Friday, June 28, 2013

Coping mechanism

DESPITE my self-imposed moratorium on book-buying, I got myself a couple more titles. Hoarding may be the more appropriate term, but I like to refer to my behavior as a means to keep my sanity. My justification: I've been swallowed by IM this past month; I needed to do something to keep the stress off.

Eric Metaxas' biography, Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy, has been on my bedside. I turn to it every so often. I endeavor to read finish it before this year ends. One of the heroes of Christianity in the modern age, Bonhoeffer's works have encouraged me to live for Christ despite the persecution and difficulties. Can't wait to get to the part about the love of his life.

Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas

I'm currently reading Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. It's shorter compared to David Copperfield, which took me months to finish. My version is the more expensive Barnes and Nobles copy, which I bought at a huge, huge discount.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

I also have The Deleted Word, a compilation of the poems of Tomas Tranströmer, arguably Sweden's most important poet.

The Deleted World by Tomas Tranströmer

Years ago I watched the cartoon show, Daddy-Long-Legs, which ABS-CBN aired. Imagine my excitement when I saw the book from which the story was based.

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

David Sedaris' Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk is a fable of sorts, and I bought it because of the neat illustration. I haven't seen real squirrels or chipmunks in this lifetime.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris

The Sea by John Banville seems like the perfect book to read on a rainy day. According the blurb, the story is about a middle-aged Irish man who goes back to the seaside town where he spent his childhood so he could cope with the recent loss of his wife. I'm excited to get started on this!

The Sea by John Banville

I saw Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles at Booksale this afternoon. I like stories set in airports or which involve people in transit.

Dear American Airlines by Jonathan Miles

I've read Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco, but this Picador version was too beautiful to ignore.

Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco

Finally I'm reading IM Platinum: The Official Aherrera Notes, an updated and more comprehensive version of Dr. Jaime Ahererra's teaching notes which helped us survive the morning Guazon endorsements. I doubt that he knows me personally, but Dr. Aherrera used to grill me in the endorsements, asking me to enumerate the criteria for ARDS. I was tongue-tied the entire time.

I got a complimentary copy when the book first came out, thanks to Sir Joey Duya, my service senior, who gave it to me as a gift. I know most of the writers personally. Dr. Marc Denver Tiongson was my resident-in-charge. Dr. Greggy Yu was my resident-in-charge when I was a clerk. Dr. Deonne Gauiran is one of the physicians on duty during my ER shifts. The editor, Dr. Aids Rabe, was my service consultant in Service Three. All the writers are gifted physicians and teachers.

IM Platinum

I promised Sir Joey that I'll write a review of sorts soon, but so far, I've found it very useful and reader-friendly. Consider the photo below showing Dr. Crystal Roxas enjoying a quiet moment with the book.

dr. crystal roxas
Photo taken from Ma'am Crystal's Facebook account

The chapter on ECG and chest Xray interpretation is my favorite, because those are the topics I find particularly challenging. The book sells for a little more than P300. It is definitely worth more than P300, but the goal of releasing this IM must-know compilation is primarily to instruct, not to gain profit.

We've been hearing news that some people have hoarded the books, selling them for P500—don't be fooled. You can get the book at its original prize by texting 09228456273. Naturally the authors will be more than happy to sign them for you. You can have your photos taken during the book-signing, too. I think the authors have finally gotten used to the pseudo-celebrity status.

At the rate at which the book is selling, it won't be long before a second edition eventually comes out.

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4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

You're reading it now!! Remember your comment last April on my "Great Expectations" review?

http://pinoyjourn.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/the-bookshelf-great-expectations-great-discontent/#comment-881

How is it? I finished it in over 2 months.

And how are you faring reading the others?

Sun Jun 30, 05:37:00 AM GMT+8  
Blogger Lance said...

I'm halfway through the book, Anjo. Can't devote entire afternoons or evenings to it, but I'm liking it so far. What if, like Pip, someone offered me a huge lump of money? Ang swerte niya, ano? Other than Pip, which character in the book interested you the most?

Maybe I'll start with the others sometime soon, probably after my Internal Medicine rotation.

Sun Jun 30, 06:10:00 AM GMT+8  
Blogger taweng said...

Thank you for the info on the IM Platinum book - I have a 2009 edition of the Ahererra notes na photocopied pa. Illegally done, I suppose, without the author's permission. I believe I will be able to sort of pay the author back by purchasing copies that I could also share with the interns here in our institution.

Sun Jun 30, 08:45:00 PM GMT+8  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Actually si Herbert Pocket. Napakadali niya magtiwala, and he's such a loyal friend. Portrayed siya as a mere sidekick, pero the end shows na may higit pala siyang mararating din. For some reason yun din yung mga type of characters na hinahangaan ko. I'm wondering too what's in Estella's mind.

Hindi ko rin kaya yung magspend ng matagal sa pagbabasa! Lalo na I've begun a reading plan for my Bible. I'll just finish another "Bookshelf" review, then start reading another sci-fi novel.

If I get a huge endowment coupled with great expectations, pag-isipan ko kung kanino galing.. Mahirap na!

Sat Jul 06, 11:15:00 PM GMT+8  

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