Book Review 2: Pedalling Around the Peninsula

Salam...

Today we review an English book, girls and guys. So better to write in English. mehehe. Sorry for the language errors or grammatical mistakes. I am not using English in daily conversation ;)

Title: Pedalling Around the Peninsula
Author: Sandra Loh
ISBN: 9789675997822
Format: Paperback
Retail Price: RM39.90
My stars to give: 4 stars/5













Synopsis:

“Four corners of West Malaysia, 2,664 kilometres in 37 days……Are you two nuts?” 

Well, those were probably not the exact words. However, nothing could keep outdoor enthusiast Sandra Loh and her friend Mak Shiau Meng from their goal to travel to the four corners of Peninsular Malaysia on bicycles in early 2009. The tour was Mak's idea, and he had invited Sandra along for the ride. 

For Mak, it was the fulfillment of a dream; for Sandra, a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Braving exhausting uphill roads in the scorching sun and freezing rain, daredevil lorry drivers, unhelpful road signs and the occasional cow, the two intrepid cyclists made their way to the designated four corners: Padang Besar, Kedah; Tanjung Piai and Sg Rengkit in Johor; and Kota Bharu, Kelantan. 

As they rode past small towns and big cities, friendly and helpful locals, old and new friends, new and familiar sights and (mostly) good food made the trip more interesting…and bearable. And Sandra, the chronicler of the expedition, wrote it all down in her chirpy inimitable style.

My Review:

This book has been written with good, fresh and chirpy writing style, closer to reader and easily to feel into. The writing sounds fresh, high-motivational value and moral booster to those person who eager for them. Actually, Sandra Loh tried to tell and share to the reader how she and her 'partner in-crime' called Mak struggled in pedalling around the Peninsula, started to North, South, West and ended at East. (4 corners), They also entered  Thailand, y'all.

She shared their experiences, thoughts, new things to reveal such as, buah 'katak puru' in Kelantan and how asam gelugors were made and soo many other things, food and places that will give you the idea to go. Pedalling Around the Peninsula also served you the author's photo collection all their ways in pedalling around the Peninsula. How nice. Oh one more thing, this book is using good paper material, glossy art, color on every page and nice typeface. I love it!

This book can bring us up into the real life, that we must understand the norms, culture, language and believes. I met Sandra Loh today at Paradigm Mall, Kelana Jaya for this book talk, unfortunately i forgot to snap picture. Must be my colleague angry on me. Poor poor me :(

All i wanna say is Sandra Loh is very friendly, talkative, tough and she likes to use Malay when spoke to me. That is the most happiest thing that make me appreciate this author yah!

Apart from that, this book can give us other advantage, which is 'travel guide'!!!

I suggest you to buy this book if you have plan for backpacking around the Peninsula. hehe. You will never regret bro.

You can buy at mphonline. Or just grab it at any nearest Popular or MPH outlets. Perhaps any bookstores around you. Go go, you will be exposed with more new things by reading this book.

Salam...

p/s: Oh, tomorrow is Monday. I am sooooo 'happy' to work. May God (Allah) bless us.

Book Review 1: DOKTOR UMUM: Memoir Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Salam.

Memandangkan kerja di bidang penerbitan, bagi book review pun OKAY jugak. Since aku pun terlibat dalam mengedit naskhah ni. Mungkin buku ni dah sedikit lama tapi aku percaya masih ada yang cuba nak review buku ni dulu sebelum beli.

Sinopsis:
Barat menyifatkannya sebagai seorang yang keras kepala, perkauman, anti-Yahudi dan angkuh. Negara membangun bagaimanapun, memandang bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sebagai juara wawasan dan pemimpin luar biasa yang menyuntik semangat kepada setiap individu Dunia Ketiga untuk berdiri megah. Bahkan pengkritik beliau yang paling lantang pun tidak dapat menafikan bahawa di sebalik semua ini, Tun Dr Mahathir memberikan negara-negara yang terpinggir keberanian dan menunjukkan jalan ke arah masa depan yang penuh harapan. Sungguhpun demikian, beliau tidak terlepas daripada kontroversi. Selama 22 tahun memimpin negara, beliau digambarkan sebagai seorang diktator dan juga perangsang. Tidak ramai pemimpin yang berjaya mengubah keseluruhan negara daripada ekonomi agraria kepada kuasa perindustrian dalam tempoh singkat selama dua dekad. Di sini, dengan ketepatan pembedahan, Dr Mahathir menjejaki susur galur sejarah dan menghalusi peranan beliau sendiri dalam membentuk Malaysia moden. 

My Review:
Buku ni diterjemahkan daripada buku bertajuk "A DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE: The Memoirs of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad". Pada pendapat aku, buku ini digarap dengan cukup telus dan padat. Setiap patah perkataan yang digunakan memberikan makna yang mendalam. Since aku minat tahap terbayang-bayang Dr. M ni bila 1st time jumpa, so takut jugak review ni sounds cliche kan? Tapi jangan bimbang aku professional. HAHA.

Dr. M menggunakan bahasa yang mudah dan cantik untuk difahami. Menceritakan bermula dari kecil kehidupannya, ketegasan bapanya, didikan dan pendidikan, beliau banyak menyatakan prinsip, matlamat dan kejayaan dalam setiap usaha beliau memajukan taraf sosial dan ekonomi Malaysia. 
 

Dr. M ambil masa selama bertahun-tahun (tak silap 5 tahun) untuk siapkan memoir ni. My manager said, 
"the whole process took five years to complete, so it is a bit tough to recall how many times the team met up with him. The whole production team comprised four editors cum researchers and a designer. When the team started working woth Tun, he had already written a few chapters on his own. They then came up with an overall structure for the book which he used as a guideline for him to continue writing". (MPH Quill, Issue 30, 2011).

Memang rumit sikit dalam proses penerbitan ni since Dr. M sangatlah busy, dan payah untuk publication team to come meeting and sit together with him. Orang cakap time is the biggest challenge. untuk project ni Tapi yang tu masa penerbitan asal in English. In Malay punya ni tak banyak sangat problem since Memoir ni diterjemahkan oleh A KADIR JASIN dari versi English. Menurut A Kadir Jasin:

"Saya tahu tugas saya bukanlah sesuatu yang mudah tetapi mengenali Tun secara peribadi sedikit sebanyak memudahkan kerja-kerja saya"

dan...

"Saya menterjemahkan buku ini dengan menggunakan Bahasa Melayu kontemporari bagi menarik minat pembaca-pembaca muda yang berusia kurang daripada 40 tahun"

A Kadir Jasin juga menyatakan:

"Saya mesti mengingatkan anda semua bahawa berurusan dengan Tun Dr Mahathir bukanlah satu perkara yang mudah. Ini kerana beliau adalah seorang yang tajam pemikirannya dan terperinci orangnya."

See, memang beliau busy. Letak jawatan PM pun busy lagi.

Buku ni kalau beli mphonline, lagi murah daripada di kedai buku. Harganya RM47.92 berbanding RM59.90. Ini kerana mphonline menyediakan 20% diskaun ya. 

Tajuk: DOKTOR UMUM: Memoir Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
Pengarang: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad
ISBN: 9789674150259
Harga Pasaran: RM59.90
Genre: Biografi & Memoir
Penerbit: MPH Group Publishing








 Dapatkan segera. Buku ni insyaAllah tak habis stok sebab selalu ada permintaan.

p/s: Sebelum diterjemah ke Bahasa Melayu, A Doctor in the House telah diterjemahkan ke dalam Bahasa Cina dulu. Mungkin tak ramai yang tahu since of course target readers orang Cina sahaja. huhu.


OK, next time kita review buku lain.

Salam.


Aku bagi 5 STARS untuk penerbitan ni.

Perlu ke ice-breaking balik?

Salam...

Lebih setahun blog tidak diupdate. So, perlu ke ice-breaking balik? HAHAHA. Why? Why more than 1 year baru nak ketuk story kat blog balik?
Mungkin faktor umur, masa dan keadaan yang kadangkala buat diri merasakan tak perlulah reveal/expose kencang sangat tentang personal life. Hehe!

Alhamdulillah for now semua berjalan lancar dengan izin Allah. Insya-Allah.

Now, something that make sense for me to re-update-ing this blog because i have something to share that will give benefits to the readers.

These are the TWO reasons (good reasons) why i should reactivate this blog:

1) Currently in writing thesis mode. I am looking everywhere and anywhere sources for my writing pieces. So, this platform would be the best space for me to share and spread them out instead of keeping them, buat harta sendiri ;)

2) Saya juga sudah start sikit-sikit project DIY for my wedding... Previously i managed to have some DIY decorations or miscellaneous items for my engagement day. Yes, i am engaged. Alhamdulillah. 

                                             Flower bouquet, pomander ball and the dress ;)

                                             Five balls of great love. hehe. Pomander Balls.


Next (or bila-bila la upcoming entry) saya akan tunjukkan bagaimana nak buat pomander ball yag cute tahap nak makan cicah coklat ni ;)

OK then, Goodnight!

Salam

"If you read, you will able to write"

Salam...

Classmate rapidly-fire questions...

"Hi Ailmi, where do u work??? 1st degree from where? how do u like the courses at the moment???

"Im not working now. My 1st degree was Communication & Media Studies (Publishing) at UiTM Shah Alam. So far, the courses are awesome but the time is VERY CONSTRAINT as we took 6courses this sem... And I would promise that this sem will killing us. Nvm, ill take it as challenges! How bout u dear?"

New classmates, new ambiance, new commitments and new achievement!

p/s: All the best wishes peers!

Masters Degree

Salam....


Next terminal -------> POSTGRADUATE!

Alhamdulillah... Thank You Allah, Thank You families, lecturers and friends!