Category: Books

December Updates on reading, writing and life

December 7th, 2025

It’s the seventh day of December 2025 and I am here thinking of all that has happened this year.

First, I did get to publish The Longest Way Home after revising and rewriting it for a year!

Second, my reading goal on Goodreads for this year was 100 books and so far I am at 65, looking forward to setting aside a day and updating the books I read on Netgalley as well since this year they ceased that partnership and it means manually adding the books.

I recently just finished reading Yinka, Where is your Huzband? by Lizzie Damilola Blcakburn and Yellowface by Rebecca Kuang. Two different books with very bright covers- and focusing on young women going through different relatable issues. I am currently doing my best not to grind my teeth or clench my fist as I read God of Malice by Rina Kent.

I have had a rich year in terms of the books I have bought, read and even enjoyed along the way. I have also had rich experiences at work- working with a large team, making more decisions, co-creating solutions with young people and traveling to different countries across the East Africa region- and as the year ends, so does my engagement with the organization and I look forward to the next part of my journey.

On health, well…the greatest scare and being ushered into emergency trauma response and frequent hospitalization has only made me more grateful for being able to keep my head above water. It’s the only time my Mom’s almost lost her sanity and it’s been a blessing to bounce back better, stronger and happier.

So here’s the rest of a beautiful week in December, and many more writing escapades.
Here’s why I hope you read We Were Girls Once by Aiwanose Odafen

August 15th, 2025

It’s been a while since I read a book that was all about girlfriends- and when I bought this book, all I wanted was to know about the bond between Ego, Zina and Eriife.

What would make three strong women look back and say, ‘we were girls once?’
This curiosity was not just quenched, it was nourished and enriched by a front row seat into their upbringing- their dreams, hopes and friendship and even the moments that should have broken them and from Nigeria to the UK, USA and back home- across a decade, they were still those little girls deep down asking the world and the society for better- to see them as valuable people, to believe them, to do better for them.

We have no say in the circumstances of our birth, the very things that determine the people we become: our parents, our families, our country.

Told in three parts, you get to see the world through the eyes of each of the characters and this was what I loved most because where Ego storms through the world, Zina borders on reckless ambition while Eriife carries the burden of the world on her shoulder-living for everyone but herself.

Beauty was a double-sided curse. It announced your presence, generated an unwanted buzz and desire within others that you had no control over; it created assumptions about your person, it meant you were hated for a face you didn’t create, even by your own mother.

This is the kind of book you read with your girlfriends, in that book club and talk about it as you snack on something tasty-and better yet have each person come dressed representing a personality of the characters.

You can buy a copy: On Amazon or if you are in Kenya you can place an order with TextBook Center– got it for Kshs 1390.
Kicking off June: Books edition

June 5th, 2025
It’s the fifth day of June and I was able to leave the house and go treat myself to some books today.

I already have a stack that I should probably finish but it did not stop me from buying new books. So, here’s what I got:

It’s my first time reading Abir Mukherjee’s books and what got my attention was that there’s 5-part book series, but I could only get three books, so I went for the tiebreaker (Smoke and Ashes is book #3) and the last two books in the series.

On writing: I am sending out my manuscript to the printers this coming week and I can’t wait to get my hands on that first print copy and make revisions before putting it out there- so, fingers crossed.

Two things I am looking forward to this month:
1. Improved health
2. Getting back to work
How’s your June coming along?
Settling into New Spaces: My Reading Journey in May

May 15th, 2025

May is here and I have read 28 of 100 books in my #GoodreadsChallenge.

It’s been a bit slow on my end, taking time to recover and it’s meant more time reeling from the after effects of medication and less focus on books, however with my family around, I finally got to unpack the boxes in my living room that got here this January.

Bought this as a shoe rack, customized it to a bookshelf 🙂

I still have a room that I haven’t cleared out because I am still settling in my the apartment I am renting. Moving cities was exciting until I had to unpack most of what I had. Let’s get into books now:

Currently reading The First Woman by Jennifer Makumbi– and if you are looking for a story set in Uganda, with vibrant characters who refuse to be ignored- then please read this book. It gets an automatic 5 stars from me as you follow Kirabo, from her grandparents home, to her Father’s house, her relationship with her friends, women in her life- and her aspirations, while also acknowledging that she wishes to meet her Mother just once.

When I’m done with this, I want to travel to other worlds created by Leigh Bardugo- because why not? I also want to read up on power, corruption, factfulness and mental health-so I got a little bit of everything waiting for me in the following books:

But first, I am definitely digging into Nathan Filer’s This Book will Change your Mind about Mental Health.

I am being more intentional with the books I read this year, mainly because I also want to gain expertise and improve on my skills in my professional life, and it’s dawning on me that there are so many books that I can read and learn from. When it comes to nourishing my writing, would you believe me if I told you that fantasy, poetry, free verse and prose are what I’m drawn to right now? It’s like a yearning to experience and also learn from other writers how they create other worlds, what they bring to the quests their characters go on and why.

Looking forward to a productive month and to fully recover and get back on my feet this month, until then, have a great weekend.

Before you go, what are you reading?
My Writing Goals 2025

April 9th, 2025
It’s April and we are four months into the year and I think by now I can speak of all the things I would like to do this year regarding writing.

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I would like to do the following this year:
- Read more books written by African Authors
- Attend at least one book festival (Nyrobi Book Festival is upcoming April 11-13)
- Write daily (sticking to 6:30am- 7:30am and evening hours of 8pm-10pm)
- Publish first draft of a book
- Publish 2 books this year: Contemporary fiction and Fantasy
- Sell more copies of previously published books.
- Talk more about my written works- confidently speak of my love for writing and being a Writer in most spaces.
Wish me luck and let’s see what comes to pass as the months roll on.
Celebrating a Birthday with Art and Literature

March 8th, 2025

I am turning a year older today.

A part of me is excited, while the other knows that I cannot sincerely wait to attend the 2025 Nairobi Design Week– because, what else makes life beautiful if not art and creation and appreciation of it?

On reading: I set my Goodreads Challenge at 100 books this year and so far I am at 15 of 100, and the app successfully tells me I’m at 15%. I found myself adding more books to my Netgalley shelf- and here are some titles I am excited about:

I recently took time to reflect on my reading habits and book acquisition and it seems like stacking and buying books comes more easily than reading them as fast, where I would have beat myself up about it last year- this year, I am not. It’s a good thing, and it’s an opportunity for me to ask; is this working for me? Or is it working against me?

And just like that…have a great weekend.

Truly,

Nilichoandika.
Things I’d like to do in May

May 3rd, 2024
It’s been a while since I shared any updates on life, what I’m reading and loving and it’s mostly because I have not settled down to doing so.

This May I’d love to do a couple of things, some that I have always spoken about and others that well…need my attention and some may seem fun but I wouldn’t know unless I tried.
- Read The Furrows by Namwali Serpell
- Read at least two titles off my TBR list
- Go without sugar for the month of May
- Do 10 pushups every morning
- Pray more often
- Submit entries for at least 4 writing competitions/fellowships/calls for submissions
- Eat more vegetables
- Take myself out
Updates on Reading and Writing.

November 29th, 2023

It’s the second last day of November 2023- and I am drinking my second cup of coffee of the day seated on the floor as I write this. It is twenty seven minutes past two in the afternoon.

On reading: I am currently at 143 of 183 books as per my #GoodreadsChallenge for this year- and as I hope some of the titles I’d read on Netgalley would be uploaded, I added a few more.

I recently bought Morning Star by Pierce Brown and I love me a good fight, so it’s got my attention for now.

On writing: I haven’t gone past 10,000 words while participating in NanoWrimo. I was looking forward to it and a whole lot of events happened that I had to prioritize my time and well being and commit to family and work-so now that I think about it, I am not disappointed in myself. The people I love and who have shown they care for me, are well and that is more than I can wish for in this season.

However, this did not stop me from stocking up on stationery.

I also stumbled upon a very encouraging post from Joshua Idegbere, have a read: here
I am reading Truth is the Arrow, Mercy is the Bow by Steve Almond

October 16th, 2023

The book includes chapters on plot, character, and chronology, but travels far beyond the earnest intentions of most craft books. It includes essays on humor, sex, writer’s block, and the dividends of failure, as well as prompts to generate new work and a rollicking Frequently Asked Questions section. You’ll never think about writing the same way again.

As a Writer, you bet I’m taking notes…highlighting sections I am questioning all the while prepping for NanoWrimo.
September Updates

September 20th, 2023
Tens days to October and here’s what’s up with me in September.

Reading: I have read some awesome books this month-specifically in the past week. I would definitely recommend No Land to Light On by Yara Zgheib– it broke my heart!

Writing: There has been quite a lot of talk around NanoWrimo and I have good friends who are participating this year encouraging me to join them and give it a shot. I’ll be starting from scratch because I haven’t gotten a clue at the moment on what kind of story I want to tell.

3 Things I want to do this week!
1. Laundry
2. Re-arrange my bed-room
3. Finish watching One Piece on Netflix.
Until then…have an awesome week