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.

Lat-titude

Q: Why is Town Boy such an enduring favourite with Malay-sians?
A: I think many people look at Town Boy as something that promotes unity, friendship and encourages people to understand others' cultures.

Cartoonist and yes, let's call him graphic novelist, Datuk Mohd Noor Khalid, alias Lat, talks in the New Straits Times today about reflecting a multi-cultural Malaysian society in his work.

Town Boy and Kampong Boy were two of the first books I was recommended to read when I first landed in Malaysia to teach back in 1984. These gentle and humourous tales were the best introduction I could have had, and were clearly created with someone with a keen eye for human foibles, as well as a love and respect for the different races.

I must confesss that in those early months here, I had many "Lat moments" when I recognised his characters in the street or in the coffee shop, or among my own teaching colleagues!

(See also this entry on Kak Teh's blog and Amir Muhammad's excellent review of Kampung Boy*.

(*Thanks Preeta for reminding me.)