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FAMILY VALUES
Aizat is a married man who lives a hedonistic and comfortable life. But when he sells a plot of land he inherited from his father, this triggers a string of horrifying events. He sees apparitions, hears voices, and gets physically and mentally tortured.
His very rich uncle, Tan Sri Aliyas, suddenly gets in touch with him. Aizat doesn't want to meet Uncle Aliyas because he's bad news. But after being pestered by his wife Sammy (real name Samsiah), he agrees.
After a few meetings, Uncle Aliyas then shares a dark secret about the family legacy...
His very rich uncle, Tan Sri Aliyas, suddenly gets in touch with him. Aizat doesn't want to meet Uncle Aliyas because he's bad news. But after being pestered by his wife Sammy (real name Samsiah), he agrees.
After a few meetings, Uncle Aliyas then shares a dark secret about the family legacy...
221 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2014
3 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
August 5, 2015
Interesting read, dealing with lots of interesting, heavy topics; religion, politic, racism, pots, sex, etc.
It started pretty slow, but it's not boring, I can still follow it through. I don't get what the author's point at first. There's a lot of ramble, I think. The first early chapters talked about Aizat's lifestyle; he slept with his assistant, he smoked weed, he disrespected his wife. You can't help but hate that guy. Then the story started to get more interesting as Aizat met his uncle, and saw the apparitions, heard the noises, etc. The character is not likeable, but I guess the author's writing style made me kept reading this. So, yeah, this one is a captivating story. You wouldn't want to stop without knowing what actually happened to him.
The whole cult thing is bizarre. At some point it's a wonder whether such thing like the usage of Aizat's body to do such thing is real or not.
Interesting, short read. Honest. Kudos to the author.
It started pretty slow, but it's not boring, I can still follow it through. I don't get what the author's point at first. There's a lot of ramble, I think. The first early chapters talked about Aizat's lifestyle; he slept with his assistant, he smoked weed, he disrespected his wife. You can't help but hate that guy. Then the story started to get more interesting as Aizat met his uncle, and saw the apparitions, heard the noises, etc. The character is not likeable, but I guess the author's writing style made me kept reading this. So, yeah, this one is a captivating story. You wouldn't want to stop without knowing what actually happened to him.
The whole cult thing is bizarre. At some point it's a wonder whether such thing like the usage of Aizat's body to do such thing is real or not.
Interesting, short read. Honest. Kudos to the author.
October 30, 2017
This is my third novel of Hadi M. Nor and I have to say I'm quite impressed with his writing especially this one. The other two I read are in malay but this one is in english (thumbs up!). We get mainly humor from those two but this one is totally different. It's a thriller of a pulp fiction way (and yes there is still some parts that had me laughing).
Although the plot is not that strong and some parts are vaguely explained (because I couldn't really connect the dots), I must say it is well written. There's not a sentence I did not enjoy reading. But I wish there was more. Like a really complete story. On a side note, I thought that Aizat is going to repent. Nope, it just ends when everything is mad crazy. Haha
Although the plot is not that strong and some parts are vaguely explained (because I couldn't really connect the dots), I must say it is well written. There's not a sentence I did not enjoy reading. But I wish there was more. Like a really complete story. On a side note, I thought that Aizat is going to repent. Nope, it just ends when everything is mad crazy. Haha
October 4, 2017
I don't get the ending. Was Aizat too high on drug that he hallucinated everything or was it real?
And I like what the writer did. It's full of satire. It touches every subject imaginable. I mean, RM20 for 500ml of Yasin's water?! I could get it for free from the mosque near my house. Of course a sensible person wouldn't take it for free. That's the point of 'tabung masjid'.
It's a great book if not for the confusing ending. It's so abrupt that I was like, "That's it?" Aizat was not an honorable MC but he was sincere. And I like him. Place him with Haikal, his best friend, and you got jokes, even though some of them were inappropriate.
I just wish I can figure out the ending. I guess it's up to the readers interpretation. If they wanted happy ending, then they can go with hallucination, which is still not really happy. I've made up my mind to go with that. It's better than knowing a centipede could crawl out of my body. Urghh.
And I like what the writer did. It's full of satire. It touches every subject imaginable. I mean, RM20 for 500ml of Yasin's water?! I could get it for free from the mosque near my house. Of course a sensible person wouldn't take it for free. That's the point of 'tabung masjid'.
It's a great book if not for the confusing ending. It's so abrupt that I was like, "That's it?" Aizat was not an honorable MC but he was sincere. And I like him. Place him with Haikal, his best friend, and you got jokes, even though some of them were inappropriate.
I just wish I can figure out the ending. I guess it's up to the readers interpretation. If they wanted happy ending, then they can go with hallucination, which is still not really happy. I've made up my mind to go with that. It's better than knowing a centipede could crawl out of my body. Urghh.
October 19, 2022
I guess I'm not the target audience. I do think the writing is quite clichéd. It relies a lot on alcohol, drugs, sex, violence, and religious desecration for shock value, and this move never works for me. I find the commentaries on racial tension and Islamic televangelism interesting but superficially explored.
December 27, 2022
Good read but a bit plain for the ending.
December 11, 2014
Intense. An excellent example of an unlikable character delivering a strong story. Although this book is marketed as pulp fiction, I feel that this book also reveals modern anxieties in Malaysia's ethnic Malay community. 'Godless' liberals, judgmental religious zealots, celebrity imams, fear and suspicion of the Chinese, and shadow Freemason-like organizations can be found here.
Was kind of worried that Hadi M. Nor would not be able to deliver a novel-length story because I was introduced to him first by Sepucuk Pistol Dalam Laci, which was mostly one funny short story after another.
Gave this short of five stars only because the subject matter became really dark and disturbing. Might be a good thing given the brand this book is under.
Edit: added one more star.
Was kind of worried that Hadi M. Nor would not be able to deliver a novel-length story because I was introduced to him first by Sepucuk Pistol Dalam Laci, which was mostly one funny short story after another.
Gave this short of five stars only because the subject matter became really dark and disturbing. Might be a good thing given the brand this book is under.
Edit: added one more star.
November 20, 2014
First eleven chapters, i was like mana hala tuju cerita ni? Seems like Hadi betul betul nak membuktikan how this Aizat live his life hedonistically (is there such word?). Tapi memang agak merepek gila tersasul sebut oh Ceci lepas tu role play. Cam whatt. Ok enough with that. Then baru cerita berkembang bila Aizat met his uncle and terbongkar rahsia semua. Tapi hadi m nor tetap hadi m nor lah kan. Part sinikal banyak gila. Sampai aku rasa confuse dia ni nak ejek ke memang cerita dia macam ni. Ok lah. Not bad. At least dia tak jadi rempit.
March 28, 2021
Fun and gory. Fast-paced. An enjoyable read BUT things just happened and not much explanation was given.
.
The story is about Aizat, an asshole of a man. A rich trust fund kid who is married to a beautiful wife but frequently sleeps with his secretary. Then, strange things begin to happen after being reunited with his wealthy uncle. Cult and paranormal thingy. Some blood here and there. Greed and corruption. Things like that.
.
By now, I must confess the story has gotten a tad bit predictable. Very FIXI-style. Sometimes, I desire for plots to be logical and characters to be well-developed. Instead, this turned out to be rather gratuitously dramatic. I wanted a bit more depth. Analysis. Introspection. Redemption. None was given. Aizat really deserved everything that happened to him. His father and uncle were messed up people and there was no other way for him to be. He is a man who is attracted to everything dark and stupid.
.
Hence, 3/5 because it was a fun read but did not enrich me in any sense. I guess I am not into the genre?
.
The story is about Aizat, an asshole of a man. A rich trust fund kid who is married to a beautiful wife but frequently sleeps with his secretary. Then, strange things begin to happen after being reunited with his wealthy uncle. Cult and paranormal thingy. Some blood here and there. Greed and corruption. Things like that.
.
By now, I must confess the story has gotten a tad bit predictable. Very FIXI-style. Sometimes, I desire for plots to be logical and characters to be well-developed. Instead, this turned out to be rather gratuitously dramatic. I wanted a bit more depth. Analysis. Introspection. Redemption. None was given. Aizat really deserved everything that happened to him. His father and uncle were messed up people and there was no other way for him to be. He is a man who is attracted to everything dark and stupid.
.
Hence, 3/5 because it was a fun read but did not enrich me in any sense. I guess I am not into the genre?
March 26, 2025
Took a bit long to get to the main idea of the story. I was holding my book and realised I’m at the half point and it’s still going nowhere. It gets interesting once the story starts but now it starts to feel rushed. Would love to see the story more fleshed out. Like, what is the full story with the cult? I would say that this story is not the best but it’s not entirely bad either. I definitely enjoyed this writing style. Feels very natural to read and somewhat relatable? Like I’m the one who’s living as Aizat (I’m a girl). Will look forward to the author’s next book.
February 22, 2020
yo.......... what the heck was that ending supposed to mean...........
other than that, this was a wild ride, man. i loved how disturbing & gory it became in the 2nd half. if i had a gripe, it would be that the plot should have unraveled a lot earlier so that we get MORE GORE.
(also, the male characters depicted in this book are the personification of the phrase "men are trash". disgusting. my hands were itching to punch a wall the whole time.)
other than that, this was a wild ride, man. i loved how disturbing & gory it became in the 2nd half. if i had a gripe, it would be that the plot should have unraveled a lot earlier so that we get MORE GORE.
(also, the male characters depicted in this book are the personification of the phrase "men are trash". disgusting. my hands were itching to punch a wall the whole time.)
May 4, 2019
Can someone please explain the ending hmm
November 16, 2020
second fixi book i've read as recommended my friend at KLBAC, what a great ride.
Insane plot that involves current issues in today's world - racism, religion, drugs and cult.
Insane plot that involves current issues in today's world - racism, religion, drugs and cult.
December 4, 2014
I have to admit that I only got this book to support Junad's brother... But oh how I enjoyed this. The whole storyline depicts upper middle class malays today to the T; with drugs,women, alcohol are OK but any thing to do with babi is not. The whole race and islaminization issue and how we are actually our own bogeymen to stick to our skewed view of power and control, complete with supernatural beliefs are just well constructed and weaved into a story- a social commentary within a fiction. WELL DONE Hadi on this first novel!
I hated the stereotypical married man with affair storyline though. It's just... Are there no monogamous, honest men around anymore? The men in the novel talks about infidelity so blatantly and their treatment of women can be considered sexist here- buying gifts in exchange for sex and marriage. Just too sad lah.
I would recommend this book for light reading, I finished it in the 2 hours flight I took today. Very easy to read, manglish and Fixi. Kudos to the author and publisher, especially for not getting censored re: "hisap kote".
But I can't help but wonder at Aizat's sexual prowess- he seems like a sex addict to me... & I hope he wears condoms during the many sexcapades,even with his wife as he's been around & really at risk of HIV & other STI judging by his insatiable sexual appetite. Thank you- from the scientist in me.
I hated the stereotypical married man with affair storyline though. It's just... Are there no monogamous, honest men around anymore? The men in the novel talks about infidelity so blatantly and their treatment of women can be considered sexist here- buying gifts in exchange for sex and marriage. Just too sad lah.
I would recommend this book for light reading, I finished it in the 2 hours flight I took today. Very easy to read, manglish and Fixi. Kudos to the author and publisher, especially for not getting censored re: "hisap kote".
But I can't help but wonder at Aizat's sexual prowess- he seems like a sex addict to me... & I hope he wears condoms during the many sexcapades,even with his wife as he's been around & really at risk of HIV & other STI judging by his insatiable sexual appetite. Thank you- from the scientist in me.
November 17, 2015
After flipping a few pages of this piece, I knew I had to get a copy right away.
Family Values takes you through the mind of an upper middle class Malay: paranoid, confused, and always trying to exceed expectations.
Notwithstanding certain factual inaccuracy (there's no Chanel boutique in Bangsar), the novel is interesting enough to make you wanting for more.
All in all, it's an interesting read, especially of a Malaysian author. Brilliant.
Family Values takes you through the mind of an upper middle class Malay: paranoid, confused, and always trying to exceed expectations.
Notwithstanding certain factual inaccuracy (there's no Chanel boutique in Bangsar), the novel is interesting enough to make you wanting for more.
All in all, it's an interesting read, especially of a Malaysian author. Brilliant.
June 12, 2024
I really enjoyed this book, thanks to the author's unique writing style and the intriguing storyline. It's different from the usual ajaran sesat stories we know. I loved how the main character evolves and faces the consequences of his actions. Watching him realize his mistakes and regret losing his beloved wife was so compelling. His cleverness and the many twists kept me hooked. The author did a fantastic job developing the characters and setting. I'd rate this book 4.6/5. Kudos!
March 16, 2016
The story really keeps me going but towards the end i was like, wtf man. Lost 4 hours of my life for this? He's a good story teller but I just don't like this story + too much sex. I mean after a few pages we already know how much Aizat loves sex, next please.
November 16, 2014
I was an okay novel.
November 25, 2014
It's a nice story ,i like the author style of writing .Hope to read more from Hadi M.Nor
December 6, 2014
Families; they make and break you (and burn you).
March 22, 2015
What a wonderful piece of art! Authors like Hadi are one of the reasons I get hurt whenever people say that writers in this generation are crap. Good job Hadi!
Read
April 9, 2017Family Values isn't a new novel, but it sure feels like it was written recently, seeing from the current state of Malaysia. What I've realised that I like most about Hadi M Nor's writing is that his commentary on society and current affairs is so on point. In Sepucuk Pistol Di Dalam Laci, you get small doses of this, but the moment you're halfway through Family Values, you're like "dayyyyum".
Some people (on goodreads) said that the novel Family Values eases its way in too slowly with "too many sex scenes". To be honest, I feel that we need the character development on Aizat. We need to know why he is what he is. We need to see him lose himself slowly. Because that's the beauty of Family Values. Yes there's the crazy supernatural conspiracy, but we need to realise it's not just about that.
Let's take a look at Aizat. Why do we hate him? Is it because he reminds us of someone we know? Or is it because we see ourselves in him? Or maybe because the decisions Aizat makes, or the mistakes he makes, are so much similar to ours? He might have made a "literal" deal with the devil, but we might also have sold ourselves to the devil one way or the other. Of course, I wish we could have more character development on Sammy, Cecilia, Uncle Aliyas... But I guess that would've been a thicker book.
I found the book hard to put down, and I was constantly drawn in, and it kept me at the edge of my seat; maybe coz it intrigued me so much. However, the supernatural part seems like it's trying too hard to be crammed in. I wish it could have been slightly extended. The ending was a bit awkward. I hoped for something more twisted. I was hoping that Hadi M Nor would go deeper & blow our minds at the end. It did end on a sad note, and I did feel it was apt to end it that way. (But I still wish he would have gone all no mercy and gory on us).
I will say though that "the manipulators" diplay a wonderful representation of today's people who just want to watch the world burn. The novel reflects a lot on how both conservatives & liberals have two very obvious extremes, and neither extreme is better than the other.
Family Values wouldn't be a book written by Hadi M Nor if it weren't flooded with satire and cynical feels. Go read it if you haven't!
SPOILER ALERT: I was hoping Haikal was behind all of this & it's actually nothing to do with the supernatural (or weird random Salleh Kamil).
http://projekfrekuensi.weebly.com/fam...
Some people (on goodreads) said that the novel Family Values eases its way in too slowly with "too many sex scenes". To be honest, I feel that we need the character development on Aizat. We need to know why he is what he is. We need to see him lose himself slowly. Because that's the beauty of Family Values. Yes there's the crazy supernatural conspiracy, but we need to realise it's not just about that.
Let's take a look at Aizat. Why do we hate him? Is it because he reminds us of someone we know? Or is it because we see ourselves in him? Or maybe because the decisions Aizat makes, or the mistakes he makes, are so much similar to ours? He might have made a "literal" deal with the devil, but we might also have sold ourselves to the devil one way or the other. Of course, I wish we could have more character development on Sammy, Cecilia, Uncle Aliyas... But I guess that would've been a thicker book.
I found the book hard to put down, and I was constantly drawn in, and it kept me at the edge of my seat; maybe coz it intrigued me so much. However, the supernatural part seems like it's trying too hard to be crammed in. I wish it could have been slightly extended. The ending was a bit awkward. I hoped for something more twisted. I was hoping that Hadi M Nor would go deeper & blow our minds at the end. It did end on a sad note, and I did feel it was apt to end it that way. (But I still wish he would have gone all no mercy and gory on us).
I will say though that "the manipulators" diplay a wonderful representation of today's people who just want to watch the world burn. The novel reflects a lot on how both conservatives & liberals have two very obvious extremes, and neither extreme is better than the other.
Family Values wouldn't be a book written by Hadi M Nor if it weren't flooded with satire and cynical feels. Go read it if you haven't!
SPOILER ALERT: I was hoping Haikal was behind all of this & it's actually nothing to do with the supernatural (or weird random Salleh Kamil).
http://projekfrekuensi.weebly.com/fam...
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