Jeremy Mifsud's Blog, page 10
September 5, 2018
Book Review: The Rosie Project
Selecting the Novel
Recently, I applied for a Science Master’s course in Cognitive Science, which suggested a list of books to familiarise ourselves with. The Rosie Project was the first on the fiction list, and it was described as a funny book about a high-functioning Asperger-Syndrome scientist. As I’ve recently been diagnosed with AS myself, I was immediately interested and read the book in two days – a personal record.
Description
Don Tillman is a 39-year-old associate professor in Genetics. He is academically successful; however, this success is not paralleled in his love life where he had never had a second date. His lack of empathy and poor social skills often put him in odd situations and conversations. His life is scheduled to the minute and plans his meals on a standardised weekly routine. Rationality is the basis of everything he does, including social relationships. During a conversation, it strikes him that he should find his life partner through a rational process, and thus embarked on The Wife Project to find a female life partner.
Review
Don Tillman
Don is an incredibly unique character. Through our socially conventional rules, the reader may understand whenever he says or does something out of line, enabling us to justify the reactions of other characters. However, what would seem so peculiar from a third-person, now becomes rationally understandable through his perspective. Everything is precise and thought carefully. What dominant society may label as odd or weird may have a firm basis in logical thinking. There is undoubtedly a difference between Don and most of the other characters, but this does not mean that he is flawed or that others are perfect. Don is just different and remains human behind his quirks. Like anyone else, he has strengths, such as high intelligence and incredible memory, to make up and work on his weaknesses.
Story
Story-wise, one would expect someone with a strict routine to not embark on an adventure. Alas, after meeting Rosie, he starts breaking rules (including his extremely tightly planned schedule). A few minutes after meeting Rosie, he believes she is unsuitable to be his life partner. Despite these differences, he is compelled to help her find who her biological father is, as he is an expert in genetics. Rosie’s friendship brings in chaos and disorder, as Don engages in more spontaneous activities.
Summary
Even as the story is interesting, the main highlight of the book remains to be Don’s fascinating mind and his social relationships. I rate this book an easy 5* star rating from me. From the moment I picked it up, I could not put it down. This is Graeme Simsion’s first novel and has become a New York Times Bestseller. Don’s story continues in The Rosie Effect, which I hope to read soon. Although my personal experience may have augmented my interest and love for The Rosie Project, I firmly believe that this work can be enjoyed by a relatively wide audience. I suggest reading the first couple of chapters through Amazon’s ‘Look Inside’, which should get you interested enough to get your own copy.
August 10, 2018
Shelter Invasion
Trapped in a shell;
it used to be mine.
Curled up in a corner;
my bones, crushed.
Current-swept sands
engulf my cover.
In an ocean’s sediment,
I am entombed alive.
Poetry by Jeremy Mifsud
Photo by Clint McKoy on Unsplash
Advertisements
August 2, 2018
Skin and Bones
The breast pump sucks
a black, murky fluid
out of my hard nipples.
Skin hangs loosely –
descending from the ribcage
like an unruly waterfall.
Without my demons,
I am left with just
skin and bones.
Poetry by Jeremy Mifsud
Photo by Olenka Kotyk on Unsplash
Advertisements
July 29, 2018
Temporary Tattoo
You etched my name
into your chest,
when he showed up,
you shed off your skin;
I was a temporary tattoo,
a fleeting sensation.
Tossed me into a river
and turned your back,
I held the old snakeskin
as the currents crush me away.
The waters drown me in thoughts;
was everything we had a lie?
Poetry by Jeremy Mifsud
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
Advertisements
July 12, 2018
Voiceless
Voiceless –
What is the point of language
when “No” is rejected
and “Stop” is ignored?
He wasn’t taught to listen,
to distinguish the difference
between pleasant moans
and squeals of agony.
One day, I will learn
how to talk again.
I will be hoping
that next time,
my voice will be heard.
Poetry by Jeremy Mifsud
Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash
Advertisements
July 3, 2018
Turbulent Dreamwork
Turbulence on a sailboat,
winds carrying it seaward;
those onboard in a frenzy.
He invaded my dreams,
with a shirt – unbuttoned,
revealing his chest hair
fearlessly facing the storm.
He jumped onto the boat
and with a mighty dagger
ripped the sails apart, so
the gales could no longer
pull it forcibly their way.
Infuriated, the gods roared
the tempest stronger; the
waves rocked the boat until
ocean swallowed them whole.
Horror in my eyes, afraid of
losing him before a chance
to kiss his lips and whisper
that I wanted to be only his.
* * *
When the storm dispersed,
I was crying on the shore.
Emerging from the waters
with no fractured bones
and no bleeding wounds,
it was he; alive, unharmed.
He took me into his arms,
holding me ever so tight;
this is what safety feels like.
Poetry by Jeremy Mifsud
Photo by Bobby Burch on Unsplash
Advertisements
June 28, 2018
Bite Marks
I want my body to show
the euphoria I feel
when I am with you.
You press your teeth
hard against my skin.
You leave bite marks
slightly above my hips,
where your hands seize
to draw me into you.
The bruises slowly fade,
memories last a lifetime.
The aching subsides,
whilst in my moaning,
your name resides.
Infliction is a thrill;
we are both winners
in this lustful game.
Poetry by Jeremy Mifsud
Photo by Fernando @cferdo on Unsplash
Advertisements
June 27, 2018
Book Review: Freedom’s Fate by Jennie Taylor
Freedom’s Fate
Book Overview
Freedom’s Fate is a sci-fi novel by Jennie Taylor. The story is situated in the ship UNSC Freedom, in which the ship has been launched from Earth to find a new habitable planet for humans to live. On this ship, fifteen-year-old Callie is determined to become the captain after being left orphan when she was just five yours old. In her quest to become captain, she faces several difficulties, including that of needing to be social and interact with the other crew members. Furthermore, she has to face her sexual orientation and her feelings for another girl, with resistance and harassment from other people residing in the same ship.
Review
Note: I had written this review back in January on steemit, and posting it now as I have read Book 2 in the series, which I’ll write about soon.
As I did on Goodreads, I have to give this book a 5-star rating. Why? It was captivating on several levels. To begin with, the Sci-Fi setting intrigued me when I read Chapter 1 as a free excerpt from Kindle Scout. I had to read more! And when Jennie Taylor self-published the book, it had to be part of my Kindle Library.
UNSC Freedom
The Sci-Fi theme is very interesting, Earth has launched 8 ships to look for a habitable place for the human race. The ship is equipped with several technologies to scan resources, mine them, and maintain itself while it is in space. As readers, we meet a lot of the crew members and their various roles, commanders, engineers, administration, medics, and I’m missing out a few. Life on the ship has a lot of variety and is represented adequately. I do feel that the author could have spent more time describing certain aspects of the ship/crew or their role.
LGBT Representation
One aspect which I loved about the book is that the protagonist, Callie, is a lesbian. Even though it is not a main part of the story, it does interact with her quest of becoming captain. Furthermore, her story is relatable in several dimensions. First of all, trying to hide the crush she has can be challenging. Secondly, there are a group of people on the ship that do not approve of homosexuality and protest against ‘devious’ relationships.
Projection of Society
The book projects a lot of current society onto this story, which is something I loved and hated. I would expect people on a ship in space hundreds of years from now would have accepted homosexuality. Yet, the book expresses homophobia well, and I am sure that readers can relate to that pain. Another issue is that Callie is vegetarian. All well and good. However, during social interactions, she has to specifically look for vegetarian food and is encountered by the typical question “You eat cheese? Weren’t you vegetarian?”. In such future, I would expect adults to know the difference between veganism and vegetarianism (and the character wasn’t a dumb person), as well as it raises questions on food source on the ship. Do they have cows that they milk in the basement? I am pretty sure that with all the technology and science equipped, meat could easily be replaced by vegan sources. It may be a personal opinion, but I do doubt that humans will keep eating EXACTLY the same food, with no innovation. Yes, pizzas and ice-creams are great, but I would hope the future would bring more interesting things.
Summary
Now that I have ended my silly, stupid rant, I still think the book is worth reading. I loved it. I could not stop reading. The story has some twists and plots that are quite unexpected, which I will not be spoiling in this review. Once I crossed the half-way point, there was no way I could stop reading. In fact, half of it was read in one day and I could not stop crying for a whole hour (yes, the story has some real tear-jerking moments). Overall, the book is an interesting novel on YA, Sci-Fi and LGBT themes and I could say it is my favourite read of the past couple of years.
Advertisements
June 25, 2018
The Reason I Don’t Speak
There is a concept brewing,
a clear picture forming in my head.
I transfer it to the left hemisphere,
convert it into a sentence,
then send it through quality control.
Mouth is open wide,
my tongue dancing,
struggling to create sound.
A frustrated stutter:
“I… I… I… ARGH!”
The phrase has been denied.
It was an amateur attempt
at forging a masterpiece.
The words are too heavy
to roll off my tongue.
I swallow them back inside.
Too hard to digest,
tying knots around my stomach,
sinking me into the ground.
Poetry by Jeremy Mifsud
Photo by Cristian Newmanhe on Unsplash
Advertisements
June 24, 2018
Turned Tables
In front of me.
She stands.
In a floral dress.
Delicate petals.
On wrinkled skin.
Her joints withering.
Time was unkind.
So was she.
I still remember.
Her words.
Her fist.
She is a predator.
The hunter.
Shot me down.
A fallen angel.
Inner voices.
Conflicted.
Alarmed.
Run away.
Fight back.
Never mind.
I was helpless then.
She is helpless now.
The others see.
A permanent scar.
Limping soul.
Crooked smile.
In their eyes.
I am cursed.
In mine.
I am a survivor.
Invincible.
Poetry by Jeremy Mifsud
Photo by Quentin Lagache on Unsplash
Advertisements
