Expecting Adam by Martha Beck

The book was a memoir. I was moved and tickled to tears by it, all at the same time. I put the book on hold for two years. Can you believe it? Bought the book in 2008 and not until last month that I have the guts to go beyond its plain cover and serious subject to tackle the book.
I was already hooked at page 2.
The book is full of clever, witty and sarcastic humors, everyday prejudice and deep emotional ride of a mother-to-be whom also a Harvard scholar. And she's expecting a Down Syndrome baby.

p7 'They decided to allow their baby to be born. What they didnt realize is that they themselves were the ones who would be 'born', infants in a new world where magic is common place, Harvard professors are the slow learners and retarded babies are the master teachers'.

Somehow Martha's (author) 'special-need' child Adam has magic (to simply put it) and miracles surrounded him even before he was born. With bizarre happenings occurred to his parents when the author was expecting him.

I laughed at this, p16 'the more upset John (husband) is, the happier he acts. It's a Harvard thing'. And this p20 'the moment Mr. Sperm and Ms. Egg first encountered each other in my fallopian tubes-before they even had time to make any informed decision about going steady, let alone forming a biological unit- I could sense them conspiring to make my life a hell on earth'.
Maybe I shouldn't have laughed ...

I cried when 2 'angels' appeared out of nowhere to help Martha. Angels read: 2 beautiful and intelligent women - 1 pregnant and the other not. My intermittent cry lasted almost 10 minutes or so .. and I was not even pregnant.

p75 'Adam brought with him a sweetness that surpasses anything I ever felt before he was conceived ... a quality of attention to ordinary life that is so loving and intimate - it's almost worship'.

On p.76, the author wrote about a friend in a lab experimenting with rats - for reason unknown to author but she suspects that her friend was making soup and labelled her friend as 'my rat molesting friend'. That had me laughed out loud (my lunatic personality suddenly escaped me).

When the author wrote about magical/out of this world experiences, perhaps it was just pure, innocent coincidences and the book also spoke a lot about the author's and hubby experiences in Singapore. And I was also in Singapore when I read those pages, what a coincidence.

p317 'vast majority of normal people spend our lives trashing our treasures and treasuring our trash'. How true.

So as you can see, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. However her once too many bizarre occurences were kinda hard to swallow (well, perhaps that's the reason she wrote it down) . I was also not too keen on her labelling/writing Down Syndrome children as 'retarded'. I winced everytime I read that. I prefer special needs children. But other than that I like her writing and love the story. Deeply moved and satisfied.

Fridge magnet - Jakarta (92), Taj Mahal-India (93), Sri Lanka (94)

It has been quite some time since I posted anything on my collection of fridge magnets. The truth is I didnt realise that it was actually growing, bcos I didnt really go anywhere neither does hubby. I had a good look at my fridge door the other day and saw 3 new magnets. Where did these come from??? Then I realised that the one from Jakarta was from a colleague who went there for a business trip (err.. about a year ago if I recall correctly) while the other 2 must be souvenirs from hubby's friends.

So 94 and counting.

The Vampire Diaries (book 1&2) by L.J Smith

I have no excuse. I admit I was intrigued (at first). Giving justification (to myself) that perhaps I need something which require less grey matter cells to digest (but was actually looking for another Twilight saga?) What was I thinking?Alas, it didn't meet up to my expectation.

But I found out ... before I read the sequel (it's 2 books in one) - that there is a TV series based on the book and from my short preview of the series in you tube - my preference goes to the tv series. However the characters potrayed on the screen gave me a better (looking) 'vision' of the faceless characters in the book which turned my reading to somewhat bearable for the second sequel.

The saga continues in book three and four which I don't intend to read (but perhaps I shouldn't speak so soon).

Maybe I should find the video set instead.

Pets no more

Image via Wikipedia

I downloaded an application into my handphone which allows you to 'buy' (you were initially equipped with 200$ when you downloaded the 'game'), create (read: determine body, fin & stripe color) of did I mentioned fish? Yes, sort of tamagotchi pet. 10% of food cost 1$ (which is consider under low food category) and along with it you are expected to clean your aquarium to prevent algae (10$), buys antibiotic for your fish if its sick ( x$ - I didn't reach that far) and if your fish is happy and healthy you get to sell them.

Sad to say my fish died on the second day of creation due to lack of food. Not once but twice!!!

Well I have to say the first time was bcos I dont quite understand how the game goes ie. how often should I feed the the fish etc. By the time I logged into the aquarium, I saw three messages waiting for me with the last accussing me of ignoring my fish pet Orie (yes, you supposed to name your fish) which lead to its death! I refused to believe that I was that ignorant and mean so with the money that left I cleaned the aquarium, bought and create Purie, this time with 20% of food. Mentally reminding myself that I must feed it somewhere around the time when I am at the office.

It turned out work was hell on Friday with an impossible mission to accomplish before a newly outside-broadcast truck is ready to roll on Sunday morning. Needless to say, I've forgotten all about Purie until 12hrs later when what was left of him was bones and a RIP sign.

What can I say, I am now a confirmed virtual fishes murderer. Think I better stick to Tap Tap or Bubble Lab from now on.

So if there is any consolation, here's my way of remembering my one day old pet Orie and Purie.

May you rest in peace. Amen.

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Lost in the Forest by Sue Miller

This book is a gem. Dont be fooled by its plain (and dirty - my copy that is) cover. Indeed the phrase dont judge a book by its cover, come to mind. I bought the book at a steal - RM10 at a book sale and am very pleased with myself. Modern family drama where the author (Sue Miller) creatively map the emotional complexities of almost all family members.

I especially like the part where the mother Eva thought that her rebellious daughter Daisy must had hated the chores entrusted to her while Eva was away from the house by the way the water hose was placed (after she watered the plants) and mails scattered on the table. Daisy on the other hand was glad to be able to visit her old house - mom's place (she lives with her father) and was glad to water the plants and collecting the mails for her mom while she was away. There were many similar 'incidents' written in the book where family members tend to assume and judge each other by their words and actions. We thought we knew our family members that well hence the assumption.

At first I thought the book was about Eva (mother) and Mark (father) but as the story goes it was skewed more towards their second teenage daughter Daisy whereby her characters, words and actions made me think and later worry about my own son (when he reach the same age).

On page 80, 'Does a person drawn to books was seeking a kind of experience or an escape from ordinary life? ... something we don't find, here?'

Ahah! Does that makes you think too? For me, it's more like to forget my normal life (for a while) and with that I usually mean my hectic office work *sigh* which left me exhausted every night. So a good book (hit and miss here) really helps me to wind down.

O good book, good book, where are thee?

Simple Genius by David Baldacci

All of a sudden I'm going into this reading frenzy. Finishing one book after another. Or is it bcos I was lucky enough to be picking up books which are to my liking hence making it easy for me to breeze thru these books. Lucky, lucky me.

Must admit that I am not so much of a cop/crime investigation book person but am so glad that I found this author. David Baldacci is indeed a master in this genre and I'm looking forward to read more of his books (and he has many!!)


Simple Genius is a page turner for me. It took me less than 3 days to finish it. Thou' the ending of the whole mystery was not really to my liking but the whole journey of cracking the mystery was for me. So that counts. I have already listed out several books written by him.


Not too sure whether that's a good sign or not ... oh my poor purse!

Dancing in My Nuddy-Pants by Louise Rennison

When do I ever learn? Why dont I just get it that I just can't stand reading chic -flick paperbacks? But noooo ... I have to ignore my instinct and chose the said book to read.

Alas, I was left dumbfounded. It as if I'm reading a book written in some foreign language or make that for people who understand aliens (as in outer space) language?? Or is this merely teenage terms=language? Whatever it is, I felt ... retarded LOL (just by reading it).

Immediately on page 1, I found this 'she who laughs last, laughs the laughingest' -huh???

Just to give you examples few of many, many phrases/words used in this book.

Basooma aka nungas-nungas = breast

Muncho excitemondo - okay I get it, much excited

Nimcompoop - this I actually know, phew.

Snog = kiss

And the winner is 'never put off until tomorrow what you can avoid altogether'.

I rest my case.