WHAT DO SUCCESSFUL MALAYSIANS READ?

WHAT DO SUCCESSFUL MALAYSIANS READ? How or where do they find the time to read in their busy lives? Do they think reading matters today? What kinds of books did they read when they were growing up? Who are some of their favourite contemporary writers? What are some of their favourite contemporary books? Do they have an all-time favourite book? Do they prefer reading fiction over nonfiction, or the other way round? What do they think are the essentials of good fiction? What distinguishes the great novels from the merely good? What are they reading at the moment? What are their thoughts on the future of books, particularly on e-books and e-book readers? Do they think they will replace physical books one day?

These are just some of the questions I posed to a cohort of successful young Malaysians from various walks of life like Soo Wincci (model), Deborah Henry (emcee-television host), Lina Teoh (television/documentary producer), Will Quah (emcee-television host), Xandria Ooi (emcee-television host-producer), Tan Twan Eng (Man Booker Prize-longlisted novelist), Soo Kui Jien (television host), Owen Yap (newscaster), Reshmonu (singer-songwriter), Maya Karin (actress), Jo Kukathas (stage actress), Tina Kisil (author), Dave Nuku (personal trainer); Alex Yoong (race car driver); and Ezra Mohd Zaid (publisher).

Look out for some of their responses to these questions on this blog ... and in the April-June 2010 issue of Quill magazine.

Interviews by Eric Forbes