Review: Second Glance

I recently read a book entitled "Second Glance" by Jodi Picoult. It's plot revolved around a plot of land that was supposed to be the Indian abenaki burial site. A land developer (who else?) wanted to make it into a supermarket thingy (what else?). The only catch was there were paranormal activities (raining roses? frozen ground? change of temperature?) Thus, the developer calls a ghost investigator (paranormal activity investigator - not a ghost buster team :P) to try to prove if there is a ghost. The paranormal investigator, Ross Wakeman, carries emotional weight as he lost his fiance in a car accident while trying to save another person's life. He has a divorced sister with a son who has xeroderma pigmentosum (interesting read but a rare disease!). Thus, he finds a ghost, falls in love with the ghost and ...

Ref: http://i-love-cartoons.com/snags/clipart/Casper-Friendly-Ghost/Casper-Friendly-Ghost-3.jpg (not the ghost in the story but it looked cute :P)

I'm not writing a book review. I was actually most interested with the fact that Ross Wakeman was depressed with all the problems surrounding him. He had tried to commit suicide many ... many times. I (both religion and self belief) do not support committing suicide. However, there was a point in the story that started some gears working ...

Ref: Gears working http://gazzaleylab.ucsf.edu/files/clear%20brain%20w%20gears(v%20small((2).jpg

Ross had asked the man who was going after his sister ...

RW: How far will you go for the love of your life?

Man: I am willing to go anywhere to be with your sister.

RW: What if the place is far away from here?

Man: As long as I can still walk, I will go.

RW: What if the place is too far to be reached by a living being?

RW was referring to following his fiance in the other world (the one which passed away) while the man was referring to physical distance. At many points of the story I could really feel the despair ... the feeling that tomorrow will be just as dark ... there is no point to continue a journey that leads no where ... why prolong agony?

Sometimes, maybe to continue something is futile. Maybe it is worth reconsidering ending all of it. Maybe tomorrow will produce the same pains and suffering it has since the beginning of time. Maybe.

Ref: Gloomy clouds http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1538/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1538R-49951.jpg

Looking at the world, it is a gloomy place to be. Perhaps, it is important to let go of some dreams and move on. Some say life is not a bed of roses. I disagree. It is. It is beautiful and honey smelling to all who lives in it. What they never tell you is that the package came with pointy thorns.

Ref: Rose bush http://d954091.u114.weberz.com/images/Our%20Rose%20Bush%20Web%20Small.jpg

Nerd 0-0

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“I don’t wanna be a nerd like you!”

Ref: Crying heart http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.heidikunterbunt.de/pics_sale/crying_heart.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.heidikunterbunt.de/html/galerie_01.htm&usg=__l4HuaOE4jHbUShIEzi6Tdo1JABY=&h=217&w=210&sz=7&hl=en&start=78&tbnid=w8wx5Lqj5GGt6M:&tbnh=107&tbnw=104&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcrying%2Bheart%26start%3D60%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4SKPB_enMY283MY286%26sa%3DN

My heart shattered. Me? A nerd? Was that really how my friends viewed me? I feel like I’m going to be the last kid in the playground to be chosen for the team. Like I am at the back of a line but no one can really see me. Am I a nerd?

Ref: Nerd 1 http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.kodak.com/US/images/en/corp/1000nerds/lund/nerdGirl.jpg&imgrefurl=http://nonowrites.wordpress.com/geeky-perspective/&usg=__y1ZBFGjCPKHMQSeYp8xKceHtn3E=&h=500&w=550&sz=45&hl=en&start=19&um=1&tbnid=lyU1qX8Ht05rxM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=133&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnerd%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4SKPB_enMY283MY286%26sa%3DN

A nerd is a person who, although having good technical or scientific skills, is introspective and generally introverted. (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/nerd)

Ref: Study Chair
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://k43.pbase.com/o4/85/387785/1/53018195.cartoon.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.pbase.com/beaucamera/image/53018195&usg=__tZeINzpTJnzXVwRhiSnfX7fOQig=&h=600&w=764&sz=110&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=83JZ5c48AK1lFM:&tbnh=112&tbnw=142&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dclever%2Bcartoon%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4SKPB_enMY283MY286

That night, I settled myself into my comfortable study chair to ponder the issue.

<…good technical or scientific skill…>.

Ref: Study lust
http://www.briansguide.net/cartoons/2005/04/20050408-studying.png

Does it reflect intellectual ability? Am I judged for my lust towards knowledge? Am I judged for the hours I spent in front of the screen? Am I judged for my amusement of the celestial laws of nature?

<…introspective and generally introvert…>

Ref: Party http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://nextsocial.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/20070724-party_cartoon.gif&imgrefurl=http://nextsocial.wordpress.com/2008/05/14/upcoming-events/&usg=__ArBXz64eO8sVGAZrtb18osyLm8M=&h=191&w=234&sz=2&hl=en&start=4&um=1&tbnid=dEu5V28UMbKSuM:&tbnh=89&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dparty%2Bcartoon%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4SKPB_enMY283MY286

Am I a social nuisance? I don’t like parties … I never what to say or do. I certainly don’t like being in the middle of attention … it only causes vasodilation of my cheek's vessels. I don’t like to share my thoughts … their mine right?

Am I a nerd? A social outcast? Destined to be alone? My shattered heart is blown away by the silent nightly breeze.

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The story was inspired by A and the topic was inspired by LW. Hmmm, does that make them the producers? :D

Anyway, the central idea was of medical student being socially labelled as nerds. I think we cannot deny the hours we study. Majority of us are of “good technical and scientific skill”. So, I guess that is a point for it.

However, “introspective and generally introvert” is only for a few of us. Anyone who has seen our batch going all out in graphic art (posters, banners), musical performance (sing, violin, piano, flute), sports (futsal, ping pong, cheerleading) and parties (birthdays are never normal with our batch!).

So, perhaps not all of us are nerds? The next time someone gives anyone of us the social label as a nerd, smile and tell him the wild stories that the funky chicken of M106 did!

PS: I am NOT brooding but this post was requested by LW as part of my blogging homework :D

Ref: Homework - http://www.cbpl.lib.ia.us/reference/homework.gif

PSS: I hoped I put that worry out of your head LW!