Posts

Kisah penjual ubat dalam Kena Main

Image
  KHATAM Tajuk: Kena Main Penulis: Khalid Salleh Penerbit: ITBM, Kuala Lumpur Tahun diterbitkan: 2015 198 halaman Coretan pasca khatam: JUAL UBAT merupakan salah satu judul drama dalam buku ini selain Kena Main, Si Bereng-Bereng dan Seng Ora-Ora. Cuma saya amat tertarik dengan Jual Ubat sebab skripnya mengimbau kenangan semasa zaman remaja di bangku sekolah menengah sekitar lewat 1980-an dan awal 1990-an. Bila cuti panjang, saya akan naik bas ekspres di Pudu Raya untuk pulang ke kampung. Selalunya saya sampai dua atau tiga jam lebih awal dan sementara menunggu bas ekspres Rembau-Tampin tiba, saya merayau di sekitar kawasan Pudu Raya. Biasanya saya suka melihat gelagat seorang penjual ubat dengan gimik yang unik iaitu pameran bongkah batu besar berdiri atas botol kaca. Lokasinya kalau tak silap di depan Hotel Ancasa sekarang. Kisah yang disampaikan dalam skrip Jual Ubat memang mirip dengan apa yang saya saksikan puluhan tahun yang lalu. Sampai sekarang saya memikirkan bagaimana penj...

The Outsider (L'Étranger) - Albert Camus

Image
  Title: The Outsider (L'Étranger) Author: Albert Camus Translated from the French by Joseph Laredo Publisher: Penguin Books, London Year published: 2010 119 pages The Outsider (L'Étranger) by Albert Camus is a philosophical novel that delves deeply into themes of alienation, existentialism, and the absurdity of life.  The protagonist, Meursault, is a French-Algerian man who lives a life detached from societal norms and emotional connections.  The story opens with the death of his mother, an event that Meursault approaches with a striking lack of emotion.  His indifference, even during the funeral, becomes a focal point for others’ judgment later in the story. Meursault’s life unfolds in a series of mundane events, marked by his passive approach to existence.  He begins a romantic relationship with Marie, a former coworker, yet remains emotionally indifferent to her affection.  His friendship with his neighbor, Raymond, further illustrates his detachment, a...

Emile - Jean Jacques Rousseau

Image
  Title: Emile Author: Jean Jacques Rousseau Translated by Barbara Foxley Publisher: JM Dent & Sons, London Year published: 1950 444 pages Some interesting quotes from Emile: 1. To be honest I need not think myself infallible; my opinions, which seem to me true, may be so many lies; for what man is there who does not cling to his own beliefs; and how many men are agreed in everything? 2. We are far more in love with our own fancy than with the object of it. If we saw the object of our affections as it is, there would be no such thing as love. When we cease to love, the person we used to love remains unchanged, but we no longer see with the same eyes; the magic veil is drawn aside, and love disappears. 3. People who know little are usually great talkers, while men who know much say little. It is plain that an ignorant person thinks everything he does know important, and he tells it to everybody. But a well-educated man is not so ready to display his learning; he would have too m...

Eureka! by Andrew Gregory

Image
  Title: Eureka! Author: Andrew Gregory Publisher: Icon Books, London Year published: 2017 177 pages Eureka! by Andrew Gregory offers a captivating journey through the history of science, focusing on the groundbreaking discoveries and moments of inspiration that have transformed human understanding.  The book sheds light on the lives and works of some of the greatest thinkers, including Archimedes, Galileo, Newton, Darwin, and Einstein, exploring how their revolutionary ideas were born and how they shaped the world. Gregory brings to life the historical and cultural contexts in which these figures lived and worked, detailing the obstacles they faced and the perseverance that drove them forward.  For instance, he describes Archimedes’ contributions to mathematics and engineering, Galileo’s defiance of authority in championing heliocentrism, Newton’s revolutionary laws of motion, Darwin’s struggle to articulate the theory of evolution amidst social and religious resistance...

Of Love and Other Demons - Gabriel García Márquez

Image
  Title: Of Love and Other Demons (Del amor y otros demonios) Author: Gabriel García Márquez Translated from the Spanish by Edith Grossman Publisher: Penguin Books, London Year published: 1995 160 pages Of Love and Other Demons (Del amor y otros demonios), written by Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez, is a haunting tale set in 18th-century colonial Colombia, where the worlds of rationality and superstition collide. The novel explores themes of love, faith, societal oppression, and the boundaries between the human and the supernatural.   The story centers on Sierva María de Todos los Ángeles, a twelve-year-old girl born into the crumbling aristocracy. She is the neglected daughter of the Marquis de Casalduero and his resentful wife, Bernarda. Raised among the African slaves on her family’s estate, Sierva María adopts their language, customs, and religious practices, creating a stark contrast between her and the elite world she is supposed to belong to.   The ...

The Baby Boom - P. J. O' Rourke

Image
  Title: THE BABY BOOM: How It Got That Way... And It Wasn't My Fault... And I'll Never Do It Again Author: P. J. O'Rourke Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, New York Year published: 2014 258 pages This book is a sharp, witty, and often laugh-out-loud exploration of the Baby Boomer generation, its defining characteristics, and its lasting impact on society.  With his trademark humor and keen observational skills, P.J. O'Rourke dissects the experiences, attitudes, and contradictions of the generation born in the aftermath of World War II. The book begins with a nostalgic look at the idyllic and often over-romanticized childhoods of Baby Boomers in the 1950s, a time marked by stability, economic prosperity, and an explosion of suburban living.  O'Rourke captures the innocence and optimism of the era, from family road trips and simple pleasures to the cultural shifts ushered in by rock 'n' roll and television.  However, he quickly moves beyond nostalgia, offering a cri...

A Decade of Decision - Fred Hoyle

Image
  Title: A Decade of Decision Author: Fred Hoyle Publisher: The Scientific Book Club, London Year published: 1955 175 pages "A Decade of Decision" explores the critical choices humanity faces in an era defined by rapid scientific and technological advancements.  Hoyle, a renowned astrophysicist, delves into the challenges and opportunities brought about by these developments, focusing on their impact on global society, politics, and economics. The book examines the interplay between scientific progress and human responsibility, emphasizing the need for thoughtful decision-making to harness technology for the greater good.  Hoyle addresses themes such as environmental sustainability, the ethical implications of scientific research, and the potential consequences of neglecting global cooperation.  Drawing from his expertise in astrophysics and his insights into human behavior, Hoyle offers a thought-provoking analysis of the pivotal role of science in shaping the futur...