Kampung Boy and Childhood Paradise

Creative Writing Tutorial 3 for Quincy.

Quincy: (comes in excitedly) I read that Kampung Boy sold 60,000 copies
when it was first published in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1979. And it has been re-printed at least 16 times. And it was published in the US in 2006.
And a theme park called “Kampung Boy” is being built or has been built in Kuala Lumpur!
Me: Yes, that’s true.
Quincy: I cannot understand why it’s become so successful. Unlike Harry Potter, there’s no evil Lord Voldemort in it. (character versus character) Unlike Koala Lou, the Kampung Boy never doubted his parents’ love for him. (character versus self) Unlike Storm Boy, the Kampung Boy does not have mean hunters and it does not have a friend who dies. (character versus society)
Me: What are you trying to say?
Quincy: There is NO conflict in Kampung Boy. And yet it’s been hugely successful. Therefore, Jackie French is wrong. It’s possible for a story NOT to have a conflict.
Me: Well, Jackie French never said that all stories must have a conflict. She only said that the story I was writing during the workshop I attended needed a conflict to make it more focused and interesting.
Quincy: I see. (remains quiet for a few moments) So what’s the success formula of Kampung Boy?
Me: Do you like it?
Quincy: Yes, it’s fascinating. I’d like to write something like it.
Me: Let’s unpack its elements. It’s a graphic novel. What does the black and white illustration do for the story?
Quincy: It creates a vivid world, a definite place and time where the Kampung boy lived.
Me: Why do readers in Southeast Asia, in particular, like the illustrations of Kampung Boy?
Quincy: It gives them a glimpse of the past. The past when life in a rural village was simple, idyllic, and innocent.
Me: Is it possible for us to find such a village today? No convenience stores, no mobile phones, no fastfood, no traffic, no pollution?
Quincy: Possible? Maybe. But it’s not probable.
Me: But that idyllic, Eden-like village, can be found in the pages of a book, Kampung Boy.
Quincy: So that’s one reason why readers grab copies of Kampung Boy!
Me: It think it’s one compelling reason. Aside from recreating a beloved world which existed in the past, what else does the illustration communicate?
Quincy: It has a strong sense of humor and adventure. It’s light-hearted and yet it’s very determined in showing what life was like in the old kampung.
The details are incredible.
Me: I’m glad you noticed. What is the plot in Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar? It’s a simple story without a conflict. And yet it’s a towering success. It has sold 30 million copies worldwide.
Quincy: Well, it shows metamorphosis, the life cycle of a butterfly from egg to larva, to caterpillar, to cocoon, and finally, butterfly.
Me: Is the plot of Kampung Boy similar to the plot of The Very Hungry Caterpillar?
Quincy: Let me think… Yes! The kampung boy is born, grows up, then goes away to study in a big city. Goes away… flies away like a butterfly! The plot of Kampung Boy is the life cycle of a child from birth to late boyhood.
Me: What’s so exciting about that life cycle? Don’t we all go through that? What did Lat, the author of Kampung Boy, do in his book?
Quincy: Lat made the life cycle exciting through his storytelling technique and his drawing style.
Me: (smiles) I think we’ll be seeing some light at the end of the tunnel soon… We’ve already covered the illustrations, so let’s focus on the storytelling technique. Is there a main character?
Quincy: Yes, the boy.
Me: Does the author keep the spotlight on his main character?
Quincy: Yes.
Me: How?
Quincy: Let me see. It’s an autobiography and the author uses the first person point of view, of course. The readers hear and see the story through the main character’s world view. Even when he’s describing other people and other incidents, it’s always through his world view.
Me: Are you able to know this kampung boy, the main character, intimately?
Quincy: Yes.
Me: How?
Quincy: Because I see him in action. I get to know his thoughts, his feelings, his secrets, his fears, his struggles to stay awake in his Q’uran class. I get to take part in the most important occasions in his life. For example, the circumcision.
Me: What do you see beyond the story of one kampung boy?
Quincy: The story of a lost world or lost way of life. But it immortalizes enduring values on family life, education, and love for the environment.
Me: Well-said, Quincy. I hope the points we covered today will help you improve your draft. Happy writing!