the road of lost innocence by Somaly Mam

This true story tells us how young Cambodian girls suffer a cruel fate,

being sold into prostitution to pay for their parents' debts

as well as the ignorance of men in believing

untrue beliefs that

having sex with a young virgin for a week

is supposed to confer strength,

rid them of AIDS, 

lengthen their lifespan

and lighten their skin.

Click here to read my review on this book.

The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

Sometimes you want to let go of your past

and be a better man,

but you can't.

But at least you try.

And you see a beautiful garden in the end.

The Tenth Circle is a story about an extremely screwed up family,

loving househusband cum daddy Daniel Stone,

workaholic wife Laura Stone, 

who betrayed Daniel for a college kid Seth,

their daughter Trixie who got "date raped" by her ex-boyfriend

and how they repent from their blunders,

succumb each and every obstacle they face

as a family, as one.

The Stepford Wives by Ira Levin

I have decided to read Stepford Wives
because i watched the movie
and analysed it for Literature.

Apparently,
the movie is much, much nicer!
It has a twist in the ending
which shocks,
vibrant colours depicting life in Stepford -
a dystopia in itself,
beautiful and hardworking housewives
who look none other than robotic barbie dolls,
and men who feel inferior to their wives.


The movie is perfect!


But this doesn't mean the book is no good either.
If you have a great imagination
and fine eye for intricate details,
you might enjoy the book as much as you did the movie.

Levin did not reveal the truth about Stepford
at the end,
but he left traces of evidence,
through Joanna Eberhart,
for his readers to solve the
mystery of the Stepford.


Stepford Wives was written in 1972,
a time where feminists emerged,
struggling for power and recognition
from their male-dominated societies.

That was then.

Now in Singapore,
men and women seem equal in many ways,
education, politics (we see more females in the government),
and occupation (better than before).

The ladies definitely feel better than being housewives
cooped at home.
However, what do the men feel?
Do they feel ashamed of their lack of capabilities,
resentful of the ladies?

Do they still feel this way?


Well, i guess this is an answer that can only be answered by
men.

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

The love

you have for your dearest sister,

is Sweet like cotton candy,

yet at the same time,

painful like leukemia.

Anna has been conceived,

to provide her sister Kate

with all she needs

to fight leukemia,

since the day she was born.

Until one day,

she decides to stop,

for two reasons.

First, because Kate wants her to stop,

and Second,

because she wants to be free,

and able to achieve the dreams

she anticipates.

She sues her parents
for control over her body
when they fail to listen.

It is not because Anna wants her sister to

die,

Kate has been her best friend,

or only friend,

since young.

The sole reason Anna decides to

not donate her kidney to Kate

is actually because Kate loves Anna

so much,

she can't bear Anna to keep sacrificing

for her.

It is the first time

i feel the tremendous power of

love

between a pair of sisters.

I would like to have one too!

It must have been hard for Anna.

Her entire family's attention

has been revolving

around Kate.

Only Kate.

As an only child,

i have wondered what would it be like

to have siblings.

I thought it would be bad,

because i had to share my parents'

love and affection.

Or worse off,

my parents might play favouritism.

However,

putting myself in the parents' shoes,

i don't think they will be biased.

Let's say i have a son and a daughter.

My love will not be separated into

fifty-fifty for each of them.

My love for my son will be 100%,

and another 100% for my daughter.

I will love them as much.

Let's say if i were an only child (which i am),

i would never be able to receive

the love of siblings,

like Anna, Kate and Jesse did.

The twist at the end of the story

shocked me,

but it made the story even more realistic,

less cliche and fairy-tale like.

It made the story stay with me...