A READER'S RESPONSE : TRANSGENESIS

We have a 'Book Club' of sorts here in my office. Just some staff sharing some novels we own. Actually it was more for the benefit of some of our clerks who do like to read novels, but can't afford to buy them. Us officers take turn to buy at least one new novel a month. But enough about the Book Club.

What I want to post about today are these comments made by a young clerk who had borrowed my copy of the novel Transgenesis : Bisikan Rimba. I mentioned that the author has a blog, and she asked if he would be interested to hear her comments. So, Amir Husaini, this one's for you... hehehe :-)

Unfortunately for her, internet access in my office is not extended to clerks, so I shall reproduce her comments 'almost' verbatim.... I said 'almost', because these days my memory sometimes needs to be jumpstarted with ginkgo biloba in the mornings *sigh*. Don't fret, she actually wrote her comments on paper, point-form.

On her feelings while reading the novel :-
"Secara keseluruhannya, best dan menarik. Masa mula baca, rasa excited, tapi di bahagian tengahnya, rasa macam dah boleh agak apa ending cerita so macam malas sikit nak baca. Masa sampai suku penghabisan, rupa-rupanya banyak kejutan lain! Ending tak sama seperti yang saya fikirkan, dan kejutan-kejutan tu macam memberi suntikan kepada kemalasan tadi. Ending, rasa nak marah dan tak puas hati pun ada, rasa macam "ni mesti akan ada sambungan ni...". Dalam masa yang sama sebelum noktah akhir, saya fikir "harap-harap semua terbongkar, Ixora, Cempaka, mak sedara Razilan..." Tapi rupanya sengaja dihadkan... rasa makin nak tahu misteri cerita tu, dan harap sangat ada sambungannya!"

On the story line, which she'd like to ask the author :-
"(1) Moga diceritakan, boleh ke Flora yang baik tu kawin dan beranak?
(2) Flora ada perasaan simpati, kemanusiaan, maknanya ada juga cinta dan sayang... agaknya siapa pilihan dia? (minat tak dengan Buraquzzaman...??)
(3) Tambahkan humor lagi ye...
OK tak nak tanya banyak, nanti tak surprise kalau ada novel kedua.."

On enlightenment from reading the novel :-
"Baru sedar betapa selama ni kita tak endahkan tumbuhan, buat macam-macam, tak jaga persekitaran... mana tahu, kot betul tumbuhan berdendam dengan kita! Teringin nak cium bau wangi kenanga, camana ek?"

Her last comments for the author :-
"Walaupun first time baca novel sains fiksyen, tapi saya suka! Orang yang suka berangan macam saya ni memang suka cerita-cerita gini. Sambung lah lagi ye...???"

This is a good start, methinks. Now not only do they not waste time gossiping during lunch hour (elak buat dosa kering huuhuu!) but at least they are thinking, gaining knowledge and giving opinions. InsyaAllah if there are any other comments on any of the novels in our collection, I'll try to put them up and notify the author (if he/she blogs la).