I’ll start with Rachel Simon’s book
What’s on your reading list this July?
Tag: books to read
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I have had a relaxed week and what’s better than reading a book and being transformed by the characters? So, here are four books that kept me company and here’s why:
1. Summer at Shell Cottage had secrets that all came to the shore by the sea.
2. The Last Summer introduced me to Clarissa and Tom who love each other but are kept apart first by their social status and second by the First World War. It also reminded me of Daisy and Gatsby.
3. Stand by Me showed me the strength of a woman called Domino, beautiful, bold and above all one who falls apart with a smile on her face.
4. A long way down, phew! What a way to write about suicide! This book had me walking on egg shells and laughing at the witty remarks made by the characters. And it had me at Maureen’s statement:You know that things aren’t going well for you when you can’t even tell people the simplest facts about your life, just because they’ll presume you’re asking them to feel sorry for you.
Now I would have to get working on my current project titled “40 Days” which takes me back to a genre I enjoy reading and writing. Romance. You’ll know more about the story in a few weeks or shall we say the end of Summer? Maybe, I just got through the first chapter and I’m hopeful it’d not cause me grief!
So,what is it about these four books? Truth is I enjoyed reading them, and there was something about the style and flow that I picked up which would improve my writing like having strong heroines and including elements of surprise that could throw the lead off course and working on how to get them back on it.
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Have you read Lucy’s post on Hard Book Habit today?
Something along the lines of Get a Move On!
It inspired me to clean out my library, to delve into memories and pages and dust as though I was looking for treasure. No book wants to be in the TBR list, which simply means To Be Read, but I am not a book, rather I am a Writer- and it would kill me to know someone bought my book and has been keeping it in this list.
So, here’s the deal, if you have written any of these books I will do them justice. I have read some chapters of these books, all but The Honeymoon by Justin Haythe, which I am reading again just cause I want to. They have officially moved from my TBR list to my bedside table pile-and they have already caused my younger sister some pain on her knee, but no worries.
Thanks Lucy for sharing your post today!
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Blurb: My life is spinning out of control faster than I can say sorry for all the things I’ve done since this whole planetary shift began. Like apologize for the fact I made out with my soon-to-be stepbrother. And his stepbrother. And that I’m crushing on the one guy I swore I’d never be into…while keeping it all from my BFF.
Mom says I think the world revolves around me, but the truth is, I’m just trying to survive the worst week of my life.
The universe is legit out to get me. It started when my gaming nemesis deleted my AsteroMine galaxy and it’s only gone downhill from there.
It isn’t my fault. I swear.
I skipped this book as I scrolled down for books to read on Amazon. I am not into gaming, and the from the blurb I knew that I would be dealing with a self-centered teenager and I just couldn’t take it. So, imagine after scrolling for fifteen minutes only to return to that book you’d sworn not to buy- and then buying it.
The story revolves around Maggie a.k.a Magz, a seventeen year old who spends her time online playing Asteromine galaxy, and it doesn’t help that her middle name is Nova which gives her a sense of belonging in the galaxy. When she gets the chance she’s been working for, to beat the two year champion, “spaceballz” Magz takes it- looking forward to a win, only to have her galaxy wiped out. She is furious and that’s when thing’s start going downhill and it starts with her boyfriend, Orion, breaking up with her and her mom announcing that she is getting married to a man she’s been dating for a few weeks, and yeah, she’s getting a step brother too.
I could not stand Magz most of the time because of how self-centered she was, and the fact that it was hurting those around her even made it worse. I almost gave up on the book, but before I put it down I realized that it was exactly what advanced the plot. Maggie wanted everyone to be concerned about making her happy and giving her what she wanted, yet she never did the same for her family and friends.
PS: If you are into the gamer geek books, this might not be the Loki to your Thor.
Perks of reading this book: When things start to go downhill for Magz, they just tumble real fast. It’s like life is hitting her on every end and she cannot stop to take in everything.
Secondly, the author creates not just the world according to teens, but it is as real as being a teenager is for there’s the struggle with coming to terms that you are growing up and adults expect you to pull your weight while a part of you still want them to be worried about you.
Thirdly, who needs a best friend like Tallie. She fires back when she’s put down, but still has her insecurities.
And the fourth reason could be for you to check it out for yourself, because I’m positive you’d not feel the exact same way I did while reading it, and that’s what makes reading a book great! Same words, different perceptions, a whole range of reviews!
Get it on: Amazon
Visit the Author’s site: Anya Monroe
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I was glad to be picked for an honest review of this book. After reading the first book, Power of the Fae, I was eager to know what would happen to Lina and if they’d manage to defeat the demon King.Well, this book did not fail- though I’d admit it was shorter than the first one, I found it more interesting because the action is not drawn out- rather it is quick and you’re onto the next scene- which is in pace with the story. No one but the demon King wants to rule the world- and everyone is in a rush doing what they can to stop him.
So, the story starts with Lina this time. She decides to give herself to the demon King in exchange for her brother, Keegan. As Melomouzor prepares to celebrate her presence and claim her, Lina discovers that she is pregnant with Colin’s child.
Now, wait…say what now?
Yes, Lina is pregnant but she is in the underworld and Colin is going mad growling and snapping at everyone in the human realm and has no idea of this new revelation. Besides, there’s also Malia (one of the wolves) who cannot wait to sink her claws into his fur and make him hers.
While in the underworld, Lina gets her guards and maiden to do as she bids and together they start a revolution against Melomouzor, but at what cost?
I did not have many expectations with the first book- except not to be bored to death! But with this one I had a list.
- Everyone had to get off Lina’s case
- Keegan had to open his eyes and step back and let Lina morph into a woman.
- Lina’s Father had to make quite an appearance in at least four chapters. He’s her Father and he’s the only one who can silence Keegan, he’d better show that boy of his!
- Colin had better stop growling and claim Lina already if that would stop him from trying to kill any man who touched her.
- Please, some more of Dorian…I can never have enough of vampires.
- Melomouzor has to be defeated.
- No more backstories.
- Please, someone tell Malia to make an honest move on Colin or just to back off!
- Lots of action.
Let’s just say that I was disappointed that numero quatro did not follow through! I cannot wait to read the third book, things just keep getting better and I’m beginning to like this demon King- he doesn’t break or lose easily.
Get:
Power of the Fae on Amazon : Kindle $4.99
Fight for the Fae on Amazon: Kindle $6.99
The author, Ariel Marie is on twitter as @the_arielmarie and her website is http://www.thearielmarie.com
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From a retelling of Beauty and Beast in Depravity by M. J. Hagg to an awkward guy, cute if not extremely nervous around girls in The Last Seeker: Tristen my week has been great!
If you could have any super power which one would you choose?
Now, with ‘The Last Seeker,’ Tristen does have an awesome power but how he comes to learn of it makes it fun to read this book.I also stayed up all night yesterday reading Fearsome by S. A. Wolfe who introduced me to two handsome brothers; Dylan (who has Bipolar) and Carson (who is always grouchy and scowling). Fearsome though is part of a series each book serves as a stand alone which makes reading this romance quite okay…
I would however love to read “A Trail of Broken Wings” by Sejal Badani.
I tried the sample on kindle and I find myself drawn to the story, so am probably buying it this weekend after I finish reading most of the ebooks I downloaded.
Aside from all that, my week has been wonderful and I hope to read some more books on between my breaks.
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I’m single and still haven’t had child, but I love reading and I hope my daughter will someday find comfort and travel between the pages of books.
So, don’t burst my bubble like my friend Grace by asking, “what if you have a son?”
Well, let’s work with a dream? But, one thing is certain, if she’s a girl she’ll have to take up the name Aurora, and if he’s a boy then I’m going with Raphael.
So, given my expectations, here are the books I hope my daughter would read.
I’ll introduce her to The Shadow of the Wind where she’ll walk into The Cemetery of Forgotten Books with Daniel. Get her on a Night Train to Lisbon and walk her through every room in The Glass Palace.
There will be plenty more time to go back in time in Valerio Massimo Manfredi’s books who was born on the same date and month as me. Cool right?And she’ll shake her head or roll her eyes, “not cool mom.”
If she develops a taste for mystery and solving crimes I’ll give her a serving of Arthur Conan Doyle’s works and then gift her with my collection of Michael Conelly’s books.
If she develops sense of beauty and understanding for fellow humans and finds herself caught between her thoughts and pleasing her friends I’ll bring in the Brit, Alan Hollinghurst and have her read Julia Alvarez for courage and conviction.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself like I always do.What if she doesn’t like to read? Or what if she loves to dance or sketch or sleep or watch movies, what then? Well, I have a collection of books from my favorite African authors through to ebooks on Kindle. I do not know what my child would enjoy reading, but from the time he/she speaks and learns to write there’s always time to discover-no pressure.
I’ll just have to remember the “no pressure” part.
All in all, my collection awaits.
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It’s Africa Week here on Nilichoandika.
What’s Africa Week and what will it entail?
My Africa is beautiful and the only way I can share with you my Africa is through the posts on this blog. I have not been consistent with my posts and in my attempt to build up on this, I came up with Africa week. Everyday of this week I will be talking about something that is inspired by Africa and will conclude with sharing some of my favorite blogs by African bloggers. I am talking about culture, fashion, technology, religion, sports and creative writing.Today, I would like to share with you the five books by African Writers that inspire me.
These are books that I have read over the years and are timeless or as we say – Classics.
Things fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
Things Fall Apart was published in 1958 and it introduces the reader to Okonkwo and the beginning of colonization with the introduction of missionaries into Africa. Although it is a classic, my favorite has to be the next one which was published in 1964, called Arrow of God.
The River Between by Ngugi Wa Thiong’o
Published in 1965, “The River Between” tells of the separation of two neighboring villages due to differences in faith and customs with the Mau Mau uprising starting. It’s one of the well written books by Ngugi that have a flow that’s easier to understand and you can read at one sitting.
So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba
This has to be the longest letter to date written by a West African Woman, and though it was published in 1979, I still find the struggles of Ramatoulaye and Aissatou very relatable. I first read this book in 2003 in my second year of high school, and loved it. It was not a course text though I wished was and I remember reading it in 2007 as a freshman in campus, and reading it four more times before graduating and writing a project paper on it. It has been translated into numerous languages and I’d say if you know any woman going through some tough times or one who always exhibits such strength and faith, this book would be an ideal gift.
The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born by Ayi Kwei Armah
Ayi’s book was published in 1968 and the main theme of the book is on new African states a few months or years post independence from their colonial masters. The main protagonist known as “the man” is given a tongue lashing by his wife after he tells her that someone approached him with a bribe at the railway station he works at and he turned it down.
Maps by Nuruddin Farah
Maps tells the story of an orphan Askar who after his parents death and his adoption, he finds himself yearning for a place where he truly belongs and it’s the onset of civil war in Somalia and he finds himself caught in between the need to belong and to have and create hope for the future. It was published in 1986 and it’s the first book in a trilogy.
These are my top five books and you will notice that I slipped in an extra book as I talked of “Things Fall Apart” and that’s because I love Chinua Achebe’s writing.
There are many more classics but to mention all of them would make this blog post longer than the list of number of people who follow me on Twitter.
What are your favorite books by African Writers? Which ones would you recommend?
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Saturday’s here, and I am looking back on the highlights of my week. It was grand to accept my friend’s challenge because my vegetable spaghetti made someone drool in the morning. (I am not saying it was my sister). I also spiced up my week by reading “Almost a Turkish Soap opera” by Anne-Rae Vasquez and “Next to you” by Julia Gabriel.
If you love romance and want something to freshen up your day or get you smiling in public well, I’d definitely recommend reading Anne’s “Almost a Turkish soap opera,” but if you are having one of those days where you want to believe in love and good people, then go with Julia’s “Next to You,” there’s a cute little boy there called Aidan who stole my heart!
It’s been a week full of travel and whether I was walking a mile or two or wading through mud I am glad I had some pop music for company, there’s nothing like listening to One Direction’s Little White Lies while climbing a hill when it is thirty two degrees Celsius!
I haven’t done much writing this week but there is a lot for me to catch up on.
Here’s a summary of my week in photos:
nilichoandika 