Changes to the ‘Books’ page

We will no longer be featuring new Malaysian books on this page (the old posts will remain); they will be moved to the our ‘Home’ page. The publishing industry in Malaysia is facing a mini boom; we are now receiving new titles at the bookstore about two or three times a week. As such, our ‘once a month’ update is not longer relevant, and we find ourselves dropping some books due to space constraints.

Our ‘Home‘ page displays dynamic content (sorry for the jargon), which means that it will be updated every time we add a new book to the database, possibly two or three times a week, with links directly to our online bookstore. So, anyone sending us a book should see it featured right on the front page of our website within twenty-four hours (unless we receive too many titles at one time).

The ‘old‘ book page will be used for reviews. We will start with books we are reading at Silverfish currently, and then spread out to feature good reviews from readers who’d like to share something good they’ve read. If one reads the news these days, one would be forgiven for thinking that the book is dead. Fortunately, its demise has been greatly exaggerated. In the last month, in Silverfish, we have read four books -- 1Q84 by Murakami, Cain by Saramago, Steve Jobs by Isaacson and Encounters by Kundera, and we have plenty to write about.

The other pages will be updated throughout the month as well, with the monthly Silverfish newsletter carrying a summary for those on our mailing list. It’s an experiment.

Children's art

The Malaysian Art Book for Children by Rahel Joseph & Jo Kukathas (RM 64.95)

Can a washing line be considered art? Why did Ibrahim Hussein paint a portraits of his father with an astronaut? What are Yee I-Lann's kerbau staring at? Where is everyone going in Wong Hoy Cheong's Boats? Why does Syed Ahmad Jamal portray Gunung Ledang as a blue and green triangle?

The Malaysian Art Book for Children features some of Malaysia's most exciting artists and is a perfect introduction for all those encountering Malaysian contemporary art for the first time.

Written in a fun and accessible way, the book has been designed to encourage creativity and critical thinking in children, through the fascinating world of art. Ideal for use at home or in the classroom, the book also includes suggested activities that children could do on their own or with the supervision of a parent or teacher.

For children of all ages from here, there and everywhere.


Other new titles:
1) Sikhs in Southeast Asia: Negotiating an Identity eited by Shamsul AB & Arunajeet Kaur (RM 100.00)
2) Domination and Contestation: Muslim Bumiputera Politics in Sarawak by Faisal S Hazis (RM 150.00)
3) Sun Yat-Sen: Nanyang and the 1911 Revoluion edited by Lee Lai To & Lee Hock Guan (RM 100.00)
4) Dare to Dream by Tan Sri Radin Soenarno (RM 30.00)
5) PRU 13, UMNO Tumpas? by Zainal Abidin Ahmad (RM 20.00)
6) Memoir Perjuangan Politik Syed Husin Ali (RM 38.00)
7) The Pinang Peranakan Mansion by Chan Suan Choo (RM 85.00)
8) Sex, Stage & State by Ann Lee , Shahimah (Charmaine W) Idris , Sue Ingleton , Jo Kukathas & Foo May Lyn (RM 70.00)
9) Rabun (DVD) by Yasmin Ahmad (RM 20.00)

Piracy and plunder, silat and sorcery

The Beruas Prophecy by Iskandar Al-Bakri (RM 30.00)

20 Aug 1824, Robert Fullerton has just been appointed the Governor of the Prince of Wales Island (Penang) under the British administration in India. He is intent on intervening in the affairs of Perak, which is under the influence of Siam, despite reservations of the Colonial Office in London. To achieve his end of persuading Perak to accept a British Resident for 'protection', but primarily to gain access to its riches, Fullerton condones privateering, the escalation of piracy in the waters of the state.

The story trails the dark history of the Malay Peninsula involving, politically influential, Malay secret societies during this period, Indera Sakti was formed in the sixteenth century, after the defeat of the Malaccan army by the Portuguese, by soldiers who vowed to take back the entire peninsula, but currently consists of "sadistic reptiles who are assassins, pirates and other undesireables." Darul Kubra, another society, was formed to protect the treasures of Malik Al-Mansur, the ruler of Beruas who abandoned the city and fled from the advancing Portuguese.

This is a historical fiction, a swashbuckling tale of silat and sorcery, piracy and plunder. And Magic.


Other new titles:
1) Mengharungi Titik Noktah by Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim (RM 30.00)
2) Zombijaya by Adib Zaini (RM 20.00)
3) Menyapu Sampah ke Bawah Tikar by Pusat KOMAS (RM 10.00)
4) Aku Bangsa Malaysia by Pusat KOMAS (RM 10.00)
5) Policing Sexuality: Sex Society and the State by Julian C.H. Lee (RM48.00)
6) 60 Tahun Ekonomi Pasaran Sosial by Christian L Glossner & David Gregosz (RM32.00)
7) Reformasi Pendidikan di Malaysia: Merentas Jalan Baru by Al-Mustaqeem Mahmod Radhi & Sri Murniati (RM22.00)
8) Kata-Kata Pengubah Dunia: Kumpulan Pidato Tokoh-Tokoh Besar by Al-Mustaqeem Mahmod Radhi (RM26.00)
9) Pemanasan Global & Perubahan Iklim by Noor Amin Ahmad (RM 18.00)
10) Hitamputih: Catatan dan Pesanan (Book + CD) by Taj Addin (RM30.00)
11) Freedom Film Fest 2011 (DVD) (RM 15.00)
12) Bangsa Malaysia COmpilation 2011 (DVD) (RM 10.00)

A turtle tale

Puteri Tioman The Green Turtle by Rossiti Aishah Rashidi (RM 32.00)

Around the island of Tioman, in the deep blue sea, is a beautiful green turtle. Her name is Puteri Tioman and this is her story.

Puteri Tioman The Green Turtle is both a story and a guidebook about the threats turtles face in order to survive and what we can do to help.

Other new Malaysian titles:

1) Amerika by Ridhwan Saidi (RM 25.00)
2) Sini Sana: Travels in Malaysia edited by Tom Sykes & Tam May Lee (RM 35.90)
3) Nurul Asyikin by Aloy Paradoks (RM 20.00)
4) Catatan Pengingat Buat Kawan dan Lawan (RM 30.00)
5) Jerat by Dayang Noor (RM 20.00)
6) Ngeri by Gina Yap Lai Yoong (RM 16.00)
7) The Ecokids and the Paper Problem by Fay Khoo & Asha Gill (RM 10.00)
8) Found in Malaysia Vol 2 (RM 50.00)
9) Memahat Lekukan Sejarah: Sebuah Travelog BERSIH 2.0 edited by Riduan Mohamad Nor (RM 18.00)
10) RESET: Menimbang Kembali Paradigma Politik Malaysia by Suflan Shamsuddin (RM 30.00)
11) Patriots & Pretenders: The Malayan Peoples' Independence Struggle by Kua Kia Soong (RM28.00)
12) An Uncommon Hero: M.K. Rajakumar in Politics and Medicine by Tan Pek Leng (RM 70.00)
13) 9 July 2011 What really Happened edited by Nathaniel Tan (RM 30.00)
14) Ipoh, My Home Town Edited by Commander Ian Anderson (RM 100.00)
15) Legacy Cook Book by Sarawak Eurasian Association (RM 88.00)

Of lovers and ghosts

Growing Up with Ghosts -- by Bernice Chauly (Matahari Books, RM40.00)

She is Chinese, he is Punjabi. It is 1966. Loh Siew Yoke and Surinder Singh fall in love and marry but face opposition from their families. Their first child brings peace, but tragedy soon strikes.

Haunted by the untimely death of her father, Malaysian writer Bernice Chauly embarks on a journey to unravel the mystery surrounding a curse that is thought to have plagued her family. She traces a hundred years of her family history to Fatshan, China and Verka, India to recount and relive her ancestors’ lives against the histories of India, China, Singapore and Malaya. Through prose, letters and journals in different voices, the author creates a layered portrait of how two families traversed time to collide through love and death.

Growing up with Ghosts is a moving memoir of the author coming to terms with grief, history and bloodlines.

Other new malaysian books on the shelf:

1. Tulip in the Desert
2. The 4 Pillars of Islam
3. Bahasa melayu Bahasa Dunia
4. Cheng Ho Muslim Tionghua
5. Musium Negara
6. Malaysian Youth in Global World
7. Yes, Jom Ubah
8. Modern Muslim Identities