Kind words on my novella Black Rice - from Dr. Myint in Burma - (posted with permission)
Date: Saturday, May 18, 2013, 5:54 AM
Thanks Kyi May,
This is wonderful.
Warm wishes,
U Myint
Monday, May 20, 2013
Conversation with Dr Myo Nyunt on my novella Black Rice - from Facebook
- Kyi May, congratulations. A struggle in the struggles. With Metta Sayar
Kyi May Kaung Thank you, Saya and Khin Myo - I wrote it long ago, about 1994, when my cousin was still alive. Re-reading it made me remember all the strange Burmese politics my cousins talked about all the time, when I was just a child and coming home from UK, where my father told me on my first day of school that I could ask "the Bobbies" -- the policemen for help if I needed anything. In Burma he bolted the doors carefully at night and told us not to go along with strangers as so many kidnappings of children happened in the 50s. I am glad this story Black Rice is published, as it makes it easier for me to write about Burma in the 50s. Actually, I have written a good deal already, but it all needs more work to be ready for publication, as written on my old Apple computer, in the Rittenhouse Writers Group in Philadelphia.
Sunday, May 19, 2013
K.M. Kaung's review of Anna Karenina - the movie -
I saw Anna Karenina - the movie - on pay per view with my friend Adrienne - neither of us liked it.
It started in a very strange theatrical way, with "tick tock" music and a metaphor for the rubber stamp bureaucracy of Russia before 1917. (This was a bit like the circumlocution office in Dickens' Little Dorrit).
I am used to seeing movies that don't live up to the book, and Tolstoy is surely hard to live up to.
The screenplay is by Tom Stoppard.
I was gratified to see that the count had the "front teeth like spades" that Tolstoy described,
and the scene with the letter blocks in which the minor characters (said to be based on Tolstoy and his wife's courtship) - was sweet enough -
however, I never saw Anna in the dress with the white lace around her throat that Tolstoy described, and even though Keira Knightly looked gorgeous,
her pain did not come through so well - and I think it is because of the "devicey" presentation
everything on a stage - and choppy movements.
The train theme was handled OK, I thought.
Maybe we will have better luck with the Greta Garbo old version.
Kyi May Kaung
It started in a very strange theatrical way, with "tick tock" music and a metaphor for the rubber stamp bureaucracy of Russia before 1917. (This was a bit like the circumlocution office in Dickens' Little Dorrit).
I am used to seeing movies that don't live up to the book, and Tolstoy is surely hard to live up to.
The screenplay is by Tom Stoppard.
I was gratified to see that the count had the "front teeth like spades" that Tolstoy described,
and the scene with the letter blocks in which the minor characters (said to be based on Tolstoy and his wife's courtship) - was sweet enough -
however, I never saw Anna in the dress with the white lace around her throat that Tolstoy described, and even though Keira Knightly looked gorgeous,
her pain did not come through so well - and I think it is because of the "devicey" presentation
everything on a stage - and choppy movements.
The train theme was handled OK, I thought.
Maybe we will have better luck with the Greta Garbo old version.
Kyi May Kaung
Review of K.M.Kaung's novella from a reader inside Burma -
· I have just finished reading your
two short stories, non-stop, sitting in a not so comfortable chair, forgetting
to stretch my back. To be totally honest
I never imagined you could write this well.
Black Rice describes another true and painful
episode coming out of decades of unending armed struggle in Burma.
All cannot be all bad all the time, is the
only tiny silver lining of exceptional hope.
A non-active, quiet Myanmar reader.
K.M.Kaung's novella Black Rice - now $3.79 - be first to review on line -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0615797520/ref=rdr_ext_uan
Mother eats too much, father is a drunkard - what chance has a dark-skinned man in a country and culture that prizes pale skin?
Mother eats too much, father is a drunkard - what chance has a dark-skinned man in a country and culture that prizes pale skin?
Friday, May 17, 2013
Big excitement for today -- novella Black Rice by K.M.Kaung
Big excitement for today - my novella Black Rice, print version is now listed on Amazon - happy happy happy - and has the "look inside feature"
so you can read first pages -
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Rice-Novella-K-Kaung/dp/0615797520/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1368859043&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=K.M.Kaung+Black+Rice#reader_0615797520
This is the Mother's Day gift I gave myself.
so you can read first pages -
http://www.amazon.com/Black-Rice-Novella-K-Kaung/dp/0615797520/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1368859043&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=K.M.Kaung+Black+Rice#reader_0615797520
This is the Mother's Day gift I gave myself.
Dr. Maung Zarni knows whereof he speaks -
Burmese education system -
Dr. Maung Zarni knows whereof he speaks - his Ph.D. is in Education and he focused on the Burmese education system 1962-1988, at the University of Wisconsin, in Madison Wisc. Dr. Michael Apple was his supervisor.
kmk
Dr. Maung Zarni knows whereof he speaks - his Ph.D. is in Education and he focused on the Burmese education system 1962-1988, at the University of Wisconsin, in Madison Wisc. Dr. Michael Apple was his supervisor.
kmk
Dr Maung Zarni comments etc on Burmese education system -
Maung Zarni Education
Seminars launched by Ne Win's deputies - the likes of Dr/Colonel Hla
Han, and rock specialist Dr Nyi Nyi (Yin Yin Nwe's professor in geology)
- led to the destruction of higher and basic education systems in
Burma, beyond repair.
Kyi May Kaung I totally agree - I was lucky I was educated before they started messing with the system.
Dr Daw Myint Myint Khin suggests totallly upturned revolution (Burmese education system) + K.M.Kaung's comment
Dr. Daw Myint Myint Khin urges a total revolution of the Burmese education system, which she says is the root cause of the poor quality of current writing.
K.M.Kaung -- Frankly speaking, I am rather tired of these "how to fix this, how to fix that" conferences, as I have seen them up close since 1962, and the military govt. just keeps doing what it does best - i.e. destroy everything so their own power is perpetuated.
No amount of talk talk talk and conferences will fix anything without real action.
Say, for example, Rangoon University were "fixed" tomorrow -- who do you think would go and teach there?
Who do you think would send their children there?
We all know some big shots' kids study in places like Beijing Normal University and Geneva.
It is like U Ne Win allegedly taking a box of gems to sell in Europe - if he did not trust his own currency, then who would?
Kyi May Kaung
(video on my Facebook page)
K.M.Kaung -- Frankly speaking, I am rather tired of these "how to fix this, how to fix that" conferences, as I have seen them up close since 1962, and the military govt. just keeps doing what it does best - i.e. destroy everything so their own power is perpetuated.
No amount of talk talk talk and conferences will fix anything without real action.
Say, for example, Rangoon University were "fixed" tomorrow -- who do you think would go and teach there?
Who do you think would send their children there?
We all know some big shots' kids study in places like Beijing Normal University and Geneva.
It is like U Ne Win allegedly taking a box of gems to sell in Europe - if he did not trust his own currency, then who would?
Kyi May Kaung
(video on my Facebook page)
Dr. U Thaw Kaung's short video address on Burmese literature and translation etc
Dr. U Thaw Kaung's short speech at Sarpay Lawka (Literary World Conference)
Summary: Although I cannot come myself due to health reasons, I am thankful for this chance to speak via video. I wish first to urge all to read more widely, not just literature, but all kinds of writing. (People) need to know how fine literature is written and other sorts of writing. Also, through Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, we are setting up mobile libraries so that everyone, even in remote villages can read.
Many books are in English and so we urge you to translate more -
There is a lot I wish to say, but as time is short also, please let me stop here.
informal translation - kmk
Video in Burmese is on my Facebook page -
Summary: Although I cannot come myself due to health reasons, I am thankful for this chance to speak via video. I wish first to urge all to read more widely, not just literature, but all kinds of writing. (People) need to know how fine literature is written and other sorts of writing. Also, through Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, we are setting up mobile libraries so that everyone, even in remote villages can read.
Many books are in English and so we urge you to translate more -
There is a lot I wish to say, but as time is short also, please let me stop here.
informal translation - kmk
Video in Burmese is on my Facebook page -
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Novella Black Rice by K.M.Kaung - Burma 1947, skin color, love, war - out on CreateSpace
Oh, the proof copy of my novella Black Rice came in the mail, and the box at the Writing Residency was too high for me to reach, so I found someone with long arms - :) and it is now available on Create Space and will be on Amazon USA and Amazon Europe in 5-7 business days.
I am open to book signings and readings and so message me -
I am open to book signings and readings and so message me -
Questions I might ask if I were there?
Some questions I might ask if I were there:
What did you promise Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD with reference to 2015?
Were you behind the racial targeting of Rohingya and other Muslims?
Why do you and your government insist on calling them "Bengali Muslims"?
If you say "Peace" why are you still bombing the Kachin?
What oil and gas and other projects do you have on the table with US firms?
How have you explained your so-called reforms to President Obama?
People say after your USA visit (2nd or 3rd time here) you will get another award. Is that true?
Do you like Starbucks coffee?
Do you think people can say anything they want when they are sitting in a coffee shop?
How many political prisoners are there still in Burma - who are they and where are they?
Do you think Rohingya in Arakan in refugee camps are political prisoners? When will you decide on that?
When will you give farmers back their land?
What is your government's connection to 969?
Why aren't the laborers given a living wage?
Why is the date and time of your town hall meeting in DC not publicized.
What is your favorite food?
If you understand English, why don't answer in English?
Are you nervous when you have to face the western press?
They say your military history is both very"distinguished" and full of oppression - is that true?
How many times a month or how often do you have to report to the one more senior than you?
Why did you resign or was resigned from USDP?
How many people in USDA are still in USDP - how many total number of people.
What did you promise Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD with reference to 2015?
Were you behind the racial targeting of Rohingya and other Muslims?
Why do you and your government insist on calling them "Bengali Muslims"?
If you say "Peace" why are you still bombing the Kachin?
What oil and gas and other projects do you have on the table with US firms?
How have you explained your so-called reforms to President Obama?
People say after your USA visit (2nd or 3rd time here) you will get another award. Is that true?
Do you like Starbucks coffee?
Do you think people can say anything they want when they are sitting in a coffee shop?
How many political prisoners are there still in Burma - who are they and where are they?
Do you think Rohingya in Arakan in refugee camps are political prisoners? When will you decide on that?
When will you give farmers back their land?
What is your government's connection to 969?
Why aren't the laborers given a living wage?
Why is the date and time of your town hall meeting in DC not publicized.
What is your favorite food?
If you understand English, why don't answer in English?
Are you nervous when you have to face the western press?
They say your military history is both very"distinguished" and full of oppression - is that true?
How many times a month or how often do you have to report to the one more senior than you?
Why did you resign or was resigned from USDP?
How many people in USDA are still in USDP - how many total number of people.
"Ask South - answer North" - amazing interview BBC Hardtalk with POT RUM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mh-zavndpTI
BBC Hardtalk interview with President of the Republic of the Union on Myanmar
BBC Hardtalk interview with President of the Republic of the Union on Myanmar
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
A conversation about food - Ma Su Mun and Kyi May Kaung - from Facebook -
- Aung Ko Please kindly do me a favour ေကာ္မွဳန္. How it is called or what is its name in English, please. Many thanks in advance, AK(BR)
Ma Su Mon Corn starch, cornstarch, cornflour or maize starch is the starch derived from the corn (maize) grain. The starch is obtained from the endosperm of the corn kernel. Corn starch is a popular food ingredient used in thickening sauces or soups, and is used in making corn syrup and other sugars.- Kyi May Kaung That's one of the problems - I only shop sometimes and forget the bean sprouts, or they go bad before I can use them - nice with RAW bean sprouts like pad Thai and with lime squeezed in ngapi - anyway, can't eat gnapi now as too salty - nice with green chillies in the ngapi -
- Ma Su Mon ဆန္ေဆးေရကို ဆားေလးနဲ႔ ထည့္ အခ်ဥ္ေပါက္ေအာင္ တည္ထားၿပီးေတာ့ ပဲပင္ေပါက္ေလးေတြ ႏြမ္းသြားရင္ ပဲတီခ်ဥ္ေလး လုပ္လိုက္ေလ အန္တီ။
- Kyi May Kaung Yes, these days everything is going bad - I tried green mangoes for pickle and it rained 2 days, so no sun - and now I think the mangoes are rotted too - Sometimes I secretly throw out food that are my failed cooking experiments - like the cake I tried without butter -
- Kyi May Kaung Yes, my dear, welcome to visit any time - now out of town - I bought so much oranges in big bag on sale, glad I gave 1/2 to housekeeper - today saw grapefruit I bought to make fake shauk thee thoke also rotten - so threw behind the roses for the birds.
- Kyi May Kaung Maybe you and I should publish a funny cook book in Burmese and English of our conversations - Sometimes I just LOOK at the cookbooks for fun like reading fiction.
- Kyi May Kaung This same aunt (now gone too) said to me when she was saying good bye to me at Bkk airport - "KK, when you get there (to USA) go everywhere" and I did.
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