'Book Review' encourages television viewers to read more

Book Review; Metro TV; Sunday, 9.30 a.m; Saturday, 7.30 a.m (rerun)

JAKARTA (JP): Television programs have long been blamed for causing people to stay away from quality books.

A large number of studies has been carried out worldwide to prove whether that premise is valid.

Yet, there is no denying that there are abundant educative and interesting TV programs, especially if we are selective enough to catch a good one.

Metro TV offers a new program called Book Review, that provides information about the publication of new books, their author and background information about the writing process.

"The program is aimed at widening our horizons and increasing our perspectives of various kinds of books -- be it fiction, non- fiction, a best seller or a controversial book ...," presenter Rieke Diah Pitaloka said in opening the program.

The first episode of Book Review, transmitted on May 6, presented Supernova--Ksatria, Putri dan Bintang Jatuh (Supernova--Knight, Princess and the Falling Star), a pop novel written by singer Dewi Lestari, a political science graduate in international relations from Bandung-based Parahyangan Catholic University.

Supernova -- Ksatria, Puteri dan Bintang Jatuh , considered by many as a new best-seller after Ayu Utami's Shaman, has sparked controversy among literary experts. For a debut writer like Dewi, many commented that the novel, combining pop and scientific theories, was a highly acclaimed achievement.

So far, Supernova has sold around 10,000 copies nationwide.

To find out more about the writer, Book Review invited Dewi Lestari to tell her story. "I spent around 7 months writing this novel. In the last few days of writing, I did nothing but typing and sleeping," recalled Dewi, a member of trio Rita-Sita-Dewi.

To ensure there is balanced comment and criticism on each reviewed book, a number of experts and book observers are usually invited onto the program. Book Review is meant to be an interactive program which also invites the audience's comments.

This time Book Review invited Tommy F. Awuy, a lecturer in the Faculty of Literature at the University of Indonesia and the Jakarta Arts institute (IKJ).

"Supernova appears when people are reaching and dreaming of a better life. In time of crisis, people are involved in never- ending suffering. In a literary work, they try hard to fulfill their emotional and intellectual needs, which they cannot find in real life," said Tommy, adding that it was a brilliant work.

The advantage of the program, compared with reviews appearing in the print media, is the involvement of the writers, audience and experts in reviewing each work.

In the second episode, for example, there appeared a poet of the absurd, Sutardji Calzoum Bachri, who had just published Hujan Menulis Ayam, The Rain Writes a Chicken.

Sutardji elaborated how he gained inspiration to write a poem or other written material.

As a new program, it still needs some improvement. The thirty- minute show is regarded as too short to discuss the content of a book, especially when it aims to feature background information about the writer.

The presenter should be more resourceful and creative in order to make the program more lively and informative.

Some critics have also been suspicious about whether the program is promotional.

Iwan Kurniawan, the producer of Book Review, was quick to deny this.

He said the program was supported by a special team, involving staff from Metro TV and QB World Books.

The team identified some criteria to determine what books are featured, including the genre of the book, its literary quality, its time of publication and market demand.

The program, aired live from the QB World Books shop, has encouraged people to browse their favorite books.

"I hope this program can enlighten people's minds and arouse their reading interest, which will in turn improve the book business in the country.", said Ditta Amahorseya, Corporate Affairs Head of Citibank, in comments on the program. (Mohammad Yazid)