I love books.
I can’t write anything that comes close to qualifying that statement at the moment except for share the titles that I loved reading this year.
What are some of the titles that became your favorites this year?
Here’s to the love of book tags and I came across this on The Bibliophagist’s blog today. I jumped in and here’s my take:
The Fountain Head by Ayn Rand. I find comfort in Howard Roark’s declaration:
Writing.
Attending parties. I love large gatherings in doses. When I say doses I mean, it takes me quite a while to get psyched into going out or simply hanging out with people at a large gathering, this sudden change from simply being in my own space to where lots of people expect my attention or are watching me, freaks me out-but I find myself transformed after a while.
I’m with Sara on this one: Staying in. Oh, I’m like a cat, I can sleep for hours and it’s my favorite way of spending the weekend. Going by my response in number 3, let’s just say that I do my best to stay away from social gatherings.
Pencils
None. I am not a fan of scary books or films.
Chocolate cake
Travel mug fully loaded with hot coffee!
I can’t mention just one.
I’m not such a huge fan of films so this right here has me at odds and ends.
Since I jumped in on this tag, I’ll leave it open to all the Book Lovers who read my responses, feel free to tag me in your responses, who knows…we may indeed be birds of a feather.
I’ve been reading interesting books this August and since I’m always looking to be better each day, it was no surprise that I would automatically read Renee Smith’s “Harness the Power of Personal Branding and Executive Presence.”
This is the kind of book you read with a pen and notebook in hand.
Here’s a bit of the background story about the book: Harness the Power of Personal Branding and Executive Presence has one purpose–to show you how to embody your authenticity and elevate your life and career.
S. Renee Smith, a nationally recognized self-esteem, branding and communication expert, and speaker, simplifies personal branding and demystifies executive presence. With each eye-opening insight, well-illustrated example, compelling story and mind elevation exercise, you’ll be engaged and inspired as you see yourself, your life, and your dreams take flight.
My take on this:
The author takes you through the personal branding journey and each chapter builds upon the previous one, such that when you are done reading, you’ve got so many things you jotted down that you’ve done or are to do that you never even thought of.
I love that she shares tips that you can use every day and not just in tune with business and investing, but also about exuding power and confidence.
Some insights that stood out for me:
Nothing is arbitrary. When someone knocks on your door with a huge opportunity that you think you aren’t ready for, stand on the fact that no one is going to put their job at risk for you. They are connecting with you because they believe you can make them look good.
Challenges set you up for success.
What is the state of of your mind?
Be still until you are ready. This is so true when it comes to change, for once you are ready to change, you owe it to yourself to be fully prepared for that journey.
How much do you charge? Every time we interact with people we are costing them something, be it time, money, emotions, productivity, so ask yourself how much does it cost to interact with you? [I’ll write a post about this one]
You can get the book on Amazon for as low as $9.99
Visit her author page for more titles: here
There are a lot more insights on branding, presence, networking and communication on her website: https://asksrenee.com/
I love book tags! I came across this interesting tag on Katie’s blog and can I just add that I’m loving her blog and the fact that she’s a RavenClaw!
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
I would ask her what kept her going at a time when Women were not upheld or deemed worthy of expressing themselves through literature and fiction. I’d also ask about her style inspiration!
June’s here! May has been good to me and I can say there’s more for me to learn at work and also with writing. I am looking forward to traveling a bit this month and opening up to possibilities of opportunities beyond my comfort zone.
Looking back on the books I read in May, I’d say that the most interesting one I read and loved was David Mogo, God Hunter by Suyi Davies Okungbowa and the heart wrenching one’s got to be His Widow for One Year by John Irving.
I was in Kisumu this weekend, right in time to collect my earrings purchased from Kilimall and they are oh so lovely!
I am looking forward to reading “Peace Like a River” by Leif Enger this week and I started the first chapter this morning because I was eager to get a head start before getting to work.
On writing: I have written 0 words the past two weeks and I am okay with that. I’ll have to revamp my writing schedule to make sure that I don’t lose touch of how I’ve been writing but there’s this nagging idea in my head for a romance novel and my heart’s not in it at the moment, because it’s too mushy and feels a bit all over the place.
All in all, I’m glad to have made it half way through the year and hoping to make many more memories. Have a great week!
I came across this on Lindsey’s blog, A Rambling Reviewer and if you’ve been here for a while, you know that I can never say no to a good book-tag. If you’re new, trust me, this is a fun post because words can be heavy!
So let’s get down to it shall we?
These are some of the books that are in my collection that I’d love to hand down to my daughter some day.
A bookmark, because, you can’t go wrong with that right?
A mug. Definitely a mug, we all drink some hot beverage 🙂 I think.
Um…wow, this is, um…thank you!
Have a great week and if you enjoyed reading this post, why not jump on it and see what you can answer?
I was scrolling through my reader yesterday when I came across a post on BW Reviews and I could relate to everything written therein, and it prompted me to keep the conversation going.
Here’s a list of some outrageous ( even though when I do them, they are classified as quite normal) things I’ve done for the love of books.
That’s my outrageous list, what’s yours?
There is no greater joy than losing and finding yourself within the pages of a book. However, life’s tough for any reader both offline and online and I’m setting the record straight on some comments/remarks/questions that I sincerely do not want to hear this year.
Yes, I read it. I will continue reading it and do me a favor, keep your nose in your book/phone/online profile and let me enjoy my reading time.
I can bend time, so instead of 24 hours, I get double that just to read, have you tried it?
One, given the advent of social media, a review is currency gold for any author. I should know this because I have written a few books and it helps having someone say “your book was recommended by so and so,” and they go ahead and buy it.
Two, every book is an experience and instead of posting a #selfie I would not mind telling you about this world I traveled to.
Three, if I love a book, I’m not going to keep quiet about it.
Yes! I do. There’s this site called Netgalley. I signed up simply to read books by authors who are trying to navigate the web and get the attention of readers who are lured in by millions of other things.
So, yes…if I am intrigued by the blurb, author, or sometimes the cover of a book, I’ll request to read it, preserve the content, respect the author’s copyright and read a review.
Have you read any romance novel of late? I can recommend a gallery of them if you do mind. I understand that the plot is predictable and you are guaranteed a happily ever after conclusion or sometimes it’s delayed until you’ve read three or four books of a series, but romance is interesting.
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss
I am African and my reading has been largely influenced by masterpieces like Ngugi wa Thiong’o, Grace Ogot, Azenath Bole Odaga, Okot pBitek, Chinua Achebe and so with this, I have no qualms save for it not being the only goal or genre aspect that I have to adhere to.
If I’m intrigued by it, I’ll read it.
For how else would I know that most books written by Irish authors make me both nostalgic and melancholic? Or how delicious British humor is, or how in-depth Caribbean writers can get.
Those are some of the comments I really hope I never get to hear again this year but all in all, have an awesome year, and I hope you read a book or books.
Nothing beats going through a family library, a collection of books that made an impact on a loved one so much so that they preserved them for years. I shared a set of books I’d set aside in 2015 under “Books for my daughter.” I’ve read many more titles since then especially ebooks.
So, whenever I come across books that move me, I keep them safe, set them aside for my daughter.
I hope she loves reading and does not limit her words to one genre but reads as many books and as diverse authors as possible.
I hope that she comes across a book, looks at it with awe, and asks questions about the book. For, if she asks “how did you come across this book?” I’ll have an answer and a story to accompany it.
And dear heavens, if she is not a book lover, spare me the heartbreak and whatever you do, do not turn me into her enemy when I try to make her read.
I came across this tag on The Bibliophagist blog this morning and I delved right in. She’s got interesting facts to share read her responses here.
nilichoandika 