Writer
I don’t remember the last time I finished a book at this pace, in two days flat. Yellow Face is a fictional story of two friends, Athena and June. Athena Liu, a celebrated and successful published author, and June Hayward, a struggling writer whose career never quite takes off. Both of them love to write, but luck favors one over the other. Until it doesn’t.
Continue reading “Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang”
I picked up this book while browsing a bookstore at an airport. I was flying from one home to another, in a phase of my life where I was questioning and doubting my past and future. While flipping through the pages, I discovered that Lilly Singh and I share a mutual friend named Anxiety Singh. That was it—I knew I had to buy this book. I got super excited and quickly read as much as I wanted right there at the airport, but thankfully, I decided not to rush. I wanted to give this book the time it rightfully deserved because I truly do want to be a triangle.
Continue reading “How to be a Triangle by Lilly Singh”“What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding” by Kristin Newman is an unabashedly honest and humorous memoir that delves into the author’s life, passion for travel, her experiences with romance and sex! Yes, there is sex and a lot of it! Newman is a renowned comedy writer known for shows like That 70s Show, How I Met Your Mother, and many others like Chuck and The Neighbors. In this book, she fearlessly shares her personal journey, including the ups and downs of her love life.
Continue reading “What I Was Doing While You Were Breeding: A Memoir by Kristin Newman”Finding Evie is a powerful and emotional novel that tells the story of Evie, a young woman who moves to post-war London with a heart full of hope but faces numerous betrayals and struggles in life. The story is narrated through dual timelines, with the present-day storyline following Alice as she uncovers the hidden truths about her family’s past and her estranged grandmother, Evie.
The novel is beautifully written and features well-developed characters that bring depth and complexity to the story. The author’s portrayal of Evie’s life is heart-wrenching and at times difficult to read due to the emotional and physical abuse she endures. The theme of abuse and abandonment is interwoven into the narrative, and the readers will find themselves empathizing with Evie’s plight. I was personally fuming with rage while reading the atrocities committed by her husband, Frank.
The story is captivating, and the plot moves at a steady pace, keeping you engaged throughout. The author’s use of descriptive language creates vivid imagery and transports the reader to post-war London, where they witness the struggles and hardships that Evie faced.
One minor criticism is that the storyline could have been expanded upon, allowing for the full impact of the story to be felt. Even though, there were no loose ends, I was expecting more from the story. Despite this, “Finding Evie” is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that explores the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love.
Overall, “Finding Evie” is a poignant and beautifully written novel that delves into themes of love, abuse, and abandonment. Despite the difficult subject matter, the book manages to convey a message of hope and resilience that will stay with the reader long after the final page.
PS: This was an Advanced Review Copy (or ARC), you can find more about this book on Reedsy Discovery
Alex and Poppy. Poppy and Alex, are the People We Meet on Vacation in this book. It’s an easy, breezy fun read. It’s a book that you can take along with you on a vacation. Read it while sipping on a piña colada or maybe a gin tonic, while chilling at the pool or relaxing by a fireplace, whatever the weather may be. Then lose yourself to Poppy Wright as she’s going to take the lead.
Continue reading “People We Meet on Vacation – Emily Henry”
Period. End of Sentence.: A New Chapter in the Fight for Menstrual Justice sheds light on the stigmatization of menstruation. It’s time to break the silence around this natural process and educate people about it. Unfortunately, in many developing countries, menstruation is still considered taboo and discussing it openly is discouraged. This lack of education and access to menstrual products leaves women facing numerous challenges, including period poverty, and prevents them from fulfilling basic human needs.
Continue reading “Period. End of Sentence.: A New Chapter in the Fight for Menstrual Justice by Anita Diamant”A quick, powerful, and effective self-improvement workbook – aimed to help us build emotional strength by practicing a healthy lifestyle.
Emotional Strength Explained by author, Alicia Pozson, is a quick, powerful, and effective workbook that is aimed to help us build emotional strength. In life, we often have ups and downs and we face challenging circumstances that can affect us in many ways. This book teaches us to acknowledge those emotions and weaknesses, accept them, and work towards becoming emotionally strong.
Emotional Strength Explained is more than just a self-help or self-improvement guide, it is a workbook with a targeted approach. It asks you questions that we might often ignore, they are simple questions but important ones that we need to prioritize. It encourages you to self-analyze and write down your vulnerable emotions and deepest thoughts so you can face your fears. Healing always begins with self-awareness, self-talk, and self-love. It is a slow and step-by-step approach towards building emotional strength. The practice worksheets in this book will help you track your progress so you can emerge as a strong and confident person.
It is a wonderful book that shares the secrets of success and inner peace. It teaches you to find solutions, to face criticism or judgment, and self-reflect on your thoughts. The best part about this workbook is that you can always come back to it every year or whenever you find it necessary to continue making this journey stronger.
Once you have the strength and bravery to be open to see things you may not want to see, you are ready for the next thing.
– Alicia Pozsony
Dear reader, today I have a controversial topic to talk about – open ended novels. There was a time when I much appreciated open-ended stories. The mysterious cliffhangers would leave me wondering, “Oh what would have happened if he had chosen the easy path?” Or “Oh is she going to remain mysterious without revealing her true identity?” Or “Will she continue packing lunch for him as a mysterious stranger without meeting him?”
Continue reading “What are your thoughts on open-ended stories?”As the title suggests, this book written by Bill Gates is about the actions humanity can take to avoid a climate disaster. We all know how global warming and the climate crisis is considered to be hot topic. While some of us believe global warming to be real, others don’t. Indeed, Earth’s climate has always changed but it is the rapidity at which it is changing that is of concern. The global temperatures are increasing with lots of places on the planet getting erratically warmer and colder, wetter and drier.
In this book, Bill Gates discusses the causes of climate change and the impact it can have on our future generation. He talks about the main reasons for global warming and explains the causes in a simple and easily understandable manner. As a learned authority on this subject, Bill Gates provides solutions and discusses what are the big steps to take towards eliminating greenhouse gas emissions.
We are already aware of the catastrophic effects that climate change is causing on our lives. There are raging wildfires, destructive storms, severe floods, and devastating earthquakes that we have no control over. There are about 51 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions on Earth in a year. If we do not take action towards reducing these emissions, then the consequences they can have on human life are going to be dire. Bill Gates talks about plans of actions that we need to take to reduce these emissions from 51 billion tons to zero. While it sounds impossible, this book will tell us how to achieve this goal. It is possible, if we all work towards changing our way of life and transforming almost everything we do.
Bill Gates believes that innovation and invention can help in achieving a healthier future. Entrepreneurs and investors need to build new businesses that use clean, efficient appliances. They need to change their existing business processes to achieve rapid progress. The government needs to enact new policies to drive the market towards cleaner energy.
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster is not about fear-mongering. It is a book with solutions, breakthroughs, and a series of practical steps that we can take to avoid this biggest crisis humanity has ever faced. There are no jargon or difficult concepts in this book. Bill Gates takes this vast and complex topic of climate change and makes it accessible to all the readers and everyone interested to understand this topic. He mentions how each of us can do our part and help in reducing these emissions, be it entrepreneurs, politicians, industrialists, engineers, students, or just any individual who wants to help.
What can we do about the climate changes that are already happening? And, in particular, how can we help the world’s poorest, who have the most to lose but did the least to cause the problem?
– Bill Gates
Avoiding a climate disaster is going to be a huge challenge, but Bill Gates is still hopeful that cutting-edge technologies and innovative businesses can help us turn this into reality. If he believes, then I believe too. I love the way Bill Gates made such dry concepts so interesting to follow and understand. I am inspired and will do my bit by being more aware of energy use, protecting green spaces, and investing in environmentally-friendly alternatives to consumption. Global warming is happening right now, so let’s save ourselves and our future generation by being more responsible.
I highly recommend this book to everyone so you know what you can do to make a difference!
I’m an optimist because I know what technology can accomplish and because I know what people can accomplish. I’m profoundly inspired by all the passion I see, especially among young people, for solving this problem.
– Bill Gates
I cannot accept that it’s already 2022, what happened to 2021? I guess most of us felt like 2021 was gone before it even began. Last year felt like a blur to me and in between those fleeting days I somehow managed to read twenty books. Before I start my journey with books in 2022, I am sharing the books that I read last year along with a brief summary for each of them (without any spoilers). I will also mention some of my most favorite books and I hope that this post helps you find interesting books to consider reading this year.
I am super picky when it comes to books (otherwise too). Last year, I got the opportunity to write reviews for a website called Reedsy and it required me to read new books mostly by debut authors that haven’t been published yet. Some of the books that I had to review were selected not out of excitement but I did it anyway for the opportunity. I cannot say that all the books were great but some of them were good enough. Hopefully someday I will discover an excellent book on Reedsy that could become a bestseller and I would be the first one to have read it! A few of the books that I have reviewed below might not be popular at the moment but have the potential to become a best-seller with more recognition. You can also follow my links to read my full reviews on Reedsy.
9. Close Watch by Signe Christensen:
Nobody likes the feeling of being closely watched or followed but it’s terrifying to know when somebody actually breaks into your house! Close Watch is a fictional story about Amber who is constantly stalked and how she ends up feeling unsafe no matter where she goes. A good suspense novel written by Signe Christensen. You can read this book on one of those weekends when you are in a mood for some easy and quick to read thriller stories.
You can read my full review here Close Watch
10. A Season of Disruption by Jacqueline P Walker:
A Season of Disruption is a short yet impactful memoir written by Jacqueline P Walker. Life can present us with unpredictable situations for which we aren’t ready most of the time. One such event occurred in the life of an eight-year-old child and this story is about how the family faces this devastating loss. What makes this book so powerful is the determination and courage of the family during times of distress.
Read my full review here A Season of Disruption
11. Wanderer by Court Young:
This poetry book discusses the author’s journey of falling in love with a wrong guy, heartbreak, pain, hope, and finding forever love. Some of the poems are also about traveling and seasons which reflect the poet’s state of mind. There are some books that you read and then regret. This was one such poetry book that wasn’t my cup of tea. But if you are in your teens going through a breakup or if you are in a mood for something emotional, then this book is good enough. Read my full review here Wanderer
12. Midnight Light by Brian Paglinco:
This turned out to be a uniquely interesting book of poems that romanticizes the concept of death, nature, love, and redemption. Midnight Light is a combined passionate labor of love by two friends Michael Pace and Brian Paglinco. Michael weaves the rich and rhythmic poems through his writing and Brian has provided captivating photographs that frame the theme of this book. The poems are written artistically and without hesitation about certain themes that are difficult to discuss.
Read my full review here Midnight Light.
13. Happy Here and Now by Matt Tracy:
It is a self-help book that discusses situations and behaviors that we usually don’t pay attention to or tend to neglect. We are all happy in one moment and sad in the other. We are beings with so many emotions and feelings that sometimes we get carried away by them and end up losing ourselves. This book is like a guide that will train us to understand those emotions better, process them, and sometimes learn to let them go.
Read my full review here Happy Here and Now.
14. The Champion by Wayne Rajah:
The Champion is a fantasy fiction novel where the protagonist of this story is a twelve-year-old boy named Calvin with a superpower that allows him to fly. Calvin’s mother, Miss Khumalo is diagnosed with a terminal illness. When he finds out that his mother is suffering, Calvin uses his superpower and the help of his mentor, Athwall, to take his mother on a mythical journey in an attempt to save her life.
Read my full review here: The Champion.
15. Paradise Taken the Diary of Eden Flores by Omar Gonzalez:
A heart wrenching and impactful story! When the innocence of a child is tainted by the gruesome realities of the world, then paradise becomes an unattainable dream. This book is a collection of true events about a girl named Eden Flores. The author, Omar Gonzalez, captures Eden’s life experiences remarkably in this book and shares them with us in the form of stories and poems. It’s a short book that you can finish in one sitting thereby making it an easy recommendation. You can find my full review of Paradise taken here.
Read my full review here: Paradise Taken the Diary of Eden Flores.
16. Lighthouse by Christopher Parker:
This book is about a mysterious journey into a magical realm where there’s suspense, love, & of course the lighthouse. Struggling with the loss of her mother, Amy Tucker finds herself with her father following a case in the mysterious town of Seabrook. There, a chance encounter with Ryan sets in motion a chain of events. The long dormant lighthouse which is the centerpiece of the town comes alight much to the fascination and joy of the local townsfolk.
Read my full review here: Lighthouse.
17. Eli And The Mystery Of The Hallowshine Dragon by Eve Cabanel:
This is a picture book for children. It’s a fantasy story about a moon elf, Eli, who helps her friend Luna in solving a strange mystery of the enchanted forest. When Luna’s baby bunny transforms into hard rock candy, she runs to Eli for help. This transpires into a tale full of bravery, friendship, and the healing power of love. So if you want to read a story to your child, then pick this one! Kids will love the beautiful and attractive illustrations in this book. It’ll help in sparking their imagination and increasing their curiosity.
Read my full review here: Eli and the Mystery of the Hallowshine Dragon.
18. My Name is Wilma by Kirsten Bett:
My Name is Wilma is a quirky book that will take you on a journey of exploration of the world through the eyes of a cat. If you’re a cat lover, then cozy up and enjoy the ride. The story is narrated from the cat’s point of view. Wilma begins on the Dutch tulip fields where her life was rough and rugged. It is only after she meets her humans, Kirsten and Willem, does she realize how wonderfully sheltered a cat’s life can be. Sadly I was expecting the book to get better but I started losing interest and somehow managed to finish the book.
Read my full review here: My Name is Wilma
19. Eat Your Rice Cakes by Margaret Weiss:
Eat Your Rice Cakes is a self-help book for people suffering from celiac disease. Margaret Weiss takes us through her journey of diagnosis, struggles of living with the disease, and finally acceptance of her condition. This book is a great resource for other patients who have their own struggles with celiacs and also for readers who are curious about the disease.
Read my full review here: Eat Your Rice Cakes
20. Myths, Doves, Tears, and the Rest by Martin Boško:
This book is a collection of poems assembled by the author, Martin Boško, through one calendar year. The use of imagery, powerful expressions, and moving poems give us an insight into the inner workings of the poet’s mind. It takes you on a journey inspired by Greek mythology while also tugging on the heartstrings with feelings of love, betrayal, and longing.
Read my full review here: Myths, Doves, Tears, and the Rest.
Top 5 Favorites Books for 2021:
Happy Reading!
Nuraine Sadaf 