Mesra Buku

Tablet sebagai e-reader

2011-11-22T20:53:00.000-08:00

Saya kurang gemar membaca e-book (fail digital) di skrin komputer. Hilang sebahagian nikmat membaca itu sendiri. Saya lebih suka membaca sambil duduk-duduk di atas sofa atau berbaring di atas katil (jika di rumah). E-reader pula skrinnya agak kecil, dan fungsinya terbatas.

Tapi kini ...

Credit to image source www.examiner.com
Ya, apabila pasaran mula dibanjiri dengan gajet tablet pelbagai jenama, spesifikasi dan harga, saya mula menimbang-nimbang. Terutama apabila adik saya menunjukkan senarai e-book yang dimilikinya berjumlah 600 lebih! ~~Meleleh air liur.~~ Baiklah, memang bukan kesemuanya akan dibaca, tapi saya rasa lebih separuh merupakan tajuk-tajuk yang saya berminat untuk baca.

Apabila saya pegang, tablet itu tidaklah berat mana. Bolehlah kalau nak dipegang sambil berbaring. Saiz skrinnya begitu hampir dengan saiz buku biasa. Walaupun perasaannya memang tak sama dengan memegang sebuah buku fizikal, tapi ... 600 buah buku (lebih, semestinya) dalam satu gajet - mudah dibawa ke mana-mana, jimat ruang penyimpanan. Tablet juga ada banyak lagi fungsi lain, jadi ia bukan sekadar e-reader semata-mata.

Tapi, saya tidak mahu jika anak-anak saya banyak habiskan masa main game pada tablet. Suami saya kata, mudah sahaja, jangan download dan install game.

Tapi, saya rasa ia masih satu kemahuan dan bukan keperluan.

Banyaklah pula 'tapi'nya. Jadi, bagaimana?

Ekspo Buku Islam & Festival Buku Kanak-kanak

2011-10-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

Ekspo Buku Islam akan berlangsung di Tingkat 2, KL Sentral bermula dari 26 Oktober hingga 1 November 2011. Ekspo ini dianjurkan oleh Sinergi Ilmu Resources Sdn Bhd dan merupakan kerjasama antara penerbit-penerbit seperti Telaga Biru, Galeri Ilmu, Jemari Seni & JS Adiwarna, MMP Communications, Yadim, Must Read Sdn Bhd, dan lain-lain lagi. Untuk maklumat lanjut, sila lawati laman ini.

Dan satu lagi pesta buku yang akan berlangsung pada waktu yang lebih kurang sama iaitu Festival Buku Kanak-kanak 2011, dari 27 Oktober hingga 2 November 2011 bertempat di Perpustakaan Kuala Lumpur. Saya tidak berjumpa dengan laman rasmi festival ini, cuma pengumuman di laman DBKL dan di laman penerbit-penerbit yang mengambil bahagian. Festival ini dianjurkan oleh National Book Council, dan saya cuba mencari laman webnya tapi tak berjumpa. Tak logik National Book Council tiada laman rasmi, kan?

Set Bacalah Sayang

2011-10-23T16:40:00.000-07:00

Apabila ada komen yang ditinggalkan di blog ini memberikan link ke blog menjual set buku Bacalah Sayang ini saya bergegas singgah. Dan bergegas juga menulis e-mel kepada pemunya blog, Mimie untuk membeli satu set. Bacalah Sayang ini merupakan set yang menggantikan siri Tidurlah Intan terbitan DBP lebih kurang dua puluh tahun dahulu. Saya pernah ternampak set ini di sebuah kedai buku tetapi tidak membeli walaupun berminta kerana harganya dirasakan agak mahal (RM180). Tetapi di blog Mimie, saya cuma mebayar RM80 (termasuk kos pengeposan) sahaja! Jika anda berminat, lekas hubungi Mimie kerana stoknya terhad.

Setiap set mengandungi 12 buku (satu setiap bulan) dengan setiap buku mengandungi koleksi cerita rakyat, cerita moden, puisi, lagu, dan teka-teki yang sama jumlah dengan hari dalam bukan itu (satu bacaan setiap malam). Jikalau saya tidak silap, DBP menerbitkan cerita/puisi/lagu/teka-teki yang sama dengan Tidurlah Intan, cuma menggunakan ilustrasi yang baharu.

Setelah membacakan satu cerita kepada anak-anak saya, saya pula yang 'terkejut' kerana anak saya yang sulung minta dinyanyikan lagu (walaupun saya belum sebut pasal lagu).

Saya bertanya kepadanya, "Mana Abang tahu ini lagu?"

"Sebab ada ini," jawabnya sambil menunjukkan barisan not-not lagu.

Saya rasa pelik sebab saya belum pernah mendedahkan dia kepada not-not lagu, dan saya tahu di tadika dia tidak diajar pelajaran muzik. Saya bertanya, "Mana abang tahu kalau macam ini maknanya lagu?"

"Abang pernah tengok di komputer." Ya, itulah generasi sekarang ya. Mesti tengok-tengok juga apa yang mereka belajar di internet. Dengan ingat-ingat lupa naik turun not lagu dan panjang pendeknya, sekadar yang pernah belajar di sekolah rendah lebih dua puluh tahun yang dulu, saya pun cuba menyanyikan lagu itu. Mesti sumbang, hehe..

The Big Bad Wolf Sale is a must-go event!

2011-10-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

Image source credit to http://www.shoppingnsales.com

If you haven’t been to the Big Bad Wolf book sale yet, I only have this to say:

YOU. HAVE. TO. GO.

Details:
7 – 16 October 2011
10 am – 9pm
MAEPS (Malaysia Agro Exposition Park, Serdang)

I took half-day off yesterday to go to the sale with my husband. I had decided and planned earlier on to go on a weekday for two reasons, firstly because there’ll be less crowd and secondly so that I can leave my children at their babysitter’s house (as though I am at work). On the second point, it would be nice if your children comes along to pick their own books, but honestly it will be quite a challenge to look after them and hunt for books at the same time. Unless they are the type who can sit quietly in a pushchair for hours. Yesterday, there was an announcement looking for the parents of a ‘lost’ boy. I guess it depends on their age as well.

But I digress. For me, this is the best Big Bad Wolf sale ever (I think this is their 4th one) mainly because of the venue they selected. It’s huge and spacious, allowing more room in between tables, therefore I was able to browse more comfortably. The books selection are a lot and varied as well. I’m not sure about this being ‘the biggest book sale in the world’ but it looks like the organizer is serious when they claim to bring in 1.5 million books for us! I stared around the hall and thought, “Where did all these books come from?” (Really, I am quite interested to learn about their business model. BBW is affiliated with BookXcess who claims that their books are cheap because those are ‘overprinted copies’. But how could popular titles have ‘overprinted copies’ as well?)
Image source credit to http://aurinh.wordpress.com
I like that the books are more organized with labels on each table. There are also notes saying ‘Please put back the books where you took it’. A reasonable request, as mixing up the books will inconvenience the next batch of customers. More books are displayed with their cover up, instead of spine up, hence easier to skim through. Customer services are good and they have a ‘check-in’ system so people can park the books they have chosen first before continuing to hunt for more. I hope they will choose this venue again next year because it’s very near to my house. It’s not accessible by public transport, though.

All in all, my husband and I spent RM313 for 39 books. The books we chose vary, from general fiction, fantasy fiction, thriller, motivation, classics, children’s books, general knowledge, and a first time for us – a coffee table book! It’s by National Geographics titled ‘Work’. My best catch is And Thereby Hangs a Tale by Jeffery Archer, who is one of my favourite authors (I especially like his short stories). I found that I feel less inhibited to buy a book because of the low price (most paperbacks is priced at RM8). In fact, I actually chose several books that I know I don’t want to keep. I’ll offer them up for book swap after I’ve finished reading them, as well as make them available for sale. We spent 3 hours instead of the planned 2. And I saw Ain Maisarah, a PTS bestselling author. Yes, ‘I saw’ only – I didn’t go and say hello.

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but when going to a book warehouse sale, don’t bring a list of books in your wishlist. Instead, you’ll just have to see what’s available there.

Now go already! Only 4 days left!

Puisi yang indah

2011-09-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

Usah menyangka puisi mudah ditulis hanya kerana bilangan perkataannya sedikit berbanding genre lain. Puisi sebenarnya lebih sukar kerana pemilihan perkataan perlu tepat untuk menggambarkan maksud dan di samping itu perlu memberi ‘pengalaman bahasa’(linguistic experience) yang indah buat pembaca atau pendengar. Ia satu seni yang memerlukan ilham dan bakat yang tinggi, saya kira. Saya akui, saya sendiri jarang membaca buku koleksi puisi. Satu-satunya buku puisi yang saya telah saya beli adalah Al-Amin tulisan A Samad Said, itu pun belum saya uliti kerana bukunya belum sampai di tangan.

Radio IKIM kerap juga menyiarkan sajak dan puisi yang dideklamasi dengan baik, dan saya suka mendengarnya. Puisi Jika nukilan A Samad Said di bawah begitu cantik sekali. Ringkas, sedap didengar, sarat dengan makna.

Jika

Jika bukit menjadi gunung
Gunung menyuburi rimba
Jika sakit mendorong menung
Menung meransang dewasa
Lorong hidup banyak cabarnya

Jika rakit menjadi kapal
Kapal meningkat bahtera
Jika bangkit melawan gagal
Gagal membibit hemah
Landas hidup banyak tuahnya

A. Samad Said

Ini pula sajak Lidah Bangsa nukilan A Aziz Deraman.

Lidah Bangsa

Lidah bangsaku tiba-tiba kelu
di hujung satu dekad abad ke-21
buana yang resah benua tidak tentu
akan segala yang mungkin alaf baru,
ketika kuasa-kuasa bertukar haluan
krisis ekonomi gelegak di tangan
budaya hidup yang terencat
sosial manusia yang bejat
di sisi globalisasi liberalisasi
bangsaku hilang berani.
Dari dahulu di bumi merdeka ini
bangsaku bingkas
bangun berdiri
bersatu langkah sederap serentak
yakin bangunkan nusa yang hebat
dimalui disegani dihormati orang
atas kekuatan aneka macam
taat setia rakyat menjulang
satu padu bukan kepalang
sepakat nikmat kemakmuran,
jika muncul aliran baru alur fikir
menerjah tanpa nyata batin zahir
nusa ini akan nanar
jadi pohon tidak berakar.

A AZIZ DERAMAN

Warehouse sales

2011-09-14T02:06:00.000-07:00

I just found out today that the MPH Distributor Warehouse sale will be held from 15 ~ 18 Sept 2011. I will be away balik kampung from 16 to 18 September so the only day I can go is - tomorrow! So far, I've been to MPH Distributor sale twice and I was happy and satisfied on both occasions. Should I take half day leave to go?

The MPH Warehouse Sale 2011 will be held at ground floor warehouse of Bangunan TH, 5 Jalan Bersatu, Section 13/4, 46200, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, and will be open from 8am ~ 7pm. I got these info here.

The other warehouse sale is still a few weeks away, so there's still time to plan properly. Big Bad Wolf Sale (an affilliate with Book Xcess) will be held in MAEPS Serdang from 7 to 16 October 2011. Unbelievably low prices, but you may not find popular or new titles there.

What I really want to buy right now, is a good dinasour book for my son (he's into dinasours at the moment) at a good price (RM30 or less?).

Giveaway di bulan Ramadhan

2011-08-10T09:14:00.000-07:00

Ok, tema untuk cabaran kedua Mysuperkids Giveaway ni ialah 'duit' dan 'Ramadhan'. Bulan ini memang bulan rezeki bagi sesetengah pihak, contohnya yang dalam industri makanan (juadah berbuka, biskut raya, kek dsb) dan pakaian (baju raya). Saya selaku consumer/pengguna, berterima kasih jelah sebab ada supplier yang menawarkan produk-produk yang diperlukan ni. Lagi ramai supplier, lebih baik deal untuk pengguna, betul tak?

Bagi yang memasarkan produk musim perayaan ni online, salah satu cara promosi ialah melalui giveaway!

Contohnya, butik Tenun Kapas:

Dan juga Kek Lapis Hanis:

Manalah tahu ada rezeki saya boleh menang 2 giveaway ni hehe..

Ermm blog ni kan blog buku? Ok, ok. Penerbit dan pengedar buku pun ada buat promosi juga. Contohnya, PTS ada promosi Baca Ramadhan. MPH pula ada promosi Raya, walaupun saya tengok buku resepi yang ditawarkan bukanlah resepi tempatan.

Eh, saya pun nak buat giveaway - untuk promosikan blog saya yang lagi satu, yang diberi nama baru - Mesra Idea! (nama lama ialah Mesra Niaga) Yang ini tiada kaitan dengan Ramadhan, tapi ada kaitan dengan duit! Sebab hadiahnya ialah cabutan bertuah untuk duit raya RM50. Jom join, jangan tak join, ya? :)

“Entri ini ditulis untuk cabaran #2 iPad MySuperKid yang direviu oleh alyrds dan ditaja oleh Adorable Muslimah“

Dawama oh Dawama

2011-08-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

Saya baru terbaca berita ini semalam. Dawama sedang menghadapi masalah kewangan yang runcing sehinggakan terpaksa meminta pekerja-pekerjanya bercuti tanpa gaji (sumber dari Bernama). Walaupun tidak terkejut dengan berita ini, tapi masih ada rasa kesal. DBP selaku salah satu institusi yang dipertanggungjawabkan untuk memartabatkan bahasa kebangsaan selayaknya mendapat khidmat percetakan dan pengedaran yang lebih baik.

Saya nostalgia mengenang DBP, dengan buku-bukunya menjadi peneman saya sewaktu zaman kanak-kanak dan dengan itu berperanan menjadikan saya seorang pembaca. Saya juga pertama kali merasa pendapatan sendiri, walaupun sedikit, daripada DBP pada usia 12 tahun. Khabarnya Jabatan Perdana Menteri akan bertindak menguraikan kemelut DBP-Dawama ini. Saya berharap semoga 'tragedi' ini menjadi pemangkin kepada perubahan ke arah DBP yang lebih gemilang di masa hadapan.

Magazine subscription

2011-07-13T01:50:00.000-07:00

The employee coop inside my office building allows external vendors to set up booths in front of their shop. Today, one of the booths is a company specializing in magazine subscription. I happen to be (casually) interested in one of the magazines, so I stopped by to ask for the annual subscription fees. Surprise, surprise, I was given the whole sales pitch. Apparently, I cannot subscribe just to that magazine (monthly). It comes ‘free’ with another magazine (weekly). And that costs RM500 per year.

Both magazines are actually pretty interesting. But I decided against signing up.

Here’s why:
1)Reading is one of my hobbies. But a weekly magazine? I doubt I’d have time to read them. When I mentioned this, his response is: choose only a few articles that I’m most interested to read.
2)Given that I’d probably need to choose only a few articles to read, RM500 is quite a lot of money. He said this amount is cheaper than buying newspapers on a daily basis, but really – who buys newspaper EVERY single day nowadays?
3)Besides, I don’t like to be committed this way. I’d rather be free to choose what and when I want to read.
4)Furthermore, most things are available online anyway. Not the exact same articles, of course, but there’s quite a lot of interesting stuffs to read in the web.

On the last point, I’d like to note that business must be a lot tougher now in the internet age compared to decades ago when people have less choice. But magazines still exist, because there is still demand. Just as I prefer a hardcopy book to an e-book (for now), there will be people who prefers to read magazines than surf for articles online. I myself subscribe to a local monthly (which I already can’t finish).

Last note: To businesses selling books and magazines, please don’t use the reason ‘Can get tax rebate’ in your promotion. The tax rebate is applicable for ALL books and magazine, not just yours. You can remind the customer to keep the receipt upon payment, that would be appreciated.

Kelahiran seorang lagi bakal pembaca

2011-07-03T08:16:00.000-07:00

Memperkenalkan, anak ketiga saya yang lahir empat bulan lalu, bakal seorang pembaca, mesra buku insya-Allah.

Dalam tempoh tiga bulan cuti bersalin baru-baru ini, membaca menjadi salah satu aktiviti saya, terutama sewaktu menyusukan anak atau sekadar berbaring-baring dan berehat (amboi!). Alhamdulillah, puas! Walaupun selalu mengingatkan diri sendiri supaya memilih buku-buku yang dapat menambahkan ilmu pengetahuan, tetapi saya lebih mengikutkan hati memilih buku-buku yang menghiburkan (iaitu fiksyen).

Kembali kepada rutin asal di pejabat kini, bermakna kembali juga kepada jumlah masa yang terhad untuk membaca (atau, masa terhad cuma alasan?). Kadang-kadang, satu buku seminggu pun tidak dapat dihabiskan. Ini antara masa-masa yang saya cuba ambil untuk membaca:

- Sewaktu boot computer dan shutdown di pejabat (lebih lima minit juga nak siap upload macam-macam, computer pejabatlah katakan)
- Sambil mengepam susu dua kali sehari di pejabat (lebih kurang sepuluh minit setiap kali)
- Sewaktu menyusukan dan menidurkan anak pada waktu malam (bukanlah sepanjang-panjang penyusuan, saya juga perlu beri perhatian pada anak saya!)
- Sewaktu menunggu giliran jika beratur di bank, pejabat pos dan sebagainya

Saya pernah cuba membaca sewaktu memandu apabila trafik sangat-sangat perlahan, tapi ini memang bukan idea yang baik. Memeningkan dan membahayakan! Usah cuba!

“Entry ini ditulis untuk cabaran #1 iPad MySuperKids yang direviu oleh Alyrds”

Cikgu jual buku

2011-06-29T08:46:00.000-07:00

Tempoh hari, kakak saya menunjukkan 3 buah buku aktiviti kanak-kanak sekolah dan bercerita cara guru kelas anaknya menjual buku-buku tersebut. Si guru akan mengedarkan buku-buku tersebut kepada setiap murid dan berpesan, "Cikgu bukan paksa beli. Bawa balik dulu buku ini untuk tengok-tengok. Kalau tak mahu beli, esok bawa kembali (tentunya yang tiada cacat-cela)." Ini cara 'opt out rather than opt ini' (memilih untuk tidak membeli, bukan memilih untuk membeli).

Agresif juga cara syarikat penerbitan buku kanak-kanak memasarkan buku menerusi sekolah. Saya pasti guru tersebut juga ada komisennya sebagai insentif. Saya tidak bersetuju dengan cara memasarkan produk terus kepada kanak-kanak kerana golongan ini lebih naif dan mudah dimanipulasi. Sebagaimana juga saya tidak bersetuju gula-gula , coklat, dan mainan diletakkan di kaunter pembayaran pada aras mata kanak-kanak. Pada pendapat saya, pihak sekolah perlu lebih sensitif terhadap isu ini. Jika ada pihak yang berminat hendak memasarkan produk di sekolah, berikan ruang untuk mereka buka gerai, dan janganlah edar pada setiap murid.

Note: Versi Bahasa Inggeris untuk post ini diterbitkan di blog baru saya Mesra Niaga (kebetulan topiknya mencakupi kedua-dua tema blog Buku dan Niaga :) ) Jemput singgah, ya!

Perpustakaan Komuniti Sri Manja

2011-06-25T07:55:00.000-07:00

Beberapa hari lepas, Puan Mastura Mohamad, Pengarah Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Selangor ke udara di Radio IKIM bersama seorang lagi kakitangan PPAS (tidak tangkap namanya) untuk mempromosikan Pesta Buku Selangor yang bakal berlangsung dari 25 Jun hingga 3 Julai 2011 ini bertempat di SACC (Shah Alam).

Image credit to source: PPAS
Yang menarik perhatian saya, apabila beliau kongsikan tentang Perpustakaan Komuniti Sri Manja bertempat di Jalan Klang Lama yang merupakan salah satu projek terbaru PPAS. PPAS menggunakan ruang lot kedai yang bertempat di kawasan perumahan rumah teres dan flat. Saya kira konsepnya seakan-akan perpustakaan desa, cuma lokasinya di bandar. Perpustakaan Komuniti Sri Manja ini mendapat sambutan hangat. Kanak-kanak memenuhi perpustakaan ini sehingga pernah mencecah 150 orang pada satu-satu masa. 60% buku dipinjamkan, dan 4400 buah buku dipinjamkan dalam masa sebulan. Memang bertepatan dengan slogannya "Jom lepak di perpustakaan!" Ini membuktikan kanak-kanak memang suka membaca jika diberi peluang, tambah-tambah lagi dalam suasana yang kondusif.

Saya kagum dengan usaha PPAS membawa buku ke tengah-tengah komuniti. Syabas!

(Nota: Rupa-rupanya Puan Mastura Mohamad ini adik kepada Professor Muhaya Mohamad - pasangan adik-beradik yang hebat :) )

Children books

2011-06-16T07:19:00.000-07:00

I came across the Yusof Gajah Lingard website from Emila Yusof’s blog. Quoting from the website, “The Yusof Gajah Lingard Literary Agency represents writers, illustrators and publishers of children and young adult books for international rights.”

The books sure look interesting. I think I’ll choose a few for my kids to enjoy.

Antologi cerpen Malaysia

2011-06-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

Buku ini saya pinjam daripada perpustakaan awam berhampiran. Melihat barisan nama penulis sahaja sudah cukup untuk memaut keinginan saya untuk mengulitinya.

Abdullah Hussain
A Samad Ismail
A Samad Said
A Wahab Ali
Anwar Ridhwan
Arena Wati
Awangku Merali
Azizi Hj Abdullah
Azmah Nordin
Che Husna Azhari
Douglas Jaga
Eh Deng Eh Chik
Faisal Tehrani
Fatimah Busu
Hasidah Disan
Hizairi Othman
Ismail Abbas
Janathan Kandok
Jiso Rutan
Jong Chian Lai
Khatijah Hashim
K S Maniam
Lim Chiao Kee
Noorjaya
Othman Puteh
Saroja Theavy Balakrishnan
Shahnon Ahmad
Shuhaibun Yussuf
Siti Hadiah Abd Mutalib
Siti Zainon Ismail
Sritharanee Subramaniam
S M Zakir
S Othman Kelantan
Uthaya Sankar SB
Zaharah Nawawi
Zakaria Ali

2 daripada 36 cerpen yang terkandung dalam buku ini ditulis dalam bahasa Inggeris, manakala selebihnya telah diterjemahkan daripada bahasa Malaysia. Saya petik daripada bahagian Kata Pengantar:

This anthology is initiated with three main intentions. One, to increase teh number of quality translated works in this country in our effort to further develop the publishing sector. Two, to introduce "Malaysian literature" to non-Malay audience in this country; and three, to promote Malaysian literature to the rest of the world.

Saya cuba cari dalam laman Dawama barangkali ada versi bahasa Malaysia, malangnya tiada. Ini capaian ke laman Dawama untuk membeli buku ini. Saya setuju sahaja dengan ketiga-tiga objektif yang telah digariskan seperti di atas, tetapi manalah tahu, DBP terbitkan dalam kedua-dua bahasa. Saya ingin memperelok lagi penguasaan bahasa kebangsaan. Tambah pula, setelah membaca beberapa cerpen, memang terasa benarnya 'Bahasa jiwa bangsa'. Banyak istilah-istilah yang tidak dapat diterjemahkan dengan sempurna kerana terjemahan itu tidak dapat membawa 'semangat' atau jiwa asal maksud. Contohnya, pelik rasanya membaca 'circumcision' berbanding 'sunat/khatan', 'cooking games' berbanding 'main masak-masak', dan 'egret' berbanding 'bangau', sekadar beberapa contoh.

Walaubagaimanapun, saya kira buku ini masih amat menarik kerana mengumpulkan 36 cerpen bercitra Malaysia daripada penulis-penulis ternama. DBP sebenarnya banyak menerbitkan buku-buku yang berkualiti tinggi. Malangnya, pembaca tidak tahu mengenai buku-buku ini dan sukar didapati di kedai-kedai. Saya tidak mahu bicara lebih-lebih isu ini, sebab saya bukanlah siapa-siapa dalam industri penerbitan. Sekadar luahan seorang pembaca.

Short thoughts on several books

2011-05-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

Relentless by Dean Koontz – Too many similarities with another Koontz book that I just read recently (The Good Guy), and several unconvincing plot, predictable ending - and yet, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the book because it’s written from a first person’s narration who’s funny and witty. Quite refreshing to read a thriller with humour.

Aku Mahu Superbibik By Ain Maisarah & Izanor Sharif – I’m not the target reader for this book (which is teenage girl). I found it quite flat with unsuccessful attempts at humour.

The Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwall – Quite a lot of ‘histories’ of the main characters (must be from Cornwall’s previous books) interwoven in the plot, but a fresh reader can still follow the story. Intense, interesting.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd – Not quite extraordinary, but still a sweet read.

Karipap-karipap Cinta by Nazri M Annuar – Ordinary story, but the author pulled off the humour nicely. Funny. I can’t help thinking this novel is suitable to be adapted as a telemovie.

The Truth About Melody Browne by Lisa Jewell – A comedy and tragedy at the same time. An enjoyable read.

Life of Pi by Yann Martel – A promising start, very engaging. But I’m a bit a disappointed with the ending (say the last twenty or so pages), a bit flat and ‘off’.

Breaking Knees by Zakaria Tamer – Weird. Odd. (Why did I pick up this book?) It’s an anthology of very short stories translated from Arabic to English. But the concept of ‘very short story’ is very interesting. Some are really just a few sentences long (not even one page).

Perbendaharaan kata

2011-05-03T17:26:00.000-07:00

Ya, saya tahu, Pesta Buku baru berlangsung minggu lepas. Saya tidak tulis apa-apa tentangnya kerana ... saya tidak dapat pergi (sedih!). Lebih kurangnya, saya belum habis berpantang selepas bersalin anak ketiga. Tak mengapa, insya-Allah tahun depan boleh pergi jika panjang umur :)

Credit to image source: goodreads.com
Saya baru selesai baca Advencer Si Peniup Ney beberapa minggu sudah. Buku yang diterbitkan pada tahun 2005 ini merupakan sindiran Faisal Tehrani terhadap budaya hiburan tempatan (khususnya Akademi Fantasia yang menjadi kegilaan remaja waktu itu). Seorang ustaz muda bernama Sulaiman dipilih megetuai sekumpulan jin muda untuk berdakwah di sebuah negara jin yang dilanda hedonisma dengan memperkenalkan konsep muzik sebagai alat untuk mendekatkan diri dengan Allah.

Kisah ini sinikal dan menarik, cuma pada pendapat saya bahagian di mana penduduk negara jin dengan cepat berjaya didakwahkan, agak kurang meyakinkan. Tentunya tidak mudah hendak memujuk golongan yang sudah terbiasa dengan sesuatu perkara untuk berubah.

Yang lebih menarik perhatian saya, buku ini menawarkan banyak kosa kata baru, bertepatan dengan apa yang dinyatakan oleh Faisal Tehrani dalam bukunya Karya Nan Indah, bahawa salah satu fungsi karya adalah memperkenalkan perbendaharaan kata baru kepada pembaca. Mula-mula perkataan-perkataan baru ini ('baru' bukan kerana baru dicipta, tetapi kerana jarang digunakan) memang kedengaran janggal, tetapi lama-lama akan terbiasa. Contohnya, perkataan 'ranggi' dan 'canggih' mula popular sekitar tahun 90-an, dan kini sudah biasa digunakan.

Ini antara perkataan-perkataan baru yang saya belajar daripada buku ini (makna dirujuk daripada Pusat Rujukan Persuratan Melayu DBP:

dubilah setan - kata yg menunjukkan kehairanan, kata seruan.
kepang - jalinan atau anyaman (tali, rambut)
jerait - berkait-kait; berjalin-jalin
jeregut - besar, rendang, rimbun, tersergam
jereket - melengket, melekat, bercantum
sijundai - ilmu sihir yg dapat menggilakan orang
silengah - tidak mengendahkan apa-apa, bersikap tidak tahu
mongkok - 1. (kelihatan,tampak) lebih tinggi drpd yg lain, tertinggi; 2. ki lebih baik (elok, unggul, utama)
kesel - letih, penat
jali - jelas, nyata, terang
sejemang - sebentar
ahmak - bodoh, dungu

Dan ini cuma daripada 5 mukasurat (37-41) untuk dicontohkan. Kelompok perkataan-perkataan 'jerait-jeregut-jereket' dan 'sijundai-silengah' membuatkan saya berhipotesis bahawa metod penulis memasukkan perkataan baru adalah dengan menyelak kamus kemudian mencari atau menyesuaikan ayat mana untuk diletakkan.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

2011-04-18T01:57:00.000-07:00

Credit to image source hachettebookgroup.com
No wonder the book won a Pulitzer Prize and has been dubbed a classic. It's a beautiful story, told beautifully. Set in a small town in Alabama in the 1930s, the story is told in a first-person narration of a young girl called Scout in the span of about 3 years. Although the crux of the novel is the trial of a black man and the crises and issues surrounding it at a time when racial discrimination and prejudice is prevalent, the novel offers so much more.

I love reading about the relationship between Scout and her older brother Jem and how close they are. I love reading about Atticus, Scout's father (who was also the defense lawyer of the abovesaid black man on trial), who is such a noble and righteous character and also a wonderful (single) father. The story told of innocent childhood, innocent thinking, coming of age.

And it's so true what I read once about that novels has a way of preserving history. It's fascinating to read about what it was like at that place at that time - the customs, culture, lifesytle, activities, etc. I have high regards for the book and its author, what a pity it's the only book Harper Lee had written.

Mesra Buku book swap

2011-04-13T07:32:00.000-07:00

Last month, I blogged about Hidayah's Book Club, and last week Lydia has shared her list of books available for swaps. Here's my own list, in no particular order:

1. Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
2. 'Tis by Frank McCourt
3. Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
4. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
5. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
6. A Prisoner By Birth by Jeffrey Archer
7. The Rule of Four by Ian Caldwell & Dustin Thomason (also available for sale at RM12 inclusive of postage)
8. The Bone Collector by Jeffery Deaver (also available for sale at RM12 inclusive of postage)
9. Magician by Raymond E. Feist
10. Stephen King Goes to the Movies (5 fictions that got adapted into the silver screen)
11. Dingin Salju Indiana by Nurulsham Saidin
12. Sinergi by Hilal Asyraf
13. Menara by Isa Kamari (also available for sale at RM10 inclusive of postage)
14. Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck by Hamka
15. Travelog Haji: Mengubah Sempadan Iman by Muhd Kamil Ibrahim
16. Salahudin AYubi by Abd Latip Talib
17. Imam by Abdullah Hussein
18. Bagaikan Puteri by Ramlee Awang Murshid
19. Cinta Sang Ratu by Ramlee Awang Murshid
20. Hijab Sang Pencinta by Ramlee Awang Murshid
21. The Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood (also available for sale at RM12 inclusive of postage)
22. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (also available for sale at RM18 inclusive of postage)
23. Kekasih Sam Bo Po by Faisal Tehrani

- I will add links to synopsis/review (probably not my own review) to these books later/from time to time
- I may change or add books to this list from time to time
- I may add photos of the books also available for sale so that you can view the physical condition later
- Please take care of my books, don't dog-ear them please
- Just email me at emel.siti@ gmail.com with the books you'd like to borrow together with your name, address, and phone number

I just discovered a book swap site called Paperbackswap.com in the US which I think is so cool. Each member post the books she can offer for swaps and for each book she mailed to someone who had ordered it, she can request for any other book in the pool (it's not a one person to one person swap). And you can keep the books you received, unless you wish to post it back to the pool. There's currently 5 million books in the pool to be chosen from! I wonder if it's possible to have something similar to this in Malaysia?

Sharing, for the love of reading! (ooohh, but publisher/distributor/author won't like this though ;p)

Nama Beta Sultan Alauddin

2011-04-11T02:41:00.000-07:00

Credit to image source: ujanailmu.com.my
Meskipun buku ini sudah lama di rak buku, saya tidak lekas memilih untuk membacanya. Barangkali kisah sejarah biasanya 'berat' bagi saya. Jangkaan saya meleset. Dalam buku ini, kisah Sultan Alauddin diceritakan oleh seorang datuk kepada cucu-cucunya. Penceritaan yang ringan dan menarik membuatkan buku ini enak dibaca, dan amat sesuai untuk kanak-kanak.

Saya sudah lupa sebarang fakta berkenaan Sultan Alauddin daripada buku teks Sejarah sekolah menengah dahulu. Menguliti buku ini membuatkan saya teruja membaca bagaimana beliau merupakan seorang pemerintah yang warak dan berwibawa. Sayang sungguh, tempoh pemerintahan beliau tidak lama, akibat perbuatan khianat musuh-musuh dalam istana.

Saya akui, saya seorang yang naif barangkali, tetapi 'kuasa' memang sesuatu yang tidak dapat saya fahami. Saya tidak dapat mengerti bagaimana seseorang boleh menggadai kemaslahatan umum demi kepentingan diri dalam perebutan kuasa. Ah, senanglah saya berkata begitu, setelah peristiwa dan kesannya berlaku (on hindsight/restrospectively). Barangkali sewaktu kejadian tersebut berlaku, setiap pihak menyangka masing-masing yang betul dan berhak.

Giveaway Tinidewi sempena Hari Buku

2011-04-06T05:25:00.000-07:00

Kak Tini, saya nak masuk giveaway sempena Hari Buku! :)

Kalau terpilih dalam cabutan bertuah, hadiahnya adalah ini:

Best, kan?

Giving up on a book

2011-04-03T22:41:00.000-07:00

I'm giving up on a book, unwilling to plough on - 100 pages and I still remain unengaged and uninterested. I will therefore delete 'Guns, Germs and Steel' from my Reading List (right column). The premise of the book is interesting enough. In the authors own words, the essence of the book in one sentence is "History followed different courses for different peoples because of differences among peoples' environments, not because of biological differences among peoples themselves."And indeed iti s quite fascinating to learn that geographical attributes for example proximity or barriers like ocean (to other civilisations), whether the land is suitable for agriculture, natural resources, and weather contributed to mankind history (for example, who invaded who and why not the other way). Perhaps its the way the facts are presented, that made the book seems a bit too academic for my liking. I felt as though I was reading a textbook and a few times I literally fell asleep. The book didn't give me the same excitement, the feeling of anticipation, looking forward to the next available opportunity to pick it up again and resume reading from where I left it, which is one of the many joys of reading.

Do you have qualms about giving up on a book once you started reading it? I used to, I admit. But I soon realize that time is too limted (and thence, life is too short) to be spent reading something I don't want to read. About ten years ago, I gave up on Tolkien's Lord of the Rings after about 200 pages of the first book. Somehow, I couldn't follow the narration. Am I glad they made the movies based on the books. More recently, I gave up on Tetsuko Kuroyanagi's Totto-chan's translation into Bahasa Indonesia, because I found it less 'smooth' to read because I'm not fluent on the language. Another one is Asam, Garam, Gula & Kopi by Abd Jalil Ali which is a collection of articles, half of which pretty interesting but not the other half, and in most cases I found myself disagreeing with the author's approach.

Which books have you given up on?

Six Suspects and The Good Guy

2011-03-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

Thanks Hidayah for lending me these two books!

Credit to image source: hidayahreads.blogspot.com

Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup

I am drawn to pick this book from Hidayah’s collection because it’s written by the same author who penned Q&A. I haven’t read the book, but the movie ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ had impressed me. I was not disappointed. The story revolves around the murder of Vicky Rai, and the six suspects of this murder

I like the way the author unfold the story, in a ‘modular’ structure (not unlike Q&A), where each sub-chapter builds the plot around each of the six suspects, beginning by introducing them, then explains the motives and how they are related to Vicky Rai (and to each other), and ends with chapters Evidence, Solution, and Confession.

I had enjoyed reading the story – it was engaging, but I’m somewhat not satisfied with the ending.

The Good Guy by Dean Koontz

The story is about Tim Carrier who was mistaken for hitman. Tim decided to warn the targeted victim and we learn that there’s more to Tim and more to the reason why the woman was being targeted when he went all out to save her from the real killer. I like the fact that Tim has a very normal and loving family (I’m a bit sick of reading about broken or dysfunctional families).

I haven’t read this type of thriller for quite awhile, and it has been a refreshing read, in the sense that I don’t need to get emotionally ‘involved’ in the story. Fast-paced and simple yet clever, and nothing ‘deep’ for example going into psychological analysis and stuffs like that.

Credit to image source: hidayahreads.blogspot.com

Hidayah’s Book Club

2011-03-14T05:58:00.000-07:00

I was pleased to discover Hidayah’s Book Club a couple of weeks ago. I’ve talked about book swaps before, but so far I have only swapped books with people I know, at least virtually. But here is a book lover, who offers to lend out her books for the love of reading and sharing to anyone (well, almost anyone)! I asked her 2 questions and here is her response:

What if you don't get your books back?

Firstly, most of the people I lend out the books to are people I know in real life or via blogs, I do try to make sure that they do have a genuine blog and are real book lovers. As for not getting the books back, I am trying to give people benefit of the doubt, plus books aren't exactly dishonest people's choice of things to steal (they would prefer people who lend jewellery or designer handbags for free .. hehe).

Also, wouldn't you spend quite a bit for the postages?

As for the cost, at the moment, Alhamdulillah, I think a few RM spent on making friends with other book enthusiasts and spreading love of reading to people who might not have the means to buy the books for themselves (books are quite expensive in Malaysia) is worth it. Maybe once the demand becomes overwhelming, I might have to consider other options.

Inspired by her, I think I’ll also offer some of my books out for lending, but I haven’t got the list ready now, so I’ll publish the book list later. I have also borrowed 2 books from Hidayah, Six Suspects by Vikas Swarup and The Good Guy by Dean Koontz, both of which I had enjoyed. I will write a brief review later, so that’s two posts for the near future, insya-Allah.

‘Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.’

2011-03-09T05:41:00.000-08:00

These 7 words encapsulates Michael Pollan’s book ‘In Defence of Food’ that I’ve read recently. He didn’t start elaborating on what he meant by that immediately. The first part of the book is titled The Age of Nutritionism. I’m glad to learn that eating healthy does not mean that I have to master the science of nutrition. In fact, he went as far as suggesting that nutritionism could just be ‘bad science’. In the second part, The Western Diet and the Diseases of Civilization, the author elaborates on the changes that has happened to food and eating (specifically in the Western world).

The list of subtopics in the last chapter of this part may give some idea of what these changes are:
-From whole foods to refined
-From complexity to simplicity
-From quality to quantity
-From leaves to seed
-From food culture to food science

Although reading the first two parts had been interesting and enlightening, it is the third and last part of the book which I had appreciated the most, because this is where he had shared tangible advices and rules when it comes healthy eating. I’ll capture the points here so that I can refer to them in the future.

Eat Food: Food Defined (food, as opposed to foodlike or food products)

Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food
Don’t eat anything incapable of rotting
Avoid food products containing ingredients that are a) unfamiliar b) unpronounceable c) more than five in number and that include d) high-fructose corn syrup
Avoid food products that make health claims
Shop the peripheries of the supermarket and stay out of the middle (fresh food is usually placed at the peripheries and processed food in the middle)
Get out of the supermarket whenever possible (eg shop at farmers’ market, or in Malaysian context, pasar tani I guess)

Mostly Plants: What to Eat

Eat mostly plants especially leaves
You are what what you eat eats too
If you have the space buy a freezer (freezing unlike canning does not significantly diminish the nutritional value of produce)
Eat like an omnivore (diversify your food)
Eat well-grown food from healthy soils
Eat wild foods when you can
Be the kind of person who takes supplement (without actually taking any, unless you’re over 50) ie typically more health conscious, better educated, and more affluent
Eat more like the French or the Italians or the Japanese or the Indians or the Greeks (eat traditional food)
Regard non-traditional foods with skepticism
Don’t look for the magic bullet in the traditional diet (it’s a ‘package’)

Not Too Much: How to Eat

Pay more eat less (costs, both in terms of price and time/convenience to prepare) Eat meals (and avoid snacking in between)
Do all your eating at a table (and a desk is not a table)
Don’t get your fuel from the same place your car does (ie petrol station shops)
Try not to eat alone
Consult your gut (train our internal system to tell us when we are full)
Eat slowly
Cook, and if you can, plant a garden

One of my favourite paragraph: “If a food is more than the sum of its nutrients and a diet is more than the sum of its food, it follows that a food culture is more than the sum of its menus – it embraces as well the set of manners, eating habits, and unspoken rules that together governs a people’s relationship to food and eating. How a culture eats may have just as much bearing on health as what a culture eats.”

This is Michael Pollan’s website where he shares his archives or articles (I’ve just read 3 interesting ones and will probably go back for more). The article ‘Unhappy Meals’ which he wrote in January 2007 is the trigger which led him (encouraged by his editors) to write this whole book, so it actually contains a significant amount of the points he touched in this book, so head over there for a preview of this book.

Overall, a very satisfying read – interesting and informative. I feel so motivated now to improve my eating and cooking habits towards achieving a healthier life, I hope I’ll remain to be so consistently!

Saya mahu informasi dan ilmu dunia buku daripada blog Universiti Terbuka PTS

2011-03-02T17:20:00.000-08:00

Saya mula mengikuti blog Universiti Terbuka PTS (juga dikenali sebagai UnikaPTS) sejak tahun 2007 lagi. Blog ini dikendalikan oleh Puan Ainon Mohd (terima kasih, puan!) iaitu salah seorang pemegang saham utama rangkaian syarikat-syarikat penerbitan PTS. Puan Ainon ini memang tidak lokek ilmu, beliau memang sanggup menghabiskan banyak masa untuk berkongsi ilmu-ilmu dunia penerbitan. Setiap hari mesti ada sekurang-kurangnya satu post. Itu belum termasuk tips-tips ringkas yang beliau kongsikan menerusi Facebook dan kursus-kursus percuma yang beliau berikan pada hujung minggu. Prinsip beliau yang diterjemahkan melalui syarikat-syarikat PTS ialah memandaikan bangsa melalui penulisan dan penerbitan. Dan beliau juga tidak percaya dengan konsep bersaing di dalam dunia bisnes. Sebaliknya kita digalakkan supaya saling tolong-menolong dan berlumba dengan sihat.

Apa yang ada dalam blog UnikaPTS?

Ada pengumuman tarikh kursus-kursus percuma pada hujung minggu yang diadakan di Sekolah al-Ikhlas, Taman Permata, Hulu Kelang. Sesiapa yang berminat boleh daftarkan diri dalam ruang komen.
Contoh: Kursus Terjemahan Kreatif Bahasa Inggeris-Bahasa Melayu pada Ahad 20 Mac 2011 dan Kursus Penulisan Bukan Fiksyen : Teknik Adaptasi.

Ada tips survival penerbit. Walaupun saya bukan penerbit, tapi memang menarik juga belajar tentang bisnes dalam bidang penerbitan ini.
Contoh: Kawalan Hutang dan Bagaimana Penerbit Memilih Buku untuk Promosi di Slot Radio dan TV

Ada tips untuk penulis mencari idea atau merancang buku apa yang harus mereka tulis dan bagaimana. Ada juga perkongsian pengalaman daripada penulis.
Contoh: Mencipta Nama untuk Cerita Kanak-Kanak dan Awal Remaja & Cara Kerja Ain Maisarah Mencipta Jalan Cerita

Ada tips untuk usahawan yang berniaga buku.
Contoh: Seni Pempameran Buku Dalam Kiosk buku dan Bisnes Menjual Buku Secara Bergerak

Ada pengumuman buku-buku baru yang diterbitkan PTS. Saya rasa memang ini banyak membantu meningkatkan jualan buku-buku PTS.
Contoh: Senarai Judul Baru Masuk Gudang dan Carta Jualan Buku.

Ada pengumuman jualan buku, diskaun, pertandingan, peraduan, kempen atau promosi.
Contoh: Diskaun Istimewa di HQ PTS & Kempen Komik-M Sempena Cuti Sekolah

Lagi, ada berita penubuhan syarikat/persatuan baru, iklan jawatan kosong, peluang-peluang tertentu dan liputan acara-acara yang berlangsung.
Contoh: Jawatan Kosong Editor di PTS Millenia dan Delegasi PTS ke Pesta Buku Kaherah

Ada berita dan komentar isu sastera tanah air, surat pembaca, malahan ada juga pelajaran tatabahasa!
Contoh: Surat Ulat Buku & Ejaan Kata Majmuk

Pendek kata, macam-macam ada! Untuk semua, dari golongan pembaca hinggalah kepada orang-orang yang terlibat secara langsung dalam industri penerbitan buku ini. Memang blog/website ini blog wajib-lawat bagi seorang ulat buku seperti saya yang ada impian nak tulis buku sendiri satu hari nanti!

“Artikel ini ditulis sebab saya mengidam iPad percuma MySuperKids. Sertai Bengkel Adsense di laman web buat duit online & mulakan gaya hidup sihat dengan vitamin semulajadi ShakleeTrialPack”

Barrel Fever by David Sedaris

2011-02-25T17:52:00.000-08:00

Credit to image source:http://agbookreviews.files.wordpress.com
Barrel Fever is divided into 2 sections, the first is Stories which are fiction and the second is Essays which were from the author’s own experience. This is the first David Sedaris book that I’ve read. A friend said he’s a really funny writer so when I saw his books on a friend’s shelf, I was eager to borrow because I was curious. But I’m sorry to say that I didn’t enjoy the read. It’s not that there isn’t anything that I like at all, but the crass and crude jokes far outweighed those. And most of the stories revolve around dysfunctioning individuals or families. I guess it just isn’t my type of humour.

Wishlist for 2011 - Part 3

2011-02-12T20:08:00.000-08:00

Jika Part 1 untuk suami, Part 2 untuk anak-anak, kini tibalah Part 3, akhirnya untuk saya pula (dan tentunya yang paling panjang)!

Saya gemar membaca karya Faisal Tehrani kerana beliau banyak menyelitkan ilmu tambah dalam buku-buku beliau. Antologi cerpen terbaru beliau 'Tiga Kali Seminggu' memang sudah dalam senarai wishlist saya, dan baru-baru ini beliau mengumumkan terbitnya novel terbaru bertajuk 'Sebongkah Batu di Kuala Berang', novelnya yang pertama diterbitkan oleh PTS.

Credit to image source: tehranifaisal.blogspot.com

Lagi daripada PTS, buku 'Ibu, Benarkah Tuhan Itu Ada?' karya Nabilah Hassan. Pertama kali saya mendengar mendengar mengenai buku ini melalui resensi W Laanda. Saya harap buku ini akan membantu saya menjawab soalan-soalan anak sulung saya yang berusia 5 tahun yang semakin kerap bertanya mengenai Allah.

Daripada penerbit Galeri Ilmu, saya inginkan buku-buku ini:
- Rumahku Ofisku oleh Mazneera Zainal (ya, saya ada cita-cita mahu bekerja dari rumah)
- 100 Kisah Kehidupan disusun oleh Zakaria Sungib (saya bayangkan buku ini seakan-akan siri 'Chicken Soup', yang memaparkan kisah-kisah benar yang memberikan inspirasi)
- Aku Terima Nikahnya (Edisi Istimewa) oleh Hasrizal Abdul Jamil

Credit to image source: popular.com.my

Walaupun saya sudah memiliki dua buku pertama dalam kompilasi ATN di atas, saya tetap teringin hendak membeli Edisi Istimewa ini kerana ia berkulit tebal dan grafik covernya amat cantik. Saya memang gemar membeli kompilasi kerana saya rasakan sesuai dijadikan koleksi jangka panjang. Kompilasi lain yang telah saya beli (walaupun telah memiliki sebahagian buku yang terkandung dalam kompilasi itu) ialah 1 Hari 1 Resipi oleh Chef Hanieliza (berbaloi dan highly recommended!) dan Khalifah-khalifah Yang Benar oleh Abdul Latip Talib, kedua-duanya terbitan PTS. Saya mengharapkan PTS akan mengumpulkan novel-novel sejarah Islam keempat-empat imam besar, oleh itu saya masih menunggu dan belum membeli mana-mana satu daripadanya.

Berikutnya, buku Mukmin Profesional: Celik Mata Hati tulisan Pahrol Mohd Juoi terbitan Telaga Biru.

Credit to image source: genta-rasa.com

Daripada DBP, buku 'Bagaimana Saya Menulis' himpunan 17 cerpen dan proses menulisnya daripada pengarang masing-masing.

Interlok karya SN Abdullah Hussein. Ya, saya juga salah seorang yang jadi berminat hendak membaca buku ini setelah muncul kontroversi berkenaannya baru-baru ini. Buku ini dipilih sebagai buku untuk Ganding Baca ahli-ahli kumpulan Goodreads Malaysia, tetapi saya telah terlepas. Tidak mengapa, tiada tarikh luput.

Daripada Alaf21, A.D.A.M. tulisan Ramlee Awang Murshid.

Dan akhir sekali, tiga buku berbahasa Inggeris, dua daripadanya terbitan tempatan bertajuk Islam in Malaysia: Perception and Myths nukilan Dr. Mohd Asri Zainal Abidin diterbitkan oleh Matahari Books dan Moving Forward oleh Nik Nazmi diterbitkan oleh MPS Publishing. Dan satu lagi, buku bergenre 'popular ecomnomics' bertajuk Superfreakonomics. Buku ini mudah sahaja didapati di kedai-kedai buku utama (MPH misalnya) tetapi saya sedang menunggu harganya turun sedikit, bawah RM40.

Credit to image source: amazon.com

Menara oleh Isa Kamari

2011-02-10T00:04:00.000-08:00

Credit to image source: goodreads.com
Saya tertarik untuk membaca novel sastera Menara garapan Isa Kamari (terbitan PTS Litera Utama) apabila mendapat tahu penulis seorang arkitek dan buku Menara pula merupakan jawapannya kepada persoalan apakah tidak timbul keinginannya untuk menulis novel mengenai pekerjaan arkitek.

Setelah menggeluti buku ini dalam waktu beberapa hari, jelas bahawa buku ini lebih menyorot persoalan falsafah berbanding pekerjaan arkitek secara langsung. Membangunkan binaan dianalogikan sebagai membangunkan jiwa. Sejujurnya, saya mendapati buku ini sedikit ‘berat’ untuk dihadamkan. Banyak perkara tersirat yang cuba disampaikan oleh penulis dan kadangkala saya tidak dapat mengikutinya. Penulis sendiri mengakui dalam ruangan Pengenalan, “Saya akui Menara bukan mudah dibaca dan dihayati. Ia memerlukan kesabaran dan keberanian pembaca. … Oleh kerana itu Menara tidak usah dipanjat dengan terburu-buru. …”

Pada awalnya saya sedikit keliru dengan plot cerita. Bab-bab seperti berselang-seli antara plot utama dengan cerita lain yang kadangkala seperti ada kaitan dengan plot utama dan kadangkala tidak. Usai membaca mukasurat terakhir, barulah saya menyelak kembali ke ruangan Pengenalan di hadapan. Rupa-rupanya, memang penulis sengaja menggunakan kembali cerpen-cerpen yang telah ditulisnya sebelum ini dan menggabungkannya menerusi satu tema (jati diri dalam era globalisasi) yang diolah menjadi plot utama cerita Menara.

Ayat-ayat dalam buku ini enak dibaca, amat berguna untuk menambahkan khazanah ayat satera dalam minda saya. Tambahan pula, penulis banyak memasukkan bait-bait puisi dalam plot utamanya. Tetapi ceritanya barangkali terlalu berat atau filosofikal untuk seorang ‘layman’ seperti saya.

Obama: From Promise to Power

2011-02-04T23:37:00.000-08:00

Credit to image source: britannica.com
Salah satu azam saya tahun ini adalah untuk menulis lebih banyak ulasan buku, biar pun pendek.

Bulan Januari sedikit sibuk (alasan!), saya Cuma sempat menghabiskan sebuah buku bertajuk Obama: From Promise to Power, yang ditulis oleh David Mendell, seorang wartawan yang telah mengikuti perkembangan Obama semenjak dia mula berjinak-jinak dalam dunia politik di Chicago. Saya juga seperti ramai orang lain di seluruh dunia, tertarik dengan karisma Obama, dan mengikuti (sedikit-sedikit) pilihanraya yang menyaksikan dia dipilih sebagai Presiden Amerika Syarikat pada tahun 2008. Dia, seperti lain daripada yang lain. Saya yang tidak pernah berminat mengikuti politik nagara Amerika pun jadi berminat untuk mengambil tahu lebih sedikit.

Pada asalnya, saya ingin mencari buku-buku tulisannya sendiri, The Dreams of My Father dan The Audacity of Hope. Tetapi apabila berpeluang meminjam naskhah buku ini daripada seorang rakan, saya rasa bagus juga membaca ulasan pihak ketiga (yang sepatutnya bebas dan tidak ‘biased’). Bab-bab awal meliputi latar belakang hidup Obama, daripada keluarganya yang berbilang kaum hingga ke pengajiannya di Harvard dan penglibatannya sebagai aktivis masyarakat di Chicago. Seterusnya, David Mendell menceritakan dengan lebih terperinci apabila Obama mula terlibat dalam dunia politik, bermula dengan sebuah pilihanraya tempatan. Obama kalah, tetapi banyak belajar daripada pengalamannya itu. Dia menang pilihanraya keduanya, menjadi seorang wakil tempatan di Illinois. Dia melangkah lebih jauh apabila memenangi pilihanraya menjadi Senator US pada tahun 2004. Buku ini ditamatkan (dan diterbitkan) sejurus selepas Obama mengumumkan bahawa dia akan bertanding sebagai calon Presiden Amerika Syarikat.

Secara keseluruhannya, saya berpendapat bahawa penulis seimbang dalam memberikan gambaran tentang karakter Obama. Kedua-dua aspek positif dan negatif disentuh dengan jujur. Penulis juga banyak menceritakan pengorbanan dan sisi kurang menyenangkan yang terpaksa dihadapi Obama setelah nekad membuat keputusan menjadi ahli politik, spesifiknya kekurangan waktu untuk diri dan keluarga (privacy) dan tekanan, terutama kerana Obama menjadi begitu popular melebihi selebriti. Membaca buku itu, saya juga dikenalkan kepada budaya berpolitik di Amerika, yang sebelum ini begitu asing bagi saya. Barulah saya tahu bagaimana kompleknya dunia politik. Bermula dengan mencari sokongan politik dan kewangan dan peranan staf-staf kempen yang diupah, bacaan daripada satu buku sekadar membenarkan saya ‘mengintai’ dengan singkat. Yang pastinya, realiti sebenar pasti jauh lebih kompleks dan sukar difahami.

Wishlist for 2011 - Part 2

2011-01-19T19:46:00.000-08:00

Tempoh hari, anak saya yang sulung (lima tahun) memerhatikan rak buku kami. Dia bertanya, "Buku Ummi lebih banyak daripada buku Abang, ya?"

"Ya."

"Kalau macam tu, belilah lagi buku untuk Abang!"

Hahaha! Begitulah logik si cerdik itu. Saya tidak khabarkan terus padanya memang saya bercadang untuk beli beberapa buah buku untuknya tidak lama lagi, kerana tidak mahu dia menuntut serta-merta. Biarlah saya beli pada waktu yang sesuai buat saya dan hadiahkan padanya sebagai kejutan.

Ini antara buku-buku yang saya rancang untuk beli untuk Abang dan Kakak (dua anak saya) tahun ini:

Jika masih ingat, saya pernah kongsikan di sini reviu buku ini oleh Hidayah, bulan Jun tahun lepas. Waktu itu pun saya sudah sebutkan mahu beli, tapi setelah enam bulan berlalu, belum terbeli-beli (ooops). Saya akan beli sekaligus dengan buku-buku Telaga Biru lain melalui laman ini.

Saya juga berminat untuk cuba dua atau tiga buku daripada set buku besar Permata Hatiku terbitan PTS. Lihatlah ilustrasinya, cukup menarik. Maklumlah, buah tangan Emila Yusof. Penulisnya juga, Alia Nina, bukan calang-calang orangnya.

Berikutnya, saya bercadang untuk beli tiga atau empat buku daripada siri 'I Wonder Why'. Pertama kali saya kenal siri ini sudah lama, tetapi waktu itu buku-buku ini dipakejkan dalam satu set gergasi oleh Gr*li*r dengan harga ribuan ringgit. Saya tidak berminat untuk membeli keseluruhan set sebab rasa 'terkongkong dan dipaksakan' oleh set yang disertakan dalam pakej. Saya lebih suka 'pick and mix' sesuka hati sendiri. (Tambahan pula, terasa mahal sungguh set buku hingga ribuan ringgit). Sewaktu berkunjung ke Book Xcess akhir tahun lepas, saya berjumpa buku-buku ini dijual dengan harga cuma RM12.90 sebuah! Saya tidak beli terus waktu itu sebab memang saya tiada niat untuk membeli sebarang buku waktu itu, cuma mahu 'tengok-tengok dahulu' (nampaknya saya bukan seorang 'impulsive buyer'! :) ).

Wishlist for 2011

2011-01-06T01:08:00.000-08:00

Image source: www.dawama.com
My reading resolution for 2011? The same for 2010, which is one book per week, or 52 books for the whole year. I only managed to read 40 books in 2010, so hopefully this year I'll be able to achieve my target!

But I'm more excited to share my wishlist for 2011! This is going to be several parts, and I'll start with the books that I wish to buy for my husband. He's a fan of fantasy fiction, and one of the most outstanding series of fantasy fiction in Bahasa Malaysia is undoubtedly the Saga Artakusiad series written by Ahmad Patria Abdullah. The series was written in the 80's, and we are really pleased to know they have been re-printed by DBP last year! While this is going to be a 'revision' read for my husband, I'm looking forward to owning the whole set so that I can't use the excuse 'but what if I can't find the next book' not to read the series. Here's a fanclub website dedicated to the Saga Artakusiad series, but it has not been updated for more than a year it seems, which is surprising, given that the awaited event of the books re-printing happened in 2010.

Here are the titles in the series (I'm not sure if these are in the correct order):

Kembar Artakus
Petua Azkram
Pedang Aurora
Kota Arialun
Permata Aurarius
Puteri Alindalia

There's a seventh book titled Legenda Numerius but this is not published by DBP, it's self-published by Ahmad Patria Abdullah. I can't recall the name of the company now (Nusa something if I'm not mistaken), but we have the copy at home :)

And here is the link, so that it's easy for me to refer to when I want to make the purchase. I personally find that the search engine of the Dawama online store is not very good.

KL Children Book Fair

2010-12-22T00:39:00.000-08:00

KL Children Book Fair 2010 begins today!

Details:
22-26 December 2010
Tun Razak Hall 3, PWTC, KL

More info at their website http://www.kualalumpurchildrenbookfair.com/

Despite having a few children's books in my wishlist (for my kids of course) which I intend to buy, I don't think I will be going - I'll just wait for next year's Pesta Buku.

Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers for sale

2010-12-18T02:43:00.000-08:00

Having thoroughly enjoyed two of Malcolm Gladwell's books a few months ago (Outliers and What the Dog Saw), I decided to pick up his other book which was recommended by my friend Bas, titled Blink, at MPH with my vouchers. Their clever marketing ploy worked on me, and I ended up grabbing the Value Buy 3-for-RM79.90 (one book cost RM32.95). I haven't read Blink and The Tipping Point, so that's fine, but I already have a copy of Outliers.

So, I'm offering it up for sale, a brand new book, for RM28 (with postage to anywhere in Malaysia). If you are interested, please email me at emel.siti at gmail.com

What is Outliers about? I'll mention again here that I really enjoyed the book, and I think it was both entertaining as well as educational, inspiring and thought-provoking. It's a non-fiction collection of essays by Malcolm Gladwell on the theme of success. The blurb at the back read: 'Why do some people succeed far more than others?'

Here are the contents:

Introduction
The Roseto Mystery

Part One: Opportunity
1 The Matthew Effect
2 The 10,000 Hour Rule
3 The Trouble with Geniuses, Part 1
4 The Trouble with Geniuses, Part 2
5 The Three Lessons of Joe Flom

Part Two: Legacy
6 Harlan, Kentucky
7 The Ethnic Theory of Plane Crashes
8 Rice Paddies and Math Tests
9 Marita's Bargain

Epilogue
A Jamaican Story

And here's the link to Gladwell's webpage where he answered several questions on the book Outliers and insert 3 excerpts from it.

I won MPH book vouchers!

2010-12-03T01:42:00.000-08:00

Image source: MPH Click blog

Alhamdulillah, I have won MPH book vouchers of amount RM60 in their recent giveaway :)

*gleefully rubbing my hands*

Now, which books shall I pick?

Menunggu Cinta Tuhan oleh Lily Haslina Nasir

2010-11-18T04:57:00.000-08:00

Sumber gambar goodreads.com
Buku terbitan PTS Litera ini tidak mengecewakan. Saya larut dalam cerita yang digarap oleh Lily Haslina Nasir. Ini karya beliau yang pertama saya baca. Impresif juga biografinya; beliau mula menulis seawal usia 13 tahun dan novel pertama beliau diterbitkan sewaktu beliau berusia 17 tahun.

Latar yang dipilih adalah amalan ilmu hitam dan kewartawanan unit hiburan, cukup menarik. Watak-watak utama - Khalida Atikah, graduan bidang syariah yang ingin melakukan dakwah cara sendiri menjadi wartawan unit hiburan; Azrul Rasyid, ketua unit hiburan Akhbar Dinamik yang kasar lagi lantang, tulisannya penuh menyakitkan hati; dan Nureen, gadis seksi yang mula belajar ilmu sihir dari makciknya, Latifah. Ilmu sihir diamalkan untuk melariskan makanan (Latifah memiliki perniagaan restoran), membalas dendam dan sebagai ubat pengasih.

Pengakhiran cerita ini sebenarnya tidak sukar dijangka, tapi saya seronok juga membaca untuk mengetahui bagaimana perinciannya. Prolog yang diberi di permulaan novel juga sudah menggambarkan kesudahan cerita, tetapi saya dapati ada sesuatu yang 'tidak kena' (plot tidak konsisten/kongruen) dengan prolog ini apabila sudah selesai membaca keseluruhan novel. Ada juga satu plot dalam cerita (berkenaan rahsia ibu Azrul) yang sedikit tergantung. Dan akhir sekali, meskipun isu remeh sahaja, saya kurang setuju dengan pemilihan wajah yang menjadi penghias kulit depan novel ini, wajah gadis dari ras Kaukasian/Arab sedangkan watak yang cuba digambarkan (Khalida Atikah) berbangsa Melayu. Bukannya apa, pandangan pertama (first impression) jika tidak dibaca blurb kulit belakang mungkin menyebabkan bakal pembeli menyangka ini kisah cinta berbeza budaya.

The Big Bad Wolf Booksale is back!

2010-11-12T00:24:00.000-08:00

The Big Bad Wolf Booksale (by Book Xcess) is back and is starting today!

Date: 12-17 November 2010
Venue: Ground Floor, South City Plaza, Seri Kembangan
Time: 10 am to 9 pm

Adult fiction and non-fiction starts at RM8 only. Last year I spent only RM71 on 8 books. I'm not sure yet whether I'll be going. I still have quite a huge backlog of books that I haven't read yet.

Check out the website. They listed some of the books that will be there.

Angela's Ashes and 'Tis by Frank McCourt

2010-10-26T22:24:00.000-07:00

Angela's Ashes was firt published way back in 1996 but I've only managed to read it recently. It's a memoir of the author's difficult and poor childhood in Limerick, Ireland. It's very sad to read such hardships, and I cried a few times, for example when his sister and brothers died. I had 'Tis with me as well, so I was fortunate to be able to continue reading about Frank's life in his next book. Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy 'Tis as much as I had enjoyed Angela's Ashes. In the first book, the author, as a boy, seems to be strong and brave, intent on helping his family survive and get out of the poverty. But in the second book, when he starts having a more comfortable life, and his family is much better, he seems to be a bit confused and at times almost 'aimless'. It is not my intent to judge him, it's just that I felt, his story became an ordinary life story in the second book. Even the part about his teaching career wasn't very inspiring. There were several instances when he shone as an inspiring teacher, but in general he seems quite ordinary in his struggles dealing with uninterested students and low wages. I guess I wouldn't be looking for the third book Teacher Man.

The other thing that ticked me off a bit while reading both his first and second book is the details he went through when describing his 'excitements' and 'adventures'. I thought, what would his wife and ex-wife be thinking and feeling when reading those? On the positive side, I guess it helps me to understand how easily boys get excited and hence appreciate more on how Islam manages this, by giving guides on covering (aurat), behaviours, boundaries etc. I also gain further appreciation of Islam's ruling against drinking alcohol, reading about how the father's drinking habits had such an impact to his family. It's difficult to understand how a father, supposedly the head of the family, could drink all his wages away and let his family starve and beg.

All in all, I'd still recommend Angela's Ashes as a good read. Borrowing a sentence from the Wiki link above, "Despite all the hardships, many passages of the story are told with wry humor and charm."

Reading list Jan-Aug 2010

2010-09-04T01:24:00.000-07:00

My personal target is to read 52 books a year (one per week). Let's see how I've fared up to August (see my list below). 30 books in 8 months, equivalent to 45 books in 12 months, so looks like I might fall short of my target if I don't increase my pace. Since I also want to vary my reading between fiction and non-fiction (fiction will exceed non-fiction, but by how much), BM and BI (BI will exceed BM, but by how much), let me try and break down these 30 books into these simple categories.

FI 17
FM 8
NI 3
NM 2

Woops, looks like I haven't been doing too well (in terms of varieties), I'm too heavily prone to English fictions. 25 fictions vs 5 non-fictions (!) and 20 BI vs 10 BM. Hmm... I guess I read more for entertainment rather than for general knowledge. By the way, the numbers 1 to 5 out of 5 given besides the books' title, author, and reading period is my personal rating.

30. The Automatic Grammatizer & Other Stories by Roald Dahl (30-31 Aug 2010) 3/5 FI
29. Kita Hanya di Seberang Jalan (28-29 Aug 2010) 4/5 FM
28. Step on a Crack by James Patterson (21-22 Aug 2010) 3/5 FI
27. The Witch of Portobello by Paolo Coelho (3-7 Aug 2010) 4/5 FI
26. Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell (27-28 Jul 2010) 5/5 NI
25. Jaja & Din by Noor Suraya (18 -24 Jul 2010) 2/5 FM
24. M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman (14 - 18 Jul 2010) 3/5 FI
23. Salina by A. Samad Said (10 - 15 Jul 2010) 1/5 FM
22. Detektif Bertudung Hitam by Bahruddin Bekri (5 - 10 Jul 2010) 3/5 FM
21. Strangers and Lovers Revisited by Robert Raymer (4 - 10 Jul 2010) 3/5 FI
20. Unaccustomed Earth by Jhumpa Lahiri (1-4 Jul 2010) 3/5 FI
19. Parker Pyne Investigates by Agatha Christie (29 Jun - 1 Jul 2010) 2/5 FI
18. CSI NY - Deluge by Stuart M Kaminsky (26-18 Jun 2010) 3/5 FI
17. By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paolo Coelho (14-15 Jun 2010) 3/5 FI
16. The Regatta Mystery & Other Stories by Agatha Christie (12-13 Jun 2010) 3/5 FI
15. Sinergi by Hilal Asyraf (1-2 Jun 2010) 2/5 FM
14. Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger (28-30 May 2010) 4/5 FI
13. Inspector Singh Investigates: A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul by Shamini Flint (26 May 2010) 3/5 FI
12. What the Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell (13 - 28 May 2010) 4/5 NI
11. Inspector Singh Investigates: A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder by Shamini Flint (8 - 11 May 2010) 3/5 FI
10. Dark Alchemy by Jack Dann & Garner Dozois (17 Apr - 1 May 2010) 3/5 FI
9. Wang, Anda dan Islam by Zaharuddin Abd Rahman (10 Apr - 5 May 2010) 3/5 NM
8. Perindu Pelangi by Siti Munirah A Rashid (10 - 11 Apr 2010) 5/5 FM
7. Dingin Salju Indiana by Nurulsham Saidin (6 - 9 Apr 2010) 3/5 FM
6. Business Stripped Bare: The Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur by Richard Branson (25 Mar - 5 Apr 2010) 4/5 NI
5. Vanishing Acts by Jodi Picoult (3 - 15 Mar 2010) 3/5 FI
4. Perubatan Islam dan Bukti Sains Moden by Dr Danial Zainal Abidin (14 Feb - 23 Mar 2010) 2/5 NM
3. The Dark Tower 2: The Drawing of Three by Stephen King (1 - 12 Feb 2010) 3/5 FI
2. Manikam Kalbu by Faisal Tehrani (23 - 29 Jan 2010) 3/5 FM
1. PS I Love You by Cecilia Ahern (2 - 4 Jan 2010) 4/5 FI

Salina oleh A Samad Said

2010-07-26T06:41:00.000-07:00

Semenjak saya didatangi kesedaran untuk memahirkan diri saya menggunakan bahasa ibunda (saya ingin ceritakan lebih lanjut, mungkin di post akan datang, insyaAllah), saya lebih proaktif mencari buku-buku Bahasa Malaysia untuk dibaca. Salah satu azam saya ialah untuk membaca satu buku tulisan setiap Sasterawan Negara. Bagi Datuk A Samad Said, saya telah sekian lama mencari-cari novel Salina, kerana novel yang ditulis lebih setengah abad yang lalu ini banyak disebut-sebut, dan beberapa orang kenalan saya ada menyenaraikan buku ini dalam senarai buku kegemaran mereka. Akhirnya saya berjumpa dengan buku ini di Perpustakaan Bandar Baru Bangi.

Sejujurnya, saya agak kecewa. Meskipun saya tahu watak Salina merupakan seorang pelacur yang baik hati, saya tidak menjangka hampir keseluruhan cerita berkisarkan mengenai watak-watak yang sebahagiannya tidak baik dan bergelumang dengan maksiat. Ada kisah seks luar nikah dan rogol (walaupun tidak diperinci), minum arak, memukul, mengherdik, menghasut, dan sebagainya. Saya membaca dalam keadaan kurang selesa, ‘panas hati’ dan kadang-kadang rasa seperti mahu menjeritkan ‘arghh!’ (di dalam hati). Kadang-kadang, saya rasakan seolah-olah watak-watak baik tidak berusaha untuk ‘menentang’ watak-watak ‘jahat’. Contohnya, apabilah Nahidah ditekan oleh ibu tirinya supaya bekerja sebagai pelayan (yang dimaklumi akan membawa kepada pelacuran dalam kes ini), mengapa dia cuma menentang dan membantah tetapi akhirnya akur walaupun tanpa rela? Mengapa tidak larikan diri sahaja dari rumah bersama-sama dengan abang-abangnya?

Saya hampir saja berhenti membaca tetapi saya gagahkan diri untuk menghabiskan, pertamanya kerana masih ada rasa ingin tahu bagaimana kesudahan cerita ini dan kedua masih mengharapkan cerita disudahkan dengan lebih positif. Saya silap. Kesudahan cerita ini seperti tidak memenangkan watak-watak baik. Sesetengah bahagian cerita membiarkan pembaca tertanya-tanya. Apa yang terjadi kepada Zarina? Nahidah? Abdul Fakar? Cerita ini lebih memfokuskan kepada apa yang terjadi pada waktu itu sahaja.

Benar, novel merupakan garapan realiti masyarakat dan barangkali realiti ini perlu dirakam. Tetapi saya mendapat kejutan budaya (culture shock) membaca realiti itu. Benar, kehidupan sesetengah kaum masyarakat amat susah dan miskin terutama waktu zaman selepas perang dan sebelum kemerdekaan. Saya kira saya lebih suka mengambil tauladan daripada kisah-kisah yang baik, berbanding menjadikan sempadan kisah-kisah yang tidak baik, walaupun tidak dinafikan kadang-kadang kisah-kisah yang tidak baik itu lebih berkesan dalam memberi pengajaran.

Sebenarnya, novel ini digarap dengan sangat baik, sehinggakan dapat digambarkan dengan jelas bagaimana daifnya kehidupan di Kampung Kambing itu. Ceritanya meruntun hati. Dialog pada zaman itu menarik untuk diperhatikan (contoh ‘hendak’ dieja sebagai ‘endak’). Namun, saya tidak fikir saya akan benarkan anak saya membaca novel ini, sehingga dia betul-betul telah dewasa dan matang.

(Saya ingin memohon maaf sekiranya apa yang saya tulis ini terlalu kritis dan berterus-terang. Ini cuma pendapat peribadi saya.)

Book swaps

2010-07-21T17:31:00.000-07:00

Seronoknya terima bungkusan berisi buku! (Buka pun main koyak saja ;p)
Beli?
Bukan, pinjam.
Terima kasih Ummu Auni Afif (UAA).
Setakat ini dah banyak kali juga kami bertukar-tukar buku (book swaps).
Saya lebih beruntung, sebab UAA rajin update senarai bukunya, senang saya nak pilih.
Saya pula, kurang berdisiplin, senarai masih di takuk lama. Tak adil. Maaf UAA :(
Memang berbaloi, sebab kos pos kurang RM1 setiap buku (jika pos lebih 3 buah). (Eh, betulkah Pos Malaysia dah naikkan harga?)
Penerbit/penulis/penjual buku mesti tak suka baca post ni. (Woops, minta maaf :) )

Peraduan Mengulas Buku PTS

2010-07-15T01:12:00.000-07:00

Berikut dipetik daripada laman web PTS. Walaupun dah terlepas 2 minggu, insyaAllah saya mahu cuba untuk 3 minggu yang terakhir ini :) Manalah tahu, ada rezeki boleh dapat buku percuma.

Anda peminat tegar buku terbitan PTS? Anda memiliki koleksi buku PTS yang bertimbun-timbun di rumah?

Mari kongsikan pendapat, komen, perasaan anda terhadap buku PTS yang sudah anda baca.

Sertai Peraduan Mengulas Buku PTS bermula 27 Jun hingga 31 Julai 2010 ini.

12 pemenang akan dipilih pada setiap minggu berdasarkan 4 kategori ulasan buku. Hadiah berupa buku-buku terbitan PTS menanti pemenang. PTS juga menyediakan 3 hadiah istimewa kepada pengulas yang paling banyak mengulas buku-buku PTS sepanjang peraduan ini.

Cara menyertai peraduan ini sangat mudah. Anda cuma perlu lawati laman web PTS di www.pts.com.my. Kemudian, cari buku yang ingin diulas dan tulis ulasan anda di ruang yang disediakan.

Tunggu apa lagi? Sertailah peraduan julung-julung kali diadakan ini dan jadilah salah seorang daripada 60 orang pemenang hadiah mingguan.

Tempoh Peraduan

Peraduan berlangsung selama 5 minggu bermula dari 27 Jun - 31 Julai 2010. Tarikh ulasan mengikut minggu seperti berikut:

Minggu Pertama : 27 Jun-3 Julai
Minggu Kedua : 4-10 Julai
Minggu Ketiga : 11-17 Julai
Minggu Keempat: 18-24 Julai
Minggu Kelima : 25-31 Julai

Kategori Ulasan Buku

Novel Remaja & Kanak-kanak

Novel Dewasa

Komik

Bukan Fiksyen

Hadiah

Hadiah dibahagikan kepada 2 kategori:

1. Hadiah Mingguan
Setiap minggu, PTS akan memilih 3 pemenang bagi setiap kategori ulasan buku. Hadiah mingguan adalah seperti di bawah:

Tempat pertama - hadiah buku PTS bernilai RM50
Tempat kedua - hadiah buku PTS bernilai RM40
Tempat ketiga - hadiah buku PTS bernilai RM30

2. Hadiah Utama
Sebaik berakhirnya peraduan, PTS akan memilih 3 peserta peraduan yang paling banyak menghantar ulasan buku PTS.

3 hadiah utama seperti berikut:

Tempat pertama - hadiah buku PTS bernilai RM200
Tempat kedua - hadiah buku PTS bernilai RM150
Tempat ketiga - hadiah buku PTS bernilai RM100

* Pemenang boleh memilih sendiri buku PTS tetapi nilai buku tidak boleh lebih daripada nilai yang ditetapkan.

* Kos penghantaran ditanggung oleh PTS.

* Hadiah minggu akan dihantar sebaik PTS menerima senarai buku yang dikehendaki oleh pemenang setiap minggu.

* Penghantaran dibuat menggunakan pos biasa.

Pengumuman Pemenang Hadiah Mingguan

Pemenang mingguan bagi setiap kategori akan diumumkan sebagaimana berikut:

Pemenang Minggu 1: 6 Julai 2010

Pemenang Minggu 2: 13 Julai 2010

Pemenang Minggu 3: 20 Julai 2010

Pemenang Minggu 4: 27 Julai 2010

Pemenang Minggu 5: 3 Ogos 2010

Pengumuman Pemenang Hadiah Terkumpul

Pemenang hadiah terkumpul akan diumumkan pada 3 Ogos 2010

Cara
1) Peserta perlu melayari Portal PTS di www.pts.com.my

2) Cari buku yang anda hendak buat ulasan dengan menaip judul buku pada ruang carian.

3) Klik pada judul buku yang terpapar pada halaman carian.

4) Klik pada tab ulasan pembaca.

5) Taip nama penuh dan e-mel yang sah.

6) Kemudian tulis ulasan dalam ruang yang disediakan.

7) Kemudian klik hantarPanel penilai akan menilai ulasan buku yang dihantar mengikut minggu yang ditetapkan.

8) Pemenang mingguan akan diumumkan pada tarikh seperti yang ditetapkan.

9) Pemenang akan dihubungi melalui e-mel yang diisi.

Syarat

1) Peraduan terbuka kepada warganegara Malaysia berumur 7 tahun dan ke atas.

2) Ulasan buku hendaklah dibuat menggunakan bahasa Melayu standard sahaja.

3) Setiap ulasan buku hendaklah tidak kurang daripada 100 patah perkataan.

4) Staf PTS termasuk ahli keluarga terdekat (ibubapa, anak-anak dan adik beradik) tidak layak menyertai peraduan ini.

5) Penulis PTS layak menyertai peraduan ini tetapi tidak boleh mengulas buku sendiri terbitan PTS.

6) Setiap peserta hanya layak menang satu sahaja hadiah mingguan yang ditawarkan sepanjang peraduan ini.

Temubual bersama novelis Siti Munirah

2010-07-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

Beberapa minggu lalu saya ada menulis dengan ringkas mengenai salah satu novel yang baru saya baca iaitu Perindu Pelangi terbitan Galeri Ilmu. Kali ini, saya rasa teruja kerana dapat menemubual penulisnya, adik Siti Munirah Abdul Rashid melalui emel.

Sebelum itu, berikut merupakan biodata ringkas beliau. Biodata ini dipetik daripada blog beliau.

Siti Munirah berasal dari Simpang Ampat, Pulau Pinang. Dia mendapat pendidikan awal di SK Bukit Tambun, dan kemudian menyambung pengajian peringkat menengah di SMKA Nibong tebal. Dia merupakan salah seorang ahli keluarga GEN 7 tatkala menuntut di Darul Quran Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor dalam Kursus Persijilan Tahfiz DA-UIA. Dia kemudiannya meneruskan pengajian di Pusat Asasi UIAM dalam bidang Sains Fizikal, tetapi di pertengahan jalan, dia membuat keputusan untuk mengubah haluan pengajian. Kini, dia bakal menyambung pengajian dalam bidang perubatan di Universiti Al-Azhar, Kaherah, Mesir pada September 2010. Siti Munirah juga merupakan ahli Usrah Penulisan Angkatan Pemuda Pemudi Islam (API) dan sukarelawan AMANI. Kedua-dua wadah ini di bawah naungan Persatuan Ulama' Malaysia cawangan Pulau Pinang (PUMPP).
Assalamualaikum,

Pertama sekali, saya ingin mengucapkan syabas dan tahniah kerana telah menulis novel Perindu Pelangi dengan begitu baik.

Apakah yang mendorong Munirah untuk menulis?

Menulis bagi saya adalah satu cabang dakwah. Di samping berkongsi ilmu yang ada dan menyampaikan risalah-risalah dakwah, menulis juga saya kira banyak membantu saya mengisi lompong-lompong waktu daripada terbuang dan sia-sia.

Mengapa memilih genre penulisan kreatif berbanding penulisan lain?

Saya memilih genre penulisan kreatif kerana genre ini lebih ramai khalayaknya serta lebih mudah diterima umum. Jadi, saya berharap risalah-risalah tazkirah saya lebih ramai yang mendapat manfaat darinya.

Mengapakah Munirah memilih negara China sebagai latar cerita Perindu Pelangi?

Saya memilih China sebagai latar cerita Perindu Pelangi kerana saya merasakan negara ini menyimpan khazanah sejarah dunia yang tidak sedikit namun jarang diterokai dalam novel. Saya merasakan Islam itu hidup walaupun di bumi mana sekalipun. Oleh itu, saya cuba menampilkan kehidupan masyarakat Islam yang terdapat di bumi berkenaan. Minat menonton drama-drama Cina terutamanya yang berlatarbelakangkan masyarakat lama Cina mungkin boleh menjadi salah satu faktor yang mendorong saya untuk memilih negara ini di samping mewujudkan kelainan dalam novel sulung saya ini.

Boleh ceritakan sedikit mengenai novel kedua Munirah - apakah tajuknya, ceritanya
mengenai apa, dan bilakah novel ini akan terbit?

Tajuknya Qasidah Untuk kekasih. Novel ini saya kira merupakan novel remaja kerana watak-watak yang terlibat adalah para pelajar yang sedang menuntut di pusat asasi. Novel ini bertemakan kecintaan kepada baginda Rasulullah SAW dan bagaimana cara untuk menyalurkan rasa cinta berkenaan terutamanya oleh para remaja. Dalam novel ini, saya turut memuatkan untaian-untaian qasidah sebagai salah satu bentuk berhibur sambil mengingati baginda rasulullah SAW. Novel ini sudah masuk dalam jadual penerbitan dan dijangkakan untuk terbit pada bulan Ogos. Novel kedua ini akan diterbitkan oleh PTS Litera Utama Sdn. Bhd.

Siapakah penulis kegemaran Munirah? Dan mengapa?

Faisal Tehrani. Saya temui kelainan dalam tulisan-tulisan beliau. Saudara Faisal Tehrani membuat kajian sebelum menulis dan dia sangat jelas dengan setiap apa yang ditulisnya. Saya mahu mencontohinya.

Terima kasih saya ucapkan kepada adik Siti Munirah kerana sudi menjawab soalan-soalan saya. Saya ucapkan selamat maju jaya dalam bidang-bidang yang diceburi. Saya akan menanti novel kedua Siti Munirah terbit nanti!

PPAS Bandar Baru Bangi

2010-07-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

Ini gambar-gambar yang diambil sewaktu berkunjung ke PPAS Bandar Baru Bangi tempoh hari.

Ini bilik untuk kanak-kanak. Seronok ada kerusi dan meja comel-comel. Pilihan buku-buku boleh tahan menarik, tetapi sebahagiannya tidak boleh dipinjam.

Ini bilik Audio Visual. Ada bahan-bahan multimedia seperti CD dan DVD di perpustakaan ini tapi cuma untuk tontonan di sini, bukan untuk dipinjam bawa balik. Anak-anak saya sibuk tengok lukisan mural yang cantik di dinding.

Ini pula bahagian dewasa, fiksyen dan bukan fiksyen.

Ada rak-rak buku baru tiba hari itu (bagaimana dengan buku baru?). Ketika saya berkunjung lagi 3 minggu kemudian untuk pulangkan buku-buku yang dipinjam, rak-rak ini sudah dipasang, menggantikan yang lama.

Perpustakaan ini terletak berhampiran dengan Taman Tasik Cempaka dan Bangi Utama. Siapa yang tinggal berdekatan, ayuh singgah!

Siapa Alien?

2010-06-29T22:06:00.000-07:00

This post is originally published by Hidayah in her blog One Day At A Time. Thanks, Hidayah, for the permission for me to re-publish this review. This books sound good, and I can't wait to buy one for my children. Here's her pretty blog badge. (I picked the one with books in it, of course :) )

"Children are made readers on the laps of their parents."

— Emilie Buchwald

Hehe.. Just thought I would review this new children's book by our very own local celebrity, Wardina Safiyyah. (Thanks to Ardi for getting my kids a signed copy.)

Title: Siapa Alien?

Author: Wardina Safiyyah

Illustrator: Uneh

Price: RM 19 (MPH)

Brief synopsis

This colourful book is about an inquisitive little alien named Ali who loves to explore and learn new things.

What I liked most about the book:

I still have difficulty in finding good quality Malay books for my pre-schoolers. Most are simply English fairytales or Asian folklore translated to Malay. So it was refreshing to find a book with its own theme and an original concept. Plus there are several additional interesting features, including little notes labelled "Soalan", "Nota" and "Fakta" to make the book more interactive. The illustrations by Uneh are suitably colourful and vibrant, drawing the child into the story.

What I disliked about the book:

It's a children's book, so there is not much to dislike. My only qualm is that some of the facts are not really ones that I personally would have chosen to highlight. For example: when discussing cities, the examples given were:

"kota terbaik untuk didiami di dunia ialah Vienna, Austria. Kota tercantik terletak di Eropah seperti Paris, Venice dan Vienna"

I guess, it's good that the author tries to introduce the child to cities all over the world but for me concepts like "terbaik" and "tercantik" are relative and subjective. Perhaps a discussion on "ibu kota" (capital cities) and which cities the child would like to visit may also be an option.

Additional points

There is also a very helpful guide for parents to fully make use of the book and a very interesting Activities section at the end of the book.

Rating: 4/5

All in all a very good first effort. All the best for future endevours!

~She's right. Always dare to dream, and make the dream a reality.~
pic googled

Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Selangor

2010-06-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Did this bus play a role in your childhood?

It did for me! I remember being excited about the dates the bus would visit my school, and I'd spent the entire recess choosing the books to be borrowed.

For awhile, I've thought about how I've been underutilising the library facilities near my place. The nearest public library to us is in Bandar Baru Bangi, under Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Selangor (PPAS). So last Saturday, MH and I brought the kids there, motivated by the banner advertising a 'Pameran dan Jualan Buku'. The kids had a hard time pronouncing the word 'perpustakaan' though. Pustaan, puskaan - attempts by my two-and-a-half year old daughter. My four-year-old son fared better - he managed 'pustakaan'. They were so excited to go this place which their mummy has described as 'ada banyaaak buku'.

One of the objective of this visit was to register as members so that we can borrow books. We came armed with a passport-sized photo and copy of our IC. You see, many many months back, I had gone there earlier and took the forms and these were the requiremets as stated in the form. So I was pleasantly surprised when she said photo is not needed. And I also learnt that they have a photocopy machine there, so you can actually just walk in only with your original IC and you'd be able to register immediately - and borrow books immediately! That's another surprise. The form stated that it takes 5 working days to process the application, so I went not expecting to be able to borrow immediately. Boy, was I glad to be wrong. The thing is, they don't use the library card system anymore. We have to use our IC when borrowing (so that's why they no longer require a photo). I'm not sure whether I like this or not, because this means I personally have to be present everytime I want to borrow or return the books.

Membership is free. A member can borrow up to 3 books at any one time, and the books are due in 3 weeks. The penalty for late returns has increased, from 10 sen/day to 50 sen/day! Between MH and I, these are the books that we chose (well, actually I chose 5 and he chose 1 hahaha!). It's actually quite difficult to choose because they were quite a lot of interesting books. They do carry titles by Stephen King, Cecilia Ahern, Jodi Picoult, David Baldacci, Paolo Coelho, Agatha Christie, Joanna Trollope, and of course local titles by Ilham Hamdani, Abdul Latip Talib. These were just some examples. The collection is very limited of course, but I'm glad we're now able to utilise this public resource.

Members can borrow at any Selangor libraries, provided they haven't exhausted the 3-book limit. The state library in Shah Alam is open every day, but the others are closed on weekends except two Saturdays a month (week 2 and 4 - I always get confused which are those). If it were up to me, I'd arrange for all libraries to be open during weekends (not necessarily fully-staffed) and close them on 2 weekdays (say Tue-Wed?). Here are the opening hours:

Here's the link again, to check for their nearest library.

Perindu Pelangi

2010-06-10T17:22:00.000-07:00

Novel pertama tulisan Siti Munirah A. Rashid ini diterbitkan oleh Galeri Ilmu. Berikut merupakan sinopsis yang diberi dalam katalog buku Galeri Ilmu:

Akil masih terlalu mentah untuk menanggung musibah sebegitu berat. Mujurlah ada tangan yang simpati, lalu dia dibawa pergi. Belasan tahun dia hidup ceria di Guangzhou, China. Namun segalanya berubah selepas perkenalannya dengan Isador, konflik dengan Ho Man, kemelut hubungannya dengan Xiao Wei dan peristiwa tragik sewaktu kepulangan singkatnya ke Malaysia.

Jika ditanya saya, apa sebenarnya tema atau konflik utama dalam cerita ini, saya pun tidak pasti. Yang saya pasti, novel setebal 388 halaman ini membawa pembaca mengikuti kisah Akil dalam jangkamasa lebih kurang dua tahun. Tapi saya memang amat suka akan novel ini. Syabas kepada penulis muda Siti Munirah!

Ceritanya meyakinkan, plotnya menarik dan bergerak laju, garapannya kemas dan tidak meleret-leret. Latar yang dipilih iaitu negara China dan kerjaya Akil sebagai tukang masak amat membantu dalam menghidupkan cerita. Akil selaku protagonis juga amat 'real' - walaupun hampir sempurna, tetapi tidak pula sunyi dari berbuat kesalahan. Saya suka - kisah kasih-sayang yang melangkaui hubungan darah, persahabatan yang melangkaui ukhuwwah agama. Namun, ada juga beberapa bahagian yang barangkali boleh diperbaiki dan diperkemaskan supaya tiada tanda tanya dari pihak pembaca. Saya tidak sebutkan di sini, kerana ini cuma pendapat peribadi saya. Lagi pun, saya tak mahu tuliskan 'spoiler' - nanti kalian sudah tahu sebahagian daripada cerita dalam novel ini.

Saya membesar membaca buku DBP

2010-05-31T18:41:00.000-07:00

Sewaktu kecil, ibu bapa saya sering membelikan saya buku-buku cerita terbitan DBP. Saya masih ingat seronoknya dibawa mengunjungi pesta buku. Saya tak pasti pesta buku yang saya maksudkan itu hanya pesta buku DBP atau pesta buku antarabangsa seperti yang kita maklum hari ini. Barangkali hanya DBP, saya tidak ingat penerbit lain waktu itu.

Sayang, DBP sekarang sudah kurang menerbitkan buku kanak-kanak dan remaja. Atau sebenarnya ada, tapi kurang publisiti? DBP telah menyerahkan hak mencetak dan mengedarkan buku-buku terbitannya kepada Dawama pada tahun 2002 untuk kontrak selama 12 tahun. Khabarnya ramai pihak yang tidak berpuashati dengan prestasi Dawama. Secara peribadi, saya tidak tahu buku-buku apa yang diterbitkan DBP, dan buku-buku DBP juga sukar dicari. Mujur ada pembelian online menerusi laman Dawama. Saya baru terjumpa laman ini dan masih belum cuba membeli. Kalian ada yang sudah membeli menerusi laman Dawama?

Hujung minggu lepas, saya mengambil gambar beberapa buku-buku DBP lama. Sayang, saya tidak berjumpa dengan koleksi Tidurlah Intan, ada berbelas juga siri itu. Waktu itu, harga buku yang mukasuratnya sekitar 100 halaman cuma sekitar tiga empat ringgit sahaja! Hari ini, 20-25 tahun kemudian, harga buku seumpama ini sudah naik tiga empat kali ganda, belasan ringgit kebiasaannya. Berapa agaknya harga buku yang perlu dibayar oleh anak-anak kita untuk cucu-cucu kita, ya?

Saya senaraikan (tidak mengikut aturan gambar) judul buku, nama pengarang, tahun diterbitkan dan harga (dicetak di mukasurat dalam). Waktu itu, simbol $ masih digunakan, RM belum diperkenalkan.

-Surat Sarina, Saniah Reduan, 1990, $4
-Tebing Tidak Tinggi, Zailiani Taslim, 1983, $4
-Disket Misteri, Admua M.N., 1991, $6
-Keduduk Pohon Larangan, Agus Salim & Mahaya Mohd Yassin, 1978, $2.80
-Teratai Teratak Desa, W. Zalina Razali, 1995, $7
-Bintang Harapan, Abdul Ahmad, 1982, $3
-Janji Bayan Budiman, Khairuddin Ayip, 1992, $8
-Dongeng Rakyat Dunia V, Yulis Haji Alwi, 1992, $4.50
-Anak Seorang General (Antologi Cerpen), 1987, $4
-Diana, Jamilah Alias, 1990, $4.50
-Fadhila, Othman Puteh, 1980, $3
-Misteri Pulau Hantu, Arifin Ngah, 1982, $3

A rare treat for this bookaholic

2010-05-27T21:37:00.000-07:00

The queue was long, I thought as I looked at the piece of paper with my queue number. The self-service machines KIPPAS were down that day because they were doing some work to addmore units.

So I left the immigration office for the bank. Afterall, I needed to withdraw some cash to pay for the passport application. I didn't wait long before it was my turn. The officer looked at my forms and said, "Eh, ini kena ambil nombor lain. Sistem dia takde kat sini. Maaf ye dik." He looked apologetic. "Takpe, I'm not in a rush," I said with a smile. I went to the ticket machine.

After my business was settled, I decided to have an early lunch first. Afterall, there were 70 people in front of me in the passport application queue. I estimated that I should be there after 70 minutes, allotting 1 minute per application, given the number of counters pocessing.

I was wrong. 60 minutes after I had taken my queue number, I came back to see that I had missed by 15 people. I guess I had underestimated the efficiency of the team and their system.

I went to queue number counter again and told the officer there my story. Perhaps it's okay to approach the next available counter. "Maaf kak, kena ambil nombor balik," she said instead. "Ok, takpe." And I honestly meant it.

Why? Because I came prepared with a book.

I sat down and continued where I left off. It was a rare treat for me. To be able to really plunge into a book, without the need to do something else. I don't remember when was the last time I was able to do this. I'm applying for my passport for a business trip, so I didn't need to take the day off. I had already informed my boss, and there was no looming deadline or meeting. I did consider whether it was appropriate to use 'company's time' to read a novel, but I could hardly open my laptop there to do any work offline, could I?

I felt slightly annoyed when my number appeared for the final process which was the payment. It meant my time is up, and there's only 40 pages left! And the story plot was at its climax! But I consoled myself in thinking, I'd have the time to finish the book the next day, when I come back to pick up the passport. At least now I know I can finish a 280-pages book in a solid two hours.

Jualan Gudang Buku PTS - 29 Mei 2010

2010-05-24T22:33:00.000-07:00

Dipetik daripada blog Ummu Auni Afif, terima kasih.

From: Nazrul Samsudin
Date: 2010/5/24
Subject: Jualan Gudang Buku PTS - 29 Mei 2010

Assalamualaikum dan selamat sejahtera.

Tuan-tuan dan puan-puan,

Terima kasih kerana membuka dan membaca e-mel ini. PTS doakan tuan dan puan sihat di samping keluarga tercinta.

Sukacita dimaklumkan, buat julung-julung kalinya, PTS Publications & Distributors Sdn. Bhd. (PTS), penerbit buku umum pelbagai kategori dalam bahasa Melayu no. 1 Malaysia akan mengadakan jualan gudang buku-buku PTS sebagaimana berikut:

Tarikh: 29 Mei 2010 (Sabtu)
Masa: 10.00 pagi - 6.00 petang
Tempat:

PTS Publications & Distributors Sdn. Bhd.,
No. 12, Jalan DBP, Dolomite Business Park,
68100 Batu Caves, Selangor

(Berhampiran Pos Laju dan Bangi Kopitiam, Batu Caves)

Klik di sini bagi melihat lokasi PTS: http://pts.com.my/index.php/contact/

Pelbagai buku terbitan PTS akan dipamer dan dijual pada hari itu. Antaranya novel remaja, kanak-kanak, novel dewasa, novel sejarah islam, bisnes, bantu diri, resepi, pendidikan, keibubapaan, islam, kamus, kesihatan, dan banyak lagi.

PTS memberikan diskaun istimewa kepada pembeli sempena jualan gudang ini. Diskaun standard bagi semua buku PTS ialah 25 peratus manakala beberapa judul buku terpilih akan diberikan diskaun sehingga 50 peratus. Jualan dalam bentuk tunai sahaja. Bayaran menggunakan VISA dan Mastercard turut diterima.

Jadi, kepada peminat-peminat buku PTS, jangan lepaskan peluang memborong buku-buku PTS pada harga diskaun sempena Jualan Gudang Buku PTS ini.

PTS turut menjual pelbagai barang merchandise PTS yang cantik dan menarik seperti buku nota, button badge, baju-t muslimah, file folder, mug, baju-t, dan banyak lagi.

Besarlah harapan kami sekiranya tuan dan puan dapat forward e-mel ini kepada rakan-rakan dan saudara-mara yang turut meminati buku-buku PTS.

Kita jumpa di gudang buku PTS nanti. Terima kasih.

JL Bunch Cafe's Giveaway

2010-05-20T06:46:00.000-07:00

Pertama kali nak mencuba nasib masuk giveaway. Maklumlah, hadiahnya buku - jadi mesti cuba. Walaupun agak last minute - tinggal 2 jam giveaway akan ditutup! Giveaway ini dianjurkan oleh Ummu Mishkah - she's a librarian. Tadi sempat berangan jadi librarian kejap hehe..

Dia anjurkan giveaway ni sempena Hari Buku Sedunia bulan lepas.

Slogan: Saya suka membaca kerana di dunia buku, kembara saya selaut ilmu, seluas pengalaman, sealam faham, dan seindah rasa.

Diversified reading?

2010-05-18T02:28:00.000-07:00

KNV, I’m replying to your comment as a post by itself :) In my previous post, she remarked that I’m diversified (my reading, I presume she meant).

Someone who knows me personally would be surprised to know that my favourite genre is crime (or whodunit, as mentioned in previous post) thriller. I don’t like murders to happen in real life, really, just in fiction. What I found interesting about crime thrillers are not in the gory details of the murder itself, but by the puzzle presented – who did it? And how? And why? I try to guess as I read along, but sometimes I just follow the story. But to tell you the truth, I prefer a simple story – where the murder motives are simply money, love or revenge. (Oh, the glory of Agatha Christies’ stories.) Pyschologically-motivated murders somehow is too ‘complicated’ for me.

Aside from crime thrillers, I also enjoy other types of thrillers, science (like Michael Crichton), medical (like Robin Cook), Dan Brown, adventures. But not really legal (like John Grisham), war or politics. I like Jeffrey Archer, though I’m not sure what his genre is called.

I also like drama, people and romance (not necessarily love story – think Jodi Picoult or Paolo Coelho or Habiburrahman El-Shirazy or Bedar Sukma Bisu by Faisal Tehrani or The Time Traveller’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger). What’s this genre called anyway? Occasionally, I go for chick flicks or something light, for when I just want to unwind and not think. I used to read love stories (like Judith McNought) and historical romance back in secondary school days, but I think I’ve grown past that stage now.

Thirdly, I read science fiction and fantasy fiction, too, though this is more MH’s alley. But no horror fiction for me please (or horror movie, for that matter heh).

Those are fiction. For non-fiction, I like to read essays (various topics, general interest/knowledge), self-motivations or personal development, and books on Islam.

What about you? What’s your favourite genre?

Inspector Singh by Shamini Flint

2010-05-13T23:06:00.000-07:00

OK, I'll start by declaring - one of my favourite fiction genre is whodunits. A whodunit or whodunnit (for "Who done it?") is a complex, plot-driven variety of the detective story in which the puzzle is the main feature of interest. The reader is provided with clues from which the identity of the perpetrator of the crime may be deduced before the solution is revealed in the final pages of the book. The investigation is usually conducted by an eccentric amateur or semi-professional detective. From Wikipedia.

My favourite author for this genre is Agatha Christie, surprise surprise. This Inspector Singh series written Shamini Flint belongs to this genre. I’ve been curious and eager to read this book since I heard about it last year. I’ve just finished reading the first book, A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder, thanks to a friend’s friend who generously lent it to me. My verdict – good! Here’s the blurb:

Inspector Singh is in a bad mood. He’s been sent from his home in Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to solve a murder that has him stumped. Chelsea Liew - the famous Singaporean model - is on death row for the murder of her ex-husband. She swears she didn’t do it, he thinks she didn’t do it, but no matter how hard he tries to get to the bottom of things, he still arrives back at the same place - that Chelsea’s husband was shot at point blank range, and that Chelsea had the best motivation to pull the trigger: he was taking her kids away from her. Now Inspector Singh must pull out all the stops to crack a crime that could potentially free a beautiful and innocent woman and reunite a mother with her children. There’s just one problem - the Malaysian police refuse to play ball?

Image source

The fact that the book is using a local scene works two ways. It’s interesting in the sense that many things mentioned in the book are familiar or something I can relate to. But at the same time, I could get defensive as well, on the nation and religion pride. In the book A Most Peculiar Malaysian Murder for example, the man who whose murder was being investigated, was in the middle of a custody battle with his divorced wife. In a (supposed legal) twist, he was presented in the court to have converted to Islam, and the wife claims that the conversion is not genuine, just a plot to win the custody. The religion card can be a bit sensitive naturally, but I try to keep an open mind. And to be honest, I do feel that the author was fair when writing about Malaysia and its laws and enforcement.

I think the story is convincing and believable, and the author has managed to insert light moments and humour that created an entertaining read. In short, I’ve enjoyed reading it and I look forward to reading the next books in the series: A Bali Conspiracy Most Foul and The Singapore School of Villainy. I wonder where the next book will take place in?

And there goes my two months book budget

2010-05-10T22:19:00.000-07:00

My friend A agreed to join me for the Times book sale last Friday despite the fact that she already planned to go there during the weekend. Thanks for the company, A, and thanks for the lunch treat too! :)

Overall, I think it’s a sale worth going to. Recent and popular books were sold at 30% discount. You can find most popular authors here for example Paolo Coelho, Jodi Picoult, Cecilia Ahern, Sophie Kinsella, John Grisham, Dan Brown (even his latest book The Lost Symbol is going at 30%), Stephen King, the teenage vampire series – Stephanie Mayers I think (don’t really follow or read this hehe), and many many more. Not much BM books though. These are found nearer the entrance. Farther, you see the 3 for RM30, RM20 orRM10 ones, but the books here are more difficult to ‘sieve’ through, placed with the spine facing up rather than the cover. With the limited time, I didn’t manage to scour the area much.

One thing, I noted the posters there said that the sale is actually until the 16th of May instead of the 9th (as per poster in my previous post),but unfortunately I forgot to take the photo of the updated posters itself! So, there’s still time if you want to catch this sale.

I ended up buying 5 books for myself and MH (ok, maybe for myself only) and 2 for the kids (also at 30%). These 7 books costed me RM160. I said it’s my two months book budget because my annual book budget is RM1000, not that much eh? The total price before discount exceeded RM200, so I qualified for a RM10 voucher.

I’ve read Paolo Coelho’s The Alchemist and I really liked it, so I was pleased to see his other titles there. In fact, I couldn’t make up my mind which one to choose from the many options! I chose ‘The Winner Stands Alone’ because I’ve read someone’s review (can’t remember where/who) saying he/she likes the book. And Malcolm Gladwell, I surprised myself by picking up TWO of his books, despite the fact that I’ve never read any of his works before. I have heard a lot about him and his books though. I guess the copywriters who wrote the book blurbs really did a good job - I’m sold!

And these books, weren’t bought, but borrowed from a friend’s friend (passed through A). Thanks, kak, for lending me the books despite the fact that you don’t know me well. Terima kasih daun keladi!

Mega Book Clearance Fair

2010-05-06T02:03:00.000-07:00

I have a date tomorrow with a fellow bookaholic at Book Xcess, Amcorp Mall. I’ve been wanting to go since they open their new and bigger store in March. But then, the store can wait, and this Times sale is only up to the 9th, and the number 90% is really tempting me… I think I’ll give her a call to ask whether she'd mind a change in venue :)

If you haven't got any plan for the weekend, why not drop by at Bangsar Shopping Centre? Other than the Times booksale, there will also be a charity bazaar (on May 8 and 9, 10am to 5pm) organised by VIVA Palestina Malaysia in aid of the Palestinians.

Fantasy fiction

2010-05-03T21:17:00.000-07:00

Image source

I have just finished reading the book Dark Alchemy, which is a compilation of 18 short stories on the theme of magic and wizardry. I’m not the biggest fan of fantasy fiction, it’s more MH’s favourite genre rather than mine, in fact I had bought the book for him. But there are a quite a few of the stories that I had really enjoyed! (There’s also a few that I don’t quite ‘get’.)

Somehow I found myself assessing how I generally accept fantasy fiction written in English compared to the ones in BM. I think there is some sort of mental or cultural ‘block’ if I read a BM fantasy fiction, especially if the story uses Malaysia as the backdrop. My mind would be quick to think – nah, this is so unconvincing or illogical. But if it’s a story written in English and in some far far away places, I somehow don’t ‘judge’ the stories because I have no expectations and knowledge and they are all so distant.

Books relief for tax

2010-04-26T02:32:00.000-07:00

Ok, I admit it - I haven't filed my taxes yet. And there's only a few days left! (Panic!) But at least I got my book purchase receipts in one place. You probably already know that we are entitled for relief of maximum RM1000 per person for purchase of books and magazines. I think this is a very good initiative by the Malaysian government and should be continued, because I do know of people who buy more books (than what they would otherwise do) because of the relief.

The net ringgit value depends on your tax bracket. If you are in the highest bracket, say, which is 26%, you would be paying RM260 less if you manage to get RM1000 worth of receipts. Put in another way, you bought RM1000 worth of books at the price of RM740! So, a simple tip is, if you and your spouse are filing your taxes separately, and the amount of books you both purchased didn't reach RM2000, make sure the maximum amount (RM1000) is reported by the the one with the higher bracket.

Sometimes, when a book seller (from a specific group which I would not mention) come to my office and set up their booth at the lobby, they would put in big words there: "Eligible for tax relief!" How annoying! As if the tax relief is only limited to selected books only.

Anyway, here's the e-filing and LHDN links for your reference.

World Book Day

2010-04-23T02:20:00.000-07:00

It's World Book Day today! I haven't had much time to scour the net to see what's happening today, except for this news on RM1000 worth of books for 1000 schools.

Book Xcess is having a World Book Day sale from 21 - 25 April (for selected books). PTS is giving away 30% for all books (wow!) via Bookcafe, unfortunately it's only for today. So, hurry! What a pity I just got to know this. I wish I have more time to select which books I want to buy.

I haven't thought about how I will celebrate World Book Day. What I know is, tonight, I will be reading a few pages each of the books I'm currently reading, which are Wang, Anda dan Islam by Zaharuddin Abd Rahman and Dark Alchemy, a collection of short stories of the fantasy genre.

The Time Traveller’s Wife

2010-04-15T03:05:00.000-07:00

This book is an absolute must-read! I was hooked from the first chapter. The Time Traveller’s Wife was written by Audrey Niffenegger. The story revolves around Henry who could time travel (albeit involuntarily - he had no control) and his relationship with his wife Clare, and their attempt to lead a normal life. Clare first met Henry when she was 6 and Henry was 36. Henry first met Clare when he was 28 and Clare was 20. The main premise promises this to be an interesting story - when one can time-travel, the boundary between cause and effect, between what has already happened or not, between what one knows or not, becomes blurred. Examples of new context of the word when that I found amusing: ‘I wake up and I find that he’s gone. He must be elsewhen.’ And ‘When are you from?’ A warning, this book contains illicit scenes that deems it suitable only for mature readers.

Another interesting bit about this book is, because it’s written in a first-person view for both Henry and Clare, at different ages, the author has taken care to write in a such a way as to show how a 6-year old or 12-year old Clare sees things differently compared to say a more grown-up Clare. I’ve always find it interesting (I think I use the word interesting too many times) with this method of writing. Two other good examples are The Harmony Silk Factory by Tash Aw where the story is told from 3 perspectives, and hence the narrative style differs in the three distinct chapters. The other book is Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes, where the protaganist undergo scientific experiments that altered his brain and mind, and this is illustrated indirectly in the first-person narration.

One of the things I learnt (or rather I’m reminded of) is to appreciate my moments more, my here and now. I don’t time travel (duh), but there could still be tendencies to look backward or forward beyond reasonable limits. Not anymore. Here and now. Here and now.

When I really like a book, I usually try to promote it to my family (depending on suitability). To my sister I said: “Nanti saya pinjamkan kat awak, ok?” (not “Awak nak pinjam tak?” hehe, so pushy). She was skeptical. “Hmm.. taste kita tak berapa sama.” I answered, “Don’t worry, it’s a love story! Sure you’ll like it.” When I offerred this book to MHH, he was reluctant “But it’s a love story.” I answered “But this guy time-travels, it’s interesting!” Haha, different pitch for different taste :)

I'm aware that the film made based on this book is out, but I'm not interested to watch it because I already know the story and how it all ends. I'm also aware that Audrey Niffenegger's second book titled Her Fearful Symmetry is already published and THAT - is in my wishlist :)

Going the distance for the love of books

2010-04-11T21:27:00.000-07:00

What a heartwarming story! A lady in Indonesia, who continues to love reading despite having to drop out from school due to financial constraints, now spreads her love of reading to children in the rural areas, first by bringing books for loan on her bike and now by opening a small library. Read more here.

I first heard about this from Bibliobibuli.

Still under construction

2010-04-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

I wasn’t actually ready to launch this blog, but I told myself – enough procrastinating! Since it was the book fair week, I thought it’d be good to just go ahead. But the result is – as you can see, this blog looks 'not-quite-finished’. I need to start filling up the columns at the sides with widgets and banners, for example, and I need to find a better header! I want to find something that is related to this blog’s theme which is books, and in case I can’t find one that I like enough, I might need to make my own, and that will take some time because I’m not good with graphics. In any case, I’ll slowly build this blog. My aim to post one or two posts per week, hope I’ll be able to meet my target. Wish me luck!

Update: MH (my husband) has found a nice image for me to use as header. It's the British Museum Library and it's pretty cool :)

KLIBF 2010

2010-04-04T03:45:00.000-07:00

I went to the 29th Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair on Thursday the 25th March. I took a half day leave on a working day because I prefer to visit the booths in a less crowded environment. In any case, I only spent 90 minutes there because I had run out of cash by then! There's nothing like sticking to one's budget like bringing just enough cash and refraining from using one's ATM or credit cards.

Here are the books that I've bought. Several novels, one non-fiction and several mini cookbooks for me, and one storybook and two boardbooks for my kids.

And here's one of the photos I took there. Less visitors on a weekday.

Why bother go to the book fair? To me, it's both the discounts and excitements :)

Hello!

2010-03-23T03:08:00.000-07:00

Salaam and hello! My name is Siti and I’m based in Malaysia. I love reading, mostly fiction but also non-fiction, in both Bahasa Malaysia and English. In school, I used to get scoldings from my mum because I read storybooks during the exam weeks. In university, I frequented the public library more often that the university library to get my regular dosage of non-academic-related books. I’m lucky to have met a soulmate who’s also a bookworm. Together, we hope to raise our kids (currently 4 and 2) to love reading, too. My dream job is to get paid for reading books (know of any vacancy? :) ). Mesra Buku means ‘book-friendly’ approximately.