In Between the Lines

The Japan We Never Knew and Should Learn About

2019-06-12T12:44:00.000-07:00

I recently read The Japan We Never Knew: A Journey of Discovery by David Suzuki and Keibo Oiwa and it was a very interesting read. It lived up to its title. Every part of this book brought new information to me.

Japan is widely known for its advancement in pretty much every field. They are considered one of the most developed economies in the world. Everyone wants to visit Japan at least once in their lifetime. In fact, if you are reading this now, chances are you’ve been to Japan or would love to go there one day. It is high on many people’s bucket list.

This book is divided into 3 parts: War and Peace, Japan’s Diversity, and Nature and Environmentalist.

Each part takes you on a journey, new to one's brain.

First, it discusses the American military existence in Okinawa and how it been a struggle for the people who live in the region. Also, it sheds light on the fact that not all people living in Okinawa classify themselves as 100% Japanese which is news to me.

Then it goes on and narrates the stories of the indigenous people of Japan. The struggle of settling with their identity when they are facing discrimination. I know things have changed in Japan since the release of the book. I wish I could interview Mr. Suzuki to understand more about the current situation. The stories of the Ainu mentioned in the stories are very encouraging for everyone to fight for their own cause. Especially if they are fighting for their identity and respect from others.

Lastly, it speaks about the environmental issues that Japan has been ignoring. Decades ago Japan faced many environmental problems because of wrong practices. There were a lot of cutting trees, wrong ways of farming and general methods of pollution. This was all news to me. Because I always thought Japan had the best awareness when it came to environmental issues.

All in all, this book will slash the image you had of Japan with a sword. Japan has come a long way from its past. It is a nation that is always learning and transforming. For a book to give you an image you never pictured of a country is something to appreciate. And I am glad I came across this book to feed my brain with new knowledge about Japan.

Podcasts You Need to Check Out Now

2019-04-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been listening to many podcasts. Podcasts have become a very important method to attain knowledge and inspiration in a calming and soothing away. Away from the visual expectations that have been surrounding us in all of the social media platforms. Podcasting has found a need and it will continue to fulfill this growing need. No matter what you are interested in, you will find a suitable podcast that will illuminate your interest.

Here is a list of podcasts I listen to:

1) The Lavendaire Lifestyle

If podcasts can be aesthetically pleasing, then this podcast is very aesthetically pleasing. Aesthetics not in terms of dreamy colors but in terms of how the podcast can be very relaxing and very ear pleasing. The podcast is hosted by Aileen Xu who is a YouTuber and an entrepreneur. This podcast interviews women who are successful in their field. I recommend this podcast because it will open up your horizons on what you are capable of doing. Aileen asks very sophisticated questions that usually tells you about the interviewee beginnings, dreams, and accomplishments and of course their favorite book. The slogan of this podcast is easily my favorite slogan in the world which Aileen came up with herself:

“Life is an art. Make it your masterpiece.”

2) The Fluent Show

This podcast is a hub for all language learners. It shares the excitement that goes behind learning languages. It is quite motivational too because you get to hear about people sharing their progress in language learning. This podcast is hosted by Kerstin and co-hosted by Lindsay from Lindsay Does Languages. For someone who loves learning languages, this is the right podcast to listen to.

Photo by Juja Han on Unsplash

3) The Tim Ferris Show

In this podcast, you listen to “world-class performers”. This podcast tackles people from different industries and backgrounds. It is an outstanding podcast to learn from inspiring role models.

4) Business Wars

This podcast provides the experience of getting on a rollercoaster of the world of business in a documentary form. It is very different from other podcasts in that it provides a high quality of audio and background music and acting voices. I believe that such a podcast should be used to educate students about the history of some of the well-known brands.

Books and Authors Mentioned in The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

2019-03-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

When I am reading, I tend to take note of books and authors referenced. In hopes of one day reading them, I always make a list in my notebook. Today I share with you references I found in The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah which I reviewed recently.

1) Madame Bovery by Gustave Flaubert

When the novel was first serialized in La Revue de Paris between 1 October 1856 and 15 December 1856, public prosecutors attacked the novel for obscenity. The resulting trial in January 1857 made the story notorious. After Flaubert's acquittal on 7 February 1857, Madame Bovary became a bestseller in April 1857 when it was published in two volumes. A seminal work of literary realism, the novel is now considered Flaubert's masterpiece, and one of the most influential literary works in history. -Goodreads

2) Autant en Emporte Le Vent

In other words, Gone with the wind by Margaret Mitchell

3) Les Fleurs du Mal by Charles Baudelaire

In English it translates to ‘The Flower of Evil’. A Selection contains 53 poems which the editors feel best represent the total work and which. in their opinion, have been most successfully rendered into English. The French texts as established by Yves Gérard Le Dantec for the Pléiade edition are printed en face. Included are Baudelaire's "Three Drafts of a Preface" and brief notes on the nineteen translators whose work is represented.-From Goodreads

4) Author: Arthur Rimbaud (A French Poet)

5) Paul-Marie Verlaine (A French Poet)

Dowager Cixi was an Extraordinary Empress

2019-03-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

In this post, I will be discussing Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Launched Modern China by Jung Chang

In 2013 when I decided to take a Chinese history course as an elective, I was a bit reluctant. I wanted to learn the language, but languages classes were 3 times a week and history classes were only 2. And since it was an elective, I wanted more free time for my other courses.

I started my Chinese modern culture course in 2014 and a new passion was developed along the way. I became more and more interested in Chinese history. It is because of its intensity, to say the least. The course covered the chinese history in the 20^th century. Before that, we were slightly introduced to Cixi but it was not the course’s focus.

This is why when I saw the name on the cover of this book, I recognized her name… and the author’s name.

Cixi was an extraordinary woman who was the cause of China’s transformation. She always had new ideas and new tactics to overcome issues her country faced. She foresaw the future and built the nation’s current foundation.

At times when women had no rights, Cixi forced everyone to only see her as the fit ruler for a nation that is so big with every measurement you can think of.

This woman despite everything she faced from the loss of her husband, son and lover stood still.

She did allow bad things to happen during her regime but according to the author, she regretted them openly.

I would tell you all about the amazing things she did and all new reforms that occurred during her ruling but then I would be taking away the fun when reading this book.

Regarding the writing style, this book was written with such pose and simple way that anyone could follow along. The author took the time to explain everything thoroughly. I would also recommend reading Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by the same author, if you are interested to know the impact of Mao on China.

After all, this book proves nothing but the fact that women can rule.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is a Great Book

2019-03-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

The novel is about two French sisters trying to survive during World War II. Vianne who wanted to be a good mother and protect her daughter at all cost during the war. And Isabelle (the younger sister) who was never loved by her sister and father, found herself loving her country with all her being.

The two characters were crafted with tremendous care. Isabelle who didn’t care how people thought of her. How she was different from the other girls she went to school with. How she listened to the BBC to get the latest news on the war. How she wanted to have people see beyond her beauty. Not to mention that Isabelle loved to read. Those were all things that made me connect with Isabelle.

I had a hard time liking Vianne at first because of how she treated Isabelle. But I really appreciated how the author wrote such a careful, protective mother who would put her daughter first in any situation.

Gäetan is another well-developed character even though we hardly see him across the storyline. But his presence was very strong every time he appeared (especially that scene towards the end*insert tears here*).

This book had me thinking about it during my sleep. I was thinking which sister was still alive. Is it Vianne or Isabelle? Both were still alive? I had so many questions floating in my head. And I love it when a book invades my dreams.

As I was near the end of the novel, I was debating what rating to give it on Goodreads. I thought 4 stars would be fine. But then in the last 2 chapters, I found myself crying. Everything was just a lot to take in. I found myself pausing after every paragraph or so. The ending was so beautiful, mesmerizing and perfect. I ended up giving it 5 stars because it was able to stir up my feelings with its subtle plot.

There are many untold stories about women fighting their way during wars. I am glad the author took time to crown women who fought in a war and gave them life through her writing.

The beauty of discomfort by Amanda Lang

2019-03-01T13:54:00.002-08:00

Discomfort is something I occasionally face when I am thrown at a new environment. I think many people relate to that. This is why when I saw the title of this book, I thought it would be educational for me and a great method to further develop myself.

This book is a selection of non-fictional short stories that discuss people dealing with drastic change in their lives. Changes could be illness, chasing after dreams, or moving countries. They had to dive into discomfort to achieve their dreams. The different stories cover people from different backgrounds and demographics. This book gave me the chance to dive into other people’s discomfort and see how they cope with it.

I learned that discomfort is not always a choice. Sometimes life forces us to be in uncomfortable situations and we either choose to stay in bed or run against the wind.

The message of this book is to make a life out of discomfort. To not let it get the best of you. Because there is a lesson learned with every new situation you put yourself in.

The examples set in this book are all Canadian which I found very relatable.

If discomfort is a topic that you need to explore, check this book out. Not all chapters will appeal to everyone (I shipped a chapter). But the take away from the book is tremendous. Also, it is okay to skip chapters because they are not interconnected.

The Perfume Garden by Kate Lord Brown

2019-02-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

This novel is a historical fiction which moves back and forth between 1936 and 2001. We get to see different generations and how their lives intertwine. In 2001, we follow Emma who had just lost her mother and the love of her life. She is also pregnant. She decides to restart her life all over again in Spain.

I actually liked Emma a lot because she was relatable. She is ambitious, strong and well-minded. I felt sorry for her for losing her mom.

In the 1930s we follow many characters during the civil war in Spain. Now for that part of the story, I was not interested in the characters. I was more interested in the events. I never read anything about Spain’s situation before WWII. However, this novel sparked my interest. I am a huge fan of history and I studied Chinese history during WWII. But I never had a chance to uncover the facts about Spain. Definitely, every nation was impacted before, during and after WWII. Its so interested that this novel decides to give Spain its well-deserved spotlight.

The novel was definitely a slow read. Though I must say that as I went on to flip more pages, I became more invested. If you are not a fan of historical fiction, then this book is not for you. If you are a fan of historical fiction and okay with a slow read, then you will be able to enjoy this book.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

2019-02-15T10:34:00.000-08:00

I am probably the last person to read The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I do regret not reading this book anytime sooner.

This book is about your own personal legend. It is a book that tells you to follow your dream.

Literally, the boy in the novel follows his dream and his journey is very fulfilling.

I feel like I read this book at the right time. A day before reading this book I decided to follow what I really want to do during my time on Earth. I decided to follow what I visualize myself doing. And this book was very encouraging.

The book is written in a lyrical, wonderful way that any type of reader would finish it in a few days. If you are a speedy reader, it will take you a couple of hours.

When reading this book try to digest many of the sayings and think about how you can apply it into your life.

It is very important for us to go after searching for our personal legend. It is what that will provide us with fulfillment and happiness in the long term. The road might be hazy and foggy at first. But eventually, things will get clearer. So don’t give up.

Habits You Need to Develop in 2019

2019-01-24T11:36:00.000-08:00

Photo by Julien Labelle on Unsplash

Currently, I am searching for a new job. I am doing interviews, volunteering and (most importantly) working on habits that will (hopefully) transform me into a better influencer/educator/marketer/person/writer, etc.

Habits is a huge topic on social media these days that I decided to put my own spin on it. Throwing old, pointless habits out of the window and replacing them with new ones is very important.

This is why I am utilizing my free time in committing to good habits. Fortunately, habits are easily attainable once you put your mind to it.

So here are some habits (or new hobbies) that I have been working on:

1) Listening to podcasts: I love podcasts so much. My favorite podcasts are the ones that interview influential people who succeeded and are continually working hard to achieve their dreams. Or even self-help podcasts that informs you that you can change from yourself (pretty much things that you read about in a self-help book but in an audio format). Podcasts have helped me to see things differently. Do you listen to podcasts? What are your favorites? I am always open for suggestions.

2) Reading books: This is one is obvious. Reading is important but to find time to read is the hardest aspect of reading. But ever since 2019 has started I have been reading daily, finishing 3 books as I write this (4 books as I edit).

3) Establishing your online presence: I have been focusing on my Instagram feed. I am so passionate about books, therefore, my feed is entirely about books, bookshelves, libraries, and bookstores. I get to feed my passion for books and learn about the marketing that goes behind establishing a following on an important photo-based platform.

4) Learning a new skill: Learning is a journey and not a destination (I read that somewhere). So right now I am learning about new topics using LinkedIn Learning courses. You can pick other platforms to learn about things you are deeply passionate for.

5) TEDx videos: Generally speaking I am addicted to YouTube videos. I love watching short, entertaining videos. But this year I am trying to watch videos that will increase from my knowledge, influence me positively and inspire me. Right before writing this piece, I doubted myself because no one reads my articles anyways so why put the effort into writing a new one but I watched this one TEDx talk and it changed my perspective in an instant.

6) Following the right people: Recently I have been revamping my social media world. I have been on social media for more than 10 years. People change and so should your following list. Unfollow people whose updates do not interest you anymore. And follow people who can nourish your feed.

These are the habits I am trying to develop on daily basis in 2019. Do you think I should add more to the list? What habits are you working on this year?

For more updates, follow me @basma_aalx

The Big Life by Ann Shoket

2019-01-14T13:46:00.002-08:00

This book read like a magazine.

I have been a fan of Ann since my adolescent years. I knew her from reading Seventeen magazine. I always borrowed the magazine from the library or skimmed through it while waiting for mom to finish shopping. It was a magazine that satisfied something in me. Oh, and I always entered their sweepstakes(never won anything). Of course, years had gone by and I stopped reading the magazine.

I got busy with school and work. And of course, I wasn’t 17 anymore. But I will always be taken to the past when I see the magazine on the shelves.

One thing I didn’t grow out of was following Ann Shoket. What is she up to, her adventures and her new accomplishments. She is a role model after all. I want to have the same aura she has. The successful woman who is inspiring many women. I wanted that.

When I saw her book in the library, it was as if light was coming out of it. I picked it up right away.

Reading this book felt like reading a magazine. The format was almost like how a magazine layout looks like. For example, the title of the chapters was in bold with a black background. There were interviews posted before the end of a chapter. There were take away notes that summarized important pieces (I wish all self-help books had that since I have a goldfish memory).

Reading this book really felt good. I am in a stage where I have nothing figured out. This book made me realize that I am not the only one feeling frustrated and lost.

This book showcased successful young ladies throughout the book. But those ladies didn’t have it all figured out from day one. They had to get a job, any job to start out because it was about the journey, not the destination. They had big dreams but they didn’t know from where to start.

I felt relatable to those girls. I realized that each one of us has a struggle and it is our role to overcome it.

I think this book is a great fit for those who are dreaming big. For teenagers, to know that it is fine to have nothing figured out. For young adults to know that they are not the only ones in this maze.

How to read more in 2019?

2019-01-10T19:58:00.002-08:00

The main reason why many of us don’t read as we want to is because of lack of time. We tend to claim that we are too busy, we have no time to sit down and read. Life can be messy and crazy so its understandable that you don't have time to read. But reading is important. It has many benefits to your personal and professional development.

Well, I am here to tell you how to read more this year.

First of all, you do have time to read. In your commute, before you sleep, while having lunch, etc. These are all times you can squeeze in some reading time. So, find the time to start building your reading habit.

Secondly, set time to read. Tell yourself that you have half an hour to read and only to read. Place your phone and any electronics far away from you.

If you hardly read, set out 10 minutes to read a day. 10 minutes is not much and you will get a few pages done. Then, gradually, increase your time dedicated to reading. This is a very important step. I, personally, wanted to set the time but also I didn’t want to check the clock every 2 seconds. So I found an app that solves this problem that is called Tide. This app has a feature called focus. You set the time you want to spend reading, then when time is over it gives a little, peaceful ring.

Lastly, choose books that call you. We tend to force ourselves to read books that are heavily marketed, given to us or recommended by celebrities. Read books that you want to read.

Question: How many books you're planning to read?

You can follow me on Instagram @ basmaandbooks for more bookish content.

Farewell, Harry Potter

2018-11-13T11:04:00.002-08:00

Photo by Roland Lösslein on Unsplash

I don’t know if I wrote a similar post before or not but here goes nothing.

I finally finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. And you might think well you have 3 more to go. Right! Is that what came to your mind?

Well, you are wrong. I finished reading the rest of the books a long time ago. I only had the fourth left to be read.

So here how it happened?

Before my discovery of Harry Potter I didn’t read much. I lived in Egypt and the act of purchasing/borrowing books was not widely spread. I didn’t know what to read/how to choose books/where to get them from. I remember not having a bookstore close to me. If I wanted to purchase books, I either had to go to Cairo’s downtown or wait for Cairo’s annual book fair. And even when I went to the book fair I didnt know what to look for. I had zero knowledge and zero interest.

Then came a night, unlike other nights. It happened in 2005 as I was flipping through the TV, something caught my eyes. In short, it was Harry Potter. I watched it in complete amazement with my brother. Needless to say, it became my favorite thing my eyes ever came across.

The next morning was Sunday which meant the start of the week. I started my day with so much excitement in the air because I was about to tell everyone at school what I watched the other night.

It turned out that everyone knew about the Harry Potter series already. Mind you, I was the last person in the entire universe to know anything about it. But that didn’t stop me from blabbering about it day and night…and for that whole year…until today.

Note: one of my friends ended up lending me her copy of Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets and I read it religiously. I remember reading it during my ride back and forth from school.

The movie I had watched was Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Harry Potter and the chamber of secrets was broadcasted the following week. I watched Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban years later. Then one of my friends told me that the fourth movie was coming out. I went and watched it with my brother. I was once again amazed by the production/acting/story,etc. It was so great (probably my favorite movie out of all the Harry Potter movies).

Thankfully, it was almost time for Cairo’s bookstore. This time I was excited to go. I decided to get Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in order to know what happened after the movie had left off. So my first book I ever purchased was the fifth book in the series. I know. I never felt eager to buy a book in my life before. I devoured the whole thing.

Note: Reading the fifth book before the release of the movie was not a bad idea.

A newspaper held a contest(that was when I had moved to Canada) in celebration of the new movie release. I was to answer a question to enter a draw to win the fifth movie's original soundtrack. The question was based on the fifth book plot. I submitted my answer online (I think it was online) and I was among the winners. Its one of the things that I cherish greatly.

I went to all the movies since, during the first week of its release. I read all of the books that were released after in order. Then read what I was missing from the series which were the first book and the third book.

And the journey ends today. But I know that Harry Potter will always be part of me. This might be my last Harry Potter related post but you never know.

Thank you Harry Potter for making me read

Thank you Harry Potter for my first blog entry

Thank you Harry Potter for being a good friend

Thank you Harry Potter for teaching me many things

Thank you and farewell!

How to continue learning a language when your progress is slow?

2018-09-02T14:33:00.001-07:00

We tend to give up on languages we want to learn because we don’t see results right away. We give it a try for a couple of weeks, months or years. Some of us keep going and some of us stop for different kinds of reasons. One of the biggest reasons is seeing no progress in the skill you are trying to master.

Photo by Daniel H.Tong on Unsplash

I have been learning Korean on my own (using online resources) since 2013. You might be thinking “five years should be enough to be fluent”. That is not true. I still struggle with understanding, reading and writing Korean. I am nowhere near fluency, but I don’t see myself giving up anytime soon. I just keep going even though my progress is very slow. It is too late to go back anyway. My whole life is immersed in the Korean culture/language. And if I ever decide to stop learning Korean, I won't stop watching its dramas, listening to its music or checking out Naver.

Korean has become more than a language for me. It is part of my lifestyle now. Even as I write this, I have a local Korean radio on as a background noise.

I do believe this is the key to continue learning a language even when the progress is unnoticeable. It is that I am always learning indirectly even when I am too lazy to sit down and actually study.

Maybe it helps that I really enjoy Korean entertainment. There is always something to watch/listen to. There is something in this language for everybody. That is the beauty of it. You can find Korean content online easily. Even learning resources are available unlimitedly.

The other thing is I don’t measure my progress with a ruler. In fact, I don’t measure it at all. I just pat myself on the shoulders if, for example, I understand a scene in a drama, etc.

Something else that I do is coming up with new goals to motivate myself. Because change is required to get you out of the boring routine of learning a foreign language. So below is an image of how my goals started simple and got bigger over time:

Goal #1: Learn the Korean alphabets

Goal #2: Understand Korean catchphrases from dramas

Goal #3: Finish all of the 9 levels posted on TTMIK

Goal #4: Be able to watch Korean dramas/shows without subtitles

Goal #5: Learn Korean Idioms

As you can see my first goal was so simple. I was planning to stop there but I got greedy. I decided to explore more of this language when I completed my first goal. Gradually my goals became bigger and bigger because my interest deepened. So yes you can say that you should start small and go big not the other way around.

From time to time you have to change how you study your targeted language. Don’t depend on one source. Don’t depend on one method (even if you think its working for you). Continue to evolve your ways not to get bored. However, if you stay with the same method for a long time, you will eventually stop.

So these were my tips. What are yours? Comment them below.

Thank you for reading

For more tips follow me @basma_aalx

Duolingo: A Review

2018-08-03T12:47:00.000-07:00

A month ago, I finished the Korean course on Duolingo, reaching level 1 on all of the categories (now I am in the process of getting level 2s) in the course.

Duolingo is an app/website that helps people to learn different languages. There are over 20 courses for English speakers and according to their website, they have over 200 million users. So, it is a well-known stop for learning languages.

My Experience:

When I first downloaded the app, it had no Korean course (the language that I have been studying since 2013), so I was only using it to study French. Then last year Duolingo released the beta version of the Korean course. I added it right away and started working.

I didn’t study using the app every day (which is the ideal thing to do); I only used it when I had the time and energy. Personally, I think Duolingo is a great way to expose yourself to new Korean vocabulary. It is also a way to measure how much you know of a language. Of course, for me there is still a lot to be learned.

Strengths:

Duolingo always has new words introduced in different colors within sentences. It covers many areas from alphabets to verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc. It has you covered. It is one destination to learn basic Korean.

I really liked how the lessons were available in order. It motivated me to finish more lessons so that I can access more.

The course was useful in testing my skills in constructing sentences in Korean. It was the closest thing to writing in Korean since I don’t practice writing Korean at all.

There are different types of questions available which is very important for language learners. You ought to discover them yourself.

Weaknesses:

I believe for Duolingo to provide an excellent experience for its users, they must commit to some changes.

One of the biggest issues is that after a few lessons they stop introducing new words separately with a picture (for the visual learners). They just provide sentences and if you don’t know the meaning of any of the words, you just click on it (and the meaning will appear in English). This is not a good way to memorize new words because you are only copying and pasting. Instead, the words colored in yellow/green should be introduced first. Then the user can be tested by translating sentences.

Secondly, there are many useless sentences that I wouldn’t use in real life. I wish Duolingo would focus only on sentences that I would need to communicate.

If you are going to learn Korean using Duolingo, you must have a little background. You cannot jump into the course without previous knowledge.

Finally, I recommend using Duolingo to learn a language in a fun way. But don’t expect fluency at the end of the road.

What do you think? Have you ever tried Duolingo or any other similar applications?

Twitter: @basma_aalx

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

2018-07-14T15:00:00.001-07:00

It took me forever to finish this book. Not because it was boring but because it was thick of information. With each passing page, I had to pause to take in what I learned.

When I first picked up the book from Cairo book fair last February, I thought it will give me a summary of historical events. However it actually turned out to be about the history of the universe, earth, when the elements you see floating around in the periodic table was discovered, etc.

If you are interested in science, this book is right for you.

It talks about biology, physics, chemistry and the list goes on and on. I honestly don’t know how this book was compiled together with this amount of information.

My live reactions:

Just another proof of how cruel humans can be #bachmanwarbler pic.twitter.com/SlrDzKbmNk
— basma (@Basma_aalx) July 14, 2018

Super funny
I had to stop to capture that #books pic.twitter.com/v1p48hQs2T
— basma (@Basma_aalx) July 9, 2018

I believe that you need a little background in science to understand many of the things mentioned in this book. I am not a science major, but I took biology and chemistry classes in high school and I think it helped a bit. If you are still interested in reading this book (without previous knowledge in science), you can use Google (it helped me a lot).

This book was informative, funny and an eye opener to the wonderful world we live in.

Elizabeth: The Struggle for the Throne by David Starkey

2017-08-22T16:24:00.001-07:00

When I saw this book in the midst of the other books, I knew I had to buy it.

It is about Queen Elizabeth which I barely knew anything about. The book contained colored illustrations so that was a plus. And finally the cover had the Queen on it and I just had to conform to her orders.

So I don’t have to go further about my excitement towards this book when I first saw it.

Now upon reading the book, I felt bad for Elizabeth’s struggles. She had to grow up in a place far away from her mom. Her mother was executed when Elizabeth was very young. And as the title suggests, it was a struggle to the throne. Elizabeth went through a lot. It was probably because of the era she was born in. Everything was just too complicated back then.

I had fun reading the first part of the book (knowing about Elizabeth’s upbringings and such). However, later on, I became disinterested because the book turned into a political scene. It focused on politics which doesn’t cross off any of preferred genres. For some reason, I prefer reading history over politics. I know both genres collide from time to time. But you know preferences. What can I do!

So I recommend this book if you are into both British history and politics. Also, if you have a little background about the Elizabethan era.

Shades of Earth by Beth Revis

2017-08-06T08:10:00.001-07:00

Imagine being frozen for centuries. You are alive but frozen. You are on a spaceship travelling to another planet.

Amy chooses to go with her parents to a new planet that is similar to earth.

We see in the first 2 books in the series the story is unfolding on the spaceship.

In Shades of Earth, the spaceship finally lands. FINALLY!!!!!

I don’t want to get into the story because SPOILERS!!!

So instead I want to discuss Amy’s decision.

Would you do that? Would you freeze yourself? For any reason?

It got me really thinking.

Imagine freezing yourself and waking up knowing that the people you grew up with, loved or hated are all dead. That Earth is no longer your home. That if you were to go back to Earth, nothing would be the same. And you wouldn’t have a place on it. Just that thought breaks everything apart.

I did find the book a bit slow, especially the beginning. However, the ending was good and unexpected at all.

Finally, I am glad to have finished this amazing series. The only Sci-Fi series I ever read in my life. And it’s the only trilogy that I own completely so that is saying something. I still remember when I first saw the cover of Across the Universe. Man, it brings back memories.

It’s time to say goodbye to yet another series. Looking forward to Beth Revis’s newest projects.

Book Review: Memoirs of a Geisha

2017-06-10T14:47:00.000-07:00

Title: Memoirs of a Geisha

Author: Arthur Golden

Pages: 497

Publisher: Vintage

Memoirs of a Geisha takes you on a train ride to a pre-world war 2 Japan. Its takes you on a journey that is rare to one’s eyes. It takes you through the scope of being a geisha who was sold at the age of 9.

This book captures the essences of Japanese beauty via describing beautiful kimonos, wonderful silk-wrapped gifts and distinguishable individuals.

Okinawa was even described so vividly in this novel that I myself felt my soul was transferred for a little while.

This novel nourished my interest in the Japanese culture.

Now it is time to watch the movie.

Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

2013-10-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

I loved Amy and Roger's Epic Detour which was Morgan Matson's debut novel. So when I heard about Second Chance Summer, I added right away on goodreads.com. Now that I've read it, it is safe to say that Amy and Roger Epic Detour is still my favorite book by Morgan Matson.

The book has a great start. Taylor who is the main character goes to a lake house with her family as a way to say goodbye to her father. It is their last summer together before he dies. But then memories start to float back to surface. And readers are taken back years ago when that lake house was her life. Where she met her first boyfriend and lost her best friend.

The book is about finding broken parts and collecting them. It leaves you wondering if things can go back as they were. As much as this book was about correcting your past mistakes and enduring the obstacles that many goes through, it was very predictable.

I knew what was going to happen midway reading this book. There were no plot twists. This took away the fun in finding out the ending.

However, Taylor's family stood out to me. They were strong in the midst of the new changes that they were going through. I hope everyone who reads this book, feels better. And I think this is the aim of the book is to inform its readers that they are not alone.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

2013-10-14T15:39:00.000-07:00

The setting of this novel is very unique, giving it an edge that is hard to find in many novels. I think Shadow and Bone will be easy to remember its details when reading the second book because I dont recall ever reading a book with a similar theme. I think that’s what stood out for me.

Of course there were parts that I wanted to skip but they were necessary to understand the details of this world. At the same time, I wished there were more history given to us and more about the ruling structure in this world. That would have been great. But I think the world will be clearer in the second book (I hope so!). That is why I am so eager to read the second book.

I didn’t feel the romance between Alina and Mal. I saw them as siblings more than anything else. That’s why I had hard time getting into them. However what happened between them towards the end of the novel-the sacrifices-might had convinced me, a little, of their love. But, still, I need more.

The cover is iconic. I mean I am pretty sure you've noticed it in the bookstores. You probably stopped, picked it and read the synopsis. Its stands out which makes it the perfect cover for this book to sell and become more marketable.

Overall, it was a great book but it would have been perfect if extra details were incorporated throughout the novel. And if the love between Alina and Mal was given more time to develop because I felt like it was rushed. I needed more time to understand and feel the romance aspect of the novel.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

2013-10-07T19:53:00.000-07:00

This book was a little boring in the beginning. But then towards the last 200 pages the pace was very fast, leaving me in awe after each chapter. Here is the thing:I didn’t know anything about this book until I started reading it. I am not one of those people who read the synopsis beforehand. I just heard that it was a great book and so I had to read it.

It circled around Germany before and during World War II.How this war was a lot to take…not on the world but on the Germans. What I really liked about this novel is that it focused on the Germans during this devastating period of time. And especially on the book thief. The book thief is the main character of this book and we witness her growth over the years.

She suffered the sight of watching her brother dying. And this had impacted her for a very long time. Then she developed a passion for reading. But there was one problem: BOOKS WERE FORBIDDEN. Apparently Hitler didn’t like books so everyone was forced to throw all their books to a pile. That pile was later to be burned to ashes. That however did not add a single flame onto The Book Thief's passion. The Book Thief had the willingness to sacrifice her life for a book.

This book really showed me how it was like back then. The clock kept ticking in 2013 but my whole being was in the late 30s and early 40s.

I don’t recommend this book to people who don’t like history and politics. I mean I like history but this book took forever to explain or discuss anything historical.

Fun fact: of course there were a lot of German words thrown here and there. I don’t know German but I recognized the word "Leader" and "My Struggle" in the German language. I remembered them from history class in high school. Did I mention that I love history? And so that made me feel proud.

The writing style was just amazing. I mean that last sentence was a great way to end this book. I even tweeted two quotes from the book. So many great meanings and lyrical words.

The first thought that came to me after finishing this book was "I gotta check out more of Markus Zusak's novels."

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

2013-09-23T15:25:00.000-07:00

I need the third book of the series now. (Note this review was written in May)

Ever since I read Ruby Red in 2011, it left me with this love/pain. I kept thinking about Gwen. And how I just rooted for her and completely loved this main character. I wanted her to win, to be the best. I easily felt sorry for her. And I wanted nothing but happiness for her. The author had created a very smart and witty character and she makes her sound like a teenager. Taking references from the trendy pop culture and the way Gwen invoice her thoughts makes her real.

I dont know how the author did this. But she skilfully made this book sound and feel so real to me. It was not just ink on paper. It was real. I could feel myself.

The second book came with awesome-packed stuff. The events Gwen attended. All this time travelling made me think...is it really possible to travel through time and space? How? And the author here gives you the time and space to think about it but at the same time, makes it seems like every day science.

Now onto my favorite part, Gideon. I love him. He is the best male character. Again, I cannot stop thinking about him since book 1. And in book 2, the author just gives me all I need. His so many sides and angles. He is simply a human being (in terms of making mistakes). And every time Gwen fights with him, I just go to Switzerland. And that last scene kills me every time I think about it.

I love this book. Beautiful. And I really wished all of Kerstin Gier's books got translated because I would like to read everything she had written so far.

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

2013-09-16T16:45:00.000-07:00

As we all know, I loved Shatter Me. In fact it was one of my favorite reads in 2011. This made my expectations for Unravel Me go up the rooftop.

The number one thing I loved the most in Unravel Me was how every character stood out, turning them all into main characters. I felt like they were all essential to the storyline and I don’t usually feel that way. Like, in novels where they are love triangle, I get to only think and care about the 3 involved. However in this book I cared about each one of them, liked them and memorized their names. I have the worst memory but I still could recall Castle, Kenji , the Twins, etc.

The one thing I didn’t like is that I didn’t feel anything towards James this time around. I am leaning more towards Warner, even though I shouldn’t be. James was just boring in this installment. Really. So I had no choice but to look forward to Warner's part every time I turned a page. From book 1, I have been leaning towards Warner but Juliette was disagreeing with me. And she is finally listening to me in this book. I had to yell on top of my lungs for her to hear me. I mean Warner is a bad guys, but lets not forget that no one was born with pure evilness in their bloods. Warner just needs a chance. And I really like how the author made the relationship among the 3 so complicated even more. I was just going " no oh nooo. That cant be happening. I didn’t see that. What why?"

You talk to yourself a lot, reading this book.

I also felt like the writing style had changed too. Not sure if that is a bad or good thing. Just thought I should mention it.

Finally, I want to say that I'm super excited for book 3.

5 Centimeters per Second by Makoto Shinkai, Yukiko Seike (Illustrations), Melissa Tanaka (Translator)

2013-09-09T16:39:00.000-07:00

When was the last time I reviewed a manga? That’s right. NEVER.

Not because I don’t read them, but because I never thought of reviewing them. But this manga had to be reviewed on my blog because it was that good.

To start off, this manga was based on a movie. I mean what are the odds of reading a book that is based on a movie. So this got me really excited before even starting the manga.

The thing that really captured my interest is how realistic the story is. It doesn’t try to cover up the ugliness of events that many of us, humans, have to go through. It was so raw and it slaps you with the truth and that is…

Technology had made things easier for us…easier than intended.

You want to break up with someone, text your love.

You want to confront someone, call your friend

You want to quit your job, email your boss

We don’t do things face to face anymore. And in my own opinion the manga discusses that perfectly.

The illustrations in this manga are beautiful. There are many characters that we see growing up and the good illustrations made it easy to follow.

I must say though that it had an open ending. I wanted to flip another page but I just simply couldn’t because there was nothing to flip. I guess we have to come up with our ending. And I see it as a happy ending, regardless.

I totally recommend this book.

New Project: Translated Korean Books

2013-09-02T15:33:00.000-07:00

Many of you had noticed my new interest in the Korean language. I am trying to learn it using as many resources as possible. As a result I became interested in the culture dynamics too. And I figured the best way to thoroughly understand a culture was by reading its literature. So I decided that after learning how to read Korean, I should read books in Korean (makes perfect sense, right?). But as of now I will be reading translated Korean books.

This is to broaden my horizons as a reader. We tend to read books that are in our native language. Ignoring a world filled with beautiful books written in other languages. And I know it is hard to learn a new language. It takes time and effort. Or even to get familiar with norms of a culture that you don’t know anything about.

So I will start a project (on the blog) where I review Korean books or books about South Korea.

But you don’t have to wait for my reviews to know about Korean books and this is the point of this post.

Today I will help you to take your first step towards reading translated Korean books:

Lately I have been listening to a Korean radio show called "Catch the Wave" hosted by Adrien Lee. This show is dedicated to everything Korean from its drama and movies, food and more. But most importantly is the Open the Book segment with Professor Charles Montgomery. In this segment, they discuss Korean books that have been translated or not. From this segment I had formed my number 1 guide on all Korean books that I shall be reading in the near future.

So if you are interested, here are 3 different ways you can listen to the show:

1) If you have iTunes, search "Catch the Wave" and subscribe to the podcasts

2) Go to their official website to listen to the podcasts without having to download anything

3) And if you want it all live, click here

I very much enjoy this show. I obviously don’t just listen to this particular segment of the show. But it is my favorite. I can't put enough emphasis on how you should read translated books. After all my favorite YA book was originally written in German (Cough *Ruby Red* Cough).

Have you ever read a translated book? What was it called?