Fashionista's Book Review: Purification of the Heart by Hamza Yusuf

I was given the book last year by the SRC (Student's Representative Council) at Inceif for participating as a speaker in the SRC's annual student conference. As I was reading another book at the time (Yasmin Mogahed's Reclaim Your Heart), I kept this book on the shelf and finally had the time to read it late last year.

This book is actually based on a poem which was written by Imam Al-Mawlud entitled Matharat al-Qulub (which I assume means Purification of the Heart, but do correct me if I'm wrong). The book expounds upon the poem by providing explanations, examples, verses from the Quran and Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. and it tries to shed light into what the verses of the poem meant. The topics are all about the heart; it covers all about the diseases of the heart (not physical diseases but emotional ones) and how we can cure ourself of those diseases.

When I first read the book, I was only able to read a page or two at a time simply because the subject matter is very heavy and I needed time to recover from reading (and absorb what is being said). Thus, one can say that this book is definitely not for light reading. I initially wasn't too keen on reading the book (after the first few pages) simply because I felt it caused a burden on my heart and made me feel kinda forlorn and I wasn't sure whether it's the right book for me. Now for those who know me, they would know that I'm quite a cheerful person with a positive outlook on life and heavy stuff just kinda anchors me and makes me mellow (or kinda out of sorts).

Anyway, I am not the kind to shy away from finishing a book and I don't like not being able to finish a book (unless of course it's a textbook, that's something entirely different and is on a different plane of its own). So I decided that I could only cover subtopic per reading session and I proceeded to do just that. A subtopic could range from a page and a half or even around 10 pages. After a while, having gotten used to the style of writing and how the author looks at the subject matter, I was no longer affected by how serious the book is and I actually kinda liked reading the book (i.e. it no longer felt heavy). In fact, I actually looked forward to my nightly sessions. I used to read the book right before I go to sleep just so that I can contemplate and understand what's being said without dealing with my daily distractions.

So, what can I say about the book? Firstly, it's an absolutely fascinating book. I never knew that there were so many diseases of the heart (I was slightly afraid of getting a heart attack from reading about all those diseases) and how I can actually relate to those diseases in my daily life. In fact, I have most of those diseases in me. What I've discovered is that, some things, we might take them lightly, but when it's put in perspective, it's not something that we should take lightly at all. Instead we should constantly be aware of them (bad habits, bad thoughts etc) trying to attach themselves to our heart.

Secondly, the book has definitely given me a different perspective about myself (and having read so many self help books, motivational books and books that try to give you insight about yourself, I am not easily surprised by what current/ present gurus are trying to say). But this book has helped me to see things in different ways and have even helped to see how I can recalibrate the direction that I want to take in the future if I want to be closer to my Creator. Indeed, Jannah is my goal (as it is with most people) and discovering the many diseases that I have in me (planted and nurtured *sigh*), I know that I need to change and I need to have a game plan if I want to stick to this direction.

Thirdly, I wouldn't mind reading this book again and again (just to make sure I remember what are the diseases of the heart) and recognise their symptoms. Inshaa Allah.

So, would I recommend the book? Most definitely! As I said, it's a heavy book, not that easy to read but it's definitely worth a read. Thank you to members of the SRC for gifting me with such a wonderful gift. May Allah reward you all immensely, ameen.


xoxo Mrs Fashionista

Fashionista's Book Review: Biografi Syed Mokhtar Albukhary

I seem to be reading a lot of non fiction books lately (well actually, I don't remember when was the last time I read a fiction book) and I've been eyeing this book for quite a while. Finding myself to be traveling for quite often for the past few months and getting the book was simply an excuse for me to read while I wait for my flight at the airport.

Not much is known about this guy Syed Mokhtar Albukhary. He is most known for his wealth, he's listed among the top 20 wealthiest Malaysians and his charity (he has his own charitable foundation). Other than that, you barely see him in the news or anywhere (maybe except the business section, sometimes). Thus, that enticed me to buy the book. To know the man behind the name Syed Mokhtar Albukhary.

Needless to say, the book is definitely interesting and indeed motivating. I found a lot of inspiring stories of how he built his business, the strong discipline and business ethics that made him a success that he is today. What I liked about the book is his attachment on his family (and it could also be the backbone of his success).There were a lot of familial tales in the book, stories of him lending a hand in his father's business, he went to Johor to work with his uncle and even his wife is also a distant family relative. This shows how important family is to him. And indeed you can see from the story on how much his mother means to him, and how his family have influenced his nature in giving to others.

I would definitely recommend this book, to aspiring business people or those who are seeking for motivation. In this book you'll learn how determination, perseverance and never giving up (and even picking up the pieces after you've fallen) are the keys to his success. There are plenty of lessons to be learnt from this book. Absolutely inspiring!


To reading and learning.

xoxo Mrs Fashionista

Fashionista's Book Review: The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari

This is one of those books that have always intrigued me and to tell you the truth, I've been thinking of reading this book for many years now (well, there's plenty of books in my reading list so, it's kind of difficult for me to prioritize which book to read first). A couple of months ago I finally made the move in getting the book.

 

For those who might be unfamiliar with the author, Robin Sharma is an international speaker and motivator and the reason why I know this is because I've seen him on Oprah for a couple of times. Anyway, the title of the book have always intrigued me and at first I initially thought this book is about monks selling Ferraris (shameful, I know).
WhenI finally read the book last February, I was unable to put it down. The book tells a story about a hot-shot lawyer in the U.S. who had a heart attack that almost killed him and that made him realize the important things in life (which is not the legal profession unfortunately). He went off to India in search of himself and came back a few years later as a monk teaching what's important in our lives.

My Review:
I love the way how the book is written, it has a story-telling style that makes it interesting and easy to follow. And the best part of the book is the analogy that it portrays, the sumo wrestler coming out of a lighthouse, falling in the garden and finally walking up a pathway filled with diamonds. That is simply an ingenious analogy (in my humble opinion) and seriously, you need to find out what it means.
However, being someone who've had my share of books (and I read A LOT of books), some parts of this book is quite predictable which I feel the author could have improved upon. All in all, for those who are seeking to find their true purpose and direction in life, I really, really recommend this book. It will motivate you, it will teach you, it will guide you, and I promise you, if you practice some of the things taught by the book, it will truly change your life for the better.

Happy reading peeps!


xoxo Mrs Fashionista

Fashionista's Book Review: French Children Don't Throw Food

I had the opportunity of reading this book before I gave birth. It was recommended by my pal Farhah, and since I was kinda gung-ho about the whole mothering thing (truth be told, I've never thought of myself as a motherly type of person, and even now that I have a baby, I still don't think I have evolved to a motherly kind of person) I decided to give the book a try. 

I would have to admit, this is among one of the most fun parenting books that I've ever read. It's funny and witty and it's written in a way that makes it easy to relate to (and I don't even have kids yet at that time so it was good to be able to understand the mechanics of parenting before they actually make their appearance).

What I love about the book is that it shares the personal experience of the writer in bringing up her own daughter (and later twins). She shares what she has been through; the sleepless nights, the crying, not knowing what to do etcetera etcetera.

So far I have actually implemented a few things in the book that I find to be really useful. Before I continue, do take note that each baby is unique in his or her own way, therefore what works for me might not work for you.

The first thing that we tried was the 'pause and observe' technique. The writer noted that most French parents would observe the habits and behavior of their infants/ babies/ kids in order to know the cues that the babies are sending to them. It took us (me and hubs) awhile to get to know our baby better but this technique is really helpful in helping us determine whether our baby is crying because she is hungry (or still hungry even after a feeding session), wants her diaper to be changed, is sleepy, has tummy pain/ gassy, wants to be burped or simply wants to be hugged. Although there are times where we can't understand why she's crying but those times are far and few in between.

The second technique that we tried is to 'let the baby cry'. There are times when we do feel that it's quite exasperating where we have tried everything we can to calm the baby down but she's still crying so we do let her cry for awhile. This technique has been really helpful in getting the baby to establish her nightly sleeping pattern (since she was one month old she's been sleeping her nights well with only one or maybe no feeding in between). However this is one practice that we very seldom do simply because we believe that most of the time the baby cries for a reason but sometimes this technique is necessary in establishing new habits/ patterns with the baby.

There are many other techniques and methods as mentioned by the writer but I am definitely not going to share them here because I want you to go out and get the book. It's definitely a life saver for a first time mom (like me) and it really helped me to see how I can manage my journey towards becoming a good mother (I don't aim to be a perfect mom, just a good one, good in my own unique way). I would have to say that it helped me to become calmer in handling a wailing baby.


xoxo Mrs Fashionista

Fashionista's Book Review: Brain Rules for Baby

I found this book by accident when browsing the bookstore at LCCT International Departure Hall before leaving for Surabaya, Indonesia. Since we were leaving on a trip anyway and that trip has been planned to be filled with a 6-hour train ride from Surabaya to Yogyakarta (to and fro) I decided that it would be wise to have something to read while on the train (this thought later proved to be wise as the train ride turned out to be rather monotonous and dull).

Despite the book being on the New York Times bestseller list, I have never heard of the book before. But then again, I am not one to keep up with the bestseller list on New York Times *duh*. However, what compelled me to buy this book came at page 4 (I have a habit of reading a couple of pages of any book that I'd want to buy before making the decision to purchase; the synopsis often has a way of making a book way more interesting that it really is, you see).

On page 4, there are several myths that the author addressed (and some of those myths are those that seem to have been ingrained in my brain as truths *gasp*).

Myth #1: Playing Mozart to your womb will improve your baby's future math score (and the sad fact is, by the time I read this, I had already bought a whole collection of classical tunes from iTunes store just the previous month and was playing it once a week to the baby in my tummy. I have since changed from Mozart to Quranic verses instead).

Myth #2: Exposing your infant or toddler to language DVDs will boost his vocabulary.

Myth #3: To boost their brain power, children need French lessons by age 3 and a room piled with "brain-friendly" toys and a library of educational DVDs.

Myth #4: Continually telling your children they are smart will boost their confidence (which is what I've been doing to my niece, but since reading this book, I've stopped this habit).

So the author explained the rationale of these myths (and many others) and the actual facts regarding the myths (no I am not going to tell you what they are, but I do suggest that you go out and buy the book if you're interested to know).

So what can you expect from this book? I found the book to be filled with experiments (most of them regarding the brain but there are also many other experiments non-brain related) and the outcomes of those experiments (which is an eye-opener for me). There are also a lot of guidelines and tips on understanding a child's brain and how we, as mothers (or fathers or whoever it is that we think we are) can influence and shape those brains. For mothers out there (or soon-to-be mothers, like me, or even those involved in the childcare industry), I truly recommend this book. Don't worry, for a non-fiction book, it's written in a way that is simple and easy to understand (there's no funny jargons from what I can see) and the best part is, the author really tries to engage the readers in a witty conversational tone (so there's absolutely no lecture monotonous tone that you're used to when attending class).

Oh, if you're wondering about the academic qualifications of the author, he's a brain scientist, so he should be in his element in writing this book. For more information on the book or brain rules, you may want to visit his site here.

Cheerio!


xoxo Mrs Fashionista

Ps: I'm definitely going to reread the book once the baby comes out =).

Fashionista's Book Review: A Doctor in the House

It took me more than six months to finish reading this book. You must be thinking that I'm the slowest reader ever, and maybe you might be right. I kind of like to think of myself as one of the contributors that helps to increase the number of books read by Malaysians; Malaysians used to be known to read only 2 books in a year, fortunately that statistic has now improved, Malaysians now read an average of 12 books annually, to read more about the Malaysian reading statistic you can click [here]. But that is beside the point, the point of this post is my review on Dr M's latest book, A Doctor in the House (there's also a Malay version, Doktor Umum).

I was given the book in November and I only recently completed reading (and I mean really reading, not skipping the pages) the book last night. That means it took me about 9 months to complete the book. Why did it take me so long? No, not because there's more than 800 pages to read, because some parts of the book was really heavy reading and I had to stop and rest my head for a while (that rest took about three months, I'm afraid, that's why it took me so long to complete the book). So, now back to the book:

The book chronicles the life of the man we know as the father of modern Malaysia, the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. The beginning of the book starts from his childhood days and from then on it kinda flew up to his university years in Singapore where he met his wife, Hasmah. The heavy reading starts when he starts describing his experience during the Japanese occupation in World War 2. However, the interesting part starts when he began his political journey and from then one, I find this book to be one of the enthralling non-fiction books that I've ever read.

What I like about the book is the way it's written. During the time when I was reading the book, I felt like I was being told a story (just like a grandpa would tell stories to his granddaughter) and it was like the story of Malaysia started to unfold, from the beginning, being governed by the Brits, then the Japanese occupation, then back to the British and finally our own independence. And then Dr M started to chronicle his own journey, from opening his own practice to politics and finally becoming the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia. He elaborated stories that we (the public) would never have known, what happens behind the scenes in our country.

To me the book is an amazing read. What is even amazing is Dr M's remembrance of names, events, dates and so many other things. Although I do find that the book is slightly biased to Dr M's point of view, after all, he did write the book, but I would recommend the book to be used as one of the references for the subject Malaysian history. Those reading his book would certainly have a better appreciation for our country.

For those who are still wondering whether or not they should read the book, let me tell you this: if you want to know how the planning (and design) of Putrajaya came about, the building of the tallest twin towers in the world (KLCC), our currency crisis in 1998, why KLIA is located in Sepang and the start of LIMA, well, it's all explained in the book. And the book also includes stories that are political of nature, some of it regarding Anwar's entrance to UMNO, his rise up the ranks, his ousting from UMNO and his sodomy trials. The book also included stories of failures and mistakes that the government may have made.

In all, I'd say the book is written but someone who was the most powerful man in Malaysia, but still, he retains his humble beginnings and despite all that has been said about him, it is without a doubt that he is very, very proud of being a Malaysian.

If you'd like to purchase a copy of the book, you can click [here].


xoxo Mrs Fashionista

Fashionista's Book Review: SNDROM

I recently bought a book written by Saiful Nang, one of Malaysia's most prominent photographer, initially with the thought of contemplating on whether I should or should not go serious about my photography. I've been clicking and snapping to my heart's content for about a year now. The thought of going pro (i.e. going for training, courses and enrolling in WPPM) have flitted through my mind once or twice but the thought of committing to photography is daunting. So, I decided, what better way for me to make the decision by consulting the pros and Saiful is certainly one of them.

This is how the book looks like, so make sure you get the original =)

The book, priced at RM80 is definitely cheap. And for those of you who dare say that the book is expensive is certainly a cheapskate. So, why do I dare to say that it's cheap? Well, the book simply tells you A to Z on photography, and the photography business. It chronicles his journey in photography from before he started (i.e. telling us a lil' bit on his background and where he came from) to how he started and how he got to where he is now.

I got me an autograph by the author himself

I must admit, the book is a real eye-opener to me. What surprised me the most is to discover how fast he's risen to where he is now (he's only been in the business since 2004 so you do the math), and the many trials and adversaries that he has faced along the way. And the best part is, the book gives me the motivation to do better and to give the best. What I really love about the book is how frank he is on a lot of things, how he shares so many tips on photography that I wonder why newbies in photography are not taking the opportunity to grab the book, pronto!

Managed to catch up and personally ask him on the charity organization that he supports, Rumah Pengasih Warga Prihatin

So, why did I say the book is cheap? For one thing, you get the first-hand knowledge and exposure of at least 6 years worth of experience in photography from Saiful Nang. Not only that, he also shares his trade secrets (what those are, I will not tell, cause it would be best if you read it for yourself). And another thing, you get to learn from his mistakes, so that you don't repeat them!

To top it up, you'll also be lending a hand to charity as all profits from the book will be channeled to Rumah Pengasih Warga Prihatin, a charity organization that is supported by Saiful Nang. To know more about the organization, you can check out their stuff at http://prihatin.net.my/wp/wordpress/.

Personally, I'd have to say that I truly enjoyed the book. Saiful has a flair for writing. He certainly is up front about who he is in the book. And if you're interested on getting a copy, you can contact the people at candidsyndrome via http://www.candidsyndrome.com/ or via Saiful's fan page at http://www.facebook.com/snfanclub?sk=wall.

Happy reading peeps!

xoxo Fashionista in Action xoxo

p/s: The book is written in Malay, just in case you didn't know =P

Fashionista's Book Review: Chasing Harry Winston and One Fifth Avenue

Really, it is the downside of traveling. Traveling alone, to be exact. How on earth do you pass the time without the company of friends nor foe in sight? Oh yeah, texting your phone 'till your thumb gets sore is not my idea of good company. Or scrolling the web on that teensy mobile screen.

So, I had to resort to my old bookworm-slash-hermit routine. Get self-absorbed in a good book. Chick lit to be precise. It was kinda tough to decide between Candace Bushnell and Lauren Weisberger but this time I think I outdone myself in the bookworm department. I bought both. What's a girl to do when she's spoilt with choices right?

Let me see... Shall I bore you with the details of both books? Sorry, not this time. I'm terribly pressed for time. As off now, it's actually nearing midnight of Christmas day (I've written the blog earlier but never had the time to finish it off due to my hectic-and-sometimes-conflicting traveling schedule) and I had just landed from Singapore earlier this afternoon. Sleepy heads and finger-tapping on keyboards does not make a good combination. There'll be typos and grammatical errors and *sigh* let me not make list any longer than it should be.

But let me just say that I loved both books, though they're both different in a way. Lauren Weisberger's flair for writing is slightly fast with its witty dialogues and suspense circumstances. But I do love the friendship between the girls in Chasing Harry Winston (and here I was thinking that Harry Winston was a guy, how naive can I be?). While Candace Bushnell's flair of writing sometimes is somewhat slow in nature but I do love the flow of the story and how she tries to connects all the different characters. And may I say, One Fifth Avenue has quite a number of characters that sometimes even I kinda forget which is which.

So if you like chick lit, then I'd recommend both. Although I must warn you, reading really takes up quite a lot of your time. So if you have idle time to spare, then think no more. Head down to your nearest book store, Popular @ Tun Jugah is having a sale until the 3rd of January next year (or so I heard) and you might get these books at a bargain =).

Cheerio and Merry Christmas everyone! Ho! Ho! Ho!

xoxo Fashionista in Action xoxo

Getting Published

I have always dreamed of being a writer, although it never occurred to me that I would write non-fiction; I always thought that I'd be a fiction writer (with all those romance influences by the likes of Judith McNaught, Amanda Quick, Nora Roberts and such).

Anyways, this is the second time that I've written with Prof KJ (no, he is not our ex-Prime Minister's son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin). For those of you who know or have heard of him (he's the one giving talks on writing and publication, by the way), there are many stories circulating 'bout Prof KJ out there and some of them might not be positive. Having work with the person himself on our two books, I would have to say, he is not what others say about him, so should you have doubts about working with him (on academic matters) then, it'd be best that you contact him himself so that at least you'd get a clear picture of the way he works.

So, our second book got published *yeay*. This is how it looks like:

And this is the advert done by UPM Press (who is the publisher, in case you're wondering):

And, if you're interested in ordering, this is the form:

It's super tiny, I know. Alternatively, you may want to look up http://www.penerbit.upm.edu.my/ instead.

Happy reading peeps!

Cheerio!

xoxo Fashionista in Action xoxo

Fashionista's Book Review: Eat, Pray, Love

Reading this book is like being transported to another life, you know, the one you wished you had. Well, not for all parts of the book, but the good parts (that's kinda cheating right?) *sheepish grin*.

Have book, will fly, that's me! =)

Had an opportunity to read this book on my way down to Terengganu. Well, since my work life is so hectic that it kinda affected my personal life, I only had an opportunity to pick up this book at the airport when I landed in KL.

Definitely reading this book made me want to pack my bags and leave, for a year-long vacation. I mean, why not? Why the hell not, right? Well, I certainly would love to pack up and go, except that I'd come back with no job, and that is not really an option right now. Especially looking at my financial obligations. Uh-oh, a BIG NO.

Anyways, I really have to say that this is one of the most interesting auto-biographies that I've ever read (not that I've read that many, anyway). But you certainly don' find auto-biographies describing about meetings with a fortune-teller, aptly named Ketut Liyer (and that is a kinda funny name, if you ask me) and a healer named Wayan. What's truly interesting is that I've been to Bali and I never saw Bali as Elizabeth Gilbert did. It kinda made me want to go over and experience Bali again, just so that I know the way how Elizabeth experienced Bali.

And another thing, I never thought I'd be interested to visit India (except for maybe a trip to Kashmir and another trip to the Taj Mahal), I mean, let's be realistic here, I live in the hot and humid country of Malaysia and to visit another hotter and more humid country that Malaysia? Geez, I'd pick Italy over India in a jiffy. But then again, looking at the way she described India, I think maybe I can make an exception and visit it, well, maybe someday.

So, my verdict on the book? Definitely more than I expected. I loved the tales of love (both lost and found) and I love the way she journeyed to really find herself, which is kinda the whole story. I'd recommend this book to any gal-pal out there, it really is an amazing read, I'm sure you'll love the book as much as I did (unless, of course, chick-lit isn't really your thing, then just don't torture yourself into reading it just because I said it's good, okay).

Happy reading peeps!

xoxo Fashionista in Action xoxo

What the H*** Happened?

It's been a while.

I know.

It's been a very long while.

My last blog post was (drumroll please) June last year.

Oh My God. Almost ONE WHOLE YEAR since I last posted anything. What the H*** happened to me?

Well, apparently nothing happened to me. Here I am, still alive and kicking. It would appear that, I had lost track of time and forgotten to blog. So here I am, one year later, just realizing that when I posted that I was going on leave to Singapore in June 2009, I never returned to Blogosphere. Gosh, this is extremely embarrassing *blush*.

So, a quick update.

What happened to my book?

Did it get published?

To cut a long story short, it did *yeay*.

It is currently on Amazon but we actually are not that satisfied with the content and surprisingly, it is mighty expensive! Hopefully we can discuss with the publisher soon though. And, the best thing is, I've finished another book (currently entitled the ABC's of PhD) and have submitted it to Prof and he is in the process of editing it and submiting it to a university publisher. Let's hope that all goes well and my book get published *amin*

Cheerio!

xoxo Fashionista in Action xoxo

So the fate of the book is...

As previously told, the fashionista has gone academic. Apparently, she has found a new calling in life, and it is called, E-D-U-C-A-T-I-O-N. Gosh, who would have known that I'd follow in the footsteps of my parents. It's sooo obvious, right?

Apparently, my book is completed. Sent the final draft to Prof a couple of weeks ago and was working on a monograph for AKePT. That, I completed too. Now, am working on a paper which is my current hush-hush project. Can't believe I'm being hush-hush on so many things right now. Didn't know I was THAT secretive before.

As I was saying, the fate of the book, right? I tend to get sidetrack when I'm talking and my introduction tends to be way longer than it should be. The book is entitled: Secrets to Journal Writing and Publication Revealed. It's about 125 pages (the manuscript). Don't know how many pages it will be once it's printed. Will post pics after it gets out of the press, wow, I am mighty excited.

Anyways, I will have to F-O-C-U-S. Am looking forward to a shopping session in Singapore to de-stress, yeay!

Cheerio!

xoxo Fashionista in Action xoxo

Fashionista goes academic

Truth be told, I have a secret. Before you start wondering don't everyone has one, I'd have to get the matter straight that I'm going to reveal what my BIG SECRET is. I know, I know, why say it's a secret and then say what it is anyway? But that's the purpose of secrets now isn't it? It's so much fun to share them with others *wink*.

Anyway, I have been on this hush hush project for about 2 months. I didn't want to say anything about it earlier because I didn't want to jinx it. I was afraid that it wouldn't be completed. However, as of now, I only have about 4 chapters left (I'm trying to complete one today so that there's only three left by tomorrow) out of an original 15 chapters. I really can't believe that it is ALMOST FINISHED! I am sooo relieved. So, by the first week of June, I'll be showing the first draft of my paper (with all chapters fully completed) to Prof KJ (not Khairy Jamaluddin mind you) and will update y'all on what happens soon!

Cheerio!

xoxo Fashionista in Action xoxo