Kata Pengarang, Kata Pembaca (K-PaP) is a book discussion monthly event organized by Malaysian National Writers Association (PENA). It provides a platform for an author (pengarang) and a reader (pembaca) to share their writing process and reading experience respectively.
For the last Saturday event, two books had been chosen by the organizer; a short story compilation and a novel. The first title was Pascasejarah (Posthistory*) by Fahd Razy which won Writing Competition organized by Malaysian Institute of Translation & Books (ITBM), PENA and Berita Harian (BH) for category of short story compilation, a couple of years ago.
While the second title was Meski Jauh Dibatasi Bumi (Although Confined in the Earth*), a novel by Sutung Umar RS and had been discusssed by Malaysian veteran dramatist and political poet, Dinsman. The novel was written based on author personal experience in his early life in Kuala Lumpur and constructed in a way similar to soliloquy in a drama. Meski Jauh Dibatasi Bumi could be said a part of trilogy consist of Api Cinta (The Fire of Love*) and Dia dan Nya (He and His*).
As a reader, Dinsman gave a sort of consciousness not only to other readers for remind them that Meski Jauh Dibatasi Bumi is still a novel; it blended facts and fictions in a way the dividing line between them had been blurred. This happened several times before especially in Api Cinta when it has a striking similarity of Malaysian literary life in 80's and 90's and for its obscene scenes.
But the 'trilogy' in a way is an account of literary life in Kuala Lumpur which had been written by a prominent figure in Malaysian literature. Sutung Umar RS was Dewan Sastera's Editor and had a working experience under the great Usman Awang before the former left Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) to take a position as Literature Editor for BH. For those roles and his involvement in Malaysian literary life bore significant influence to many Malaysian writers from National Laureate to a younger generations.
For this alone, Meski Jauh Dibatasi Bumi must be taken as important novel to read.
For the last Saturday event, two books had been chosen by the organizer; a short story compilation and a novel. The first title was Pascasejarah (Posthistory*) by Fahd Razy which won Writing Competition organized by Malaysian Institute of Translation & Books (ITBM), PENA and Berita Harian (BH) for category of short story compilation, a couple of years ago.
While the second title was Meski Jauh Dibatasi Bumi (Although Confined in the Earth*), a novel by Sutung Umar RS and had been discusssed by Malaysian veteran dramatist and political poet, Dinsman. The novel was written based on author personal experience in his early life in Kuala Lumpur and constructed in a way similar to soliloquy in a drama. Meski Jauh Dibatasi Bumi could be said a part of trilogy consist of Api Cinta (The Fire of Love*) and Dia dan Nya (He and His*).
As a reader, Dinsman gave a sort of consciousness not only to other readers for remind them that Meski Jauh Dibatasi Bumi is still a novel; it blended facts and fictions in a way the dividing line between them had been blurred. This happened several times before especially in Api Cinta when it has a striking similarity of Malaysian literary life in 80's and 90's and for its obscene scenes.
But the 'trilogy' in a way is an account of literary life in Kuala Lumpur which had been written by a prominent figure in Malaysian literature. Sutung Umar RS was Dewan Sastera's Editor and had a working experience under the great Usman Awang before the former left Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) to take a position as Literature Editor for BH. For those roles and his involvement in Malaysian literary life bore significant influence to many Malaysian writers from National Laureate to a younger generations.
For this alone, Meski Jauh Dibatasi Bumi must be taken as important novel to read.
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