The Bear Wore a Swimsuit

A heartwarming autobiography, crafted with love, empathy and humour. Family, friends, colleagues and patients, all form the backdrop of this description of an amazing life. Experiences in multicultural Singapore, traditional Kerala; and also in the mountainous terrain of Bhutan and Nepal are described with delightful prose. Unapologetic humour, and unfiltered empathy make this book a wonderful read.

The Bear Wore a Swimsuit' by Susie Baboo Samuel ...a charming and interesting autobiography penned with meticulous preciseness to chronical details .Her narrative style is awesome crisp but elaborate to the core .The introduction meandering through paternal and maternal roots stretching borders ,followed bythe events and anecdotes that are hilariousas she passes from.one stage to another unfolds in a delectable and in a gripping manner like a ride on the roller coasterwith mirth and laughter.Her distinguished birth to elderly parents is miracle she describes herself., childhood ,education and career have been in many countries across the globe and so our heroine Dr Susie Baboo Samuel has rich multicultural experiences that are unique and praise worthy in all respects .Her multifaceted personality as a daughter, a studious student ( her memoirs of her teachers is excellent )a doctor with two varied specialities ,a loving wife and a doting mother and a friendly grandma and a writer .She excels in all the roles.She is a born writer for her narrative style is superb ...deep emotional bonding with the people around her . An interesting reading material which is like watching a movie with umptee number of unforgettable characters with whom we can easily relate to.This international Award Winning book is sensational for its sales proceeds go to The Banyan a NGO working for the mental health and care of womenBuy and read send in your mite to the noble cause .J.J.vijayakumariFriend

Very good. Makes you read again & again..

Dr Susie Samuel’s undoubted gift for words and her wonderful sense of humour embellish this hugely entertaining and often moving account of her family, life and times. Also shining through are her unwavering faith and the quiet but immense contribution that her husband and she have made to improving the lives of suffering people in some of the most inaccessible areas of the world. An inspiring read.

At first the complex family dynamics appeared a bit overwhelming but the author with her wit and sharp observational skills, intermingled with anecdotes managed to hold the reader’s attention. Then as the journey unfolded between several generations, crisscrossing numerous countries what stood out was the author’s vivid memory to recall the tiniest of events and present them in a very lucid and engaging manner. The cornerstone of this whole autobiography is the strong family ties which bind them all together and their full faith in a Higher Power. This thread is woven right through the book where one realises that no matter how challenging the job or remote the location, the task was always tackled with a gusto .A very enjoyable read. Congratulations!

Thoroughly enjoyed reading the amazing story of the life and work of Dr.Susie Baboo and her husband.Set in so many parts of the world the narrative shifts from one place to another ..Kerala, Chennai , Singapore, Vellore,Bhutan, England and Nepal with perfect ease.An impeccable writer the author has a great sense of humour and a heartwarming style of writing.So many wonderful things to learn from the lives of these two fascinating individuals.Thank you God.

Excellent narrative of the humanitarian services of a God fearing, dedicated, intelligent, and skilled doctor couple, who served humanity out of passion and missionary vision only. They could have easily been enjoying a very happy and more relaxed professional life in the comforts of any progressive city in the world instead.

“ Over the years, like cake and biscuits that share a tin, bits of the cake became hard and bits of the biscuits became soft”.I’ve never heard someone describe their chalk and cheese relationship with their husband like this. But then, it’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that quite literally made me laugh and cry the way ‘The Bear Wore a Swimsuit ‘did. It takes a special kind of writer like Dr. Susie Baboo Samuel, with the ability to instantly grab your hand and transport you into her world and make you see things the way she did. Across different geographic terrains, cultures, family, friends, teachers, colleagues, patients, staff, family- teachers- colleagues- patients-and staff who became friends, canines and other pets, no one is forgotten. Every detail and mannerism so flawlessly and meticulously woven into a breathtaking glorious magnum opus that will leave you breathless. And, like a good book that sadly comes to an end, you will find yourself stealing moments from your busy day to re-visit your favourite parts, caressing each fond memory.

If you like to get into the life of a primary health care physician and marvel at the versatility and the courage of those that work in under served regions of the world, this is for you. There is a painting of a backdrop of where those motivations are born and the book rocks with the author's unique sense of delightful humour. I loved it and recommend it those that love a light but inspirational read.

A joy ride, The Bear Wore a Swimsuit is far more than an autobiography - it has the richness of a historical novel that transports the reader through time travel. Infused with wit and wisdom, be it about her family and childhood or about her dedicated medical contributions in faraway places. Thank you, Dr Susie Baboo Samuel, for this literary treat.

I liked this book because it's all about my husband's family. I know many of his relatives but you filled in the rest. This was an enjoyable read.