A Book...A thought..

EONS

2020-05-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

I forgot about this blog. I sincerely completely forgot!

It is not that I haven't been reading...that would be a travesty! I am ashamed at having ignored this pace for so many years. Myself...I am ashamed of you! This blog is mainly for my own consumption though and it helps or was meant to help me remember the books I have read and what I thought of them.

What I currently reading? I finally got my hands on a copy of Trevor Noah's "Born a Crime". Next on my reading list is "Becoming" by Michelle Obama. I have resisted reading these books for a long time because at some point...it all felt like a reading fad. But I do admire both of them greatly and am glad I am finally coming round to reading the books!

I promise not to be that person who abandons a blog for 6 years!! Gosh damn it....who even does that? I will be back....

Meet Him at the Shack

2014-03-16T16:02:00.002-07:00

God.

Almighty. All knowing. Omnipresent. Feared. Revered. Also. Scary. Far off. Full of Wrath. Judging. All powerful.

My views about God are as above and more. Well..not until recently. After reading the Shack by WM Paul Young. My view of God has changed. Suddenly, God was no longer this quagmire in my mind...a God that I could not understand ....who I sometimes... I think... does not understand me either (I don't blame him).

I first attempted to read this book in December of last year but I stopped after a few pages. A few months later, my sister pointed out to me that I was yet to read it despite desperately begging to borrow it...so i started off again .Boy...was I in for a ride!

At the beginning, I paid little attention to what I was reading...reading yet not absorbing much. Until God showed up as a BBW (Big black woman). I sat up in bed and truly paid attention. When the book came to an end, I was ...different. I looked up and had a conversation with God like never before. Yes, I know there has been a lot of controversy over the book with many mainstream preachers condemning it completely and accusing the author of heresy. I don't care for their opinion much.

For me...it was a breadth of fresh air...an epiphany of sorts. Cathartic even. My heart is still moved at the memory of it all.

God .

Approachable. Loving. Warm. Non-judgmental. A friend. A father. Open. Down to earth. Someone I want to know. Someone I NEED to know!

Meet him at the Shack.

High Sprited Arabian Nights

2014-03-16T15:33:00.001-07:00

One of my friends handed a copy of this book and simply said "I know you will enjoy it" and I did.

The book is a wonderful read and completely opens up the doors to a world that has been and continues to be mysterious and shrouded in secrecy.

Many of us will know that the treatment of women in the Arab world is..well...different to say the least. I personally had never been exposed to the detail of it. Until now.

The best part of this book is the ability of the author to bring out many of the injustices whilst telling a wonderful story of the Arabian Princess. After reading this book, I will never again take the simple freedoms I enjoy as a Woman for granted. One is left admiring the spirit of Princess Sultana. High spirited...to put it mildly!!

One word for it (may be two)...eye opening! I can't wait to read the sequels.

Once in a life time....

2013-11-20T12:59:00.001-08:00

My first thoughts when I laid my eyes on this book were......looks interesting. 15 minutes into the book and I had to stop and glance at the cover again. That's when I noticed " MAN BOOKER PRIZE WINNER 2008". Am not sure what I was looking for when I looked back at the cover...but I did find my answer.

Aravind Adiga is a highly skilled author. He paints a very clear picture of India in it's true everyday realities. Reading this book reminded me of one thing. We are not in control of our circumstances. We certainly are not in control of the world around us. But we are in control of our thought processes....of our dreams....of the goals that we so desire to reach. We can change our lives by changing our thinking...our view of both ourselves......the immediate world around us...and the sometimes imagined limits imposed by the society around us.

I certainly do not approve of how the main character & narrator Bramal achieved his dreams and severed himself from poverty....but I admire the courage it took for him to cut off the chains of such deep set poverty...a poverty of the mind that afflicts many.

One thing I know for sure..I will read it again! Like the White Tiger...I think this is truly a "once in a lifetime" book!

My favourite quotes from the book are: -

“I was looking for the key for years
But the door was always open”
― Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger

“The moment you recognize what is beautiful in this world, you stop being a slave”
― Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger

“So I stood around that big square of books. Standing around books, even books in a foreign language, you feel a kind of electricity buzzing up toward you, Your Excellency. It just happens, the way you get erect around girls wearing tight jeans.
"Except here what happens is that your brain starts to hum.”
― Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger

“You ask 'Are you a man or a demon?' Neither, I say. I have woken up, and the rest of you are sleeping, and that is the only difference between us.”
― Aravind Adiga, The White Tiger

311 Pelican Court

2013-10-12T16:25:00.003-07:00

Debbie Macomber is my solution for romance novels. Typically, I would be ashamed of being caught reading one simply because society has declared that women who read romance novels inadvertently commits a sin of sorts. Unfortunately, sometimes society is right. Such novels create the kind of relationship illusions that would lead to a woman living in a delusional world. A world where all men are tall, dark and handsome and no matter what, there will be a happy ending that involves a big wedding and some whisking away into the sunset. There very likely will also be a six pack, ruggedness and a wild black horse involved too!

In the world of romance novels, breakups only exist until the one party quickly comes to their senses and discovers that the other party was their soul mate and they could not possibly live without them. If this was reality, the world would be a sorry place in deed. Breakups are a necessary part of life and many times provide an unexpected escape from a life with someone totally unsuited for the other party.

Debbie’s novels are not devoid of such delusions entirely. I find that the levels of delusion are a little less deeper than in most romance novels. When I find myself in need of being rescued from the depths of relationships pessimism….a Debbie Macomber is the perfect rescue indeed.This book does not deviate from the typical structure of her other books. Debbie has the wonderful ability to intertwine many stories into one, yet still leaving the reader with a feeling of one overall story. I love that and would definitely encourage other readers who are not too averse to the world of romance to buy her books. So there you are...another from Debbie Macomber on my growing list!

In the simplicity, Lies Brilliance

2013-10-12T14:12:00.002-07:00

Baking Cakes in Kigali was a pleasant surprise. It is quite admirable to read books with intricate story lines and plots weaving in and out, up and down, east to west and the like. I am always left in awe when I read such books…in awe of the authors’ obviously intelligent and highly complex mind.

This book is not one of those. Rather, it is a series of stories all centred around one woman who is …you guessed it….Baking cakes in Kigali. The stories are simple, every day stories. The characters in the book, every day characters. People you know…have met…probably live with. People like yourself.

In my opinion, it takes an even more brilliant mind to tell stories simply... with no bells and whistles. To tell them as they are without any spins, twists & cartwheels yet still managing to keep the interest of the reader. Brilliance sometimes comes dressed in simple attire.

Baking Cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin..READ IT.

Baking Cakes in Nairobi

2013-07-19T03:40:00.002-07:00

The truth is..I have never baked anything in my life. It has always been one of those things that was just not me...the baking part...not the eating one. However, I think as I grow older the art of cooking is connivingly attaching itself to me and I find myself thoroughly enjoying it and producing wonderful meals to boost! I suppose that means I need to bake a cake soon. Now my family still find it hard to believe I can produce a great meal. Even when they are seated right there eating it! I used to tell my mum that I had no talent for cooking. To prove it was true, I made terrible meals. Not on purpose though :-)..well at least not all the time. Therefore, it became a written rule. Cooking was not one of my chores as I grew up! Yeah!! On the other hand, I cleaned up pretty well. As a child, I was obsessed with keeping my parents room neat. It was so frustrating because neither one of them had any such obsession with neatness. In fact, they were both very good at creating messes and I was very good at cleaning up after them. Eventually, I stilled myself and managed to stop doing it. It seem like a hopeless task. My mum misses it though :-). Oh yes...back to cooking. So, if I am NOT baking cakes in Nairobi, what is this post about?

Baking cakes in Kigali by Gaile Parkin

To begin with, I need to find out if Gaile is white because if she is...she is doing pretty well telling the story of a Tanzanian woman who has relocated to Kigali with her husband post the genocide..and you guessed it! She is now Baking cakes in Kigali.

Other than attaching the beautiful photo of the book below...I have nothing else to share because am still reading it. Am on page 76 to be exact, so will be back with a bit more detail!

The Common Lawyer

2013-05-30T16:01:00.001-07:00

By Mark Gimenez

I love me some law drama! And this one was no different.

Initially, the books starts off really slow….as in REAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLY SLOW. I almost give up at some point and then suddenly…the pace picks up and it goes up all the way to 200kph till the end.

Andy Prescott is not your typical lawyer. He does not wear Italian tailored suits or drive the larest BMW. He does not work from a posh corner office nor does he live in an upmarket neighbourhood. He does not even handle typical law cases! Andy is just a guy stuck in between college and adulthood…and totally refusing to grow up. He gets by through taking up traffic cases. Andy is brilliant though.

Bang! One day he lands the case of a life time. Too good to be true...and indeed, it does turn out to be too good to be true. I don’t know how to explain the story….there are surprises all over the place. Once you think you have understood the story…it changes and takes up a whole new life of its own. Brilliant writing…though I found the ending rather bland and predictable.

In the end, you realise that Andy is no common lawyer in every sense of the word.

A lost wife’s tale

2013-05-30T15:47:00.002-07:00

By Marion McGilvary

Edith has been married for many years…and then one day, she just vanishes from her life with her husband. She takes up a job as a housekeeper to a divorced publisher…and soon they fall in love.

Little does he know about her past life….She admits to being previously married but lies that her husband passed away. UNTIL…until one day….she is hosting dinner for her boyfriend…when an invited guest comes with her friend….Edith’s husband!

Well ...all hell break’s loose….and she has to run again. From her husband….from her new lover….from everything. It turns out she is really running from her daughter who she gave up for adoption many years ago. That doesn’t make sense to me. Why would anyone do that? i.e. mess up their lives….lie….move around…etc just because they do not want to face their own child? I suppose there are people like that in life..sad.

I honestly didn’t get that bit at all…but would still recommend the book.

Meanwhile...

2013-03-28T05:10:00.002-07:00

I hate starting my posts like this-----> It has been a while...

Am tempted to though, because indeed...it has been a while. And when "it has been a while", it also means it has been busy...it has been crazy...and sometimes it means it hasn't been good either. It is 3 months since my last post and I am deeply ashamed.

The good thing though is I have still been reading and I have managed to read 5 books at least. Not too bad eh?

So let's see how well my memory serves me on the first two...

The Girl Next Door by Elizabeth Noble

The title of the book lies. This book is hardly about the girl next door but more about each and everyone living in an apartment complex in New York's Upper East Side and their lives! I think a more appropriate title would have been "All about the Neighbours" :-) but that not withstanding, it's a wonderful book.

The main focus of the book is Eve who is English and has just moved to New York with her husband who is taking up a high flying job. Soon, Eve finds herself stuck in the house with not much to do (In bloody NEW YORK????). She eventually befriends Violet, one of her elderly neighbours who is originally from England.Violet has lived in the US for a long time.

INTERLUDE: At this point, I rudely discover that a Peanut butter & Jelly sandwich is really just bread with Peanut butter and JAM...Yes..JAM! Why the Americans call it jelly is beyond me. All these years I have secretly relished having one...even anticipating its deliciousness (otherwise why do they...the Americans.... talk about it all the time?). At this point...I think about Chimamanda Adichie's TEDEx presentation on "The danger of a single story". It takes me reading a book written by an English author and set in America to know this basic fact...that there are no pomp and bells involved in a peanut butter & jelly sandwich! Even recalling this annoys me. Back to the story......

What is the essence of this book then? The Author interweaves Eve's story with that of Violet and all their other neighbours. There is the gay couple (for political correctness I suppose otherwise there isn't much to tell about them) one of whom is a lawyer, then there are the single girls (the introvert, the drop dead gorgeous girl and the diva). There is also the rich boy with a trust fund, the perfect couple with two little perfect children and the imperfect couple who hardly speak to each other any more and are contemplating divorce. There is also the old man who hates the gay couple and would send them to hell himself if he could. He later on dies in his apartment and nobody notices until he has been dead for a number of days. The classic American tale. The book is simply a medley of stories and not a moment of boredom!

At some point in the story, Eve gets pregnant and is happy to have something to focus on. As the story progresses and the readers are busy waiting for the wonderful birth of Eve's baby....the author gives the story a twist. Eve goes into premature labour and delivers a baby girl who lives only for a month. At this point of the story....I have to stop reading the book for a little while because as the story unfolds...it only makes me cry. As a mother, I deeply relate to Eve's anguish and pain. I also like to cry every once in a while for reasons that do not involve my own life. It's healthy. A healthy excuse to cry :-) i.e.! To top it all, the author brings out Violet's own pain and anguish story about loosing her husband and her 5 year old daughter. Am happy when the book finally ends and I can stop crying! YES..YES! I cried about fictional characters Elizabeth Noble created in her head but that right there...THAT is the power of a true author.

All in all it is a good read...though not the kind of book that will keep you up late into the night because you simply cannot put it down.

The Marriage Bureau for Rich People by Farahad Zama

Take a good look at the cover. Take another good look. Not exactly attractive...makes you wonder what kind of book this really is. I picked it up...then put it down again but something drew me back and I decided to give it a try. Boy am I glad that I did!

The book is set in rural India. First problem....rural India? Second problem...Marriage Bureau? Still...something keeps me going. And here is why.....

Bored with retirement, Mr. Ali sets up a desk, puts up a sign, and waits for customers for his new matchmaking business. You would think with all the online sites available, a matchmaking business (its all analogue) wouldn't make sense at all. But this is India and that is what makes a difference. Any Indian family with a daughter looks forward to finding a husband for her. Its not easy though due to the deeply rooted cultural beliefs THAT COMPLICATE EVERYTHING. Perhaps I should have been born there...then that would be one headache off my mind. I would only need to know these things;Where, What time, What do I wear? Is he human?

Within no time, Mr Ali's business is booming and he makes his first perfect match...then a second...and a third. Soon he is overwhelmed and needs an assistant! It may all sound easy but there is a lot of complexity involved due to the caste system, family preferences, financial capability etc. Not once does love come into the equation. Soon, Mr. Ali is able to get an assistant, thanks to his wife. This book is really about her story.

I will leave you to find out more if you so wish. When I finally finish reading the book, I have a big smile on my face...a high... fueled by a renewed hope and belief in love. It only lasts for the remainder of my evening....but while it last....I ride the wave for all its worth.

Blistering barnacles!!! (You know what am talking about if you followed the Tin Tin series)....I have 3 more books to talk about! Till next time....

Happy New Reading!

2013-01-09T06:59:00.002-08:00

So, the New Year is here....and with all the expectations that come with the newness and with the fact that it is a Jubilee Year. I plan on NOT getting disappointed and getting all the jubilee I can! If there will be a measure of how much jubilation one has experienced at the end of the year....I plan on being at the top of the list.

I am done with my first book of this year and I will write about it soon..as soon as the pressure from my boss is off for a little while! :-) . Actually, I have to review my last read of 2012..and then get to my 2013 one. Don't worry though...I will deliver :-)

All in all...am grateful for the ability to read. Something we often take for granted. Yes..am very glad that I can read. It is truly... a beautifully PURE gift!!

Happy Reading in 2013!

An unexpected delight!

2012-11-28T02:45:00.002-08:00

Am strolling through the streets of Nairobi, headed to the salon when I came across a street vendor selling second hand books at a more than reasonable price. Of course, I had to stop. I picked up a couple of books for Levi and 2 for myself. The books I picked for myself were randomly chosen. I had not heard of the authors before and I only briefly read the descriptions. One was a love story (I was in need of one) and the other a detective story. Nice balance...don't you think? Between love and crime. Both of these books set me back Kshs 100 (slightly over 1 USD). Unbelievable especially given the pleasure I derive from reading. WAY WAY More than my money's worth!

I read the love story first. As I mentioned, I was in need of soapy, mushy story and this was to be delivered by one through DAKOTA HOME by Debbie Macomber. Turns out it's part of a whole series based on a little town [Buffalo Valley] in..you guessed it. Dakota.

Dakota Home, Dakota Born, Always Dakota, Buffalo Valley etc runs the series. After reading Dakota Home, I must say that I wouldn't mind reading the rest.

The book surprised me simply because it was not based on one love story....but a couple of them between several couples living in Buffalo Valley though one particular story is given prominence. It's a typical story with an unbelievable ending but oh well, what to do. What I liked about the book though was in between one or two love scenes, the author tells the story of the town..its slow death and eventually it's revival. That's the real story actually.

One of the secondary love stories is a story of a single mum who falls in love and the struggles involved especially with regards to her son accepting her new love. The other story I loved is one of reconciliation between a married couple on the road to a divorce. There is also the story of this cocky, rich, handsome heir who is totally thrown off by this beautiful lady who hardly cares if he exists whilst he is used to women falling all over themselves to get his attention.

In conclusion...it's not your usual mundane romance novel and I have had my fair share of those...a carton or two full of Mills & Boons and Harlequins and other titles I cannot even remember.

PLOTS & ERRORS by Jill McGown

Am sure you have all heard of the phrase or cliche' "The plot thickens". Now...in this book....the plot not only thickens, it balloons into a gigantic maze that leaves the reader REELING!

I simply loved it! It's been a long time since I have been tempted to take a book to the loo cos I couldn't put it down...but to the loo we went! The book is based on a thrilling plot based on the rich and wealthy Esterbrook family

Pick it up..if you may and you will not be disappointed. That's all I'll say otherwise I will just spoil it for you. I must mention though that Jill McGown is a real detective...thus I believe, why this story or should I say PLOT is really EXCELLENT. The Esterbrooks do not disappoint.

To quote The Times (London) "McGown always manages to people her books with characters who are entirely believable, fascinating human beings. This is a rare skills....Jill McGown is one of the most seriously underrated crime novelists around". I fully agree.

And now...to my next stop by the Street Vendor's corner.

WHAT DELIGHT!!!

Three choices we make daily.....

2012-10-19T06:09:00.002-07:00

I believe I have heard two leadership guru's say this statement in one way or another...."Greatness is not something that you seek out to achieve as an end result to a process...it is something that happens (or you do) daily"

If one was to critically examine the paths and stories behind great people, for sure the above statement would be confirmed. Greatness cannot be attributed to a single event within ones life. Even though to the outside world, it may seem so....the reality is, a lot of work, thought, effort has happened daily in that person's life in order to culminate in that one single event.

Mandela's triumph in the 1990's when South Africa was freed from Apartheid did not lie in that one single day. It was a long journey that included 27 years in prison. Behind every Olympic gold medal won, you will find hard work, determination, self-drive, tears, pain, hurt, sacrifice..... borne over many many days. I believe you would also agree with the fact that not every greatness story makes it to the headlines...not every hero is celebrated or remembered. Where am I leading to? The book. Everyday Greatness. A book filled with the kind of greatness we never get to hear about or see in the headlines. This type of greatness happens in our lives everyday, with the people around us at home, at work, on the street..everywhere but many times, nobody is there to tell the story, take a picture and shout about it from the rooftop. Yet...greatness happens and it will continue to do so. It's rare to find a book that captures these stories all in one....and I can tell you for sure..I found the book! I found it...I say.

The title of the book has two meanings to me.

1. Everyday Greatness - As in....the day to day things that we do, the choices that we make, the values that we choose that culminate in 'Greatness" as I inferred above.

2. Everyday Greatness - As in.... what we can term as "kawaida" (normal) acts that occur in our lives daily and will never be highlighted in the news or papers, yet matters a lot. The kind of greatness that we casually 'walk by" in the streets without a single glance...the kind of greatness that happens in our homes daily.

When you examine the stories in this book...they touch on either one of the above areas....and sometimes both. I treasure this book very much, not only because it was given me as a gift by someone dear to me at FranklinCovey (Stephen Covey's organisation) but because when I started reading it, the stories touched me so deeply, so so movingly that tears come to my eyes when I remember some of them. ITS A MUST READ and here's why.

Everyday Greatness has a foreword and insights from the late Dr. Stephen Covey but really....it's a combination of stories previously published by the Reader's Digest. To quote Dr. Covey's introduction ...

"Occasionally, the world witnesses a heroic feat or discovers a person with rare talent...But most people know there is another type of greatness that tends to be more quiet by nature, one that generally escapes the headlines. Yet it is a greatness that in opinion is deserving of higher honour, even more respect. I call it Everyday Greatness."

Dr. Covey's introduction further goes into breaking down the roots of Everyday Greatness. He reckons that the answer lies in three daily choices, choices that each of us make every day of our life, whether we are consciously aware of them or not. Those choices are: -

The Choice to Act - i.e. Will we act upon life or will we merely be acted upon?
The Choice of Purpose - Many of us make the choice to act, only to find that we made poor choices - choices that turned out to be of no value to ourselves or to others, some perhaps even hurtful. So alone, the choice to act is not sufficient. To what ends or purpose will our daily choices lead?
The Choice for Principles - Enjoying a life rich in meaning and progress - a life of Everyday greatness - comes only as we live in harmony with timeless, universal principles. Will we live our lives in accordance with proven principles or will we suffer the consequences of not doing so?

Dr. Covey reckons that the people who exhibit Everyday Greatness in today's world - distinguish themselves through their responses to these three choices. The collection of stories he says, is not intended to highlight what others have done or said, but rather to encourage you to examine your own life. What YOU contribute on a daily basis. How you treat people. How you use your time. Whether you are doing good or doing your best. He asks some pertinent questions in ending his introduction.

- Is your life like driftwood being tossed to and fro, or are you instead making your own waves and going in directions you - by choice - want to go?

- To what ends, or purposes, are your daily choices leading? To what ends, or purposes, would you like them to lead?

- Is your life in harmony with timeless, universal principles?

The stories in the book are categorised into 21 different principles like Courage, Humility, Respect, Vision, Innovation, Unity, Empathy etc.

ITS A GREAT READ! Pick it up as soon as possible.

Of Gold, Pride & the River Piedra....

2012-09-05T02:49:00.001-07:00

It's been a long time coming....and this is the last time I want to use that phrase again!

It's been a marathon month for me...August that is. Other than being my birthday month, I had a lot going on both in my professional and personal life....and in between I have only managed to squeeze in a few hours of reading, aside from academic studying.

I have been juggling between three books: -

- John Maxwell's Leadership Gold which is on my Start! Stop! list. I intend on getting it out of that list.

- Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

- By the River Piedra, I sat down and Wept by Paulo Coelho

All three are amazing books. My highlights so far have been: -

Leadership Gold - A combination of the "best" leadership lessons from John Maxwell. Each page, each chapter is full of leadership nuggets and real life experiences that are truly enriching. I struggle with leading people a lot as I would rather NOT but his book is helping me quite a bit and I can see improvements in my leadership skills. What I love about JM is that he is so real and is not afraid to share the leadership mistakes he has made in the past. I also love the fact that this copy am reading was autographed by him...:-).....make its all the more special.

Pride and Prejudice - Am still trying to get over the scramble for husbands in this story....and how a good husband target was first determined by how much he earned a year - interesting how certain things never change, century in, century out. What am loving about this book is the depth and crisp quality of the English....and whilst am reading it, I can't help but wish AND hope that my brain is absorbing the new words....the grammar.

By the River Piedra, I sat down and wept - I started this one yesterday and immediately one can sense the depth that only comes for Paulo Coelho's writing. I could not help but think about how a writer can not give what he or she is not, or does not have. I believe the depth of his work is a reflection of who he is. It's still too early to comment...but all I can say is that it's a love story like no other!

I read on....

A long time coming

2012-07-31T11:10:00.000-07:00

Hi guys!

Boy..hasn't it been a while. Each time I see a copy of "Living History" am reminded of how I haven't finished penning down my thoughts. It's been a busy time....and whilst I have exams around the corner, I feel compelled to finally finish this so that once am fully back post-exams....we can look at a new book...isn't it?

Now...to begin with, I finished reading the book a couple of weeks back and I must say...the details are foggy and grey ;-). Please do forgive me. I rushed through the last couple of pages....dying to finish the damn book! Like I had said earlier....it's NOT an easy, breezy read. Now that am done with the book.....this is what I can say in summary..

She is Human!

Am talking about Hillary Rodham Clinton of course (just in case you are reading my blog for the first time). She is simply human. I can confirm that she had some really good days....some bad days....and some awful days. Like the day she found out from Bill that he had been lying to her all along about the Lewinsky story. She takes the reader behind the scenes to witness a glimpse of her pain...and the fact that she behaved like any other woman....or so we would like to think. The truth is, she controlled her pain, she respected her husband and did not put him down publicly and she took time out to grieve and deal with her pain. She never brought her drama to the public....at least from what I know. And that, people....that is not how every other woman would take it. In times like this, we like to bring the drama on...we turn it to full volume, so that all the neighbours can hear it (at least), see it and sometimes, we take the drama over to the neighbours house too. We rave and rant and want to show the world how "wronged" we are and how "men are all lying, cheating "xxxx". Well, it's normal to WANT to react that way. What takes a lot of effort, grace and maturity is reacting the way Hillary did. She certainly gave Bill a piece of her mind but in the public eye, she carried her pain with maturity and grace. Now, that's a woman I admire. Well...on her humanity again, as you read the book, you will discover she made a couple of blunders and is quick to admit them. So there....she is human.

A Political Power House

Bill didn't introduce Hillary to politics. It was running in her veins all along. She did a lot of work prior to meeting him and continued with it after they started dating and after they were married. I wish I could bore you with the details herein....but one bored person is enough. Let's not spread it to the rest of the world. If you love politics and especially are interested in America's political history, please read the book. It's full of historical details and other nuggets on the Clinton Administration. A part of me found it fascinating and if I applied myself, I would most certainly have delved into it but I chose not to. Perhaps in the next couple of years when I develop a keener interest in politics, I will take time to re-read the book again.

Technical Competence

Loads and loads of it! Pouring out of her ears, nose and mouth...but I suppose you already knew that...didn't you?

Protective Mother

She did her best to keep Chelsea out of the media and constantly protected her against any undue attention.

Sometimes, what we are looking for is an easy read, a light hearted book - this is not it. However, if you are looking for a serious, educative read full of political nuggets....pick up this book now!

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - A tribute to the late Stephen R. Covey

2012-07-17T04:16:00.001-07:00

I first heard of the book from my sister who had interacted with his material. In a word, she told me that I simple had to attend the programme. I never thought that I would have an opportunity to interact deeply with his material, leave alone meet him in person....but only God knows the future....and if he had told me what lay ahead, I would have probably told me "you've got to be kidding".

In 2004, the impossible became possible and I began working with the organization that represented Dr. Covey's organization locally. I got the opportunity to read the book and attend the 3 day programme. As the people who had that privilege can attest - it was and still remains today an absolutely life changing experience! We are not talking about flimsy, self-help mambo jambo but rather deep reaching, practical life principles! His video's were piercing, provoking - honestly, only a blind and deaf person would walk away unchanged because you CANNOT interact with his material and remain the same.

When I finally got to meet him in 2006, it was such a pleasurable experience. He is one of the few people I have met who smiles with his eyes and has such a deep, honest, warm gaze that reaches deep into your heart. I could see immediately, that he lives what he teaches. His first question to me was "Vickee...do you have a boyfriend?" :-). I can't remember what I told him....only that I blushed and blushed! I should have asked him if one of his sons was still single ;-). My colleagues and I spent one and a half hours locked up in a room with him....and we got to share some special moments. One of the funny things he taught us was to not to say "Cheers" as we took photos but rather to say 'Eight" because it's impossible to say "Eight" without smiling. Try it and see! He was warm, kind, loving and an absolute gentleman. Here we are trying the eight thing out!

Say "Eight"! - Nairobi, Kenya

Out of all the 'Guru's" I have met.....I admired him the most. A few years later, I had the privilege of heading the section that oversaw the partnership with FranklinCovey, SA and I got the opportunity to delve deeper into his material around Time Management, Execution, Leadership, Trust etc. Solid...ROCK SOLID is all I can say. Many organizations and individuals globally have greatly benefited from his works. Around execution, I cannot forget the processes I learnt from the "4 Disciplines of Execution" or 4Dx as it is known internally within FranklinCovey. I also had the opportunity to meet him again in Cape Town in 2008.

As a parent, I plan to bring up my son knowing the love of Jesus Christ & his principles PLUS the 7 Habits as part of the life principles that he MUST live by and pass on to generations to come. I have a copy of the " The 7 Habits for Kids", beautifully illustrated and waiting for Levi to learn how to read.

I feel such a deep sadness at his passing but am more determined to make sure that I do the things I have purposed to do around sharing his material. One of the key ones is giving out his books to students who are performing poorly in school and who have given up on themselves as I believe the principles can transform their lives. Here is a summary of the 7 Habits.

RIP SRC...true to your teachings, you have left a strong LEGACY.

I shed tears for you sir.....I truly do!

Other Books by Dr. Stephen R. Covey

The Leader in Me
First Things First
The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
Living the 7 Habits
Beyond the 7 Habits
FOCUS
AND MANY MORE!

For more information, visit www.stephencovey.com or www.franklincovey.com

If you have never read the 7 Habits, go out and buy a copy now!

A Green Bill [Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton)

2012-06-20T23:47:00.002-07:00

I FINALLY got to the point where Hillary meets Bill. I keep wanting to go back to that point. The course of our lives can change drastically…on account of one person. Mind boggling.

Am on page 279 of the book..so clearly, am no longer tempted to leave. Hillary takes us through her early school years, growing up and the friends she makes, going to an all girls college – Wellesley (which she chose based based on the photographs of the campus), all the way through Yale Law School where she meets Bill. Important to note is that she entered Wellesley a Republican and exited as a Democrat. At Wellesley, Hillary’s leadership skills begin to emerge even more and I personally began to understand that there was no holding “her” back. She has always been a strong personality and at graduation from Wellesley, she gives the first ever student address, which lands her the first TV interview and a lot of controversy to boot.

When she decides to go to law school, she applies to Harvard and Yale and is accepted to both (obviously) but cannot seem to make up her mind as to where to go. However, during a visit to Harvard this decision is made quite easy for her. A male law student introduces her to one of the famous Harvard Law professors saying "This is Hillary Rodham. She is trying to decide whether to come here next year or sign up with our closest competitor”. Mr. opinionated & arrogant Professor then responded “ Well, first of all, we don’t have any competitors. Secondly, we do not need any more women at Harvard”. Need I say more? Yale it was! As the saying goes….”You can tell a Harvard man…but you can’t TELL a Harvard Man”.

At Yale, she does a lot of good stuff (boring but impactful) that oh so prepares her for the days ahead as the first lady of Arkansas and as the first lady of the US of A. More significantly, she meets Bill. Hillary says he was hard to miss not because he was so dashingly handsome (the handsomeness was still brewing) but because he looked more like a VIKING than the Rhodes Scholar he was! Donning a reddish brown beard and a curly mane of hair. YES…there is a photo to prove it too. Oh Bill! You looked so Green! You guys probably don't believe me so I will scan it and post it next time.

As I carry on, I come across some interesting facts: -

1. Bill Clinton’s father wasn’t Mr. Clinton or Pops Clinton. His dad died before his was born and his mother later remarried. Interesting….am not sure President Bill Blythe would have sounded very presidential for Blythe was his father’s name.

2. He had a difficult upbringing with an alcoholic & abusive step-father – Roger Clinton who later died but thankfully bequeathed the Clinton name to Bill…otherwise he would have been stuck with Blythe.

3. His first attempt at public office was running for Congress. He lost.

4. He later on was elected as Governor in Arkansas. He lost the re-election two years later, then ran again and got elected. From there...the next ride took him all the way to the White House.

5. Hillary and Bill got married in the living room of their first home in Arkansas.

6. He makes her laugh…still. There is a genuine love there....and a high sense of mutual respect. One giant married to another.

7. He knew he would be President way before ever running for any office and so did many people who interacted with him.

8. Hillary had very bushy eyebrows. Thank God for tweezing! It came to save the world...:-)

Next, I will pick up on their journey to the White House and the early days. Some funny stories in there. Am trying to read very fast…because I want to get to two words “Monica Lewinsky”. Forgive me but its not the juicy story am looking for. I guess am trying to understand WHY. Maybe I’ll find the answer…maybe I won’t. Either way, their marriage cannot be reduced to that one incident. They are both way bigger than a little stained black dress (or what is navy?).

Hillary - I give you lots of credit for the amount of detail and information provided in the book. Wonderfully boring at times...but wonderful all the same!

Salute!

Tiny Gals!

2012-06-20T23:27:00.002-07:00

I wonder if the book would have been famous had it been named so. ‘Tiny gals” as opposed to “Little Women”. I doubt it! Book titles do matter…don’t they?

I came across a e-copy of the book, amongst many other English classics. I was ecstatic! How wonderful! What a find! Reading e-books is not so easy though but am trying. My next investment will be a kindle. Technology calls….but I still find such pleasure in reading through a printed book. Call me old fashioned and I will answer. Yes…am old fashioned. Flipping through a book is more exciting.

Back to Little women by Louisa May Alcott. I am reacquainting myself with the book. I read it more than 15 years ago when some things in the book probably made little sense to me or had no impact. I enjoyed reading it though. Meg, Joy, Amy, Beth. It’s amazing how books can mean something different to you depending on what age you are and what is happening in your life.

I journey on to rediscover these “Little Women”, for indeed they are.

Leaving History

2012-06-08T10:23:00.000-07:00

Ooops...I meant Living History. For that the is the title of Mrs. Clinton's autobiography. I love calling her Mrs. Clinton, although often people liked to think that Mr. Clinton was really Mr. Rodham.

I salute you Ma'am!

Of course she is tough as nails. You can tell that from the very beginning. I can tell you though, am already tempted to "leave" the history. Her story is good but develops slowly in a logical way as opposed to in an excitable way. One needs a lot of patience to read it. You have to be looking for something beyond the surface. Had I not a deep admiration of her, I would have left already. But my feeling is, there is more to this book. I want to keep up with it.

One of the things am looking for is if she is who she is by Nurture or Nature or both. When she describes her paternal grandma, you begin to get a hint that part of it could be partly nature for grandma Rodham is tough as nails too. She scares hammers away, for they would break instead. Her maternal grandma is nothing to write home about...so indeed, I will not write about her. Grandma Rodham is a bit of a control freak and a strict authoritarian. Hillary's dad moves away from home in the guise of getting a job in Chicago but really it is to run away from her. Hillary's mum on the other hand is an exemplary example of surviving adversity. Truly, we always have a choice as to whom we can become. You are who you are because you chose and you choose...every single day.

Am eagerly awaiting the point where she meets Bill, for I will be looking for the beginning of history. World history. I feel strongly that both of them are truly a product of each other.

On another note, I had a sneak preview into "Loosing my virginity" by Richard Branson. Now that's a book I would not leave! NOT AT ALL. That reminds me, I need to raid a certain somebody's library to get a copy. Ever the perpetual borrower I am. Habits die hard though I cannot say its necessarily been a bad one.

Here is a link to the excerpt. Enjoy! http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/books/losing-my-virginity

Next week: More on Nurture vs Nature.

Adios!

A Queer Feeling

2012-05-31T08:47:00.000-07:00

When I picked up Oscar Wilde's "The Picture of Dorian Gray" - I was extremely excited. I have taken a liking to time-honoured English Authors and am thinking of sending a request God's way to transform me into one. I think I may be a few centuries too late though.

Back to being excited. Yes....I was. Very much so. I wanted to devour the book...literally with a high level of concentration and zeal. I wanted to read it so hard, that the words would disappear from the book as I read each one. No more words would be left because they would be hidden in my heart and mind. A part of me really. I did start....but I found that as I turned each page of the book...my zeal waned and waned some more.

Here is why. I found the conversations between Lord Henry and the very gifted painter Basil quite charming..enchanting even. However, I found the topic of their discussion a bit uncomfortable. They used beautiful words......words one would typically use whilst describing a woman. Only that they were describing a man instead. I got a niggling feeling....a queer one. I stopped reading and decided to google Oscar Wilde. A got a queer answer (pun intended). I must be the last person on earth to discover that Oscar Wilde was bisexual and had even been imprisoned at one point for his homosexual activities and activism.

Well, I will not provide my views on the subject. What I will say though...I found it increasingly difficult to continue reading the book. My question therefore is...Is it possible to separate the character and being of an Author, from his or her story? Are the two really inseparable? I would ask the same of Stephen King for example. Let me know what your views are.

In the meantime, this little queer book has now joined the START...STOP! list....and also has the privilege of being listed under NEVER EVER LAND.

I bid you farewell....till the next book. A clue you ask? Mrs. Clinton is all I need to say.

Asante!

PS: Should you care to read it though, you can access an electronic copy here http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/oscar-wilde/Dorian-Gray.pdf

Oscar Wilde

Forced Sabbatical

2012-05-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

Has she really been reading? Seeing the silence, perhaps not. I have managed to sneak in a page of two of "The picture of Dorian Gray" and one story out of "Everyday Greatness". It's not been so bad after all. I have not managed to get a sneak peak into madam Clinton's Autobio. I will schedule a meeting with her and her life next week.

It's been a crazy week this one. Lots of proposals....lots of strategic plans...sales, marketing...product design. I feel like my head is going crazy. At the same time, am really proud of my work. I have quite a bit to write about....but I have not the time. All these thoughts....running around in my head, playing all sorts of games with each other. Think about it as the Crazy Stories Premier League (CSPL).

The teams competing against each other are short stories, true stories, book summaries and the unclassified categories. I wonder who will win....or loose but I hope in the CSPL...all the teams are winners and every one will get their day in the "field". However, I see the final being between the short stories and true stories. May the best thoughts win. Hip hip hooray!

I will be back strongly next week.

The weekend is here! Plan to have a good one.

A go a missing!

2012-05-07T08:57:00.002-07:00

PLEASE HELP !! AM MISSING!

This post is about a book....a MISSING BOOK! I can't seem to find my "Everyday Greatness" book. Big & bulky it is...and I still cannot find it. I last had it two weekends ago....I thought I left it in my room...but it is not to be found there. I have searched and searched in every nook & cranny....in every crook's fanny as well! :-) As usual, I have half a mind to blame Levi....that's what we always do. Any unexplained circumstances or losses....IT HAS TO BE LEVI. Of course that is not always true....but that's only for 1% of the time. I shake with fear to imagine what it would look like post a "levi attack".

So, in other words.....am not sure what am reading this week....I've got to find me a book. Hmm....perhaps a visit to a certain friend will help me unearth her copy of Richard Branson's Autobio...now that would be a lovely place to start!

Mission of the Week: Raid said friend's library.

Wish me luck!

Of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (with two dots above the "e" in Bronte)

2012-05-03T06:27:00.002-07:00

Alas! am not sure what the dots above the E in Charlotte's last name stand for. Somebody better educate me on that.

Anyway, Jane Eyre. What a wonderful find! For some strange reason, I was under the false belief that I had read the book years ago. Turns out I had not. I initially found it in my sister's library. It's an old copy...yellowing pages, musky smell. It does not endear itself to one. I took it to my room and on several occasions, attempted to start reading it. I failed. I couldn't explain why. Then suddenly, on the 1st of May, I found it amongst my things. It had been months since I first picked it up. In that duration, my son Levi had found it and began taking it apart, as he does with everything he comes across. I suppose it's because he is so deeply curious. Almost everything he touches cannot remain the same. Such is his mark in the world. Back to the book. So it was now basically torn. The front cover and several other pages were torn from the main binding of the book. I picked up the two pieces and began to read. I did not stop reading it for the rest of the day and for part of the night. Oh! How I missed those days. It had been ages since I had been unable to put a book down. So gripped with the story line that I could almost forget to do anything else!

I finally finished it yesterday evening in between driving through Nairobi traffic (yes!) and having to stop at the mall on the way home, not because I so much wanted to shop but because I wanted to disappear into the book and finish it. I had an insatiable hunger for it...."What happens next?" "What will Jane do?" Is Mr. Rochester alive?" "How does the story end...Oh help me..how does the story end?".

If you have not read Jane Eyre...it is a classic love story but a realistic one. Not one built upon layers and layers of fairyland ideals and unrealistic happenings. It is as real as I am an African woman...a Kikuyu one. Jane is an orphan, mistreated by her Aunt Reed and her cousins. Finally sent off to a boarding school that sounds so dreary. At some point, half the student population is wiped away by Typhus Fever (I need to research what that is). She finally grows up to be a teacher in the same school and then gets a job as a governess to the french ward of Mr. Rochester of Thornfield Hall (Why were they called halls?). He is a dark, tall man...who is not handsome but seems attractive according to the description. Jane falls in love with him, he with her and they live happily ever after? NO..! Not yet at least. EVENTUALLY....they both admit to their love of each other. Jane thought her dear Edward would marry a beautiful but hideous woman called...hmmm...Miss Ingram. Jane and Edward are to marry...a small ceremony is arranged. But alas! Edward already has a wife..as is revealed in Church. You know that part where they ask "Does anyone have any reason why these two should not be joined"....someone said yes! Edward's wife is a lunatic, locked up at Thornfield's third floor. Jane acts surprisingly calm...but is of course devastated. Why couldn't Edward tell her before they married? Before you get to this part...there are various hints on the existence of a lunatic in the house. I will leave those for you to discover. Back to the story...

Yes, Jane is devastated. She runs away, is helped by strangers (who turn out to her long lost cousins from an aunt she did not know existed). She inherits a substantial amount of money and is now the headmistress of a school. She still longs for her Edward. We don't know what happens to him....but Jane goes to find out. There was a big great fire started by the retched lunatic of a wife! Thornfield hall is burnt down...and Mr. Rochester....Jane's dear Edward is gravely hurt in the fire. He looses part of his arm and is now blind. A recluse in a little house down a valley somewhere...he hardly speaks to anyone and had two servants taking care of him. Am rushing to finish cos I want to get to my most favourite part!

Oh...I cannot seem to find this part that I so favour. I will seek it for another day. Yes! A reason to re-read such a wonderful book. In the meantime...

Jane seeks her dear Edward out...she surprises him...and he thinks of her as a mere dream. For he so longed for her that he went a little crazy...I think. They reunite....and marry. Edward is blind for another 2 years, then slowly he regains the use of his left eye...and they finally have a son. Jane says its their first born...yet mentions no other child. I supposed they had others later on.

After ten years of marriage....Jane could say "I know no weariness of my Edward's Society". That is what I take away with me from this book. I know it's real..because I have experienced it for over 10 years with someone..I will call him my special friend. I knew no weariness of his society. That is a rare thing to find in life.

I hope to find it again.

A birth

2012-05-02T06:24:00.000-07:00

Glad am finally doing this. For years, I have wanted to blog....primarily because I think blogging is such a creative activity...and I thought I was creative...so how come I couldn't blog? To be honest..at some point I just wanted to keep up with a fad....it was cool and sophisticated to blog...I want to be cool and sophisticated. But still...I couldn't blog. This is the third blog am doing...I can't for heaven't sake remember the others. What I do know though...they didn't last long. Oh yeah...I remember one. It was called Levi's diary. Levi is my son and my only child. Well...he is quite interesting and I love him to bits. He was a good subject...being always up to one thing or another. He is 4 but he has had a life time of adventure already. I just discovered he is autistic....and it was truly a Eureka moment...only that I couldn't run out to the streets naked. It explains a lot about him and the things he does. Am not sure why I couldn't sustain that particular one....Oh well.

A book, A thought is a blog about my first love...my longest love of all. BOOKS! I have always loved reading...but I have found over the years that my reading pace has slowed down....to a snail pace actually...trudging along...ever so slowly. I want to write a book one day...am not sure about what and that in itself tells me that perhaps..PERHAPS, am not an author after all. Which author does not know what they want to write about???? Crazy. Back to my love for books...I started reading at an early age. My reading list consisted of Hardy Boyz, Nancy Drew, Famous Five...something or other Four...I eventually graduated to Mills & Boons, Sweet Valley High by the time I was 10. At age 14, I was reading Daniel Steele, Fredrick Forsyth (sp) and Sidney Sheldon! In high school, I secretly laughed when I saw my fellow students reading books like Sweet Valley High...I wondered where they had been all their lives! Oh my word...it was an exciting world. I love the way a book has the ability to "steal" one from their present reality and take them on a wonderful ride...walking in the characters shoes...feeling their pain, bringing excitement, fear, evoking love......I LOVE IT!

This blog is about my personal journey and thoughts through books. Am also hoping to accomplish one very important thing. To buy books and start a home library so that my son can read too. You see...in my 33 years of life...I HAVE NEVER BOUGHT A BOOK FOR MYSELF. Whose books did I read then? Ever the perpetual borrower...am determined to stop.

I must say...setting up this blog was greatly inspired by The Julia/Julie Project. I watched the movie...and I finally understood blogging..in my hearts of hearts.

In closing, I thought I would give mention to the two books that have greatly influenced my life. The first one was "The Celestial Bed by Irving Wallace". I had no business reading such a book at the age of 12. But I read it anyway. The second book, I came across about a year ago. I read it all the time...over and over again. "Why Men Marry Bitches: From Doormat to Dreamgirl - A Woman's Guide to Holding Her Own in a Relationship by Sherry Argov. That book has changed me in ways that I cannot even explain. But that's a story for another day!

Come with me and let's journey on....

Sheekow.