Karen Kow

“From Leonard to Leona” by Leona Lo

This book was recently featured in The Star newspaper.

It is not written in the best English. Nevertheless it speaks of a true story that portrays several situations that can be said for many people, especially in the Malaysian/Singaporean culture. Another observation: we have more in common than we would like to admit or believe.

1) Baby boomer’s desperation for materialism and “face” in the society. And how their unfulfilled dreams often become a burden to their children to achieve.

2) The sad fact that a lot of people conjure up “mental blocks” and “false belief” because of what fortune tellers and the like have told them. (I believe that the only limitations that we have are those that we set upon ourselves).

3) The “pious religious” relative who does not “behave” like one. (Don’t we all know one of those?)

4) How sexual abuse (leading to confusion) is often initiated by a relative or member of the family.

5) How he/she was humorously (to me at least – I know, I know, it’s insensitive) prayed for, exorcised, etc..

It is like reading a diary of the transsexual, however, I have to admit that I was a little disappointed with the content; there were many spelling mistakes, and how instead of writing it as the strong women she is now, the book was written as if I was reading a child’s journal.

Apart from that, I commend her courage and determination to write about what she has gone through, probably also being a support for the people who can relate to this life situation.

p/s: comestic surgery anyone? It’s definitely gotta be Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand. Hahaha…

‘Plea of Insanity’ by Jilliane Hoffman – an outstanding book!

The prosecutor – Julia Valenciano. Young, ambitious and facing a case that could launch her career.

The defendant – David Marquette. A successful Miami surgeon and devoted family man.

The victims – Marquette’s own wife and three small children.

The plea – Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity

48 hours, 103 chapters and 598 pages later, these are my thoughts:

Jilliane is a fantastic writer who can capture the reader’s attention – keeps you in constant suspense, throwing storyline twists when you least expect it, writing based on valid information from the medical, psychological and legal sectors, along with a feminine touch of vulnerability and sexuality.

It definitely has a human touch and each character appears to be very real.

Although inspired by a friend’s experience, it is not totally her friend’s situation. She unfolds genuine unconditional love, brings forth a new perspective and provides an easy understanding of mental disorders, specifically schizophrenia, for the lay person.

Splendid! Absolutely fantabulous!

A Charlotte, NC , lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against fire among other things.

Within a month having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars and without yet having made even his first premium payment on the policy, the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company. In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost “in a series of small fires.”

The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason: that the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion. The lawyer sued …..and won!

In delivering the ruling, the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous. The Judge stated,
nevertheless, that the lawyer held a policy from the company in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered to be unacceptable fire, and was obligated to pay the claim. Rather than endure lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his loss of the rare cigars lost in the “fires.”

NOW FOR THE BEST PART

After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of ARSON! With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.

This is a true story and was the 1st place winner in the recent Criminal Lawyers Award Contest.