TAXI TALES update

I am so happy that I published Taxi Tales on a Crooked Bridge. It has shifted 2,000 units and is selling 5 copies in Singapore for every 4 copies here, so I guess this counts as our first 'international book!' (Alas, 'international bestseller' would be more than a mite presumptuous). 

It's the sort of thing that I set up Matahari Books to take on: creative non-fiction that is not composed of microwaved articles from a newspaper column. I am glad that a young Singaporean filmmaker was so inspired by the book that he plans to make a documentary about his own conversations with taxi drivers. If this comes to light, I hope we can share it here.

There have been suggestions to do a Malaysian version, but honestly, how can you write about Malaysian taxis without covering the whole page in unbecoming expletives? More appropriate would be a book on taking the LRT, or even hanging out in different shopping malls. Any takers?

In the meantime, heeeere's Charlene:

Charlene debuts at #2

MPH Local Non-Fiction Bestsellers
for the week ending 17 May


1. Yakjuj & Makjuj: Bencana Di sebalik Gunung
Author : Muhammd Alexander; Wisnu Sasongko

2. Taxi Tales On a Crooked Bridge
Author : Charlene Rajendran

3. The Creation of Money Without Money
Author : Chan Chin Cheung

4. Benarkah Iskandar Bukan Zulqarnain
Author : Afareez Abd Razak Al-Hafiz

5. The Malaysian Insider: A Year in the Life of a Country
Author : Leslie Lau

6. Have a Meaningful Malaysia: Zubedy Print Ads 2001-2008
Author : Anas Zubedy

7. Buat Duit dengan Blog: Rahsia Menjana Wang Cara Mudah (Bisnes & Pengurusan)
Author : Yazid Yahaya

8. Kemilau Peribadi Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat (Seorang Ulama yang Memerintah, Pemimpin Ulung Abad Ini)
Author : Abdul Shukor Haron; Annual Bakri Haron

9. Saya Pun Melayu
Author : Zaid Ibrahim

10. Quranic Law of Attraction: Serlahkan Potensi Diri Secara Optimum dengan Kuasa Tarikan Berteraskan Quran
Author : Rusdin S. Rauf

Jemputan

Join Charlene Rajendran & friends for the launch of TAXI TALES ON A CROOKED BRIDGE.

Charlene is a Malaysian teacher and theatre practitioner who has been based in Singapore for eight years, and she refuses to own a car. And so she will taxi here, there and everywhere. This book chronicles her conversations with many 'driving philosophers' on short journeys in the island state. Quirky and jaunty, this book shows that there's no telling what bridges can be built along the way ... whether the journey is crooked or straight!

Held in conjunction with the KL ALTERNATIVE BOOKFEST 2009 and ART FOR GRABS.

You can, of course, confirm via Facebook ;-)

And thanks to Saharil for the poster!