… a lot of interesting things can happen. I am in Ploiesti right now, enjoying considerable cooler weather (as opposed to the steam bath offered by Bucharest everyday) and studying for my exam. My mom, as always, needs to take great care of me. So last night it was cocktail treat time! She wanted a gin tonic. I agreed, but it wasn’t that tasty, so after drinking a little from my glass, I poured a little multi-fruit juice. It was delicious! So here is the new recipe for what I call “Kayla Coktail”:

Gin – whatever brand you prefer, as much as you feel comfortable drinking.
Tonic water
(multi)fruit juice – I recommend Cappy Ice Fruit (multifruit or orange&grapefruit), my new favorite
Plenty of lemon
Ice (one or two cubes).

Stir just a bit it with your straw and enjoy

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Well’s novel “The Invisible Man” is mostly known for its different view on science and its impact on human life. Written in 1897, the book comes to bring readers a story of terror and an embedded warning: science can also bring darkness. This of course while the current trend for science fiction stories was to portray utopia-like futures brought to humanity by the miracles of science.

“The Invisible Man” relates, as if it were an investigation report, the strange story of a certain Griffin, a young scientist who has dedicated his life to Physics. While studying transparency and light, he discovers the secret of invisibility. His dedication to his research is also his road to hell, as it makes him selfish, inhuman and causes him to eventually loose all trace of humanity.

While exploring the immense advantages and occasional disadvantages of being invisible, he starts stealing, attacking and killing people. As time passes he becomes more aggressive, ill-tempered and cruel, making plans to use a State of Terror to rule mankind.

This intriguing story will prevent you from forgetting about this book until it’s finished. And if you’re thinking of reading it, why not start now?

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I haven’t cried after finishing a book in a long time. The one time I still remember is Winnetou, but I was 11 years old at the time.

Orhan Pamuk’s “The New Life” was given to me by D. as a gift on my name’s day. It was not planned to start reading it. You see, I have this schedule for books (as there are so many due reading), but I had forgotten the book I was currently reading at D’s, so I picked it up and hardly took breaks from reading it since.

Why I cried in the end? Why the feeling it was all unfair in this world? Why the feeling it could have been my story written there, given the adequate circumstances? Well, that is something you will find out while reading the book.

It is a story of a book able to change young lives, able to make one abandon one’s old ways and embark on a journey full of adventure, dizziness, the proximity of death, happiness and sorrow, hopefully leading to a new life. Signs are everywhere: unique moments, strange meetings, angels, movies, TVs, the New Life caramels, the old and the new fighting against each other.

It is a story about love. About how it can be deceiving, about how it can bring joyful hope and painful despair. Of how it is misunderstood or searched for in all the wrong places. About the illusion of love and about its essence. About how one can suddenly discover it has been right there all along, but only when it’s too late.

It is also a story about the old ways being corrupted by the West. By its cowboys, its colorful ads, its synthetic foods and beverages, its unhealthy behaviors. And how this invasion of fake global values can break the hearts of so many, of how it can drive them to insanity and to murder.

Finally, it is a story about how hard it is to distinguish about destiny, faith, coincidence, accidents and predetermined paths. About suddenly making a connection between your past, present and future while watching a train go by and remembering a stop’s name. It is a book I’ve immensely enjoyed reading. And that I warmly recommend to others.

My first Orhan Pamuk book was The White Castle, before the Nobel winner prize trend had started. Yet it was “The New Life” the one that made my realize I love his style and left me craving for more. “My name is Red” is the next one on the list.