We got the first shipment of Dina Zaman's book I Am Muslim on the 3rd of March. The major bookshops started getting their hands on the book on Monday the 5th of March. The first print run of 3000 books was sold out within a month, with the bookshops clamouring for more. We are just into the second week of the third month and we are out of the second print run of another 3000. We have currently ordered another 3000 copies from the printers.With 6000 sold in the first two months, this must be the fastest selling Malaysian book in English ever. Rehman Rashid and Karim Raslan have probably sold more in total. But the Dina Zaman juggernaut has just only started. The Malay version will be out soon.
The vast majority of the feedback received so far has been positive. "Thank you for writing the book Dina. Thank you for airing these issues. You have done us all a big favour." But not everyone, it appears, is happy. Dina has received threatening phone calls, rude emails, has been called names, branded an apostate and received "How dare you" hate mail - exactly the type of close-mindedness she rallies against.
Dina needs our support. Support her, post her a note.
Although I have not read the book yet, but I believe there is something in it that she wants people to think about and I'm sure she damn well knows what are the boundaries. I don't think it is a major thing if one stretches that boundary a little bit - and that's how intelligent people think. So to those who critised her writing and send nasty emails, please be critical of yourself first. How are we going to improve our reasoning skills and expand our worldview if we keep on confining people like Dina. Don't forget that our ancestors centuries ago think very differently than us today. Surely we do not want our children's children to remain as how we are today.
ReplyDeletethanks for the support - i am ok! just breathing nad thinking positive. i welcome the positive criticism, if it's helpful, great. if it makes me a better person, wonderful. but i think i will put my mother's kuali on my head and invest in a suit of armour soon... :D
ReplyDeletehi mis dina, i saw ur book at MPH n i bought it. Not realy the kind that buy book, but urs was very interesting n it's a must have. I was wondering if we can have a conversation through mail. Please do drop me an email at plural_us@hotmail.com as we can later exchange our mail. Looking forward for the e-mail. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi Dina...
ReplyDeleteWhen your book was first published, I was interested in the title - I am Muslim...and I was curious to know why you would come with such a titled book? I have different perspectives on Islam, and enjoy exploring the minds of others. When my gf asked me if I had read ur book, I told her I have yet to buy it. She highly recomended the book to me. I bought your book a few days later. Only after reading the first few pages, I realised why my gf asked me to get it. Finally, I know another person who regards our beautiful religion as me...all this while, I thought I was the only one (of many) who thought Islam as such...Wish we could exchange mails, Dina...Till then, Shine! :)
Can't wait to buy the book
ReplyDeleteyup, lina...you should buy it only rm30...if u buy at kinokuniya, u get 20% off when u buy another merchandise (i bought a pen :) ) guarantee you will enjoy it punye laaa...it's interesting, tau!
ReplyDeletehalu dina,im reading ur book n ive come across this sentence of yours being a MUSLIM in Malaysia can be complex and confusing..actualy i think being a MUSLIM anywhere in the world not just in Malaysia is complex and confusing due to advanced technology n the so called lifestyle created by us humans. You mustn't blame these complex and confusing environment because the decision is in our hand, as long as u know what u should and shouldnt do u'l be safe. The environment that we are living nowadays is a secularism era. I bet u know what dat is, dats why its complex and confusing for us MUSLIMS. Because in Islam, Islam is the way of living. If u take away the Islamic values from ur living of course it makes u confuse especially for those with erratic religious ubringing. Why not do some reseach on sekularism so dat u'l understand why its complex for u n me being a MUSLIM in Malaysia or anywhere in the small world... :) plural_us@hotmail.com
ReplyDeletehopefully you'd correct the typo errors in your second print.
ReplyDeletelove the honesty in dina's writing.
I am currently reading Dina Zaman's book I Am Muslim and the very first thing i would like to express is how fascinate i was (and still am) with how she elaborate and disclose the reality of being a Muslim in Malaysia. I would like to share a lot of my personl experience with ms Dina Zaman regarding this matter.I would like to hand on my compliment to ms Dina Zaman as this book really open my mind.
ReplyDeleteI am also looking forward to purchasing and reading a copy of this book when I am in Malaysia next month. I think books like this are great for promoting mutual understanding and tolerance in an entertaining way.
ReplyDeleteIn a similar vein Australian lawyer, Randa Abdel-Fattah has been writing novels featuring young Muslim women as protagonists. Her novels "Does My Head Look Big in This?" (about a teenage girl's decision to wear hijab) and "10 Things I Hate About Me" (about a girl coming to terms with her identity as a young Muslim-Australian) (publisher: PanMcMillan Australia) have both proved very popular with Muslim and non-Muslim teenage girls alike and do a great job in mixing education and entertainment. Maybe these would also appeal to young Malaysian readers?
Assalamualaikum Dina. Congrats on a most entertaining yet educational book. You've hit the nail on the head! Your book basically confirms some of my personal observations and i commend on your bravey for even daring to produce it....I'm sure it must have p...ed of a number of people:)
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work
Ms Dina
ReplyDeleteRead the book and loved it very much. Have always adored your columns anyway! Frankly, have a lot of questions about religion myself, in fact the questions I have would shock some people more than your book does. Have always felt the atmosphere is very stifling when one wishes to discuss frankly about her doubts & uncertainties about religion. Congratulation!
Hi Kak Dina,
ReplyDeleteShould thank your sis (Enal) for informing me about the book. I think it is good to read and can't wait for your next publication.
Take Care!
hai..im currently doing a critical analysis on your book as an assignment for my malaysian &singaporean literature. i have read it three times already and well, you had done a really good job in potraying the real situation regarding Islam in Malaysia..me myself had faced more weird circumstances that makes me wonder are we on the right track? however i found that i the book there was too many questions asked, but too little satisfactory answers,i wonder why is this..is it because you yourself does not have the answers? or you are afraid to answer those questions? or maybe, you intentionally left the questions unanswered so that we could think for ourselves? mmm very interesting indeed
ReplyDelete