Book Review 002: A Critic on Evelyn Lau's "An Insatiable Happiness"

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Going through Evelyn Lau ’s essay entitled “An Insatiable Emptiness “ emulates both sympathy and empathy. I understand her plight of coping up with her traumatic experience of seeking for approval and appreciation from people around her and the grueling ordeal of battling an obsessive compulsive behavior.

People normally go through a lot of trials in a lifetime and we all have a share of agony and bitterness in this world. She wants to paint a replica of her experience in order to help people, who are also in a similar scenario,  fight and survive the battle. The problem with her essay is that she set its tone more on her personal account rather than being objective of what she wants to happen after writing and publishing the book.

Another flaw in her work is the use of excessive graphic descriptions which is very uncomfortable in nature to some or if not most of her readers. A concrete example is when she said: “in all that vomiting I had not purged myself of any of the things that were making me sick”. This is a hard-hitting blow of those who still desire to add more years in his life. What if the person reading her article is planning to end his life? Do you think it will help save a life? Or becomes a reason to end it?

The above-mentioned facts clearly will make Evelyn Lau’s credibility questionable as an author which in turn will make her past and future works dubious or ambiguous. The figurative comparisons of her ordeal insinuate negative thoughts and as a result, will trigger unpleasant actions especially those with suicidal attempts or histories. As a living proof, she is clearly suggestive in her use or choice of words especially when she said,“ I would cram clusters of bananas into my mouth or tubs of ice cream that lurched back up my throat in a thin and startlingly sweet projectile”. The paradox in her last word clearly and literally manifests “bullets”, which if interpreted in a natural way would mean as if “choking while being shot to death”.

What was she trying to imply then? Isn’t it self incrimination or double jeopardy? Her vivid account of her ordeal does not necessarily help people cope with whatever illness or disease they have right now, but rather, indirectly encouraging them to follow what she was doing back then. The danger of Lau’s description is the use of the word “sweet” in a statement made earlier; meaning, one can claim redemption, retribution or victory by hurting yourself in many ways. Isn’t it ironic?

If she really intended to help people having the same experience, she could have been more moderate and modest in her choice of words. This puts her now on a hot seat.  Is this the way she treats or helps people cope with whatever traumatic experience they had before? Lau may have forgotten the mental and physical agony that these patients have been through the years of their lives and just like her, these people are looking forward to hearing or feel love and encouragement, so that a year may be added to their lives. Ironically, this is how I see it: A sick book written by a sick author and read by even more sick readers. What a sweet victory could there be?

A lot of questions were raised and obviously, the majority are still left unanswered. Judging the author’s character or attitude during her high school days can either shed light on the issues being thrown right now or complicate even more the situation. What do you expect from a  daughter who sees her mother as a competitor or an adversary?

What kind of values does a daughter have when you hear her proudly declare ”No one could tell me to stop, not even my friends who eventually knew what I was doing”. These statements clearly come from a spoiled brat, a rebellious member of the family and worst, a bad example to the youth. So what is this book trying to give its readers now? A rebellious war using the pen and a paper?

Needless to say, there is a hidden agenda, vested personal interest and a great or spectacular stage drama why this book was written. Evelyn Lau does not want to reach out to those in need, but, rather claims her self-proclaimed fame or popularity that she indeed survived the greatest ordeal of her life. In short, she used this book as a medium to her sweet revenge against her mother and this world.

Whoever read and appreciated this book may have been manipulated by the dirty tricks of the author, trying to use self-pity as a way of forging war with her family and the universe. Evelyn Lau is now considered the “the enemy wearing a smile and offering a handshake of peace”. As logic dictates, given the following circumstances, makes  Evelyn Lau’s article immaterial, invalid and unreliable.

Why is this so? It is immaterial because at first, without carefully analyzing its contents, one would be so engrossed reading this article without even thinking that the purpose is not to educate but to annihilate. If, for instance, a million copies of this book are sold to people with different levels of a dilemma in life. How are they going to move on with their frustrations and disappointments in life, given the fact that it is from an unreliable source?

Let us not forget what Evelyn Lau went through before coming up with this book. The end justifies the means, as a familiar maxim dictates. Metaphorically, the fish (i.e. the author Evelyn Lau) was caught by his own bait (e.g. her words). It is clear now that with this figurative language, the book’s validity is in question.

Moreover, I beg to disagree that Evelyn Lau’s account in her book is reliable. From the experience of critiquing this book, I honestly would divulge the feeling that I was nauseated and I felt a little bit sick after writing this essay. This may be a personal opinion but it’s true. There is a necessary evil why this book has come to life.

Furthermore, it could have been healthy and pleasant if Lau was able to deliver the whole message of this book by utilizing what we call a more wholesome approach to the readers. She could have used her wide experience and her fruitful years of writing in “taming the beast in her”  so that this masterpiece could have been more acceptable for people from all walks of life.

Finally, this critique does not mean being mean or rude to the author. This is just to objectively and substantially evaluate the book based on her own thoughts and actions. The common mistake of Evelyn Lau in her book is the idea of not considering the thoughts and emotions of her readers.

She was so engrossed relating her experience but totally forgot to connect to her audience by giving them positive feedback, suggestions, and advice about how to cope with that kind of personal crisis. She was totally unaware of the dangers or the consequences of her unresolved actions. Her essay ended in a hanging paragraph and there is no evidence of regret or even remission, making the case or issue unresolved up to this writing. Indeed, a carelessly written masterpiece,  without empathy or sympathy, without the expected closure that the audience is looking forward to, waiting…waiting in vain. Looking and searching for a little spark of hope.