Books I Love: The Book Thief

The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak is the story of Liesel Meminger who acquires her first book - The Gravedigger's Handbook - when on their way to Munich to foster parents, her 6 year old brother dies and is buried near the train tracks. (Their mother has disappeared and their father taken away, branded as a communist).

Death narrates Liesel's ordeal and resilience as an abandoned child growing up with foster parents in war time Germany. Books gave her solace and enabled her survival. How she had acquired these books spoke of her determination.

This book was one we discussed at a Border's Book Club meeting a couple of years ago. It was recommended by someone in the group (I cannot remember who exactly). I would not have found out how good this book is otherwise, thank you.

"Strange - is it not? - that of the myriads who
Before us passed the door of Darkness through,
Not one returns to tell us of the road
Which to discover we must travel too."  Omar Khayyam - Rubaiyat

Ex Libris CNB 1784

My copy of The Book Thief (CNB 2011)

26th Anugerah Juara Lagu

Okay, so it may be basi (stale) already because it happened two weeks ago. You already know the outcome of this prestigious song competition, perhaps because you were there at the Stadium Putra, Bukit Jalil, or you watched it live on TV, or you read it in all the newspapers. Anyway this is my take on the 26th Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL) because it was my first time watching it live, not on TV (done this umpteen times), but at the venue of the competition.

The water theme was well carried throughout - especially during the opening act when guest performer Jamal Abdillah* came out in a mist, sang interspersed with thunder and lightning, and then rain fell! Awie rocked in red and Sheila Majid was all fresh and pastoral. Anyway the whole show was also ... colourful. See the pictures below if you don't believe me.

Jamal Abdillah in mist, thunder, lightning & rain (CNB 2012)

Awie rocked in red (CNB 2012)

Sheila Majid, the jazz queen (CNB 2012)

The twelve songs competing were Wanita Seluruh Dunia/composer Boy Clifford/lyricist BC/singer Projek Pistol; Gadis Semasa/Yuna; Cinta Muka Buku/Najwa Latif; Kekanda Adinda/Monoloque/M/Atilia & Monoloque; Sungai Lui/Aizat & Anas/A & A/Aizat; Kalau Berpacaran/Shohaimi Mior Hassan & Ana Rafali & Altimet; Penakut/ Yuna; Sedetik Lebih/Edry A Halim/EAH/Jaclyn Victor; Awan Nano/M Nasir/Budi Hekayat/Hafiz; Kisah Hati/Manusia Putih/MP/Alyah; Beribu Sesalan/Kevin Chen/Tinta/3 Suara (Shila Amzah, Ning Baizura, Jaclyn Victor); and Karma (Audi Mok/FT/Faizal Tahir).

1. Wanita Seluruh Dunia (CNB 2012)

2. Sedetik Lebih (CNB 2012)

3. Kekanda Adinda (CNB 2012)

4. Penakut (CNB 2012)

5. Kalau Berpacaran, with the devil on motorbike (CNB 2012)

6. Cinta Muka Buku (CNB 2012)

7. Karma and a burning piano (CNB 2012)

8. Kisah Hati (CNB 2012)

9. Sungai Lui; no Aizat because the onscreen sand art
distracted me (CNB 2012)

10. Gadis Semasa (CNB 2012)

11. Awan Nano (CNB 2012)

12. Beribu Sesalan (CNB 2012)

On the whole, performances were not only brilliant and creative, but also dramatic (Faizal Tahir and his burning piano), and heartfelt (Hafiz). Indeed I (& so many others?) guessed that the ballad Awan Nano would be the best song, and of course it was! So melancholic, so melodious, so lyrical, so beautiful... ok, enough already, I think you get it. By the way, nano in (Johor) Malay means berselerak/tidak tentu arah/pelindung.

The interlude segment was a tribute to Sudirman, with his popular
 songs sung by Black, Hazama & Azlan Typewriter (CNB 2012)

The winners and a shower of confetti for the winning song/singer
(CNB 2011)

The audience (CNB 2012)

The 26th AJL was an eventful evening! (AB 2012)

* A favourite singer of mine

29 January 2012

Love is ...

Holding hands at the pasar tani ...

Recently on a Sunday morning, I spotted this unidentified golden couple at the Pasar Tani Mega of Shah Alam . So sweet ...

Salam Maulidur Rasul

Salam Maulidur Rasul kepada semua umat Islam.

Snapshots: Cupcakes & Macarons

Cupcakes and macarons are just so pretty and colourful, that when I come across them and have my camera handy, I will take pictures. Here, I share some with you.

Cupcakes

Cupcakes at A's engagement (CNB 2010)

B made these pretty cupcakes in our kitchen (CNB 2009)

Cupcakes at the Pasar Tani Mega, Shah Alam (CNB 2011)

Cupcakes at  a friend's tea party (CNB 2011)

Macarons

Macarons at the Ikano area (CNB 2011)

More macarons at the same place (CNB 2011)

Macarons and coffee, yummy! (CNB 2011)

Macarons at the Whisk deli (CNB 2011)

The Daffodils

.... by William Wordsworth

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
and twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in neverending line
along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
what wealth to me the show had brought.

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

This is my favourite poem because it is most romantic, and I love daffodils. It was inspired in 1802 when Wordsworth was walking with his sister (in Ullswater, Lake District), written in 1804, first published in 1807 and revised in 1815. The above is the revised poem. Of course this poem is more popularly known entitled I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud, but I chose the alternative title of The Daffodils.

My Daffodils... until I can take a better photo... (CNB 1978)

Aqiqah, Berendoi & Cukur Jambul

Over the years I have had the opportunity to attend kenduris (feasts) held to celebrate the blessed occasions of newborns. Aqiqah, I understand, is the sacrifice of an animal on the occasion of a child's birth. This is highly encouraged since the days of the Prophet Mohammad when he and his companions used to perform aqiqah when bestowed newborns. Aqiqah, ususally carried out by parents or grandparents of the newborn, has the benefit of announcing the birth, and celebrating the blessed occasion with family and friends (the poor should be included by the offering of food and meat served then).

Malay culture and tradition has included the berendoi/buai bayi (cradling) and the cukur jambul (tonsure ritual for newborns) in these occasions. The newborn is dressed in new clothes and placed in a cradle, around which the family and guests are seated. Prayers are recited and a marhaban or berzanji group will sing praises to the Prophet. They may include songs about how the new mother had undergone hardships of pregnancy and birth and how much the newborn has been looked forward to.

A very elaborately decorated cradle for a very
special baby at the ceremony I attended in
Shah Alam (CNB 2010)

The Marhaban group at the above do. Note the green coconut
on the right (CNB 2010)

A young member of the Marhaban group above (CNB 2010)

For the cukur jambul, the new father or mother will carry the baby around to the persons (usually grandparents, family elders, religious leaders) who will each snip a lock of hair. It is customary, though not compulsory, for those who do the honours to present the baby with a gift in cash or kind). The locks of hair are placed in a bowl of water and  after the ceremony is over, the father will bury the hair in the ground, anywhere in the yard.

(The dulang or ceremonial tray for the cukur jambul usually holds a new pair of scissors, and a bowl of water or a young coconut cut and shaped like a bowl. Sometimes bunga rampai, beras kunyit, some honey and dates are also included in the tray.)

The dulang at a ceremony I attended in Taman Tun Dr Ismail
(CNB 2010) 

After the above ceremony, guests will be served food (including the aqiqah meat) and drinks. Then bunga telur (party favour) - in the form of the traditional bunga telur (decorative hard boiled egg) or the more modern sweets, cakes or chocolates - are given out when guests leave.

Traditional bunga telur for the guests at the TTDI do (CNB 2010)

Note: Some families do put on very lavish ceremonies that now, there are 'party planners' who offer 'Aqiqah, Berendoi & Cukur Jambul' packages with a theme! My, oh my!

Fikrah Dr Salam (Harian Metro, 21/10/2011) Antara perkara sunnah yang boleh di lakukan ibubapa apabila mendapat zuriat adalah anak itu 1. Diazan & diiqamahkan 2. dilakukan aqiqah 3.diberi nama yang baik 4. dilakukan (tahniq) atau dibelah mulut dengan benda manis seperti kurma & dibaca doa 5. dicukur rambut & diberi sedekah seberat timbangnya 6. dikhatankan 7. menindik telinga bagi anak perempuan 8. diberi penjagaan & penyusuan sebaik mungkin.