<br />
Facilitator: Daphne Lee<br />
<br />
Participants may also submit one manuscript per person for evaluation
(which will be delivered via email not more than one month after the
date of the course).<br />
<br />
This 6-hr session is based on the many questions I receive from aspiring
authors and illustrators who wish to create books for young readers,
amongst them<br />
<br />
What should a children’s book be about?<br />
How many words are there in a children’s book?<br />
Should I write a picture book or storybook?<br />
Should I use difficult words in my story?<br />
Should I write in rhyme?<br />
Are there subjects I should avoid when writing a picture book/story book?<br />
What’s the difference between a picture book and illustrated book?<br />
What are the pictures in a children’s book for?<br />
What is a picture sequence and why is it important?<br />
Who will publish my book?<br />
<br />
These and other questions will be answered and discussed with the aim of
shedding some light on the art and science of writing and illustrating
for children.<br />
<br />
In this session, participants will also …<br />
<br />
Read and evaluate published and unpublished texts and picture book art.<br />
Learn the basics of creating good picture books/story books,
including the fundamentals of planning plots, writing dialogue, creating
characters, establishing a voice and deciding on Point of View.<br />
Be introduced to an interesting and wide range of picture books and story books.SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-59596083652509402622012-10-31T15:51:00.001+08:002012-11-02T16:41:02.809+08:00Book launch -- BOLA by FixiEVENTS: Launch of BOLA <br />
Publisher: Fixi<br />
Venue: Silverfish Books, 28-1 Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala
Lumpur (Tel: 603-22844837, email: info@silverfishbooks.com)<br />
Time: <b>3.00pm-5.00 pm</b>, Saturday, 3 Nov 2012<br />
<br />
<img align="right" alt="" height="150" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/bola_small.jpg" width="150" />BOLA ialah antologi cerpen Fixi yang menampilkan 19 penulis.
Masing-masing menyumbangkan cerita yang ada kaitan dengan sukan paling
popular di dunia ... bolasepak! Buku ini ialah cetakan terhad 1,500
keping dan tidak akan diulang cetak. <br />
<br />
<i>BOLA is a short story anthology by 19 writers, each with a story
about this most popular world sport -- football! This book is available
as a limited edition with only 1500 copies printed. There will be no
reprint.</i><br />
<br />
Free admission. All welcome.SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-87369069921945792022012-10-31T15:50:00.001+08:002012-10-31T15:50:10.110+08:00Festival Sastera Kanak-kanak 2012
<img align="right" alt="" height="257" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/fantasia%20membaca%202.jpg" width="200" />INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHILDREN’S LITERATURE 2012 <br />
in conjunction with Festival Sastera Kanak-kanak 2012<br />
Venue: Lecture Hall B (Dewan Kuliah B) and Lecture Hall F (Dewan Kuliah
F), Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya.<br />
Date: 1-6 Nov 2012<br />
Time: 9.00am to 5.00pm<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Festival
Sastera Kanak-kanak, or Children's Literature Festival 2012, is organised
by Kota Buku and will be held from 1-6 Nov 2012 at the Arts and Social
Science, Faculty, Universiti Malaya. There will be many activities for
children such as batik painting and story-telling sessions by children's
book authors and story tellers. Children's books will be sold during
the festival and the illustrators' corridor will feature 10 illustrators
with their work. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A key event in conjunction with the festival is the
conference by the Malaysian Board of Books for Young People (MBBY).
<br />
<br />
Entry is open to the public and is free.<br />
Contact Information:<br />
• Fadli Abdullah (MBBY): 017-2478990; 03-79675717<br />
• Nor Zaliza Sarmiti (Dept. of Media Studies, UM): 012-3046428; 03-79675419</div>
SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34974371.post-60244170470876530072012-09-01T16:58:00.002+08:002012-09-01T16:58:25.902+08:00Jayzuan and friends
<br />
<img align="right" alt="" height="298" src="http://www.silverfishbooks.com/Silverfish/Version4/Events/jayzuan.jpg" width="199" />Book launch of two titles: <i>Arsonist Jalan Labrooy </i>by Rabak Lit (a publisher from Ipoh) and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/RahsiaDuaPria"><i>Rahsia Dua Pria</i></a>
by SELUT Press, at Silverfish Books, 28-1 Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru,
59100 Kuala Lumpur, at 5.30 pm, Saturday 29 September 2012. Admission is
free. (The proceedings will be in Malay, but these guys sure know how
to have fun. See what the English-lit world is missing.)<br />
<br />
1.<i> Arsonist Jalan Labrooy</i><br />
Sinopsis: Tak ada hidayah atau petunjuk dalam setiap kata. Ini bukan
kitab, bukan Nevi'im atau Ketuvim. Yang ada cuma separuh jalan hidup
yang tak pernah habis tapi penuh dan cukup penuh dengan segala apa yang
berada di bawah dan apa yang diludah. Tak perlu tutur kata dari pemikir
agung untuk menjadi manusia. Ambil apa yang pernah dipijak, letakkan di
kepala, dan kau akan kenal erti dunia. <br />
<br />
Rabak-Lit ialah sebuah rumah penerbitan yang bertapak di Ipoh.<br />
<br />
2. <i>Rahsia Dua Pria</i>: <span class="fbLongBlurb">Sebuah buku yang
menghimpun koleksi cerpen dan puisi dua orang penulis yang sedang
digemari, Adi Wafi dan Mosyuki Borhan oleh SELUT Press.</span>SilverfishWritershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17123379829988938033noreply@blogger.com