Did you know that this reading scheme is 44 years old? Now, I’m a strong believer of “old is gold” especially as these books are developed based on research on literacy.

The author, William Murray, an education adviser and together with an educational psychologist, Prof. McNally studied writing materials and spoken samples of English (using a tape recorder).

From their study, they found that:

12 words make up 25% of spoken, printed and written English,
100 words make up 50% of spoken English and
300 words make up 75% of spoken English.

Using the above ‘keywords’, he came up with the Ladybird Keyword Reading Scheme. If you read the books with your child, they will be able to recognize these words on sight (by memory) and have the basic and essential vocabulary to read, speak and write in English.

Basically, you’re building a strong foundation in English with this set of books!

Accompanied by brightly coloured and detailed illustrations of “Peter”, “Jane”, “Pat the dog”, “Mummy” and “Daddy”, the scheme uses the keywords to form simple stories about this British family’s daily life and adventures.

The scheme has 3 series, broken down to levels 1-12:

A - Introduces the keywords
B - Reinforces the keywords with different sentence structures, settings and illustrations
C - Writing and other activities are included

LadyBird also provides FREE worksheets for spelling, fill in the gaps and handwriting practice (one worksheet for one level). Parents or teachers of preschoolers can get these resources here.

Resouces also available for Ladybird’s other reading schemes: phonics, read-it-yourself, read-it-with-me and start reading.

I never read these books as a child because the whole set would cost about RM300 (

However, my mother bought the set for my younger sister and now, I'm reading these books with my toddler.

I started with 1A: Play with Us, which introduces Peter, Jane and Pat the dog. As the pictures of Peter and Jane playing at the beach etc engages him, I don't just read:

This is Peter.

This is Jane.

This is Pat.

AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN because it’d be very boring!

After a sentence, I’ll use the pictures to ask simple questions like:

What’s Peter holding?

Where is Jane?

What is this?

Is Pat the dog here?

Do you want to go to the beach?

This encourages his participation and also lets him show off what he knows. We’ve been reading these books for over a year now and his favourites are below:

While I find this scheme a joy to read (thanks to the illustrations and simple but interesting storylines), I strongly think it’s high time Ladybird UPDATED the illustrations.

They are more than 40 years old, after all - don’t you think Mummy, Jane, Daddy and Peter all need some new hairstyles and fashion?

Even today, homosexuality is a sensitive topic in Asia thus when this Singaporean novel was among the book pile of my “Asian Literatures in English” class in the uni in 1995, I wasn’t surprised nobody picked it up. I did and boy, am I thankful to my lecturer for including it!

“Peculiar Chris”, written in the early 1990s was touted as THE first gay novel out of in Singpore. HIV/AIDS was relatively unknown in Malaysia then so can you imagine the reception towards a gay-themed book in conservative Singapore?

The novel tells the story of a well-to-do 19 year old Christopher Han, who returns to Singapore from a vacation in Australia and a painful break-up from his girlfriend. He joins the National Service and there, he gradually discovers his homosexual tendencies.

My coursemates shied away from the book when my elderly, straight, male lecturer gave a brief synopsis - they feared reading about gay love, not knowing what “scary” or graphic sections they may encounter.

Since I read it when I was a wide eyed student of 20 years old, it’s safe to say “Peculiar Chris” does not contain any graphic or lucid descriptions of any his sexual encounters.

Instead, it focuses on his feelings and reactions about finding out that he’s gay. He’s puzzled, confused and scared in dealing with these newfound feelings.

We read about the torment he goes through as he questions himself quite frequently if these feelings are real or just temporary. He can’t help but wonder if that’s the reason why he didn’t find his ex-girlfriend attractive at all, especially when he had sex with her. He just didn’t feel anything.

Eventually, Chris falls in love with someone (not an innocent, unsuspecting boy from the National Service!) and sadly, he comes to terms with the reality of gay relationships when his partner contracts the AIDS virus.

I truly enjoyed reading the novel and felt really sorry for “Chris” as he went through a late coming-of-age experience in such a conservative society. For the Chinese, to have a son turn gay is totally unacceptable as they are responsible for both the family name and genes.

Ultimately, most families cannot bear with the shame and stigma of having their children labelled as gay.

Johann S. Lee wrote the book when he was 19 years old AND serving his National Service! However, Johann says (in this interview with Fridae, Asia’s gay portal) it isn’t autobiographical.

Instead, the novel was “something” he had to say and after he said it, he went to study law in King’s College, London because he wanted to “run away from family, from Singapore… to be free… to be, well, gay.”

I’m pleased to read that the novel has been adapted into a Singaporean drama titled “Happy Endings”. Too bad I couldn’t watch the play! It would have been great to see how Chris and the other characters are represented on stage.

Also, Johann released a second novel titled “To Know Where I’m Coming From” (Nov 2007) which is the story of a mature 36 year old banker’s gay life and love in London and Singapore (read a review here)

Is it the story of “Chris” all grown up? I have no idea. All I know is that I’d love to find it among my Christmas presents this year

Grab your copy of “Peculiar Chris” now!

What was the most unusual (for you) book you ever read? Either because the book itself was completely from out in left field somewhere, or was a genre you never read, or was the only book available on a long flight… whatever? What (not counting school textbooks, though literature read for classes counts) was furthest outside your usual comfort zone/familiar territory?

And, did you like it? Did it stretch your boundaries? Did you shut it with a shudder the instant you were done? Did it make you think? Have nightmares? Kick off a new obsession?

What a great question this week! 2 books I’ve reviewed come to mind:

Redneck Woman by Gretchen Wilson and Allen Rucker
Before this book, I only know bits and pieces (typical stereotypes) about “rednecks”. Wilson’s autobiography opened up my eyes to the the positive and the plight of this sidelined community.

It’s sparked an interest to get to know more about them especially their social problems, which I had an eyeful in the Hallmark movie “The Baby Dance” starring Stockard Channing.

Can anyone recommend some good books on this theme?

Little Girl Fly Away by Gene Stone
I read about Ruth Finley’s sexual abuse through “Reader’s Digest”’s book reviews and literally stumbled upon the actual book several years later.

It’s a HORRIBLE read (esp as it’s about a little girl abused by her Dad’s best friend) because this middle-aged lady was haunted by the experience decades later even though she’d buried it in her subconscious.

Her fear manifested itself as her “stalker”! This book was my first brush with psychology.

A third book (not reviewed here) would be “Different Seasons” by Stephen King. I absolutely love this book! It’s SO different from King’s horror collection and to me, it’s a sign of his superb storytelling and writing skills

One evening, my friend’s 4 year old daughter shared with her mother a terrible story. Innocently talking and miming her usual day at the child minder’s, she was horrified to hear that the child minder’s son had been sexually abusing her little girl!

Not wanting to alarm the girl, she asked her to repeat the story. The little girl described and showed how each day, the boy would bring her to his room to “play” while his mother napped.

Holding back her tears, she rang up her husband and told him everything. Both working parents were furious and confronted the child minder who denied everything. They put their daughter in the care of a neighbour while they agonized over what to do next.

After heartfelt discussions, both parents decided to move on without pressing charges. They felt that the physical examination, state investigations and other trying procedures would serve to remind the child of the abuse and focus her attention on it.

How is the little girl now? I have no idea if she remembers what she went through but the last I heard, the family was on rocky ground. Although I understand that it was the best decision made in the girl’s interest, I don’t doubt that she MAY recall what happened whenever she watches any sexual acts on TV or elsewhere.

This event happened 10 years and I sure wish that this book that introduces the first stage of trauma therapy for children ages 4-10 was available then. Written by a professional counsellor and chlid therapist, “Sam Feels Better Now” uses drawings, play and story telling to help a child express their feelings and difficulties right after a traumatic event.

To be used with a child therapist, this book begins with the story of Sam who “saw something awful and scary” and is now:

-

having trouble sleeping,

- isn’t eating enough and

-

is fighting with some of his friends.

“Miss Carol” the therapist then helps “Sam” to give voice to his feelings about the trauma by encouraging him to draw pictures, make lists and use colours.

Having counselled teenagers who come from troubled homes, I would have found “Sam Feels Better” useful even in my discussions with these tensed, withdrawn teens. Because children tend to clam up after a traumatic event, drawing and colouring offer them a more comfortable and less threatening way to express their feelings.

Also, I find that the book’s ordered sections help “Sam” to acknowledge, approach and move forward with the trauma in 6 stages:

1. Get to know a therapist - “Sam Meets Ms. Carol”
2. Share his feelings about the trauma with a helpful and trained person - “Why is Sam scared?”
3. Find comfort and build his self-esteem by identifying people and places he’d feel secure with - “Sam stays safe”
4. Gain better awareness and understanding of his feelings esp in how various parts of his body may be feeling the pressure from the intense stress - “Sam Colors his feelings”
5. “Talk” through the event in alternative mode e.g. using a sandbox, puppets or art - “Sam tells his story”
6. Begin the healing process by sharing positive feelings about “feeling better” - “Sam says goodbye“.

If you know of any child who has experienced a traumatic event, you may want to buy / recommend / this book for the parents.

Or, you could invite them to preview the book here.

Today is the 7th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. I know that not all of you who read are in the U.S., but still, it’s vital that none of us who are decent people forget the scope of disaster that a few, evil people can cause–anywhere in the world.

It’s not about religion, it’s not about politics, it’s about the acknowledgment that humans should try to work together, not tear each other apart, even when they disagree.

So, feeling my way to a question here …

Terrorists aren’t just movie villains any more. Do real-world catastrophes such as 9/11 (and the bombs in Madrid, and the ones in London, and the war in Darfur, and … really, all the human-driven, mass loss-of-life events) affect what you choose to read?

Personally, I used to enjoy reading Tom Clancy, but haven’t been able to stomach his fight-terrorist kinds of books since.

And, does the reality of that kind of heartless, vicious attack–which happen on smaller scales ALL the time–change the way you feel about villains in the books you read? Are they scarier? Or more two-dimensional and cookie-cutter in the face of the things you see on the news?

———————————————————————–

When I think about this question, I think about what and how I will teach my child about the real world.

In his cheery and colourful preschool in China, everything seems wonderful.

Of course I know that’s not true when he was bitten on the first day of school and I came upon “military-themed” preschool books on sale at Walmart.

Back home in Malaysia, the idea of terrorism is a far away idea - I had a tough time helping my students understand that the Holocaust sparked from a simple start in discrimination (read about my experience in my review of “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas“).

Now that we are in China, almost directly opposite Taiwan, with an army man as a neighbour, with sidecars trundling on the road, local kids all dressed in tiny fatigues wielding life-like guns and rifles, I am hit by the images of war and terrorism everyday.

I have a tough time trying to teach my son that we should all “play nice together” and not push, kick or punch to get our way in this country that glorifies the idea of “brave little soldiers”.

Does it affect what I read? Of course it does.

I try to read more books about the Chinese, through Chinese eyes like “China’s Son: Growing Up in the Cultural Revolution“.

I also try to read books that can help me understand the Muslim community (the supposed “terrorist community”) better like “Does My Head Look Big In This?”.

Do they change they way I feel about villains in books? Yes, they are scarier. Not because of the devastating destruction and death that they cause.

But because they walk among us. They could very well be the people you see everyday at the supermarket, on the roads or next door to you. Or the smiling straight A student in your class.

With the way our lives are crashing forward at digital speed, it’s getting harder for us to focus on what really matters. That no matter where we are, we are ALL humans with similar needs, feelings, fears and frustrations.

“We fear what we do not understand”

If we try keep an open mind to new and different cultures, we’ll soon find that the strange person who seems unfriendly, distant or rude is actually just as nice as our own Mum. Don’t you agree?

Written by the same author of “Madame Doubtfire” (Mrs. Doubtfire movie starring Robin Williams), the book begins with a noisy class of pre-teen boys in the UK on their usual day of traumatising their form teacher, Mr Cartright.

This day, the teacher is reviewing their project options for the Science Fair.

Naturally, the boys all want past projects like “the Soap Factory”, “the Maggot Farm” or “the Exploding Custard Tins”…

Mr. Cartright is quick to throw a wet blanket on their fun as his vivid recollection of the havoc wreaked the previous year. As he agonizes over the boys’ difficulty in choosing a project, the school’s famous troublemaker, Simon Martin, makes the choice unconsciously by barging into the class late, just after the teacher threatens that the ONE who makes noise will decide for all.

Poor Simon Martin had eavesdropped on his teacher’s conversation earlier in the morning and in his innocent boyish mind, he thought he had stumbled upon the teachers’ biggest SECRET to the ultimate boy’s fun - exploding sacks of flour!

These are the “flour babies”, the least attractive option on the list for the Science Fair - 6 lb bags of flour “babies” that must be cared for EVERYTIME, EVERYWHERE. However, Simon manages to persuade his entire class that THIS is THE best project of all LOL

Trusting the school’s most popular detention class student, the boys all go for it, taking these 5 rules in stride:

1. The flour babies must be kept clean at all times
2. Flour babies will be put on the official scales twice a week to check for any weight loss…or any weight gain.
3. No flour baby may be left unattended at any time, night or day.
4. You must keep a Baby Book and write in it daily.
5. Certain persons (who shall not be named until the experiment is over) shall make it their business to check on the welfare of the flour babies…

While most of the boys take to the flour babies like any loud, sweaty, food-and-fun-loving boy, Simon Martin approaches it thouthfully. Abandoned by his father when he was 6 weeks old, he peppers his Mum with many questions about how and what it was like when he was a “flour baby”.

Taken aback, his Mum answers his questions as best as she can but Simon realizes that he needs to find the answers to all his questions about his Dad on his own. Writing in his “Baby Book” helps him crystallize his thoughts and his uncharacteristic tender feelings towards his pet project.

I had many hearty laughs over the boys’ mixed reactions towards the “flour babies”, their range of responsibilities and also their journal entries. After all, these are 10-11 year old boys tasked to be “fathers” for an extended period of time while going to school, doing homework, playing football, doing household chores and other activites in a regular boy’s life.

In the end, I find that the book is less a book on a Science Fair project but more of a young boy’s thoughts on the issue of separation, abandonment and life in a single parent household.

In most cases of single parent households, it is not obvious to the sole father or mother that the child/children tend to feel “guilty” that they had in some way caused the other parent to leave the family.

Simon Martin’s spoken and written thoughts shed a light on this issue, albeit in a lighthearted way. From being the school bully and troublemaker, he emerges a mature and responsible young boy - realizing that he is also NOT ready to be a father yet.

Unlike his father, he knows this, addresses his nurturing feelings towards the flour baby and moves on as a young, carefree boy with his life ahead of him

“Flour Babies” is a Winner of the Whitbread Children’s Book Award and the Carnegie Medal.

Flour Babies by Anne Fine
ISBN: 0-14-036147-2

Want to read it? Get a copy from Amazon now:

Or fancy watching Robin Williams keep up his act with Sally Fields in “Mrs. Doubtfire” again? Get the video:

One of the introductory English courses I taught in a private college was called “English Language & Literature”. In addition to reading comprehension, academic writing and grammar, the students were required to read an abridged version of “The Moonstone” by Wilkie Collins.

Getting a group of 21st century cellphone-crazy, Internet-addicted, text-messaging, MTV-mad teenagers to UNDERSTAND a 19th century Victorian novel is almost impossible, ok!

Even I myself was put off by the dull dust jacket. Nevertheless, I read the book and mulled over it, cracking my brains to figure out HOW am I ever going to spark their interest in this book. After all, I need to help them prepare for the 60% written exam at the end of the semester.

I decided to use the characters to draw them in.

First, I asked how many of them thought they book cover looks interesting and those who didn’t. Unsurprisingly, almost all shot up for option 2. Even if anyone wanted option 1 was immediately intidimated LOL

Second, I agreed with them that it looks like a DEAD DULL book. They cheered and clapped. Then, I told them unfortunately, they had no choice but to read it. Groans, grumbles…

Third, I did a bit of promotional marketing - the book was a detective story, had a really pretty girl, 2 guys fighting over 1 girl, lots of people dying mysteriously, a beautiful cursed piece of jewellery was involved etc. Many sat up and started to look interested. A few streetwise ones looked at me with narrowed eyes but I kept my straight face (albeit with a twinkle in my eye).

In the following weeks, we had various activities to gain an in-depth knowledge of the plot and characters:

QUESTION & ANSWER - A straightforward class discussion to check if everyone grasped the basic plot. Lots of laughs as they corrected each other or went off on tangents with their own plots!

CAST YOUR CHARACTER - I told them they are now Stephen Spielberg or Zhang Yimou and they were going to make a movie of “The Moonstone”. Of course, I had to endure boos like “Who wanna watch this boring movie?” I told them many blockbuster movies are based on books haha.

Then, I told them to choose one character they’d like to cast and they were to bring either a photo of that person (e.g. themselves) or a magazine/newspaper tearsheet of a famous/up-and-coming actor. They had to explain WHY that person is casted.

DRESS UP, DRESS DOWN - In the spirit of fun, especially for classes in the Fall semester, I’d give students the option of coming to class in costumes of their favourite or least favourite character.

The girls came in flowing gowns and lacy fans as Rachel Verinder or in rags as Rosanna Spearman while the guys came as Colonel Herncastle, the dashing Franklin Blake or the Indian jugglers.

A QUIZ - To give them a feel of the final examination questions, I take a sampling from the exam bank and also included some I found on the internet or other study guides. Then, to create a fun but competitive environment, I’d divide the class (if possible) in a GUYS vs GIRLS team.

If not, I’d randomly divide them into groups, with the option for discussion before presenting the final answer. This helped to encourage discussion among group members instead of the ‘lonely hero’ syndrome.

In the end, what started out as a seemingly-challenging class turned out to be one of the most fun classes I ever took! Even now, whenever we meet again (online or offline), there is no conversation without the mention of “The Moonstone”

“But my son or daughter doesn’t want to read!”

As an English-as-a-second-language (ESL) teacher, I hear this common complaint all the time when I ask if their children read at home.

I also hear interesting stories about how parents try to get their children to read by:

buying books and magically wait for their kids to read them

promising them rewards if they read them

threatening them with “unpleasant consequences” IF they don’t read them

lecturing them about the “benefits” of reading the books

The eternal drama queen, I’ve recoiled in horror or laughed out loud as I listen to these stories. No, I’m happy to report that no Mother or Father have either a) met the Principal to sack me or b) shown disgust or displeasure at my reactions.

Hey…I’m a nice teacher genuinely interested (and horrified or tickled) to help their kids improve their English. More often than not, they end up laughing themselves as they share with me these attempts

After some sympathy or laughs, I ask a few more questions to better understand the situation e.g.

1. What are the types of books bought?
2. Did the child choose ANY of them?
3. Where are the books located? Are they easily accessed?
4. Do the kids hang out near them?
5. Are there any strict rules about the books? (Other than having their toys taken away, butt spanked, allowances cut, TV denied or McDonald’s banned for a 1-2 months LOL) For example, the books can only be read in that room, at a certain time, cannot be bent etc…

When the answers to Q2-Q5 are NO, NO, NO and YES, I’ll make a funny face and go,

“Ahh…how are they going to read if they are treated like prisoners? And the books are not their choice? And the books are treated MORE PRECIOUS than them?”

The parents usually respond:

1. If I let them choose, they’ll only choose comic books, love stories and other “nonsense” books…They must read the good books, right?
2. We should teach them to respect books, right? Also, the books are expensive. They must keep them nicely. If they don’t respect the books, then how to become “educated”?

I’ll ask them back:

1. If I gave you 3 books: Lilian Too’s “World of Feng Shui”, a famous author’s “How to Be a Millionaire” and this thick book of 14th century English literature, which would you choose? (laughing and shaking my head as they laugh too)
2. Do you want kids who love to read and re-read their favourite books again and again OR a beautiful bookshelf of expensive, new-looking books which NOBODY reads? (The parents raise their hands in surrender LOL)

As the final move, I pause and say,

“I’m going to suggest a few ways to set up a home library and I can GUARANTEE you you’ll be surprised to see your kid reading at least 1-2 books from it.

And if you continue with what I suggest, your son or daughter will be asking to buy more books that you’ll start to say ‘Only 1 book a month!’ “

The parents look interested and happy but I stress to them that it’s a) not an overnight miracle and b) they MUST try their best before declaring it a failure.

1. Switch off the TV at least 1-2 hours a day when the family is awake and at home. The radio is OK.
2. Parents MUST be seen reading (and enjoying) a book themselves - no, newspapers and magazines don’t count!
3. Set up an open shelf with various books there - the family’s selection can all be placed there, with books for younger kids on a low shelf. Books for toddlers can be separated but I’ve not had the need to do that EVEN with my super-active, naughty toddler

It’s important that the kids can see and get the books themselves. Usually, glass-cased bookshelves are not very encouraging…

The photo above shows our home library here in China. Lucas’ books are in front and under the glasstop. Hubby’s and mine are at the back. Even though it’s right next to the TV, he frequently goes for his books even when the TV is on.

I’ve recently enforced the “No TV” rule i.e. if he wants me to read, the TV must be off.

The little fella will turn it off first, announcing,

“Shish off TV! Read books!”

4. In buying books for your kids, it’s best to start off with what they LIKE. From there, introduce other titles you’d like your child to read.

The key here is to have a VARIETY of reading materials as they’ll benefit from the information, ideas and knowledge from multiple perspectives.

For example, Lucas is CRAZY over trains and he has about 6 books now on trains or transport. To encourage a balanced book diet, you will notice that I have other books slotted there too i.e.

- LadyBird “Read it Yourself” series - short stories
- LadyBird “Keyword Reading Scheme” series - essential vocabulary to help with reading skills
- the Bright Baby books - to build his vocabulary
- books about animals - different subject area other than trains!
- Chinese colouring books - to support his learning Chinese at school

5. Discuss the books with them if they show interest. Or you can show interest. Don’t lecture or ask them as a father or mother would!

Instead, approach them (esp teenagers) as you would your colleague, neighbour or another adult. You’ll be surprised at the insight your young reader shows from the discussion.

Also, refrain from acting shocked or horror-struck when they make shocking remarks on politics, sex or other debatable issues. Discussing with them about ensures that communication channels are always open among family members and it’s a great chance for you to fill in gaps for your children.

What if you can’t give all the answers? No matter how educated or experienced we parents may be, we are not experts on every subject (although we could try to be). Suggest that they talk to their best teacher about it, check it out in an encyclopedia or join them on a discovery through the Internet.

With a young child, ask questions that they can answer, eg:
1. “I can see the sun, a flower…what can you see? Show Mummy…”
2. “Uh-oh, what happened here?”

Or, you can even feign tiredness (as I often do LOL) and let the child “read” the book. Lately, Lucas has been trying to show off what a “big boy” he is by holding the book and reading out the words or telling the story of a few books.

I hope that our experiences give you an idea of how to set up a home library and encourage your child to read. Remember to make the experience an enjoyable one - and you’ll have your child reading this book or that book all the time.

If you have a son and are trying to gain a better understanding of what the average young man thinks or worries about, you HAVE to read this book.

If you work with young people, whether as a teacher, a coach, a tutor or simply trying to understand young people, you HAVE to read this book.

If you care about young people with disabilities, whether they are physical, learning, mental or sexual, you HAVE to read this collection of short stories.

If you are a young adult, you shoud read this book, if only to see that SOMEONE ELSE out there feels exactly as you feel…even though that person may be a physically handicapped boy or not.

Although the book cover is as depressing as its title, I simply could not put it down after I started reading it. Why? Another author, Rolf Gompertz, sums up the essence of Mr. Freese’s collection of stories:

“Mathias Freese is an inspired, talented writer, a sharp-eyed, honest observer; and a caring, compassionate human being. These qualities inform his dark, offbeat stories about life, making these tales a poignant, precious pleasure to read.”

Firstly, I’m struck by these lines in the Foreword:

“Evil exists in this world because it is allowed. To stand against it often means standing alone.”

How true this is, isn’t it? Yikes, I hope I haven’t made this book sound even more depressing than it appears to be. It really ISN’T a depressing book - it’s a very insightful one into the psyche of “troubled characters” or “the deviant and damaged”.

I’ll Make It I Think - We see life through the eyes of a severely disabled teenaged boy, with a dark sense of humour, especially towards his deformed leg, arm and constant salivating. Reading this story reminds me that even though a disabled person may look different from the average person on the outside, they have the same feelings, needs and wants like any other human being.

In this case, this boy shares with us very, very candidly the sexual desires of any normal, teenage boy. Even though he makes jokes about girls being turned off by his appearance, deep down inside, it hurts a lot. And he drives home the fact that just because one is disabled or deformed, it doesn’t mean that one doesn’t appreciate beauty e.g. a disabled person would think another disabled person is “physically attractive”.

Herbie - This has to be my favourite story in the collection because it shows just how important a father’s opinion is to his son. A father teaches his young son the perfect way to shine shoes and the boy thinks of the perfect way to earn money from this new skill.

Thinking that his father will be so proud of him, he is devastated when his father become incense with rage instead and accuses the young man of embarrassing him. Sadly, the misunderstanding causes the father to strike the son, although I feel that the mother could have stepped in to prevent that disaster.

A mother’s all-important role as mediator for this often rocky relationship is highighted in this story for even though she hardly spoke more than 10 words, both father and son think furtively before the father gives in to his anger:

“Where was his mother? She must have heard…”
“Where is she?” his father moaned, almost absentmindedly as if he were alone for the moment.
“Where was his mother?” he thought; never around.

I have strongly recommended for Hubby to read this story to prepare him for his important role ahead of him.

Little Errands - This story has great form as the narrative is written to emulate the repetitive, staccato-like thoughts of a paranoid, obsessive-compulsive person who agonizes (across 4 tightly-worded pages) over his errand of mailing 2 letters.

His mind turns over the 100 things that could go wrong to deter or prevent the letters from being mailed - we get an inside view of the mind of a highly tensed, racing thoughts of such a person whose paranoid imaginations tail one after another as quickly as the moves of 2 top-ranking players in a speed chess competition.

Arnold Schwarzenegger was a Nazi - This is a truly FUNNY short story as Freese gives his imagination poetic license i.e. he tells the story of how Scwarzenegger might be like before he become the Senator of the state of California. It’s really for anyone to prove - I’m really curious if this could be true…

Echo - Narcissistic self-love prevents this young man from sustaining a meaningful friendship with another young man. He blames it on his mother not keeping her promise to pick him up from somewhere but his friend knows that this single incident is not the reason for this:

“…I feel as if you can’t make a real connection with me - it isn’t a wall you construct as selfishness, although there’s something to your own self-involvement.”

I’ve never thought of this before when I think of certain failed friendships. I can identify with the friends’ frequent attempts to get in touch with the other young man in the effort of keeping the friendship alive - now it gets me thinking (and accepting) that perhaps it isn’t my fault after all!

Young Man - Another interesting story about a young man who always thought “he had to become, and become more than he was, as if over-riding who he was.” In other words, he always felt he could do better in every aspect of his life. Almost there but never there.

Because of this pre-occupation, he lived a short, unevent life and eventually died from cancer.

Nicholas - This fantastically written story is about a young schoolboy who has learning difficulties especially with English spelling and punctuation, which Freese retains ad verbatim throughout the story.

From a blue collar background, he can’t see any practical usefor any of his school lessons and offers surprisingly “so true, it hurts” thoughts which, sadly, are brushed off by the average school teacher. Check out these gems:

“On my honeymoon, I’m not going to ask her what’s the capital of Turkey.”

“Even Jesus couldn’t write and he never much from home, never really anywhere and had no degree either.”

More importantly,

“Let me get some respect even if I’m no good in English.”

“The truth is out there on the streets, in other people and how they on or don’t get on with you.”

“Teachers and schools say one thing but the real world says another.”

‘Nicholas’ reminds me about my own struggle with English assessment scales when I was teaching at a private college. In truth, English examinations out there still emphasizes a high score on accuracy (grammar, spelling, punctuation) although the battle is still on for a more balanced scoring that takes into account originality of content and creativity.

What this means for English as a second language learners is that their essays will NEVER be as good as native speakers unless they demonstrate an excellent grasp of the English grammar and style.

However, their unique perspective of the world through their first language often produces excellent, highly interesting and engaging pieces of written work, which sadly, never make the grade. Also, this story shows how most teachers tend to brush off or even put down students with poor language skills even though these students are very, very intelligent.

Great minds like Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison and Mark Twin are real life examples of being overlooked and abandoned by the school system.

Anyway…I’m truly awed by the compassion Mathias B. Freese has shown society’s members of the lowest caste, if I may borrow a concept from traditional Indian society.

I’d imagined that someone who has spent 25 years as a clinical social worker and psychotherapist would paint a hardened picture of these social outcasts - instead, Freese has done just the right opposite. He has revealed these unique individuals as the regular, human beings (just like you and me) as they are.

Author: Mathias B. Freese
ISBN: 978-1-58736-733-5
Publisher: Wheatmark

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Are you a housewife with a boring husband? Dream of a better life elsewhere? Think that your life should be so, so much better than you deserve?

If yes, you are not alone - even way back in 1856 in France, another woman felt exactly like how you do.

That woman is Emma Rouault, a beautiful young farmer’s daughter who married a country doctor, Charles Bovary and became known as Madame Bovary. Although everyone (including herself) thinks that their marriage is made in heaven…soon Emma realizes that her husband is nothing but a simple man.

To start off, their marriage is one of coincidence and convenience - Charles was first married to a woman 25 years older than him (because she was rich). If she had been a pleasant wife, maybe (?) Charles would not have strayed or found the YOUNGER Emma attractive. In the end, when Charles’ first wife died in a fit, it was natural for him to marry Emma.

Theirs seem like a marriage made in heaven since their “dating” days were spent talking gaily with each other. Emma was also very happy to move into Charles’ home, except for the moment his dead wife’s wedding flowers greeted her in their bridal room…

At the beginning, Emma took to her newly married life with enthusiasm as she had a maid to tend to her needs. Charles brought in enough money to ensure she had a comfortable (although not luxurious) life.

As for Charles, he was the happiest man on earth! After spending several years under the withered iron fist of his older, rich wife, he found his new wife and new life perfect. Poor Charles - he sure was a happy man who thought he’d died and gone to heaven…

Emma spent most of her time reading romantic novels, which were all about

“…love, lovers, beautiful girls, ladies in danger, horses ridden till they dropped dead, dark forests, tears and kisses, and gentlemen as brave as lions.”

She becomes so taken in by the ideas in these books that she started wondering,

“…if they could have gone far away to lands whose names fall like music on the ear, where the weddings of lovers are followed by mornings of soft delight and where, when the sun goes down, you breathe, sitting beside the sea, the sweet perfume of the lemon trees.

Why did her bedroom window not look out on to the Swiss or Scottish mountains? Why did her husband not stand beside her in a black silk jacket, the wind blowing his long hair back from his pale, white forehead?”

One day, they are invited to a high society party hosted by a national government Minister, the Marquis d’Andervilliers. Attending the party is like a dream come true for Emma who spent the entire night dancing and watching the guests

“…men talking and smoking cigars in small groups in their black and white evening dress, as the servants moved aong them carrying drinks and more small, delicate things to eat. All along the rows of seated women she could see smiles half-hidden, half-revealed, by the flowers the ladies held;

everywhere there was silk, the flash of jewels and gold, white arms, and hair piled high on elegant heads.”

The party ends but not Emma’s dreaming. She tries to liven up her dull existence as a country doctor’s wife by adding pretty, elegant touches around the house - the unsuspecting Charles is even more impressed with how clever and stylish his wife is, not knowing that her longing is growing deeper day by day.

Soon, she befriends a legal clerk, Leon Dupuis and both of them get on like a house on fire because they loved to read and talk about places they have never visited, things they have never done. They soon fall in love and there are many chances for them to profess their feelings but Emma holds back.

In the end, Leon leaves the village and Emma falls ill with despair. She also becomes pregnant.

She wants a baby boy but gets a baby girl, whom Charles adores dearly. Losing her dear friend, Emma falls 100% for the playboy, Rodolphe Boulanger’s offer of friendship (with every ddishonest intention to seduce her) which turns into a torrid affair. A silly girl in love, Emma spends a lot of her husband’s money to buy presents for Rodolphe.

She thinks that Rodolphe is willing to whisk her away to Paris, to a better life but in reality, he starts to get bored with her childish talk and plans…

“He never kissed her and held her in the old way. No! That great love of theirs, on whose waves she had been carried away, seemed to be growing shallower beneath her, like the waters of a river in a dry summer, and now she could see the mud that lay beneath it!”

She’s in for a real shock when he reneges their pact to escape together. Heartbroken and stuck in an unhappy marriage, Emma becomes depressed and falls ill.

Her life picks up again when she reunites with her old friend, Leon Dupuis, and she starts another affair. However, her lavish spending during her affair with Rodolphe lands her into huge, huge debts that the law comes after her, threatening to take over their home…everything.

Unable to deal with the harsh reality, Emma swallows poison (I’m still trying to find out what) and dies a horrible, painful death. The saddest people in the world are Charles, who only realized her affairs after that and yet loved her with all his life (and death) and her daughter, Berthe.

Reading this 3,000 word Level 6 Penguin Reader bought for only RM1 from The Big Bookshop, I am struck by the similarities between the plot here and the one in Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina and Guy de Maupaussant’s The Necklace, which also center on the theme of young, married women who are unhappy with their lives.

Once a young wife myself, I confess that I HAVE gone down the Romantic road myself - wishing that my husband was taller, darker and handsomer (grins); earned more money or in other words be like Ronan Keating, Marcus Schenkenberg, Viggo Mortensen, South America’s national volleyball team, the Spanish football team and Bill Gates all rolled into one!

Lucky for me, I realize that he is a gem as he is and that we were brought together by friendship, love and God. For the areas that we do not share a common interest, both of us have cultivated them individually and are happy to bond where we can and leave off where we can’t.

I wished that Emma could have seen the wonderful life she had right in front of her, especially the kind, hardworking husband and beautiful daughter who loved her very much.

Also, I wished that Charles could have been more enlightened and seen the danger signs of Emma’s affairs flashing everywhere - which husband in his right mind would encourage intimate friendships between his wife and another man? Also, he should have seen that Emma was changing so much…

Since the story takes place in the 19th century during the Romantic era, man-woman relationships needed a lot of work then and that open, honest communication was unheard of.

I feel very little sympathy for Emma because she was a selfish woman from beginning to end. She took the easy way out of her troubles and ultimately left her poor husband to deal with her debts and when he died of a broken heart, her 3 year old INNOCENT little girl was left behind an unwanted and penniless child.

Moral of the story: When you are in an affair, are you REALLY sure that he will do as he says?

What do you think? If you’d read the book, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

P/S I can’t wait to read the full, unabridged book because Flaubert’s description and metaphors are incredible

Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0-582-45408-5