Boogie Nights is the latest publication of Guyanese novelist Dr Albert Cumberbatch.
It is a story that follows some teenage boys and girls through to adulthood; the changes they go through; the changes in their society and how they cope. It is funny, sad, poignant and sometimes horrific. The book is marketed for everyone from teens to seniors. “There is something in the book that will touch each one of us. It’s universal in that sense,” said Dr Cumberbatch in an online interview with The Scene.
Cumberbatch was born and grew up on Albert Street, Alberttown. He spent his childhood around traditional, religious folks. He grew up with a large extended Catholic family with lots of siblings. He said that his parents had to be strict in their proper upbringing but they loved each other and siblings always supported one another no matter what.
“Everyone knew each other on the street. You misbehave out there and it got back to your parents very quickly. Children had to respect adults…. You did not back talk to adults, whether you knew them or not. They were all cousin this or cousin that, or uncle or aunt,” he said.
He attained a certificate from the Government Technical Institute then moved to the United States where he studied at Cardinal Newman Prep in Boston. He moved on to the University of Massachusetts and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and Psychology. Later on he received a Masters from the United States International University, a High School Science Teachers Certificate from the San Diego State University and a Doctorate from the Union Institute/University.
He has been living in Atlantic City, New Jersey for 43 years, having migrated since 1969. Apart from being an author he is also an educator.
Describing both professions, he aid: “Teachers are expected to know their subject matter. They are expected to have learned teaching skills. Teaching is the second most stressful profession in the United States. Expectations of professional performance are very high, since parents have a lot of say in what and how teaching is done. My view is the need for teaching that is more concentrated on critical thinking skills is imperative. Education is finally moving away from the ancient way of teaching memorization skills, at every level. As a writer, you have to be prepared to sacrifice your time for your art. Writing is hard, time-consuming work. The rewards are great when you see what you have written take shape, like a movie, in your mind.”
He considers himself a self-motivator. “I see the job needed to be done and I do it. What’s troubling to me as an educator is the number of young people who do not seem motivated about long-term goals. They like material things more than when I was a kid. They get more things, but that should not be a deterrent for them to make the necessary sacrifice of time and energy to succeed in anything,” he said.
He added that they are some people in one’s life who just have to be admired and he mentioned his mother, grandmother and three daughters. “As a matter of fact,” he added “the women in my family, mostly, are hardworking folks.”
He is also inspired by Nelson Mandela, Mother Theresa and Mahatma Gandhi.
He is in the process of writing two more books. In improving the literary sector, Cumberbatch advised that it is necessary to start early, at the primary school level of teaching. He notes that there must be competitions and recognitions but most importantly the population must think in terms of reading, especially local writing. He wishes to do some charitable work in Guyana and to do some travelling. He is administrator of the Facebook page Anything Guyanese, a socio/cultural chatroom based on keeping Guyanese culture alive and uniting the Guyanese Diaspora. The site is planning to expand into doing some charities in the country.
Basically Dr Albert Cumberbatch loves to read, he enjoys a good book with classical, blues or reggae music. He states that he is addicted to sports television and Facebook. He is a retired marathoner and jogs five times a week; he loves track and field sporting events.
Boogie Days can be reviewed on: http://www.amazon.com/boogiedays
