"If you were to place your trust in God as you should, He will certainly provide for you even as He provides sustenance for birds; see how they fly out of their nests at dawn and return home satiated at dusk" ~ Prophet Muhammad
Aku dengan bangganya telah menghabiskan baca buku novel ini. Pada yang masih mencari-cari novel melayu yang mengasah minda dan bukan cintan-cintun, aku cadangkan buku ini.
[Spoiler Alert]
Aku tabik hormat kepada penulis muda ini yang berani mengetengahkan isu ini, iaitu isu LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Transsexual). In Malaysia, this issue is pretty sensitive because of our religious background and eastern traditions.
Nadia mampu membawa aku menyelami perasaan Amir di dalam dunia kelabu nya. Nadia juga berjaga menyakinkan aku bahawa Amir ni memang seorang lelaki kasanova seperti ayah Amir. Wow.. bila dah tahu apa sebenarnya yang dimaksudkan oleh kelabu, memang tercengang jugak lah. Then, she brought me through Amir's spiritual enlightenment journey, which she showed me that everyone has a test from God, and for Amir, her test is her believing that she is Amir. Nadia showed Amir's struggle in finding herself, and the writer brought out this one verse from Quran [Al Inshirah 94: 5 - 6]:
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا So, verily, with every hardship, there is ease,
إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا Verily, with every hardship there is ease.
That's Amir's favorite verse, and she hold to it through out her journey of enlightenment.
Nadia, aku respect ko. She really did her research and use her knowledge in writing this novel. Bukan just tulis novel untuk suka-suka je untuk kaut keuntungan.
Aku ni.. tak habis-habis nak tukar blog. Sekejap blogspot, then wordpress, not back to blogspot. Aku pun pernah try LiveJournal and Penzu, tapi dua-dua tu just sekejap je. Tapi walaupon aku tukar-tukar blog, aku still maintain dengan "syamsmentari". Dari mana datangnya nama pena aku ni? Well, it started way back in 2003. In the coldness and darkness of winter, I was thinking, "heyy.. maybe I should have a nama pena!". So, thus, the existance of "syamsmentari" in the cyber world. Tak ada lah interesting sangat kewujudan nama tu. Syams is an arabic word for Sun, and Mentari is a Malay word for Sun. Banyak main Sun ni, ingat Amon-Ra ke ape? Astagfirullah. *geleng kepala*
Maybe, some of you might wonder, why I changed back to blogspot. Well.. here are the reasons:
Because it's Google, and with Google, comes AdSense, Youtube, Picasa, Google Analytic, and many more.
Previously, my blogspot was so cluttered and the way to de-clutter it is by starting a new blog. When I started a new blog, back in 2008, most of my friends in the states are using Wordpress. The design is simple. It was easier to create a blog with wordpress, back then.
Now, blogspot has improved a lot, and it give flexibility to the bloggers to change their blog's look-and-feel.
There are many free templates for blogspot compared to wordpress out there
Also, I used Google products a lot, i.e. picasaweb, search engine.
It seems like blogs from blogspot appear more in the search engine results than those from wordpress. ~ well, it's just my observation.
Coming from web analytic background, blogspot allows me to get more data on my blog, compared to wordpress.
Haa.. itu dia hujah-hujah daripada Prof. Syamsmentari. (tepuk-tepuk). Tapi kan, when I think again, why should I justify the reason of me changing blog. haha.
Alhamdulillah, I just got married like two weeks ago. Everything went smoothly. We just got back from our second honeymoon at Bukit Tinggi, Pahang (it was my 27th birthday) We went to Pangkor Island Beach Resort a week ago. Alhamdulillah, both vacations are amazing and wonderful. Cuti-cuti Malaysia gitu ...
You must be wondering why I chose "mencintaimu.. seumur hidupku". It's from Krisdayanti's Mencintaimu song. It meant so much to me because this song was sang by a trio group in Bukit Tinggi, just for both of us, during our romantic dinner. I sang to my husband softly, and of course, I cried (even now, i'm starting to cry *sob*) Ahhh, so hard to describe my feeling during that time, but all i can say is Alhamdulillah, all thanks to God the Almighty! Allahu Akbar.
You know, I learned one thing about the power of Allah through this marriage - when Allah meant it to happen, it will happen! Everything will fall into place, and everything will go smoothly. I learned about patience, and TRULY believe in His Majestic and Supreme Power. Before, I was so worried .. when will I get married? who am I gonna married to? how am i gonna get married? All these questions were in my head. During that time, I proclaimed with my tongue that I truly believe in Him, but did I truly believe in my heart? Now, when I saw His Power through my marriage - how everything fall into place, the right place and the right time, Subhanallah, the believe in my heart is stronger, Alhamdulillah. So my advice to all single people out there, just live the moment you are in right now. Allah is Great. When the time comes, Allah will arrange everything in the best way possible for you. Allahu Akbar, Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah.
A man was walking through the marketplace one afternoon when, just as the muadhdhin began the call to prayer, his eye fell on a woman’s back.
She was strangely attractive, though dressed in fulsome black, a veil over head and face, and she now turned to him as if somehow conscious of his over-lingering regard, and gave him a slight but meaningful nod before she rounded the corner into the lane of silk sellers.
As if struck by a bolt from heaven, the man was at once drawn, his heart a prisoner of that look, forever. In vain he struggled with his heart, offering it one sound reason after another to go his way - wasn’t it time to pray? - but it was finished: there was nothing but to follow.
He hastened after her, turning into the market of silks, breathing from the exertion of catching up with the woman, who had unexpectedly outpaced him and even now lingered for an instance at the far end of the market, many shops ahead.
She turned toward him, and he thought he could see a flash of a mischievous smile from beneath the black muslin of her veil, as she - was it his imagination? - beckoned to him again.
The poor man was beside himself. Who was she? The daughter of a wealthy family? What did she want? He quickened his steps and turned into the lane where she had disappeared. And so she led him, always beyond reach, always tantalizingly ahead, now through the weapons market, now the oil merchants’, now the leather sellers’; farther and farther from where they began. The feeling within him grew rather than decreased. Was she mad? On and on she led, to the very edge of town.
The sun declined and set, and there she was, before him as ever. Now they were come, of all places, to the City of Tombs.
Had he been in his normal senses, he would have been afraid, but indeed, he now reflected, stranger places than this had seen a lovers’ tryst.
There were scarcely twenty cubits between them when he saw her look back, and, giving a little start, she skipped down the steps and through the great bronze door of what seemed to be a very old sepulchre. A soberer moment might have seen the man pause, but in his present state, there was no turning back, and he went down the steps and slid in after her.
Inside, as his eyes saw after a moment, there were two flights of steps that led down to a second door, from whence a light shone, and which he equally passed through. He found himself in a large room, somehow unsuspected by the outside world, lit with candles upon its walls.
There sat the woman, opposite the door on a pallet of rich stuff in her full black dress, still veiled, reclining on a pillow against the far wall. To the right of the pallet, the man noticed a well set in the floor.
“Lock the door behind you,” she said in a low, husky voice that was almost a whisper, “and bring the key.” He did as he was told. She gestured carelessly at the well. “Throw it in.”
A ray of sense seemed to penetrate for a moment through the clouds over his understanding, and a bystander, had there been one, might have detected the slightest of pauses.
“Go on,” she said laughingly, “You didn’t hesitate to miss the prayer as you followed me here, did you?”
He said nothing.
“The time for sunset prayer has almost finished as well,” she said with gentle mockery. “Why worry? Go on, throw it in. You want to please me, don’t you?”
He extended his hand over the mouth of the well, and watched as he let the key drop. An uncanny feeling rose from the pit of his stomach as moments passed but no sound came. He felt wonder, then horror, then comprehension.
“It is time to see me...” she said, and she lifted her veil to reveal not the face of a fresh young girl, but of a hideous old crone, all darkness and vice, not a particle of light anywhere in its eldritch lines.
“See me well” she said. “My name is Dunya (This worldly life). I am your beloved. You spent your time running after me, and now you have caught up with me. In your grave. Welcome, welcome.”
At this she laughed and laughed, until she shook herself into a small mound of fine dust, whose fitful shadows, as the candles went out, returned to the darkness one by one…….
I just finished reading this book, and the ending is not really what I expected. I thought the book will impose on me that Chinese parenting is much superior that other method of parenting. Well, that's what all the articles that wrote about this book told me. From Times to CNN, all of them said the book is all about showing being a Chinese mother is better for your children well-being. Some people do feel hurts, especially those who believe in the Western parenting style. Well of course they felt hurt, because they have not read the book, or maybe they read the book half way. My advice to them - finish the book!
I divided the book into three parts. The first part is when Sophia and Lulu were small. The author had it easy with them (at least with Sophia), leading them and showing them the way to success. She applied the Chinese parenting style on them and had no or at least few resistance from both Sophia and Lulu. When I was reading how the author chose the musical instruments for her daughters, I was actually amazed with mother's instinct. She picked the right instrument for each of her daughters. I can't think any better instrument that can resemble them better than those chosen by their mother. I am really amazed with mother's instinct - Subhanallah.
The second part is more about her drilling and pushing both daughter through practices, competitions, and auditions. Sometimes, I felt like she's too much and crazy. But I saw her points when she wrote about how happy her daughters were when they won a competition, and after they received standing ovations. That part, sometimes, can be quite boring for me especially when she explained about the rules and method of playing the musical instruments. The best part is when she and Lulu were fighting and arguing. It somewhat adds some spice to the book.
Before reaching to the last part of the book, I actually believed that the Chinese parenting style is much superior than any other parenting methods. In my mind, I already planted a mission - I will be a Saddam Hussein to my children (LOL!). I will make sure my children do at least 100 math questions a day before bed, on top of their school work and extra classes.
Well, everything changed after I came to the part where Lulu screamed angrily at her mother in Russia. After that eventful moment, the author came to realization that she has to modify her parenting style, because children are all not the same. She began to allow Lulu to pick her own 'thing' (which is Tennis) and go on her own pace. (Lulu actually practices Tennis like a Chinese daughter - so intense)
In the last chapter, the author made a conclusion - Hybrid parenting style. Chinese during childhood, and Western late teen-hood. I still believe that we have to guide, sometimes force, the children to do something that will benefit them in the future, and refrain them from something useless. But when they already 18 years old, that method won't work anymore. Let them loose, and trust them to make their own decisions (but supervise them from far.. :P)
All in all, I enjoy the book, and it gave me a new perspective on parenting :) Thumbs-up to Amy Chua.
Alhamdulillah, finally, we are going to have our first AlMaghrib class in Malaysia. Thanks so much to those who worked so hard to make this dream a reality. I remembered my first AlMaghrib class, The Code Evolve, by Sheikh Yasir Birjas at Al Huda school in Maryland, US. I attended the class even though on Monday, I had to sit for my calculus exam. I brought my calculus book along, in hope, I would find time in between to do revision. It's hectic, for sure. I took train from Charlottesville, VA to College Park, MD. From there, my friends picked me up and we drove to the class. Subhanallah, Allah swt blessed us with plenty of rizq -- Sr. Emaan took care of us. She let us stayed at her house, she cooked for us (her food was AMAZING!). Subhanallah, Subhanallah, Subhanallah.. Allah is so Generous. All our affairs were taken care of. The students there were just so nice. I fell in love with AlMaghrib right away.
Wait.. that's just the students.. not yet the course and the instructor. Before I attended AlMaghrib class, I always had this idea about Islamic classes -- women are not allowed to talk, the instructor is not friendly, and the class is super boring. Alhamdulillah, I was wrong! AlMaghrib is totally the opposite. With my nature (love to ask questions), I finally found my place in an Islamic class. I love the way Sheikh Yasir Birjas handled the class and the way the taught the material. Can you believe it, a long winded history of Islam can become so much fun and exciting?! Subhanallah, everything is so clear after that. I became more understanding about other sects in Islam, and ofcourse, I questioned more (well, maybe that's just my nature). Owh one more, the file or binding, it's so organized. At that class, you'll see students taking notes religiously, and they're very committed. I felt I was among the REAL students -- who really want to learn (not just getting a piece of paper to get good job).
Ya Allah, you have to experience it yourself.. and you will know what I meant. I fell in love with AlMaghrib, and attended many classes after that. I did not mind the travel and the fees. I made time and saved some money for the classes.
Alhamdulillah, this good news really made me happy and brought back all the sweet memories that I had with AlMaghrib. Insha Allah, more people in Malaysia will have the same experience that I had back then. I am really excited and can't wait for the first class. The first class is going to be exciting! A Heart Serene - Purification of the Soul. It's definitely the best class to kick-start AlMaghrib Malaysia :) Alhamdulillah. The class is about MYR 300++ for double weekends. Just save like $100 a month and by 31st March, you will get to go to the class already. They are many methods of payment, so not too worry about money. As for time, make time.
For those reading this entry, insha Allah, I will see you soon at the class. Register now!
.. oh I forgot to tell you about my Calculus exam. Guess what? I got A+, Alhamdulillah.
