Nothing pleases a writer more than having his or her book reviewed by readers. Whether the review is good or bad – it does not matter.
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of bumping into a piece of review at www.goodreads.com written by one named Aina Dayana Hilmi from Melaka. Not only has she bought my book and then read it. She also graciously went an extra mile to produce some feedback after feasting her eyes on it. (For Malay Language readers, the review can be found here).
The book Seungu Lavendar is a true story based on my childhood days, written straight from my heart; growing up in an ordinary family (father being a police constable), coping with everyday dealings in the era of 1960’s and the 1970’s. The little girl Ummu Hanis (or Hanis) is my character in the book, her experiences and her innocent outlook towards life written from the eyes of a child of her age. I wrote this book under the direct guidance and constant online correspondence with Madam Ainon Mohd (Sifu PTS) and it was completed in a span of 3 months. Writers for her publishing company at that time were encouraged to write their own life experiences or Jibunsyi (‘lifes of ordinary people’ in Japanese). In tandem with her request, all the names of characters needed to be changed (but in this book, I had to maintain my father’s name, for reasons stated in the book storyline).
I would like to reproduce some points from my book "Jadi, Anda Mahu Menulis?"
According to Mdm Ainon, "Actually every person's life is a unique tale that may be made into a book; it is a storyline."
The reason why jibunshis are written is because so that ordinary people may relate to the stories and then be inspired and motivated. It may be that reader is facing some form of situations, similar to the writer. Then, he or she will say, "I am facing the same difficult situation. And I am not alone. So, this is how I can weave my way out of the same predicament. And the attitudes that I should churn in myself."
One of the Jibunsyi' that was successfully adapted into an effective film was Oshin (a well loved TV series by women all over the world)- the story of the iron willed lady who did not give up hope even though the tides turned against her.
Thanks a million, Ms. Aina Dayana Hilmi! Appreciate your efforts. Really do!
Apr 01, 2010
Aina Dayana Hilmi rated it: 3/5
bookshelves: family, read-2010
Read in April, 2010
(Malay readers may read the review here.)
6 comments:
Umi
I am very pleased for you to hear the good comments received. You deserve it for having written something straight from personal experience and from your heart. Often we have enough of 'dongengs' and need to read good accounts of fact of life, the reality of which can be stranger than fiction.
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahiwabarokaatuh,
Umi, thanks for sharing, motivating and stimulating others to write. Its good to get positive feedback from readers and I sincerely congratulate you for that!
Its not easy to write our own 'Jibunshi' since we are brought up to always 'merendah diri, apatah lagi memuji diri sendiri'. I guess with the right technique we could write as a third person (Referring to surah Yusuf as a guide ..).
Many thanks for your books, advice and suggestions ...
Salam from Austria,
Shief
Dear Pakcik Hassan,
Thank you for your kind words.
I owe a lot to my parents for having the vision to educate all of us despite the inadequacy that they had to cope with their life.
I do hope Pakcik will also produce your own Jibunsyi - which I think is a very valuable and timeless one.
How about that, PAkcik?
Salams to Makcik Salma
Dear Kak Shief,
Thanks for writing here. So, you are in Vienna now. No longer in Japan..
I do hope you too can capture all your life experiences and share with us all...
And remember that when we write, we write deep from our heart, full of sincerity. In so doing, we may touch other people's heart.
And we must not forget to correct out 'niat' i.e. just to share...and not to inflate our ego. Na'uzubillah.
Please do keep in touch!
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