Monday, November 10, 2008

Literature at the Equator

One of the great ironies about trying to blog literary stuff here, is that news floods in from the UK, the US and Australia about what's happening there via the litblogs and via the online book pages of the major newspapers. But we don't hear too much about what's happening in the region. (And often what we do hear comes to us via the west!).

It's such a pity that the South-East Asian Literary Project died a quiet death as it was a very useful blog with great potential.

The Asian and Pacific Writers Network is well worth taking a look at (and I found this poem by Nicholas Wong there!)** but there is still little communication between writing communities in different parts of SE Asia, and mores the pity.

Having said that, today I received this invitation from Indonesian publisher Richard Oh to the 8th Khatulistiwa Literary Award 2008. This is an award which Richard, book lover extraordinaire, initiated with QB World Books . (This is the bookshop to visit in Jakarta.)

I pass it on to you just in case you can make it, but mostly because, well ... it's just nice to know, isn't it?
Date: Thursday, November 13, 2008
Time: 7:00pm - 10:00pm
Location: At the Atrium of Plaza Senayan
Street: Jl. Asia Afrika, Senayan
City/Town: Jakarta, Indonesia
Contact/ Info Phone: 628111552269
Email: richardoh2007 at gmail dot com

Description :

This is the 8th Khatulistiwa* Literary Award 2008, continuing a tradition for excellence in Indonesian writing. The award has been won by Goenawan Mohamad, Remy Sylado, Hamsad Rangkuti, Seno Gumira, Linda Christanti, and many more.

This year's short list (in random order):

Prose:

Glonggong by Junaedi Setiono, Hubbu by Mashuri, Kaca Piring by Danarto, Rahasia Meede by ES Ito, Bilangan Fu by Ayu Utami

Poetry:

Orgasmanya by Hasan Aspahani, Jantung Lebah Ratu by Nirwan Dewanto, Sajak-sajak Menjelang Tidur by Wendoko, Pandora by Oka Rusmini, Teman-Teman dari Atap Bahasa by Afrizal Malna

And a prize for a writer under 30 years old.

The purse money for prose and poetry this year is Rp 100 millions. And Rp 30 for the winner of Writer Under 30 Years old
*Language note : Khatulistiwa means Equator btw.
** Sorry, not our Nic Wong as Dreamer Idiot points out in the comments.

7 comments:

dreameridiot said...

I think the poem is not by the Nicholas Wong we know, unless they misspelt h for b.

Ah yes, it's a Nicholas Wong from Hong Kong.
Nicholas Y.B. Wong is currently an MPhil Candidate supervised by film scholar Gina Marchetti at the Department of Comparative Literature, School of Humanities, The University of Hong Kong. His thesis focuses the representation of body parts in relation to desire, dismemberment and fetishism. He has presented papers on Wong Kar-wai’s…

A really nice and intriguing poem, Thanks for sharing. :)

bibliobibuli said...

thanks DI, will change that. i was surprised by the apparent change in style and the v. accessible subject matter!

Amir Muhammad said...

Whatever happened to the QB in Kemang? I used to live within walking distance!

Anonymous said...

I've been a frequent visitor of this site. I would like to blogroll you. And also, because of your knowledge of my country.

Thanks a lot.

Onyeka

bibliobibuli said...

thanks Onyeka. yes, i miss nigeria very much and it's really nice to discover your blog too

The Floating Turd said...

Hi sharon,
Sent you an e-mail invite to my book launch a couple of weeks ago. Was wondering if you received it.
Do hope you'll be able to attend.

Date, venue and other info at my blog: thefloatingturd.blogspot.com

And there's a facebook event page at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=33203811278

Hope to see you there.

Cheers!

bibliobibuli said...

sorry, mr. turd, have passed the info on now and even added you as facebook buddy. i'll try to make it but as everyone knows am not good at promising things. however, i'll be in touch with an invite to read at readings@seksan.