KEN’S CHOICES # 33.
9TH Jan. 2009
NOSTALGIA and CHINESE IN GUYANA Last year I read more books than I’d read any five years before - perhaps a sign of sedentarianism ? So for the next three CHOICES you’ll see and hear about books; and to open the bowling or kick off or toss up, here are two to remember, or to be more precise, here are two remembrances. They are about history, nostalgia, memories, facts figures and fantasy. There are several more books to show you, so I start with these two which brings me to ask myself the question, “Hi man, how come you chose these two out of all the others?”Well read on and if the answer eludes you then next week’s CHOICES will reveal. The first CHOICES for 2009 is “NOSTALGIA” subtitled “Golden memories of Guyana 1940-1980” by Godfrey Chin. It is a wonderment of nostalgia of growing up and living in Guyana. An almost day by day, party by party, sport by sport, food by food, cinema by cinema, friend by friend memorabilia that almost astonishes in the details. Ask Godfrey about almost anything Guyana, particularly of Georgetown, between 1940 and 1980, and he’ll instantly go into his storytelling history-buff mode. Mention cinemas or hockey or Mashramani or rumshops or cookshops, blackpudden sellers, city fires, street names, who lived where, and he’ll take off like a racehorse. Then he’ll get on to his computer and write a lengthy and detailed story “off the top of his head” – yet another priceless NOSTALGIA.
Confrontation in front of Bookers on Water St 8 a.m. 16th Feb.1962 Godfrey, Arthur Veerasawmy, and the band help with the 1970 Miss Mashramani
. Cosmos Hockey champs of 60’s. H.Chesney, L. Lee, R. Diyalee, G.Lee, G. Young, I Chung, O.Fun-kee-Fung R.Lee, W.Chin, Dickie Chin, F.Chin, W.Lieu, Godfrey, “Weapon” Correia, J.Chin.
For any Guyanese “of a certain age”, Godfrey’s book is a treasure trove of memory joggers. I’ve watched people’s faces and reactions when he tells his stories at his book launchings – the nods of “yeah yeah yeah I remember dat!” I’ll say no more for now.. except that I really and truly believe that the man should be officially declared a “Guyana National Treasure”… and if not done officially, then we all should raise our voices in favour, with emails, texting, voicemails, facebooks, particularly those who have been fortunate enough to own one of his NOSALGIA books. Lastly but not leastly, whether you’re a Guyanese of “that certain age” or just a youngster at 40, you just have to get a NOSTALGIA, or you won’t find True Happiness. He’s in Orlando, Florida, at godchin1@bellsouth.net or phone (407) 294 1173. It’s as simple as that. Then get another copy for a friend; you can’t go wrong with this gift. Page 1 KEN’S CHOICES. #33. page 2.