[Review] Kougar (spoiler alert)
Kougar by Shaz Johar
This novel is published under a publishing company called Fixi. You guys can read all about Fixi in the website, just click here. I stumbled upon this novel in MPH at 1Utama on Saturday. Okay, I actually scan almost the entire Malay novels shelves for Fixi novels. I found three which are: Dendam (Revenge), Kougar (Cougar) and Pecah (Broken). I'm not really a fan of Malay novels after having migraines and basically hit my head after reading a very very very sappy romance novel (I choose not to disclose). I kept wondering are they going to get back together or are they ging to move on, why is that guy has a very bad temper, why does the girl want to leave him even though she loves him so and stuff like that. Fortunately, I didn't fork out a lot of money for that novel because I got it for free during SMKTTDI's Battle of the Bands 2005 organized by the Interact Club (the novel costs RM 15 by the way). Thank you, X-fresh FM.
Well, I've babbled enough. So, on to the review, shall we?
Basically, Kougar is about a 40-year-old career woman named Kisha. She was attracted to a 25-year-old guy named Azril who worked in the same office with her. She also met a widower named Datuk Emir who basically likes to have fun. Then, her mother in the village decided to match her up with a widower (who happens to be her cousin), Razif. Due to her impulsive nature, things around her become complicated.
I like the way the author tells the story. I find myself giggling while reading some scenes, such as the way Kisha narrates the story and the satire, such as when Datuk Emir said, "My faith is still strong" while drinking champagne or red wine and how Razif preached about Islamic values yet beats up his wives (Kisha and Tina), called Kisha a pig (you criminal!) and locks her up in his sundry shop that leads to the affair between her and Yusri.
The author really knows how to tell his story. I keep reading and flipping pages after pages. However, I really don't understand Kisha. She hates Datuk Emir yet she keeps agreeing to go karaoke with him until they ended up in bed and caught STD. How she has an affair with Yusri while still married to Razif. How she cheats on both Azril and Yusri that caused both of them to dump her. As much as I want to slap her, I do sympathize her, especially in the scene where she cuts her toe and smears the blood in the bedsheet to give an impression to Razif that she's still a virgin and all the complications that happen to her. But then again, she deserves it due to her impulsive nature.
Other than Kisha, the next person who I feel like slapping is Datuk Emir. He's rich, handsome and available. And, not to mention, callous and irresponsible. The scene where Kisha found that she's in his room really irks me. He practically blames Kisha for causing him to violate her. I hate his guts, to be honest.
However, I don't hate him as much as I hate Razif. He's a manipulative, egoistical bully. He calls Kisha a pig which is downright offensive, beats Kisha and Tina (his ex-wife) and threatened Yusri and belittles his capabilities. He knows that the fact that he's an imam, people will believe him in anything which sucks. Well, at least Kisha's mom finally knows the truth in the end.
The ending is not so cliff-hanging yet enough to make me wonder what will happen next. Will Kisha finally get married and live happily? Will the photographer dude finally end up with Kisha? Will there be a sequel? Shaz Johar also brings up some issues such as pre-marital sex, adultery, domestic violence, polygamy and hypocrisy which I like as well.
Verdict:
Aye: Interesting plotline. No draggy elements. Portrayal of characters. Narration. Issues in this novel.
Nay: Datuk Emir's character. There's not much about him other than he's a widower who's out for some no string attached fun. The introduction of the photographer dude. There's not much about him other than he likes Kisha for 5 years ever since they first met. Actually that's the only thing that was said about him. It makes me wonder whether including him in the novel is necessary in the first place.
Rating: 7.5/10
PS; Thinking about writing for Fixi. Something that involves time-travelling and a historical figure. I wonder if that's Fixi material. What do you say Fixi?