An ancient confession

It’s a book that chased me around. Recommended, referenced, and mentioned, so I read it. I bought myself the abridged Penguin version with the pretty cover that said ‘God grant me chastity and continence but not yet.’

An awfully familiar line around here. Something you'd say to yourself to silence your conscience when you habitually do something wrong.

This saint had a mistress and a son born out of wedlock. He had a mother too, and she never stopped praying for him. He knew this of course but was determined to do things by enquiry and reason, more so than faith. He harboured Manichean views before he turned Catholic.

At this point of reading the book, I am reminded of the saying that it is better to be stupid in truth rather than rationalising error. Sometimes being too intelligent just doesn’t pay. There are catalogues of views, opinions and thoughts right in front of us, each offering their different takes on things. The PC thing to say here is that every opinion is equally valid. History would tell us otherwise.

Maybe it’s not about validity, but about the right of every opinion to exist and be expressed so that they its claims may be taken apart and put back together for validation.

Humbleness must be what we need to always keep us grounded. St Augustine was fortunate to have received an epiphany that made him leave his world of sin. Miracles and epiphanies however aren’t much of an option for us earthier individuals, so that only leaves us with humbleness. The humbleness to listen to other people’s views and recognise their merits, but more importantly, the humbleness to listen to other people’s thoughts and recognise our faults.

The title of the book is 'Confessions of a sinner'. Don't bother reading if you aren't one.

The Time Traveler's Wife (the buku)

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

What can I say about the book? Well basically I think everyone has got his hand on this book, especially since it debuted on silver screen last November. Sadly, I havent got the chance to watch the movie yet but that's not a sad case; I always prefer reading the book rather than watching its adaptation. Oh yes I'm pretty biased there I know.

The title tells it all- it lies around a couple, Henry and Clare who found each other when Clare is six and Henry is 36. The story is told based on first-person narration of both of them, so it helped us to see and understand the story from both perspectives. It is no science fiction I'm telling you, but it is told that Henry's ability (or maybe disease) is caused by stress and by the flickering images on the tv. Anyway, while at first I think it might be cool to have your other half time-traveling- it is not really. Henry couldn't tell Clare what will happen in her future, and pretty much he couldn't do much. He couldn't drive (imagine one sec he'd be on the wheel, and *blink* he's in the 70s,then whatever happen to the car, right?), and yeah, he time travels, naked. *gulp*

So I scratch my word- God forbid please don't give me any time traveler, not even in the form of Eric Bana . Sobs!

How does this story move you? By letting you share the joy of two person who loved each other, but at the same time- bring you at unease and sore you as Henry time travels. And yes, touched you when one knows that it takes more than you can give to stay normal- though you're not.


Written by Aini. She and her friend Rashidah operate thebukuproject blog, solely dedicated in reviewing books. But currently they are busy with their exam. So do bookmark their blog!

Cinta itu seni beb!

Selamat!
Maaflah kalau artikel kami sebelum-sebelum ini agak membosankan. Korang tak boleh nak salahkan kami sebab 'that's who we are' erk. Kalau korang rasa korang boleh tambah rencah kami merayu untuk memasinkan, memaniskan atau memasamkan kami.

Haritu aku ada keluar makan dengan seseorang. Obviously bukan perempuan la. Keluar makan dengan En. Editor je pun. Kami berbual, berbual dan berbual sampai stuck dekat satu topik ni yang aku rasa En. Blok 19-21 konfem minat. Topik yang majoriti dikalangan rakan sebaya kami sedang berada dalam.

Cinta dan perhubungan (sounds cheesy err) begitulah ianya berkisar. Kami bersoal jawab dalam pelbagai aspek. Daripada definasi cinta, perhubungan ideal, ciri gadis idaman sehingga ke perkara yang remeh dan kecil seperti akan bagaimana harus gambar kahwin dipotretkan (En Editor merasakan kebanyakan gambar kahwin terlampau idealistik dalam komposisi dan perlu untuk direalitikan pada cara dipotretkannya. Di sini aku bangkang).

Bila berbual fasal topik ini aku terasa tua pulak. Aku pun bukanlah tahu sangat fasal perkara-perkara ni. Cuma buat-buat tahu je.

Bagi aku (buat-buat tahu ni), banyak yang 'terjerumus' dalam perkara ini tenggelam dalam lautan emosi yang membanjiri , sehinggakan tiada langsung pelampong rasional dibawa bersama. Kebanyakan menganggap hubungan dan cinta adalah perkara remeh dan perlu dilayan membuta. Acap apabila gagal dalam perhubungan mereka akan mengganggap biasa dan mampu sembuh dan diganti dengan hubungan baru. Kalau beginilah hubungan yang mudah untuk ditukar ganti, mana keistimewaan dan sucinya hubungan. (Ya, aku menganggap cinta dan hubungan dalah perkara suci)

Ramai yang terjun tanpa ilmu. Try and error menjadi metod pilihan dalam memahami hakikat sebenar hubungan dan cinta. Berapa ramai yang meminta nasihat dan pandangan mereka yang lebih tua dan arif macam ibu dan bapa? Berapa ramai yang sekurang-kurangnya mengutip ilmu dari buku akan apa sebenarnya realiti cinta dan hubungan? Jadi kenapa perlu lalui jalan yang sukar dan menyakitkan sedangkan tersedia banyak sumber yang boleh diambil manfaat.

Cinta itu buta bila tiada akannya ilmu. Sebelum mula melangkah ke 'realm' ini, anda harus tanyakan pada diri, apakah tujuan anda dalam perhubungan ini? Adakah sekadar main-main? Adakah anda sebenar-benarnya mahu menghabiskan hidup anda bersamanya? Ataupun tiada langsung tujuan?

Bilamana sudah disetkan tujuan dan anda melangkah ke alam ini perhubungan anda akan berkembang berdasarkan tujuan asal anda. Jika tujuan anda tidak kukuh, jangan terkejut jika perhubungan anda hanya berkekalan dalam masa yang singkat. Tujuan umpama tiang asas. Jika kukuh, anda mampu survive.

Ya perhubungan dan cinta berbeza pada satu manusia ke satu manusia. Tiada definasi tepat dan kata putus untuk perkara ini. Abstrak. Namun tugas anda untuk memahaminya dan melakarnya dengan menggunakan segala sumber yang boleh diambil manfaat. Jangan sekali berenang ke laut jika tidak ada sedikit pun ilmu renang di dada. Cinta dan hubungan itu suci. Keep it that way.

Ini ada dua buku yang menarik untuk dibaca "How to Love" dan "Essays in Love". Cuti-cuti ni banyak pulak buku macam ni aku baca. Haih.

Aku?Masih penunggu yang setia (En Editor konfem guling-guling gelak bila baca ni). Masa aku menulis artikel ni, aku sedang mendengar lagu Boyz 2 Men, album Motown Hitsville USA. Otai jiwang!

Jadi apa pendapat anda?

Kutubkhanah: Kiss Kiss by Roald Dahl

The copy of the book that was passed to me was older than myself. The owner bought it at a second-hand store, and there's an inscription on the final page that reads, 'If this book should ever roam, smack it[sic] botton and send it home'. Carol Paul, your book is now in Melbourne, Australia.

A SINGLE MAN by Christopher Isherwood

Finally my academic term has ended and I get to return to my reading list. One that is of particular worth of mention, firstly because of the subject matter; and secondly for the style of writing employed, is "A Single Man" by Christopher Isherwood. Oh and did I mention that there's film adaptation which stars Colin Firth? mmmmmmm...