nilichoandika

Unfounded

June 28th, 2018

I thought I knew enough,

Not enough to lead a whole life, but enough, enough not to sink, or fall prey

It’s like a suspicion

A critter that crawls up your earlobe and whispers “It’s a lie” every time

“Don’t fall for that doll, issa scam, doll I’m telling you, issalie.”

I thought I knew enough to sail through this,

To sit back, sip my tea as everything unravels.

See, the truth you’ve been ignoring will smack you in the face.

I told you so, never caresses, it smacks you right in the face.

So, my intuition was right but my questions were unfounded.

Unfounded

Un…where is a bit of self pity when truth takes a seat, when dawn reigns, when words unravel mysteries?

See, I thought I knew enough, turns out I knew nothing because I ignored the little that I had to sustain me.
Don’t tell me it’s another post about a romance novel

June 26th, 2018

Hello World, so, today I want to talk about romance novels! Yes, wait…have I lost a couple of people? ~~I promise not to truly bore you~~. I’ll do so without a doubt, but even when I do, simply roll your eyes and read on- but have you noticed that romance novels can make you believe that falling in love is like being dipped in nectar?

And why is it that the guys always know just what to say and do to make the women swoon? We haven’t talked about the curvy descriptions in BBW books because the gods of Literature know that I have always found such descriptions worthy of an IG post!

So, let me tell you what happened to me yesterday. I was working on some reports when I thought why not log into NetGalley and see if they have new books that I could read.

I log in and go to “Find Titles” and since I have a 10 minute break, I simply go to “Read Now” and bham!

The gods of Literature approved and I got the book. I read the first part of the blurb:

Nikki Elliot is running out of time. After a season and a half of struggling to rebuild her racing career thanks to a near-fatal accident, she is faced with the ugly truth: it’s going to take a miracle to make her lifelong dream of racing in Formula 1 a reality. The trouble is, Nikki doesn’t believe in miracles. When Fate sends her help in the form of a quiet, sexy mechanic, however, Nikki realizes that miracles do happen: the ones you hope for and the ones you least expect. But just as things look like they’re falling into place, Nikki discovers that miracles come at a steep price.

So, the heroine’s Nikki and the “Quiet, sexy Mechanic” is Jake. Right, this sounds interesting…

Jake’s the guy who found his mom with her wrists slashed in their house. He’s the guy who hated his Dad for being a Mafia boss and got into trouble so much so that he changed his name! He’s also the guy who’s out of prison for assault (he had to defend his mother’s honor by beating the vile out of his stepdad’s mouth) and he can’t get custody of his younger brother, Dario, because one thing’s certain, Jake can’t keep cool! He comes home, finds out he’s been robbed. Hooks up with some girl-Angela (she’s trouble on legs) then finds out that he’d be working with ‘the Nikki Elliot’ the girl he’s been crushing on for years!

And before you hate me for spilling so much tea! Listen to this…they are freaking Italians!

They both happen to belong to two of the most powerful Mafia families, and since both of them changed their names, it takes one temperamental buff- named Damon, to unravel the mystery and while at it, help Nikki find out who’s out to end her life!

Now, I don’t know why authors can make readers swoon because the Italian phrases that were thrown here were enough to make me sit down and drink three cups of tea and then some Fanta BlackCurrant. (Coglione, tesoro, La pormetto,Dio mio, Solo tu per sempre)

What would a romance novel be without the chemistry and the heat? This has lots of it but what struck me Jake’s reluctance to act on his instincts and the welcome invitations he got from Nikki. I was so frustrated at some point that I screamed “Come on! Dude! Go get her and quit selling yourself short!”

The writing is simple and the dialogues interesting. I do however noted that there were characters that were forgotten about so fast I couldn’t help but feel that they were poorly discarded. In this case, it’s Nikki’s brothers.

What would big brothers be without their little brothers? In this book, Dario’s the younger one but he’s also the one to speak up when Jake can’t. When he meets Nikki, he starts:

“I was right,” he said, eyeing her.

Nikki arched a brow. “About what?”

“My brother…He’s crazy about you. He has been since you guys started working together.”

So, I get it that this book is the first in the series. I also get that it’s categorized as New Adult/ Romance but my two-cents believes it should go for at least $1.99 but hey, I’m just a reader who got the chance to enjoy this book and talk about it.

PS: All GIF’s courtesy of Google Images

Here’s one for you:

Prove my fan-girling wrong: Get the book on Amazon today it’s $0.99
A Pinch of Salt

June 25th, 2018

Sarah’s the kind of girl who drips sauce. She knows she is right before you speak and that the world owes her nothing but applause for how great she is.

If you were to meet her at Buddy’s at six in the evening, you’d wonder who buys a whole bottle of liquor and drinks it as though she were climbing a mountain, one sip at a time. Slow burns.

If you were to meet her at Tuskys on a Sunday evening, you would marvel at perfection, for the milk and vegetables never touch the tissues and the soap. It’s a crime to contaminate food that you look forward to relishing.

Sarah’s the kind of girl who laughs from the depths of her soul.

She’s the girl who will come when you call at four in the morning, the kind that will ask you “what’s the guy’s name?” and conduct a thorough online search. If you are unlucky, she’ll hack into his messenger, whatsapp, twitter and IG DM’s and tell you what kind of skunk he is. Sarah’s that kind of girl.

If you were to meet her in the house, that house, somewhere behind Lumumba, where you take a left, go past the fundi wa viatu and count three red doors, then get to the green door…you’d see the shadows that drip venom. The kind of venom that crippled her mom and later on sent her sister six feet under.

The kind of venom that’s coated in honey and welcomes you into the throngs of destruction.

Sarah’s the kind of girl who drips sauce, you see sugar and spice, the world see awesomeness, but she let me see her bleeding veins and when she turned to look at me and we were outside that green door…I felt like she had poured a pinch of salt on my bleeding soul, the trouble with bleeding souls is that….
Weekend Updates

June 23rd, 2018
Hi, how’s your Saturday coming along?

I hope all’s well with you and that you get some rest or get to do something that adds value to your well-being. As for me, let’s just say that Saturdays are my binge reading days where I get to lounge and read more than two books.

So, let’s get right into the three books that I can’t wait to read today!

Disruptive Play: The Trickster In Politics and Culture connects knowledge from mythology, folklore, popular culture, art, politics, and play theory to make its case that to be playful means not taking power seriously. At critical mass, power collapses and leaves us swimming about in the waters of the amoral Trickster.New values emerge and could lead to some version of the dystopia that currently drenches popular culture. Or, if people can discern between the authentic contact and exhilaration of play, and branded, mediated, alienated pleasure, then we just might stumble and frolic our way to the Play Society. Disurptive Play is ideal for enthusiasts of the human condition and those who hold out for the vision, however slim, of the Play Society.

A fascinating account of how radical researchers have used experiments to overturn conventional wisdom and shaped life as we know it

A medical mystery/fantasy/love story that delves deeply into the nature of consciousness while raising many of the ethical and existential issues facing scientists today.

On writing:

I’m making progress with Sifuna and it feels good to be writing again and believing that there is a story to tell after all. My Mentor affirmed this by saying “If I were you, I’d end the story at page fifty, after that, all hell breaks loose.”

The August issue of Nilichoandika Magazine is starting to take shape. I’ve got three submissions from awesome young writers in neighboring countries that I can’t wait to share their works with the world.

On travel and work: I’ve got my sights set on a Youth Summit in July and my hope is that I get to submit a paper I’ve been working on that challenges governments to focus on Adolescent Mental Health.

On the World Cup: Well, this year it’s all about the underdogs and I’ll do what I do best, get a good look at the line-up and relish the close up on the faces of the players before the matches start. So we’ve got Group F( South Korea vs Mexico; Germany vs Sweden) and then in the next group (Belgium vs Tunisia).

I’m currently:
- Listening to – God I Look to You by Bethel Music.
- Drinking– my second cup of milk tea
- Hoping to– sit down and edit this week’s report.
10 Reasons Why I’m not fit to be a Fashion Blogger

June 20th, 2018
So, I was getting ready to go into town when Odhis called and right after I answered his call, you know, swiped right on that green icon that pops up when someone calls you. He said “your dress is ready and the skirt too.” I said “okay, thanks,” and he ended the call. Odhis knows his fabric and stitches but he’s poor at phone calls. He’s also poor at flattery. The first time I showed him a skirt I’d seen on Pinterest, he just shook his head and said “there’s no way I’m making that skirt for you, it’s not for your body. I cannot let you look like a walking potato.”

So, over time I learned to give him free reign and simply enjoy what he’s made for me.

I got the skirt and dress and when I got home, my younger sister insisted that I should take some Gram worthy photos. She said “you can’t just store them away without taking photos, so try them out and I’ll direct you, something like a fashion shoot.”

I gave her my Camera and ladies and gentlemen…we took over forty photos and six made the cut! Six! So, here are four of the photos and the reasons why I’m clearly not fit to be a Fashion Blogger

So, this was my first pose and it took me seven tries to master it 😦

Had to show off this cool bag :-), um…the nails and the ring courtesy of LemonF @KilimallKenya

Bangles: Hilton Arcade Kenya,

Earrings, got them off a store at Kisumu City Business Park for $1

And finally, the dress!
1. Yeah, the whole posing thing, not my vibe! My cheeks hurt due to smiling and I’ve got fat cheeks so, there’s no way I am burning that extra fat as someone clicks away.
2. The selection process. We took forty and six made the cut, and as I type this (Jackie) made sure only four were revealed. It’s frustrating for a first timer like me.
3. I’m not so keen on background and lights and all that stuff! Yes, I take photos and know all about this but when someone else is doing it, I’m not cooperative.
4. Being a Fashion Blogger is knowing a thing or two about trends. I don’t.
5. I’m a Writer, I am enjoying writing about my experience more than having to go through changing and posing.
6. Planning and layout, I just can’t, not with clothes and stuff.
7. Did I mention that this takes a lot of planning, to get the right angle and even when I look at the photos, I’m still like…no, there’s not a single photo where I did the peace sign!
8. I’m not very fit. Squatting in wedges almost had me not smiling 😦
9. I suck at giving the outfit details, like who would get a hold of the person who sold me the earrings.
10. This doesn’t look anywhere as eye-catching as all the Fashion blogs I see.
I’m sending all my love, utmost understanding and respect to all the fashion bloggers in the world. Keep posting awesome trends and making it look so easy WHILE IT’S NOT, for amateurs like me 🙂 I’d also love to send a bigger shout out to my younger sister for awarding me the ‘most difficult’ amateur model she’s ever worked with.

There you have it, my ten reasons or whining if you please, on why I’m not fit to be a fashion blogger, so I’ll stick to my writing and see where that takes me!
This or That Book Tag

June 19th, 2018

I typed in”book tags” in the search bar in my reader page and this book tag came up. I loved the responses given on Book Bastion and so, here’s me giving it a go.

Reading on the Bed or the Couch

Couch, because I can always get up and do something else.

Male main characters or Female main characters?

I don’t mind, as long as they keep me glued to the book!

Sweet snacks or salty snacks while reading?

Who snacks while reading?

Like seriously, have you ever tried eating pop corns or crisps while reading? Nope, I’m more of either a coffee or tea drinker.

Trilogies or Quartets?

Trilogies.

Reading First person or Third person POV?

Both are awesome.

Reading at night or in the morning?

Now, seriously…reading on the matatu, reading during tea-break or lunch-break at work, reading while waiting to be served at Huduma or a Bank, reading while listening to Eminem’s Revival and Recovery albums, reading while pretending to be taking an afternoon nap, reading at Java while waiting for my coffee…

Libraries or Bookstores

Bookstores.

Books that make you laugh or cry

I love books that make me cry. I cry easily and some books can really break your heart!

Black book covers or white book covers?

Black book covers are divine!

Character driven or plot driven?

I’m more into people, so it’s easier for me to relate to a character or two in a book, and that’s why I’d say character driven!

That’s it for now, I’ve got to submit a work report now. Have an awesome week!

T.M.I:

Currently reading: The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

Listening to: King Of My Heart by Bethel Music

Looking forward to a much needed tea break!
Compromise

June 18th, 2018

It’s four o’clock in the morning and for the love of me, I do not have the words to pen down. My fingers are numb and I don’t like this pencil.

I pick a pen but then it’s blue and I feel like writing in black, casting away demons that are not there, but seem to hover above this notebook.

My phone lights up “Hi, I know you’re awake.”

I switch it off and walk to the window. The shutter is dusty and I struggle to open it without drawing the curtain. It’s four o’clock, who’s awake and up and about at such a time?

‘Macho biggy’ is strolling on our compound, pissing at every plant, you’d think this was the feline’s kingdom! I walk to the sitting room and sit on the floor. I should never have stated the truth yesterday…he was mad that I was supporting a team he felt and knew was inferior. “You don’t know a thing about football,” he said. I told him “This is the year of the underdog. All the big names and big teams you know about will surprise you…it’s the teams that the world never thinks about that will sail to the finals.”

unsplash.com

He said “yeah right and I am the recipient of the NYS funds.”

I smiled and attempted to laugh at this, but then his friend simply said, “she may not know a thing about football, but she knows a lot about people, and football is about people- more so, it’s about watching people play.”

He turned to his friend and I saw the guy shrink. I smiled at this and the little box in my mind remained unchecked, a defeat, a victory…I have no clue, and it felt like the world was suddenly revealed to me.

“It’s never the big things, it’s always the little things…the little things.” I looked at the wall clock and then walked back to the bedroom, thirty minutes of aimless wandering did me some good, but even then…I still had no words. So, I found myself dreaming of days long gone and the one thing that I swore I’d never do when it came to writing at four in the morning “compromise.”

I wrote about him.

I wrote about his impending defeat.

I wrote about everything that I wanted to say that he’d never listen to, and then, I burned it! I wrote because it’s the one thing that I am certain of…well, aside from having this life to live.
Things I look forward to this weekend

June 14th, 2018
Hey, so…the 2018 World Cup is officially on today! I’m excited and cannot wait to watch the games and especially three things:
1. The line up
2. The line up
3. The Line up
It also happens to be Father’s Day weekend :-), and here’s to all the Dads.

I’m looking forward to getting some much needed sleep and drinking lots of tea.

I’ve got a few project meetings to attend but all in all, I’m so glad that it’s a long weekend and cannot wait to catch up on my reading. I’ve got these three books waiting for me:

Have an awesome weekend!
My Song

June 13th, 2018

I never set out to write this.

It’s like knowing you are an anchor to my sails, a fire in my soul, a wind that sways me.

stocksnap.io

I never set out to tell the world about it,

But what consumes me every second of my waking life is a single thought,

and it is that somewhere…somehow, and at sometime, you held me dear.

It’s like dancing around a fire, walking on hot coal, singing to a storm…

It’s like being and not being, a whirlwind of thoughts, a flurry of emotions,

fleeting emotions…

For three minutes…you are my wild love and nothing but chords and sweet melody!
Bookish Naughty List Book Tag

June 12th, 2018

I came across this on Bree’s blog “In Love & Words” and since the book-tag fever is upon me, I couldn’t help but love her responses and wish to share mine!

stocksnap.io

I don’t know what’ll come out of this but here’s to another cup of coffee! Naughty or Nice? Let’s see…

1. Received an ARC and not reviewed it.
Yeah, I recently received two ARCs from a Publisher, and I read one and not the other.

2. Have less than 60% feedback rating on NetGalley:
Nope! I’m currently at 89% and I intend to keep it that way. 🙂

3. Rated a book on Goodreads and promised a full review was to come on your blog (and never did):
Guilty!

4. Folded down the page of a book:
Never! What kind of blasphemy is this?

5. Accidentally spilled on a book:
Yes, and it was on my new copy of Atlas Shrugged!

6. DNF a book this year:
Yes, there’s a book that I am struggling with, “The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell.”

7. Bought a book purely because it was pretty with no intention of reading it:
Well, forget the whole ‘don’t judge a book by it’s cover’ because who can resist a pretty cover?

8. Read whilst you were meant to be doing something else :
ALL MY LIFE. Can I spill some tea?

I once carried a copy of Michael Connelly’s “The Poet” to a date! I was at Java waiting for my date to arrive. He came in, sat directly opposite me and watched me for ten minutes! He said “hi” and I was too engrossed trying to follow the trail of the Killer that I mumbled “oh, hi,” without making eye contact because I assumed that I had ten minutes before my date joined me.

He had to call me and it’s when I heard my phone ring that I set the book aside and looked up to see him smiling and seated right in front of me!

9. Skim read a book:
I do this for course texts!

10. Completely missed your Goodreads goal:
Not yet.

11. Borrowed a book and not returned it:
No. I make sure I return a book I’ve borrowed.

12. Broke a book buying ban:
I have never imposed such harsh sanctions on myself.

13. Started a review, left it for ages then forgot what the book was about:
Oh! What I’d give to experience such bliss, even for one book!

14. Wrote in a book you were reading:
Guilty!

15. Finished a book and not added it to your Goodreads:
Yes, especially when I go on a romance binge! I can read up to four romance novels and once I’m good, I’ll simply sit back and continue reading the book I had first.

Here’s to another great week!

Have a good one!