Books
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| Humane
and humorous: Tales of twelve different tastes By
Smriti Daniel The ultimate impact of a tale lies in its telling. In this case the 'telling' is simple and straightforward, a style that makes each story all the more enjoyable and refreshing. The plots are varied and endlessly entertaining, prompting a wide range of reactions from the reader. For instance "The Diminishing Whiskey" is sure to inspire laughter with its rueful and earthy humour while the "The Rickshaw Puller" with its unadorned portrayal of a poor man's bewildered acceptance of poverty, leaves one sad and thoughtful. Intricate and well-plotted stories, such as "The Night Watch" and "Charlie's Funeral" have the reader turning pages almost compulsively as they race towards the end. Many times the author rises above convention to create a character in whom the unexpected is juxtaposed with the mundane, resulting in a delightful and unorthodox protagonist. An example of this gift can be seen in "Board and Lodging", where the conservative and concerned mother finds a rather unusual way of changing her unmarried daughter's status. "She was so ecstatic that had the idea struck her an hour before while she was bathing, she would no doubt, like Archimedes, have been running hither and thither in her bathing cloth." "Cornelius of Madampe" is another, more entertaining, display of the author's skill. In this story, Cornelius sets out from the village of Madampe in his white drill suit, determined to experience the delights Colombo has to offer. His adventures are not only amusing, but they also manage to effectively showcase the author's ability to slip into the skin of any man. "The Monkey Man", with its curious title, introduces an element of the supernatural into the collection. When Charlotte de Saram cannot find her table fan, she is convinced it has been stolen. But how is she to pinpoint the culprit? Magdalene, the crystal ball gazer, has the solution. "The Morning Walk" is similar to the other stories only in that a 'twist in the tale' is present at the end. It stands out, however, in its direct appeal to the uncalculated generosity that we are all capable of. But it is perhaps in the story titled "The Lost Balloon" that the author's skill is best displayed. Filled with a poignant depiction of a child's emotions in all their intensity, the story conjures up within the reader the memory of how simple pleasures can be the most treasured. Mr. Sanderatne is living proof that juggling numbers and juggling words can be entirely compatible pursuits. Once the Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon and the National Development Bank, he is today the Chairman of the Centre for Poverty Analysis. He is also a newspaper columnist and author of several books and journal articles. In the preface to the book, Dr. Lakshmi de Silva says of him, "…the extent of Dr. Sanderatne's experience of men and matters, a mature and mellow vision of life, humane as well as humorous, contributes as much to his writing as the lucidity of his intellect". There’s
life in the birds and stories Shorebirds, an Artist in the Field is a new experience, for it is much more than a collection of drawings; it brings out its subject - the wader birds - with amazing liveliness. The equal emphasis placed on both the object and the backdrop is one main feature in this life-like presentation. Perera's effort to place the particular bird in its own locality is commendable. This gives a rounding off to the art and makes it clear and complete. The birds are also represented from all angles and in varying postures and positions, enabling a vivid and vibrant read. Jetwing Eco Holidays has funded the publication of Shorebirds, an Artist in the Field. They have taken to wildlife and eco-tourism with a passion and consider this launch a milestone. Though 'coffee-table' publications, are yet not all that familiar in Sri Lankan circles, Jetwing is hopeful this would break new ground. Shorebirds, an Artist in the Field is available at all leading bookstores, including Barefoot, ODEL and Lake House Bookshop, Hyde Park Corner. Leafing
through The Colombo International Book Fair, ends today after drawing record crowds from day one on September 6. Dubbed the largest book show in Sri Lanka, the fair has a record 298 stalls representing 120 local and 56 foreign exhibitors from countries such as Britain, the United States, Australia, India, Singapore and Malaysia. "It's a book fair city," says Ranjith Samaranayake, Chairman of the Book Fair Committee. Last year more than 200,000 people visited the fair and organizers said on Monday they were expecting a similar, if not better, turnout this year. "This is by far the highest attended fair at the BMICH," says Shan Rajaguru, Secretary of the Book Fair Committee. The fair, organised by the Sri Lanka Book Publishers' Association and the BMICH in association with the Booksellers' Association of Ceylon and the Samastha Lanka Poth Velenda Sangamaya, was first held in 1999. "The first fair was held at the Art Gallery with only 24 stalls," says Mr. Rajaguru. Now they are overwhelmed with requests for stall space at the fair. "Even stationers, paper producers and other manufacturers ask for space," says Mr. Samaranayake adding that they turn down these requests because the focus is solely on books. "We actually started the book fair with the idea of developing the trade," says Mr. Rajaguru. " As publishers we had participated in foreign book fairs and thought we should hold a similar event here." This year the fair was opened by space prophet Sir Arthur. C. Clarke who, along with the four students who gained the best A/L results this year, lit the traditional oil lamp. Each of these students was presented with book vouchers worth Rs.10,000. This year's fair has a SAARC pavilion representing publishers and booksellers from the seven member nations."The SAARC Developmental Council decided to take books published in member countries from one country to another in an attempt to promote books from South Asia," says Shakti Malik, General Secretary of The Federation of Indian Publishers. Other speciality stalls include those by the World Health Organization and various religious and cultural associations. Are the books cheap? With signs of "20% off!!" and "50% off!!", many shop owners say most of their books carry a small discount. A local publisher voiced her concern that reading for pleasure is no longer a very popular pastime. What draws crowds is the abundance of technical books covering a variety of subjects, including those relevant to the school and university curriculum. She is glad, however, that many of the children who come to the fair still appear to be enthralled by the colourful covers and timeless stories on offer. "It's not just about selling books," says Mr. Rajaguru. With the belief that books are an invaluable resource, the Book Publishers' Association has begun collecting books, to start libraries in ten chosen rural schools. Those who wish to donate their old books may hand them in to one of the two BPA offices at the Book Fair. Welcome
shower in a land parched of historic studies Reviewed
by Thilak Palliyaguruge Ruhuna is often credited with having produced national heroes, intellectuals, artists, industrialists, warriors and social reformers. Ruhuna patriots were in the forefront of our freedom struggle. At a time when patriotic feelings are lying dormant and interest in the study of history and culture is dwindling at an alarming rate, the publication of 'Splendours of Ruhuna's Heritage' authored by eminent writer Gamini de S. G. Punchihewa is a welcome shower. The book, his sixth publication, is a collection of 25 essays dealing with subjects that are close to his heart. He wrote his first book 'Souvenirs of a Forgotten Heritage' in 1990. Being a close associate of Gamini for more than four decades, living and working in difficult areas with him, I am aware of the magnitude of commitment, dedication and enthusiasm he displayed to achieve his objectives in journalism. He has a fascinating technique of collecting data and first hand information for his literary work. As one who has accompanied him on the hazardous treks through difficult terrain, infested with wildlife and unexplored regions packed with history and legend, I recall his rare ability to identify the traditions passed down from one generation to the other. From the very inception of his career as a journalist he has never relied on secondhand information to write his articles. He shuns armchair journalism and uses practical and realistic methods to obtain his information. The book, written in an easy readable manner - a narrative style of his own - will no doubt be a traveller's must-read- book - like W.T. Keble's 'Ceylon off the beaten track' and R. L. Brohier's 'Seeing Ceylon' & 'Discovering Ceylon'. The 25 essays in the book are well supported by photographs taken mostly by the author. To substantiate his views, he quotes from authoritative sources and avoids comments in the absence of concrete evidence. Ruhuna is too broad a canvas for a slim volume like 'Splendours of Ruhuna's Heritage' to do justice, but this book is a unique blend of adventure and historical narration of a rare calibre. |
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