Live Storytelling at The Bookworm: HOME

For many of us living and based in Beijing, it seems that the longer we stay abroad, the more blurry our sense of “home” becomes.

After more than 6 1/2 years in Beijing and over 4 years in my current apartment, I still haven’t made any effort whatsoever in making my residence look or feel a little more home-y and why should I?  To me, it’s a temporary place to sleep and shower before I’m back at work and out and about town the majority of each passing day.  I don’t even eat at my apartment. I’d rather call it “the place I rent” or “the place I sleep”, but not ever “my home”. It’s not worthy of that title.

I’d be more inclined to call the house I grew up in my home, but even that doesn’t feel so right anymore.  Since moving to China in 2006, my parents have since completely remodeled the house and realizing I only spend about a week a year back there when I make my annual trip back for Christmas, distorts my idealized childhood memories further.  Upon reflection, it becomes more clear that, over the years, it’s become more my parents’ home than the home I cherished in the first 2/3 of my life. So what does that make me? Lost? A drifter? Without a sense of strong foundations? Absolutely not. It’s just not as clear-cut as it once was.

Continue Reading » Live Storytelling at The Bookworm: HOME

LumDimSum 1-on-1: Dashing Comedian Des Bishop

“Charismatic, sincere, eloquent and always seeking the angle” – Chortle

Des Bishop is not your average comedian.

I first heard of Des thanks to The Bookworm‘s weekly newsletter where I learned that he will be headlining a stand-up comedy show on Saturday, April 27. Though the Bookworm has expanded their repertoire of events from literary talks, panel discussions, storytelling and pub quiz nights to musical performances, dining events, film screening and various-themed performances, stand-up comedy is a first and I was curious to find out more. And the more I probed, I quickly realized that Des is kind of a big deal.

A little bit about Des – He’s Irish-American, originally from Queens but moved to Ireland in his teens where he’s since stayed and made a name for himself in stand up comedy, traveling the world with his immensely popular stand up gigs. It doesn’t stop there.  His career in stand up has led to a compilation of four DVD (a collection of his stand up gigs), three acclaimed television series in Ireland, a published book “My Dad was Nearly James Bond”, which started as a world-wide sold-out show Des wrote about his father – a man who gave up the Hollywood glam life of a actor to settle down as a hard-working family man.  For years, Des has also been the organiser and resident MC of the International Comedy Club in Dublin.

Continue Reading » LumDimSum 1-on-1: Dashing Comedian Des Bishop

Live Storytelling at The Bookworm: Love by LGBT

Love Stories at The Bookworm

The Bookworm‘s Live Storytelling Sessions are some of the most underrated events in Beijing.  Always with a designated theme per storytelling session, this upcoming session is dedicated to our most complicated, misunderstood, trying emotions of all – to love.

Hosted by LGBT, local writes will be sharing their tales of love, romance, sex and heartbreak.

“Join us for a cosy, romantic evening as Beijingers of all colours share a rainbow-colored Valentine.  Local writers will move, delight, charm and dazzle you as they read out original stories, poems, plays and other creative writing on the theme of LGBT attraction.”

Continue Reading » Live Storytelling at The Bookworm: Love by LGBT

March 8-22: The Bookworm Literary Festival 2013

The Bookworm’s Literary Festival 2013: Early Bird Tickets Go on Sale Jan. 25

A celebration of literature and ideas, The Bookworm’s Annual Literary Festival (BLF) is a two-week festival featuring both Chinese and international writers, thinkers, and artists who all come together for a dynamic program of booktalks, panel discussions, writing workshops and performances.

Not only is this a rare opportunity to get introduced to a carefully selected collection of great books that you should start adding to your home library, this is also a chance to meet your favorite authors, sign up for some useful writing workshops, and also a chance to get your kids excited about writing and reading with The Bookworm’s Children’s Program.  The Footnotes Programme also has a great line-up of film screenings, performances, music and special live literature events.

A program as diverse as ever, this festival’s eclectic range of events will certainly please people of all ages, backgrounds and interests.

Continue Reading » March 8-22: The Bookworm Literary Festival 2013

The END: Live Storytelling Session at The Bookworm

THE END: Putong Hua Session at The Bookworm

Live Storytelling at The Bookworm is one of the most underrated events in Beijing.  Always with a designated theme per storytelling session, this month is appropriately dedicated to THE END.

As 2012 comes to an END, I suspect to hear reflections of 2012 with only a few weeks left of this year (and possibly the world).

“Prepare for the end of this world” – Photograph by Alamy for The Guardian

Continue Reading » The END: Live Storytelling Session at The Bookworm

The Bookworm’s Poetry Project Brings A Trio of Talent

Poetry Project Welcomes A Trio of Performance Poets

“This is a celebration of the art of contemporary spoken word.”

– The Bookworm on this year’s Poetry Project

The Bookworm is hosting a two week Poetry Project showcasing three very talented performance poets.

Continue Reading » The Bookworm’s Poetry Project Brings A Trio of Talent

Tales of Love Live at The Bookworm by LGBT Beijing

Live Storytelling at The Bookworm is one of the most underrated events in Beijing.  Always with a designated theme per storytelling session, this month is appropriately dedicated to tales of love, romance, heartbreak and who knows? With live story telling, you never know what you’re going to get!

I would probably never have the guts to get up in front of a live experience and share a story, but I would pay good money to see others do what I wouldn’t dare to do.  Even better that this event is only RMB 30 to witness storytelling at it’s best!

Considering this event takes place the day after Valentine’s Day, I’m eagerly anticipating some brilliant stories to be springing into action!

Continue Reading » Tales of Love Live at The Bookworm by LGBT Beijing

The Bookworm’s International Literary Festival 2012

“Every March, The Bookworm is transformed into a hub of literary, intellectual and creative activity as we celebrate all things books with The Bookworm International Literary Festival.”

The International Literary Festival at The Bookworm has grown exponentially each year and 2012 is not only bringing more authors, more booktalks, panel discussions and chances to meet your favorite authors, but also writing and publishing workshops, a Chinese program, a Children’s Programme, International School’s Programme, Migrant School’s Programme, and Footnotes Programme with film screenings, performances, music and special live literature events.

“We seek to showcase the modern voices of Chinese authors to the world and bring some of the world’s leading literary lights to China.” – The Bookworm

Continue Reading » The Bookworm’s International Literary Festival 2012