Salam. I can’t leave my blog full of dust again. So here is an update from me. Well, I stopped updating my blog for almost a year, and at the same time, I slowly lost interest in reading English novels. It took me quite a long time to finish one book, and I feel I did an injustice to some of the book which I knew were great. How do I know they were great books? Well most of the reviews on the book were positive.
In May this year, I totally stopped reading English novel. I tried to read, but I couldn’t connect with the stories. So I decided to stop. The last English novel book that I read was the Number Four science fiction series. The rest of my books has been sitting nicely, not in my cabinet but in my iPad and my phone. They are waiting for me to continue to read them again. Heh… I think I have more than 20 books in my TBR (To Be Read) list.
Since I stopped reading, I have become restless. I was like someone who lost her love one, yearning for the love, and was looking for the love that can fill the gap. I searched for the ‘missing one’, and I found it. It was in the form of Malay novel. I have never read any Malay novel before this, but it never too late, right?
Well, I didn’t fall in love with Malay novel immediately. My friend, Ms. Julia is an ardent fan of Malay novel. One day, I saw a book on her table and my curiosity was piqued. I stood next to her and picked the book and did a quick scanned on the title and the synopsis at the back. ‘Jue, can you recommend me one book that might generate my interest in Malay novel?’
The next day she gave me the first book, and I read it but didn’t really like it. In fact, I couldn’t remember the title of the book. The only thing I could remember was that the book has an interfering mother-in-law who didn’t like the daughter-in-law. She continued to give me few more books, and I still didn’t like it until she gave me the book by Hanina Abdullah, ‘Projek Memikat Suami’. After I have finished reading the book, my comment was not bad. That was my first positive comment on Malay novel.
After PMS, the few books she gave me still could not generate my interest in Malay novel. Julia didn’t give up, and she found the book that has captured my interest. She gave me Evelyn Rose’s book ‘The Wedding Breaker’. The book blew me off. I read it twice. And with a heavy heart I returned the book to Julia. I told her and Emma that the book was good and different than what I have read before.
The next few books that I read didn’t match the ‘TWB’ standard. I continued to search and started to surf and look for any book that would interest me. I found the www.penulisan2u.com website that listed out some of the popular Malay novels. (I might be wrong as there are lots of novels listed in there). I scanned through the list and read through some of the chapters that were shared on the websites.
After few days of searching and reading through the few chapters, I found the book that interests me. It was by Melur Jelita. The title is ‘I love You, Stupid’. Okay, I found the book, but I have a problem to purchase the book. I have to go to MPH as the bookstore near my house didn’t have the book. Furthermore, I have some mobility problem.
So, who else can help me? Yup, it was no other than my loyal book supplier, Ms. Julia. I asked her whether she could get me the book, and she was more than happy to help and get it for me. I was a very happy woman thinking that I would be getting my book the next day, bu I was disappointed. No ‘ILUS’ as it was not available at the near bookstore near our office, but as a consolation, she bought me the ‘My Precious Iris’ the sequel to ILUS.
I tried to read MyPI, but I still found it difficult as I couldn’t connect with the story. So my itchy finger started to surf the internet again, and happily made the online order. When the book arrived, I was very happy. It was as if, I found my love one. I dropped whatever I was doing, and started my escape with ILUS. I carried it around and read whenever I have time including when I was in the office. The book, ILUS didn’t disappoint me. The plot and the story was superb. Was I disappointed with 'My Precious Iris'. No, I didn't.
After I have finished reading these two books, I was again like someone who didn’t get her doses of drugs. I was restless. Whatever books that I read didn’t match the three books that I have set the standard. Then Evelyn Rose second book ’13 Jam A380’ came out, but I didn’t rush to buy it. I waited and read the feedback by those who have read. All were positive. Again my itchy finger went online and ordered from Karya Seni.
Huh!…the next day, I was sick and was admitted to hospital. I was hoping that I would get my book when I was in hospital, but I didn’t. In fact, the book has not arrived after I was discharged from the hospital.. Haha… I cannot wait anymore. I made a quick dash to the bookstore even though, I have not fully recovered. Hah, I found the book and did a quick happy dance in the bookstore. Luckily no one was there. I snapped it, took home with me and quickly read it. I finally got my fixed of drugs. I was satisfied. Fully satisfied! The book was totally different from the standard lovey-dovey story books. It contains a lot of reference to Quranic verses and hadith. Eve has indirectly ‘berdakwah’ in this book.
Ahh….. now I need a new fix! If anyone can recommend me a book which can fix my craving for the good novels, please let me know. I think I might found one or two new books, but whether it can match the four books, it is yet to be seen. Only time will tell. Meantime, I hope Melur Jelita and Evelyn Rose will continue to produce the high quality stories, but please don’t take too long. I can’t go too long without my cocaine.
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