LOVE TO READ? WANT TO READ FOR FREE?

BACKGROUND
I love to read. I love to share. I would love to share my passion for reading with all of you.

HOW THIS BOOK CLUB WORKS

It's a very simple concept. I have a book and I want to share it with you. Just follow these simple steps.

  • #Browse through my collection of books. For tips on how to find a book click here.
  • #Choose one you like. I have provided a plot summary and review for each book to help you.
  • #Leave a comment under that particular post ("I want to borrow this book" or something similar).
  • #Contact me at thehidayahstory@yahoo.com and leave your name and mailing address.
  • #I will mail the book to you and you can read it.


THE INTERESTING BIT

In order to promote reading to others too please do these simple steps.

  • #Tell all your book loving friends.
  • #You may keep the book for 2 weeks (upon recieving it- so notify me when it arrives safely- extensions are negotiable).
  • #After that, please mail it to the next person requesting the book (contact me to get their address). If nobody else has requested the book, simply mail it back to me.


  • Hmm.. I wonder if this crazy idea will actually work...

    ||Sticky Post|| *scroll down to see the books

Looking for something? Search by genre, author or title.

Hidayah's Book Club

30.4.11

First impression || Lazy River by A Samad Said

Blurb: Lazy River exposes the complexities and turbulence of life in Japanese-occupied Singapore. The characters experience problems alien to the life we know of today. The drama is set in a village by the side of a river where the inhabitants live in constant fear of death, torture, misery, starvation and other kinds of atrocities of the war. War's end heralds peace and another phase in the struggle. There are no winners, only survivors..

The early morning rain fell lightly onto the black water of the river, forming endless small circles. - 1st line


The cover: The cover is very simple and earthy. The colour is very suited to the contents of the book as described in the blurb. Those were dark, grey times and the cover reflects that. Very tasteful.

The story: This book was a gift from Encik Helmy Samad (son of the author). He generously donated some books for our youth centre and also gifted me some books for my own personal collection. Since I might be the only Malay adult never to have read any of SN A Samad Said's work, I was quite excited to rectify this. Knowing that I do not read Malay literature for pleasure like I do English, he made sure that some of the books were translations (done by ITNM- national translation agency).This book was translated from Sungai Mengalir Lesu.

After reading the first chapter, I find the attention to detail and descriptions wonderful. The kampung life of Japanese occupied Singapore almost comes alive. 

Advanced rating: 4/5

This First Impression is hosted by CJ on his blog Coffee N Crackers.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

I love the cover, simple and really suits the blurb. The story sounds interesting to me..and same like you, I never read any of SN A. Samad Said. In fact, I rarely read our local book for pleasure..

Hidayah Ismawi said...

I always felt it was a shame that I couldn't appreciate Malay books the same way I do English .. but at least this way, I get to read a book by our national lauriete..

kukuanga said...

i read Salina many years ago and remember it as a vivid, honest story. his works of recent years lacked the depth and honesty. which is also the case of most Malay books.

it must be a challange to write in Malay, as many malaysians who read (like us) rarely bothered to search malay books.

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