The Reader

Baca Ceria in Putrajaya

Every month,we have Langkah Ceria to get more people to walk and Kayuhan Ceria to get more people to ride in Putrajaya.More and more people are taking part and this augurs well for healthy lifestyle.Congratulations to Perbadanan Putrajaya.As one of the  early bike riders in Putrajaya(way back in Aug,2008),I am very happy to see it is happening and progressing well-not only in Putrajaya but all over the country.Alhamdulilah.

 

So far we  have sport and entertainment actvities being promoted and sponsored.Next,if I may be allowed to think aloud is The Festival of Reading in the form of Baca Ceria.From my observation,the National Month of Reading is forgotten in the following eleven months.I have a suggestion where once a month, we have a reading picnic where parents and their children come to The Promenade(located next to The Souq) or any other beautiful places and read books by the lakeside.They also can have their own family picnic potluck-style but the Perbadanan Putrajaya provides free books to read or through sponsors or on lend from public libraries or bookshops.

 

May I have your comments and better suggestions.InsyaAllah,I will be meeting the President of Putrajaya soon.Wish me luck.

 Herewith I attach a few nice places to read books in Putrajaya.

Wall garden,anyone?

This photo was taken in Holland by my friend Guus.Do we have these containers for sale in Malaysia?I think this type of gardening is very suitable for those who love to have garden in their offices and and thier apartment with very little space taken away.Any comments?Thank you.

 

Book: Manuscript Found in Accra

This is the latest novel I bought.It was written by Paulo Coelho and like his other novels are thought provoking and page turner for me.Like The Flowing River is my favourite that made me bought two copies-one for my sister and one for me.This Manuscript Found in Accra costs me RM49.90.It is a bit expensive for a 190 pages of novel but the measure in not in numbers of pages but more in the essence of the contents.To me,it is worth every sen.

Let me post a qoute here:

Ask a flower in the field: "Do you feel useful? After all you do nothing but produce the same flowers over and over." And the flower will answer: "I am beautiful, and beauty is my reason fro living." Ask the river: "Do you feel useful, given that all you do is keep flowing in the same direction?" And the river will answer: "I'm not trying to be useful; I'm trying to be a river." Nothing in this world is useless in the eyes of God.

Happy reading..

By the way,what book are you reading now?

New series:Views from The Sidewalk

Starting this Wednesday 2nd of January,2013,I am starting a new weekly blog every Wednesday here.This weekly musing of mine is called View from The Sidewalk and will cover current political,economic and social issues or important matters of national interests.

I have been blogging for more than a decade here.It is time for me to say my piece as I see it,especially the next General election is around the corner .However,this blog The Reader will remain apolitical.

Thank you and let us have Conversations on The Sidewalk every Wednesday.

Note on photo:This sidewalk has been replaced by many shops/cafes so that the building owner can make more money.

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Sidewalk cafe in Putrajaya

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Tell a story 2.0

Book:The Arab Awakening

While browsing books at Kinokuniya Bookshop at KLCC today,I saw a poster about the talk by Prof Tariq Ramadan.It will be held on 16th July,2012 at 6pm at this bookshop.As a fan of this muslim scholar,I plan to attend the talk.Immediately,I went looking for the book and bought a copy.

My question to him would be,"The people can overthrow the dictators but how about the corrupted  regime already in place for the last few decades?".

Wattpad - Discover a World of Unlimited Stories

Read anytime, anywhere. Whether you love romance, humorous short fiction, futuristic sci-fi or paranormal mysteries, Wattpad is a unique reading experience for your phone or tablet. and other supported devices

Connect with readers & writers Explore our global community! Connect, collaborate and share interactive stories or stumble across the newest trends in fiction. No matter where you are (or where you're from), you'll feel right at home.

Everybody has a story to tell Find your audience on Wattpad! Write one chapter at a time, or share your full novel. Introduce us to great characters; explore new genres, entertain us and make us laugh... or cry.

via wwww.wattpad.com

At last someone came up with wattpad where I could connect to stories.Way back in 2004,I was very interested in the power of stories and I wrote this posting in my blog.I hope to use this wattpad to read stories from others and may be I could share and publish my own stories..

Psssh..Now I am about to finish a  little book.Target to publish: Before I am 60.~3 months from now.

Caught reading books..

Nowadays I noticed a lot of people spend their time reading even though they are walking and even driving.Sadly they are not reading books but reading what is on the screens of their mobile phones or tablet electronic devices.Someone even collided with me because she was reading her mobile phone while walking!

On the right is a rare scence where I saw a few people reading books at the LG floor of Suria KLCC.

Looking back for the year 2011,what books have you read,what lessons have you learnt from your book reading and what is your reading plan for the year 2012? If you are on Facebook,please join at Bookcafe group.

Today is the last day of 2011.let us say good bye to 2011 and may I wish all my readers a Happy,Healthy and Prosperous New Year 2012,insyaAllah.

Sudoku books..

I came across Sudoku some time in 2006 and tried to get started but it did not take off. In 2008,I bought my second book-Penguin Pocket SUDOKU.I tried one or two and then I just kept the book when I have problems to solve most of the puzzles.Again,I put aside the book in my bookself.The puzzles were rated one to five stars and very intimidating to my little mind!Last month I came upon a cheap sudoku book and I bought the third book entitled SUDOKU FOR COFFEE BREAKS.I bought it for RM3 and discovered that I can solve many of the easier ones(categorised as light and easy~15min).The moderate one will take 30 to 60 minutes to work through it.At the moment,I am doing sudoku about one hour each day.

After about a week,I have learnt a few things while solving the puzzles..Now it is getting more interesting[not like 5 years ago when I gave it up].As I was cautioned by my dear friend Pak Unggal of possible addiction to Sudoku,I am still in control-so far so good.My rules which I have managed to abide by are:1.Only 2 puzzles a day.2.Sudoku time is not more than ONE hour-which ever comes first.

Why did I play sudoku?It made me think harder,improved my correlation of groups of number and improved my memory.

 

Book: As the crow flies..

I bought this novel yesterday even though it has been published more than almost 10 years ago.Somehow,it missed my reading radar even though I am a fan of Sir Jeffrey Archer.As the they say,it better late than never.Thanks to Marina and Col Azudin for their recommendations.

After reading the first chapter last night,I believe it is going to be an interesting read for me.The narrative was great and very English.I have been to White Chapel and Covent Garden -the two places mentioned in the first chapter.

One lesson learned is about a trust was given based on family reputation.The  trust was given even to a young boy because of his grandfather being a man of trustworthy.This reminded me of my late father...

Another interesting note I wish to make is  Charlie,the young boy wanted to enter into a business like his grandpa-to own the biggest barrow in the world.In a similar manner,my youngest son,a 21 years old boy is undergoing his apprenticeship under his dad's guidance, insyaAllah.

By the way, distance from Bangi to Putrajaya is only a few kilometres as the crow flies... just like from White Chapel to Chelsea Terrace.

Book:And Thereby Hangs a Tale..

For my readers who are not connected to my Facebook.It is about this book I bought yesterday..

And Thereby Hangs a Tale..

by Adib Noh on Wednesday, 10 November 2010 at 16:52

This is my third Jeffrey Archer's novel of collection of short stories.So far,he had never failed to entertain me with his short stories.Every story,to me, is worth every penny!

 

The two I have read  so far:

 

1.To Cut a long Story Short

 

2.Cat O' Nine Tales

 

Why I love Jeffrey  Archer's short stories?

 

It is because many have  A Twist in The Tale(which is another collection of  short stories I have yet to read.

 

This novel costs me about RM28 after 20% discount at Kinokuniya

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  Marina Rahim likes this.
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    Marina Rahim I'm a big fan of Jeffrey Archer's, and read those two already. But my fav is still As The Crow Flies :)

    5 hours ago · Like
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    Adib Noh Marina,
    Thanks for your feedback.I may have missed As The Crow Flies.May I know why it is your fav?

    5 hours ago · Like
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    Marina Rahim It's not a short story btw. But it's my 'comfort' book, read more than 5 times. About a poor boy from the East End becoming a grocer, wealthy, and then back to his love of selling fruits and veges in old age.. it's inspiring, with plots and twists typical of Archer, and made me cry.. all the elements are there :)

    4 hours ago · Like ·  1 person
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    Adib Noh Thanks Marina...From your short summary,I have not read it.I must go and get it as soon as I finish reading this short story book.

    4 hours ago · Like
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    Azudin O Fuad Abedib, Have read most of JA books. The best is still As the Crow Flies.

    3 hours ago · Like
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    Adilah Abdullah Baharuddin Yup I've read As The Crow Flies too. It was a loooong time ago but still remembered the grocer boy plot :)

    3 hours ago · Like
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    Marina Rahim Pak Adib sure tak sabar nak gi bookshop lepas ni :p

    3 hours ago · Like
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    Adib Noh Marina,you read me a book;-)
    I just came back my MPH Alamanda but sadly,the bookshop doesn't have even a copy of it:-((I will check at Kino/Borders in KL..

    2 hours ago · Like