When I first heard of this novel, I wanted to read it. I have this thing about reading the works of Motherlander-Americans, as if one of them one day can answer all of my identity questions. But with the shambles that was my life grieving for losing The One as a boyfriend, I refrained. It’s for the same reason that I don’t watch that gripping drama, Grey’s Anatomy: With the “unresolved issues” about breaking up with being dumped by The One, I couldn’t bear to face unnecessarily images of future doctors coupling with other future doctors, all of them leading fabulously glamourous lives.
Then the book won a prestigious national prize and I kept it on my radar…
So far, I have read several chapters and here are some of my thoughts.
Ming, the female protagonist, figures prominently in the first two short stories and I couldn’t sympathize with her. While being deluded about maintaining a platonic relationship with her study buddy, she is also rather cruel to him; I can see her Motherlander upbringing in her “reasoning” and actions, but a Western onlooker will only see cruelty… and delightfully exotic reticence. The author, Mr. Lam, exposed how calculating one has to be to get into medical school; Ming and Fitzgerald, the male protagonist, philosophized about the purity of their career intentions but ultimately the procedural method was the successful method to get a crack at their dream careers.
The third chapter was more emotional and not just because I’m internalizing the stories.
When they are apart, Fitzgerald’s desperation reminds me of the times when Big Ex was in the wrong and repentent and suffocating. To be fair, we each took turns having times when we were completely lacking in dignity. When Ming became cold and business-like about the relationship, it reminded me of how I was with The Boytoy.
Most of all, the third chapter illustrated how a couple drifts apart when one of them is in medical school in a different city, even when the other one will be at the same school just a year later. The author, probably being semi-autobiographical, confirms that in the wild world of medical school, school becomes your life, your study group is your everything: study partners, lab partners, default friends, roomates, dining companions, wake-up call, everything.
(The One told me about an official “recommendation” at his school to not date within your class - why did he tell me this? - and so he resisted until the vixen, a girl in his study group, relentlessly wooed him.)
Had I read the first three chapters just two years ago, I would be feeling all manners of emotional pain. I have personally lived through the first three chapters and remember only the bad parts.
The fourth chapter was boring. :P It’s far more interesting - and abbreviated - to watch resuscitation after an MI on ER than it is to read it!
Just to let you know, one of the characters I’ve encountered so far as the same name as The One. :P
And it’s all okay. I am finally over it all. (’Til he tells me he’s marrying the vixen!)
Posted in Lessons
