Come and March!

" In the space between yes and no, there is a lifetime. It's the difference between the path you walk and one you leave behind; it's the gap between who you thought you could be and who you really are; it's the legroom for the lies you'll tell yourself in the future " - Change of Heart, Jodi Picoult

Intermission again- and i really like it! Yes, it's the time i can not touch my books and just sit back and relax. And yes, it is the time i can do what i like most in just one week. Like sipping a wine glass dry, i'm saving every bit of my holidays and enjoying it to the fullest.

I have made a point to read a book, fictional ones are preferred, every holiday. Visiting the book store never fails to tempt me with the burning desire to buy a book. This time around, i had in mind to buy a Nicholas Sparks' book, be it his fan, and may be buy a packet of tissue. As i browsed through the many books in Popular, my eyes were instantly attracted to a dark green-cover, not by my favourite author, with texts that struck me deep inside. Entitled Change of Heart, this book jumped off the shelf and landed onto the counter before being placed in a bag for me to take home. I have no regrets buying this book, and it has accompanied me throughout my holidays and left me with a mind so provoked.

I have to admit, this Jodi Picoult's book is extremely good. I have never rated a book with 'extreme' credits- Nicholas Sparks' book aside: A Walk To Remember and The Wedding, and she becomes my favourite author too. This is my first book from her and you must read it. MUST! It is so good that i urge Hollywood, or Malaysian, movie producers to consider adapting this book into a movie! The story is told from four different people, well-structured and interconnected: a mother whose daughter's life is on the line, June, a priest who happens to be a juror before, Micheal, an attorney, Maggie and an inmate, Lucius.

June's daughter and husband were murdered by Shay Bourne. 11 years later, she faces the fate of losing her second daughter, Claire. Claire suffers from a heart defect and time is running short for her. They need a miracle for her to survive. Soon, the miracle shines, but June has to make the hardest decision of her life before Claire could be saved. The heart comes from the murderer, Shay Bourne, and she struggles to choose- because how can she give her daughter the heart of a murderer? Even if she agrees to accept the heart, what about Claire. If she knows that the heart beating inside her is the heart of the man who killed her father and sister, she would better be off dead. Shay Bourne is on death row, sentenced after a decision Micheal and 11 other jurors have decided. After 11 years, Micheal comes to Shay as his spiritual adviser and finds that Shay is more than a man, what more than a murderer. Shay is to be executed by lethal injection and in no way could he donate his heart then. Maggie comes into the story, in hope to fight for his right to be executed in other ways- hanging, so that he could donate his heart. But it is not easy, after Maggie realises that fighting for how a man to die can be devastating as he will still die. Lucius is Shay's friend and miracles began to happen when Shay enters the prison. After much conflict, the truth be told, and every heart related to Shay's changes.

This story is a real page-turner. It kept me guessing from the beginning to the end, although i knew that June will accept the heart in the end. But that was not all of it. Well-written, this story is more emotional than i have predicted. It makes me wonder about the other things said. And how things change. I suppose that the title of this book is more than just Claire's change of heart, but mine too- how the truth be told have made my heart change as well!

Being a GSC Online member is good. For my birthday, they gave me a free movie ticket- small but still a free movie to watch. And so, Watchmen it is! Watchmen is 18PL, and i am already 18- legal to watch hereon. Given all GSC Cinemas to go to, Pavilion GSC was my choice.

It's a long movie- 2 hours 45 minutes. But the time flew as i watched.

The story is interesting, but i think there are some scenes that are not so necessary- then it'll minus the SX parts. It's similar to the Dark Knight and V for Vendeta, manipulative and thought-provoking. It goes back and forth in time, and more and more puzzles fit in as the movie goes on. The ending caught me by surprise- i didn't expect the ending. So, that's good.

Many people in my life are March babies- which means that there are many birthday celebration.

Grandma's birthday dinner.

This mid-sem break, we had a birthday treat for my sister at Daidomon and before the end of the break, we went back to Melaka to celebrate my uncle's birthday.

Japanese buffet dinner with BBQ.

The food is tasty, and they are having promotion these days- must be with the economic crisis going on, people are spending less.

The entrance of the restaurant is nice.

Brothers and birthday girl with me after dinner.

Together with my cousins in a Chinese restaurant celebrating my uncle's 60th birthday, in Melaka.

Man-in-white is the birthday man! The food is scrumptious.

Earth Hour was on Saturday. Did you turn off your lights? I wanted to, but i was in Melaka drinking wine, celebrating. But i sincerely hope that the spirit to make Earth more sustainable does not stop after the hour. There are many ways to continue our support to make Earth a better place- what more with the Earth Day coming up.

The intermission ends in a few hours. Argh... i miss the free and easy life during the break. Season 2, wc09 takes over!