Another day but with the haze outside I decided to stay indoor. I sat down in front of the TV and enjoy the day with Tea and Scones, a culture of the British that was left behind for us to appreciate and enjoy. I am a coffee person but when enjoying the Scones I would usually take it with Tea. Indeed a good combination to enjoy that special space in time. My personal space to daydreams or flirts in my mind care less of what's happening around me at that moment time; or just to enjoy a good book without been interrupted. I always believe that we all must have our own personal space to live and enjoy. For me a few minutes to roam the world in my mind and enjoy those brief moment is a great way to appreciate life. A good book adds color to that wonderful personal space.
I have just finished reading the book 'Map of the Invisible World' by Tash Aw, a novel with setting in Sukarno's Indonesia and of the same period in Malaysia. The book was given to me by our youngest daughter who now works in Singapore. The author Tach Aw was in Singapore promoting the book and she managed to get one with the author signature. Not many books are written about that period in our history and this book is among the gem of a book that brought to light some happening during that period. Although it is a novel, reading it I found myself traveling through time to palaces that look and feel familiar. Indeed a good book to refresh ourselves of the good and bad time that one goes through from the time one is born till the present. It does make one appreciate life move then ever.
Have a nice day.
I have just finished reading the book 'Map of the Invisible World' by Tash Aw, a novel with setting in Sukarno's Indonesia and of the same period in Malaysia. The book was given to me by our youngest daughter who now works in Singapore. The author Tach Aw was in Singapore promoting the book and she managed to get one with the author signature. Not many books are written about that period in our history and this book is among the gem of a book that brought to light some happening during that period. Although it is a novel, reading it I found myself traveling through time to palaces that look and feel familiar. Indeed a good book to refresh ourselves of the good and bad time that one goes through from the time one is born till the present. It does make one appreciate life move then ever.
Have a nice day.
A'kum. Just stumbled upon your blog today! Yes, indeed - I subscribe to the need for one's own personal space. And time, if I might add. Like you, that's where I read, reflect, reminisce, write, think...just a place to be alone with my thoughts. Salam.
ReplyDeletemayang mengurai, thanks for your visit and sharing your thoughts on the subject of this posting. Happy that you like it and share a comment belief.
ReplyDeleteI treasured my personal space and I am glad that you think so too. We are an individual and to enjoy life to the fullest we need that space to do whatever to enhanced one quality of life. It is a space of our secret and belief that would remain ours forever and ever.
BTW you does have two great blog there.
Have a nice day.
Pak Idrus,
ReplyDeleteYour comments about the book reminded me of one day, in the mid-1980's, when I was working in Riau Province in Sumatera on a transmigration project. One of my Indonesian staff (he was a Dayak from Kalimantan) was saying how Malaysia had become so developed compared to Indonesia; and yet it was not so long ago when he was in primary school he was taught to shout anti-Malaysia slogans during the konfrontasi years. He was commenting on how (even at that time) so many people from the Riau kampongs were thinking of getting on a boat to find jobs in Malaysia.
I have been meaning to read up on the period, and have even bought a book, "Konfrontasi," printed in KL by the Oxford U Press. Your book sounds a lot more interesting that mine! (I have yet to penetrate this very thick academic book I bought in KL years ago!) Cheers!
salam pak idrus,
ReplyDeleteThe idea of adding tea and scones is really good. Am going to add that when I'm in my reading zone.
Thanks.
p/s : Pak Idrus, have you heard about bookcrossing. Any comments on this activity?
I am always on the lookout for such books, Asian history and culture in the setting of a novel.
ReplyDeleteI am very keen with the setting of this book but since I was not too thrilled with his other work, "Harmony Silk Factory", not sure how I will like this one.
Have you read that?
Still, I'll keep an eye out for this.
Howard, thanks for the visit and the good words on this posting as well as sharing your thoughts on the issue use as background of this novel.
ReplyDeleteI found this book by Tash Aw contain many scenes of the real happening and he has blend it very well with the fictional characters of this novel. The story flow was very exciting and one would not want to leave the book, always wanting to know what would the end be. And like the happening in real life, it end with no real ending at all. Exciting!!
Yes this book trigger my thoughts about the Konfrantasi period and the lives of the rich folks in both countries at that period.
Well I am happy that many historical facts has been use in this novel making it a good soft read of our history.
Have a nice day.
JALAN REBUNG, thanks for the visit and the good words on this posting.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you got yourself connected to the Tea and Scones things. Interesting how such scene like the Tea and Scones create an atmosphere of peace for our reading pleasure.
As for the Book crossing I knew about it long ago but as yet to put some serious thoughts on this wonderful ideas.
Have a nice day.
J. Tan, thanks for the visit and sharing your thoughts on the subject of this posting.
ReplyDeleteYes like you I am always on the look for good books on that period of our history. There are now a few authors of Malaysian who have migrated to other countries like Tan Twan Eng [the Gift of Rain] and now Tsah Aw with his latest book. I found both these books a great read of the happening during that period of our history. Sort of a soft reading of history. Both authors did very well indeed in using historical fact for both the books.
This Tsah Aw book is definitely better then his first book the 'Harmony Silk Factory'. Anyway I did enjoy both his book.
Yes as I had said in this posting, I have finished reading this book. A great book indeed.
Have a nice day.
Hi Idrus,
ReplyDeleteI was about to write that your combination of fresh scones, strawberry jam and tea (Boh?) seems just right for a wet Seattle afternoon. However, our current sunny, hot, dry, cloudless Summer weather shows no sign of letting up, so I will have to abandon that thought and settle for a cold microbrew instead.
louis, thanks for the visit and the good words on this posting as well as sharing your thoughts on this special Tea and Scones. Well as you know we have summer all throughout the year thus anytime we could just sit down and indulged on the Tea and Scones things and and enjoy the day care less of what's happening to the surrounding.
ReplyDeleteWell, surely a glass of chilled Malt would be great on such a beautiful day in Seattle. Enjoy the day there while the sun still shone. Fall is just round the corner.
BTW we just bought some nice Washington state's black Cherry at the supermarket and am enjoying it. Last Summer enjoyed it in Boston and Seattle and with globalization now we got it in our nearby Supermarket. What a great world we live in.
Have a nice day.
aahhh ,nothing beats a cup of tea and a good books.If you love historical book i do suggest that you read THE JUNGLE IS NEUTRAL by SPENCER CHAPMAN and THIS IS MY STORY by CHIN PENG.A two very contrasting side of story of malaya during the japanese occupation
ReplyDeletexplorer, thanks for the visit and sharing your thoughts on the subject of this posting.
ReplyDeleteI happen to love history and have read The Jungle is Neural a long long time ago. There is another good book title The Rape of Malaya [I forgot the author].
BTW the new novels by Tan Twan Eng and Tash Aw are good books about that period and I would suggest that you read all these novels.
Have a nice day.
Me again, Idrus.
ReplyDeleteYes, the cherries are in season now.
If your supermarket carries the "Rainier" variety I suggest you try them. They are superb: meaty, juicy and very tasty. They are mostly yellow in color with a red tinge. Expensive though.
louis, thanks for the return visit and your suggestion on the variety of Cherries.
ReplyDeleteWell even the ordinary one, the red and black are already rather expensive. But then it is not always folks here get to enjoy it except at this time of the year. Would go and look for it the next time I am at the Supermarket.
Enjoy the heat and do have a nice day.