Hello,

Even in these times of financial doom and gloom, there are still various places where bargains can be found. And needless to say, the library is one of these places.

Do check out and participate in the various contests running now at the libraries, cos there are loads of attractive prizes to be won. Pretty good value, especially when belts have to be tightened nowadays.

I’ve listed two such contests below, and also don’t forget the ASK! promotion which I talked about in the last issue!

Anyways, back to this week’s topic, which is on another fantastic free show at library@esplanade:

When Nic told me of his interest to perform the “ruan” at the library (see item [3] below), I didn’t have a clue what instrument he was referring to. So I decided to scoop around and find out more about this ancient Chinese instrument. Turns out that the ruan is one of the earliest types of pipa, and it was named after one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, Ruan Xian, who was pretty nifty at plucking . . .

To read on, head over to: http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/music/what-is-the-ruan-chinese-instrument-guitar-lute/.

For newcomers to this mailing list, you can dig up the back issues here: http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/library-esplanade-mailing-list/.

******************************************
News & Events at library@esplanade, 27 Nov 2008 - 07 Dec 2008

For details on items below, please click on the URLs where available. For further enquiries on all items below, please call 6332 3255 OR email: helpdesk[at]nlb.gov.sg.

All programmes at library@esplanade are FREE for the public to enjoy.

Contest

[1]
READ! Singapore 2009 Contest

Nominate a title and stand a chance to win attractive prizes such as the iTouch and iPOD if your nominated title is chosen for READ! Singapore 2009!

For full details, please visit: http://readsingapore.nlb.gov.sg/?p=211

[2]
“Spread the Word” Contest

Win big prizes from this contest on NLB’s eResources! Before taking part, you’ll need to sign up for a Digital Library Membership with NLB.

To sign up for a FREE NLB Digital Library Membership, please visit: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/.

To take part in the contest, go to: http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/contestmain.aspx.

For help, please call 6332 3255 OR email: helpdesk[at]nlb.gov.sg.

*****************************
Programmes

[3]
Ruan ( 阮 ) Performance by Nicolai Seetoh

Date: Saturday, 29 Nov 2008
Time: 3.00 - 4.00pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Nic is a professional liuqin performer with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Join him in this special performance at library@esplanade, where he plays the ancient Chinese instrument, Ruan ( 阮 ). He will perform some traditional ruan works comprising of solos and duets. Don’t miss this chance to catch an ancient art brought to life again!

For details on the show: http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/programmes-promotions/ruan-chinese-instrument/.

[4]
SSO Pre-Concert Talk: Ode to Leningrad

Date: Saturday, 29 Nov 2008
Time: 6.30 - 7.00pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Speaker: Natalia Kumkova, Soprano

Russian soprano Natalia Kumkova tells the story of the 900-day Siege of Leningrad during World War Two, and how it became the inspiration for one of Shostakovich’s most memorable masterworks.

For details: http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/music/sso-pre-concert-talk-ode-to-leningrad/.

[5]
JAZZ TIME! The Innovative Art of Piano Improvisation by ERIC LEE

Date: Saturday, 06 Dec 2008
Time: 3.00 - 4.30pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Join award-winning professional musician, Eric Lee, as he gives tips on making piano-playing fun for you and your kids. The workshop will focus on the innovative art of piano improvisation where you’ll learn how you can play music by patterns, progressions and by ear, rather than relying heavily on musical scores. Come be amazed by the sound of music!

In his own words, Eric explains what is improvisational piano and why he took to it: http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/music/jazz-time-innovative-art-of-piano-improvisation-eric-lee/.

************************

Cheers,
Peck Keong
Associate Librarian
library@esplanade
http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/

Hullo!

Since a long-running promotion has just started for our ASK! service, I’ll just use this issue to do a quick and brief intro on what this is about. And when I’m done, hope you’ll actively take part and win yourself some prizes!

If you’re already familiar with the service, hop over to look at the promotion details and prizes.

ASK is simply short for Actively Seeking Knowledge. You know that old adage about being never too old (or young, for that matter) to learn? Well, I guess that’s pretty much the whole point of this service. You ASK us a question, and if it’s straight-forward enough, we’ll give you the answer. If it isn’t, then we do what we can to point out relevant books and resources that’ll hopefully help you find the answer.

The main ASK! service channel is the focal point where you send in your enquiry. But under this general service umbrella, there are a couple of “subdivisions” (a better word escapes me for now), namely:

[a]
KidsASK! – Targeted at kids. Curious kids ask the most befuddling of questions, and the Children’s Librarians are the folks given the task of enlightening them. (Haha :P)

[b]
ASK! Performing Arts — Targeted at folks like you who have an interest in film, dance, theatre and music. library@esplanade librarians (one of them being me) tend to handle these, especially if some background knowledge on the subject is required for the answer. (Sigh, erm, yay?)

Well, obviously I will be biased and talk about ASK! Performing Arts here, heh heh. To get a quick overview of this service, hop over to this page.

Actually, maybe that page itself doesn’t tell much, haha. So I’ve picked out two interesting enquiries that we’ve received recently to highlight to you as examples. Click on the links for the answers!

[1]
Q: What’s the difference between the terms, “film” and “movie”?

[2]
Q: How do I find out more about the musical, Avenue Q?

I’ll probably look to highlight more of these in future, but if you’re interested, the unfortunately little-used (*hint* x *hint* ;) ASK! corner at library@esplanade has a featured questions corner that my colleague, Eleaner, updates on a regular basis.

Finally, some of you may be confused by ASK! and ASK! Performing Arts. To make it simple, if you’d really like one of library@esplanade’s librarians to help you with your film / music / theatre / dance question, just fill up the blue ASK! Performing Arts form at library@esplanade and drop it in the box. One of us will contact you soon.

With their in-depth grasps of the subjects, I’m sure Eleaner and Thong Yang will be a tremendous help to furthering your knowledge in the performing arts. Myself, I’m not so sure. Haha.

If you’ve followed me to this point, here’s the link to the ongoing ASK! promotion again. All best and

Happy ASKing,
Peck Keong
library@esplanade

******************************************
News & Events at library@esplanade, 07 Nov 2008 - 16 Nov 2008

For details on items below, please click on the URLs where available. For further enquiries on all items below, please call 6332 3255 OR email: helpdesk@nlb.gov.sg

Promotions

[1] Quantum of Solace and Body of Lies Loan Promotions

Come to library@esplanade, borrow 8 items and take part with your loan receipts! Stand to win ticket passes and premiums to these two movies!

[2]
ASK! Promotion

If you skipped the editorial, do find out about the on-going promotion for our enquiry service at this link.

[3]
D.E.A.R. Promotion

The Drop Everything And Read loan promotion is back with the school holidays. So be sure to come down to library@esplanade to grab your 8 DVDs!

If you haven’t been to our library for a while, be sure to read up this borrowing guide for CDs and DVDs.

[4]
“Sing to the Dawn” Loan Promotion

Win tickets and premiums to the “Sing to the Dawn” movie! Simply borrow at least 4 items from library@esplanade and drop your loan receipt into the box provided at the library for your chance at the draw!

- Loan receipts must be dated 13 Oct — 16 Nov 2008.
- Please write your Name, NRIC and Contact Number at the back of the receipt.
- Winners will be notified by phone after 16 Nov 2008.

And if you missed Minfong Ho’s workshop at library@esplanade last week, feel free to head over to HighBrowse Online to listen to an interview my colleague, Meijun, did with her a year ago.

Programmes

[5]
SSO Pre-Concert Talk: Swan Song

Date: Friday, 7 Nov 08
Time: 6.30pm – 7.00pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: Click here.

[6]
Theatre Forum Discussion:
A potential 3-million consumer base attracting only an audience of 3,000. What has happened to the Mandarin Theatre scene in Singapore?

Date: Saturday, 8 Nov 2008
Time: 5.00 - 6.30pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

*This programme is in Mandarin only.

Programme synopsis: Click here.

[7]
Talk on Gao Jia Opera, featuring the Xiamen Jin Lian Sheng Opera Troupe

Date: Sunday, 9 Nov 2008
Time: 3.00 - 5.00pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

*This programme is in Mandarin only.

Programme synopsis: Click here.

[8]
Jazz and Classical with Tempei Nakamura (Piano Performance)

Date: Sunday, 9 Nov 2008
Time: 5.30 - 6.30pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: Click here.

[9]
How Random! How Loverly! by Deborah and Thomas (Vocal Performance)

Date: Saturday & Sunday, 15 & 16 Nov 2008
Time: 4,00 - 5.00pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

*There are 2 sessions of this programme, 1 each on Sat & Sun.

Programme synopsis and a word from Deb: Click here.

[10]
Pre-International Guitar Festival performance by Cairnhill Niibori Guitar Ensemble

Date: Saturday, 15 Nov 2008
Time: 6.00 - 7.00pm
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: Click here.

************************

Theatre, Chinese Opera and music fans are in for a treat these two weeks, I guess. Well, enjoy yourself and see ya!

So I finally had the chance to watch The Godfather movies for the first time last week.

Being the idle reader/watcher type, I just kinda watched them mindlessly, like I do for everything else. As Vladimir Nabokov would say, “curiously enough, one cannot read a book; one can only reread it”*, I pretty much agree and believe that applies to all other, erm, “artistic” pursuits as well, heh heh.

Anyway, after making it through the epic 9-hour(ish) trilogy, I went to look up some reviews to help gather my thoughts on the films, as is my usual wont. That’s when I came across this one by Roger Ebert that really opened up my eyes ears. To quote its opening paragraph:

“The musical score plays an even greater role in “The Godfather: Part II” than it did in the original film. Nostalgic, mournful, evoking lost eras, it stirs emotions we shouldn’t really feel for this story, and wouldn’t, if the score were more conventional for a crime movie. Why should we regret the passing of a regime built on murder, extortion, bribery, theft and the ruthless will of frightened men? Observe how powerfully Nino Rota’s music sways our feelings for the brutal events onscreen” (Ebert).

Source: Ebert, Roger. “Great Movies: The Godfather, Part II (1974).” <http:/rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081002/
REVIEWS08/810020300/1004/reviews08>, last accessed 22 Oct 2008.

“Now, that’s a new way of seeing things,” I thought. Which on hindsight is probably an ironic way to put it, but I think Ebert has, in a truly elegant way, put into focus an invisible element of film — the music.

Coincidence of coincidences then, that I should be working on a booklist about film music for a collaboration with the Esplanade’s Bitesize workshop this Saturday. I’ve always reckoned I knew a fair bit about film, but reading that review and browsing these books, I really feel I’ve learnt something new this past week. (Ed: Besides the fact that you’re just a smart alecky wannabe, eh?)

Well, there goes my pride, haha, but you know what? I’m pretty glad about the whole deal. Because for me, it felt like something in the dark has touched new light.

The lazy slob that I am, I guess I’m often quite comfortable with what I’m used to doing, seeing, hearing, thinking and feeling (Ed: Yadda-yadda-yadda). But I’ve found that if I opened my mind a little and take just a tiny step ahead of what I’m used to, I might find myself in for something new, exciting, and maybe even all-changing.
[Ed: (o_o) ]

In any case (and despite the Ed’s cruel mocking), maybe you can try lifting your foot forward just that once more next time. It could be one step, it could be half a step, it doesn’t really matter, does it?

Because you’ll be that very step into a new world of discovery.

I guess there’s no guarantee you’ll like what you find there. But hey, someday you might look back on the episode, think about what you did, and find the wonder of it all coming back to you, to the stirring sound of music that you scored.

Note:
*Nabokov, Vladimir. Lectures on Literature. Call No.: 809.3 NAB.

************

If you’re interested to learn more about creating music for film and TV,
do feel free to email me, or leave a comment here. I’ll respond to you shortly.

************

News & Events at library@esplanade,
23 Oct 2008 — 1 Nov 2008:

For details on items below, please click on the URLs where available. For further enquiries on all items below, please call 6332 3255 OR email: helpdesk@nlb.gov.sg

[1]
Announcement:
All NLB libraries will be closed at 5pm on Friday 24 October 2008 for a staff event. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. Normal library opening hours will resume on Saturday 25 October 2008.

[2]
“Sing to the Dawn” Loan Promotion

Win tickets and premiums to the “Sing to the Dawn” movie! Simply borrow at least 4 items from library@esplanade and drop your loan receipt into the box provided at the library for your chance at the draw!

- Loan receipts must be dated 13 Oct — 16 Nov 2008.
- Please write your Name, NRIC and Contact Number at the back of the receipt.
- Winners will be notified by phone after 16 Nov 2008.

[3]
Costumes in Gao Jia Opera - An Exhibition

Date: 10 Oct - 12 Nov 2008
Venue: library@esplanade

Synopsis: Click here.

[4]
Spot The Singlish!

Date: Friday, 24 Oct 2008
Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm
Venue: Open stage, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: Click here.

[5]
An Afternoon of Chinese Music

Date: Saturday, 25 Oct 2008
Time: 3.00 - 4.00pm
Venue: Open stage, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: Click here.

[6]
Perform to Inspire: Music Workshop by Hark Music

Date: Saturday, 25 Oct 2008
Time: 4.30 - 5.30pm
Venue: Open stage, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: Click here.

[7]
The Art of Storytelling with Abbi Patrix

Date: Saturday, 25 Oct 2008
Time: 6.30 - 7.30pm
Venue: Open stage, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: Click here.

[8]
Animation Nation – the Screenings

Date: Thursday, 30 Oct 2008
Time: 7.00 - 8.00pm
Venue: Open stage, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: Click here.

[9]
Sing to the Dawn - From Song to Stage to Screen

Date: Saturday, 1 Nov 2008
Time: 4:00 - 6:00pm
Venue: Open stage, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: Click here.

************

I guess that’s quite a lot of programmes and activities at library@esplanade over the next week and so. Enjoy yourself and see ya!

Cheers,
Peck Keong
library@esplanade
http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/

You know the name. You know the number.

Superspy James Bond is back in the printed life to mark the Ian Fleming Centenary! With acclaimed British novelist Sebastian Faulks — writing as Ian Fleming, no less — steering the wheels of Bond’s latest escapade, expect to be shaken and stirred by a thrilling ride of mayhem and danger! All delivered with impeccable style, of course.

But what better way to anticipate the book (and now the new movie) than by re-living Bond’s best adventures on film?

Here’s a list of top Bond flicks to soothe your craving. Mind you, the list may be controversial, but hey, so’s the man. And if you’re peeved your favourite Bond movie isn’t here, here’s offering you a Quantum of Solace…

Hah, the Devil May Care.

All films available at the Film Village, library@esplanade. All pictures sourced from www.amazon.com. Covers shown here may differ from the library’s collection.

The Scintillating 007

GOLDFINGER
Call No.: 791.4372 GOL
The Bond Identity: Sean Connery

Bond must stop a loony gold dealer from irradiating the US’ bullion reserves. Amazing gadgets, gold-gilded girls and a killer bowler hat — the perfect ingredients for the perfect 007 flick. You must be a real Odd-job not to love this one! Stylish and oh-so-cool.
lady in white

CASINO ROYALE (2006)
Call No.: 791.4372 CAS
The Bond Identity: Daniel Craig

Bond raises the stakes against a terror-serving banker. A reboot to the franchise, Bond receives a much-needed injection of fresh thrills and vigour, with Craig impressing as the cold and ruthless secret agent who finds a heart to love.
lady in white

TOMORROW NEVER DIES
Call No.: 791.4372 TOM
The Bond Identity: Pierce Brosnan

Bond takes on a mad media mogul, but the plot’s yesterday’s news. Brosnan remains dapper in the suit, but what really shines is Michelle Yeoh’s Wai Lin, the Bond girl with brains and brawn who proves more than a match for 007 himself.
lady in white

THE SPY WHO LOVED ME
Call No.: 791.4372 SPY
The Bond Identity: Roger Moore

Bond pairs up with a female KGB spy to stop a dotty shipping magnate from going nuclear. Three’s the charm, as Moore finds his feet as 007 and slicks things up with suave and sexy fun.
lady in white

ON HER MAJESTY’S SECRET SERVICE
Call No.: 791.4372 ON
The Bond Identity: George Lazenby

Bond gets married! Oh, and Blofeld’s back to ruin the world with beauties and a virus. Hah, try figuring that one out! Lazenby’s sole turn as 007 has aged well since its release, finding new support as one of Bond’s best.
lady in white

LICENCE TO KILL
Call No.: 791.4372 LIC
The Bond Identity: Timothy Dalton

Bond guns for revenge after his close friend is killed. Say what you will about his run in the series, but Dalton’s dark, brooding and anguished 007 is the Fleming Bond.
lady in white

DR. NO
Call No.: 791.4372 DOC
The Bond Identity: Sean Connery

The one that started it all. Connery is an effortless Bond, and this is the one 007 flick where the cultural politics of its Cold War subtext feels like it matters.
lady in white

***********

Download this Bond list for keeps! Right click and “save as” –> The Bond List

Questions, comments, or more Bond speak?
Email us at ask@nlb.gov.sg

Hello again,

Right. I’m pretty behind for this issue. Sorry about that, but have been feeling a bit under the weather of late. Anyway, there’re plenty of things going on at library@esplanade this weekend, so if you want, skip down to the listed items to find the details : )

Now, even as I write this to you, there’s a children’s festival going on at the Esplanade. This festival is called Octoburst! and the theme for this year is “When I Dream”. As an adult, I wonder if only kids are allowed to dream.

“Surely not,” I tell myself. “Grown-ups have dreams, too.” But how do I dream?

Well, I guess there’s day-dreaming and there’s watching movies. Watching a movie is sometimes like walking a waking dream. Watch a movie and for that brief span in time, you dream that you’re the great pirate of the Carribean (Singapore, even, haha); you’re the hero in disguise; and you’re the dark knight of a city’s gloom. But is that all that a movie is, an empty dream of phantasy?

Perhaps not. I know of someone who grew up watching Bruce Lee’s movies, idolising his spirit, dreaming of one day following in his footsteps. And you know what? After years of hard work and persistence, his dream just became reality.

So if we work at it, who says we can’t live our dreams? More importantly, who says grown-ups can’t dream? By now we know the value of hard work more than anything.

I know what I’ll do — work hard and one day walk my waking dream. Just like he did.

*************

Q: Do you know someone who lived his/her dreams in the performing arts? Are you a musician, film-maker, dancer, actor or performer? What dreams do you have? What do you dream to do with your art?

Do share by replying to this mail, please : ) [Now that it’s on the blog, do share by commenting below please :]

News & Events at library@esplanade, 29 Sept 08 - 5 Oct 08:

*NOTE: For details on items below, please click on the URLs where available.

For further enquiries on all items below, please call 6332 3255 OR email: helpdesk@nlb.gov.sg.

[1]
With the introduction of new security casings at library@esplanade, you might find this post a handy guide:
http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/random/how-to-borrow-a-cd-or-dvd-library-esplanade/

[2]
*FOR KIDS & ADULTS!* (I)

Date: 4 & 5 Oct 2008, Sat & Sun
Time: 1.30-2.00pm
Title: Octoburst 2008: Once Upon a Song by Sabrina and Friends
Venue: Open stage, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/music/octoburst-esplanade-library-once-upon-a-song/

[3]
*FOR KIDS & ADULTS!* (II)

Date: 4 & 5 Oct 2008, Sat & Sun
Time: 3.00 - 3.45pm
Title: Reading Rocks! by NLB Junior Reading Ambassadors
Venue: Dance Village, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/music/octoburst-2008-reading-rocks-by-nlb-junior-reading-ambassadors/

[4]
*FOR KIDS & ADULTS!* (III)

Date: 4 Oct 2008, Sat
Time: 4.00 - 4.30pm
Title: A Little Pianist Takes the Stage — Joachim Lim (7)
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/music/octoburst-little-pianist-joachim-lim/

[5]
*SSO Pre-Concert Talk*

Date: 4 Oct 2008, Sat
Time: 6.30 – 7.00pm
Title: Stirrings of Youth
Speaker: Mona Lim, Assistant Director, NUS, Centre for the Arts
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Programme synopsis: http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/music/sso-pre-concert-talk-stirrings-of-youth/

************

That’s all for this issue, then. Much apologies for the delay. Health, as they say, is truly wealth, so here’s wishing good health to you!

Cheers,
Peck Keong
Associate Librarian
library@esplanade
http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/

PS:
If you feel like you don’t wish to receive this e-mailer from me, simply hit reply with “Unsubscribe” as your subject heading. If you have any questions, comments, or something about Stephen Chow you wanna share with me, please feel free to send along!

Please note that while I dare say I’ll read everything that comes back to me, I won’t reply to all. But if your mail does require an answer (like a question on the performing arts, for example : ), I’ll ensure you get one.

Finally, if you’re looking for quick replies to general enquiries, do call 6332 3255 OR email: instead. The friendly staff at the end of these lines are in the best position to help you with these.

Hello,

Here at library@esplanade, we’ve been getting regular enquiries on whether we have a mailing list or the like to help you keep updated on what’s going on. If you’re a regular here, you’ll know we usually have a number of promotions, programmes and other stuff going on throughout the year.

About a year back, we started a blog (http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/) to help you keep track of things. One year after, we’re going to try our hand at something new — the long-requested e-mailer : )

I’ll admit straight-up that I haven’t planned this out a whole lot, but oh well, figured it’s better to start now than to always be in planning mode, right? By now, you’ve probably realised this isn’t your usual computer-generated newsletter, so I hope this is at least marginally more interesting to read, haha. Man, I certainly do hope I don’t sound computer-generated…

Anyway, I’ll play around with the frequency, format, tone and stuff as I go along, but rest assured, I won’t try to spam your email. In case you’re wondering, you’re receiving this 1st issue because somewhere down the line, you ASK!(ed) a performing arts question, or took part in our contests, or simply requested to be updated on cool happenings at library@esplanade.

Without further ado then,

Current and Upcoming Events at library@esplanade:

NOTICE: Please note that library@esplanade will be temporarily closed during the Singapore Grand Prix Formula One race days from 26 to 28 September 2008.

[1]
Date: Saturday, 20 Sept 2008
Time: 3 - 4pm
Programme: A Prodigy Plays –Classical Guitar with Kevin Loh & Friends
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Synopsis:
Recently featured at the Mosiac Music Festival 2008 as one of Singapore’s next “Bright Young Things”, 10-year-old Kevin will showcase songs from Western classics, jazz and gypsy jazz in this classical guitar performance at the library@esplanade.

For full details, please see: http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/music/kevin-loh-classical-guitar-prodigy/

[2]
Date: Sunday, 21 Sept 2008
Time: 3 - 5pm
Programme: Peace Open Mike — Commemorating the International Day Of Peace
Venue: Open Stage, library@esplanade

Synopsis:
The International Day of Peace (”Peace Day”) was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982. In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace. (see http://www.internationaldayofpeace.org)

This Peace Open Mike serves to remind fellow world citizens of the ongoing global movement to make the world a better place to live in. Members of the public will be invited to sing songs of love and peace, and even recite poetry.

Have FaceBook? Then check out the event page here.

[3]
It’s library@esplanade’s 6th Anniversary! Part I

In appreciation for your loyal support all these years, we are holding an exclusive loan promotion! Patrons can exchange their loan receipts of 8 items to receive an exclusive library@esplanade tote bag AND an “On The Record: Homegrown Bands from Then and Now” DVD.

Terms & Conditions:
- Loan receipts can be combined, but items must be borrowed under the SAME name. Limited to one redemption per patron.
- All items must be borrowed from library@esplanade. Please approach Customer Service Counter with your loan receipt(s) and NRIC/Membership Card.
- Loan receipts must be dated between 1 Sept 2008 - 30 Sept 2008.
- The last date for redemption is 8 Oct 2008.

[4]
It’s library@esplanade’s 6th Anniversary! Part II

What drives you? Coffee, perhaps?

Then produce your loan receipt from library@esplanade (any no. of items) at the Passion Cafe (located within library@esplanade) to enjoy a 10% discount during the month of September 2008.

That’s that for now then. Thanks for your time.

Cheers,
Peck Keong
Associate Librarian
library@esplanade
http://blogs.nlb.gov.sg/epcl/

If you feel like you don’t wish to receive this e-mailer from us, simply hit reply with “Unsubscribe” as your subject heading. If you have any questions, comments, or something about Stephen Chow you wanna share with me, please feel free to send along!

Please note that while I dare say I’ll read everything that comes back to me, I won’t reply to all. But if your mail does require an answer (like a question on the performing arts, for example : ), I’ll ensure you get one from me, or my colleagues.

Woman in the Dunes (Suna no Onna)
Directed by: Hiroshi Teshihagara
Starring: Eiji Okada and Kyoko Kishida
Year: 1964
Call No.: Other 791.4372 SUN
Location: Film Village, library@esplanade

Looking for solitude from the hectic city life, an amateur entomologist, Niki Junpei, travels to the barren outlands. He hopes to find a new species of insect that will see his name recorded for posterity. Engrossed, Junpei misses the last bus home. The local villagers suggest he stay the night and the tired man gladly takes up the offer. He is led to a decrepit hut located deep within a sand pit. Climbing down via a makeshift rope ladder, he passes the night there with the “landlady”. Morning comes; the ladder is gone; he is trapped. With no way out, Junpei finds that his nightmare is just beginning.

Kobo Abe adapts his own novel for the big screen, which is brought to vivid life by director Hiroshi Teshigahara. Shot stunningly by Hiroshi Segawa, Woman in the Dunes is a film filled with fascinating images designed to provoke, placate and perturb the viewer.

Witness, for example, how Teshigahara employs the extreme close-up: a nape here; the back of a thigh there; fingers moving sensually to their own silent rhythm. All disembodied, all glistening with sweat, all covered in the ever-present dirt, grime and sand. Ignited by a magnetic, sensuous charge, proximity seduces us to these images, like Junpei to the woman in the hut. But as with living in a shack surrounded by loose sand, the sense of danger is always around, always palpable.

So do we embrace our desires? Or do we heed the danger and do what we can to preserve ourselves? Junpei yearns for a quieter life and official name recognition. He gets both, but not in the way he imagined. On the other hand, the woman is ever aware of the threat from the sand. So she works tirelessly each night to clear its danger. This prompts Junpei to ask her: “Are you living to shovel, or shovelling to live?”

Therein the question lies the crux of the film. The hut in the pit is a microcosm of life, envisioned as a Sisyphean song looping and re-looping on the tracks of sleep, food, water and sex. Is there all there is? Or does the pursuit of more necessarily lead to the sacrifice of our very existence? The film provides no clear answers.

With this effort, Teshigahara has crafted a bizarre, but unforgettable masterpiece. So sink back, sit deep, and let yourself fall, like sand through an hourglass, into the spellbinding grasp of the Woman in the Dunes.

This review first appeared in High Browse, Auteurs and Authors edition.

Babette’s Feast (Babettes Gaestebud)
Directed by: Gabriel Axel
Starring: Stephane Audran, Birgitte Federspiel, Bodil Kjer, Bibi Anderson, Jarl Kulle, Jean-Philippe Lafont, Ebbe Rode
Year: 1987
Call No.: Other 791.4372 BAB
Location: Film Village, library@esplanade

As is often remarked, the true test of a chef’s skills comes when he is asked to prepare the simplest dishes. If writer-director Gabriel Axel were a chef, he would pass with flying distinctions. For in Babette’s Feast, he has served up a homely broth of a film, one humble in presentation yet filled with the most glorious mix of heady and delectable flavours.

Adapted from a short story by Karen Blixen (writing under the pseudonym, Isak Dinesen), Babette’s Feast is a story about austere devotion and the redeeming powers of art, love and sacrifice. Off the windswept coast of Denmark is a tiny village whose inhabitants follow closely the teachings of a devout clergyman. In this isolated world, the only way to redemption, it seems, is through refrain. Accordingly, the clergyman’s beautiful daughters, Martina and Philippa, turn down youthful love and opportunities in order to adhere to their father’s words.

Years after the clergyman passes on, his daughters continue his teachings among the villagers, but the long period of denial appears to have emptied everyone’s heart and soul. Relationships fray and tensions heighten among the once closely-knit community. Enter Babette, a mysterious French woman who seeks refuge from the civil war in the sisters’ home. Her entrance changes the lives of all, but it is her farewell dinner to them that promises to fill up the voids in their beings.

As a show of gratitude and love for the sisters, Babette gives up all her earthly possessions to prepare this meal. And oh, what a meal it is! Seasoned with sacrifice and love, food is no longer a matter of basic sustenance, a blasé fixture of life. In Babette’s artisan hands, food becomes the means through which she reaches into the villagers, transforming their hollow beliefs into a full-bodied essence that nourishes and satisfies the depths of their very souls.

Babette’s Feast is a smorgasbord of delights, dished up with wit as dry as the Veuve Clicquot served in the film. It is a spiritually fulfilling sojourn into the heart of art and life. Just be warned, however: Do not watch this film on an empty stomach.

This review first appeared in High Browse, Auteurs and Authors edition.

Picture sourced from www.amazon.com.

NEW PROMOTIONS and lists of recent arrivals, that’s what!

From the lame title I’ve coined for this post, I’m sure you’ll have figured out that library@esplanade is holding a loan promotion for M. Night Shyamalan’s latest offering, The Happening!

As per usual, borrow 8 items and stand a chance to win premiums and movie passes to The Happening! Heck, with the Force still strong on D.E.A.R., you might as well get 16 items and stand 2(!) chances to win some goodies from the show. But don’t forget to split the receipts, dears! The Happening promotion runs from 13-22 June 2008, so don’t dilly-dally and come down to the library today!

All premiums and movie passes kindly sponsored by 20th Century Fox.

But wait, wait, wait, WAIT!

That’s not the end of it because all public libraries are also holding a promotion to celebrate the Ian Fleming Centenary and the release of the new James Bond novel, Devil May Care. Written by Sebastian Faulks-writing-as-Ian Fleming (howzat for twists!), be prepared for a ride full of thrills and spills that only this master-within-a-master can conjure!

To win a copy of this book, all you have to do is approach the Customer Service Counter and show your loan receipt of at least 4 borrowed items (combined receipts accepted) to receive a Devil May Care promotion quiz form. Answer the simple quiz, fill up your details and drop it into the contest box provided. Receipts need not be attached to the form.
white noise

This is where you wanna listen well and listen good!

If you wanna stand the chance to win a bundle of stuff from the library@esplanade, here are the steps a certain “guru” (Ed: *ahem*) suggests you take:

1. Grab 16 worthwhile items you wanna borrow from library@esplanade.
   WIN!
2. Separate them into 2 batches of 8 and borrow them all.
   WIN!
3. Grab both receipts and head to our Customer Service Counter to exchange for 4(!!) James Bond promo quiz forms.
   WIN!
4. Fill up the quizzes and drop them into the James Bond promo contest box. DO NOT attach your receipts to the quiz forms!
   WIN!
5. Shuffle over to The Happening promo on your right, fill up your details (name, IC number, telephone and email address) on both receipts and drop them into the promo box provided.

That’s it! You’ve given yourself 6(!!!) chances to win some awesome gifts and premiums! Now how’s that for happening stuff at the library, eh?

Last but not least, here are the lists of recent arrivals at the library. As usual, they’re done up by eLiz, so go ahead and download away! You’ll need a PDF viewer to read the files, yah?

* This listing is non-exhaustive. Please check the catalogue for the availability of the items.

To download the list, “Right Click” and “Save As” on the following links:

• New Arrivals - Week 13.05.2008
• New Arrivals - Week 23.05.2008
• New Arrivals - Week 02.06.2008

To all this great stuff happening at the library@esplanade, as the great John McClane (no, I don’t mean him) once said, “Yippee Ki Yay, Mo—.”

Phew, got so excited I almost got carried away ;)

赤いか、緑か。

So. Are you red, or green?

*****

If you had an answer to that question, then whichever colour you picked, I’m sure you’ll be interested to know that Murakami Haruki recently gave an exclusive interview to Mainichi Daily News.

Among other things, Murakami talks about the work of translating, the impact American contemporary classics have had on him and what writing is to him. He also lets on a bit about the novel he’s been working on since Kafka on the Shore (2002), an epic which promises to be greater than The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

All right boys and girls, calm yourselves down, take a deep breathe and start clicking the links below:

1. Haruki Murakami opens up about translating America’s literary giants
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2. Murakami says American contemporary classics ‘really significant’ for his writing
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3. Murakami’s next epic poised to become his biggest ever
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4. ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ helped inspire Murakami to write for his daily bread
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5. Murakami aims to find harmonious balance between globalism and regionalism

For an archive of old interviews with the elusive author, you can check this place out. The New York Times Featured Author section also has some terrific articles on Murakami Haruki.

Closer to NLB, you’ll find QQ*librarian’s thoughts on reading Kafka on the Shore (post 1 and post 2), Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman.

A wager between QQ and Ivan saw the Rambler reading Norwegian Wood. Though I think he read only the second part, from what he wrote. (Ed: Incidentally, Ed has read both books in the wager. Ed loves them both. Ed is on QQ’s side when it comes to reading tastes, though.)

On another note, you might think this post is better suited for High Browse Online. Perhaps it is. But then again, what is a Murakami Haruki novel, if not music?
(Ed: PK didn’t say it, Jay Rubin, M.H.’s long-time translator, did. See: Haruki Murakami and the Music of Words by Jay Rubin, call no. 895.635 RUB. Check catalogue for location and availability.)

Oh, let’s not forget another thing:

I’m just a freaking fanboy.

*****

えっ、僕？

もちろん緑だ。

だって、緑はめちゃ格好いいじゃないですか。