Book talk with Susan Arcega

My good friend Susan Arcega has found a new avenue to express her many talents. Susan, among other things, was director for admissions and placement of the Actor’s Workshop Foundation headed by Laurice Guillen and Leo Martinez many years ago. Among those in the faculty were Gina Alajar, Michael de Mesa, Ann Villegas and Mia Gutierrez. “There were quite a number of action stars who were taught how to act. So the following year, they were assured an acting nomination. Proud kami.  And anybody who wanted to be cast in a teleserye had to train at the Actor’s Workshop Foundation,” she says.

Recently, Susan turned book author with her first book, Aliwan Fiesta-Celebrating Life In These 7,107 Islands. The book was launched last April 3 at the Aliw Theater Lobby. Susan writes in her e-mail to all her friends, “Aliwan Fiesta-Celebrating Life In These 7,107 Islands is my humble offering to all of you my colleagues in the media and the arts who in one way or another supported me in my career path in the creative industries. Filipino culture is so rich that it takes full dedication to showcase it to the world. After spending nearly two decades as a spin-doctor for two of the world’s greatest superpowers, it was time to channel my energies back home once more.”

Let’s do a book talk with Susan:

 What is the book that you are reading now?

 Stone Cradle by Louise Doughty. This was required of participants in the Animating Literature workshop I helped put together as regional project for the British Council’s East Asia bloc before I took early retirement last year. 

What is the one book you read over and over again?

Fraternity of the Stone by David Morrell.

What is the one book that you will not read?

Anything satanic or heretic.

The worst book that you have read?

Totem also by David Morrell. It was just too gory. I chose not to finish it.

The best book you have read?

Man and Boy by Tony Parsons. It was so funny. My kids had never seen me laughing out loud while reading until I picked that book up. They thought I was bonkers!

What were the books you read in high school? In college?

You’ll think I was a real geek, because in high school I read Kafka and Camus — required in our Literature courses at IS. In college — ha, ha, ha — that’s when I started reading Perry Mason mysteries, Barbara Cartland, and all those Mills and Boon stuff — to the horror of my teacher Doreen Fernandez. Up to now, when I just want to unwind, I pick up some sort of regency romance. 

The books you read to your children?

My kids grew up on Sesame Street and pop-up books on Star Wars. My eldest son, Adrian read Bible stories by himself as early as first grade. As to my three precocious granddaughters, I make sure to read to them Mother Goose rhymes, Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales and local stories from the Adarna series.   

The books your mother/grandmother read to you?

You know what? I really don’t recall — perhaps the same nursery bedtime stories when I was just a toddler. My parents worked for an American book publishing company. And my dad kept on pushing us to read, read and read by ourselves. I guess that’s why I started wearing glasses when I was nine years old.

The most recent book that you gave a friend?

I gave  The Purpose-Driven Life to a former colleague at the British Council — Josh Claur — as my kris kringle gift. He was actually quite ecstatic because he received a hard-bound copy!

The book you always carry with you?

Apart from a phone book, I usually carry a thesaurus. It helps me a lot when I write.

Who is your favorite book author, local and foreign?

Favorite foreign authors: Victoria Holt, Joan Aiken, and David Morrell.

Local authors:  Nick Joaquin, Tony Perez, Isagani Cruz, Lualhati Bautista.

What is your favorite Filipino book?

Bata Bata Paano Ka Ginawa?.

Your favorite komiks story turned into a movie?

Tubog Sa Ginto.

Your favorite komiks writer?

Pablo Gomez.

What do you consider when buying a book — author, theme, price, illustration?

I usually go and find out if my favorite authors have something new on the shelves. Then I look at the price. If it’s too steep, I ask myself if I will die without it or if I can wait until it gets to the book sale... or I ask my kids to give it to me as a gift.

What to you should be the best-selling book of all time?

I guess it is really the Holy Bible. Even statistics proves that.

Which do you prefer —  epic, love stories, biographies, self improvement books, best sellers or classics?

I like murder-mysteries — CIA stuff. Then I go for regency romances.  The only epic type of book I went for was the Harry Potter series. I have the complete set and bought from the UK.

Which section do you visit first when you go to a bookstore?

On a regular shopping spree, it’s probably the supplies section... then the book shelves — fiction first.  Then I browse through.

What is the book you would bring with you when you are stranded in an island?

I hope I would have the Bible with me, because then I would never lose hope.

What is a good book?

It’s got to be well-written... well-researched... the exposition has to be clearly thought out. It should not be boring. A spot of humor would be great. In short, a book I would not want to put down unless my eyes really droop already!

What is the book you read before going to sleep?

Any of my favorite books — either a regency romance, a Harry Potter book or a David Morrell volume.

If you are going to write a book about yourself, how would you title it?

The Colours of My Life

If you were to write the life story of a world famous celebrity who would it be and why?

I have written so much about avant-garde designer Lesley Mobo, and I will continue to be fascinated with his life. I would also like to write about Scottish actor Andrew McLay, a former rugby player hit by a truck while he was cycling on the freeway, leaving him paralyzed waist down. And because I have been her fan ever since I was in sixth grade, I want to write the life story of Hilda Koronel.

What type of books can be found in your library?

From my parents, I inherited a whole section on classics — the Syntopicon series, Great Books from Readers Digest and Time-Warner.  From the old TJCC collection, I have the discarded books on Disney, History of the Movie Musicals, Cole Porter, American songbook collection  and even the Muppet Show. I have a section on Native American stuff, too.  There is a separate shelf on Filipiniana, and a section on all  Tony Perez’s works. Likewise, I’ve developed a section on religious and philosophical writing.  Of course, the fiction books are practically falling off the shelves by their sheer number.  I also have a compendium of works on British Literature and a separate compendium on American Lit. I have The Merit Students’ Encyclopedia, Encyclopedia Britannica, the Science Encyclopedia and the Bible Encyclopedia.  I have Four Days which chronicles the last four days before the shooting of JFK. I have Beth Celis’ book on  the history of Philippine Basketball.  And I have my most precious 40-year-old collection of Nancy Drew, Dana Girls and Hardy Boys books, tattered as they are.  But the crème de la crème are original Beatrix Potter books circa 1902, and early childhood readers used in local schools, published by the company my dad used to work for, and signed by President Diosdado Macapagal.

If you were to have a collection of books whose books would you collect?

I used to administer Books Across the Sea for USIS and Thomas Jefferson Cultural Center, and boy – do I wish I had a complete Dr. Seuss material!