Nipah Nightmares by Ismim Putera

Another story inspired by a real event that once sent fear across Malaysia and almost brought the local pig farming industry down. The real outbreak behind it infected hundreds and killed over a hundred people, which makes the story feel even more alarming right from the start.

The story is about Kiew Seng Boo, a sixteen year old boy living in a pig farmhouse deep in Kampung Sungai Nipah. He spends his days helping his parents manage an overcrowded farm that is poorly maintained and far from hygienic. At the same time, dengue cases are rising. A long drought followed by heavy rains only makes things worse, creating the perfect conditions for an outbreak that refuses to slow down.

The situation grows more distressing when pigs on the farm start dying suddenly. There are also hunters nearby who have been killing pigs that wander off, which raises suspicion. Seng Boo feels the urge to investigate, but fear holds him back. His family believes someone might be trying to sabotage them, and that tension quietly builds throughout the story.

As the number of deaths increases, most victims are linked to the farm workers and villagers who consumed pork from the area. When Dr Kaw, a health officer, and his team step in, they are shocked by the filthy conditions. The farm is eventually shut down, triggering anger among villagers especially after pig carcasses are discovered dumped in rivers and surrounding areas. Seng Boo’s family denies responsibility, adding more uncertainty to what is really happening.

I cannot say much about the story since parts of it are fictional, but the added plot helps move things along. It is simple and direct, yet still manages to capture the chaos of that time. Knowing that over a hundred people died and many cases were initially mistaken for another disease makes the story feel even more unsettling. It was not just chaos, it was a dangerous delay in understanding what was really happening.

Cinta Hari-Hari Rusuhan by Faisal Tehrani

Novel yang diinspirasikan daripada kisah benar ini memang menyentuh hati. Antara buku yang saya paling nak baca selain Surat-Surat Perempuan Johor. Cerita ini juga layak diadaptasi menjadi filem sebab penuh dengan babak cemas, anekdot penting dan naik turun emosi watak utama. 

Kisah bermula pada awal tahun tujuh puluhan, ketika Basri dan Tengku Valizah sama-sama belajar di universiti. Mereka jatuh cinta walaupun datang dari latar yang berbeza. Dalam masa yang sama, Malaysia yang masih muda sedang berdepan dengan pelbagai krisis, dan semangat mahasiswa mula membara.

Kesatuan pelajar ketika itu lantang menyuarakan pandangan terhadap isu semasa. Demonstrasi tercetus, mengecam kuasa imperialis Amerika Syarikat dan pengaruh Zionis. Namun kemuncaknya ialah Rusuhan Baling. Peristiwa ini menjadi sejarah penting dalam gerakan perhimpunan besar-besaran rakyat dan mahasiswa, berikutan kejatuhan harga getah dan kenaikan kos sara hidup.

Basri dan rakan-rakannya turut bangkit menentang ahli politik yang dilihat lebih mementingkan diri. Cara kerajaan mengurus wang negara turut dipersoalkan, dan akhirnya yang paling terkesan ialah golongan miskin. Saya paling suka bahagian ini sebab penulis berjaya gambarkan mahasiswa sebagai suara yang berani, tapi dalam masa sama mudah dimanipulasi politikus yang hendak ambil kesempatan.

Bila keadaan makin tegang, ramai pemimpin pelajar diburu dan dipenjarakan. Basri memilih untuk jadi pelarian politik. Tapi yang paling sakit, Tengku Valizah 'memungkiri' janji mereka. Konflik dalaman di sini memang berat dan sangat memberi kesan.

Kalau nak cerita detail, memang boleh jadi cerpen dah. 😅 Tapi serius, ini bukan sekadar kisah cinta biasa. Ini cinta yang ada isi dan ada kritikan sosial yang masih relevan sampai sekarang. Siapa nak tulis novel cinta, patut jadikan ini sebagai rujukan.

The Man Who Died Seven Times by Yasuhiko Nishizawa

I love the premise of this novel. The time loop feels slightly confusing at first, but it becomes deeply captivating as the story unfolds. It’s about Hisataro Oba, a sixteen year old who suddenly gets stuck in strange time loop where he relives the same day nine times, in no fixed order. He calls this phenomenon the Trap. It’s a disorder he has to live with the rest of his life. In a way, it allows him to deliberately alter the course of reality, which becomes especially useful when it comes to preventing accidents.

As the New Year approaches, his grandfather Reijiro Fuchigami gathers the entire family. They only meet once a year due to long standing estrangement and unresolved conflict. Every year, Reijiro has a habit of renewing his will, and this gathering strongly suggests a discussion about the next successor to his successful company. However, the situation takes a dark turn when he is found dead under suspicious circumstances.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Hisataro has the benefit of the Trap. With a vast inheritance at stake, everyone becomes a suspect. Using his condition, he examines alibis and pieces together everyone’s timeline in an attempt to prevent his grandfather’s murder. The most logical solution seems to be staying close to him while keeping a watchful eye on the others, but the task proves far more complex than expected. Despite trying different approaches, the events continue to repeat with subtle yet significant differences.

It was first published in 1995, and it still feels fresh and engaging today. The mix of classic whodunit and time loop concept works surprisingly well, making it both fun and a little mind bending to read. Overall, it’s a clever mystery that keeps you guessing until the very end. Thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley for the review copy. 4.5 ⭐

Gantung & Gantung:2 by Nadia Khan

SMCGT bukan sekadar sekolah elit biasa. Di sebalik reputasinya, wujud sekumpulan pelajar asrama yang dikenali kerana kenakalan mereka. Mereka hidup berpegang pada satu kod persahabatan, Musketeer Code iaitu no all for one, just one for all. Tiada siapa dibenarkan ada steady girlfriend. Nampak klise namun semuanya berubah apabila salah seorang dari mereka melanggar kod tersebut. 

Dari cerita gila-gila remaja yang klise kemudiannya bertukar 180° mula menyentuh isu berat seperti buli dan bunuh diri. Dan harga yang perlu mereka bayar sangat mahal. Selepas dari kejadian itu, kumpulan mereka tidak lagi sama. 

Gantung dan Gantung:2 berbeza temanya. Gantung lebih kepada fantasi/paranormal. Kalau tak dibaca dengan teliti boleh rasa keliru sebab time linenya. Kalau kata soal plot, Gantung menjadi kegemaran saya. Gantung:2 lebih kepada kesan emosi dan trauma yang berpanjangan. Kalau dari segi penulisan, saya suka Gantung:2. Walaupun berbeza pendekatan, kedua-duanya saling melengkapi dengan baik.

Saya baca review di Goodreads yang Gantung:3 lebih mengundang, kompleks dan memeningkan. Tapi itu nanti-nantilah saya baca. Secara keseluruhan, ini adalah kisah yang mungkin bermula dengan rasa familiar, tetapi berkembang menjadi sesuatu yang jauh lebih berat dan menghantui. Sesuai untuk pembaca yang sukakan cerita dengan plot twist, dan permainan emosi.

 

Rezeki

Semalam dapat rezeki yang tak disangka. Orang biasa mungkin anggap ini biasa. Tapi kalau jenis collector, hoarder, ulat buku macam saya memang terasa seronok. Gambar atas antara koleksi yang saya dah susun (walaupun nampak macam tak tersusun😂😂). 

Buku Faisal Tehrani tu memang saya tercari sangat. Saya ingat nak pinjam kat library. Tapi tiba-tiba dapat rasa nak lompat bintang. Lagi ada karya awal Ramlee Awang Murshid dan A. Samad Said. AHHHHH!!! Rasa lengkap bacaan tahun ni. Dan ada buku selenggaraan Prof. Amida. Rasa sedih tiba-tiba teringat zaman muda.

Semangat terus nak membaca. Selamat membaca semua!