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| News und Termine vom 09.09.2009 |
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| Kurzinterviews mit den Krimiautoren des Marburger Krimifestivals 2009 |
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| Nury Vittachi © Nury Vittachi |
Zur Einstimmung auf das Festival gibt es ab heute Kurzinterviews mit den diesjährigen Autoren.
Den Anfang macht Nury Vittachi ...
1. Crime novels are more popular than ever. It seems that the delight in reading stories about the evil, about criminal intrigues grow steadily. How would you describe this fascination?
Crime novels all have the same story. "Chaos enters the world; our hero sweeps it out."
This is a reflection of our stressful lives today. So often chaotic forces invade our peaceful lives. It is very comforting when we see it being driven away and peace returning.
2. How do you find your protagonist?
My message is: "interact with people who differ from you very much, and you will grow". So CF Wong is male, old, Eastern, sexist and racist. He likes to eat small animals alive. His partner Joyce is young, female, Western, and politically correct. She is trying to be a vegetarian. The two protagonists do not understand each other, but only when they make an effort to work together will they solve mysteries.
3. Where do you find inspiration? What is it that engages your attention so you want to write about it?
I want to provide a key to Westerners to help them understand Easterners, and vice versa. My wife is European, my children are Chinese (adopted) and I am south Asian, so crossing cultural barriers is what we do 100 per cent of the time in my family, with every sentence, every meal, every hug. Because we are a family, all the differences between us are interpreted positively, so we learn that diversity brings richness.
4. Do you read crime-novels from other authors? Do you have favourite ones or even inspiring examples?
In my opinion, the finest crime writer today is Elizabeth George, and my favourite book of hers is A Traitor to Memory. She stands on the dividing line between crime fiction and literary writing. But I also love the classics, such as Father Brown and Sherlock Holmes. The first story of the feng shui detective, my character, was named after the first Sherlock Holmes story. Holmes first appeared in a tale called A Study in Scarlet. My story was called Scarlet in a Study.
5. Wong has to deal with the big differences between his homeland and Europe and the United States. There are a lot of allusions to James Bond and other Hollywood clichés. In the age of globalization we are still far away from each other. Is Wong a modern diplomat who cares for the understanding among nations?
Yes, very good question! You are exactly right. He is unconsciously trying to bridge the gap between east and west and finding it very difficult. The trick is that only when he and Joyce work together do the mysteries get solved.
6. You have a very unique slapstick, as well in order to show the cultural differences. Is it owed to your own multicultural roots and experiences?
My life has been crazy. My family went through some tough times, with no money, and worried about our physical safety. But I found that the good things about being different outweighed the bad things.
For many years I was a poor brown face in a rich white world. I learned to love Europeans and their fantastic culture (so creative). But then I moved across the world and became a brown face in a yellow sea. I learned to love Chinese and their wonderful culture (so calm and focused).
Looking back, I would say my life has been fantastically rich and happy.
Thank you for answering the questions!
Infos zum Krimifestival gibt es auf
www.krimifestival.de
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