We read books

Book Review: Damona and Other Stories by Glory Abah

2018-07-14T16:46:00.002+01:00

Book 24 of 26 for 2018.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the Author, Glory Abah in exchange for an honest review.

The book is a collection of short stories which covers various themes including prostitution, marriage and marital issues, love, magic and spirituality amongst others.

The first story was about marriage and marital issues and it kept me at the edge of my seat. The couple in the story were about to split their marriage and they had gone to the family court for this. It reminded me of how nosy and wicked others can be when it comes to the marriage of others around them. I loved it a lot. It not only had unimaginable plot twists, it ended in a cliff hanger-a brutal cliff hanger which I absolutely love.

The story that made up the book title-Damona, is about a girl who could see into the spirit world. The story was very fast paced which I really liked as there was no time to beat around the bush. In this chapter, the girl saw an evil spirit hanging on the roof of their house which to her, symbolized danger. She tried to warn her parents about it but she was ignored. Before the end of that day, her mum was killed by her dad and this changed her life forever. It was an emotional story for me and like other chapters, the cliff hanger was amazing.

There was the story about the young lady who had failed JAMB about the 4th time while her younger brother had left her behind and gotten admission into the university. There were two stories about runs-girl parole gone wrong.

The story I loved the most however, was about a rapist who got stabbed as he almost raped a young girl. For some reason, it gave me hope that rapists will get to their end before they can succeed in their evil plan.

Likes about the stories: Brutal cliffhangers and Amazing plot twists.

Dislikes: The book was too short (that’s not a bad thing!). It simply means that the book is sooo good, I did not want it to end.

Recommended for those looking for a quick and entertaining read on different themes.

Luckily, the author is giving away free copies of this book in e-book format. Follow the link to get your copy.

Rating: 4/5

The Miseducation of Obi Ifeanyi by Chinedu Achebe

2018-06-25T10:08:00.001+01:00

Book 21 of 26 for 2018.

This book was given to me by the Author in exchange for an honest review.

The book is a story about family and family values. It centers around Ifeanyi Obi and his family-both nuclear and extended.

Obi, a Nigerian raised and living in America gets married to Nkechi also a Nigerian born and raised in America. Although they’re able to love one another and flourish in their marriage despite economical and financial challenges, Obi’s family values and beliefs are clearly different from Nkechi’s. This difference in values often cause conflict between Obi’s Mum and his wife and it also doesn’t help that Obi sometimes hang with the wrong crowd. Nkechi on the other hand doesn’t seem fazed by Obi’s Mum’s opinions about different things.

They seem to all live well and fine until one of Nkechi’s friends Ogechi, is about to get married. It turns out that Obi’s dad the strict African disciplinarian dad is not as clean as he is as a secret from his past threaten to tear his family apart.

I really liked the story line as it presents an African family both from the modern and young perspective as well as the older and more conservative perspective. I also loved the plot twist towards the end of the book and at the end of the book-I definitely did not see that coming.

What I would have loved to see-how did Chinwe-Obi’s sister’s relationship eventually fare?

Recommended for those looking for a quick read about a typical Nigerian-American family.

Rating: 4/5

Books Review: Books 14-19 of 26

2018-05-28T13:11:00.000+01:00

It's been a while I posted as I've been quite swamped with work. Around March this year, I got 2 jobs (1 Full-time and another part-time) these in addition to selling books and making crochet items for sale have taken quite the bulk of my time. Although I'm still learning how to balance the four roles in the best possible way, I've somehow been able to squeeze time out to read. Between the last time I did a review and the time of writing this post, I have read a total of 6 books and I'm currently on the 7th (almost done with this).

The books are:

A Woman's Body is a Country by Dami Ajayi (14/26)

The Ivorian Miracle by Chinelo Mgbeadichie (15/26)

Losing my Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way by Richard Branson (16/26)

Cracking the Gentleman's Code: A Guide to Becoming the Job 29 Man by Kgomotso Mamello Motshidi (17/26)

The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles (18/26)

The Alchemist by Paulo Coehlo (19/26)

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Current read, which will make 20/26)

I've been thinking of how best to post the reviews without giving you guys too many posts at a time or too long a post to read. So, I'm just going to do a summary of each (the best way I can) below.

Title: A Woman's Body is a Country

Author: Dami Ajayi

Genre: Poems

About: The book is a collection of poems on several topics including the current state of Nigeria, the missing Chibok girls, love and more

Rating: 4/5

Title: The Ivorian Miracle

Author: Chinelo Mgbeadichie

Genre: Fiction

The book is not yet released so I can’t provide further information but it does count towards my reading challenge.

Rating: 4.5/5

Title: Losing my Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way

Author: Richard Branson

Genre: Biography, Business

About: The book tells the story of Richard Branson’s journey towards and in entrepreneurship starting from how his upbringing and his parents impacted positively on his thoughts and way of life.

Likes: The author was open in discussing the various challenges he faced in business and how he surmounted them.

Recommendation: Business owners and entrepreneurs

Favourite quote: It’s only by being bold you get anywhere

Rating: 5/5

Title: Cracking the Gentleman's Code: A Guide to Becoming the Job 29 Man

Author: Kgomotso Mamello Motshidi

Genre: Christian/Spiritual

About: In this book, Kgomotso tells the story of her late brother Katlego who lived an absolutely Godly and inspirational life.

Likes: I loved that the author was open about sharing how her brother was able to live this Godly life mainly through fellowship with his family and studying God’s word. My take home from the book is that it’s possible to lead a Christian life regardless of how perverse one’s immediate community and environment might be.

Recommendation: Those looking to improve their spiritual life.

Rating: 3/5

Title: The Science of Getting Rich

Author: Wallace D. Wattles

Genre: Inspirational/Finance

About: The book discusses principles on how to get rich by doing things in a certain way

Likes: The book was very straightforward to read-no beating about the bush.

Dislikes: The author is of the opinion that poverty is a sin. I don’t think this is right. While I don’t think anyone wishes they remain poor, I don’t get the rationale behind labelling poverty as a sin.

Most important points for me: I can and should make the most of myself and do so now, be grateful, and be diligent

Favourite quote: “The answer to your prayer is not according to your faith while you are talking but according to your faith while you are working”.

Recommendation: Those looking to improve their finances

Rating: 3/5

Title: The Alchemist

Author: Paulo Coehlo

Genre: Inspirational

About: The simple message behind this book is: ‘Follow your dreams’

Most important points for me:

Know your purpose in life
Seek to live out that purpose
Don’t be so distracted by side things that you totally veer of course
Don’t be discouraged by hurdles and slow movement

Criticisms

The author says "Non-living things have a soul". I do not agree with this: Non-living things do not have a soul!
The author also says “When you want something, the universe conspires to help you”. Personally, I don’t think so

Favourite quote: “There’s only one way to learn, and that’s through action”.

Rating: 4/5

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Going forward, I'll try to post a review as soon as I finish a book.

Until next time, Keep Reading!

Temi The Book Peddler

Photo Credit: The Alchemist - BuyOye.pk | Cracking the gentleman's code: WestBow Press

Book Review: I am Malala-How One Girl Stood Up for Education and changed the world

2018-04-09T10:00:00.000+01:00

Book 13 of 26 in Readathon with OA

Book Title: I am Malala: How One Girl Stood up for Education and Changed the World

Author: Malala Yousafzai with Patricia McCormick

This was the book for the month of March in my book club. It is a short read as it took me a few hours to complete.

The book tells the story of Malala and how she stood up for education with the support of her family and friends despite threats and even an attempt on her life by the Taliban.

The writing style was easy and had a good flow. I liked that the story was told by Malala herself and she was real and open in her story telling. She was able to talk about her regular life as a teenager, her friends, and squabbles with her brothers, while her story about activism was also real.

I like Malala and her voice for girl child education (she has a page on Instagram where she tried to raise funds for this). Despite her age, she is aware of the benefits of educating the girl child as she has been exposed to how women in villages with little or no education fare when compared to those in bigger cities and countries who have access to this. One other thing I loved is how her father encourages her to speak up, write and read and he also played his part by starting a school and speaking to people who could help. Lastly, I loved how she sees situations and takes positive lessons from it-she's really strong and amazing.

I was sad that she was shot by the Taliban but I'm happy she and her family are in safer place.

Some lessons I picked from the book:

Family support is great especially during exceptionally trying times
Whether we like it or not, as parents our children look up to us and pick up some habits and life opinions from us
When fighting for or against anything, tenacity is important
Activism is not just about talk, action is necessary
Some actions by our enemies may seem harmful sometimes but it could lead to better opportunities too sometimes
Age is never a barrier

I hope she continues her fight for girl child education.

Blurb: When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley in Pakistan, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education.

On Tuesday, October 9, 2012, when she was fifteen, she almost paid the ultimate price. She was shot in the head at point-blank range while riding the bus home from school, and few expected her to survive.

Instead, Malala's miraculous recovery has taken her on an extraordinary journey from a remote valley in northern Pakistan to the halls of the United Nations in New York. At sixteen, she has become a global symbol of peaceful protest and the youngest nominee ever for the Nobel Peace Prize.

I AM MALALA is the remarkable tale of a family uprooted by global terrorism, of the fight for girls' education, of a father who, himself a school owner, championed and encouraged his daughter to write and attend school, and of brave parents who have a fierce love for their daughter in a society that prizes sons.

I AM MALALA will make you believe in the power of one person's voice to inspire change in the world.

Rating: 4.5/5

Book Review: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

2018-03-26T13:01:00.000+01:00

Book 12 of 26 in Readathon with OA

Book Title: How to Win Friends and Influence People

Author: Dale Carnegie

This was the book of the month in my place of work and although it took me a long time to get through it, it is really an easy read if you can take time to sit and read.

The book is divided into four parts and each part contains principles on how to relate with others. The parts and principles are summarised below:

Part 1: Fundamental techniques in handling people
Principles:

Don't criticise, condemn or complain
Give honest and sincere appreciation
Arouse in the other person an eager want

Part 2: Six ways to make people like you
Principles:

Become genuinely interested in other people
Smile
Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language
Be a good listener. Encourage others to talk about themselves
Talk in terms of the other person's interest
Make the other person feel important-and do it sincerely

Part 3: How to win people to your way of thinking
Principles:

The only way to get the best of an argument is to avoid it
Show respect for the other person's opinions. Never say, 'You're wrong'.
If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically
Begin in a friendly way
Get the other person saying, 'yes, yes' immediately
Let the other person do a great deal of the talking
Let the other person feel that the idea is his or hers
Try honestly to see things from the other person's point of view
Be sympathetic with the other person's ideas and desires
Appeal to the nobler motives
Dramatise your ideas
Throw down a challenge

Part 4: Be a leader: How to change people without giving offence or arousing resentment
Principles:

Begin with praise and honest appreciation
Call attention to people's mistakes indirectly
Talk about your own mistakes before criticising the other person
Ask questions instead of giving direct orders
Let the other person save face
Praise the slightest improvement and praise every improvement. Be 'hearty in your approbation and lavish in your praise'.
Give the other person a fine reputation to live up to
Use encouragement. Make the fault seem easy to correct
Make the other person happy about doing the thing you suggest

In summary, I think the author is simply advocating taking into consideration the feelings and opinions of others before we speak, think or act towards them.

I liked that the book had realistic and relatable examples.

Although I'm not sure some of the principles would work in my current location-Lagos, Nigeria-I'm sure they can tweaked to suit different situations.

Rating: 4.5/5

Book Review: Starting Up In Business Networks

2018-03-04T07:34:00.001+01:00

Book 11 of 26 in Readathon with OA

Book Title: Starting Up in Business Networks: Why Relationships Matter in Entrepreneurship

Editors: Lise Aaboen, Antonella La Rocca, Frida Lind, Andrea Perna, and Tommy Shih

The book is a compilation of research studies on the importance of relationships and networking for entrepreneurship.

It covered several topics such as how startups can initiate relationships, third actors in a business relationship, and the role of policy makers and universities in the lifetime of startups.

Key lessons I picked up include:

Developing new business relationships is critical for startups
New business relationships can be formed with several actors including customers, suppliers, ambassadors and policy makers
When startups initiate business relationships early, it helps them save time in processes such as product design and development
Ambassadors are important for startups
Relationships provide a sense of direction with regard to which products and relationships should be further developed
In any startup, innovation does not end if the entrepreneur believes in the long-term business case
Your customers can help you learn negotiation
Universities need to contribute to the growth in the number of Startups
Startups can start from universities through processes such as research, labs and its variance
Startups are the bedrock of the economy of any Country
Policymakers in government and industries are important for startups but their effect may also be negative if they are corrupt or do not understand the role or aims of these startups

I like that the book used examples of startups taken from different parts of the world such as Italy, Sweden and China.

I'll recommend the book to entrepreneurs especially those who are just starting out and are willing to learn the rudiments of business relationships and who might me important to their business. I'll also recommend this book to policy makers and university professors as it will help them understand their unique roles in the life of any startup.

Rating: 4/5

Blurb

This book offers a novel perspective on starting-up new business ventures through examining the process by which they become part of the existing business environment. The book highlights the importance of inter-organizational business relationships. Asserting that new ventures need to interact and connect with customers and suppliers, alongside policy actors and universities, Starting up in Business Networks demonstrates how beginning a new venture demands initiating and developing business relationships. Noting a lack of prior research into the process by which start-ups embed into an existing business network, this book presents examples from countries such as Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands and China to analyse the emergence and evolution of start-up business networks.

Blurb credit: Amazon.com

Book Review:The Small Print by Abimbola Dare

2018-02-26T14:13:00.000+01:00

Book 10 of 26 in Readathon with OA

Book Title: The Small Print

Author: Abimbola Dare

The story is about two marriages and how they coped and survived (or not) in the face of adversity.

The first couple, Wale and Jennifer got married on a contract basis-Wale needed Jennifer to get UK visa and British Passport. When Jennifer started acting crazy and obsessed with him, Wale ran away from their home, he got a job in another town but Jennifer tracked him down and things turned awry from then.

The second couple, Bode and Sade got married out of genuine love for one another. A few years after their wedding, they didn't have any children, Bode's insecurity issues began to surface and things went down the drain from there.

Likes: I liked that the story touched on real issues that face marriage such as financial challenges, lust, insecurities, family interference, societal expectations, and infertility.

Dislikes: At some point, the story began to feel a bit cheesy and too long. For instance, Sade met with a random person (Mr Nathan Briggs) on her flight back to Nigeria, they got talking and Nathan managed to convince her that his wife (Ada) had told him that the Lord (God) said Nathan would meet someone on the flight and he should bring the person home. In reality, why would I meet someone on the plane (or anywhere else for that matter) and follow the person home based on the person's (or another person's) conviction? It just felt strange. Which brings me to another point. Ada narrated some of the marital challenges she had faced during the first few years of she and Nathan's marriage, although that was before either of them became christians but Nathan was abusive in different ways to Ada but she choose to stay. In a way, I felt like Ada was condoning Domestic Violence also, she hinged the success of Bode and Sade's marriage on Sade alone. In my opinion, both of them had a role to play in how their marriage works out.

While the story mirrors real challenges a married couple face, it also seemed to accept the societal misconception that the success of any marriage depends solely on the woman. I think authors including christian authors have a role to play in correcting some of these marital misconceptions but I did not see anywhere in the book where the author tried to correct this. Although the story portrayed all the characters with their flaws, but I was disappointed that Sade and Ada were solely responsible for praying their husbands out of whatever demons they were fighting, yes a married couple should pray for one another, but Sade was overburdened and judged for the outcome of the decisions of two grown adults. Another misconception I did not like from the story was that Nigerian high society weddings don't last as per the story of Bode and Sade. I think this is wrong too. Every marriage regardless of the economic or societal status of the couple have their own challenges and it's not as a result of their status.

In the end, it felt great that Wale and Jennifer forgave one another and moved on with their individual lives, and Sade and Bode also eventually reconciled.

Rating: 3.9/5

Blurb

A desperate need. Ambitious illegal Immigrant Wale Ademola has the perfect solution to avoid deportation: a contract marriage to attractive stranger, Jennifer Lennox. Nothing could possibly go wrong- that is until Jennifer makes a demand that threatens to jeopardize Wale's greatest desire. A seductive mistake Sheltered Christian housewife Sade Williams thinks nothing of secretly working behind her husbands back. When a devastating discovery at home causes Sade to question the integrity of her marriage and faith, she turns to her charming colleague, Wale for comfort. And then the unthinkable happens... A deadly obsession. Embittered by a wrecked contract and a shattered heart, Jennifer Lennox sets on the warpath of vengeance... Twisted in a web of infidelity, deceit and lies, three individuals must battle insurmountable challenges- on a journey across two continents- to discover that it is in the midst of despair, confusion and desperation that God's unconditional; all- consuming love shines the brightest.

Blurb credit: Goodreads.com

Book Review: Everyday is for the Thief by Teju Cole

2018-02-16T16:50:00.001+01:00

Book 9 of 26 in Readathon with OA

Book Title: Everyday is for the Thief

Author: Teju Cole

Never judge a book by it's cover. When I picked up this title, I wrongly assumed a thief was or set of thieves were going to be caught but I was so wrong. However, I think the author used the title metaphorically in the sense that there are so many issues that steal normalcy away in the Nigerian society. Some of these issues include bribery and corruption, poor electricity, decaying infrastructure, armed robbery, thuggery, over zealousness in religious matters at the expense of common sense.

Each chapter in this book was dedicated to these issues as the narrator told stories that covered this issue.

What I loved most about the book: Dissecting issues on the Nigerian society as a way to make the reader think deeply and dissuade the reader from accepting the prevalent mediocrity we find living with us. My take home from this book was that mediocrity is a thief, the biggest thief we find in Nigeria. For it's mediocrity that makes us accept the substandard as a way of life.

Rating: 3.9/5

Blurb
A young Nigerian writer living in New York City returns to Lagos in search of a subject-and himself.
Visiting Lagos after many years away, Teju Cole's unnamed narrator rediscovers his hometown as both a foreigner and a local. A young writer uncertain of what he wants to say, the man moves through tableaus of life in one of the most dynamic cities in the world: he hears the muezzin's call to prayer in the early morning light, and listens to John Coltrane during the late afternoon heat. He witnesses teenagers diligently perpetrating e-mail frauds from internet cafes, longs after a woman reading Michael Ondaatje on a public bus, and visits the impoverished National Museum. Along the way, he reconnects with old school friends and his family, who force him to ask himself profound questions of personal and national history. Over long, wandering days, the narrator compares present-day Lagos to the Lagos of his memory, and in doing so reveals changes that have taken place in himself.

Copies available for sale

Blurb credit: Goodreads.com

Book Review: What it Means When a Man Falls from the Sky by Lesley Nneka Arimah

2018-02-13T11:10:00.000+01:00

Book 8 of 26 in Readathon with OA

Book Title: What it Means When a Man Falls from the Sky

Author: Lesley Nneka Arimah

The book is a collection of thirteen short stories. These stories centred around family ties and covered different topics such as broken relationships, death, trauma, abuse, societal expectations etc.

The chapter I was most captivated by is the chapter titled Wild. This chapter tells the story of a teenage girl named Ada who was raised outside Nigeria but when she became a little rebellious, her mum sent her to Nigeria to spend some time with her Aunty so Ada could straighten out a little. While in Nigeria, Ada met her Dad's ex, Grace Ogige at a function. Grace Ogige is the typical Nigerian Aunt who knows how to point out the flaws in others and use it against them. Grace attempts to do this to Chinyere, Ada's cousin who is a single mum, but Ada stands up to her. In the end, Grace wins, Chinyere gets angry and leaves Ada stranded at the party, and Grace asks to take Ada home. By the end of the story, Ada and Chinyere might just have become friends but that is hard to tell because the book does not say so.

No chapter in the book ends conclusively. This way, the reader is left to imagine the end which is mind-blowing.

Likes: I like the way all the chapters ended.

Dislikes: What I didn't like about the book is that the chapter which makes the book title tells a futuristic story. The chapter somewhat predicts what will happen in the year 2030. As I don't like futuristic books, that chapter was quite cumbersome for me to read.

Lesley's tone of writing is very brilliant. She can discuss different themes in fascinating ways and that made the book a lovely read.

Rating: 4/5

Favourite Quote: This is what you get for asking a godling to do the work of a god.

Blurb:
A dazzlingly accomplished debut collection explores the ties that bind parents and children, husbands and wives, lovers and friends to one another and to the places they call home.

In “Who Will Greet You at Home,” a National Magazine Award finalist for The New Yorker, A woman desperate for a child weaves one out of hair, with unsettling results. In “Wild,” a disastrous night out shifts a teenager and her Nigerian cousin onto uneasy common ground. In "The Future Looks Good," three generations of women are haunted by the ghosts of war, while in "Light," a father struggles to protect and empower the daughter he loves. And in the title story, in a world ravaged by flood and riven by class, experts have discovered how to "fix the equation of a person" - with rippling, unforeseen repercussions.

Evocative, playful, subversive, and incredibly human, What It Means When a Man Falls from the Sky heralds the arrival of a prodigious talent with a remarkable career ahead of her.

Copies available for sale

Blurb credit: Goodreads.com

Book Review: Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi

2018-02-11T13:55:00.000+01:00

Photo Credit: Book Cover

Book 7 of 26 in Readathon with OA

Book Title: Woman at Point Zero

Author: Nawal El Saadawi

There are some books you read and no matter how short it takes you longer than necessary to finish, not because it’s boring but because one has to take a pause to think deeply about certain portions before one resumes reading, this is one of them.

I liked the storyline of the book and as one who has some firsthand experience of societal patriarchy, some of the events which happened to Firdaus, the main character, are very relatable.

The story centers around Firdaus who was forced into prostitution and eventually murder. The story takes us through Firdaus narrating her experiences in various stages of her life first with female genital mutilation, then sexual assault in the hands of her uncle and childhood playmate, her mum’s physical abuse in the hands of her father, the death of her parents, then the events which eventually lead up to her prostituting herself first through a pimp then on her own.

Life made her tough and she even found pride in being a prostitute. She saw herself better than other women around her because she wasn’t bound to any man either by marriage, employment or any form of relationship. She saw herself as a free woman and treated herself so but her experiences in life made her hate men.

The event which made her life go down the drain was so painful. A man had forced himself to become her pimp but she didn’t like it and she eventually killed him. After this, she was imprisoned with a death sentence hanging over her. Even though she had the option of appealing this sentence, she chose not to because according to her, ‘If I go out once again to the life which is yours I will never stop killing. So what is the use of my sending an appeal to the President to be pardoned?’ At the point, I was so heartbroken 😭 and shortly after she was taken away by the prison wardens.

Photo Credit: Goodreads.com

Reading a story like this without getting heartbroken is so difficult. Sometimes I wish I could wrestle the characters out of their state of mind but unfortunately, I can’t. This story underscores the tough experiences a lot of women go through due to poverty, wrong interpretation of religious beliefs, patriarchy, and the urge to control another person’s life or freedom.

Favourite quote: “...during life, it is our wants, our hopes, our fears that enslave us”.

I’ll rate it 4.7/5

Book Review: How Laziness saved my Life by Okechukwu Ofili

2018-02-08T10:55:00.000+01:00

Photo Credit: Okadabooks App

Book 6 of 26 in Readathon with OA

Book Title: How Laziness Saved my Life (Part 1)

Author: Okechukwu Ofili

Ah, this book, where do I even begin?

I got a free copy of the first part of this book from the OkadaBooks app. Although short and easy to read, I don't recommend devouring it in one sitting. It's a book you should read, stop, meditate, then come back to read and when you eventually finish it, be sure to practice what you have read.

Each chapter of the book has a quirky yet catching title. It starts with a story from a personal experience and then goes on to relate it to realities in life and the world of business. The chapter I loved the most was 'What Drug Dealers Can Teach Us About Social Media'. In this chapter, Okechukwu points out that drug dealers are never crack consumers themselves because of the associated addiction to it. According to him. 'The reason is ADDICTION! If the crack dealers got addicted to the product they sold, they would be more interested in consuming it as opposed to selling it. And when a product like crack is consumed by its own seller in an addictive mode, chancers are they would smoke the crack lords out of business!'. From this illustration, he goes on to point out that it is so easy to get addicted to and carried away by social media but in doing so, we are consuming the products of other users without advertising or putting up our own products. This addiction to the use of social media could hamper our own business and personal growth.

Other chapters in this book are similar to this as the author introduces different business concepts, then goes ahead to show how we can be better at them as individuals and business owners. Some of these concepts include: customer services, employee-employer relations, time management, productivity, and efficiency amongst others.

I'll recommend it to Business owners looking for a quick but detailed read on how to take small steps to improve their workplace.

Favourite quote: If you as an employer have a poor process in place at your organization or institution, there is a large probability that your employers and customers will be dissatisfied and frustrated.

Rating: 5/5

Book Review: The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

2018-02-05T13:55:00.000+01:00

Photo Credit: Me

Book 5 of 26 in Readathon with OA

Book Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

I was gifted the 3 books in this set by a darling friend shortly after my Master's Graduation in 2014 (can I call it a graduation gift then?). Before this, I had read the book as part of a book club I joined while in Uni and even watched the movie adaptation but I couldn't bring myself to read it the second time and I felt guilty about it.

Photo Credit: Sarahfairbairn.com

After giving myself what I considered sufficient time between the period of my first reading and the next time I planned to read it (aka 3 years), I decided to pick the book up again. Although it was easier for me to read this time as I was able to imagine the characters better, I have to say that reading the book is way better than watching the movie

Photo Credit: amreading.com

Favourite quote: May the odds be ever in your favour

The book is based on a fictional post-apocalyptic city of Panem which consists of the Capitol and 12 Districts. The Capitol is where the elites and all the luxuries exist while the citizens of the other districts are subjected to a life of poverty, hopelessness and bondage. Asides using hunger and food rationing to keep tabs on all their citizens, the Capitol also uses peacekeepers (somewhat like the police), and the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a reality show where two tributes are selected from each district, kept in an arena and out-survive each other basically through hunger and by killing each other. These tributes are usually between the ages of twelve to eighteen.

In the first series of the book, it's time for the 74th Hunger Games, Prim Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are selected as tributes to represent District 12 but Katniss Everdeen steps in to volunteer on behalf of her sister. While at the arena, Peeta plays the role of a lover boy to Katniss much to her annoyance. Katniss on the other hand is forced to kill some of the other tributes as a means to protect herself. Towards the end of the game, the rules are changed to allow two tributes from the same District win instead of one. This forces Katniss to seek out Peeta and become an ally to him. When she finds him, he is badly wounded and she nurtures him back to health while protecting and providing for both of them, and playing the role of a lover girl, which she is not really open to. By the end of the Games, they both survive but not without defying the authorities of the Gamemakers.

Recommended for Teenagers and Young Adults.

Rating: 4/5

Blurb: Winning will make you famous, losing means death. In a dark vision of the near future, twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live TV show called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed.

When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister's place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

Blurb credit: Back cover of the Book

Have you ever been Book-Shamed?

2018-02-04T13:53:00.001+01:00

Photo by Syd Wachs on Unsplash

I am part of a Facebook Group where we talk about books. We post our current reads, 'bookish' memes, photos of our current book haul, book fairs, etc. Earlier this week, I was scrolling through posts on the group and I came across a post where one of the members asked if any of us have ever been book-shamed.

First what is Book-Shaming?

According to urbandictonary.com, book-shaming is 'To shame someone about what they are reading. To make one feel guilty about the book they are reading and enjoying.' (Urban Dictionary, 2015).

Examples:

Your colleagues at work or school shame you because you prefer reading to watching TV or a random hang out with them.
Another book lover shames you because you prefer one genre of book over another.
A friend shames you because you have too many books (apart from overspending on books when there are other important priorities such as your school books or children's school fees etc.).
A book nerd shames you for being unable to read a certain number of books within a specific timeframe

These are just some examples and I do not imply that watching TV or hanging out with friends is a bad thing.

After I read the post and accompanying comments, I realised several people have been book-shamed in their lives. One of the members admitted that whenever she goes to the lunchroom at her place of work during her break time, she takes the opportunity to read and she has experienced situations where her co-workers make fun of her for reading when she could be watching TV or doing something else.

I was amazed, and I realised that I have been book-shamed almost all my life. I have sometimes been shamed for reading too much, or for preferring one genre of book over another, and more recently, for being 'introverted' despite that I read a lot (according to the person-because I read a lot, I should have learnt to be more extroverted).

Thinking about it, I realised that a lot of times, people project to you an image of what they expect of you and how they think you should be and if you fall short of their expectations, you are shamed for it. So next time you're shamed for anything as harmless as reading a book, remember that it is just another expectation of you and you don't have to live up to the standards of anyone. You were created to fulfil God's purpose for you and reading (or any other hobby of yours) might just be a way of getting there.

Have you ever been book (or hobby)-shamed? Tell me about your experiences.

Book Review - Laying the Foundation for a Great Future by Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

2018-01-31T08:43:00.000+01:00

Book 4 of 26 in Readathon with OA (Book 3 was a re-read from last year, review here)

Book Title: Laying the Foundation for a Great Future

Author: Chinaemerem Joshua Ibezim

Favourite quote:

"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams"

-Eleanor Roosevelt

The book is a quick and easy read. It teaches and reinforces basic principles on how to build and prepare one for a better future. It discusses different principles on a chapter by chapter basis.

I liked that the book was short and easy to read, it took me less than two hours of continuous reading. I also liked that for each principle the author suggested, there were practical examples of people one can relate to in terms of said principle. For instance, in the chapter titled 'The Donkey in the well'. The author used a well-known story of the donkey that fell in a well and the owner tried to bury it alive, but the donkey used each shovel of dirt as a foundation to get out of the well. Asides this example, the author also cited the example of the Father and Son Duo-John and Washington Roebling who had dreamt of connecting New York and Long Island via a bridge. While working on this project, a fatal accident occurred which led to the death of the father and paralysis of the son. This did not stop the son from carrying on with the project. Through his tenacity and patience on the part of his wife, they were able to develop a communication code which the wife interpreted to the engineers thereby leading to the eventual completion of the bridge.

I'll recommend it for Teenagers and Young Adults.

Rating: 4/5

Blurb: The essence of this book is to help you lay the foundation for a great future. You can be among the top ten in any area of life that you choose to feature in. There will be many hurdles to run over in your quest to fulfill your dream but if you take the right steps and persist, victory, success and all you have ever dreamed of is certain.

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review

Blurb credit: Goodreads.com | Image Credit: Author

Book Review - The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

2018-01-23T19:43:00.000+01:00

Book 2 of 26 in Readathon with OA

Book Title: The Picture of Dorian Gray

Author: Oscar Wilde

*Spoiler alert: This review contains spoilers*

The first few chapters were a hassle to read. It took me a long time (I started reading it since 2017), but I gradually started to enjoy the book when I got to the middle portion of it.

The book is deep as it contains lots of philosophical quotes on life and religion.

It's about a young man, Dorian Gray whose portriat (picture) was taken by an artist Basil Howard. The portrait was magical in that after it was taken, Dorian's soul entered (for lack of a better word) the portrait while the beauty of the photo came upon Dorian's face. As Dorian grew older, his bad actions were reflected on the portriat while his face remained young.

I like and disliked Dorain, he broke the hearts of two different girls (insert *side eye* emoji), he corrupted everyone around him to the point that people started avoiding him. However, he remained beautiful facially, and he was also a classy and intellectual man.

His best friend was Lord Henry. Lord Henry was also an intellectual but he contributed to Dorian's corruption. Some years later, Basil Howard the artist who drew the portrait of Dorian came by Dorian's house to ask for the portrait so that Basil could take it to Paris for an exhibition. Dorian killed him and got someone to get rid of the artist's body. He also got rid of any evidence that could link the murder to him.

The day Dorian decided to change his behaviour and become a better person, he went to the room where he kept the portrait and began stabbing it. That's how he died.

The end.

Favourite quote: "Laughter is not at all a bad beginning for a friendship, and it is far the best ending for one."

I told you the book is deep (insert *smiling* emoji), so if you want to end a friendship, just laugh although I don't know how that will work.

Rating: 4/5

Blurb: Written in his distinctively dazzling manner, Oscar Wilde’s story of a fashionable young man who sells his soul for eternal youth and beauty is the author’s most popular work. The tale of Dorian Gray’s moral disintegration caused a scandal when it ﬁrst appeared in 1890, but though Wilde was attacked for the novel’s corrupting inﬂuence, he responded that there is, in fact, “a terrible moral in Dorian Gray.” Just a few years later, the book and the aesthetic/moral dilemma it presented became issues in the trials occasioned by Wilde’s homosexual liaisons, which resulted in his imprisonment. Of Dorian Gray’s relationship to autobiography, Wilde noted in a letter, “Basil Hallward is what I think I am: Lord Henry what the world thinks me: Dorian what I would like to be—in other ages, perhaps.”

Blurb credit: Goodreads.com | Image Credit: Me

Book Review - 5th Grade Screams: The Roaming Dead by Frank Livingston and Janee' Livingston

2018-01-23T19:32:00.003+01:00

Book 1 of 26 in Readathon with OA

Book Title: 5th Grade Screams: The Roaming Dead

Authors: Frank Livingston and Janee' Livingston

I was given a copy of this book by Livingston writing for review, so it's not available on my 2018 Reading list.

The book is a children's book and very easy to read both for children and adults. It's about 3 friends, Jean, Nix and Eddy, whose town witnessed an invasion of zombies (called reanimated in the book) and Big Foot. The book talked about the bravery of these 3 and their families in accepting these visitors.

I liked that apart from having some elements of hilarity in it, the names of the characters were also strange. For instance, Jean's Dad was named Wzen and her mum was One of Three.

I never look out for quotes in children's books, but this one got me:

“Just because we don’t understand them doesn’t make them monsters or even a threat. These roaming dead are just as shocked as we are. They are trying to figure out where to go."

It's a great thing to teach kids to be accepting of others and I believe everyone can learn from this.

I loved that it was a short book-44 pages, I think this would make it easy for children to handle and guess what, it goes for $0.99 only and it's available through the link in their Instagram bio @livingstonwriting

Rating: I'll rate it 4.5/5

Blurb: Fifth Grade Screams is a lighthearted middle grade school book.

Blurb Credit: Goodreads.com | Photo credit: Livingston writing

2017 Final Reading list

2018-01-23T16:31:00.002+01:00

In 2017, I set different reading goals for myself, first it was to read 24 books, then I joined the Readathon with OA challenge where the aim was to read 52 books i.e. one book per week. Although, I eventually read 41 books, I had a reading list which served as a guide for me.
In this post, I have listed the 41 I eventually read with a link to the review of some of them:

Born on a TuesdayBy Elnathan John
Who Moved my Cheese by Dr Spencer John
The Monk Who sold his Ferrariby Robin Sharma
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Miracles from Heaven by Christy Wilson Beam
Le Pendentif by Sylvie Lainé (this is a French book)
Your idea can make you rich-BBC Dragon's den (this is excerpts from a TV show)
L'homme à têtê de cheval by Sylvie Lainé (this is a French book)
I married you and not your family and nine other relationship myths that will ruin your marriage by Dr Linda Mintle
La Sirène by Sylvie Lainé (this is a French book)
Amazon master: the secret to successful selling on Amazon.com by the Richdad company
The art of creative thinking by John Adair
The Seven habits of highly effective people by Stephen R. Covey
Igniting consciousness: Nigeria and other riddles by Remi Sonaiya
And After Many Days by Johwor Ile
Keeping Faith By Jodi Picoult
Mexico By Josh Barkan (Review copy from Blogging for books)
Daybreak Nigeria: This Nation must By Remi Sonaiya
Men of like passions by Iremide Akinsola
The Smart Money woman by Arese Ugwu
Stay with me by Ayobami Adebayo
Death of a temptress by P.F. Ford (I got a free copy from the author)
Lean in: Women, work and the will to lead by Sheryl Sandberg
Dear Ijeawele, or a feminist manifesto in fifteen suggestions by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Seriously I'm kidding by Ellen Degeneres
50 billion dollar boss: African American women sharing stories of success in entrepreneurship and leadership by Kathey Porter and Andrea Hoffman
The Carnivorous City by Toni Kan
Here and gone by Hayley Beck (also review copy from Blogging for books)
And the mountains echoed by Khaled Hosseini
Mrs Unmarried by Chinelo Mgbeadichie (Review copy by the Author)
Beyond Blue by Toluse Dove Francis (Also a review copy by the Author)
What it takes by Lola Akande
A tale of two cities by Charles Dickens
I know why the caged bird sings by Maya Angelou
Easy motion Tourist by Leye Adenle (this one broke my heart)
Just a coincidence by P.F. Ford (I also got this as a free copy from the author)
How to be a Nigerian by Peter Enahoro (this one is hilarious)
Alice's in wonderland by Lewis Carrol (please don't ask me why I read a children's book 😣)
P.S I love you by Cecelia Ahern
Around the world in 80 days by Jules Verne
The secret letters of the monk who sold his Ferrari by Robin Sharma

Thank you for taking time to read this, please visit here for my 2018 Intended Reading list.

Book Review - How To Be A Nigerian by Peter Enahoro

2017-10-23T11:57:00.000+01:00

(Hand Model: Me)

This book was given to me by my amazing fellow book worm and crochetier cousin, Adeola Ogunsusi, who swore that it was life- and laughter-giving, and I totally agree with her. She was also right when she said that the author's sense of humour is out of this world, it truly is.

Credit: Adeola Ogunsusi (@contrary_jane on IG)

The book is a very short read as it took me about 75 minutes to complete. The book although written in 1966 by Peter Enahoro, gives a true reflection about Nigerians and the Nigerian society which doesn't seem to have changed much. Each chapter of the book contains facts about who a Nigerian truly is through instances such as the noise we make both in person and through objects such as loud speakers and generators, the way we greet one another, our courtesy in entertaining guests, how we try to make peace after a fight, and even in the way our intellectuals write in the newspapers, except today, I think newspaper should be replaced with social media and blogs.

One of the chapters I was most fascinated by was titled Etiquette. In this chapter, the author talked about how Nigerians choose to invite (or not) their host to sit at the table to have a meal with them. Sometimes, the meal may not be enough to go around, but the host is too embarrassed to keep eating while the guest just sits and wait. So, the host performs the Nigerian type of courtesy. In his words:

"Good breeding demands that he proffers an invitation. But...
YOU ARE NOT INVITED
If your host says:
(a) We are just wahing our fingers.
(b) Will you have something to eat?
(c) Have you recently fed?
(d) Join us, altough I doubt if you will take this broth.
(e) You meet us in peace."

He goes on to tell when a guest is invited to partake in the meal:

"YOU ARE INVITED
If your host says
(a) Please sit with us and let us give praise to God.
(b) Your steps have guided you right.
(c) Your prayers are answered."

This and many other portions of the book got in me in stitches.

I would recommend to both Nigerians and Foreigners alike, and I'll give it 4.8 out of 5. This is therefore book 37 of 52 for 2017.

Have you read this book? What are your thoughts?

Book Review: Just a Coincidence by P.F. Ford

2017-10-16T12:05:00.000+01:00

Photo Credit: pfford.co.uk

There are some books you read and you ask yourself questions like: What was the author thinking? Why did he start or end the book this way? What goes on in the mind of the author from day to day? Why are the characters this way? Why does the author write like this? These and more were questions I had in mind when I was reading this book.

The book is the second in a crime series novel (read review of the first here), and is about the murder of two sisters and the daughter of one of them. I got a free copy of this book from the author, and the image below perfectly describes my feeling after I read the first.

Photo credit: Bookish Buzz on Facebook

To be honest, although I liked the story, I didn't enjoy the author’s writing style and I'll give some examples.

Example 1:

Slater had not been best pleased when Murray had passed the case on to him.

"But, Boss", he had protested. "This isn't me. I want something I can get my teeth into."

"That would probably be a very effective way of stopping a flasher," growled Murray, returning to his paperwork. "But I'm sure it wouldn't meet the approval of the health and safety people."

Now, while the last statement was an amazing joke (you should read the book to understand the joke), the first part where Slater was protesting and the author broke the sentence into two just to tell that he was protesting sounded a bit off to me. In my opinion, that part felt like a line from a story book meant for children, and that was how I pictured the protest to be honest. (Am I too harsh with this review?).

Another Example:

"I mean queue, as in 'wait your bloody turn, I'm next'," said a big-mouthed man without taking his eyes from the action within the car. "I've had to wait over a week to have a go with Blonde Bobby because of this friggin' police investigation closing the car park, so you can just sod off and wait your turn."

Like I wrote earlier, breaking up a sentence to indicate an action seemed a bit off.

The book ends with the reader getting to piece together who killed who from the entire storyline which is not bad.

This is book 36 of 52 and I'll rate it 3 out of 5 stars. Average rating on Goodreads: 4.2/5.

Book Review: Easy Motion Tourist by Leye Adenle

2017-10-16T11:53:00.000+01:00

Photo Credit: Amazon.co.uk

I totally loved reading this book until I realised the book was almost getting to the end and the 'supposed main investigation' was never going to happen.

Photo credit: Bookish Buzz on Facebook

I was so upset about this, I had to rant on Instagram and Facebook.

Instagram rant

At this point I'm totally clueless about what to write as I don't yet have the closure I want about the story. So, I'll just put the book blurb below:

Guy Collins, a British hack, is hunting for an election story in Lagos. A decision to check out a local bar in Victoria Island turns out badly-a mutilated female body is discarded close by and Collins is picked up as a suspect.
In the murk of a hot, groaning, and bloody police station cell, Collins fears the worst. But then Amaka, a sassy guardian angel of Lagos working girls, talks the police chief around. She assumes Collins is a BBC journo who can broadcast details of the city's witchcraft and body parts trade that she's on a one-woman mission to stop.
With Easy Motion Tourist's astonishing cast, Tarantino has landed in Lagos. This page-turning debut crime novel pulses with the rhythm of Nigeria's mega-city, reeks of its open drains and sparkles like the champagne quaffed in its upmarket districts.

I'll rate it 3 out of 5 (just because I'm still upset about the way it ended), and it is book 35 of 52.

By the way, this book was a gift from 2016 Christmas which means I’ve become a book hoarder!

Average rating on Goodreads: 3.8/5.

Photo Credit: amazon.co.uk

Book Review: I Know why the Caged Bird sings by Maya Angelou

2017-10-16T11:24:00.001+01:00

Although I know a thing or two about Maya Angelou, I've never read any of her books (does this make me a bad book geek?). I read this book because it was our September book of the month in my book club, and it is therefore book 34 of 52 for 2017.

In my opinion, the book is a somewhat comical glimpse into the life of Maya Angelou's childhood. In the book, she talked about what it was like growing up in Stamps, Arkansas with her brother, grandmother, uncle, and other black folk. She also talked about what it was like growing up as a black kid during the time of segregation in America. Here's an excerpt:

“In Stamps the segregation was so complete that most Black children didn’t really, absolutely know what whites looked like. Other than that they were different, to be dreaded, and in that dread was included the hostility of the powerless against the powerful, the poor against the rich, the worker against the worked for and the ragged against the well dressed. I remember never believing that whites were really real….”

Some parts of the book also included how pious her paternal grandmother and most black folks were. There was a part of the book where her grandmother whooped her for saying 'by the way' because Jesus is 'The Way' and by saying 'by the way', she had called the Lord's name in vain (what?). Her dramatic descriptions of some religious activities which took place in her community as well as the thoughts of individuals around her about God and religion gave me some interesting views about religion then and now.

The saddest part of this book for me was when she got raped at age 8 by her mother's boyfriend, I was so distraught, as I kept wondering how she coped. She stopped talking after that incident and didn’t start talking again until a few years after. I liked that her mother was a very open-minded and free-spirited woman who allowed her children grow up without being caged by societal pressures and expectations. The book ended with Maya getting pregnant out of sexual curiosity, at that point I rolled my eyes and asked, 'What is wrong with you?'. I loved reading this book and was thoroughly entertained through my reading journey.

I'll rate the book 4.4 out of 5. Average rating on Goodreads: 4.2/5.

Photo Credit: amazon.com

Book Review: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

2017-10-16T10:50:00.000+01:00

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair”.

I got a free copy of this book and some other classics from iBooks. When I first started reading this book, it was a bit complex as my reading brain found it quite challenging to visualize some portions of the book, so I did an online search for the junior edition. Luckily, I found a free copy which was in form of a comic book. I read this version in less than 30 minutes, then went back to the original version, this time my reading brain began to pick up, the characters formed easily in my head and I could complete the book.

The book which is a story about the French revolution was set in France and England and it tells the story of a former prisoner and his son-in-law during this period. The prisoner was a Doctor who was imprisoned because he reported to the relevant authorities some bad things a man and his brother had done against a peasant family. He was eventually released from prison after about 15 years, he finally met his daughter for the first time, she got married to the son of one of those evil brothers from his past (he had no idea), this son-in-law was saved from prison and death sentence twice. I can't even begin to summarise what happened as it is a bit complex with a lot of weaving in and out of stories. Although it was not a love story, it ends with a man sacrificing his life for another (like Jesus).

I found the book (un)intensely dramatic and not so straight-forward to read, but reading the book made me understand some reasons behind the French revolution better. Since I mainly read books with stories for pure entertainment, I’ll definitely read more classics in future as I have a better view about them, some of which are: they teach history, they help one understand nations, tribe etc and why people are the way they are.

My biggest lesson from this book is this: People have always been oppressed by the ruling class (or aristocrats) but when they get tired they eventually there is the the possibility of chaos and anarchy.

I'll rate the book 3.8 out of 5, and it is book 33 of 52 for this year although I’m not sure if I’ll get to number 52 anymore this year.

Goodreads average ranking: 3.8/5

Photo credit: Wikidownload.com

32 Books in 30 Weeks-My 2017 Reading Journey

2017-07-29T10:56:00.000+01:00

This year like every other, my aim was to read 24 books, but since joining the #readthonwithoa challenge on Instagram with Ope Akinbo where the goal was to read one book per week, I had to double my reading effort. When I initially joined the challenge, I thought it was going to be impossible for me to achieve this, but we're currently in week 30 and I have read 32 (and half of two different) books so far (let me digress a bit, there's an amazing person I follow on Instagram who has read 108 books this year as at the time of writing this post, follow her here on Instagram).

In this post, I will be sharing how I have been able to read more despite a very busy schedule and I really hope you find these tips useful:

Find your favourite book genre: There are so many book genres out there such as Crime, Romance, Sci-fi, Inspirational, African literature and so on, find the one(s) you love and stick with it. Personally, I like most book genres apart from Sci-fi, so I never force myself to read Sci-fi books.
Always carry a book with you: No matter where I'm going, there's always a book with me, and if I can't go out with any other thing except my phone, there are two apps installed on my phone which I use for reading-Amazon Kindle and iBook app.
Reduce TV time: I know this is hard to do as some of us are TV junkies. I'm a crime series junkie, but I cut down my TV time drastically (my husband is not too happy with me about this because I forced him to upgrade our DSTV subscription, but I have watched TV even less)
Schedule a reading time: Take time out of your extremely busy schedule to read every day even if it is as little as 5 minutes-this quickly becomes a habit.
Make good use of social media: If you're short of ideas about what to read, search on Instagram using hashtags such as #books, #bookstagram, #bibliophile, #bookstagrammer, etc, you'll be surprised the number of readers in the Instagram community who read, discuss and post their current reads. Also, following authors, publishers and bookstores on social media will give you ideas on what to read next which is better than scrolling endlessly through social media.
Join a book club: Joining a book club made me read one extra book each month because we all must discuss about the book at the end of every month, and it's not fun to be left out in such discussions.
Talk about books: One of my favourite people to have bookish discussions with are my bookworm cousins, trust me it's amazing their level of intellectual reasoning
Have a reading list: Every new book I want to read goes to my endless reading list. This means I always have something to read (my reading list for 2017 can be found here).
Do a book swap: Books can be expensive, but sometimes it helps if you do a book swap with others, that way you don't have to buy a book but you can read more without limitations. However, if you're not comfortable lending out your book, please don't do this.
Read book reviews: Sometimes deciding on which book to read can be a bit tricky, and at other times, if a book you're currently reading is not enjoyable, it will help if you read reviews from other readers on platforms such as Goodreads and Amazon.
Write a review: If you can, write a review about a book, it helps you remember what you read about the book and you're also helping some other reader decide on whether to read a book.
Attend bookish events: If you can, attend book events such as book festivals, author tours, and book reading events. That way, you get to network with other readers, as well as authors, bookstores, and publishers. Sometimes, you could even get a free book or discount prices on books.

So, that’s my 2017 reading journey so far and how I have been able to pull through. Do you have other tips you have used and would like to share or maybe you’re currently facing some challenges with reading, how can I help?

Book Review: What it Takes By Lola Akande

2017-07-10T13:16:00.000+01:00

A friend gave me this book to read when I told him I wanted to embark on a PhD program here in Nigeria.

What It Takes tells the story of Funto Oyewole, a middle-aged lady who decides to embark on her PhD program at the fictional university, National University of Nigeria, Abuja, shortly after losing her job at the federal civil service. She assumed a higher qualification would get a better job but she was so wrong.

She started and finished the program quite alright but it was not without crazy experiences. First, her process of getting a faculty member to accept to supervise her work was hilarious and sad, there was the male sexual predator, then the materialistic woman, before she was eventually accepted by a faculty member who she had no idea was a terrible ethnic bigot until another PhD student informed her of this and she personally experienced difficulties from him.

Her supervisor was very mean and she deployed means such as corrupt inducement and physical appeasement to get the man to look at her work. Despite these, the man was not willing to read her work.

Although she wrote her thesis within the first two years of her program, she spent about 11 years in total before she graduated. In this period, her daughter had graduated from secondary school and university (lets not forget strike actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities), and she had even started her NYSC (National Youth Service Corps) before her supervisor finally had time to read her work.

Funto was lucky she had someone to sponsor her program as I can't imagine how she would have managed if she did not have a good friend to put her through.

I think this story tells the typical challenge most individuals go through in order to secure a PhD program here in Nigeria and this is very sad. Although there were some parts of the story which was funny, it made me really have a re-think about doing my PhD in Nigeria.

I like that the story mirrors the struggles of securing not just a postgraduate degree, but any degree at all here in Nigeria. I also liked that the story subtly touched on other societal challenges such as poor electricity supply and highway armed robbery.

What I did not like from the story is that Funto had siblings, but she did not seem to have any relationship with them. I think that in the average African family, relationships are closely knitted I was therefore surprised that there was no communication at all between them.

I rate the book 3.5 out of 5 stars, and it's book 32 of 52 for 2017.

Book Details

Blurb:

What it Takes is a sad, vivid expose, of a typical Nigerian University doctorate programme that gleefully cannibalises the best of its own. It is a story of discouragement of excellent academic pursuits, depicting the prevalence of favouritism, ethnicity, nepotism, corruption, lust, needy culture and other negative tendencies currently ravaging the knowledge industry in Nigeria.

The Heroine, Funto Oyewole, a middle-aged and ambitious woman, tells her own story about her dreams, hopes, aspirations, enthusiasms, disappointments and misery as a doctorate student, and how her zeal, high energy and enthusiasm are gradually replaced by frustration and despondency, which hasten her aging process, as her hope of earning a PhD through hard work becomes increasingly elusive.

Number of Pages: 316

Publication Details: Kraftgriots, November 2016.

Photo credit: Me | Book detail credit: goodreads.com

Book Review: Beyond Blue By Toluse Dove Francis

2017-07-06T08:49:00.002+01:00

I don't like to drop one book to read another, instead I just flip through the new book and come back to it later, but when I got a copy of this book and flipped through it, I put everything else aside to really read and comprehend it.

Beyond Blue touches on a topic that is hardly addressed in Nigeria-Grief, and its many different forms such as the loss of a loved one, job loss or any other event that could throw one into that state. I have to give kudos to the author because apart from carrying out research on the topic, he also related his own experience while grieving the loss of some loved ones, and I think that might have contributed to him writing the book.

The book helps the reader understand what grief is about and how to deal with it either as one grieving or providing care for someone who is. I was able to relate to this book as I have also lost some people who were close to me in the past.

I like that the book is a very short read as it took me about one hour to read. I think this is good because a grieving person or care giver may not be in the mood to read and a short read which is apt and concise on how to deal with the present circumstance will do just fine.

I'll recommend it to anyone who wants to understand what to do and how to cope during grieving in case the need for it ever arises.

I'll give it a 3.5 out of 5 stars, and this is book 31 of 52 for my 2017 reading list.

Book Details
Blurb: At one point or the other in our lives, we all find ourselves passing through grief, either a major one or minor. Beyond Blue is written for you - whether you're personally going through grief or helping someone recover from the impact of grief. This short but powerful book will lead you on the path out of grief, loss or depression. Incomplete recovery from grief can have a lifelong negative effect on our capacity for happiness. Drawing from my personal history as well as from others'. In this book, the author illustrates how it is possible to recover from grief and regain your mental health.

Publication Details: Published June 14th 2017 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Disclaimer: This book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review

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Book details and Photo credit: goodreads.com