李永业 《医院，我的乌托邦》

 

在这第二本书里，看到了更多李永业医生感性的一面。

书里写了一些病人的故事。

他几乎把病人当着亲人、朋友看待。用真心去关怀病人的感受，看了很感动。医者父母心，但不是每个医生都如此。故事也透露了身为医生的他所面对的压力，担心病人的病情不在话下，还得面对病人和家属的埋怨和责备,  感觉到他的委屈。医生还真可怜。

然后他又再次写到自己的父亲病重时还相信他能救活他，“我的孩子一定能救我！”，可是他必需残酷的对父亲说实话，“没得救了！”,  可以感受到他的痛有多深。这一直是他耿耿于怀的心头事。

看到他写到善终时，有点震惊。病人若已病入膏盲，虽用药物可延长寿命，可是病人却处在极端痛苦的状况下，这么做是不是有意义？家属是否有考虑到这点？这真是值得深思的重点，善终更为重要??  还是要抱着“永不放弃”的宗旨？？

看了书，对医生有了深一层的了解，像李医生这样，时时刻刻都可能面对死亡，尤其是面对病人的期盼和最后的争扎, 他们回到家时，能否像我们一样可以放下心情，尽量享受私人的时光？？想到这里，不由得对医生产生了一股敬意。

Birthdays for the Dead

 

情节非常复杂的一本书。

心智严重变态的罪犯，专拐走12岁的小女孩,  在他们就要过13岁生日的前几天。然后在13岁生日当天杀害他们。过后用他们被折磨得不成人形的照片制成生日卡,  每年在生日那天寄给父母,   照片一年比一年残酷,  让他们饱受精神上的煎熬。为什么13岁？

警官Ashley有个秘密，大女儿也是受害者，他也收到生日卡，可是却不能告诉任何人，不然他就会被逼停止调查工作，他比任何人更想将这暴徒绳之以法。因为女儿失踪时需用到大量现金被逼向高利贷借钱,  再加上调查时难免得罪了各方人马，仇家不少。

再来个犯罪心理医生Alice,  故事真是错综复杂。尸体一具一具的被发现，已发现了12具，可是他们还是毫无头绪。当Ashley的二女儿也失踪，而前妻也收到生日卡（当时我以为罪犯是冲着他而干案，要不为何两个女儿都被拐。）,  局势已去到沸点,  女儿的生日在倒数着。Ashley带着Alice和退休前警官终于找到线索，有个少年，有个记者,  有个警官,  （这部份应是故事的高潮，非常复杂。）最后真正的凶手是两姐弟，为了童年阴影做的报复行为，可是震惊的是二女儿竟然不是他们拐走的。
 情节峰回路转，二女儿被发现时已断气，凶手是仇家之一。

对这样的结局，觉得有点反高潮。之前所有的复杂的人物和情节，和真相有段距离。有很大部份都在写关于主角的私生活，忽略了其他警队的供献。Ashley和Alice微妙的关系，以及前妻和女友, 也没有交待清楚。故事拖延的太长，有难度追上，看得有点吃力，在最后的几页才看到真相。

作者Stuart MacBride得奖无数，出生于苏格兰。

The furry thing in our house

This furry thingy came to our house about 4 years ago without my consent.

I was quite reluctant to welcome her into our life in the first place and I set my rule, strictly no entry into the house.







I thought it would not be long that she would be sending back to her "original home".

I remembered the second morning, when I came downstairs, I was eagerly greeted by a pair of pathetic looking eyes and the wagging tail. The way the little thing looked at me, so eager to please, soften my heart a bit. But I still refused to acknowledge her present.

As the days went by, I got used to see the tiny thingy walking around. She was so tiny that one could hold her with a hand. She was only 3 months old. They decided to call her Lilo after some suggestions and rejections.

I showed no interest in whatever necessity items they bought to make her comfortable. Food, toys, sampoo, brush and even comb for her fur. They bathed her promptly, dried her with my hair dryer. Then the vet came for her first injection and some pils. Ooh my! I was thinking, what a fuss!

Then slowly,  the tiny thing was filling up, fur grew thicker. She always tried to enter the house by standing with her front paws on the net which they put up on the grill. I had to admit, she looked adorable.

Looking like a soft toy.

I found myself paying more and more attention to her. She had those innocent looking round eyes. When she sat down with her tongue thrusting out, I had the feeling that she was smiling. When she layed down on four with her head resting between her front paws, her body resembled a piece of brown log. She is cute, I was thinking. I don't remember when I started to call for her and when I allowed her to enter the house. AND when was the first time I cuddled her -  "What? I cuddled the thingy??".

That was then, now I have to cuddle her when I reach home everyday. I AM the one who bath her and brush her fur. I AM the one who bought her favorite treats and canned food. I get worried when she doesn't eat. She's even allowed to jump into the bed and sofa.  My sister was so surprise to see me doing all these. Why, I surprise myself.

Malaysia author Mr Tan Twan Eng, The Man Asian Literary Prize winner 2012

Last Saturday, we were at Suria KLCC.
 
As usual, our last stop was Kinokuniya, our favourite bookstore.
 
After we made our purchase of a few books, we heard an announcement that our very own Malaysia author, Mr Tan Twan Eng would be there at 7.30pm. I was delighted and quickly made our way to the mezzanine floor on time.

Mr Tan Twan Eng has made Malaysia proud by winning The Man Asian Literary Prize 2012 on his second book, The Garden of Evening Mists.  The book was also being shortlisted for last year's Booker Prize. His debut book, The Gift of Rain was longlisted for 2007 Man Booker Prize. Both novels are set during the occupation of Japanese in the then Malaya.



Our duly signed copy.

 


 In person, Mr Tan is  a very friendly and humble man in his early forty. He was born in Penang. By profession, he was a lawyer. When someone asked how is he going to spend his winning prize of $30,000, about RM100k, he jokingly said he would use it to make a downpayment for a Kancil.  He is now resides in Cape Town which he said he likes very much.    

To be honest, I have not read his book before. However, I have come across his books in the bookstores.  Knowing that there would be a signing session, I bought the book on the spot and got it signed duly by Mr Tan.  And so the Garden of Evening Mists will be next on my reading list , not forgetting The Gift Of Rain.

Signing on our copy.