Book review: Lone Wolf

"Sometimes, survival means sacrifice." - Lone Wolf, Jodi Picoult

If you love "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult, you would definitely love this.
I bought this book, "Lone Wolf" during March when I had to spent that free RM200 book voucher before the end of March. Despite the pricing of RM47.90 (after 20% discount) which is higher than the average cost of books out there, I still bought it and yeah, it's totally worth it!


Synopsis:
Luke Warren has spent his life researching wolves. In many ways, Luke understands wolf dynamics better than those of his family. His wife, Georgie, finally gave up on their marriage and left him. His son, Edward, fled six years ago, leaving a shattered relationship with his father. Then comes a frantic phone call: Luke has been gravely injured in a car accident with Edward's younger sister, Cara.
Now, Edward must return home to face the father he walked out on at the age of eighteen. He and Cara have to decide their father's fate. How can any family member make such a decision in the face of guilt, pain, or both?

"Lone Wolf" brilliantly describes the nature of a family: the love, protection, and strength it can offer and the price we might have to pay for those gifts. What happens when the hope that should sustain a family is the very thing tearing it apart?


My review:
I have always been a fan of Jodi Picoult although I have not read all of her books yet. What makes me a fan is that Jodi Picoult never fails to write about the importance of family values.

In "Lone Wolf" both Cara and Edward struggles to find the best solution, that is to either end their father's life or continues to let him live with the help of a life support. Both of them have different opinions in deciding their father's life, but with their own reasons. Should they just agree to let go of their father? Or wait for miracle to happen? It is one of life's difficult decisions to make because neither of it is right or wrong. What would you do if you were in Cara or Edward's situation? What would be your decision?

However, miracles don't always happen in Jodi Picoult's books. Unlike the ending in "My Sister's Keeper", the ending of "Lone Wolf" forces us to accept the reality and the fact that miracles don't always happen no matter how hard you wish for it. It also reminds us that sometimes, survival means sacrifice.


Have you read any books written by Jodi Picoult? Are you a fan of her books too? Which one is your favourite?

200 pounds beauty

"You broke my heart. Tissue won't fix it."- 200 pounds beauty

I remember watching this korean movie "200 pounds beauty" 4 years ago on a tv channel. I don't really remember much details of the plot except for the girl who went under the knife so that she will be able to catch the heart of her crush.

Now, I'm watching it again and still, I love it. It's funny yet heartbreaking as well. It's a classic movie that never fails to make me cry at the ending. But mind me. I just cried a little compared to what I did while watching The Princess' Man.

The Princess' Man is such a heartbreaking drama that it got me so depressed and I was literally sobbing countless times throughout the whole 24 episodes.

Anyway, here's a short fanmade mv taken from Youtube. Pretty low quality though.

My favourite quotes

Out of the 12 awesome quotes in the picture above, I have my favourite 3. They're:

1. The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
2. Happiness depends upon ourselves.
3. Love yourself.

Short and inspiring video

Have you heard of Nick Vujicic, the guy with no arms and legs? Yeah....he's born without any limbs.

Watch this video and get inspired.

Whenever I feel down, I watch and get inspired. And each and every time I watch, I cried.
I cried because I know I have no right to be sad and fret over my 'problems'. They're nothing compared to his.
I cried because I admire his courage to face his problems, get over them and conquer them.

He'll forever be an inspiring character in my heart and also someone I admire.
Yeah, I admire courageous people.

Of course if you watched any other of his video or the video above, you'll find many inspiring quotes.

I have my favourite one here.

The gorgeous dress of my dream

There goes another last minute study for maths: Probability and Statistics. I know I shouldn't do any last-minute work by now as I'm 19 years old right? But I just couldn't help it.

The devil Amber kept saying: "Ah......it's just maths after all. It's just a mid-test. It's only two chapters. No worries!"

Angel Amber: "Oh freak! Why are you always listening to the devil?! Please..........damn."

Don't worry. My mid-test is already over. It was okay. Looks like my last-minute study worked again. Muahaha~

Oh well, although I can handle this last minute task this time but I'm sure this bad habit is going to eat me up someday and force me to face the consequences. *sobs*

You know I'm a k-pop fan, right? (Almost an addict.) If you don't, now you know. That's why I'm constantly following k-pop news from allkpop. No. I don't read ALL the news. Just a few here and there daily and that's enough.

I just want to share something.

My ideal dream dress!

Tadaa~~~

After School's UEE showing off her Barbie trophy she received from '2011 Barbie & Ken Awards'.

It's the dress on that barbie I'm talking about! OMG!!! That's  so so soooooo gorgeous!!! I wouldn't mind if it's just a trophy. No wonder UEE is proud of it.
If you didn't notice, she's wearing the same dress as her barbie trophy. OMG! I want that dress!!! T^T

By the way, that dress looks like some kind of fairylike wedding dress. Okay, I've decided. That dress is going to be my wedding dress.

*cough...cough..* Maybe it's a little too early for me to think of wedding. Hahaha!

Chasing dreams

Quote of the day:

"A dream is not just a dream if only we have the courage and determination to make it happen.

You are the owner of your dream and it's up to you to make it happen."

Do you have any dreams?
I am not talking about the dream you have when you're asleep but the dreams of your life.

Everybody has a dream.

What is yours?
How do you define it?

To me, dreams are often the opposite of reality. In fact a dream is an ideal illusion we create in our mind.

A dream is a simple thing that everyone have, can have and should have. I believe it's healthy to have dreams as it serves as a guidance in life. Dream is something you want to achieve in life, a goal, a compass of you life. A person without a dream is like a boat sailing aimlessly in the middle of the deep wide ocean, not knowing where to head. Without dream, life is meaningless and one cannot go far. When there is dream, there is hope and future.

Different people have different dreams. Some want it big, to work in a big company, have a luxurious life; while others want it simple, to live a peaceful and blissful life.

I used to be (still am) that poor aimless boat floating in the middle of the ocean. That's why I chose A-levels, not because I'm smart but to lengthen the time span of another one and a half year for me to determine what I want to study in the future. So, one and a half year passed and I still couldn't decide.

In the end, I accepted my dad's proposal to study foundation in management which I'll then proceed to take degree in accounting next year. The reason my dad gave was accounting jobs are always highly in demand and there is a tiny chance that accountants will face a job crisis. So I accept dad's proposal thinking maybe it's the best for me?

Until today, I still doubt myself in making the right decision. Many questions flooded my mind. What if I find out accounting isn't the thing I want to study? What if I regret on my decision only years later? Will it be too late? All these I-don't-know-what-to-do feelings are suffocating at times.

Despite all those doubts, I have a dream........and my dream is to be the daring heroine in my heart that is brave enough to overcome all obstacles and be the owner of my dreams. (If that makes any sense to you)

Here's an interesting short story I stumbled upon in Wikipedia.

Life is a Dream

The King of Poland has kept his son Segismundo secretly imprisoned since birth because an oracle prophesied that the prince would bring disaster to the country. Telling his subjects that the boy died soon after childbirth, he manages to keep his son hidden until he has grown to be a man. When Segismundo reaches maturity, the King wishes to reveal his son at last, restoring the Prince as rightful heir to the throne. The King brings Segismundo to court and tells him about his Princely heritage. This discovery makes him violent, however, and he rages, killing a servant, attempting to rape a woman, and injuring the King's advisor.

Horrified and certain of the truthfulness of the prophecy, the King has Segismundo drugged and returned to his tower prison. Upon waking he mourns, believing the previous day's events had been nothing more than a dream.

Though he remains oblivious in his cell, the people have discovered Segismundo's plight and break him out of prison. Though Segismundo rejoices, he cannot be sure whether this new development is, in fact, reality or still just a dream.

The rebels persist, though, and Segismundo raises an army of the people. Together they defeat the king, but Segismundo cannot take his father's life. Moved at this gesture, the King proclaims Segismundo heir to his throne. As ruler, he resolves to live by the motto that "God is God," acknowledging that one must strive for goodness whether he is asleep or awake.

Believe what you believe

" Even if the whole world tells me it's not, I'll still continue to believe what I strongly believe in."

This phrase suddenly came across my mind in this still silent night when I was about to fall asleep. For once, it make sense.


It gives me the courage to continue what I'm doing everytime I feel like giving up. If they say no, I'll try to prove and make them say yes.


I'll continue to believe until the day I see the truth. Who are we to decide whether something is right or wrong, possible or impossible. You'll never know until you've tried. All I need is a little more courage to continue.


I'll still hold on to the end.