Book Launch: Towerhill Reclaimed

Written by Justin Foo Min Hua (2P408)
Photographs by Mr Jason Erik Lundberg

On Thursday, 19 April, for the final 2011 Library Week and World Book Day afternoon event, junior college members of the HCI Young Editors Club — Ephraim Tan (Co-Editor-in-Chief and Poetry Contributor), Lee Kah How (Artistic Director), and Joel Zhang (Prose Contributor) – launched their new publication, an anthology of poetry and prose entitled Towerhill Reclaimed.

Initially the editors thought of naming the book Parnassus, after the hilltop home of the Greek Muses of music, poetry, and knowledge, but reconsidered when they realized that the obscure reference would be too difficult to comprehend for the general reader. The anthology contains poems by our very own students, from both the high school and junior college, many of whom are our seniors from several years ago. The cover art has a monochromatic theme, which Artistic Director Lee Kah How chose because of its aesthetic elegance.

The anthology is split into two sections. The first section contains traditional elements and cultural themes, while the second section is about the progression into the future. The editors also felt that the book illustrates the movement from past to present, showing how the contributors’ writing has improved over the years; the symbolism of the clock imagery on the front cover contributes to this theme.

Another thing I learned from the YEC members was that we can get our creative inspiration from our surroundings. As students, there are many things around us that we may be unsatisfied with, and we can express our feelings through poetry and prose. Editor Ephraim Tan also mentioned that, “Writing is to express, not to impress.” I agree with this statement, as whenever I feel upset and emotional, I turn to literature and writing for an outlet and release. Joel Zhang said that as we practice writing, we will know what works and what does not. Many people have this personal fear of being mocked when other people look at their writing, but I think that this might show that the writer may not be putting in all his effort when writing, and thus he or she is afraid that other people would despise their work. If we have tried our best, yet still get laughed at by others, perhaps we can look at this criticism in a positive way, as a platform for improvement.

Each copy of Towerhill Reclaimed was sold for only 10 dollars. All proceeds collected from selling the book will go to disaster relief for Japan, following the recent earthquakes, tsunami, and nuclear mishaps. During the Q&A session at the end of the talk, a Sec 4 student asked why each Hwa Chong student couldn’t have a copy for free. Ephraim replied that people would treasure the book more if they use their money to buy it, in addition to the good feeling that comes from donating to a worthy cause.

(N.B. Copies of Towerhill Reclaimed are still available; interested students and staff can contact Mrs Laura Ng for acquisition details. -JEL)

Library Week & World Book Day Photos

Following are photos of some of the events conducted during 2011 Library Week and World Book Day.

The National Library Board brought over more than 800 books for the Mass Book Borrowing on Tuesday at Oei Tiong Ham Hall:

All week long, the winners of the Microfiction Writing Competition were displayed near the library staircase (click to enlarge and read the entries):

On Thursday, the annual Scrabble Challenge was conducted by Mrs Yeong-Loke Lai Fun and Ms G. Kalavathi, with the result that the high school winners beat their junior college counterparts!

Know Your eResources Quiz: Day 4

As part of HCI’s 2011 Library Week and World Book Day celebrations, we are once again conducting our annual Know Your eResources Quiz! Find the answers to each day’s questions by researching the school’s Online Resources, and then email your answers to hcikclibrary@gmail.com.

Day 4 (The Sciences)

1. How do good bacteria affect bad greenhouse gases?

2. What did the president of the World Wildlife Federation say about the United States on climate change? Name two specific things that the United States done about climate change.

3. What is wrong with the popular explanation regarding “How aeroplane wings work”? How do they really work?

4. With regards to the radiation disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, (a) what is a “meltdown”? (b) How is this different from the radiation disaster at Chernobyl?

(Hint: look in Scientific American, Online Ecologist, Physics Education and Education in Chemistry.)

Know Your eResources Quiz: Day 3

As part of HCI’s 2011 Library Week and World Book Day celebrations, we are once again conducting our annual Know Your eResources Quiz! Find the answers to each day’s questions by researching the school’s Online Resources, and then email your answers to hcikclibrary@gmail.com.

Day 3 (All About China)

1. Jack Gray learnt various things from his reading of Mao Zedong and study of Chinese rural economy. What were they?

2. What did Dr Sun Yat Sen contribute to China? Name two ways in which he is commemorated today.

(Hint: look in China Quarterly and Newslink.)

Big Book Sale: Ongoing Through This Week

Don’t forget to visit the Library each afternoon for the Big Book Sale located in the main reading area, with many titles as low as $1.00 or 50¢, and all proceeds to go toward the Needy Pupil Fund. I managed to find a like-new hardcover copy of Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma for only $5, which was a steal!

(Photographs by Lu Wen Hao (2I314))

A Conversation with Dave Chua and Koh Hong Teng

Written by Kean Patrick Murphy (2O412)
Photographs by Lu Wen Hao (2I314)

On Monday, 19 April, for the first 2011 Library Week and World Book Day afternoon event, writer Dave Chua and artist Koh Hong Teng participated in a Book Talk about adapting Chua’s prize-winning novel Gone Case into graphic novel format, with Mr Jason Erik Lundberg as moderator.

I learned many valuable lessons from the talk. For instance, Mr Chua mentioned that a writer gets many inspirations, especially from other authors. He or she mainly uses past experiences as a reference in writing stories, while adding scenes from the imagination along the way. A good example would be the very book they were talking about, Gone Case. Mr Chua described the setting of the book as coming out of his life experiences and the HDB block that he lived in as a boy. He used the issues that he encountered in his home as a focal point for his story. This interests me as when I write narratives in school, I often do the same thing. Which means that this way of writing is constant not only from published authors, but anyone who writes. A writer also has to read widely to gain inspiration. Thus, if you don’t read many books, you can’t become a good writer.

Mr Chua brought up the fact that there is a difference between comics and books in terms of people buying them for the first time. Books are harder to assess at first glance, while comics are easier as people are able to judge them immediately by the quality of artwork. The artwork needs to be striking enough to attract the reader’s attention, while the first chapter of a book needs to be engaging enough to motivate the reader to continue on. Mr Lundberg added that sales are also affected by the stigma of self-publishing, with books suffering from it more than comics. I think this is so because many people have the mindset that a book is only self-published if established publishers have rejected it, and so it must be rubbish. I disagree, as some self-published books that I have read are very good, and certainly worthy of a publisher, but for a variety of reasons the author has chosen not to go the traditional route.

A good tip that I picked up was that no matter how unrealistic the story is, you must always remember to keep the story believable. If the story stretches your imagination, people enjoy it, but if it is ridiculous, they won’t like it. On a related point, you must make sure the scene fits the setting. For example, many student writers describe gun fights in Singapore, but guns are banned in Singapore, so the situation seems out of place; writers must be careful to avoid falling into this trap. Another tip is a good way to kickstart your drawings: Mr Koh takes reference photos of a scene he might want to draw, then goes back to the drawing board, takes the best photo angle for the scene or panel, draws it in his own style and adds in more personal details. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, Mr Chua encouraged us to write what we enjoy! If you are writing about something that you have no interest in, the story will turn out bland and won’t be interesting. Once you write about something that captivates you, you can spend a long time on it and your passion for it will come through in the writing.

The issue of memorable characters was also brought up here. Some characters will stick in the reader’s memory long after the story has been read. Sometimes, they may not even be the main character, and may have a short “page life.” Mr Lundberg described the Malay barber in a scene from Gone Case being one of the most memorable characters for him in the graphic novel, despite the barber’s appearance lasting only a mere three pages; I can recall a few characters just like that from other books.

The graphic novel adaptation as a form has always puzzled me, as conversion from a prose work always seems to twist the story into something else, shortening the scenes and taking out some of its true meaning. Now I know that this technique is actually purposefully intended by comics creators. Mr Chua gave Mr Koh free reign over the story, letting him plan it like a director doing storyboards for a film, and then collaborating on the dialogue and other details.

In conclusion, this talk was very informative for me, and a valuable experience. I can’t wait for the next time authors come to HCI to give a talk. I am especially interested in two Singaporean authors, Jeffrey Lim and Wena Poon, whose writing I enjoyed after reading an anthology which included short stories by them. I used to think that Singaporean literature was a waste of time and of poor quality, but talks like these have broadened my vision and changed my views.

Know Your eResources Quiz: Day 2

As part of HCI’s 2011 Library Week and World Book Day celebrations, we are once again conducting our annual Know Your eResources Quiz! Find the answers to each day’s questions by researching the school’s Online Resources, and then email your answers to hcikclibrary@gmail.com.

Day 2 (History and Perspective)

1. During the United States Civil War, what was the guiding statement of Ulysses S. Grant’s review  about the military and presidential career of a hero?

2. Provide two examples of how laws are passed concerning abortion and reproductive rights.

(Hint: look in World and I and Opposing Viewpoints.)

Know Your eResources Quiz: Day 1

As part of HCI’s 2011 Library Week and World Book Day celebrations, we are once again conducting our annual Know Your eResources Quiz! Find the answers to each day’s questions by researching the school’s Online Resources, and then email your answers to hcikclibrary@gmail.com.

The top three students with the most correct answers will receive prizes to be awarded during flag-raising next week.

Here we go!

Day 1 (General Introduction)

1. How many login IDs are available for The Straits Times Interactive for the High School Section?

2. (a) How many eResources are accessible from home? (b) Name two that are concerned with Current Affairs.

(Hint: look to the site where login and password information can be found for the eResources.)

2011 World Book Day Pick: Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart

Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart
Reviewed by Mr Jason Erik Lundberg

My book pick for 2011 World Book Day is Barry Hughart’s masterful 1984 novel Bridge of Birds: A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was. Here’s why.

Despite the book winning the 1985 World Fantasy Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Mythopoeic Award for Best Fantasy, it has largely gone unknown and unremarked upon by the majority of fantasy readers. It was apparently successful enough for two more novels to be written about the protagonists Master Li Kao and Number Ten Ox (The Story of the Stone in 1988, and Eight Skilled Gentlemen in 1991), but for all intents and purposes the books have dropped into obscurity. The Stars Our Destination Books released an omnibus of all three novels in 1998, called The Chronicles of Master Li and Number Ten Ox, and ten years later Subterranean Press re-released the omnibus in both trade hardcover and limited leatherbound slipcased editions.

The novel takes place in seventh-century imperial China, but an alternate fantastical version of China (what Hughart refers to as “An Ancient China That Never Was”). In the small village of Ku-fu in the valley of Cho lives our narrator:

My surname is Lu and my personal name is Yu, but I am not to be confused with the eminent author of The Classic of Tea. My family is quite undistinguished, and since I am the tenth of my father’s sons and rather strong, I am usually referred to as Number Ten Ox.

On the fifteenth day of the eighth moon in the Year of the Dragon 3,337 (A.D. 639), after the annual silk harvest is inexplicably destroyed by blight, all the children of Ku-fu between the ages of eight and thirteen mysteriously fall into a coma from which they cannot awaken. Number Ten Ox is sent to Peking (Beijing) to find a wise man who can help them, and comes across Master Li Kao, an unkempt and grizzled old sage with “a slight flaw in his character” and a mischievous glint in his eye.

What follows is a masterful quest to find the Great Root of Power, a ginseng root with the ability to awaken the children from their unnatural slumber. Along the way, they run afoul of ghosts and monsters, navigate treacherous labyrinths, trick riches and information from the heartless and miserly, avoid the murderous gaze of the dreaded Duke of Ch’in, and find themselves wrapped up in a centuries-old conspiracy that involves immortal wise men and the August Personage of Jade himself.

Hughart’s prose vaults the reader through a spectacular and unexpected chain of events, and always with a sly nod and a wink, and dialogue that is often laugh-out-loud funny. Old as he is, Master Li has the sharp wit of the Smartest Man in China, and his observations and rapport with Number Ten Ox reveal a playfulness that comes across as hilarious. Even when they are in the most perilous of situations (which happens quite a bit throughout the novel), Li and Ox are the paragons of buddy comedy, which helps to diffuse the often horrible and over-the-top things that they must endure on their quest.

This is a book written by an American about ancient China, and so it is up to the reader to decide how authentic the voice and the story are here. (This is an especially apt challenge for our students, who have much more contextual knowledge of Chinese culture, literature, and mythology than I do.) However, that said, the book feels as if it rings true; both in the telling and in the details that Hughart chooses to give, it is evident that he did a tremendous amount of research and showed an equal amount of respect for Chinese history and cosmology. I welcome comments, especially from students who read the book, about the book’s authenticity.

Regardless, Bridge of Birds is a book worth discovering and keeping alive through discussion and recommendation. Kong Chian Library has multiple copies of Bridge of Birds for student borrowing; copies are also available to buy at OpenTrolley (but stocks are low, so be sure to order quickly).

N.B. My pick for 2010 WBD was Neil Gaiman’s novel The Graveyard Book, which I described thusly: “A remarkable retelling of The Jungle Book, but one set in a graveyard where the orphaned boy is brought up by ghosts. Nobody “Bod” Owens learns the important skills of Fading and Fear, but out beyond the graveyard still lives the man Jack who killed Bod’s family, and is waiting to finish the job. Scary and wonderful and full of masterful turns of phrase. An instant classic.”

2011 Library Week and World Book Day!

“I Read, Therefore I Am”

Next week, 18-21 April, celebrate 2011 Library Week and World Book Day at Kong Chian Library!

On Monday, writer Dave Chua and artist Koh Hong Teng will conduct a Book Talk about adapting Chua’s prize-winning novel Gone Case into graphic novel format. In addition to discussing the challenges of adaptation, they will talk about other graphic novels and prose books that have influenced them, and the state of graphic literature in Singapore.

Tuesday will see two events: the Chinese Share-a-Book will be conducted in the Seminar and Conference Rooms, as an extension of the Chinese reading done during the Term 1 sabbatical week. The NLB Mass Book Borrowing will take place at Oei Tiong Ham Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Mrs Rosalind Lee will soon post the schedule for the lower sec classes on the EMB, and upper sec students are highly encouraged to drop by during lunch time.

The annual Scrabble Challenge will be conducted on Wednesday once again by Mrs Yeong-Loke Lai Fun and Ms G. Kalavathi, with the winners competing against students from the junior college to determine ultimate HCI Scrabble supremacy!

During lunch time on Thursday, the Young Editors Club will launch their new publication, an anthology of poetry and prose entitled TOWERHILL.Reclaimed. YEC members will be on hand to answer questions, recite poetry, and sell copies of the anthology; copies will be sold for $10 and all proceeds will go directly to the Disaster Relief Fund of the Embassy of Japan.

All week long, our afternoon Big Book Sale will be located in the Reading Area and feature a variety of titles; the money collected will go toward the Needy Student Fund. Also during the week, we will facilitate the Know Your E-Resources Online Quiz, the Lower Sec Door Wrapping Competition, individual class Book Swap, and a special exhibition of the winners from the Micro-Fiction Writing Competition.

Stay tuned here and at our official Facebook Event Page for up-to-the-minute details, and join us next week in the celebration of books and reading!