Went to a workshop about Pride & Prejudice at the Central National Library on Saturday. It was conducted in conjunction with United International Pictures and the British Council to tie in with the film of the same title, starring Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFayden.
The interactive workshop centred on the life and times of Jane Austen, and there was discussion of the book and the characters in it. It was a little bizarre that only 1/3 of the people there actually read the book, and the others seemed to have no clue whatsoever of it. Cynical me thinks that most of the people were there only for the complimentary movie pass that came in the goodie bag (oh yes, THAT's another reason why they were there). The goodie bag had postcards which had photo stills of the film on them, and bookmarks with Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFayden in character! Plus there were also tea sachets and potpourri satchets from Crabtree & Evelyn (how very English).
I love talking with others about books that I've read. It's fun to dissect the book and its characters with fellow book-lovers. But sadly, reading is still not that popular a recreational activity with Singaporeans!
I must thank monoceros for registering me as well for this workshop. I think we should do more of this. It was fun! The book holds particular meaning for the both of us as it was our Literature text back in Secondary 2 and we remember how we and our classmates enjoyed the book! Go here to read her take on the event.
Posted by DSD at December 5, 2005 12:52 PMi love pride & prejudice. have u seen the latest movie? is it good?
Posted by: crystallime at December 5, 2005 2:15 PMNope, i haven't watched the latest movie. But the two presenters from the British Council who had seen it loved it! I'm looking forward to watching it though!
Posted by: dimsumdolly at December 5, 2005 4:05 PMno need to thank me; it was way more fun with company. i agree - we need to attend more of these literary gatherings! many paperback novels have lists of questions (usually the book club publications) that we can discuss. I think there's one for The Time Traveler's Wife.
Posted by: monoceros at December 5, 2005 4:21 PMI absolutely love the book and the BBC mini-series. I'd love to go to one of these things if I was in Singapore.
Posted by: andrea at December 5, 2005 6:02 PMWow, it was my Lit text when I was in sec 2 too! It wasn't the school on Emerald Hill with the light blue pinafore by any chance, was it? ;)
I loved the book, recently took out my battered text to re-read it again in preparation for the movie. Can't wait for the movie!
Posted by: yAnn at December 5, 2005 11:21 PMi hope for you guys that you get the european version of the film to enjoy! i think it would be just perfect.
Posted by: overacuppa at December 6, 2005 6:09 AMmonoceros: Let's set up our own little book club!
andrea: Yeah, many of us love the book and the BBC mini-series too. Feedback is that no one can beat Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy!
yAnn: It WAS the school on Emerald Hill with the sleeveless blue sundresses for uniforms! ;p
overacuppa: We're getting the US version.
Posted by: dimsumdolly at December 6, 2005 8:53 AM