Hello Gentle Reader
( Part I )
It’s
been quite a year(s) for the young author and poet Sarah Howe. Earlier Sarah Howe
was named the winner of the Sunday Times/Peters Fraser and Dunlop young writer
of the year award; whose alumni include Zadie Smith, Robert Mcfarlane as well
as Simon Armitage. The award is given to the best piece of fiction,
non-fiction, or poetry by a British or Irish writer, under the age of
thirty-five. Sarah Howe, was the only poet to be shortlisted; and she competed
against the Booker nominated writer, Sunjeev Sahota and his novel “The Year of
the Runaways,” along with Sara Taylor, the Bailey-award nominee for her novel “The
Shore,” and Ben Fergusson with his historical winning novel “The Spring of
Kasper Meier.” Yet Sarah How and her poetry collection “Loop of Jade,” won the
award. The judges called the decision unanimous, and praised the poet for her
subtle and immediate literary workmanship.
It
should be noted that Sarah Howe, is a Hong Kong born, British writer. Her poetry
collection, “Loop of Jade,” retraces her childhood in Hong Kong, but also
discusses her mother, who was a abandoned child in China; most likely because
she was a girl. The collection took ten years to write. Though the amount of
time it took to write is now paying off with the reception given to Sarah Howe,
and her first collection of poetry. “Loop of Jade,” has also been called one of
the best poetry books of 2015.
Success
though, does not end there, for either Sarah Howe, or her debut collection of
poetry. Sarah Howe has just been awarded The T.S. Eliot Prize for Poetry.
Sarah
Howe however has commented that this is very interesting times for poetry. In
the UK at the moment, poetry has been taken notice of, and right now occupies
the “nation’s consciousness.” Especially considering the fierce debate lately,
over whether or not poetry still has a place, in a nation’s consciousness, and
is in fact drifting further and further down the river of oblivion and
therefore obsoleting. Still poetry is not the only victim of the times;
literature in general is under assault, and threat of being shelved – or so its
detractors state. Yet this is hope. Sarah Howe’s collection has been called splendid,
carefully crafted, and gracious. Her collection is personal and a discussion of
the duality of her cultural heritage. There is no doubt that she is not a worthy
recipient of both awards, and is an emerging talented poetic voice to enter the
literary stage.
(
Part II )
Hong
Kong though itself, finds itself in continual turmoil. This time five
booksellers have ‘vanished.’ A disturbing and vague word, that rings with
ambiguity, as to their fate, and the means of their abduction. The first
thought that always comes to mind, is the black clothed people, entering a home
at night, and just ‘bagging,’ an individual away – much like the Mister Creedy
method depicted in the film “V for Vendetta,” which gave a new rise to the idea
and saying: “bag’em and gag’em.” Though the individuals may have not slipped
into the houses of the booksellers and publishers, it is clear they have ended
up in some ‘black bag,’ and carted off into some covert government facility.
These
latest disappearances and silencing of free speech have led many to call it a
violation of the “One State, Two Government Policy,” which was agreed upon
between Mainland China, and Hong Kong, when the former was bequeathed as a
British Colony in nineteen-ninety seven. Perhaps now it would be safe to state:
the Fragrant Harbour is not as autonomous in its administrative abilities at
once previously thought.
Yu
Jie is the author currently at the heart of the question in regards to the
missing publishers. His book which is critical of Xi Jinping, who has turned
the “Chinese Dream,” into a nightmare, with his repressive policies and oppressive
governing style, has found publishers pulling back from publishing his book,
and unwilling to consider publishing it now, considering the fear that they two
will end up in a black bag, and a neighboring cell of their compatriots. The fear
has been so infectious that a Singaporean book selling chain has taken on a
policy that it will no longer sell any ‘politically sensitive,’ books in its
Hong Kong location. As it stands, Yu Jie’s book will not find any publication
in Hong Kong in the coming future; but it is set to be released in Taiwan in
February.
But
still action has been taken. Thousands have protested the disappearances of the
booksellers and publishers; and numerous countries are concerned with the
vanishing act of these individuals. The truth is, fear can only be potent if it
allows one to be infected and inflicted with its paralyzing effects; those who
march, chant, protest, and continue to demand for the release of either the
individuals or the information of their whereabouts, are certainly performing
their civil obligations for their follow citizens and protecting their
freedoms, before they too are under threat or even taken. Despite Mo Yan stance
that “censorship is a necessary evil,” it must be perfectly made clear, that
being silent – voluntarily or forcibly; is
never necessary, but it is certainly evil.
(
Part III )
Congratulations
are to be given to Sarah Howe, for her recent accumulation of awards and
achievements; and condolences and thoughts go to the families, of those who are
missing, in Hong Kong; as well as to those who see a reversion back into a
formal dictatorship of China, and its nightmare that appears to be forming once
again.
Yet
this blog post also has its own ulterior motives. Recently in the past year and
now new year, it has become increasingly difficult to make time to read. Most
of my time is engaged with course work – at the moment reading and
understanding Business Law and all its dry and unfortunate glory. Its
consumption of time is quite startling and even frightening at times; considering
how at times, I am not entirely sure if I am; comprehending what is being outlined
to me by the textbook and subsequent course work. Still I plug away, and yet
find little or less time to read.
Currently
I am getting through “Tristano Dies,” by Antonio Tabucchi, and am currently impressed
by the work; however the last time I picked up the book was Sunday when I found
the time to read it, while at work, before getting back to work, and eventually
getting back into doing more course work; which inevitably means reading more about
business law . . .
But
one ploughs through because they must. Hopefully I can properly schedule more
time Gentle Reader, to read more and continue with the blog. For the time being
I hope the previous posts, and this one continues to engage, if only to stall
for now, while I work making time to read more.
Thank-you
For Reading Gentle Reader
Take
Care
And
As Always
Stay
Well Read
M.
Mary
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