Anyway, I started off winter vacation with grand plans (both work and social) but I don't see any castles and palaces being built so.. I doubt much will be achieved this winter. (laughs) I was supposed to work on the Taiwan itinerary, finish 6 weeks of readings for the social science module and make Christmas cards for everyone but naw, I'm just not in the mood to do so. I will have to work on the itinerary (shall we do it tomorrow?) and do some readings (I did one chapter and it was so tedious and boring. Like stale bread, maybe worse) but for now, I find myself satisfied with this relaxed and carefree lifestyle. Having nothing to do can actually be quite a delightful experience, much to my surprise. It may feel useless, like a waste of time (urgh, the conditioning of the local education system) but time that one enjoys wasting is not wasted time. As for the Christmas cards, that's a bit of a waste though - sigh - last Christmas, I was full of inspiration and came up with a set of digital Christmas cards but this year, the creative spark has been real elusive. Perhaps, I'm still fatigued from the previous semester - which I find completely believable considering how the past semester has been - and frankly, I'm not sure if I can "recover" in time for the upcoming semester. I mean, I find it difficult to even feel true excitement about my Taiwan trip and we're talking about a country I've been wishing to visit for years here!
The exhaustion extends to how (in)active my social scene has been as well. I have a couple of people I should/need to/have to meet but it's been tough trying to feel enthusiastic about these meetings. I was supposed to plan two group outings but I forgot (or somehow made myself forget) about them and.. I think I'm gonna shelve those plans for a while. Just a lil' while until my social batteries have been fully charged, alright?
I've been thinking a lot these days (no thanks to the hermit lifestyle) but sometimes, I wish these thoughts could just leave for a bit.. and give me some peace. The constant narration in my head - aw man, I wish it had an "Off" switch! Oh and life would be even better if certain absurd, terrible people could just stay away and not scare others with their rotten, warped personalities. Hah, if only.
Anyway, Pottermore has been taking up quite a bit of my time so more Harry Potty joy to go around yay! It always feels good to go back to Harry Potty and Friends (:
I've also finished two books and a drama (this is the type of accomplishments I can boast about this winter HAHA). Hmm what did I read.. <Déjà Dead> by Kathy Reichs and <The Accused> by John Grisham! The former.. (sheepish laugh) I thought it was part of the <Virals> series by the same author (which is young adult fiction) because of the deceptively childish-looking cover and the familiar-sounding main character (who's actually the aunt of the protagonist in the young adult fiction series) but.. <Déjà Dead> turned out to be a crime novel!! Haha slightly too graphic (read: gory) and heavy for a starter reading! I'm not fond of her writing style in this book too - she went overboard with her use of literary devices (overkill, seriously), to the extent that it got slightly draggy and difficult to read, what with the crowd of metaphors and similes. Imagery is important but.. she was too generous. That said, I do have a few favourite (but kinda morbid) quotes though! ^^ I chuckled at these:
"He cleaned up after himself, so Roy wouldn't suspect, but when Gilbert and the boys gave the cellar a Luminol spray this morning it lit up like halftime at the Orange Bowl."
"Oh. And Gilbert has a chef's saw for you. Says it glows."
"Can you do this day after day, year after year, and not lose faith in the human species?"
"From time to time the human species spawns predators that feed on those around them. They're not the species. They're mutations of the species In my opinion these freaks have no right to suck oxygen from the atmosphere. But they're here, so I help cage them up and put them where they can't hurt others. I make life safer for the folks who get up, go to work each day, raise their kids or their tomatoes, or their tropical fish, and watch the ball game in the evening. They are the human species."
Theodore Boone's story was a much easier and lighthearted read! It's categorised as a legal thriller but since the target audience's young adults (it's really a book for teens), I flew through the chapters and it was an enjoyable read overall. It's interesting to read about a kid aspiring to be a lawyer/judge.
As for the drama I've recently completed, that was ah, so much deeper and darker. Once again, I got deceived by appearances (just like that insidious book cover aha) >.< The drama was showing on television and it's called "White Christmas" so.. Well, since it's Christmas season and all, I thought I was in for some sweet romantic comedy (didn't help that I saw one of my favourite actors playing the lead) HAHA Quite the contrary, I got sucked into (and was wholly unprepared for) a gripping, terrifying psychological thriller that explored themes like nature/nuture, fear/trust, isolation/community and moral retribution/punishment by the system. It's definitely not the typical Korean drama (what an insult that would be) - this should properly be described as a rare gem amidst the dime-a-dozen KPOP dramas. It's meaningful and deeply moving, and invokes a wide range of emotions in its audience whilst provoking them to do some reflecting and thinking of their own.
I don't think my paragraph-long review does the drama much justice so if anyone happens to be interested in this excellently produced drama, you can check out the reviews at these sites: Drama Review 1 and Drama Review 2. I read them all after I finished the 8 episodes because I wanted perspectives. Do ignore their occasional fangirling/fanboying of the actors, especially Kim Woo Bin though haha (unavoidable for a drama with such a cast). It's also such a pity both reviewers disliked the lead actor (who happens to be my childhood crush) - I thought he did a brilliant job! (being defensive hahah) Heh it's been 11 years since I said I wanted to marry him (laughs heartily) but I realise that I still like him! I think he grew up to be a very fine man and actor, although my sister begs to differ. (whoops, digressed)
In my entire K-drama history thus far, only two dramas stand out for their thought-provoking storylines and remarkable emotional depth. There's "White Christmas" and then there's "The Devil". Haha that. was. insane. I can't remember when I watched it but I do recall that I almost flooded the house with my tears - I never ever wish to experience that desperate, helpless feeling again (shudders) - and that I got incredibly conflicted and upset over the moral dilemmas portrayed in the show. The scriptwriters had one job and boy, they did a terrific one.
Alright, enough of drama introduction haha ^^ It's getting late and I gotta go sleep soon! It's been therapeutic writing about joyful (or at least, non-upsetting) events (: and I'll continue with a post on the Christmas party and surprise event soon!
Peace out, guys!
Hohoho~! Three days till Christmas!
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