Singapore Literature Prize

The Singapore Literature Prizes, awarded biennially, are open to Singaporean and Singapore-based writers whose works of fiction (novels or short stories), poetry, and non-fiction have been published in any of Singapore’s four official languages: English; Chinese; Malay; Tamil.

The shortlists for most of the twelve 2014 prizes have just been announced.  They are:

English Fiction

The Inlet by Claire Tham

Love, or Something Like Love by O Thiam Chin

As the Heart Bones Break by Audrey Chin

Ministry of Moral Panic by Amanda Lee Koe

Chinese Fiction

《丁香》流军 （Lai Yong Taw）

《林高微型小说》林高（Lim Hung Chang aka Lin Gao）

《金色的袋鼠》尤今（Tham Yew Chin aka You Jin）

《双城之恋》李选楼（Lee Xuan Lou）

Malay Fiction

Suzan by Abdul Manaf bin Abdul Kadir

Tenggelamnya Kapal  Prince of Wales by Anuar bin Othman

Selamat Malam Caesar by Hassan Hasaa'ree Ali

Kumpulan Cerpen Armageddon by Yazid bin Hussein

Cahaya by Yazid bin Hussein

Seking by Mohd Pitchay Gani bin Mohd Abdul Aziz

Tamil Fiction

Muga Puthagamum Sila Agappakkangalum by Jayanthi Sankar

Naan by Suriya Rethnna

Vergal by Noorjehan binte Ahmadsha

Maaya by Packinisamy Panneerselvam

Oru Kodi Dollargal by Krishnamurthi Mathangi

Moontraavatu Kai by Mohamed Kassim Shanavas

English Poetry

Cordelia by Grace Chia

The Viewing Party by Yong Shu Hoong

Circle Line by Theophilus Kwek

Tender Delirium by Tania De Rozario

Sonnets from the Singlish by Joshua Ip

The Pillow Book by Koh Jee Leong

Chinese Poetry

《你和我的故事》周德成 （Chow Teck Seng）

《阅读蚯蚓的秘密》周粲（Chew Kok Chiang aka Zhou Can）

《原始笔记》陈志锐（Tan Chee Lay）

《夜未央》华英（Wang Mun Kiat aka Hua Ying）

《心闲牵风》华萍（Hua Ping）

Malay Poetry

Genta Cinta by Peter Augustine Goh

Aisberg Kesimpulan by Ahmad Md Tahir

Pasar Diri by Johar Buang

Suara Dalam by Hamed bin Ismail

nota (buat wangsa dan buanaku) by Yazid bin Hussein

Tamil Poetry

Malaigalin Parathal by Krishnamurthi Mathangi

Kaanaamal Pona Kavithaikal by Samuvel Nepolian Devakumar

Thagam by Chinnadurai Arumugam 

Thoorikai Sirpangal by Pichinikkadu Elango

Urakkach Cholvaen by Swaminathan Amirthalingam 

English Non-Fiction

The shortlist will be announced in October.

Chinese Non-Fiction

《医生读史笔记》何乃强 （Dr Ho Nai Kiong）

《释放快乐》尤今（Tham Yew Chin aka You Jin）

《父亲平藩的一生》何乃强（Dr Ho Nai Kiong）

《心也飞翔》尤今（Tham Yew Chin aka You Jin）

Malay Non-Fiction

No shortlist.  The winner to be declared at the award ceremony.

Tamil Non-Fiction

The shortlist will be announced in October.

The winning title in each category will be eligible for a cash prize of up to Sing$ 10,000. The award ceremony will take place in November.

This week in the Asian Review of Books

Asian Books Blog is not a review site.  If you want reviews, see the Asian Review of Books.  Here is a list of its newest reviews:

Strangers Across the Border: Indian Encounters in Boomtown China by Reshma Patil reviewed by Nicholas Gordon


Where the Rekohu Bone Sings by Tina Makereti reviewed by Vaughan Rapatahana


Chomping at the Bitcoin: The Past, Present and Future of Bitcoin in China by Zennon Kapron reviewed by Peter Gordon

Shakespeare in China

Macbeth (simplified Chinese)

The UK government has just announced a package of measures to boost business and cultural links with China. These include paying for both a complete translation of all Shakespeare’s works into Mandarin, and for the translation of a number of classic Chinese dramatic works into English.

UK Culture Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Creating stronger links with China is a top priority for the Government, and sharing the very best of our respective cultures is a brilliant way to make this happen. This funding means Western and Eastern cultures can learn from and be enriched by one another and what better way than using the works of Shakespeare.”

The translation of Shakespeare’s works will be undertaken by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), which has also secured funding for a tour of China in 2016 to help commemorate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death. Gregory Doran, RSC Artistic Director, said: “I profoundly believe that we foster deeper understanding between cultures by sharing and telling each other our stories. Therefore, I am hugely excited by the ambitions of our Chinese cultural partners and their interest in working with the Royal Shakespeare Company on these new collaborations. China has a rich dramatic heritage that mirrors the epic scale, complexity and universality of Shakespeare’s work and a national curriculum which requires young people to study his plays. Our plans to translate Shakespeare into Mandarin, to see translation and performance of more Chinese classics in the UK and to tour RSC productions to China will celebrate the arts and culture of both nations.”

I am trying to track down comment from the Chinese government.

Speculation / Nobel Prize in Literature

The announcement of the winner of the 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature is to be made shortly - the direct quote from the official website is: "The 2014 Nobel Prize in Literature has not been awarded yet. According to tradition, the Swedish Academy will set the date for its announcement later." Here, "later" probably means early to mid October, and interest appears to be hotting up in who might nab it. 

UK betting organisation Ladbrokes gives the odds here. At the time of posting Ladbrokes has Haruki Murakami as the favourite, as does another on-line betting shop, Paddy Power - see here. 

Meanwhile, the UK Guardian newspaper tips Kenyan Ngugi wa Thiong'o as the winner, see here. 

Two on-line literature communities are also currently discussing the odds, World Literature Forum and The Fictional Woods.

Happy speculation! 

Nick Cave to work with Ubud Writers & Readers Festival

One of Asia's foremost literary festivals, Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF), held annually in Bali’s cultural capital, has a reputation for leaving its mark on the authors, artists and audiences who have attended. It seems Australian musician, filmmaker and novelist Nick Cave is no exception.

After appearing at UWRF in 2012 to discuss, among other things, his best-known novel, The Death of Bunny Munro, Nick is now to become an International Festival Patron.  He is looking forward to spreading the word about Ubud. Commenting on his appointment he said: "While first and foremost a musician, I am deeply passionate about words and the worlds they open up. Literature and the arts is essential in any society; and Ubud Writers & Readers Festival does such an excellent job in nourishing this role both in Indonesia and beyond. Ubud is dear to my heart; the collision of writers and artists from all corners of the world that makes up the unique spirit of the Festival; the bottomless generosity of the Balinese; the sticky days and cooler nights." 

Festival Director Janet DeNeefe said she’s humbled to be collaborating with multi-talented, multi-faceted Nick: "There’s something about Nick that brings people from all places and walks of life together. I’m delighted to have him on board to help us continue bringing people from all over the world together to celebrate the written word in all its forms."

UWRF 2014 will run from October 1 – 5, and tickets are already selling fast. For full information click here. 

Singapore International Storytelling Festival

This year’s Singapore International Storytelling Festival (SISF 2014) opens on Friday, with the theme Translations: Storytelling from the Word to the Voice. The Festival is organised by The Singapore Book Development Council (SPDC) and celebrates oral traditions and  folk tales in an age of reduced attention spans and declining appreciation for books.

Kamini Ramachandran, veteran storyteller and SISF 2014’s artistic director, said: "Through the art of storytelling, audiences experience  a revival of folklore, myths and legends that they might only have read or heard about in passing. The storyteller plays a critical role in re-imagining a well-loved or popular tale for the modern audience through the nuances of dramatic expression."

In line with this ambition of re-imagining well-loved tales, the Festival will open with the Asia premiere of Angerona, The Secret Name of Rome (Angerona). Performed by international storytellers Paola Balbi from Italy and Michael Harvey from the United Kingdom, Angerona is a retelling of the legend of Lucretia - no knowledge of the original is required to enjoy it.

Angerona tells how in a niche in the Temple of Pleasure, the Romans kept the statue of one of their most mysterious and ancient deities – the eponymous Angerona, goddess of sadness and silence. These qualities have always marked the lives of abused women; in Classical Antiquity Lucretia was the woman who broke that silence. Her story has been retold many times, including by Shakespeare in his narrative poem The Rape of Lucrece. Balbi and Harvey’s adaptation mixes contemporary words with Shakespeare’s text and promises to be a theatrical feast supported by an original soundtrack composed and performed by Davide  Bardi.

In the best tradition of modern storytelling Angerona crosses boundaries between cultures and art forms. Claire Chiang, SBDC’s chair said: “The legend of Lucretia is a strident tale. It speaks of passion, sanctity and a woman’s honour. Over the centuries, it has fascinated generations of readers and listeners. It is indeed a treat and a privilege for our audiences to be able to experience the nuances of this tale through watching and listening to Angerona.”

Since its inauguration in 2006, SISF has attracted more than 50,000 participants. Last year it was attended by close to 2,000 storytelling fans and practitioners – this year is sure to be even bigger and better!      

For the full SISF 2014 programme and tickets click here.

Click here for an account in Harvard Magazine of how Harvard Library is helping to preserve Tibetan literature by digitizing works that survived China’s Cultural Revolution.