It is with inordinate pride I announce the completion of my first novel in Bahasa Melayu, Jalan Retak by A. Samad Said.
Written for middle-school students, Jalan Retak is a 70-page portrait of a widower who tries to emotionally support two grandchildren coping with a broken home. The widower counsels his son but without obvious results, and the children return to boarding school unsure if they will come home for the next holiday. Melancholy and tender, the story ends unresolved with tears at the train station.
More importantly, I was able to comprehend the action and read through it at a good pace while picking up some vocabulary here and there. I’m ready for the next Malay novel. Jalan Retak hari ini, Hujan Pagi sebelum mati!
