Saturday 22 December 2007

GUiT going to Terengganu

Dear Readers,

Am going to be very, very lazy and just reproduce this press release here. See you there!

Launch of Terengganu book at its ‘spiritual home’

A first for Kuala Terengganu and for the Alam Akademik bookshop (formerly Abdullah Al Yunani) in the heart of the town’s commercial district: the launch on 25th December 2007 of Growing Up in Trengganu (GUiT), a book of recollections, reflection, Trengganuspeak and the history of its sultans and people.

The launch will be attended by the book’s author Awang Goneng (who in real life is Trengganu-born writer Wan Ahmad Hulaimi) who will do a short reading and sign copies of GUiT.

Alam Akademik, the pioneering bookshop that is now put on the literary road map by references to it in GUiT has a special place in writer Awang Goneng’s heart. “I regard this as the spiritual home of GUiT. I bought my first books here, and my father used to take me here to buy his kitabs and newspapers. It is very apt now that I have written my own book, I have chosen to launch it in this shop,” he says.

Growing Up in Trengganu (now widely referred to as GUiT) has been a publishing phenomenon, chalking success soon after its publication by taking a position in MPH’s top ten Non-Fiction list, and rising to its top position by mid December. The book became a much sought after title in bookshops in peninsular Malaysia soon after its debut appearance at the world famous Frankfurt Book Fair in October. Now, barely three months after publication, publisher Monsoon Books is already making preparations for GUiT’s second printing to meet growing demands.

“The success of GUiT has taken me by surprise. I started it as a blog on my growing up days in the small town of Kuala Trengganu to tell my children what it was like growing up in small town Malaysia. They were all born and brought up in London and have no idea what it is like to grow up in KL, never mind Kuala Trengganu,” Awang Goneng says.

“We are happy to host the launch of a successful book by a son of Terengganu, especially one whose reading habit we helped to build,” says Encik A Karim Omar of the Alam Akademik.

The place:

Alam Akademik, No. 12 Jalan Bandar/Kg. Cina, 20100 Kuala Terengganu

Tel: 09-623-1110; website: http://alamakademik.bravehost.com/

The date: 25th December 2007 The time: 11am – 1 pm

For more information, please contact:

Karim Omar 019-3199788

What they say about GUiT

"A beautiful book, very well written and with its vignettes of life it tells so much about the Malays - far more than one can get from academic studies."
— Frederick Lees,
author, Fool's Gold; The Arthuriad; The Rape of Rye; etc.

“Growing Up in Trengganu, a nostalgic journey beautifully written. Monsoon books have also done a wonderful job in its production. The typesetting, quality of paper, design, combined with the old black and white photographs…a real joy.”

- Tunku Halim, author and blogger.

“A modern classic.” – Tengku Ali Bustaman (Pok Ku), Popular Terengganu blogger.

“Awang Goneng does with words what Lat does with pictures,” – Annabel Gallop, Head, South and Southeast Asian Section, British Library

Growing Up in Trengganu

By Awang Goneng

Published by: Monsoon Books Singapore
ISBN: 978-981-05-8692-8

22 comments:

Kenny Mah said...

Congratulations all round again, Kak Teh! :D

D said...

OK, I've tagged you! MUahaHa!!

Hi&Lo said...

Aunty Choc,

Wow, wow, freshly minted already a runaway success.

My friend's son working in Petronas' Kertih was so keen to read GUiT took my copy. Reading the 1st few pages already warm my heart.

Salam Eid al-Adha to your family.

How's your Ibu?

Good news: Azmi is well and fine. She blogged 2 days ago.

Anonymous said...

Kak Teh
Am so looking forward to be part of this momentous event. Insya-Allah will drive there from Che's house in Kuala Brang (Fualan of the Sri Vijaya era?).
aMiR

NorAiniJ said...

All the best on the road shows to Kak Teh / Bro AG. I so can concur with Annabel Gallop's review of GUIT.

Anonymous said...

Kak Teh,

Shame on me cos unable to fly (hatta drive..) back to KT on tat time.. . Nevertheless wish the ceremony will tie all the loose ends.. I'm sure it will be the most memorable/nostalgic to both of u..

Just a word, I feel like attached to GUiT since I lived in Ladang and went to Sekolah Ladang arnd 25 years ago... the details description of that place made me longed those days...especially running and picking oranges ;) at the cemetery there...
Not to mention abt Pulau Duyung.. my playground...

Others might feel the same I believe.. AG did very good job!!

Salam,
Yati-m

Anonymous said...

Kak teh, i just drop by to wish you Happy Holidays and may this new year be filled with all the wonderful things that you wish for in life :D

Tunku Halim said...

Best of luck with the launch tomorrow. I really wish I could be there, the sand, the coconut trees, the lovely kampung houses, wonderful!

Lydia Teh said...

Congrats, Kak Teh and AG! It's only fitting that the book launch be held at Alam Akademik. Am so happy for you both.

Anonymous said...

Asmk Kak Teh
Tahniah to Mr and Mrs AG. So happy to hear that GUIT is doing so well! Wish I can attend its launch @ KT on 25th. Unfortunately, I just can’t make it. Teringin jugak nak jumpa Kak Teh.

Yet to get my copy of GUIT. I didn’t try, but I don’t think I could get it in the small town of Jerteh (the nearest town to Kampong Raja). InsyaAllah, will do so when I go back to KL next week. Too bad I can’t get it signed!

BTW, welcome back to Trengganu! I remember asking you once, of your last visit to Trengganu. I think you said, masa baru2 kawin (rite?). Wow! Lama tu. Hope you have and will be blessed with good weather there. Lastly, have a safe trip home. Regards.

Anonymous said...

.

eh, wah, bagus ni...

dudaesimboyo

.

Anonymous said...

salam kak teh,

lama tak tegur kak teh dlm ni. semalam p mph alamanda putrajaya. beli satu GUiT. tanya depa, ada 27 copy baru sampai. doa kami moga buku ni dpt sambutan.

ps: abg wan memang handsome mcm omar sheriff n robert redford pun ada!

Faten Rafie said...

How did it go? Wish I was there, to get my otograph :)

wonda said...

Guit going to Terengganu and then who knows, round the world!
Enjoy yourself there and a Happy New Year to you and your family!

Kurt Kuden said...

huhu! blog hoping dari blog madredo..
nak bace!! ;(

Unknown said...

Hello Kak Teh,

How are you babe? You're still in KT? I am sure GUIT in Trengganu was a blast. See you soon in KL. Take care.

Wishing you and everyone here:

A HAPPY AND MEANINGFUL AND SPECIAL NEW YEAR.

LifeBloom said...

Congrats to both Mr & Mrs AG. Wish I could be there to give my support! Very apt also as next year is Visit Trengganu year!

ManaL said...

NI ala2 MLM tahap sasterawan ka, Kak Teh :-D

Met dizery on yahoo msger and she too gonna be around putrajaya for a couple of months.

GUiT should be made a regular reading material at schools (and universities too on the non-fiction section). Those at MoE should get them endorsed so every school library can stock 1-3 books.

mak aji said...

Salam kak teh,

Congratulations to Awang Goneng and you too. Went to KT for Aidiladha for a brief visit recently. Thought of getting a copy of GUiT as a give for pak aji (orang ganu gok) tapi tak sempat nak ke Keda Pok Loh Yunang. Maybe I'll get it later.

When are you going to write about your experience living abroad for 28 years? Must be very interesting.

zorrokantoi said...

though i took a while to finish off the book, i did really enjoy it. congratulation bro wan & kak teh.

kak e said...

salam kak teh, nice meeting u there. i have some picts uploaded already.

kaezrin said...

i pegi ok with my dad kat kedai pok loh yunan and we bought 3 copies ok..dad was very happy dpt jumpa lotys opf his teacher la, old friends la macam2lah he couldnt help but smiling all day loing...but we didnt get ur hubby autograph sbb i am just too letih nak go thru the many people lining up nak dpt autograph copy..bravo...syiok ah baca..i like most ader satu section hok kedai jual ceranang and kepok lekor kat kg cina..it used to be a place where both my parents use to dating dulu2 time bercinta and also where they usually bawak me and sister waktu sekolah2 ..now dah takde dahh.,...