LIST OF BOOKS BOUGHT IN 2001:
-Refer to Bookshelf

On second count, I discovered that for the year 2001, I have bought 18 books. I gave away 2 books as presents, and managed to read 12 books only. Another four books to read early next year.

Now, I am on chapter 3 of Sungai Mengalir Lesu, a novel wriiten by A Samad Said. He really knows how to use the language that made him Tokoh Sastera. Saya akur kehebatan Pak Samad! If we want to be successful in our work,one of the things is that we must be well versed with the tools of the trade.

cerita kedai kopi #81-[19/12/2001]
 
 
 
 
 

Remembering Ramadhan...

Again, I bade farewell to Ramadhan al-Mubarak. Thanks to Allah swt for His mercy that I was  able to fast in the holy month of Ramadhan 1422.I hope and pray that I will once again meet the next Ramadhan,1423. As a muslim, I fast during the day-lights and I do not have many stories to tell from my conversations while having coffee or tea. Occasionally, I did have some time after our teraweh prayers to sit down with my fellow neighbours at our 'surau' (minor mosque) and we chatted after the prayers over a cup of tea and some cakes before we go home. I think it was a time well spent to talk and to get to know my neighbours closer. Our urban life-style does not allow much interaction between neighbours-many of us hardly know our next door neighbours especially in big cities like KL. Most of the time,we just say hello as and when we meet them on our way to office or back home-that is all. By being at the mosque during Ramadhan, it allowed more time for most people to meet and get to know one another. Truly, this is one of the many benefits of going to pray at the mosque.

Now, I am back home with sweet and sad memories of 'balik kampung'(return to one's village). I was happy to meet my mother,brother,sister,relatives and friends.I was happy and even nostalgic to be 'home' where I was born,to see the school that I first learnt the alphabets and simple multiplication tables and to meet familiar faces that I grew up as a child. I was happy to eat 'moreh'(drinks and light foods) after teraweh prayers at the same surau that I prayed and played truant when I was a kid. It also reminded me of my late father who used to lead the teraweh prayers. Quietly, I told myself how lucky I am.

Most of the places in my kampung have changed over the years but a few remain as they were someforty years ago.On the other hand, I was equally sad because only a few of my elders are round-many had died over the years. I am no more a young man, and soon will have to take the place of my elders. During one 'asar prayer, I was the only makmum-for many young people have left the kampung. That is the cycle of life. A few of my relatives are gravely sick;even my fifty-two  year old uncle is still paralysed due to a recent stroke and my cousin is suffering from cancer. One of my classmates that I met at a kenduri at my uncle's house looks like a 60 year old man. My kids got a shock looking at him when he told us that he got eight children and already a grandfather.By the way, he is only 49 years old-same age as me. He is a father who supports his family using his 'tulang empat kerat'.(physical efforts).The hard life he had undergone was reflected on his wrinkled and worn out face. Again, I whispered to myself how lucky I am.

Balik kampung is an annual ritual for urban population who hailed from kampung. It is at least oncea year affair that many of us do. I believe not less than a million do it without fail every festive season and I think it is a good practice that we must maintain despite its negative effects like road accidents. I beg to differ with a local TV commentator who said that balik kampung is 'budaya lapuk'( obsolete culture). To be modern we do not have to drop our religious and cultural values and practice. Japan is a living example. In fact, I agree with with Dr Siddiq Fathil in his monograph produced by IKD that modern Malays need even more religious and cultural values to ride the New Millennium. I am afraid that our society will get lost on the road  for modernisation and globalisation if we start discarding our good religious and cultural values and practices.

Everyone of us has a story to tell every time we balik kampung.This year my family and me went home from KL to Bachok by train. We boarded the train(Kenali Expess) at KL Sentral at 7.08am and arrived at Wakaf Baru by 6.45pm. The KTM officer told me that we are 20 minutes late. To me, by Malaysian standard it was a perfect journey in term of time. My ever helpful brother in-law with his Volvo 920 was at the railway station to pick us up and he even got some food and drinks ready so that we can 'buka puasa ' in the car by about 7.02pm. How lucky some people are! Please don't get jealous because last year it was the opposite when no one turned up to pick us up because our train was delayed by 6 hours.(You can read the story entitled The Longest Journey Home at my Travelust,Pergi website-http://www.geocities.com/mohdadib/). Three days later,on the eve of Hari Raya Puasa(15/12/2001) my cousin left KL at about 9 a.m and managed to arrive at his father's house in Bachok, Kelantan at 2a.m the next day-The Hari Raya itself. The road was full with cars and at certain stretches in Pahang and Kelantan the road was under water due to heavy rainfall. In fact, I could safely say that many of us from the east coast were having a wet Hari Raya celebration. Only on the third day of Hari Raya that we can move slowly around even with our car.Kota Bharu was jammed with cars at every round-about and traffic junction. Most of my relatives were busy during the third Hari Raya,so I have to engage a private taxi(privet sapu) operated by Pak Lah who lives 200 metres from my house to send my family to the railway station. His car is a 20 years old Toyota, no air-con, smelly and there was one inch of water in it.On the way he told us how he raised four children by doing part job as driver privet sapu taxi because he was only a school gardener.(Pak Lah retired three years ago). Despite his low income and educational background, he managed to get two of his children to the universities. To me, that is a real achievement! As we endured the uncomfortable ride, I exchanged glances with my kids to ensure that they listen to Pak Lah 's story and telling them how lucky they were as compared to Pak Lah's children.We took The Wau Express from Wakaf Baru railway station at 6:38pm and arrived in KL the next day around 7:30am the next morning -almost on time by KTM standard but the train had to stop just before  Bangsar for almost 45minutes before we could enter the ultra modern KL Sentral Railway Station! Reason- there was a black out at KL Sentral ! Otherwise, my train journey would be almost perfect. That is too good to be true;-)

Despite the heavy rain during the time I was at my kampung, I made an extra effort to visit as many friends and relatives-especially the older and the sick ones.The lessons that I learnt from this short stay at my kampung are really a lot. Some have great spiritual impacts and effects on me. It would be meaningless for me to elaborate because they were of experiencial and personal in nature.If you wish to know more about it, just go home more often, walk around and meet your kampung folks.

Now, we are in Syawal and let's maintain and continue our good deeds and behaviour until the next Ramadhan. And let our balik kampung be our annual pilgrimmage to renew( tajdid) and rejuvenate our religious foundamentals, cultural roots and values.....and pass them on to the next generation, insyaAllah.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Semasa bercuti raya,aku sempat baca monograph Melayu Baru karangan Siddiq Fadhil.

Now I am reading Wired and FastCompany-Dec,2001. Both cost me RM51!

Email dari Madolah on my writing:

Adib,

Lazimnya seorang yang 'alim tidak akan mendabik dada
di depan khalayak ramai yang dia itu seroang 'alim
atau lebih arif dari orang lain.

Orang yang berilmu tidak akan mendongak dan
menghebahkan kepada duan yang dia itu behat.

Adib,

dari hati yang tulus saya nyatakan hang memang boleh
menulis. Saya masih ingat, semalam ada kawan kita dah
baca apa yang di tulis oleh cikgu Rahim di Mingguan
Malaysia. Seorang penulis biasa nya bermula dari
tulisan yang kecil-kecil.

Setelah dapat pendedahan sedikit demi sedikit, penulis
itu akan menimba ilmu dan akan mengexpress kan nya di
bukut coretan...... seterusnya akan di tulis di dada
akhbar... kemudian, membukukan nya seterusnya aktif
terus didalam penulisan.

Didalam menulis ini saya salute juga Pak PM kita - Dr.
Mahathir. Walaupun beliau sebaok dengan tugas-tuegas
PM, Ketua Negara, Wakil Parlimen dan wakil rakyat,
beliu sempat menulis. Banyak buku-buku telah beliau
tulis. Yang tersohor dan controversi at one time is
his book 'The Malay Delime'. Sekalrang saya rasa,
apart from book on him wrote by other authors, beliau
telah mengeluarkan tidak kurang dari 10 buku on
variuous topic. He is a doctor.

Based on that, I am confident, you as an engineer, one
way will publish your book dan market it. Your cerita
kedai kopi is good. If you compile it, it be a better
seller........ Mungkin hang boleh memberi tajuk
"Memori Seorang Pengembara". Lepas itu hang akan
keluarkan buku "Memori Seorang Jurutera". Lagi
buku-buku berkenaan "Water Management di Malaysia" dan
lain-lain lagi.

Setakat nak carikan publisher/printer tu kami boleh
tolong.

Hang akan dapat royalty.

Semuga berjaya.

salaam
MA

Semalan Negara kehilangan satu tokoh yg sukar dicari ganti-Usman Awang.Berikut adalah satu email yg aku tulis kepada rakanku:
Madolah,

Masyarakat sepatutnya berkabung kehilangan sastrawan negara yg begitu
prolifik semasa hidupnya.Tapi sayang seribu kali sayang, masyarakat kini
lebih tertumpu kepada yg berpangkat ,berkuasa dan berharta.Sastrawan kita
kadang2 nak hidup pun susah.Begitu juga dengan tokoh ilmu ....

Dalam buku The Asian Renaisance karangan Anwar Ibrahim,beliau ada
membicarakan supremacy of culture and knowledge.Culture comes before the
empire, not the other way around. Kisah Si Tanggang yg lupa diri ,lupa asal
usulnya telah di sumpah menjadi batu oleh ibunya yg terhina dengan sikap
angkuhnya .Sekarang kita lihat ramai Si Tanggang dalam pelbagai
bidang.Manyarakat telah terpedaya dengan budaya Barat dan telah meninggalkan
budaya dan nilai timur kita yg mulia.Sebab itu sudah ramai yg telah tesumpah
menjadi batu-sumpah oleh Ibu Pertiwi!.Batu dalam ertikata badan yg sudah
kehilangan rohnya. Amat malang sekali nasib bangsa kita:-((

----adib,

----- Original Message -----
From: "Saa'il Bareed"
To:
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 11:35 PM
Subject: Re: [sdar] Usman Awang


> sdr Adib,
>
> sebutir lah mutiara yang telah kembali keRahmatullah
>
> Semuga Allah memasukkan arwah kedalam golongan mereka yang beriman,.
>
> salaam
> MA
>
>

Munir and me watched Harry Potter movie this morning.
Very good!

In My Own Write
The family that reads together...
By Vasanthi Ramachandran
“The man who is too busy to read is never likely to lead.”

B.C. Forbes

A DIARY which writes back; portraits with curlers in their hair each night; a professor who dies but does not notice it; children flying on brooms playing a ball game called Quidditch and magic hats which tell a person’s character.

Magic and more can be found in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer”s Stone” making the book, the movie and its author the hottest items this millennium.

It is impossible not to be sucked into JK Rowling’s contemporary wizard world that is so real and yet goes beyond anyone’s imagination.

However, though the film has a lot going for it, I would say that there is a lot more of the picturesque stuff that director Chris Columbus (who also did Home Alone) could not capture.

Rowling’s narration using new words, new games and new names is so unique and amazingly-believable. That is the beauty about a good book and a successful author.

In a well-written fantasy, the reader will depart from reality and be absorbed into the fantasy of it.

With the success of Harry Potter, we realise what children really want from books — fantasies, twists and the ability to identify with the characters that they care about. But most of all children want to know that justice prevails, there will be good over evil and that there are clear distinctions between right and wrong.

Though children read mainly for pleasure, we can weave in lessons, meanings and messages with a beautiful narration.

“I wanted to write a book that I enjoy now and would have enjoyed when I was 10,” said Rowling, a single mother whose own life magically transformed from living on unemployment benefits to being one of the richest in the UK.

Rowling came out of nowhere to hit the top of the adult hardcover bestseller list all over the world. Her book has brought a new phenomenon in reading — a book that both adults and children enjoy with the same intensity.

I understand Rowling’s euphoria when she said, “I love writing these books. I don’t think anyone could enjoy reading them more than I enjoy writing them.” Her success is the dream of any writer.

Rowling, wrote on scraps of paper in a local cafe while her three-month old slept at her side. “It was pretty cold and miserable in the flat, so as soon as Jessica fell asleep in her buggy, we’d head for the cafe and I would start writing,” said Rowling.

Her ideas first evolved when she was stuck on a delayed train to London.

“It started with Harry, then all these characters and situations came flooding into my head. It was an excitement I’d never known before. But it took me six years to write the book.”

Rowling clearly possesses both ear and eye for the unexpected, working her own brand of magic with turns of phrase and flashes of humour that are subtle. Undeniably, Rowling’s series plucked an imaginative chord, and children responded with enthusiasm. These vibrations rocked the adult best-seller lists as well and got the attention of the media.

Indeed, what it boils down to is, there is no substitute for reading, even in this era when knowledge could be acquired from other means. Reading is the key that takes us to a world of thought, fancy and imagination that is beyond our everyday experiences.

Sadly, Malaysians hardly do read. They read textbooks merely to pass exams.

A lot must still be down to change this. Reading must be seen as a fun thing - a family activity, if possible.

Well, the Harry Potter series have indeed given my three children, my husband and I a lot of joy. The books have become a conversation topic as well as invoked other fun activities.

Start by reading the first book or catch the movie and you will know what I mean...

* The writer can be contacted at hsskns@pc.jaring.my

The family that reads together....

Dear Vasanthi Ramachandran,

Referring to your article in the NST to-day, I can only dream of it. I have three kids ( all boys ranging from 12 to 20 yrs old) and only my second son enjoys reading . I have tried many methods, but the other two of my boys just only read their school text books:-((

Btw, my wife and me read books at home. Any tips?

On the other hand, I started a mailinglist among friends who enjoy reading. Please check it out at : http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bookcafe
You are aslo welcome to join us.

Best regards,

---Mohd Adib Noh

Books to read by year end 2001:

1. The Asian Renaissance-Anwar Ibrahim
2.The Painted House-John Grisham
3.The Code Book-Simon Singh

Now, I am reading The Asian Renaissance- a very intellectually provoking book.Hope to finish by end of the year 2001.

Dah hampir tamat baca buku Tasauf Moden. Satu pengajaran dari sabda Rasullulah apa dia tanya Jibrail sama ada dia hendak kaya saperti Nabi Sulaiman atau miskin saperti Nabi Ayub? Rasullulah menjawap:
Dia mahu senang satu hari supaya dia bersyukur dan susah satu hari supaya dia berdoa kepada Allah.

Some notes from Tasauf Moden by HAMKA:

The rich and the poor may have different foods at different places, but the feeling of full( kenyang) is the same. Similary, the feeling of headaches or other illness is the same irresppective where you live either in the palaces or on the roadsides. The final event -death of oneself ,is also the same.

Cover Story (NST)
Hats off, Harry!
By Sharon Nelson
THIS goes out to all Potter fans who refuse to watch the film on principle: Don't be so blitheringly mule-headed.
Yes, Hollywood is particularly adept at turning gold to flaking-off gilt, and yes, the hammy Home Alone are no great testament to director Chris Columbus' ability. But since you believe in magic, believe that some of it was at work here. If previous Hollywood releases are anything to go by, the bigger the hype, the bigger the let-down. Not so with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which is a beautifully-rendered piece of work, as fine as if it were outlined by a feathery quill and filled in with all the colours of enchantment. In short, as you would have no doubt heard or read by now, it stays remarkably close to the book, no mean feat since J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (Bloomsbury, 1997) simply fizzes with witchery. Rowling, a struggling single mother at the time, shot to fame and wealth with this first of an anticipated seven Harry Potter books. The arrival of Harry changed children's reading habits worldwide -- he has been translated into every conceivable language, including Persian. In the initial euphoria, CNN reported in its health segment that kids the world over were turning away from computer and television screens to read about the boy wizard.
The story goes like this: Harry is an orphan who lives with his mean, repulsive relatives, the Dursleys. The Dursleys relegate him to a cupboard under the stairs and the misery of his life is untold. Until, that is, his 11th birthday, when Harry finds out that he is, in fact, a powerful wizard and a household name in the wild world of magic. He gets accepted into the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and, like all interesting people, quickly makes good friends and deadly enemies. Soon, he finds himself the main player in an Arthurian quest -- to recover the Sorcerer's Stone and more importantly, to prevent it from getting into the wrong hands. Rowling's writing is replete with visual drama and wonderful quirks, all spectacularly captured in the 2 1/2-hour-long film. From chocolate frogs and feasts that magically appear, to the power of unicorn blood and the danger of flying high, you get the sneaky feeling that someone stole into your imagination and took what was there. The casting, essential in a story where each character is described to a T, is as precise as a pinprick. Daniel Radcliffe, the boy who plays the title role, was decided upon after eight months of casting calls during which tens of thousands of Harry-hopefuls were weeded out. Though the search for his two best friends - the large-nosed redhead Ron Weasley and bushy-haired know-it-all Hermione Granger - was by no means as exacting, there is definitely a welcome onscreen chemistry between Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson. The rest of the cast, stunningly talented and no doubt dramatically expensive, deliver the sterling performances expected of them. Richard Harris plays wise and kindly Albus Dumbledore, Maggie Smith the no-nonsense Professor McGonagall and Robbie Coltrane, the gentle giant Hagrid. Particularly outstanding is John Hurt's dry, sibilant Mr Ollivander, the person who sells Harry his wand. Columbus shows a sharp eye for what translates well into film. One of the main strengths of the film is that it does not try to be the book. As good book-to-film-makers (think Merchant Ivory, Lasse Hallstrom) know, pregnant moments in writing often come across as damp squibs of emotion on film. Take, for example, the scene in Mr Ollivander's shop. In the book, Harry needs only hold a wand for Ollivander to fathom its unsuitability. On the screen however, the scene is modified to be slightly more energetic. Harry's wand-waving goes awry and the sense of chaos is only heightened by Hurt's raised eyebrows and an understated "I don't think so". Another sign of a thoughtful production is Alan Rickman's Professor Severus Snape. In the first book, Snape is Harry's sworn enemy, cast in the mould of the teacher-bully who picks on people because he can. But readers learn in later books that Snape is not all he is cut out to be. Without the luxury of hundreds of pages, Rickman's sardonic, proud and threatening Snape conveys all the complexity of a character who is by turn cruel, misunderstood and a bitterly-reluctant good guy.
Rowling's heavy involvement in the film configuration of her beloved novel (she only liaised with one person in the whole of Warner Bros whose job description was the Harry Potter Gatekeeper) paid off tremendously.
Given the care that went into the making of the film, one cannot help but wonder why the promotion locally was so - come on, let's say it -- soggy.
Earlier this year, insiders in Warner Bros Malaysia promised a bewitching lead-up to the release which included, a ride in a train dressed up to look like the Hogwarts Express, a Harry Potter buffet and a costume party. None of this happened and the reason this is worth the grumble is not because journalists missed out on a palmful of freebies. No, promoting Harry Potter matters because it would have been the ideal tool for drawing children into the magic world of the written word, ESPECIALLY in a country which is not known for its devotion to books. As it was, there were grave errors on the invitation - "veune" for "venue", for one - a dismal representation of a writer who nearly won the Whitbread.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is by no means a perfect film. In remaining so loyal to the visuals and the text, the filmmakers seem to have neglected the emotional muscle which gave the book its luminosity. The reason that millions of children, from Iran to China, let Harry into their hearts is that he is really, astoundingly ordinary. His is a flame of grief that never gets put out no matter how many friends he has, or how much better his life gets; and if you think that children don't understand these things, then you're seriously kidding yourself. Radcliffe's expressions however, range only between impassive and in bright moments, a sweet, sweet smile. The Harry that we all fell in love with gets angry, breaks rules and is too curious for his own good. Most of all, he is no stranger to the searing pain that lives within all of us, the loneliness and yearning which is burnt into our very beings.
The film-makers chose to work around that, rather than with it. In doing so, they missed out a large chunk of what makes the book enduring.
Still, the film is full of spellbinding moments loving depicted - in a word, magic.
* The writer can be contacted at sharon@nstp.com.my
------------------------------------------------------------------------

My priority is to read my books on Islam during Ramadhan. May Allah swt open my heart to him. One can easlily looks good if one were to buy and wear new clothes but that easy to beautify one's heart. It take a lot of hard work and patience ....I am still trying harder.

Just finished reading Harry Potter's and the Philosopher's Stone.Whew! I thought I would never finish this book. At first ,it appeared boring and childish reading this book.However, as the story developed towards the end,it is getting better.I am glad that I read it but I will continue reading other books first before I start reading the HP second book;-)

Just arrived at Chapter 16 of HP. I hope to finish the story to-night.
My next book to finish is Tasauf Moden,insyaAllah before the middle of Ramadhan.

Popular Bookstore is promoting a few books especially the hardcover ones. To-day, I can't resist buying my favourite guru's book on SIMPLICITY.To me ,simplicity is a beauty by itself. The book is called The simplicity Reader written by Elaine St. James.

Note; The original price for the book is USD 10 but I got it for RM 17.90

Harry Potter movie is coming to KL on 22/11/2001 and Ramadhan starts on 17.11.2001.
So, I must read Tasauf and HP first.

On checking what I am reading, I found that I am half way on Tasauf, one third on HP, one tenth on The Code Book and one third on Painted House! Four books at the same time:-(( It is time to set up my priority right.

Just finished Chapter 6 of HP& TPS. At home ,I read from the book. On the move ,I read it from palm111c using Isilo. Hope to see the movie on 22nd Nov;2001.

Now, I am on page 60 of HP and the Philosopher's Stone. Hopefully, I try to finish reading the book before the movie comes to KL.

My friend Dr A told me that Harry Potter book is good to read even though it was meant for children. My kids are not interested to read it at all-too much fantasy according to Maher. Anyway, I will give a try;at least I will have some background when I see the movie later on.

Btw, there is going to be the premier show in London on Sunday 4.11.2001.

To-day I got sms from Fahroe that my email to Ryan( about Ryan's well) has been printed by Reader's Digest in the Nov.,2001 issue. I look forward to read it as soon as I can get a copy.

Now, I am also looking forward to buy another book called Fire by Christian Junger. The book relates to his story about the war in Afghanistan prior to 11th September 2001.He is the writer who wrote The Perfect Storm.

To-day I read in NST about the power of USA press in influencing the people and the subsequently the governmnet. Dr Mahathir is right about it.That is what I also saw how the press propaganda machine is labouring everyday to justify US attack on Afghanistan.

That reminds me to read a book written by Jefferey Archer called the Fourth Estate. I bought this book in May 1996 while I was in London with my family for a holiday. Now, I see the reasons why UMNO and MCA want to have a controlling stake in the media (newspapers/tv) business.

Time: sunday 21.10.2001
Place: COFFEE XPRESS,KINOKUNIYA BOOKSHOP,KLCC
Event: attended a reading by Mr Kee and his friends from Kopitiam.
Crowd: Full.
Met: Dina Zaman at the Coffee Xpress.
Saw: A Samad Said at the Bookshop
Enjoyed the show!

Tafsir Ibn Khaithir

Halim brought me to The Specialist bookshop and showed me the tafsir by Ibn Khaithir. I must agree with him that is one of the best tafsir. This tafsir is also recommended by Wan Ngah. The tafsir conyains in ten books and they cost RM 812 for a set.

Bought two novels to-day-one for me (Enigma) and another (Powerbook) for my wife as birthday presents.I am in my late 40's and she is in her early 40's. In the last fortnight, I already bought three books -enough to last me until the end of the year.

ENIGMA : the novel

To-day I saw a book that I must buy from MPH Jaya Jusco Taman Maluri. It is entitled Enigma-The Novel written by Robert Harris. Before the movie comes to KL, I must read it. Enigma intrigued me when I read the book called Station X. It is the story about code breaking and deciphering work at Blecthley Park,England. By the way, there was a related movie called U 571.

Books for September/October Readings

I have been eyeing these two books for the past few months but they were too expensive for me.(in hard covers). Now,they are available in paperback - A Painted House by John Grisham and The Code Book by Simon Singh.

Currently : reading Tasauf Moden half way through.

I have been neglecting my books the last few days because I was reading reports and personal stories about the tragedy of WTC:-(( This event caught the whole world by suprise. I am digesting the news and hopefully I could 'read' the meaning of the meaning!

Just bought the special edition of Newsweek-full of tragic pictures of WTC. Now, I know the real meaning of the phrase that a picture is worth more than a thousand words! Reading the story is one thing, undertanding the meaning of the event is another.

Bought Oct Issue of Fast Company.This the 5th annual anniversary issue. Btw, I bought the firts issue five years ago but could not trace it:-((
New Motto: Work is serious fun!
The old motto: Work is personal;Computing is social;Knowledge is power and Break the rules!

Last night I visited a schoolmate at ICU Pantai Medical Centre.He is one year older than me but he is dying on a bed fully supported by Life Support system(LSS). In about 30 minutes from now,the family has decided to disconnect LSS because there is no way he could recover. Death is waiting for him any time now.My "reading" of the case is simply that this thing can happen to anyone-only this time it happens to Khairuddin.Only miracles can save him.
Some of the words are not written;we must be able to read them.Many are written all over the world, but most of us failed to read them.
Life is very short-so make the best of it everyday while you can.
(PS: My friend passed away about noon on 9.9.2001)

Now,the school holidays has started for my youngest son. He is 12 yrs old and has just finished his UPSR. He told me to buy his form one text books but I replied not yet. I prefer him to read non text books for the holidays so that he develops a reading habit and becomes not only educated but cultured as well.

"Reading makes a man".

It is my personal ambition to get all my kids to acquire the good reading habit before they left me.So far, I managed to get one out of three;-)

Strengh In Numbers is a book I bought some years back but never had the time to read it . My son's maths teacher borrowed it for a year and returned to me only a year ago.Somehow, I kept postphoning reading it. Now it is staring at my face.

Yesterday I read the first chapter.I hope to read it this month to refresh my little mind on the beauty of mathematics.

It has been more than a year since I bought Yahoo! Internet Life Magazine. However,this September issue is a special one. It is the 5th anniversary of YIL. It contains a lot of stories about the people and the Internet.
So, I bought it and now reading every page of it!
The dotcoms come and go, but I believe the Internet will stay.

Bought the September issue of Reader's Digest. Also a special issue of Yahoo!- the fifth anniversary.
Somehow, I am not in the mood to read books but prefer to read short stories and articles from magazines.

I hope to go to Silverfish bookshop for Merdeka Reading to-day.

When I read an email from a friend that he read four Harry Potter books,then only I am convinced that millions are reading the books that make the author JR Rowling millions of quids! Honestly, I can't get to read the first ten pages of the books. There goes the saying -A man's meat is another man's poison!

Hello!
This is a test using remote posting.

My friend told me that he is working in the BEST place in the WORLD! Where else can it be? He is having a nice room at 36th floor of Menara Petronas overlooking the beautiful garden! After having his lunch for 15 minutes, he will bury himself in the Kunikoniya Bookshop reading whatever books he chooses!

Now, I really believed that some people are born lucky.
Anyone wishes to employ me there? Just call, I come running.....

Just bought a magazine called The Web.The main story is :

Hacking: An Anthology

At the mosque to-day, I bought a book by Prof. Dr Hamka-Tasauf Moden.Hope to read it before the coming Ramadhan on the 16th. Nov.,20001

I like arts but reading books about arts make me go to sleep.Real stories is better-like biography and personal adventures.

Just finished reading Hamka' s Kenangan Hidup. Now, I am going to read something on management.My favourite magazine is Fast Company.On Literature, I prefer Utne Reader but when it comes to something 'geeky', my my choice is Wired.

To-day I met a friend who seldom read books-too busy he said. However, he reads political events taking place in my country. This is a kind of reading that not many can do. It is a reading without uttering a word!
Something like reading between the lines.

While we talked business over a steaming hot morning coffee, I also mentioned about my interest in reading to my business asociate. She asked me what book I am reading. I told her that I am reading Bookstore because I am interested to know more about bookshops.In fact, I have visited a few interesting bookshops in London,Beunos Aires, Boston,Melbourne and Sydney.She told me about an interesting book entitled Rich Dad,Poor Dad. Btw, she also reads books in French. How nice if I could also read mathematical books in French especially the discourse by Descartes.
Honestly, I love to be able to read in Arabic for my soul and in French for my mind;-)

After sending my wife to Starhill, I entered the Starbuck cafe' at KL Plaza. Then I ordered a cup of mocha americano as recommended by the salesgirl. Honestly I am always lost on what to order every time I go to Starbuck or Gloria Jeans-too many brands of coffee to choose from. After making myself comfortable, I took out my notebook and began to write notes of what I see and feel inside the cafe'. This is my first time writing in such a place. I got the feeling like a writer writing his first draft of his next novel along Champs Elyse'es in Paris!
The music and the ambience are the gravity and the lubricant pushing my creative juice down to my pen and paper.

Soon the movie entitled The Tailor of Panama will come to my local cinema. That reminds me to read the book by Le Carre' which I bought at London Terminal 3 Airport on 7th June,1997! I bought the novel for more than four years ago and never find the time to read. Every time I want to read the book, I always prefer to another another book. I think I am *not* doing justice to the author;-)

Actually, I have a few more books that I have bought that keep gathering dust. The execuse is the same as above.My rate of reading book is half my rate of buying books!

HAMKA

I really like Hamka approach towards understanding of Islam. Just now I saw a book entitled Tasauf Moden at a stall besides the mosque. Since I don't have money with me at the time ,I have to remind myself to bring RM 15 next Friday.

Just bought the August issue of FastCompany magazine. This magazine costs me RM 25.00 a month!
This beautiful magazine is worth every cent if not for the contents but its design and print quality. I would rather forego my lunch and dinner to buy this magazine.

If anyone would like to read online,please check its website at:
http://www.fastcompany.com

Now, I better start looking for all the receipts of payments for my purchases of books,magazines etc. Kudos to Malaysian government for giving back our money we spent on buying books etc.( limited to RM500 only).

I hope this policy decision will make the book buyers and the booksellers smile:-)) I do.

To-day, I am reading the last chapter of Anwar Ibrahim's The Asian Renaissance. Just to check his views on the future of Asian after 5 years he had written the book. Like it or not, I am observing the uncertain and turbulent political,economic and social change of my country and her neighbours.

To-night my friend asked me whether I have book on Sejarah Melayu. I don't have any. That reminds me to buy a few books especially those written by Malay and Indonesian Islamic scholars. I am guilty as charged for neglecting to read books on Malay culture and history:-((

Reading is the key to knowledge:
---------------------------------------------
To-day my wife bought two books about Islam. I told her I am very happy that she attended Islamic religous class and willing to learn more about Islam. This is the culture of knowledge that I am propagating to my family members and friends. We need to attend lectures, read books and discuss about the subject matters of our interest. Learning is a life long process to knowledge and wisdom.

A Passion For Books
------------------------------
To-day I saw the above at Times Bookshop. It costs RM 59.90! It is the book about books for book lovers. Below is the website of the book at Amazon.com:-

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812931130/qid=995812191/sr=1-3/ref=s
c_b_3/103-1117392-8829401

From the Back Cover :-

"This book about books is a treat for every book lover and collector, the
people who realize that buying books is a necessity, not a luxury."         
-- Bookman Book Review Syndicate

Took my son Maher to MPH Bookshop at MidValley. Not many people there yet because it was only 10:30 am.Met a friend Dr Judin who was accompanied by his wife and daughter. We chat about books and my mailinglist bookcafe.

WORDS OF NOTHING
--------------------------------

I see nothing,
but I am not blind.

I hear nothing,
but I am not deaf.

I say nothing,
but I am not mute.

I feel nothing,
but I am not heartless.

I do nothing,
but I am not dead.

I am nothing,
but I think,
therefore I am.

Berisman

I was introduced to Mischief Bookshop by Jacklyn Chong, a member of our bookcafe mailinglist. To-day is my second visit . To my lovely surprise, I found the bookshop decor is very impressive! It may not have the size of MPH at Midvalley or Kinokuniya at KLCC , but I think it is small and cute. It contains certain books which I can't find at bigger bookshops.

Remember the film called You've Got Mail? This is something similar like the bookshop around the corner. Btw, it just my personal view.Why not have a look for yourself?

To those who have been to this bookshop, please post your comments here.

Now I am reading my Bookstore back. It is quite interesting how readers wrote about their 'love affairs' with their favourite bookshop. To some, it is a ritual that they must visit their bookshop very week. It is also a social place where you meet friends over a cup of coffee . In all humility,it sounds like me;-)

To-day I drop my book and start reading a few article in Asia Week on Warriors of the Digital Divide.I wish I can do something similar like those great guys....

I am now 1/3 of the way of The Bookstore. The more I read the more I discover for myself that I am really a bookshop junkie! I will enter any bookshop if I see one~especially those with cafe'.

On Thursday 5th of July,2001 I went to see Prof N of UKM .We had lunch at UKM Golf Club and discuss on how to make our bookcafe mailinglist more active.

Now, I am reading The Bookstore ...

Last night I brought my friend Yahya to browse the books at Kinokuniya Bookshop.It has 30,000 sq.ft of space with a wonderful view of KLCC garden. He bought two books.

Now, I am not in the mood to read any books~ just love to browse and read selcted articles from Fastcompany magazine.

Being busy these few days....Now it is time for me pick up Hamka's book again.

To-day I finished reading On Writing. Quite a good book to read for aspiring writer like me;-)
Now, I want to seriously learn how to use my iMac-so I went to Kinokuniya Bookshop to buy a book entitled My Little iMac Book by Robbin Williams.

Now,I am half way through Stephen King's book On Writing.One thing I am sure he is not bullshitting anyone. Writing is hard work.To be a good writer, I must red a lot and write a lot! Not mention,I have to have good vocabulary,use good grammer and develop my own style...

Now, i realised that I have a long way to go before I can become a good writer.
So God,please give me the commitment and the patience to read,write and learn...........

I am glad to read Hamka Kenang-Kenangan Hidup when he reflected on his journey from the love of 'seni' to philosphy and then moved on to religion.

Bookstore:By Lynne Tillman

I had been looking all over London last year for the book, but no one is selling even at the Borders.To-day,I am lucky to get it at Kinokuniya in my own city in Kuala Lumpur.The book is about the Life and Times of Jeannette Watson and Books & Co-a tale of a great bookshop in New York City!
I just can't wait to read it.....

To-day I noticed my eldest son was reading the novel Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck. Now, everyone has taken up ready as a hobby:-)))

To-day, my wife and my son went to Mischief Books looking for more books to encourage my son to read. My wife bought one religous book on 'doa' and me a book on Tok Kenali,the famous Ulama from Kelantan who taught my own father.

I am very happy indeed when my youngest son came to me and asked me to take him to the bookshop that I bought a story book for him two days ago. He enjoyed reading the book and he wanted me to buy him another book!

Your wishes is my command!
I think I may have succeeded in my project to instil a reading culture in him!
Thank God for it.

I bought two Malay books yesterday at Mischief Bookstore located at the mezzanine floor of Plaza Ampang(next to Amoang Park shopping complex,Kuala Lumpur.This is my frist visit there to look for books for my son. I think this new bookshop has something to offer for everyone despite its small size and limited stocks.

The books are:
1. Tenggelamnya Kapal Van Der Wijck-for me.
2. Cerita Kayu-for my son.

Yesterday I visited the Malaysian International Book Fair at PWTC and managed to get an old book written by the famous ulama Hamka of Indonesia-Kenang Kenagna Hidup.Lately I have been reading too much of western philosophy and thoughts and I feel I need to know more about the scholars from my own kind. The balance of ying and yang is important to harmonise one's philosophy of life...

I just bought On Writing by Stephen King. Hope to read it in the next two weeks.Someone told me it is a good read -for readers as well as writers.I hope to learn from the master story-teller how to write well;-)

Now, I am half-way through a story called Odessa File. It is very interesting reading how a journalist trying to track ex-Nazi..

Yesterday, I bought the first edition of Disclosure by Michael Crichton for RM 15. This is my first time reading a novel by the author. I love the movie( starring Michael Douglas) but only now I got the chance to read the book. Now, I am on page 88;can;t put it down!

To-day I read in the newspapers that the government( Malaysia) declared July
as the reading month. Previously,it was in August every year. The theme for
this year is: Reading Frees the Mind!

Unfortunately,from my personal view our Malaysian reading culture has not
improved very much despite all the efforts taken by th government
agencies.My question is what has gone wrong?

I stopped reading Anil's Ghost last week because I found it dull and leading to nowhere.Then,I pick up a collection of short stories by Hanif Kureishi and again I am bored after two boring stories:-((.

May be I should try reading Memoirs of A Geisha by Arthur Golden;this novel havs been sitting on my bookshelf since 30/10/1999!

Two days ago I discussed about the book entitled Five Equations that Changed the World with TSO. It was quite an interesting exchange of opinions on these equations,especially on their simplicity and beauty; not to mention their great impacts to the world!

ps; The URL for BOOKCAFE MAILINGLIST:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bookcafe

This mailinglist was created on 14.04.1999 . It called Bookcafe. All booklovers are welcome to join.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bookcafe

Just finished reading The Brethren by John Grisham. Not as good as The Firm and The
Testament. May be I should be looking for a new author to satisfy my interests in thriller books.
Now, I continue with Anil's Ghost...so far nothing great about this book by Micheal Ondatjee.