Five book events you can’t miss this month
Book Street – Collectors Edition Where: Level 3, East Wing, Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya When: Dec 6-8, 10am to 6pm, free admission
The Book Street market is back with a Collectors Edition version. That means you’ll find thousands of books sharing booth space with literary-related paraphernalia, including old typewriters, book cabinets, lamps and others. The idea is to lead collectors and visitors into the old world of books. This independent three-day rare book fair is all about mobilising an independent community of vintage book sellers, and the focus will be on a wide selection of collectible and out-ofprint books, rare antique maps, prints, photographs, manuscripts and antiquities, some over a century old. A total of over 20 book vendors will be participating.
Literatur: Dongeng Si Siti Kecil With National Laureate Prof Dr Siti Zainon Ismail Where: Meeting point Masjid Jamek, KL
When: Dec 14, 10.30am
This literature event, presented by Literacity, will focus on Malaysia’s 14th National Laureate Prof Dr Siti Zainon Ismail’s book Dongeng Si Siti Kecil, which was a collection of poems. sketches and short stories published in 1988. The storybook tour trail, with Siti Zainon, will encompass the nearby city areas where Siti Kecil grew up, especially in the Jalan Melayu neighbourhood. Think of it also as a 1950s-era childhood throwback for Siti Zainon. Born in Kuala Lumpur in 1949, Siti Zainon, an alumnus of Sekolah Aminuddin Baki, Kuala Lumpur, went to Akademi Seni Rupa Indonesia in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, from 1969 to 1974 where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Siti Zainon is the second woman to receive the national literary award. This Literacity tour (in Bahasa Malaysia) is limited to 30 participants. Tour fees apply. Facebook: Literacity.
Makers Unravel: Shika Corona Where: Malaysia Design Archive, Zhongshan Building, KL
When: Dec 14, 3pm
Makers Unravel is a series of conversations where makers of design, architecture, visual arts, music, movement, craft, narratives and mashups share their approach, philosophy and practice of creating. This month sees multidisciplinary artist, punk rocker and arts activist Shika Corona sharing insights into a career that has seen her work on street art with urban art collective Sembur With Style in the early days to life as a freelance artist. Shika also illustrates, self-publishes, and distributes her mini magazines. She also contributes her work to projects organised by local non-governmental organizations and various social causes. Facebook: Malaysian Design Archive.
Up Close And Personal With Tash Aw
Where: Lit Books, Petaling Jaya When: Dec 14, 4pm
London-based award-winning author Tash Aw is back in Malaysia this month. Lit Books founder Fong Min Hun sits down with him for a discussion about his latest book, We ,The Survivors. Aw’s book tells the story of Ah Hock, an ordinary man who becomes driven towards causing an unimaginable act of violence. Aw is the author of three acclaimed novels: The Harmony Silk Factory (2005), Map Of The Invisible World (2009) and Five Star Billionaire (2013). Tickets are RM10, which can be used as a rebate for any purchase at the venue on that day. Facebook: Lit Books.
Book Talk: An Orientalist From Within? – Manuel Of Malacca Where: Kok Far Tea, Zhongshan Building, Kuala Lumpur When: Dec 17, 8pm
Cartographer Manuel Godinho de Eredia, the son of an European father and a Malay (or Bugis) mother, lived in the Portuguese state of India in the 17th century. Eredia’s historical-geographical works draw from both Western and Asian influences. This talk examines Eredia’s visual and written works. Who was he writing and creating for, and how did he describe his images to them? The speaker is Chase Caldwell Smith, co-host of the Global History Podcast. Facebook: Malaysian Design Archive.