Reading Is Better Than Watching

Many people wonder why I like to read story books.
Some think that reading a story book is a waste of time - time that can be used going out somewhere or watching a movie.

But I don't see it that way.
A good book is anytime better that a good movie.

Both movies and books bring you to another place, another world, into another person's life.
But a story book keeps you there longer.
You feel what the characters are feeling.
You see things from the characters point of view, instead of the cameraman's point of view.
You get more insight on each character.

Sometimes, when I think of a scene, I just can't remember whether the scene was in a movie I watched on in a book I read. So, who is to say that watching a movie is better than reading a book?

When watching a movie, you have to imagine what the character is thinking.
When reading a book, you have to imagine what the scene is like.
For me, I would prefer to be in the characters head - it is more personal that way.

Granted, reading takes up time.
Finishing a decent book would take at least a few hours of non-stop reading.
But to me, it is worth it.
I finish each (good) book feeling contented.
You will too, if you find a book that you really like.

Handle With Care

For the past 2 days, something has been bugging me.
It made me lose few hours of my sleep last night.
I was wishing that time would move slower just so that I could have more time.

I was reading a book - Handle With Care by Jodi Picoult.
This is the 2nd book of hers that I'm reading, the first being My Sister's Keeper.

The story is about a girl who was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta - brittle bone disease. Basically, her bone can break anytime, anywhere. A small hit, a slight bump, a slip, even reaching out to something can cause a fracture.

She was diagnosed in-utero, and so her parents and the doctors were prepared for it when she was born. In fact, she already had fractures even when she was in her mother's womb.

She lived with her parents and elder sister.

A visit to Disneyland and a fracture somehow led them to a lawyer's office where the idea of sueing their obstetrician (and best friend) for wrongful birth was put into their head - basically they were going to sue the obstetrician because she did not give them the choice of terminating the pregnancy when they could.

Her parents and sister loved her very much. But they had financial problems and the Mom thought that if they were to sue and were to win, they would have enough money to let the child live a comfortable live, something they were not able to give right now. But it would mean that they will have to say that they wished their child would never have been born.

Mom wanted to sue, Dad didn't.
So Mom sued, and Dad supported the opposing side.
They even wanted to get a divorce.

In the midst of all this, her elder sister had her own problems. She wasn't jealous of the 'heroine', but she did feel left out, after all, she herself is a child. She had her own problems - she lost her best friend, she became bulimic, she started cutting herself.

How would all this end?
Read the book for yourself.
It is really, truly a good read.
Although I didn't particularly like the ending.
Like I said for My Sister's Keeper - too abrupt and end.
And after My Sister's Keeper, this one was a little predictable.

I would definitely try another one of her books just because the way it was written was so good! But I really hope the ending would be something different.

Sleeping Like A Pig!

I was done with my assessment last week.
I did my OT list last week.
I prepared for my presentation last week and presented it last Tuesday.
I had only 2 calls in the last week.
But it's been a week since my last post.

Why?

Because I was busy with my story book..
The Girl Next Door by Elizabeth Noble.

It is about the lives of the tenants of an apartment building in New York.

I like the book mainly for 2 reasons.

1. The story is about the lives of many different people, so there are many different stories, not just one character, one issue. It's like many small stories in one book.

2. The book is written in such a way, where you get to be in each of the characters head. In each chapter, there are many sub-chapters, where the story is told from different point of views. Since I always like snooping into other people's head, of course I would enjoy the book!

Nowadays, I am taking quite long to finish reading my books because I tend to sleep very early every day. I am no more willing to compromise on my sleep to read, unlike the times when I was still studying. I remember sitting up till 4am just to finish reading a story book, when I had to go to school the next day.
(This is where I am supposed to say "those were the days", but I won't, because I think that makes me sound old!)

Well, things change. Priorities change. Life goes on. Right?
Right.

I Do, I Do, I Do

I love reading.

Sometimes, I am in the mood for something funny and light. A book that I know will have a happy ending and will leave me in a good mood.
Sometimes, I prefer to read something more serious, more heartfelt.

When I want a feel-good book, I usually go for the 'little black dress' collection.
I don't even bother reading the summary at the back of the book most of the time.
If the cover looks nice, then I buy it, because I know that the story will be nice.

So, that is why I bought 'I Do, I Do, I Do'.
I started reading it a few days ago.

Starting to read a new book is always interesting.
You never know what to expect.
There are many ways a story can go.
You have to read at least a few chapters before you get the flow of the story and get engrossed in it.
Which is why you usually get addicted to books only after reading it for quite some time.

Halfway through this book, I decided that I didn't like it.
It had way too much description.
There was not much drama.
There was not much story.

I'll give you an example.
At one point, the heroine wanted to buy a bike.
She went to the person selling the bike.
The guy told her to go for a test ride.
She took the bike.
They described the whole route she took, the things she saw.
She reached another small town.
She felt thirsty.
She took the bike and rode to a shop.
She bought a drink.
She had the drink.
She rode all the way back to the owner.
She thanked the owner.
She walked back home.
(All these things were told in detail, constituting to almost a whole chapter!)

I could have summarized the whole thing in 2 sentence.
"She wanted to buy the bike and so she approached the owner. She took the bike for a test ride and after that, went back home."
Does this change anything in how you would understand the story? NO!!

Well, anyway, I've finished the book now and moved on to my next book.
Hope this one will be better (am reading something more serious this time around).

Just Can't Help Myself

I really don't have much time to blog.
OK, fine - that's a lie.
The truth is, I do have time on my hands, but then I am reading a really, really nice book right now and I can't seem to put it down.

Just a while ago I forced myself to stop reading because I have a 'homework' that I am supposed to present tomorrow. I was supposed to present it today, but then yesterday, after work, I came back home and slept till morning (no, I did not even bathe), so I have to do study it today no matter what. I am supposed to present regarding the antibiotic with best bone penetration. I don't even know where to start looking or what I am supposed to present about.

Anyway, the book I'm reading, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini- I really think you should read it. It's about the lives of Afgan women. I don't know why, but I loved the book from the beginning. Maybe it's because I always have a liking for autobiography kind of books. Somehow I feel more 'connected' to the stories.

I am not sure whether or not this is a true story, but still, I like the book. I wish I can just sit and read it the whole day long! I really miss those days where the story books dominated my day.
*sigh*

Anyway, since there is nothing much I can think off to blog today, I leave you with a forwarded mail I got recently - 'cool ways to turn men down'.


WAYS TO TURN DOWN UNWANTED MEN !!!!

HE : Can I buy you a drink?
SHE : Actually I'd rather have the money..

HE : I'm a photographer. I've been looking for a face like yours.
SHE : I'm a plastic surgeon. I've been looking for a face like yours.

HE : Hi. Didn't we go on a date once? Or was it twice?
SHE : Must've been once. I never make the same mistake twice.

HE : How did you get to be so beautiful?
SHE : I must've been given your share..

HE : Will you go out with me this Saturday?
SHE : Sorry. I'm having a headache this weekend.

HE : Your face must turn a few heads.
SHE : And your face must turn a few stomachs.

HE : Go on ,don't be shy. Ask me out.
SHE : Okay, get out.

HE : I think I could make you very happy.
SHE : Why? Are you leaving?

HE : What would you say if I asked you to marry me?
SHE : Nothing. I can't talk and laugh at the same time.

HE : Can I have your name?
SHE : Why? Don't you already have one?

HE : Shall we go see a movie?
SHE : I've already seen it.

HE : Where have you been all my life?
SHE : Hiding from you.

HE : Haven't I seen you some place before?
SHE : Yes. That's why I don't go there anymore.

HE : Is this seat empty?
SHE : Yes, and this one will be if you sit down.

HE : So, what do you do for a living?
SHE : I'm a female impersonator.

HE : Hey baby, what's your sign?
SHE : Do not enter.

HE : Your body is like a temple.
SHE : Sorry, there are no services today.

HE : If I could see you naked, I'd die happy.
SHE : If I saw you naked, I'd probably die laughing.

Today, I learnt that everyone (except Housemen) love to get MC. The longer the MC, the wider the smile. I wonder what people do at home for 3 months. And I wonder how much MC can their company allow them. I had one patient who requested for MC for the next few days because he has a swollen ankle. The thing is, the ankle has been swollen for more than a week now, and he has been playing football (for the past week) for some tournament. Why does he need an MC for work if he can play football with that swelling? People....

Enjoying Myself

It's been a long time since I updated my blog.
I have had quite busy this week.
My MO and specialist were not happy that we (HOs) are not finishing our rounds before they start their rounds, so, now, we are forced to start our rounds early, at about 6.30am.
That, plus the fact that there are so many things I don't know about Ortho, which means I have to come back and study everyday makes blogging even harder.
However, what totally stopped me from blogging recently is a story book.

There are many kinds of story book.
Obviously every loves a feel-good kind of story book.
Nobody wants to feel sad after reading a book (or watching a movie for that matter).
It's the same with me.

There are story books which make you think, make you appreciate what you have.
There are story books which make you feel like puking.
There are books you wish you never started reading.

The book that I got me stuck this time is a simple book.
A book who's ending was very predictable.
No complicated storyline.
No hard, un-understandable words.
But I really enjoyed reading it.
Maybe 'cos it has been such a long time since I read such a book.
A book that you can just read and enjoy.
A book you look forward to reading.
I miss those times when I didn't have to care what time I slept - just read until you are tired enough to sleep 'cos you can always catch up with sleep the next afternoon.

My short break is over.
Time to get to studying.
I am oncall tomorrow.
:(