The Simple Joys in Life

Today, I managed to realize the simple joys in life. Here they are in order of appearance. 

• Friends (What would I honestly be without them? Actually, don't answer that.)
• Drama (I mean the theatre type, not the real-life stuff. It is definitely something to be cherished so long as it isn't real.)
• Coffee (What to have when you're on the verge of death due to exhaustion, have a 5 hour rehearsal for your musical and haven't eaten properly the entire day? The answer is coffee. Addictive, but delicious. You're my hero.)
• Mothers (My mum packs me the cutest little lunch boxes. And wow, how I love her for it!)
• Realizing how wonderful a book is (Picking up The Picture of Dorian Gray was the greatest things I did today. I never thought somebody could write so beautifully. And oh, the laughs Oscar Wilde can conjure! Not even 40 pages have passed and I love him already.)

What would life be without these sweet things? 

I'm glad I don't have to know.

Just Listen

Title- Just Listen

Author-Sarah Dessen

Rating- 4/5

Comments- At first glance, it looks like one of those chick lits. The slightly cliche title (Just Listen), the pretty cover that looks as though it would appeal to teenagers, not to mention the blurb that could possibly be introducing a typical story of teenage drama with evil popular girls, silly boys and endless ranting about how much life sucks.

Yet when you actually start reading the book, it seems that that isn't the case. Alright, it does deal with a teenage girl and her issues with life, including ruined friendships, high school, family drama and falling in love. But surprisingly enough, the problems being dealt with were of a much more serious and mature level, involving a lot more concentration and thought from the reader.

It was impressive how Sarah Dessen managed to entwine the entire story together by referring to and repeating several very symbolic objects and actions. It was cleverly planned out and there was always such a flow to the story.

And the most amazing thing about this story, was there was probably not a single mention of the word "love". Absolutely none. I have to say that I was terribly impressed, because Dessen managed to prove that love can be conveyed between characters and the reader without actually mentioning the word.

So I can safely tell you, that looks and in this case, descriptions, have been proved deceiving. If you're in for a serious read about high school drama, I can highly recommend Just Listen. It's very much worth it.

I wonder

I see her from the bus.

She sits in the dark restaurant. The only light streaming into the premises is shining solely on her.

She has an oval face. Black hair flowing down her shoulders. Two carefully plucked eyebrows. High cheekbones. A small mouth. I see barely any makeup on her, yet she looks like a work of art, sitting pristinely on her chair. A museum piece.

Her eyes blink softly, and steadily. The long eyelashes, coated with mascara seem heavy. I wonder if she just wants to close them and dream away.

A bright yellow sweatshirt clings to her. It radiates a warmth of a hundred suns. 

But a blank, expressionless look inhabits her stunning face, chilling her own glowing presence. The only part of her perfect face that is not lifeless are her pale brown eyes. I can see a colorful, faraway world reflecting deep inside of them. I wonder if she wants to be there right now. 

A man sits in front of her. He is talking avidly. I wonder if he has noticed that she is somewhere else. Somewhere far far away. From him.

She must look pretty when she smiles. I wonder if that's what snagged the interest of the man opposite her.

He continues talking and she continues dreaming. I wonder if he is one of many. I wonder if she's done this before.

I'm drifting away from them. 

I will probably never see them again.

Just like he will never see her again.