'Book Review' encourages television viewers to read more
'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)