Flights – Olga Tokarczuk

When I first started this book, I kept getting lost in its passages. 

Like a new kid in a new classroom, like a traveler in a new place, 

I kept looking back retracing my steps to gain a footing in the story that unravels within the clean white pages of Flights. 

Then gradually, as I began to gain an insight on the concept of the book, 

I simply read on and immersed myself into the blanket of words and the world that comes with it. 

The stories told in this book were all mostly very new to me, very foreign,

I felt like I’m the owner of an apartment building to which I have the keys for all of its doors. 

I like how it kept mentioning about travel, 

the sensations felt in flights, 

airports, time, existence, infinite, finite, 

and humans in its fragility and agility.

I found it wonderful how the book weaved its way through such a detached yet complete way, 

hopping from one sequence to another, much to the pleasure yet confusion of the reader. 

I remember being surprised as I turned to the next page and realised the page was blank. 

I didn’t want it to end just yet and I couldn’t guess when it will end unlike other books I have read due the way it uphold itself.

At the last page, I felt as if I was about to embark on another journey, riding on a plane around complete strangers, anticipating what is about to come. I really like the ending, especially since I have always like the concept of flights and airports. It was an enlightening read. Another journey made in the crevice of my quiet world.

Di-Bawah Alunan Ombak, A.Rashid Bin Ngah

DI-BAWAH ALUNAN OMBAK, A. RASHID BIN NGAH, 1970

SA-PATAH KATA

            Pengalaman2 dalam masa pendudokan Pemerentahan Tentera Jepun di-tanah ayer kita waktu Perang Dunia 2 dahulu ada-lah pengalaman yang luar biasa. Luar biasa dari segi penderitaan hidup dan luar biasa dari segi jiwa dan rohani tiap2 orang yang hidup waktu itu.

            Belum banyak pengalaman2 tersebut di-kesahkan sa-chara mendalam oleh penulis2 novel kita dan belum pula banyak di-cheritakan dengan chara yang menarek hati serta memberikan gambaran yang sesuai untuk bachaan anak2 kita yang sedang meningkat ‘umor belajar berfikir.

            Buku DI-BAWAH ALUNAN OMBAK ini di-terbitkan untok memenuhi kehendak yang kedua itu. Buku ini mencheritakan dengan mudan dan menarek hati akan sa-bahagian dari kesah yang di-alami oleh pendudok2 di-Pantai Timor waktu akhir2 pendudokan Tentera Jepun itu.

            Dan yang mustahak sa-kali buku ini menanamkan beneh kebenchian terhadap perang, di-samping menyuborkan bibit keberanian dan ketabahan dalam dada anak2.

            Buku ini khas di-terbitkan untok bachaan orang2 muda peringkat Sekolah Menengah, tetapi tidak-lah pula kurang elok-nya untok bachaan orang2 yang lebih dewasa.

Syed Nasir Bin Ismail

Pengarah DBP

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This is a book I read in 2018. The foreword is simple and direct but it warms my heart upon seeing the sincerity of the author in writing this book. 

This book was published on the concern that there are not many stories about the life in Malaya during the Japanese occupation and World War 2 that are interesting or suitable enough for the young generation. The life during the occupation was described as surreal in its sufferings and the mental and spiritual state of the people in that era.

It was stated that the most important objective of this book is to cultivate hatred towards war and instill values about bravery, patience and perseverance towards the young generation. 

I wish to make a book review on this classic as I think the message of this book is too precious to be wasted in the yellowish pages of his book. We'll see about this review. I have to be a bit more rajin for this review as it has been a long time since I read this book. We'll see.

Book Review on Writer VS Editor by Ria n. Badaria

This is a book that caught my interest through its title ‘Writer VS Editor’ and the ‘Penulis Muda Berbakat Terbaik Khatulistiwa Literary Award 2008-2009’ tag that comes with it. I wanted know what made the book so great to deserve that award and really, reading the book is the only way for me to receive the answer.

It is a story about how the lives of Nuna, an aspiring writer, and Rengga, an editor, interweaves and unfold into romance and drama.

The first few pages captured my attention because of the author’s way of characterizing the two main characters and their respective lives. They are both opinionated people, can come off strong to people they dislike, one is working in a store?, another in a book company, and they both have traits that I find admirable and just plain stupid. Good enough for me to immerse myself in their worlds as I wanted to know how their paths will cross and the two characters clash their personalities.

Even in the very beginning, the author described how Nuna, the lady main character, has an obsession towards korean dramas. Nuna, quite a few times in the book, envy and wished she could be like that female main character in the korean drama she was watching. Why? Because the female main character have two handsome, hot and rich bachelors fighting for her love. Duh. Interesting how the author made that link between the drama and  Nuna’s real life drama which she, at that time, haven’t realized that. The part about Nuna envying the female lead in the drama, and the love Nuna had for Korean dramas that was told to readers a lot in the beginning forshadowed how much Nuna’s life will turn into a korean drama itself. I could clearly paint out the scenes that will unfold as soon as I made that forshadowing conclusion.

The one thing I really liked in this book is how the author created such a good chemistry between Rengga and Randit, and also Nuna and her bestfriends. Their conversations and reactions towards each other are always filled with comical and sarcastic moments. They are the type of friends whom you can always rely on to knock your head when you’re acting like an idiot yet comfort you when you’re down in the slums. I feel like the friends here, plays a huge role in supporting Nuna and Rengga to continue giving their best to their life. Honestly those two would have a hard time achieving their ambitions if not for their friends firmness and support.  I also enjoy seeing how Nuna and Rengga often naturally share their problems and dramas to their friends. I think that’s very important, mental-health-wise. The friendship portrayed in this book is very mature and warm, suitable with the life of the main characters.

My slight awkwardness with the book is how, after reading about half of the book, and having read the part about classic male main character getting drunk and unconsciously kissed the female main character, and then suddenly after some pages, there was a scene about Nuna’s father passing away and the family read Yasin together… Idk about you, but I was shocked on the Yasin part. Duh, after alcohol and kissing, I kind off thought Nuna is a non-muslim. What a shocker, but is it?. Quite a few times in the book, there was mention of God by the character, but really, that’s pretty common. The only time the book depicted Nuna as a muslim was during the Yasin part. Unsure about the rest of the characters since nothing was mentioned. Of course, this is just a nagging thought of mine. I felt like maybe, the religion part can be portrayed better?. But it could also be the lifestyle of Nuna is the lifestyle led by the author and the people around her. To each their own perspective on love, life, and religion. Heh.

Asides from that, I like the writing style of the author. Her writings are so filled with life. Like I could imagine her characters in real life. They are realistic, fun, irritating, and have all the spices needed to make a fun book. Regarding the plot, it was too cliché for me. In the beginning, it was alright, but the moment Arfat came home and Rengga fell in love with Nuna, the book turned into the Korean drama on Nuna’s TV screen (minus that evil mother in law or female love rival). I don’t think this is neither a bad or good thing. I’m sure a lot of people will enjoy reading this book. I enjoyed it quite a bit. Like I said, I like the author’s writing style and I’m sure there’s plenty of reasons as to why the book won a literary award.

Would I read it again? No. The storyline is not for me. Though I would recommend this book to those who enjoy reading classic romance, and a leisure read.

“Hidup memang tidak selalu berjalan sesuai rencana atau kehendak manusia. Akan selalu ada kejutan di setiap sesinya, entah kejutan itu akan berakhir menyenangkan atau tidak, tergantung dari mana kita sebagai pelaku hidup ini melihatnya. Maka di sinilah manusia, pelakon hidup yang harus siap menghadapi kehidupan yang penuh misteri, dengan atau tanpa rencana.”