"The Zahir" by Paulo Coelho

I think I have been going on the book for quite a long time. To the extent that I quote it from the memo that I saved in my phone.

The Zahir can be an item, living being, way of life, etc. that we become obsessed with. Obsessed to the point that once it is lost, we spend all our energy and soul into finding it, such that it becomes more than obsessing about something.

The theme is about love, loss and obsession, it speaks to us in more than the 3 themes highlight. Whether we are monotonous working rat-pack, the brilliant univeristy student, I'm sure there are more than 1 situation where you can identify yourself with.

There was a paragraph which questioned whether we are truly happy with where we at now. It's always going for the next step, doing follow-up steps to the previous in order to continue. Are any of us able to give a straight answer to this? It did make me ponder about my current job, who wouldn't after reading such a book?

But one of the main highlights which I brought away from the book is, being at peace with yourself. Every one of us has a story to tell. It could be a jolly one where every one lives happily ever after. Some could be of disappointment, dispair, heartbreak. Every story is different. Yes, it is true that where and what we are today is because of what we have gone through in the past. But if we took the past as a blockage, it could impede us from being happy with the present. It's about being comfortable with who you are.

It is times like these that such a book would bring light in our dark worlds. Makes you think from a different perspective.

Well, I got to admit that some parts of the book got a little draggy and repetitive. However, it is definitely a book to recommend to others for a read.

Sammie, Louisa, Michelle : Hope you girls get to read the book soon! We'll do book swaps!

Sharon and Esther : Will let you girls read it when you get back! If you hadn't read it yet. HAHA!


Waiting for the day where all of us would convege on the same continent.

(Eh! What's up with the font size? Please help!) - Fixed it, Dorc :)

"Tell me why, Mummy" by David Thomas

I devoured this book in three days, on two bus trips and two sit-down sessions. Every moment spent reading was like a space in time watching a silent movie. You didn't need the conversation to tell you what was hurting and terrifying. All you needed was your heart to feel what everyone can feel.

Not delving into the everlasting debate of Nature vs Nurture, but Thomas quickly concluded himself to be an unconfident introvert in the beginning of the book. His 'nature' attributed to the allowing of events that later he realised was wrong and perversed. Abused in all aspects, Thomas grew up not knowing parental love. But this didn't stop him from loving and being grateful to his sexually abusive mother at the end of his recollection. Despite his circumstances, Thomas did have a shot at fame and lived a more or less secured life as he grew up. However, he never managed to gain the closure he was seeking in the end which is the reason of titling this book 'Tell Me Why, Mommy?'.

Two things hit me when I finished the novel; one was that we are no different than Thomas. His craving for love and peace and his fear of provoking his parents are what we had and have. True, his situation manifested into a environment of anguish and confusion, but as children, we all felt the pangs of loneliness every once in a while. Two was that, Thomas just told his story simply. He is not the most intelligent person, but in our vernacular, he tugged a chord. It wasn't dramatic nor exaggerated. It was as if he introduced his book this way "Hey, I'm going to tell you about life and I am not looking for sympathy. I'm just throwing out my skeletons and you can have a go at reading it." I guess that's why I loved the book so much.

I hoped I haven't exposed the details of the story. But if you're looking to read about someone's sad life and not want to cry, 'Tell Me Why, Mommy?' is just the dose of melancholy.