Word!

Children's book tackles global issues

Every week, when my sister and I were younger, our parents would take us to the local library. Those were the days when we didn't have chatting services like MSN, own a c.d. player or weren't even allowed to watch TV for more than half an hour a day.

In the summer, we'd either walk or bike to the community library. Sometimes we would simply scan the shelves and pick out books. But if we were lucky, the library would have a special arts and crafts demonstration, magic show, or reading circle scheduled during vacation months.

My favourite books growing up were Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, Amelia Bedilia by Peggy Parish and EVERYTHING Robert Munsch - especially, Love You Forever.

But when I first started kindergarten, I didn't understand English because my parents had made a point to speak to me in Gujrati, so I would retain my mother-tongue.

It was hard learning English back then. But now, for some children, it might be a little easier.

Chadpur Press is launching a bilingual children's book in English and Gujrati. The Fisherman and the Cat by Keya Ashraf tells the story of a small village in India where local fisherman are being overtaken by commercial fishing.

According to Chadpur Press and ActionAid, the purpose of the book is to encourage bilingualism in Britain, unite communities and raise social consciousness. The publisher will also donate 5 per cent of the sale price of every book to ActionAid. The book will be released on Aug. 1.

In the press release, the author describes why it was important to tell this particular story.

"I used a traditional style of story telling to highlight the devastation that international fishing fleets cause local fishermen. In Bangladesh, where my family comes from, fishing communities are suffering from the impact of commercial fishing," Ashraf says.

"After writing the story I became aware of ActionAid's Take the Fish campaign and their work to stop Pakistani fishing communities losing out to corporate trawlers. It just felt natural that the sale of this book should help their campaign to highlight the link between global trade and poverty."

Although it is still unclear if this book will be released in North America, its nice to know that children are being made aware of global problems at an early age, so they can get a head start on coming up with the solutions.

Until next time... WORD!

Harry Potter takes over the world!

I knew Harry Potter was big. But I didn’t know just how big – until now.

An article by The Times of India reported that a street vendor in Pune, who usually sells pirated books, got rid of all his usual stock to make way for original copies of the new Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Another Pune bookseller sold 210 copies of the book by mid-afternoon, at a discounted price of Rs.750.

That’s how big Harry Potter is, it’s taking over India too! The famous series seems to have no borders.

For those of you who are clueless when it comes to the exciting adventures of Harry and his friends, let me give you a quick recap. A character in J.K. Rowlings famous book series, Harry Potter is a boy wizard who must prevent evil Lord Voldemort (who killed his parents), from taking over.

A friend of mine (who hates reading fantasy books) asked me what was so special about Harry Potter.

“Umm… witches… wizards… I’m just not into that kind of thing,” she told me politely, when I offered to lend her the first book in the series.

“No, but you don’t understand, you’ll love it when you get into it,” I tried to convince her. Like most Harry Potter fans, I almost sounded like a used-car saleswoman.

I couldn’t explain myself then, but I think I’ve figured out why the Harry Potter series is so popular.

Yes, it has witches, wizards and muggles (that’s you!), but it also has this universal message of following your dreams, doing the right thing, and being a self-less person.

J.K. Rowling also introduced characters of different ethnicities, a common sight in most North American and European schools, but rarely incorporated into the storylines of children’s literature.

For instance, Parvati Patel and her sister are fairly popular characters, who are not made to seem like outsiders.

I’m glad for the success of the Harry Potter series, and am excited to read the latest installment. For those of you who rushed out to buy a copy on July 21^st, post a comment and let me know if the ending was as satisfying as you had hoped for! 

Until next time… WORD!

The Drama Continues..

We love drama.

From aunties gossiping about what so-and-so’s daughter was wearing to the shaadi last weekend, to the triple take close-ups famous in Indian soaps like, Saat Phere, over-exaggeration makes our mundane lives more colourful.

I know it’s a sweeping statement. But you and I both know, it’s TRUE!

Just take a look at the Richard Gere-Shilpa Shetty episode that took place in India at an Aid’s awareness rally a couple months ago.

During the rally, Gere swept Shetty in his arms and plastered her with a big, wet-one on her cheek. The innocence of the kiss was overlooked and it made international news when locals deemed the public display of affection unacceptable. People were suing people right-left-and-centre and posters of the two actors were being burned like effigies in the streets.

Give me a break! It was so blown out of proportion, it probably made Anna-Nicole Smith roll in her grave.

It sort of reminds me of the firestorm surrounding the book I’m reading at the moment. The book is called Girls of Riyadh by Rajaa Alsanea and hits bookstores later this month.

                                                                           

It’s an interesting read from a South Asian perspective, because many South Asians have lived, worked or are working in Saudi Arabia.

The book tells the story of an anonymous author who sends out an e-mail every Friday afternoon (after juma’a prayers) to subscribers of her Yahoo Group. The e-mails are about four university-aged girls and their love lives.

Originally written in Arabic, the book was banned in Saudi Arabia in 2005.

I read the book. It didn’t bother me, and I’m a little on the conservative side. 

But what bothered me was the way the publisher hyped up the book in the news release I got with the book. They described it as the “An Arab Sex and the City.” And the funniest thing is, the book doesn’t even contain any eye-brow raising details that could possibly make even your dadi blush.

I'm just saying, lets just all take a deep breath, and refrain from over-dramatizing everything – whether in the news or in fine literature- even though it can be entertaining.  Sometimes, creating drama is best left to the experts - gossipy aunties and Indian soaps.

Until next time... WORD!

Summertime and the livin' is easy

While taking the subway, I noticed that most people don't read anymore. Usually, after a hard day at work, TTC riders are nodding off with ear buds from their iPod fixated permanently in their ears.

I don't blame them.

We are overbooked, exhausted and are constantly thinking about the million other things we have to do before the day is over. The last thing on most people's mind is, 'Oh, I wish I could be reading that 500-page classical anthology on Chinese poetry.'

Despite being an avid reader, I'm the same way.

I could care less if the book had a Man Booker Prize seal stuck on the cover. If the book is too complicated, with unnecessary description, and the story just drags on and on - reading it becomes a chore.

Reading should be entertaining.

It doesn't matter if you can't read hundreds of pages of text that need to be deciphered and analyzed before the story makes sense. As George Gershwin's song goes, "it's summertime and the livin' is easy!"

So, I've made up a list of novels I hope you'll enjoy this summer. Some of them I've read, and some are on my "To-Read" list. I must admit, the books I've chosen are mostly 'Chick-Lit.' They're no Pulitzer Prize winners either. But most of them are cheeky, full of cliche's, and sprinkled with stereotypes. And that's exactly why I love them!

For those of you who haven't picked up a book in awhile, I hope these books (my guilty pleasures), entertain you wherever you go this summer - on the beach, at the cottage and especially on the subway!

Life Isn't All Ha Ha Hee Hee by Meera Syal

Doubleday/Transworld Publishers (1999)

"Meera Syal has done it again. Fans of British TV show, Goodness Gracious Me, and the movie Bhaji on the Beach, will recognize Syal's powerful and on the mark humour in her second novel...The novel examines the lives of three best friens, who in their early thirties, are struggling with cultural connections and confusion." - salima, mybindi.com

Serving Crazy with Curry by Amulya Malladi

Random House/Ballantine Books (2004)

"An honest look at how a young Hindu woman, torn between two cultures, reconnects with her family and more important, with herself. The twist at the end is a bonus. Malladi's third novel will definately appeal to many readers." - Library Journal

The Village Bride of Beverly Hills by Kavita Daswani

Plume(2005)

"Fairy tale fun bursts from the confines of an arranged Indian marriage in this delectable follow-up to For Matrimonial Purposes (2003) when Priya, the youngest of four unmarried sisters, finds herself the one chosen for matrimony and life across the seas in Beverly Hills. Thous she lives in the land of movie stars and happy endings, Priya's marraige is anything but. Her husband, Sanjay, remains far more devoted ot his parents than his bride, and they have no compunction about working Priya to the bone. When after a few months her belly remains as flat as ever, they even send her off to get a job. Luck lands her a position as a receptionist at the tabloid Hollywood Insider, and her exotic politeness wins over the red carpet community." - Publisher's Weekly

Invisible Lives by Anjali Bannerjee

Pocket Books (2006)

"Lakshmi Sen was born with a magical ability to perceive the secret longings in others. Putting aside her own dreams to help run her widowed mother's struggling Seattle sar shop, Mystic Elegance, Lakshmi knows exactly how to bring happiness to customers - from lonely immigrants to starry-eyed young brides. And to honor her father's dying wish she has agreed to marry a respectable Indian doctor who will uphold her family's traditions.

But when a famous and demanding Indian actress chooses Mystic Elegance to provide her wedding trousseau, Lakshmi finds herself falling for the actress's sexy chauffeur - all-American Nick Dunbar - and her powers seem to desert her just as she needs them most." - www.anjalibanerjee.com

Bollywood Confidential by Sonia Singh

HarperCollins (2005)

"With her golden coloring, long black hair, and Oscar-deserving acting skills, Raveena Rai knows she's meant to be a star-- if only she can get that big break. Now after eight years of toiling as a slave girl, a belly dancer, a Mexican cocktain waitress, and some other truly unspeakable roles, the Lord Ganesh finally throws his lovely and loyal devotee a bone..." - http://soniasingh.com