"Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

This is an interesting read.

It is a forgettable book; yet there are stuff in it, powerful stuff, that nags at you to remain unforgettable. Although the synopsis talks of a hyena, a zebra (with a broken leg), a female orang utan, and a 450-pound Royal Bengal tiger, at the end of the tale, these animals are but a calefare and the real story revolves around the beliefs of Pi.

And by manner of interpretation it seems to me that Pi tends towards inclusive monotheism, although at times in the story I seem to grasp a slight inclination that he may lean back towards soft polytheism instead.

It talks of faith, how Pi clings on to life lines, no matter how small, and the will to live versus the will without.

I think it is a book about choices, and it gives us reflection on how each one we make changes the course of our lives and others', no matter how minute or simple our choice may be. For example, by simply choosing to be happy no matter what, makes a difference to our own attitude towards life, and to the people around us whom we may influence directly and indirectly.

I will recommend this book for the pious, the non-believers, the go-getters, and the stragglers. It will at least provide some refreshing insight and maybe even a new perspective.

"Tuesdays With Morrie" by Mitch Albom

Although this book has been in publication since 1997, I never got the chance to read it until now.

It touches on the true story of Morrie, or Morris S. Schwartz, brought to life by Mitch in his perspective.

Although it is an easy-to-read book and one can surely digest it in a matter of hours, there are many lessons to be learned, simple lessons, that we simply do not see, because we are always too busy chasing the wrong things in life.

Morrie was Mitch's teacher, more a life coach than a professor who teaches sociology.

After Mitch's graduation, he lost contact with Morrie, until a coincidental glimpse on TV where Morrie was featured because of his unfortunate brush with ALS, a body-impairing and life-stealing disease that will finally rob one of all but his mind, leaving the physical body a prison (nothing personal, but does Chew Chor Meng and Kennedy's disease ring a bell?).

One of the lessons Morrie taught, was not to pity himself, and that there is always a reason for why things happen. He contracted a terminal illness, and although he allowed himself to cry at what would happen and what was happening, he did not wallow in misery or indulge in self-pity; instead he always looked at the brighter side and was thankful that he had all the time he needed to say his goodbyes.

Morrie talked about love, for without which, there is a lack of purpose. That with love, people stay alive, his exact words – "Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone.".

It is not a book of pity, for I think that is not what Morrie or Mitch intended. It is a book of hope. It is a book that tells you to take time off each day, even a minute, to smell the roses, or just intentionally slow down or stop, and give your loved one a hug and kiss.

I think that in a way, by keeping Morrie alive, we keep ourselves alive.