A Monster Calls: Review

I actually ordered this book online but it took forever to arrive. So I did the next best thing: download the ebook version. It made me feel guilty for supporting piracy of books but I just couldn't help it. I was too curious.

I read it in a little more than an hour.

I cried my eyes and heart out.

The book was that good. It was not an easy one to read, because the subject matter is really dark. It made me think about what I have gone through in my own family. But at the end of it, I guess I felt a little bit better about being a contradictory person. And I miss them all over again. 

Three

It has been three years since my PoPo died. Everyone in my extended family had a dinner and karaoke together the night before the anniversary of her passing. Again, I was not in attendance. Neither was my brother. Funny how quickly time passes. Funny how death can bring everyone together. Instead of crying, this time all of them were eating and singing gaily. At least we are all moving on.

'Rebuilding the World' by Paulo Coelho

A father was trying to read the newspaper, but his little son kept pestering him. Finally the father grew tired of this and tearing a page from the newspaper - one that bore the map of the world - he cut it into several pieces and handed him to his son. 

'Right, now you've got something to do. I've given you a map of the world and I want to see if you can put it back together correctly.'

He resumed reading, knowing that the task would keep the child occupied for the rest of the day. However, a quarter of an hour later, the boy returned with the map.

'Has you mother been teaching you geography?' asked his father in astonishment.

'I don't even know what that is,' replied the boy. 'But there was a photo of a man on the other side of the page, so I put the man back together and found I'd put the world back together too.'