Love You to Death

From Tots to Teens, StarMag

I REVIEWED Eclipse, the third book in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series in September last year. The book was preceded by Twilight and New Moon. To cut three big, fat books short: Teenager Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, a sexy 150-year-old vampire who looks 17, fall in love and grope for pages on end. You would think that Meyer couldn't possibly have written close to 2000 pages on just human-vampire lust, but to hear the fangirls talk you'd think she had. You wouldn't be entirely wrong either to think that that's what most of Meyer's teenage fans love about the series.

At a book discussion group I facilitate, the 13-year-old girls were swooning over Edward. One of them told me that a friend of hers had whited out the name Bella in Eclipse and replaced it with her own so she could fully indulge in a fantasy relationship with the romantic, dreamily good-looking undead hero. It's came as no surprise that the girls were unimpressed by Bella's other love interest, Jacob Black, a native American shapeshifter - most Malaysian teenage girls I know prefer white boys. I'm not sure if, in this case, their partiality had anything to do with the fact that Jacob shapeshifts into a giant wolf. I mean, it's all very well having a boyfriend who hunts deer for nourishment (Edward and his family drink the blood of animals not humans - they're funny that way), but do you really want one who sits by the fireside gnawing on a bone?

Anyway, the fourth and final book of the series, Breaking Dawn (Little, Brown, 754 pages, ISBN: 978-0316032148) was released in Malaysia on Monday (Aug 4). In Eclipse, practically the whole time Bella's with Edward she's trying desperately to get into his pants and he spends the whole time trying to keep her out of them (yet he creeps into her bedroom and shares her bed on a nighly basis - like, duh!). At the end of that book, he's convinced her to marry him so that they can do the deed with a clear conscience!

So, what do you think would be uppermost on the minds of teen fans when they pick up their copies of Breaking Dawn and rush home to devour the book? I admit I too was pretty curious about this vampire-human shagging lark. Now, Edward fears he will kill Bella with his, erm, enthusiam (he doesn't know his own strength, poor dear) so he'd prefer to do the wild thing with her only after he's made her a vampire: her strength will match his then and, hey, she'll be (un)dead anyway so no worries, huh? But that Meyer woman, it turns out, has another trick up her sleeve. Bella wants to experience the delights of the flesh as a human. She wants to delay being turned into a vampire so she can have a real honeymoon. Good lord, talk about perverse, and I'm talking about Meyer. For three books, she has Edward advocating abstinence before marriage, and then she has him still fighting Bella off even after she becomes Mrs Cullen!

Well, given how Edward eventually does give in to Bella, there doesn't seem to be a reason for delaying the "action" apart from the desire to prolong the suspense. This isn't just when it comes to the consummation of Bella and Edward's marriage. Later in the novel, the family has to prepare for an attack by the Volturi (self-appointed watchdogs of the vampire world). The Cullens are accused of a misdeed that may result in them being executed and they spend pages and pages discussing the situation, re-hashing ad nauseum the same facts and arguments and getting ready for possible war. In the end, the confrontation ends with a whimper that if, like me, you tend to skim pages, you might miss altogether. The book is full of this sort of endless exposition ending in anti-climax. Meyer's characters take a long time to state their points of view. The purpose, one supposes, is to increase the suspense, but Meyer overdoes it - the action (or rather inaction, because her characters do so prefer talking to doing) is drawn out for so long that the reader loses interest - whatever curiousity that is aroused in the first place gives way to irritation and impatience, and by the time a resolution is reached, the response is simply, "Oh, god, I waited all that time for this?"

If you read the reviews on Amazon, there is an obvious split between fans who are really disappointed and fans who are gushing like burst pipes. Although I've never been a fan, I was prepared to be amused and entertained. Instead, I am rather disturbed (creeped out is a more accurate description) by several plot developments and the portrayal of Bella. Discussing my concerns in detail would give the story away so all I'll say is that I worry about the sort of messages teenage girls will receive from Breaking Dawn. The book raises some very serious questions, but the way they are handled and "resolved" make me wonder what Meyer's attitude towards these issues is.

The book group I mentioned above will be discussing the book in September and I'm really curious to hear what the girls (and one boy) have to say about it. I definitely intend to talk about all my doubts - I hope they won't beat me to a bloody pulp with their copies of the book!

So, what next for Meyer's fans? Well, of course there's the movie (of Twilight, the first book), due to be released in December. The trailer is really something, especially the bit where Edward asks Bella, "Are you afraid?" and she answers, breathlessly, "I'm only afraid of losing you."

Meyer is currently working on Midnight Sun, a novel about Edward (picture the stampede to the bookstores!). On her website (www.stepheniemeyer.com), the author says that the book started as a character development exercise and that she decided to develop it further because Edwards deserves to tell his story. She says: "At first I was planning to post it all here on my website, but I changed my mind for two reasons, the most important being that Edward's version is much longer than Bella's—Edward over-thinks everything. I'm not even half way done, and the page count is near three hundred." Oh dear. Well, if you're curious there are links to the first chapter on the website.

If December is too long to wait for your next dose of Edward and Bella, there's always A New Dawn, a collection of essays about Edward and Bella. They're written by authors of young adult fiction, like Megan McCafferty and Linda Gerber, and pretty much just sing the series' praises so don't expect any literary criticism or discussions about the sociosexual questions posed by author (however unintentional they may be).

And if your Bella-Edward itch still needs scratching, there is fanfiction. If you happen to be one of those fans who doesn't like what happens in Breaking Dawn, writing your own conclusion to the couple's romance might be the way to go. In fact, the beauty of fanfiction is there never ever has to be an end to the story.

Books for All Babies

From Tots to Teens, StarMag

By DAPHNE LEE

ABOUT a month ago, I had the good fortune and pleasure of "meeting" a librarian by the name of Rashidah Begum. Like so many first-meetings in this day and age, it happened online when Rashidah emailed me about an exciting programme she is involved in.

"Every Baby a Book" was launched in July 2007 by the Penang Public Library. It brought together two ideas: to produce a durable children's book from cloth and to provide every new baby in Penang with a book, in the hope of nurturing a love for reading.

This programme reminds me of "Bookstart", a British project that aims to provide every baby in Britain with free packs of books in order "to inspire, stimulate and create in children a love of reading that will give them a flying start in life". "Bookstart" is run by Booktrust, a British charity funded by the Arts Council of England, and supported by British booksellers and publishers. The official website stresses the importance of showing that "books are fun!"

It's marvellous to think of a similar programme being launched in Malaysia. The Penang Public Library certainly has the right idea in targetting children from the word go and in involving parents in their efforts. Research shows not just the benefits of exposing children to books and reading from an early age, but also how children thrive if they are read to at home by their parents. I guess nothing beats sharing an activity with loved ones in a familiar and safe environment.

Unlike "Bookstart", "Every Baby a Book" is based on a single book that has been developed specifically for the programme. It is A4 in size, with a horizontal (or "landscape") layout. The material is a synthetic blend, silky and smooth in texture. There are all together 11 leaves (22 pages), inclusive of the books' covers.

Owing to the book's size and the thinness of the material, the reader has to rest the book on a flat surface to turn the floppy pages easily. Babies and toddlers would probably use the floor, although tiny fingers might lose their grip on the slippery fabric.

The book opens with a short introduction to the programme. This is followed by instructions on how to use the book. The actual content (that would be used by children) fills 10 pages and comprises "alphabets", "numbers", "colours and shapes", "I", "coconut tree", "fruits", "hibiscus", "fish", "animals" and "computer".

Each concept or subject is introduced without the use of text, only pictures. It is up to parents and care-givers to expand on the basics provided by the book. The "parents' guide" includes tips on how to do just that.

Rashidah mentioned to me how important it was, to those involved in producing the book, that it should feature Malaysian content. Hence, I suppose, the inclusion of "coconut tree" and "hibiscus", which otherwise might seem arbitrary.

Also, there are pictures of bananas and durians in the "fruits" section. Only bananas and durians. This, I feel, is going too far in the other direction, no matter how tired you are of reading about apples, oranges, peaches, pears and plums.

One of the things that worries me about this programme is how there is very little in the book that actually stimulates a child's imagination. If all we need are letters and numbers, arranged in a row, one might as well write them out oneself (on cardboard, if durability is an issue). As for the pictures, they are presented in an abstract manner, floating on the page, unrelated to a story, not even part of a scene that might be used as a basis of a story. The guide suggests what parents might say about the pictures, but would your child apreciate being told what the five petals of the hibiscus symbolise? Well, yes, if the hibiscus was part of a story, but not, I think, apropos of nothing at all.

I think the aims and objectives of� the "Every Baby a Book" programme are admirable. It really is an excellent idea to get parents actively involved by holding training sessions and workshops that show them how to read to children. I do, however, have reservations about the book produced specially for the programme and wonder if it could be replaced with a selection of books that are better suited to capturing the attention and interest of children.

Authors and illustrators whose lifework is writing and drawing for the amusement of children are the ones who are most qualified to produce books that will encourage a love for reading. While I am passionate about promoting reading, and I can see how sincere the Penang Public Library's intentions are, I feel we would fare better if we used the works of "experts" like Margaret Wise Brown and Rob Campbell, Eric Carle and Maurice Sendak to further the cause.

I wrote to Rashidah about my concerns and in her reply she said, "I would like to emphasise that the programme is the first of its kind here and I would like to consider it an evolving programme. This means that the approach, and even the content may change as we get feedback."

That a programme such a "Every Baby a Book" even exists in Malaysia is heartening and I applaud the Penang Public Library for its vision and effort.

Discovering the World

I never enjoyed geography lessons when I was in school. All those names! All those terms! They didn't seem to have anything to do with my life. If only I had had J. Patrick Lewis's A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme to bewitch and encourage me!

From Tots to Teens, StarMag

A WORLD OF WONDERS: GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELS IN VERSE AND RHYME
By J. Patrick Lewis
Publisher: Dial Books, 40 pages (ISBN: 978-0803725799)

BROWSING at a recent booksale, I came across an excellent way to introduce children to geography. Hmm ... how dubious that sounds! Would any child be interested in the "study of the earth and its features and of the distribution of life on the earth, including human life and the effects of human activity" (www.dictionary.com)? Put that way, probably not.

On the other hand, "So many places have fabulous names,/ Like Fried, North Dakota,/ The Court of St. James,/ Siberia, NIgeria, Elria, Peru,/ The White Nile, Black Sea,/ And Kalamazoo! The Great Wall of China, South Pole and Locj Ness,/ And 104 Fairview - that's my address!" is definitely intriguing.

"Thousands of spaces are places to be -/ Discover the World of GE-OG-RA-PHY!" writes J. Patrick Lewis, author of A World of Wonders: Geographic Travels in Verse and Rhyme. He continues, "Travel by boat or by car or by plane/ To visit East africa, Singapore, Spain./ Go by yourself or invite a good friend,/ But traveling by poem is what I recommend." Those who globe-trotters and jetsetters may turn up their snouts at it, but arm-chair travel is not to be scoffed at - especially considering the price of fuel ... and the ozone layer.

Lewis writes humorously about brave (and nosy) explorers like Marco Polo, Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan and Tenzing Norgay (no Cheng Ho though); tackles, gleefully, geographical phenomena like the aurora borealis; explores the significance of place names; provides solutions for those who confuse longitude and latitude, and stalactites and stalagmites.

His creative rhymes ("equate her" with "'frigerator"!) certainly help fix facts in one's mind - this is a very helpful devise when mugging for exams. Memorising these poems also can help make you the life and soul of the party ... or brand you an insufferable show-off. My favourites "Sri Lank used to be Ceylon./ Ancient Persia? Now Iran./ Zaire was Congo way back when,/ Now it's Congo once again." (from New Names, Old Places) and "The Arctic is water all covered with ice./ Antartica? Land (frozen paradise)." (from The Arctic and Antartica: Which is Colder?)

I learnt some interesting facts from this book. Did you know, for example, that there's standing room on the island of Bali for Earth's population? Well, you do now!

A World of Wonders is illustrated by Alison Jay who uses oils overlaid by crackle varnish that gives her work an aged look. Jay has published many picture books using this technique. In this case, her pictures have the effect of an old map, perfect for a book about geography as it recalls an ancient atlas or globe. However, rather than the yellowed patina of age, Jay's colours are fresh and vibrant, dominated by shades of blues and greens, with touches of rich earth tones.

This is a beautiful book - a valuable addition to libraries public and private, it will gladden the hearts, minds and eyes of young and old alike.

Dark Delights

From Tots to Teens, StarMag, 22nd July 2007

MY SWORDHAND IS SINGING
By Marcus Sedgewick
Publisher: Orion, 228 pages
(ISBN: 978-1842555583)

I’VE been trying to remember what it was I used to like about vampires and vampire novels. Of course, I still think Bram Stoker’s Dracula is one of the best gothic novels ever written, but it’s been a while since I called myself an Anne Rice fan. Was I ever in love with Louis, the central character in her Interview with a Vampire? I think I might have been!

In a recent article about Stephenie Meyer’s vampire trilogy, teenage readers gush about Edward Cullen, the heroine’s vampire boyfriend. There are online forums dedicated to him. One girl, in a review posted on amazon.com, describes him as “one of those male fictional characters like Mr Rochester you can’t help but fall in love with”.

In the article (published on Arizona State University’s website, www.asu.edu/news/stories/200705/20070504_prom.htm), a professor discusses how teenagers are drawn to vampires because they identify with these characters and the conflicts they face.

A vampire is an outcast, an outsider, and teens often feel similarly misunderstood and alienated. Vampires are also often depicted wrestling with their conscience and trying to decide between right and wrong – again, just the way teens are.

Finally, vampires are usually drop-dead gorgeous and most of us (girls, especially) find handsome, mysterious men irresistible. Throw forbidden love into the mix and we’re sold. Until, that is, we grow up and realise that handsome mysterious men (non-fictional ones, anyway) are usually just hiding something (usually a girl friend) and will, invariably, want to borrow large sums of money.

Personally, I’m tired of the recent spate of novels about well dressed, immaculately coiffed teenage vampires. I like vampires to scare me, not make me stress about my mismatched wardrobe. The vampires in Marcus Sedgewick’s My Swordhand is Singing (Orion, 228 pages, ISBN: 978-1842555583) are bloated corpses who tear out their victim’s hearts and couldn’t give a toss about the latest Parisian fashions. They scare me. Silly.

The book is set in a small village at the edge of a vast forest. In the first chapter, a man is being pursued by another through the trees. Through the haze of his fear, he realises that he is being hunted by someone who is dead.

It is winter, a few days before St Andrew’s Eve, which the villagers believe is the start of the dark time of the world, when evil walks freely. The woodcutter Tomas and his son Peter, however, do not share in the old beliefs and superstitions. Tomas is an abusive drunkard with a past he hides, obsessively, from his long-suffering son.

Peter is lonely, raised a cynic but naturally curious. He is in love with Agnes, the daughter of the village draper; her father recently died but, it is whispered, he returns nightly to visit his family.

Unfortunately, Agnes is chosen to be the bride of a recently murdered man (a ritual that was once practised in Transylvania). As the bride of a corpse, she has to spend 40 days in isolation, mourning for her husband. This, of course, makes her easy prey for vampires and forces Peter to consider that the stories he has been raised to scoff at are not entirely a load of poppycock.

As Peter tries to separate fact from myth, sense from superstition, a band of gypsies arrive and reveal the truth behind his father’s past.

In his “author’s note”, Sedgewick describes how he researched his story, even travelling to Eastern Europe to learn more about the region’s superstition and folklore. Apart from the supernatural elements, Swordhand probably comes close to describing the life in a typical 17th century village Transylvanian village.

Although it’s unlikely that vampires ever roamed the forests of that land (Transylvania actually means “land beyond the forest”), belief in them was strong and real. So, while we can read Swordhand knowing all along that it is merely a spooky story, the author so successfully conveys the terror experienced by a community that believes in the possibility of falling prey to the undead that even the most sceptical of us might still experience shivers and goose bumps when reading this book.

And while there are no moody, mysterious and devastatingly handsome vampires in My Swordhand is Singing, Peter’s not to be sniffed at either. These days I prefer my men (even fictional ones) alive and kicking.

Lost and Found

From Tots to Teens, StarMag

PETER PAN IN SCARLET
By Gerladine McCaughrean
Publisher: Oxford University Press
(ISBN:978-0192726209)

WHEN dreams begin leaking out of Neverland into this world, Wendy Darling believes that there must be something wrong and proposes a visit to Peter Pan’s home so that the problem can be found and fixed.

But many years have passed since Wendy flew with Pan. She is a grown woman now, with a daughter of her own. Her brother Michael has perished in the war and John is a husband and father, as are most of the Old Boys – who were once Lost Boys, until they were adopted by Mr and Mrs Darling when they returned from Neverland.

Only children can fly to Neverland, though, and so the adults don their children’s clothes and become young again. It’s a case of clothes literally making the man ... and child. And it is a theme that is repeated throughout Geraldine McCaughrean’s official sequel to J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan, released worlwide on Oct 5.

Although I have always enjoyed McCaughrean’s books, I didn’t count on liking Peter Pan in Scarlet. However, I was spellbound from ... no, not the first page, but very soon after.

The story builds up slowly: We meet Wendy and the Old Boys and learn a little about their lives post-Peter; our memories of Neverland (red-skins and mermaids, crocodiles and cutlasses) are stirred; we are taken on an expedition to Kensington Park; babies are stalked and a fairy is caught. (It is possible that the fairy, Fireflyer, might just be even more annoying than Tinker Bell.)

The book blossoms once the “children” take off and head for Neverland: “second to the right and straight on till morning.” How things have changed though: Neverland has lost its eternal summer foliage and is now an “ocean of golden orange, and scarlet trees”; Peter wears blood red Virginia creeper and maple leaves, and has forgotten Wendy. He is “dying of boredom”; Tinker Bell has “run off”; the Lost Boys (those who came after the original gang) are all culled for “breaking the rules”.

But with Wendy once again in Neverland, the boy is raring to go, while Wendy and the others, now that they are once again children, forget why they have come back in the first place. Fixing problems is the last thing on their young minds; adventures and quests are uppermost!

And so, The League of Pan go in search of thrills and spills and the story unfolds to reveal secrets and wonders, horrors and terrors, dark deeds and deep disappointments. (By the way, if you can, re-read Peter Pan, the novel, and marvel at the way a seemingly minor although evocative detail at the end of the book has been developed into an important and powerful part of Scarlet’s plot.)

This stunning book celebrates and honours Barrie’s original work by staying true to his ideas and voice. It is also a triumph of McCaughrean’s imagination and inventiveness.

Like Barrie’s tale, this one is magical and exciting, full of action, suspense and danger, high jinks, fun and frolics. But it is also suffused with sadness and anger, resentment and regret.

The best of the action centres around an intriguing new character, the ringmaster Ravello, who comes to work as Peter’s valet when his circus is torched to the ground. He proves to be the key to the mystery of the changes in Neverland, and he himself is the greatest mystery of all. When all is revealed, don’t be surprised if you actually hear the pieces clicking satisfyingly into place.

As for the ending, it is one all mothers (or mothers of Mrs Darling’s ilk, at any rate) will love McCaughrean for. Think reunions and resolutions, closure and comfort. Think a book that is destined to be a classic. Barrie would be proud.