Novelist Gerard James Borg dismisses ‘snobs’ who shun his latest raunchy novel

Novelist and songwriter Gerard James Borg has hit out at what he claims is an “element of snobbery” about criticism over his latest raunchy novel ‘Madliena Married Men’.

“There will always be people who like your work and people who dislike 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 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 peoples’ work are simply displaying 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 suggestions 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 responded 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.

Just as in Sliema Wives, Borg’s new novel includes references to real-life Maltese figures – such as Timothy Grech, executive director at the Charles Grech liquor company - intended to add a dose of authenticity 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 intended 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 personally 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 contrast.”

‘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 collection 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 realize that we often take life too seriously. I started to realize the importance of living in the moment, and I started to notice small details of life that I had previously ignored.”

A short story, ‘Il-Pittiross’, in Zahra’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 popular author explained.

‘An extensive outline on Malta’s rich ornithological history’

Earlier, veteran ornithological Joe Sultana spoke of ‘A History of Ornithology 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,” Sultana 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 carried out on them.”