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thegirlbythefirelight · 2 years

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My younger one started school this month. She had been home far longer than expected and so this development was welcome and a bit surreal. On the day we, she and I, went to check out schools at some point she walked into a classroom and refused to come out. There wasn't a farewell or a goodbye kiss. Hell, I could have done even with a lingering glance. Between her and I, it was me whom her principal was counselling. 😂 I guess this is how birds fly from home- one day nestled between your wings, chittering away a thousand stories and the next soaring towards their own skies, unbelievably certain, unwittingly innocent. So the first day I stayed till school got over. The second too- what if she needed me? She didn't. I have a peninsula of calm that I didn't know how to explore. I didn't remember the last time I had an hour to myself. Now half a day, stretches before me. I haunt the cafes around when the kids are in school. Surprisingly, my part of the city is generous to its artists. I nurse just a mere cup of coffee and read and write and no one disturbs me- they don't present the cheque, they don't even ask if I want something else. They leave me alone. Absolutely. One even offered to open its doors at 8 am, if only I could get going that early. I was speechless, just a smut of a smile in lieu of such indulgence. But then again I shouldn't have been shocked- I have survived in life mostly on the kindness of strangers and generosity of their acts, each one so magnanimous in its thought and effort. And so, I also thank you- for being in my circle of life. When I started out, it was only with the intent to chronicle my reading journey. To find people to whom stories and words mattered. Who would share a part of their life in responding to what I wrote here. Thank you for indulging me. #writingjourney #writersuniverse #bookblogger #bookishthoughts #bookstagramnewbie #bookcollector #bookobssesed #coffeeandbooks #delhibookstagrammer #delhibookstafam #indianbookstagram #indianreader #indianbookstagrammer #booksandwriting #bookstagramfeatures #readersread #alwaysreading #neverwithoutabook #nevernotreading #indianwriters #bookishflatlay #raw_books (at Delhi, India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgCUZoGrArb/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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motherbookerblog · 3 years

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TOP 5 BOOKS OF 2020!

This is number 4 on the list and was one of my early lockdown reads. This is one of those books that I went into without knowing anything about it but then wasn’t able to get out of my head. It’s got such an important message and is so original.

Although, I think it’s a fairly divisive book. It doesn’t read like an ordinary story and can seem quite cold. The writing style feels very scientific, soulless and straight. There is no real excitement or fun to be found. It is just the chronology of a woman in her 30s. We don’t see her as extraordinary or noteworthy. Instead, we are presented with a fairly dull and predictable life. Albeit one filled with anxiety and the threat of sexism at every turn.

What gives the story so much weight and makes it all the more frustrating are the footnotes that accompany the facts. The story of Jiyoung’s life is written out clinically and analytically where statistics are thrown in at every turn. We learn the cold hard facts about how difficult life was for women 1982 and 2016 with references to add credibility. This is the story of a young woman told from a dispassionate and removed perspective. It takes a bit of getting used to but the tone really adds to the sense that women really aren’t relevant.

Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982 isn’t what you would call a fun read but it is an engaging one. It is a book that will inspire you and fill you with rage. It will hit a nerve with everyone who understands that inequality between the genders still exists all over the world and is a powerful conversation starter.

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soniafragadias · 2 years

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Desafio do mês! Quem nasceu em Fevereiro? O aquariano legítimo. Eu nasci em Fevereiro! Deixa aí nos comentários ______________________________________________________ @martapyszniewska . . . Follow 👉@soniafragadias👈 . . . martapyszniewska ,, Nowy dzień to pobudka do życia, to nadzieja na wszystko. Zobacz - tak wiele możesz. Wystarczy sięgnąć po słońce" K. Kowalewska ************************************************ Kochani dziś po prostu życzę Wam cudownego dnia i uciekam do pracy, a wieczorem postaram się nadrobić zaległości w komentarzach❤️😘 A tak z ciekawości z jakiego miesiąca jesteście? Ktoś świętuje też w lutym? 😁 Zapraszam dziś na wyzwania: #czwartekzdariasz #kawa #koliberkowewyzwanie #delikatnie #umiemwminimalizm_zblanka #czwartkoweinspiracje #riverofmine #fotoinspiwyzwanie #hellofebruary #zaplatanakawa #floral_coffee_tea #halo_czwart_ku #haloczwartku #tydzienzszydelka #ksiazkowelove #zimazkubkiem #kochamczytaćksiążki #bookishlove #bookislife #stilllife_perfection #raw_flatlays #creative_cups #raw_books #coffeeoftheday #coffemorning #coffee_time #flatlaycoffee #soniafragadiasdesigner #soniafrdias #soniafrdiasdesinerdeinteriores (em Aventura, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CZtx022uQ4n/?utm_medium=tumblr

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motherbookerblog · 3 years

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Thank you to whoever it was who mentioned they found Barnes and Noble editions at TK Maxx recently. It’s the only reason that I managed to grab these gems. Not pictured is the collection of Fairy Tales that I got later.

I’ve long lusted after these editions but have never been able to justify the price. These were so cheap it was rude not to. I already have F Scott’s books and a copy of The Wizard if Oz. Of course, that’s not stopped me before.

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motherbookerblog · 3 years

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How are you all doing?

I’ve still not read this beauty but it’s definitely near the top of my TBR. I’m just craving short reads right now. Lockdown 2 has started and we’re facing a long few weeks. I just don’t have it in me to start something too heavy right now. That’s why Agatha Christie was the perfect choice for last month.

I’m not one of those people who ever claimed that 2020 would be “my year” but I’d expected more than this. I’m trying to take comfort in the fact that I’ve read more than I normally would have done. Still not enough to balance my book buying habit though! I doubt I’ll ever read that quickly.

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motherbookerblog · 3 years

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Do you find it hard to review a book?

Some reviews are, obviously, easier than others. It all depends on the book and how it makes you. I always find it difficult to review Julian Barnes. Not because I don’t enjoy his writing but because it always leaves me with so many thoughts. He’s definitely one of the greatest British writers at the moment but he always fills my head with loads of ideas.

It’s great but it makes it really hard to collect my thoughts. Today’s blog post is a review of his short novel The Noise of Time. It’s something I’ve been meaning to read for ages but just never got round to. I guess it didn’t help that my knowledge of Shostakovich is limited. Still, I’m very interested in Russian history and this sounded great.

Retelling three meetings with powerful men and how he reacted. It’s a story about power and the struggle of keeping your integrity. He’s a troubled man and has to live with his lack of courage. It’s a struggle but he does what he must to survive.

I really enjoyed this book but I definitely didn’t do a good job of reviewing it. It’s such a complex and brilliantly written work. It offers so many insight into courage and cowardice as well as the relationship between art and power. It’s already on my reread pile. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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motherbookerblog · 4 years

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QUESTION: Who is your favourite poet? 📚 I didn't have any specific Earth Day books so I thought I'd post something by William Wordsworth. After all, he bloody loved the Earth. And it's the anniversary of his death tomorrow. I like Wordsworth but I wouldn't say he's my favourite Romantic poet. Especially after I wrote my undergrad dissertation on him. There's nothing like an essay to take the joy out of something. 📚 My Instagram

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motherbookerblog · 3 years

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What is/was your first read of 2021?

It took me much longer to finish this book than I’d expected. I assumed it would be a fairly quick read that would set me up for a good reading month. Instead, I spent the first 3 days of the year just reading small bits and not really caring. Thankfully, I finished in time to post my review yesterday.

I’m a Nick Hornby fan but this certainly isn’t one of his best books. Although the first part is good and there was certainly a lot of potential with this idea. I just think he takes it in a pretty dull direction. It gets super messy in the middle and then the end is a bit too sweet. This could have been an important discussion about mental health and suicidal ideation. Instead just turns into a quirky indie movie.

Although, maybe that has something to do with how long ago it was written. 2005 might not seem that long ago but the discourse surrounding mental health has changed significantly since then. Society is much more open about it and I think people have a better understanding of mental health problems. In A Long Way Down, the four main characters’ depression is just a plot device. It’s handled in quite a flippant way. It’s disappointing.

Although, no Nick Hornby novel is ever going to be complete trash and he does create some interesting characters. The dynamics within the group are really fun to read and handled much better than the film adaptation. The problem with Hornby having written so many fantastic books is that all of his other books start to pale in comparison.

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motherbookerblog · 3 years

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What is your first read of 2021?

This might not have been the happiest book to be reading just after midnight on January 1st but I think this is a great first book. Despite its macabre subject matter, this books still has all of Hornby’s trademark humour.

I wanted to find a book that I could read that featured New Year in some way. The only other one I could think of was Bridget Jones’ Diary and this seemed more appropriate. I’m sure there are loads that I missed but it was a pretty quick decision. I’ll be better prepared in 2022.

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motherbookerblog · 3 years

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TOP 5 BOOKS OF 2020!

Number 1:

It wasn’t a tricky decision picking my favourite book of the year. Nothing quite matched up to Mr Wilder & Me by Jonathan Coe. It was a different feel to his normal style but it was so comforting. Reading this was just a lovely all round experience.

As a lover of film, I was always going to enjoy this look back at the career of Hollywood film director, Billy Wilder. It was a great piece of cinematic history with a heavy dose of fiction to keep things going. It was a love letter to the director and to a bygone era of cinema. Although, what it really ends up being is a feel-good story.

There is no real drama or tension in this book. It’s just a lot of nice characters coming together and having a good time. It follows a central theme of feeling old and past your prime, which is something that everyone can understand. However, it is also a celebration of life. A celebration of every kind of achievement whether that is big or small.

This might not seem as complex or even as important a book as Coe’s previous work. Whether that makes it inferior in your mind depends on what kind of reader you are. For me, this is everything that I love about reading. I was absorbed in the narrative from the start and the writing was captivating. I think there was plenty of depth within all of the characters and plenty of things everyone can relate to. It is full of live and passion. No book has filled me with quite so much joy for a long time.

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motherbookerblog · 3 years

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TOP 5 BOOKS OF 2020!

Number 3:

I’ve read plenty of inspiring books this year but nothing got to me quite like this. I read James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time just after the BLM protests had started to calm down. It was part of my attempt to read more Black voices and listen to more Black stories. It was an impactful reading experience.

One of the things that Baldwin does so well is relaying the anger that exists in the Black community. He sees the fight that needs to take place but he is still hopeful. Of course, Baldwin understands the importance of history and the need to learn from it. However, he is always looking to the future and embracing the kind of country that America could become. His words are still as inspirational and important as they were nearly 60 years ago.

Baldwin’s time as a pastor was definitely a massive influence as he became more prominent in the Civil Rights Movement. He knew the power of his words. That he had a gift. He just needed to learn to use it for the right reasons. He needed to embrace an approach that was about love and learning instead of violence and revenge. Baldwin’s words are important and powerful. As a writer and a speaker, he was able to get to the heart of the matter and inspire.

He understands the struggle of being a Black American and he knows that there needs to be a change. At the same time, he sees white supremacists for what they are: misguided, fearful, and lacking in awareness. They need to be guided to a better way of thinking instead of pushed into subservience. Within Baldwin’s essays, we see the pain and sadness that has been passed down through generations of Black people in America. He doesn’t focus on that but, instead, offers hope. It’s a beautiful book and a must-read for anyone who is advocating for Black Lives Matter.

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motherbookerblog · 3 years

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TOP 5 BOOKS of 2020!

At my last count, I’ve apparently read 12 5⭐ books this year. 12/ 90 books got full marks. I think that’s actually pretty good going. I’m currently working on organsing my ratings, so it’ll be interesting to see the other stats for the year.

It was hard but I’ve managed to pick 5 from that initial 12 as my favourite reads of this year. Number 5 is this beauty, which I read for my virtual book club in May. It was an utterly beautiful but simple tale of love and companionship between an older couple. It’s a sweet but complex tale of humanity and I loved every minute of it.

This is a seemingly simple and humdrum tale about life in a small town. However, it’s so much more than that. I’ve always been a lover of depth over story and this is exactly that kind of book. If you want plot twists and excitement then this won’t be for you.

This is a story about two inconsequential people in an unimportant little town. Yet he makes them significant with his simplistic style. Our Souls at Night isn’t trying to introduce us to the greatest love of all time but to show us simple human happiness. A happiness that is tainted by all the negatives that come with being human.

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motherbookerblog · 3 years

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Today’s book review is all about this beauty. You can read the whole thing on my blog using the link in my profile.

I had high expectations after Convenience Store Woman but Earthlings was nothing like I expected. I really enjoyed it but, boy, did it get weird. There are definitely things that connect the two books but it’s clear that Sayaka Murata was experimenting more in her latest.

It was such a fascinating story that explored the lengths people can go to protect themselves from trauma. It’s not an easy book topic but the book really handles the tricky subjects well. I was surprised by how funny it was despite everything.

Just an in her last book, the female narrator here is great. She may be an outsider but she’s engaging. There’s a weird charm about her and there’s always a ring of truth to her actions. I wanted to hear her story.

My only issue was that some of the supporting characters feel thinly realised. They don’t have that same grounding in reality. I also think that the ending up getting away from itself. It just went a bit further than it knew what to do with. So, it’s not quite up to its predecessor’s standards but it’s a solid read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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motherbookerblog · 3 years

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Are you madly trying to finish anything before the end of the month?

I’m trying to get this finished before the end of the month but I’ve not done a good job at starting it so far. I’ll hunker down for a few hours and get a good start on it today. Then see if I can I get it finished tomorrow. I know it doesn’t matter if I don’t but I really want to try and fill December with Christmas reads only.

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motherbookerblog · 3 years

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What’s your favourite book from childhood?

Did I need another copy of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland? Of course not but it’s not my fault that Chris Riddell went and illustrated it. I had a voucher to use up so I managed to get this for a pretty great price.

I’ve always loved Alice in Wonderland, so I doubt that I’ll ever be able to resist a beautiful copy. I think Riddell’s illustrations are fantastic and a great step away from John Tenniel. Although, I had some of Tenniel’s illustrations in my room as a child, so I’ll always be biased to that version of Alice.

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