Forgot but not forgotten.

Went for Larry(hamet!) and Joyce's(lilies!) wedding yesterday. This had to be the first wedding i've ever been to that had the shortest speech by the groom. Ever. It lasted all of 5 seconds and goes(ends) something like "Thank you for coming". Really chop chop. In fact, it ended before i even know it began.>_<. The food was great, particularly the dessert which was kinda difficult to eat. Guests would know what i mean. i did met an unexpected friend that day; one of my primary school friends(ya, primary school) who happens to be Larry's ex-colleague. Talk about 6 degrees of separation. We talked for quite a bit and I have a confession to make. Clearly, he remembers my name, but I just can't remember his for the life of me. And we even went through 1 year or so of NS together.(First and Foremost!)

I know its "Shao-something" though. LOL.

Anyway, of the few people who read this blog, its kinda obvious i like to talk about movies, tv shows and weddings. the latter can't really be helped considering the alarming frequency of occurrence ever since I started writing this blog. Today I'm going to write about something different.

Book Review!! Well, I've just read this book entitled A Man with no Talents: Memoirs of a Tokyo Day Labourer by Oyama Shiro and I think its an interesting read, despite being kinda short at way under 200 pages. Anyway, i wouldnt really call it an autobiography since the story starts when the protagonist is in his 40s, and only chronicles in detail the period of time between 1999 till 2002 or thereabouts. Not much, you would say?  Apparently the book happens to have won some literary prize in Japan. Anyway, the plot is about this geezer talking about a period of his life spent in the slums of Tokyo, what led him there when he was seemingly destined for the life of a normal salaryman, and his experiences and reflections surviving every day.

What really made it for me was the fact that the writer readily admits he's a loser, a social misfit who has a seemingly disability to coexist with people. He acknowledges he has problems and accepts the fact that he's pretty much not good at anything else. He quit his job because he knows he has a depression problem and interestingly, finds solace only when left alone to his own devices. I like to read about his encounters with the different day-labourers and bunkmates, the exchange of opinions, and most importantly, his "analysis" of everything that comes his way as well as the mundane things he does to ensure he has enough to last him through to the next day. I can kinda identify with the guy though, sometimes you're just so powerless to handle things that happens around you. Different people have different ways of dealing with situations like these and Oyama Shiro shows us one version of what could have been if one just yields to opposition unquestioningly.

Anyway, its a good book( though still a far cry from my favourite, Sophie's World). Though I can't figure out why i found it under the Business and Finance aisle instead of non-fiction.

Tip of the day: Larry, remember to wear red when Joyce wears green on your honeymoon and vice versa. And always hold hands. Its more fun that way.