Sunday Shorts

I'm willing to admit this to you, my dear reader. I am such a voracious consumer of books that I used to steal in order to satisfy my need.

Former book buyer with Kinokuniya Abby Wong starts an occasional column of things book related in Starmag and begins by telling us about her obsession. Another avid reader, Christine Jalleh tells a heartwarming story about how a stranger in a shopping mall turned Book Angel. (And, you know, we could do with a few more of those!) Elsewhere, Kuan Guat Choo hobnobs with ghosts. Deputy Prime Minister and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin reiterates the message that Malaysians don't read enough, as he launches the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2009. (But there's no word about where his statistics about reading are taken from. Perhaps it is the mythical National Library Survey?) And Datuk Lat gets orchestrated.

Book Fest in 28th Year

The KL International Bookfair kicks off this Friday at the PWTC and runs till 26th April. Organized by the Ministry of Education, Malaysia, the event is now in its 28th year. The website with all the details is here.

The event that looks most interesting to me is the talk by Peter Ripken on Marketing Your book In Frankfurt Book Fair (sic!).

Ripken is the Director for the Society for the Promotion of African, Asian and Latin American Literature in Frankfurt, a non-profit literary agency for authors and publishers from the Southern Hemisphere. Since one of the biggest problems for local publishers and authors is how to reach a global market, I think this talk is timely.

Book Empowers ... But Which Book Is It?

Thle KL International Book Fair, now in its 27th year starts on April 4th and runs till the 13th with lots going on including exhibitions and launches and talks and readings. I shall be there on the 6th for the KataSuara event that Raja Ahmad is organising.

What a terrible pity they didn't manage to get the English right on their poster. Two words, one huge grammar blunder! ... Or are they making a statement about the shocking reading habits of Malaysians? The fair is organised by the Ministry of Education and one would have hoped that if anyone could get it right, they could.

(Caption "Duh!")