Ever generous with his time and talent, Andy Serkis is hosting a #hobbithon of sorts and reading the entirety of The Hobbit for 12 hours – right now! In a message to his fans, Andy writes: So many of us are struggling in isolation during the lockdown. While times are tough, I want to take […]
The image of a daffodil in a botany textbook can instantly transport you to 1802 — when William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy walked on the shore of Ullswater in the Lake District and spotted the flowers waving in the wind. Two years later, he wrote I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud — one of the most widely-read poems in the English language.
The beauty of poetry lies in this intersectionality; a poem sometimes translates into a tangible memory. And when poems are performed, this memory grows stronger, thus reducing the time it takes to relate to text, because action and emotion matter. But the divide between performance poetry and the written word is evident. The former isn't taken as seriously and the latter seems too overwhelming.That's why a new publishing initiative has promised to tackle that.
Nirav Mehta and Ishmeet Nagpal
Dentist-turned-social activist Ishmeet Nagpal, 30, and tech analyst Nirav Mehta, 28, who also co-founded the popular city-based book club Broke Bibliophiles - Bombay Chapter, conceptualised the idea of Nirvana Publishers this year to give space to diverse voices in poetry. "The bigger publication houses have started publishing fewer books on poetry and short stories. We feel it's absolutely necessary for these voices to be heard and read in the mainstream media. Every novel begins with a short story," Mehta tells us, and Nagpal concurs. "Most young artists find the publication process daunting. We want to curate and handhold such poets and storytellers to bring forward as many perspectives as possible."
A Broke Bibliophiles meetup at Powai Lake
They also aim to blur the divide between various formats of poetry, and the first step in doing so is through a soft launch this weekend at a Bandra venue where city spoken-word poets — many of whom are part of the book club — including Aekta Khubchandani, Amina Arif, Damini Kane, Manisha Lakhe and mid-day journalist Aastha Atray-Banan will perform pieces themed around empathy.
A meet-up involves book discussions and sometimes even features authors
"There is a revolution underway in the spoken word arena, but it is limited to pockets in the metro cities. To increase the reach, it would be great to have some of these voices in a publication that people sitting anywhere in the world can experience," they say, adding that they will initially start with accepting submissions in English and delve into more languages and translations after learning what their audience appreciates.
Their initiative as of now remains self-funded as the two juggle day jobs. But Mehta says that they are open to funding, as and when an angel investor turns up.
Aekta Khubchandani and Amina Arif
Although Nirvana hasn't put out an open call for submissions, as they will formally begin in April, people are free to send pitches. At the end of the day, the goal is to stay approachable. "There are so many rigid rules that dictate what constitutes page literature and what is classified as spoken word or performance-oriented writing. Of course, what may be a great performance piece might not translate just as beautifully on page and vice-versa, but what if it can?" they question. And we wonder if Wordsworth would do a good job.
ON March 3, 6 pm to 9 pm
AT The Pioneer Hall, next to Corona Garden, St John Baptist Road, Mount Mary Steps, Bandra West.
CALL 7021454630
Email nirvana.publishers@gmail.com
FREE
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New York: Let your child be curious for learning new things as it may help him or her to grasp basic math and improve reading skills from an early age, a new study led by an Indian-origin researcher suggests. Curiosity in young children was defined as a trait for the joy of discovery, and the motivation to seek answers to the unknown.
But, the current early learning interventions just focus on improving a child's effortful control which includes their ability to concentrate or control impulses, the researchers rued.
The findings, published in the journal Pediatric Research, suggest that even if a child manifests low effort control, high curiosity can lead to higher academic achievement.
This is why children who have developed a wide range of socio-emotional skills such as invention, imagination, persistence, attentiveness to tasks, as well as the ability to form relationships and manage feelings, are generally more successful when they start school, the researchers said.
"Our results suggest that while higher curiosity is associated with higher academic achievement in all children, the association of curiosity with academic achievement is greater in children with low-socioeconomic status," said lead author Prachi Shah, from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
For children from poorer communities, curiosity is even more important for higher academic achievement, because it can help them close the achievement gap associated with poverty, the researchers added.
For the study, the reading and math skills and behaviour of 6,200 children in kindergarten were measured.
Their parents were interviewed during home visits and the children were assessed when they were nine-months and two-years-old, and again when they entered pre-school and kindergarten.
"Our results suggest that after controlling for other factors associated with higher achievement, curiosity continues to make a small but meaningful contribution to academic achievement," Shah explained.
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World Book Day, celebrated by UNESCO and other related organisations, is the global celebration of books and reading material observed in more than 100 countries. Also known as World Book and Copyright Day, it is an occasion to promote the joy of books and the art of reading. On the event popular television actresses lights up with the benefits of reading books in daily routine.
Shubhangi Atre seen playing the role of Angoori in the comedy series "Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain!" feels Reading books stimulates imagination. She says, "We are limited only to the extent to which our imagination is limited. When we read about unknown places, our mind itself creates the imaginative images in our heads, rather than simply saving images from small screens in memory. Thus, the imagination and creativity of our minds are being strengthened by reading."
Devoleena Bhattacharjee known for the iconic role "Gopi Bahu" from the family drama "Saath Nibhana Saathiya" feels reading books lights up new ideas. The Bigg Boss 13 contestant says, "Reading encourages us to think. Sometimes, we even start dreaming based on the content we read. In addition, reading gives us new perspectives, that the reader may not even have thought of itself! Thus, through reading, we get new ideas and inspiration, so that we ourselves may try something new or different, inspired the things we read."
F.I.R actress Mahika Sharma feels reading books gives us new knowledge. The Ramayana actress says, "It is true that what we experience gives us best impression, but it is impossible in everyday life to be everywhere and to try out everything. Humans are the only species on Earth that can transmit information and knowledge over a distance and over several generations. A written language separates us from all other species! It enabled us to transfer knowledge rapidly and allows us to develop faster, which in the era of technological progress already exceeds the limits of imagination. So we've been evolving for thousands of years by reading!"
Helly Shah known for her roles in television shows like "Sufiyana Pyaar Mera" and "Swaragini— Jodein Rishton Ke Sur" feels reading books makes you smarter. The actress who will be seen in upcoming drama, "Ishq Mein Marjawan 2" says, "Books are a real treasure trove of data and new knowledge, and are much cheaper than courses and education. We become more intelligent by reading books, more interesting and appealing. By reading you will become better in communication, you will improve your knowledge on various topics as well as rhetorical skills."
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Education on epilepsy could help patients to have better treatment outcomes. Californians Candy and Brad Levy wanted to give back to the community after
Very, very precious. Andy Serkis will start his "armchair marathon" reading of The Hobbit on Friday morning.
Note summarising the performance of Norway in the PISA 2012 assessment of mathematics, reading and science.
Note summarising the performance of 15-year-old students in the United States in the PISA 2012 assessment of mathematics, reading and science
Note summarising the performance of 15-year-old students in Austria in the PISA 2012 assessment of mathematics, reading and science.
Andrew Hill picks his favourites among the 230 notable titles longlisted since 2005 — Join the discussion
This selection of economics must-reads from the last six months take on capitalism, inequality, trade, AI, the law and more. Martin Wolf tells Frederick Studemann about the books we should all be reading this winter.
Watch a video of the conversation here.
Contributors: Frederick Studemann, literary editor and Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator. Producer: Persis Love
Photo credits: Viking, Penguin Books, The Centre for International Governance Innovation, John Murray Press, Harvard University Press,Harvard University Asia Center, Transworld Publishers Ltd, Princeton University Press
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Google today is launching a new app, Read Along, that aims to help elementary school students practice their reading skills and stay educationally engaged amid school closures due to coronavirus. The new Android app is based on Google’s existing application, Bolo, which launched in India last year with a catalog of read-along stories in both […]
Google today is launching a new app, Read Along, that aims to help elementary school students practice their reading skills and stay educationally engaged amid school closures due to coronavirus. The new Android app is based on Google’s existing application, Bolo, which launched in India last year with a catalog of read-along stories in both […]
Google today is launching a new app, Read Along, that aims to help elementary school students practice their reading skills and stay educationally engaged amid school closures due to coronavirus. The new Android app is based on Google’s existing application, Bolo, which launched in India last year with a catalog of read-along stories in both […]
Celebrities such as Emma Watson, Reese Witherspoon and Florence Welch have set up online reading groups on Instagram with thousands of followers reading a book with them every month.
The visitors went on to win the game on March 11 and advance to the quarter-final stage of the Champions League - but there were concerns pre-match that it should not have been held.
Reading have come from 2-0 down to defeat Championship rivals Cardiff City on penalties to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
DANIEL MATTHEWS AT THE MADJESKI STADIUM: Here, Reading pushed their Premier League visitors beyond 90 minutes, only for Billy Sharp's extra-time header to break their hearts.
FEMA is using modified Air Force C-130 aircraft to spray chemicals in Houston and likely Florida to help control disease-carrying mosquitoes from breeding in the regions following recent storms.
THE SECRET SCOUT: This tall 22-year-old attacking midfielder is currently playing in a forward role supporting his frontman in a Reading side trying to revive their season's fortunes.
Our scout is a top football expert who attends matches each week searching for the next star. This week they bring you the lowdown and verdict on Reading's Michael Olise.
Charles, 71, recorded an excerpt of Tintern Abbey which was aired on the Today programme this morning. He recorded the verse on Sunday at Birkhall, his home on the Queen's Balmoral estate.
With Glastonbury cancelled this year, hundreds of fans stumped up £220 to attend Reading Festival before knowing the lineup. Pictured: Pop star Dua Lipa, one of the unlikely acts performing.
75631454Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other China hawks in GOP are ignoring US intelligence agencies, and continuing to spread the conspiracy theory that the coronavirus came from a Chinese government lab.They're doing it for an audience of one — Donald Trump.China hawks have always fought to get Trump to take an even harder line on China, but he's often put his hopes of signing a trade deal with China first.By turning this anti-China conspiracy theory into a talking point on Trump's favorite TV shows and in his political circles, though, hawks could win Trump to their side. It's worked before.This is an opinion column. The thoughts expressed are those of the author.Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.In recent weeks Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has been making the rounds
Timothée Chalamet seemed to get a little bored during the SAG Awards on Sunday night, as he was spotted reading during the ceremony's opening.
Both Reading and Cardiff City will be launching an investigation after alleged racial and homophobic chanting at their FA Cup tie at the Madejski prompted a stadium announcement.
Cardiff have demanded an apology from FA Cup rivals Reading after City supporters were accused of racist and homophobic behaviour in Saturday's fourth-round tie at the Madejski Stadium.
Reading have come from 2-0 down to defeat Championship rivals Cardiff City on penalties to progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Forward Sam Baldock put the Royals in front in the ninth minute, but Joe Mattock denied them victory when he equalised on the stroke of full-time.
Nelson Oliveira scored a late winner as Reading boosted their Sky Bet Championship survival hopes with a 2-1 victory over Blackburn.
Creating fears about shortages of products in shops to 'spread uncertainty' and undermine the West would be straight out of the 'Russian toolbox', one British official said.
The Brisbane-based 20-year-old is the latest rising star to be embroiled in a doping scandal, having tested positive to Ligandrol during a routine drug test last month.
We came into the White House-I'll tell you something, every office was filled with Obama books. And we had notes left behind that said "You will fail," "You aren't going to make it",' Grisham said.
Mr Sigley, 29, returned to social media late on Wednesday, where he released a brief statement after assuring everyone he was well, mentally and physically.
The Little Mix star, 28, lounged on a bench while reading a mental health book in the sizzling picture that she uploaded to Instagram on Saturday.
The disinformation campaign promotes unfounded conspiracy theories that the United States is behind the COVID-19 outbreak, in an apparent bid to damage the U.S. image.
Hassan Norouzi, who is a spokesman for the Iranian parliament's judicial committee, said 'spreading lies' is punishable by one to three years in prison with flogging, in line with Shariah law.
The woman, who is in her 30s, travelled to Victoria from Tehran via Kuala Lumpur and Bali. She arrived about 6am on Friday morning.
Tehran announced total infections rose to 2,922 and there were reports the country's First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri (pictured) was the latest high-profile figure to contract the disease.