Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/622858
8 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 6 JANuArY 2016 News Novelist Gerard James Borg denounces people who pre-judge his novel Madliena Married Men based solely on its erotic cover Tim Diacono Novelist and songwriter Gerard James Borg has hit out at what he claims is an "element of snobbery" about criticism over his latest raun- chy novel 'Madliena Married Men'. "there will always be people who like your work and people who dis- like it, but many people criticise my book before having even read it or before having found out what it's about," Borg said on Monday night's edition of the current affairs programme 'Reporter'. "they just shun it because they don't read 'that type of book', and then say that they read history books so as to appear intellectual. "i think that people who belittle other people's work are simply dis- playing their own insecurity." Described as an "insight into the darkly erotic world of the rich and powerful Maltese elite", the novel has shot up the bestsellers' list at local bookshops since its october release, following the success of Borg's bestselling 'sliema Wives'. However, Borg refuted sugges- tions by host saviour Balzan that the book was essentially a semi- pornographic novel. "it's a thriller in which sex plays an important role, but the plot is not about sex per se," he said. "the plot is basically about three men who play a sexual game with a woman and are made to suffer the consequences seven years down the line." Questioned about what inspired him to write the novel, Borg re- sponded with a chuckle that he has several fantasies. "When i spoke about them to my friends, they encouraged me to write a book," he said. As in 'sliema Wives', Borg's new novel includes references to real- life Maltese figures – such as timo- thy Grech, executive director at the Charles Grech liquor company – intended to add a dose of authentic- ity to a plot focused on the Maltese upper class. "For example, in one scene a couple organises a large wedding and invites local personalities and politicians, including [PN leader] simon Busuttil," he said. the author also denied that the book's frequent references to the characters' designer labels was in- tended as mockery of a materialistic culture enjoyed by the upper class. "it's a fact that some people like boasting about their collection of designer items," he said. "i person- ally don't see the point of it, but i had no intention of displaying antipathy towards that sort of culture." With producers having already approached him about converting both 'sliema Wives' and 'Madliena Married Men' into films, Borg left such a possibility wide open. "'Madliena Married Men' has a gripping plot full of twists," he said. "some people may just form an opinion of it based on its cover, but one should never judge a book by its cover after all. 50 shades of Grey has been made into a film, and my book is like a ladybird book in con- trast." 'Death is part of the jigsaw puzzle of life' – Trevor Zahra earlier in the programme, veteran novelist trevor Zahra gave a brief of his latest book 'vespri' – a collec- tion of short stories for adults. "the turning point in my life was when my wife died at 38 years old. i've become a completely different person since her death" Zahra said. "After her death, i grew to realise that we often take life too seriously. i started to realise the importance of living in the moment, and i start- ed to notice small details of life that i had previously ignored." A short story, 'il-Pitirross', in Za- hra's new book is in fact symbolic of his own emotional experiences following his wife's death. "Robins tend to swoop down to earth during Christmas-time, and this story is about how a particular robin no longer does so. i used to love Christmas, but that all changed when my wife died a few days before Christmas – it's as though the robin doesn't arrive for me anymore." Death is a recurring theme in Zahra's new book, and some of the short stories deal with it in a blackly humorous manner. "While some people think of death as a taboo subject to be swept under the carpet, i look at it as part of the jigsaw puzzle of life," the pop- ular author explained. 'An extensive outline on Malta's rich ornithological history' earlier, veteran ornithologist Joe sultana spoke of 'A History of or- nithology in Malta', a new book he co-authored with John Borg about ornithology in Malta, dating back to Neolithic times. "i have been planning to write this book since 1991, when i was invited to conduct a presentation about Malta's ornithological history as part of a national symposium," sul- tana said. "Malta has always had a cultural link with the birds that migrated over the islands – bird imagery can be found in Neolithic statuettes and a French book written in 1575 actually mentions migratory birds flying over Malta. During the reign of the order of st John, French knights used to send dead birds back to France for studies to be car- ried out on them." novelist Gerard James Borg dismisses 'snobs' who shun his latest raunchy novel Police 'searching' for horse, owner involved in Marsa accident GaBriel SchemBri tHe police are looking for a horse – and its owner – that was involved in an accident with a car in Marsa. it is understood that the po- lice, who were called in after an ambulance was requested to as- sist the woman driver of the car, are trying to identify the owner of the horse, after witnesses said the horse was "unaccompanied". the accident occurred at around 6:30am, when it was still dark, in a road close to the horse track when the woman driver came face to face with the horse, which bolted off. According to the police's com- munications office, the driver of the car was a 31-year-old woman from Marsaxlokk. Her car was damaged. the horse escaped and the po- lice are still trying to track the animal and its owner. Labour slams PN's 'negative and destructive' approach tHe labour Party accused the Nationalist Party of harbouring 'negative and destructive' atti- tudes towards the government's suggestions and investments. in a statement released in re- sponse to a press conference held by the PN yesterday, the Pl said that opposition leader simon Busuttil was "against the €200 million investment in the health sector" and "against pro- viding better health services for the Gozitan people." in a meeting with members of the Medical Association of Mal- ta, Busuttil yesterday criticized the government for "keeping the party in the dark in terms of de- velopments in the health sector," and questioned whether the pri- vatisation of the Gozo General Hospital would ultimately limit the people's options, given that the island only has one medical facility. the Pl continued to say that under the previous PN admin- istration, the health sector had been characterized by "a small hospital " and "long waiting lists". the statement continued to criticize the previous admin- istration for "abandoning" st luke's and Karen Grech hospi- tals. "the investment will ultimate- ly mean that hospitals will have a better environment, more bed- space and better service, as well as better career opportunities for employees," the statement reads. During the meeting, which continued behind closed doors, Busuttil also made reference to the Barts Medical school, which will be establishing their first overseas campus in Gozo and questioned whether this would affect Maltese students at the University of Malta. Novelist Gerard James Borg The Gozo General Hospital