Infidel
by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Ebook version

Cover and details amazon

Started reading 1 April 2007
Finished reading 26 May 2007

Explosive, provocative, questioning and more. The Malaysian censors missed a golden opportunity by letting this book into the country. They could have gained valuable mileage if the book was banned since the title itself would have warranted a second look at its contents.
It is a real life story. The struggles of a Somalian girl escaping from an arranged marriage. She finds refuge in Holland and this is where the seeds of her emancipation from the religious dogma begins.
Her past life might have played a part in her new outlook on her faith. In the land of the unbelievers where everything is opened to questions, she finds the freedom to ask, think and conclude on her own. The questionable treatment of women in the name of religion is the main reason behind her quest for a better alternative to life. The holy book and its interpretations at the moment falls short of a rigorous scientific exercise of its edicts. A major rethink is needed.
Do the Muslims dare take the challenge?

The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster

Cover and details paulauster

Started reading 1 May 2007
Finished reading 20 May 2007

Mesmerising. The three stories reminds readers of detectives during the nineteen fifties, smouldering cigarette smoke and pretty damsels in distress, The film, Casablanca, immediately comes to mind.

One recurring theme seems to be the question of identity. The investigator in each story eventually assumes the personality of the person being investigated. M ind games between the pursuer and the target is highlighted. A play of words, connotations and double meanings are sprinkled throughout. The reader unknowingly plunges straight into the depths of the characters psyches. Each character is multi-dimensional and this makes the story line more intriguing.

A very satisfying and mind blowing read. I may not understand some parts but overall there is that sense of satisfaction of a good deed done.

First into Nagasaki
by George Weller and Anthony Weller
E book version

Cover and details randomhouse

Started reading 10 March 2007
Finished reading 20 April 2007

An American journalist forays into the town after The bomb. The book has been compiled by the son who wanted the public to read his father's observations during those first few days. It seems the dispatches at that time did not see the light of day as there was a censorship policy. The winning side, the Americans, only wanted official versions of the tragedy to be disseminated. The journalist not only shows the effects of the nuclear bomb but managed to interview the prisoners of war. War has never been so vivid.

Border Crossings
Editors: Lee Su Kim, Thang Siew Ming and Lee King Siong

Cover and details pelanduk

Started reading 9 March 2007
Finished reading 12 April 2007

Articles on the relationship between languages and culture. The scope is not limited to Malaysia but also includes Singapore and Brunei as well as studies in Britain and Japan. Fascinating insight on language's influences on human behaviour and interactions. This study focused on the impact of English but there might be other studies on other languages as well which could be used as a comparison. I 'm intrigued to know how the effect Mandarin would have on others as more countries try to gain a foothold in the economic progress of China.

Confessions of an old boy
by Kam Raslan

Cover and details selectbooks

Started reading 11 April 2007
Finished reading 14 April 2007

This collection of stories were first published in Off the Edge magazine except for one story which is published for the first time. The stories revolve around Dato' Hamid, the old boy in the title. I doubt men of his ilk exist anymore as Malaysia has changed drastically since the days of the British. The stories flow effortlessly and makes for a very enjoyable read. If the reader takes the trouble to look beyond the surface of the stories, he could discern a social commentary of Malaysia.

I particularly loved the dialogue between the Dato' and his friends on Malaysia and Malaya. There was a part where all of them were suggesting names that might be representative of the true Malaya/Malaysia. Fortunately the two previous prime ministers of Malaysia and Singapore who were in power during the major part of the twentieth century were not in the list.

Does My Head Look Big In This? By Randa Abdel-Fattah

Cover and details amazon

Started reading 1 April 2007
Finished reading 3 April 2007

A joyous read and a celebration of a young adult's life told in an engaging writing style. I have yet to see another book which details the predicaments of a Muslim girl on the cusp of taking that momentous step of covering herself. In this story, the girl is a sixteen year old Australian born Muslim of Palestinian-Egyptian parents.

We get to see how she came to the decision, and the consequences. It was not smooth sailing all the way but the feisty teenager manages to surmount the obstacles to live another day.

There are similarities with what Malaysian Muslim women must have felt the first time they wanted to take the plunge. But the challenges are different considering that the story is focused on Muslims as a minority compared to their majority status here. This book might be the catalyst for a Malaysian Muslim woman writer to tell her version of the situation.

I am Muslim
by Dina Zaman

Cover and details silverfishbooks

Started reading 29 March 2007
Finished reading 1 April 2007

As the writer says the book is a compilation of articles exploring her religion and people. The articles were originally written for malaysiakini, the online alternative news portal. As the readership for that website is limited, it is a welcome sight to see this book hit the bookstores.

Most probably the observations are still relevant today even though some of the articles were written a few years ago. Being a Muslim in Malaysia poses different challenges to different people and there are myriad ways of coming to terms with them. A whole spectrum of thoughts can be discerned from the articles reflecting the multifaceted face of Islam in this country.

The most arresting point would be the prevalence of a school of thought that says the officially accepted brand of Islam is the only true version of the religion. There are others who believe in different interpretations but choose to remain silent for reasons best known to themselves. The most potent reason would be the need to survive or keep face in this society.

I doubt any major change in the Malaysian Islamic viewpoint would come from reading this book. Those who truly believe that theirs is the only way to glory would just dismiss the many truths as mere hearsay.

Sad but true.