Silverfish Public Talk by Jothiratnam

Topic: What Darwin did
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

Who's Jothi?

A quick visit to the website, Jothi's World, 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.

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.

All things told, Jothi Ratnam is an incredible person, a wonderful gentle human and Malaysian. We have chosen What Darwin did as first his public talk at Silverfish Books. (We certainly hope to have more, if he's willing.)

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 Voyage of the Beagle we're still reeling from its aftershocks. Let's here what Jothi has to say.

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.

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.

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?)

Children's Book Week

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

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.

Saturday, 11th May 2013;  3-5pm
Make your own picture book - for parents and children.
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.)

Author appearance
Author and illustrator Emila Yusof will be at Silverfish Books to talk about her work as an illustrator and her new books.

Saturday, 18th May 2013; 3-5pm
Storytelling with Linda Tan on two of Mama Tok's books.
Award-winning Malaysian storyteller, Mama Tok, has published two books, The Greedy Eagle and Nyam-Nyam Nyit. The story telling (in English) will be followed by a drawing and colouring activity. (This session is now closed as we are fully booked.)

Author appearance
Author and illustrator Yusof Gajah will be at Silverfish Books to talk about his new book, Dill the Little Elephant.

Malaysia's 13th General Elections: Policies, Institutions and Social Change

INVITATION

Talk by Prof. Dr. Edmund Terence Gomez of Department of Administrative Studies and Politics, Faculty of Economics and Administration, University of Malaya.

Topic: "Malaysia's 13th General Elections: Policies, Institutions and Social Change"
Address: Silverfish Books, 28-1 Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Baru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur.
Date and time: 5.00pm to 7.00pm, Saturday, April 20, 2013.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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?)

Admission is free, but do RSVP by email to info@silverfishbooks.com 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.)

Children's Book Week 11-18 May 2013

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 Yusof Gajah Lingard Literary Agency and Oyez!Books for Children, with the support of Silverfish Books.

Saturday 11th May 2013;  3-5pm
Make your own picture book - for parents and children.
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 lindalingard@gmail.com or sms 012-3320937.

Author appearance
Author and illustrator Emila Yusof will be at Silverfish Books to talk about her new book, My Mother's Kitchen.


Saturday 18th May 2013; 3-5pm
Storytelling with Mama Tok
Award-winning Malaysian storyteller, Mama Tok, will tell stories from her books; The Greedy Eagle and Nyam-Nyam Nyit. 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  lindalingard@gmail.com  or sms 012-3320937.

Author appearance
Author and illustrator Yusof Gajah will be at Silverfish Books to talk about his new book, Sang Mongtel or Tiny the Elephant.

Malaysian illustrators resource centre

Please visit the 100++ Malaysian Illustrators website sponsored by Kota Buku to see how it works.

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: www.100plus-malaysianillustrators.com to increase your profile.

Please send the following to lindalingard@yahoo.com
1. your photo (face must be shown)
2. your bio: current and past projects; education profile; interests and others
3. Awards received
4. Exhibition participation
5. Publications (please give title and year)
6. Your website
7. Your Facebook link
8. 3-5 illustrations in soft copy, or allow us to select from your Facebook/DA/website page

The London Book Fair

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.

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?)

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.