The Birdcage Archives

Thursday 14 January 2016

How the Jade Loops and Hangs

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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