// BABETTE’S FEAST CHAPBOOKS

BABETTE’S FEAST is a fortnightly gathering of writers: writers of singular words, writers of sentences, writers of letters, writers of lyrics, writers of stories, writers of fact, writers of the ephemeral. Come over for a casual dinner consisting of a humble feast (potlucking is encouraged), warm company, sharing and critique of your

written works. Open to the public. Initiated and organised by BOOKSACTUALLY.

MATH PAPER PRESS will spot new talent during these sessions. Each of the newly discovered writers will be published in a tangible book form, in their very own chapbooks.

. . .

// CARELESS a personal narrative by Jacqueline Ong

 

   

Life has its own amazing ways to pull us into caring too much. Try to care a little less — take a step back. Then take things into our stride. Begin to feel that life caresses us back rather than harasses: That’s my experience. It can be yours too. This little book serves to intrigue and move people with the daily observations that I have made, and the fun and humour of everyday. Life is but a temporary existence in transition. Learning to take life less seriously can give us more focus. I live each day as though it is the last. I hope someone out there picks up this book to read it, and he or she is able to identify with and relate well to my experiences. ~ Jacqueline Ong

Published by MATH PAPER PRESS (2011)

Distributed by MATH PAPER PRESS ISBN-13: 978-981-07-0422-3 Retail Price: SGD 10.00

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“1983.

The year MUJI opened its first store.

The year Michael Jackson debuted his signature dance move, the moonwalk.

The year I was born. I was born with big, piercing eyes that curiously scan the world and all that it

has to offer. With them I have become an explorer of the deepest depths of the heart — of love, of pain, of loss.

My childhood was one oblivious to the world, one seemingly lost in a manner or another. Being the girl that I was, I chose to be detached from the complexities of the world. But I soon realised that things were not always what they seemed, whether one chose to be detached or not. I experienced the harsh realities of life at an early age.

Like all little girls, I would have loved to grow up in a proper family, with material privileges in a house filled with laughter and joy, to be the recipient of love, guidance, and nurture. Sadly, I had none of these.

When I was five, Mum brought me and my younger sister, then three, to church. It did not help that the church we attended every Sunday seemed a happy and family-oriented environment. This came to affect the way I relate to people today and also the way with which I view this world. I grew guarded. I still am now.

Surrounded by ordinary people, rather than eccentrics, I developed an unusually active imagination to ward off feelings of loneliness and boredom. Ironically, I withdrew from interacting with others to battle these feelings.

I am very careful about who I allow to see me in a vulnerable state. To regain my enthusiasm for life, which I once had, I now need to shield myself from the complexities of reality.

Regardless of this distance that I have adopted with humanity, I have an imaginary friend. I had a real pet dog named Kal, but she grew suicidal no thanks to my careless home environment. After she died, she became my imaginary friend.

I now find companionship in my newly added family member, a white Wire Hair Fox Terrier named Snugger, which coincidentally bears an almost exact resemblance to Snowy in Tintin comic strips. As life can be such a lonely and non-dazzling event, I am certainly in need of a good pal. Snugger fits the bill.” — Excerpt from Careless by Jacqueline Ong

Published by

MATH PAPER PRESS

by BooksActually No. 9 Yong Siak Street

Singapore 168645 t / +65 6222 9195

http://booksactually.com/mathpaperpress.html

Math Paper Press is a small press publishing by BooksActually that deals with short experimental novellas, poetry and essays.

Math Paper Press also distributes books by selected small presses.

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For more enquiries or to place an order, please email : booksellers@booksactually.com

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