The Awesome Blogger Award

Hello there, homo sapiens! I hope everyone’s safe and cool and doing great. There’s been a sudden increase of corona virus cases here in Kuwait so it’s pretty alarming but all of them who tested positive are quarantined at the moment. It’s crazy that there’s nowhere to buy masks anymore! Damn! Anyhow, I hope things will get better and hopefully no more additional cases of the virus here.

But you know what’s awesome, though? This.

I was nominated by the wonderful blogger, Carl @ The Pine-Scented Chronicles. Thank you so much, Carl. It’s really very sweet of you to think of me for this though I really couldn’t fathom why. But I’d happily take it. 😀

The award was created by Maggie @Dreaming of Guatemala. This is an award for the absolutely wonderful writers all across the blogging world. They have beautiful blogs, are kind and lovely, and always find a way to add happiness and laughter to the lives of their readers. That is what truly defines an awesome blogger.

The Rules

1. Thank the blogger who nominated you.
2. Credit the creator.
3. Tag this post with #AwesomeBloggerAward.
4. Answer all the questions given to you.
5. Nominate some people.
6. Write 10 questions for them to answer.

Let’s get started with Carl’s questions:

You were given an opportunity to have a tête-à-tête with an author, or an historical figure. Who will it be and what will you talk about? You can also choose figures who’ve already passed away.

I would definitely enjoy a tête-à-tête with Ferdinand Marcos. I would love to know the kind of books he loved to read and which one is his favorite. Also I’m curious what were his plans for the Philippines if it weren’t for the people power revolution.

I would also be very interested for a private conversation with Adolf Hitler. And I think it’s easy to guess why.

Since it is the month of love, who are your top three favorite literary couples?

1. Hazel and Augustus – The Fault in Our Stars
2. Ennis and Jack – Brokeback Mountain
3. Ali and Noah – The Notebook

If you were to travel to a place you’ve never been before, where would it be?

There’s a lot of places I would really love to go to but my top three priorities for now are Japan, Egypt and Africa.

Which author do you want to write your life story?

I would love Haruki Murakami to write my life story but I’d also consider Laura Hillenbrand and Khaled Hosseini.

In times of distress, what are your top five go-to books?

1. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
2. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
3. Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
4. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
5. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

What was the first book you’ve read loved? Tell us more about why loved the book.

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Wonderland is my favorite place to be. And I can very much relate with Alice’s curiosity and sometimes her childishness.

You’re in the bookstore and all the books you want to have are on sale. However, your budget is limited. What five titles will you buy?

Hmmm… this is a tough question and a tough situation to be in! Well, at the moment I’d go for:

1. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
2. The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
3. The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern
4. Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
5. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

Which do you prefer – the sound of the waves or the tranquility of mountains?

The tranquility of mountains all the time!

What are three things, or activities, that you are most passionate about?

Reading, tennis, travelling.

If your life is to be made into a movie, which genre will it be – drama, comedy, fantasy, horror or suspense? Which actor/actress, in your opinion, will give justice to your story?

Definitely not fantasy or horror. More of comedy and suspense with a little bit of drama. I would love Emily Blunt to play as myself and I would love Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino and Kit Harington to play a part in the movie. 🙂

Now I’m tagging…

Alison

Sadje

Yassy

Sammie

Mariam

No worries if you don’t feel like doing this, it would be fun to know your answers but no problem if this isn’t your kind of thing. You’re not obligated unless you want to.

My questions (just in case)…

1. If you could have dinner with one celebrity/author/historical figure (dead or alive), who would it be and why?
2. What three things would you want to achieve this year?
3. If you could live in any place in the world, where would it be and why?
4. Do you like spending time alone, why or why not?
5. Your current favorite song.
6. What sports do you play?
7. What’s your favorite food/dish?
8. What’s the first thing you notice in a person?
9. How do you like to relax?
10. If I’d be fortunate to visit your city/country and get the chance to meet up with you, what would we do?

I’m looking forward to the nominees’ answers and for anyone reading this, consider yourself tagged. You can either write a post or simply answer the questions in the comments section.

Thanks again, Carl! I enjoyed doing this!

Happy weekend, homo sapiens!

Advertisement

WWW Wednesday 26-Feb-2020

Hello there! Welcome to another WWW Wednesday, hosted by Sam from Taking On A World of Words. As usual, just answer the three W questions:

1. What are you currently reading?
2. What did you recently finish reading?
3. What do you think you’ll read next?

Currently Reading:

 

I’m still only halfway through the City of Djinns but I am learning a lot from this one. I hope to finish this by weekend.

 

 

 

Recently Finished:

 

Interesting and inspiring story though I couldn’t really say I liked it a lot. I’m giving this book 3 stars and Helen Keller herself 5 stars.

 

 

Up Next:

In my last WWW post, I’ve decided to read next The Master and Margarita and also The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. But I feel like I’m not in the mood for both at the moment and my eyes are on these 5 books. Help me decide which among these five titles should I read next.

And there goes my WWW this week. Have you read any of these books? What were your thoughts on them?

I’d be delighted if you share your WWWs, too. Leave a link or share your lists on the comments section so I can check them all out!

Happy reading, homo sapiens!

Walking Alone

Walking

alone is

the hardest but

it’s what makes someone

strongest.

Quote of the Week

Our wounds are often the openings into the best and most beautiful part of us.

~David Richo

A Six-Word Story

Someday, everything’s gonna be better. Everything.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

I was for a long time reluctant to read this book though I’ve read a lot of good reviews about it. After finally reading it, oh, my heart! I’ve read reviews that this will break the reader’s heart. And it certainly did. I was honestly expecting that things will get better towards the end but it did not.

The story is about Conor dealing with his dying mom and was visited by a monster. Who is the monster and why does he visit Conor? You’ll have to read it for yourself.

I loved how simple and honest this book is. Patrick Ness was able to blend everything in this little piece of gem. I have never read anything from the author before but this has certainly blown me away. It definitely tugged my heartstrings. I tried not to cry. But I cried. And you will, too.

Highly recommended read if you haven’t yet.

Quotable Quotes:

“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”

“Your mind will believe comforting lies while also knowing the painful truths that make those lies necessary. And your mind will punish you for believing both.”

“Don’t think you haven’t lived long enough to have a story to tell.”

“There is not always a good guy. Nor is there always a bad one. Most people are somewhere in between.”

“Stories don’t always have happy endings.”

Rating: 5/5 stars

Can’t

get over

my sad past

I’m not sure I

can.

Top 5 Bookish Habits

Hello there, homo sapiens! It’s time for Top 5 Tuesday. This is actually my first time doing this so let’s see how I’d manage. 🙂

This tag is hosted by Shannah over at Bionic Book Worm and today’s topic is:

 Bookish Habits

Read on as I share some of my bookish quirks.

1. Reading more than one book at a time.

 

I usually read at least two to three books at a time, one book shorter than the other and of different genre. At home, I usually read physical books. Since the time someone gave me my Kindle, it’s always in my bag wherever I go. I used to bring one physical book with me all the time when I didn’t have it yet. Though there are still times when I bring a physical book along with my Kindle.

 

2. One book, one bookmark.

I don’t know when this started but it has been years that I never use the same bookmark twice. There is one bookmark assigned for each book I have. So when you take a book from my shelf, there will always be a bookmark somewhere between the pages.

 

3. Super delayed book reviews.

I’m a mood reader and that applies to my reviews, too. I’m almost always late/delayed with my book reviews because my mood influences me a lot when to write it. Not that I write brilliant book reviews but well, yeah, it just takes me a long while to write my thoughts about a book.

4. Reading before going to sleep.

 

I always read before I sleep. It could be a few pages from the current book I’m reading, or some news and updates, some magazines or any article that looks interesting while browsing the internet. I think it helps my brain and body relax before I sleep.

5. Taking every opportunity to visit a bookstore/book fair.

Like libraries, bookstores/bookshops and book fairs, are my happy place. I will always have to go inside a bookstore whenever I pass by one. I can’t just pass by it. It’s always a wonderful feeling to be surrounded by books and browsing all the titles displayed. Not to mention smelling them. Oh, I love the smell of books. And mostly every time, I never go without a book purchased to add on my never-ending TBR shelf.

So there goes my first Top 5 Tuesday. Do we share the same bookish habits? What are yours? I’d be delighted to know them so feel free to share them in the comments section or leave a link to your post so I can read them.

Happy Tuesday, homo sapiens!

Credit to the owners of the photos I just Googled. :)

Short Story – The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu

This is the first short story I’ve read from Ken Liu and I loved it.

It’s a story about Jack, born to an American father and a Chinese mother. His mom made lots of origami animals for him when he was a kid. However, as he grows up, he found it hard to fit in where they live. An incident with a friend later caused him to distance himself from his mother until it became uncomfortable and they eventually stopped talking to each other. Soon his mom died but there was one surprise left for Jack…

Laohu – Jack’s favorite among the many origami animals his mom made for him.

In just a few pages, this story will really touch your heart. The ending was so sad and you will feel the regret the child must have felt. It kind of left my heart heavy but lots of things to reflect on.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Quote of the Week

Respect other people’s feelings. It might mean nothing to you, but it could mean everything to them.

~Roy T. Bennett

A Six-Word Story

No longer smiling hearing your name.

Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant by Anne Tyler

The book opens with Pearl Tull about to die. Her youngest son, Ezra, with her. Jenny her daughter visits while Cody, her eldest is nowhere near. It’s the story of these four individuals in alternating chapters.

This is my first Anne Tyler read and I loved her writing and the way she develops her characters. The author was also able to depict what really happens in a family, petty jealousies and stuff. Realistic really.

It is a very touching story of survival of a family with damaged individuals.

Quotable Quotes:

“When you have children, you’re obligated to live.”

“…he thought of dying as a kind of adventure, something new that he hadn’t yet experienced. Like an unusual vacation trip.”

“There ought to be a while separate language, she thought, for words that are truer than other words – for perfect, absolute truth. It was the purest fact of her life: she did not understand him, and she never would.”

Rating: 4/5 stars

 

WWW Wednesday 12-Feb-2020

Hello there! Welcome to another WWW Wednesday, hosted by Sam from Taking On A World of Words. As usual, just answer the three W questions:

1. What did you recently finish reading?
2. What are you currently reading?
3. What do you think you’ll read next?

Recently Finished:

The Last Lecture was okay. If you’d read the book for what it is then I guess you won’t be disappointed. I kind of find the author a little bit full of himself but his courage to share his story is admirable. May he rest in peace.

A Dog’s Purpose was amazing and heartbreaking at the same time. It’s a beautiful book. Worth all the tears and giggles.

Currently Reading:

I’ve started with The Story of My Life just the other day and couldn’t continue because of work but so far so good. As for the City of Djinns which I started last night, it’s becoming more interesting every time I turn a page. I think I’m going to enjoy this one.

Up Next:

The Master and Margarita looks as interesting as the book cover so I hope to get to it next. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd was a recommendation from a friend who has recently finished reading it and she likes it so much it got me intrigued.

And there goes my WWW this week. Have you read any of these books? What were your thoughts on them?

I’d be delighted if you share your WWWs, too. Leave a link or share your lists on the comments section so I can check them all out!

Happy reading, homo sapiens!

Remembering

good things

in hopes to

forget all the bad

ones.

A Six-Word Story

Feeling my heart breaking into pieces.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Well, who hasn’t heard of A Christmas Carol? I’m probably too late to read this and yeah, it’s not Christmas season but I guess, it’s never too late to be delighted and entertained by a good Christmas story.

And what else is there to say that haven’t been said yet?

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. This is Christmas.

Quotable Quotes:

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”

“No space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused.”

“For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself.”

Rating: 4/5 stars

 

Quote of the Week

If you’re trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down on you anyhow. And if you’re trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will only envy you. Status will get you nowhere. Only an open heart will allow you to float equally between everyone.

~Mitch Albom

WWW Wednesday 05-Feb-2020

Hello there! Welcome to another WWW Wednesday, hosted by Sam from Taking On A World of Words. As usual, just answer the three W questions:

1. What did you recently finish reading?
2. What are you currently reading?
3. What do you think you’ll read next?

Recently Finished:

I enjoyed Half of a Yellow Sun so I’m giving it 4 stars and The Tattooist of Auschwitz was okay so I’m giving it 3 stars. As for Demian, I must say the first several pages hooked me to read it but as I went on, it started to bore me.

Currently Reading:

I checked my Kindle TBRs and found these two titles. I checked some reviews on Goodreads for these two and I was convinced I should read both right away so there!

Up Next:

These two were my next reads in last week’s WWW but apparently, I ended up reading somethings else again. So I’m putting them next once more and hope to really get my hands on them once I finish the other two.

Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts about it?

I’d be glad to know what you’re reading, what you’ve just finished and what you plan to read next so drop a link of your WWWs so I can check them out or you can share your reads on the comments section.

Happy reading, homo sapiens!

Consequence

Every

word uttered

has its consequence.

Perhaps in every silence

too.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books On My TBR I Predict Will Be 5-Star Reads

Welcome to another edition of Top Ten Tuesday!

Top Ten Tuesday is an original blog meme created by The Broke and the Bookish and is currently being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl. This week’s given topic is Books on My TBR I Predict Will Be 5-Star Reads.

So here are the books on my TBR which I think I’ll be giving 5-star ratings for no specific reason at the moment! 😉 I just think they’d be great reads and would deserve a 5-star. 🙂

Have you read any of these books? Which ones were 5-star reads for you? Or do you plan to read them soon, too?

Thanks a lot for reading and I’m looking forward to reading all your TTTs! Just drop a link on the comment section so I can check your posts or share your list in the comments section.

Happy Tuesday, homo sapiens!

Quote of the Week

The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.

~Fyodor Dostoyevski

The Unexpected Guest by Agatha Christie

It’s been a while since the last time I’ve read something from Agatha Christie and it’s always a delight when I get to read one.

The Unexpected Guest is a play written by Christie and was adapted into a novel by Charles Osborne. It’s not the typical Miss Marple stories but a mystery nonetheless from the queen of crime.

This is, however (if my memory serves me right), the first book I’ve read from the author where the culprit goes unpunished. And I think that’s okay. As I think about it now, weeks after I’ve finished reading it, I also wouldn’t want it to end any other way.

The story and the pace was gripping enough but the chase and thrill were missing plus I was able to guess who the culprit was early on but don’t let that put you off from reading this. I’ve probably read too much Christie books that’s why.

It’s a quick, one-sitting read so go for it.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

A Six-Word Story

Learning to put the past behind.