Writings

Japanese Tales of Mystery and Imagination by Edogawa Rampo, translated by James B. Harris 

If you enjoy the horror works by the legendary  Edgar Allan Poe, this collection featuring nine of Edogawa Rampo’s best short stories, described as the author’s homage to Poe, may well give you your horror fix.

The stories are not as macabre as some of Poe’s works, so those with a weak stomach, take heart. They are mostly short, which makes them great entertaining little stories even for those who lack the time and focus to read. The stories are creepy and nicely crafted, with a few that stand out. “The Human Chair” in particular, has received plenty of praise from fans, and readers in their chairs might feel goose bumps all over while reading. “The Caterpillar” is unique in the sense that it differs from your typical horror story. It is about a war veteran who has lost his limbs, become severely disfigured, deaf, mute and dumb, and has to rely on his increasingly resentful wife for his daily needs. Aside from the horrific twist at the end, the main horror depicted in this short story is the helplessness and lack of independence that many handicapped people still experience today, especially in countries with less developed technologies.

The shock factors aren’t there just to shock. The stories are also meaningful in focusing on the duplicity and complex psychology of human nature. Overlooking the incredibility of some of the plots, the situations explored are realistic possibilities, stark reminders of elements of horror that still exist in the real world, which is what makes a horror story truly frightening.

This dark collection of stories makes an entertaining read that can be finished in a few nights. The only complaints are that  the stories are fairly simplistic, lacking technical complexity and some of the endings are too convenient.

Despite being a translation, the stories read smoothly, and display good narrative craftsmanship. This is explained in the introduction, which describes how the author and translator met up once a week over a period of five years to work on getting every line right. Harris recalls perspiring over his type-writer, experimenting with sentence after sentence until Edogawa was satisfied that the translation was true to what he wanted to portray in meaning and nuance.

– These book reviews first appeared in a lifestyle magazine.

Down and Out in Paris and London by George Orwell 

The narrator, an aspiring writer, moves to Paris and rents a room at a motel. He came with a modest amount of savings which he thought would last him until he finds a job. His life takes a downward twist when all the motel guests were robbed. Having to live from hand to mouth, he finds work at the bottom of the culinary stratum as a dish- washer. The dullness of all work and little rest prompts him to move on. In London, he finds himself in a worst predicament – jobless, homeless and forced to live like a tramp in a different lodging house each day.

In spite of the depressing nature of the book, the writer narrates without self-pity, and even with humour. He retells many of his encounters in great detail and with great believability. Many of the incidents that he encounters provide a rare perspective of one’s descent into poverty. This book will be an eye-opener to many readers.

Yet under such harrowing conditions, there is no blame for lack of wealth, no envy for the rich. The narrator believes, and looks up to those who share his belief, that education is the crux to a meaningful life. The subtle message about positive thought and knowledge over material possessions that runs throughout the book is something one can benefit from.

Considering that the story is set in the 19205, there is some inevitable display of xenophobia and lack of understanding towards foreigners and minority groups.

How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger and Gene Stone

Author Dr Michael Greger is the physician behind online book for healthy eaters NutritionFacts.org. The Cornell University-educated physician is also an internationally recognised speaker on a number of public health issues.

In this book, he shares how diseases and premature death can be prevented through certain diets, evidenced with scientific facts. The book explores 15 top causes of premature deaths. The diseases include heart disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, high blood pressure and some common cancers.

Here is a look at some of the advice he provides:

– Less dairy, more flaxseed in a diet for one with a family history of prostate cancer
– Hibiscus tea is more effective than hypertensive drugs in controlling high blood pressure. Best of all, it is without all the unpleasant side effects.
– Drinking coffee reduces liver inflammation
– Soy helps to prolong survival in breast cancer patients.

Overall, it is a helpful book with suggestions that are easy to follow. Advice is backed by explanations, which is important especially when it comes to a controversial topic like diets.

– These book reviews first appeared in a lifestyle magazine.

Picture by Wojtek Gurak

When we think of libraries, the image of books and study often come to mind. But these days, libraries are evolving into exhibition, event and work spaces. In Singapore, the public libraries are revamped to be more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing so that just about an one can enjoy a relaxing environment working. Aside from the plush seating areas, there are water coolers, toilets, multimedia stations with computers, power points and some libraries even have cafes and vending machines. All public libraries have access to Wireless@SG.

In recent years, Bishan Community Library has the honour of being listed as one of the world’s seven most beautiful libraries by CNN Travel. That makes it in the same league as Seattle’s Central Library and Dublin’s Trinity College Library which are tourist attractions. It scored points for its simple yet quirky and endearing design which was meant to resemble a tree house.There are colourful pods canti-levered off one side of the building’s facade. These pods, aside from having aesthetic purposes, serve as quiet, private spaces for individuals.

The Bishan Community Library is home to three unique clubs. One such club is the Artist Trading Cards Club which meets to create miniature works of art the size of playing cards. Participants learn to create different types of cards and pick up art tips. Then there is the Seniors’ Chinese Reading Club which meets once a month for one and a half ours for a book session in Mandarin, facilitated by librarians. Finally there is the Kelab Baca Si Luncai, a reading club aimed to creatively ignite the passion for reading in both English and Malay in children aged 7 to 10. The sessions consist of games, bilingual story telling and craft activities.

The Toa Payoh Community Library still keeps the charming white and red facade it has always been known for, but on the inside, it has undergone a major facelift. The Children’s Section on the first floor is built like a ship. Those who have fond memories of the nostalgic dragon playground in Toa Payoh will find the hexagonal shapes in the Baby Books’ corner familiar. Senior readers will appreciate the large print books in the second floor of the library, while teenagers have access to graphic novels and audio visual materials tailored for them in the Teens Zone. It is also one of four libraries in Singapore to offer the eReader loan service that allows library users to download eBooks from popular ebook database OverDrive.

This library is the base of the Writing the City Writers’ Group, a community of writers. It brings in monthly workshops that offer participants writing exercises, guest lectures and more exposure to literature. The Creative Crew Workshop brings in industry experts who share experiences on photography, print design, video, web and other graphic and digital media. Talks are free and take lace on every second Tuesday of the month. Last but not least, there is the Thangameen Readers Club to promote confident use of Tamil. It is open to all ages, and organises film screenings, story writing competitions and poetry contests.

If you’re out of ideas for the weekend, why not head over to the library? Just be sure to go early as the seats can fill up pretty quickly.

– This article first appeared in a newsletter for Bishan-Toa Payoh residents

The Space Between the Raindrops by Justin Ker

The Space Between the Raindrops is a collection of 42 very short stories, mostly set in Singapore, with the rest set in other parts of the world. The stories may be short yet the author is able to portray the complexity of the characters; and the content is contemplative.

Justin Ker introduces to us a myriad of intriguing scenarios, such as a male immigrant worker who broke into the flat of a Taiwanese female immigrant to slumber for a few hours on her bed. An elderly woman while on the operating table recalls the times she carried her adopted son piggy-back to school in the rain. A judge in Slovenia accidentally sets fire to his courthouse leaving trails of ash. And, Singapore is personified as a psychiatric patient, diagnosed with a self-identity crisis.

Then there are also perfectly ordinary scenarios that still spawn an intriguing story — a fleeting meeting between a young male photographer and older married woman on a cruise ship. A couple staring out of the windows of Taipei 101. Two National Servicemen debate Singlish pronunciation. Justin views things from remarkable perspectives, calling to our minds ideas would not have occurred that they concern us.

The writing style in the book is poetic with generous use of metaphors. The text is taut but not restrictive, giving space  for one‘s imagination to soar. The vocabulary is rich and the portrayal of characters lively, making them come across as realistic, believable strangers in the street.

Some readers may take issue with how repetitive the writing style gets after several stories. In that case, it would perhaps be better to consume the stories in a few separate sittings.

– This book review first appeared in a lifestyle magazine