Book Club: Poetry Reading

I have been a part of various book clubs in the past and they all usually work the same way. The group all reads the same book and meet the following month to discuss that book. What we liked about it, what we didn't like about it, would we read something from that same author again, etc. The books read at book club are meant to start up a lot of discussion, so they tend to be books that make you feel. This upcoming meeting in February, my (current) book club is doing something a little different. Instead of reading a book, every book club member will be choosing a poem each and read it out loud to the rest of the group members. Each reading will be followed by a little explanation of why we chose that poem. 

Literature was always my favourite subject in school and I loved studying poetry. Back when I was a teenager, I used to write a lot of poems, short stories and journal entries in my free time. It is sad for me to admit that I haven't written a poem or a short story in years. However, I do occasionally still write in my journal. I was going through some of my old notebooks recently and found a collection of some of my writing. Some of them I had completely forgotten about, so it was nice to go back to them after all these years. Looking back at some of my old work, I feel like I may want to get back into writing poetry some time. Maybe one day when I am inspired, I will start again! One of my book club members suggested for me to bring one of my own poems to read for the next meeting. I was a bit hesitant at first to share my own work, but I decided to go with the one I liked the best...so here it is. Most of my writing is dated, and I wrote this one when I was sixteen.  Hope you enjoy it! 

Growing Up

by Sadaf Hussain

I am quiet,
I am lonely,
I have imaginary friends,
I am a laugher,
I am a crier,
I am a thinker,
As I look at my reflection,
In a mirror view of my past,
I let my inner-child free,
I come back to reality,
Today I am friendly,
I am loving,
I am caring,
I am a laugher,
I am a crier,
I am a thinker,
I am a writer,
I am a drawer,
I am a dreamer,
I am a friend,
I am a sister,
I am a daughter,
I am an aunt,
I am not perfect,
I make mistakes,
I am a learner,
After all,
I am human.

2016 Reading Challenge.

2015 I did not actively read as much as I had hoped. My book list was ever growing but some days I just didn't feel like reading. There were only a handful of books I read this year which were page turners. The last few months of 2015, I decided to join my local book club (again) to force myself to read more (for lack of a better word.) The very first book club book just happened to be a lovely book I'd read before; The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein. 

I'd been a member of the online Good Reads community for quite some time now, but I'd been relatively inactive on it. I've started using the app more lately, and it's helped me find some good books which I've added to my TBR book list. One nice feature Good Reads has on it is a "Reading Challenge" page. Members challenge themselves to read a certain amount of books for the year. I was going through many of the other members' reading challenges, and noticed numbers like 50, 75, 100 and some even as high as 200! 

I wanted to challenge myself to reach a realistic reading goal. At first I was going to do a 30 book reading challenge. Then I decided to start off with 25. At first I thought it was a low goal, considering that so many others' wanted to read 100 books! However, a good friend of mine reminded me not to compare my goals with others. Maybe those people have more time to read, but there's nothing to be ashamed of. Furthermore, the most important thing is not the quantity of books but the quality! Hopefully I can reach my goal and will read some enjoyable books along the way. 

Happy Reading! =) 

Reading Slump

Most of us have probably gone through reading slumps in our life time. On days that you've gotten too busy or those lazy days that you would rather binge-watch your favourite TV show, we've all been there. It's important not to feel guilty about it. Even though you may not be reading as much as you'd like, those books are not going anywhere. Once you find some free time and your TV shows are on summer break, you can always go back, pick up those books and start reading. Remember, there is no deadline when it comes to how many books you should be reading or how many pages you need to read a day.

I went through a bit of a reading slump recently where I wasn't able to read for a good month or two because I just didn't have the time. However, I've been able to pick myself up and start reading again! The wonderful thing about reading slumps is that it feels so good when you start reading again and have a hard time putting your book down! I've been reading most nights, and on days that I don't feel like reading: well it's okay! No book police will come breathe over my shoulder and tell me that I'm being bad! Hehe. =)

I also think it is important to remember that there is no race on how many books one can read. I follow many Instragammers who post like 7-8 books with captions that say things like "These are all the books I read all month!" Well good for them! However, there is no reason for me to feel bad. Everyone reads and enjoys books at their own pace. Some people may read a novel in one sitting, others may take a few weeks to finish, there's no shame in that. Reading should be a hobby, not an obligation. People should read because they want to not because they have to.

Happy Reading! =)

Small Town Library

My husband and I recently moved from a big city to a very small town. Amongst many differences between city life and country life, even the public library was very different from the ones in the big city. I went in today (for the first time) to make my new library card. The library is a quaint little building, it almost looks like a small house. The upstairs is the library portion, and the downstairs is a small thrift shop which sells used items (like clothes, toys, kitchenware, etc.) and all proceeds go to the library. When I first walked in, I couldn't help but notice the warm welcome I got from the librarians on duty. There were three female workers who welcomed me with open arms and big smiles. They were super friendly, and it almost felt like we'd been friends for years. When I looked over the front counter I noticed a dog in the library! Well that was a first for me! As far as I understand, the public libraries in Toronto don't allow animals! To my surprise, the dog actually belonged to one of the librarians. Just a lady bringing her dog to work! At the LIBRARY! The book, DVD and magazine selection was very small. However, they did have well known authors and I even saw a few best sellers. Even though they don't have quantity, they still have quality. After I was done browsing through the library, I went downstairs to check out the thrift shop. The workers and customers at the thrift shop were just as friendly and welcoming as the people upstairs! My first experience in a small town library, and I loved it!

Two Down, A Million to Go!

I learned a neat little trick from one of my dear friends, on how to read your books. I am not taking any extra books out of the library anymore. The only items I ever take out from the library are (one) book club book, DVDs and the occasional magazine. So every month, I read 2 books and alternate: one book club book, and one of my own books. Ever since I joined the two book clubs, reading just became a chore and I began dreading to read all those (boring) book club books. But, my love of reading has been restored. Yay!

So far, out of my own books, I completed The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks and am now reading the first Game of Thrones book by George R.R. Martin. Technically, Game of Thrones is not mine. I borrowed it from a family member almost a year ago, so I thought I should read it and finally return it!

Most of the books on my shelf are books which I purchased from a Clearance Book Sale last March (2012), that took place at the Toronto Reference Library. (Note: 14 used books for the awesome price of just $4.00!!!!!) The sale happened again a couple of weeks ago, and although I was tempted to go, I held back! I thought to myself: This sale happens every year. Let me just make my way through the books I currently own, and if I successfully read all of them in the next year, I can always go back to the book sale in 2014.

It will take a long time to finish reading all the books on my shelf, of course. There are almost 20 books on there, and some of them are book 1 of a series, so I will probably want to go and read the entire series! But I'm making my way through it, and even slow progress is still progress! =)

Happy Reading! 

Humble Authors

Whoever follows my blog knows what a huge fan I am of young adult fantasy author Cinda Williams Chima. I've read all of her books, (excluding her latest release The Crimson Crown.) One of my favourite thing about her books is that none of the characters are one dimensional. The protagonists (as well as the antagonists) show immense growth through out the stories. Never have I fallen so in love with a book series (and it's characters) as I did with the Seven Realms and the Heir Chronicles.

What I find even more impressive is the connection Chima has with her fans via facebook and twitter. I often forget there a real person behind every great story, but receiving replies to facebook messages and tweets from Mrs. Chima is a good reminder. It is not every day that you meet a best-selling author who is so down to earth.

I can think of a handful of big shot authors who may have forgotten to eat their slice of humble pie.

So many Books to Read, So Little Time.

I have so many borrowed books, purchased books, and library books sitting in my shelf which have not been touched for weeks! I feel like I'm betraying my one true love (reading). Life has just gotten so busy, that it's given me very little time to relax. I've been so busy with studying, taking extra curricular classes, volunteering and two book clubs that I've had very little time to read. (Two book clubs are keeping me too busy to read?! Oh, the irony...) My point is, I have very little time to read the books I want to read.

Let's be honest, many of the book club books do end up being boring. I have an ever growing list of books I've been meaning to read for fun. Such as Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, Outlander, The Coffeehouse Angel, The Art of Racing in the Rain, The Gray Wolf Throne, and many more. I just haven't been able to manage my time well enough to get all these books incorporated into my reading schedule.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I am open to anything, please comment below to help me read these untouched books! They deserve to be enjoyed. =)

Books and Movies That Made Me Think

This blog will be a bit of a cheat. It will be about both books and movies. Bare with me, it'll be a long one!

There is only one thing I love more than kicking back with a good book and/or movie; kicking back with a good book/movie which makes you think about life. 

Books

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Anyone who's been following my blog knows that one of my all time favourite books is The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom. This book is about an elderly man (named Eddie) who works at a local amusement park. Eddie has been working at Ruby Pier for almost his entire life. He feels like his life has been a total waste. Eddie dies instantly one day, when there is a freak accident on one of the rides at Ruby Pier. The book is about his journey in the afterlife, meeting five people along the way, whom his life has greatly impacted.

I think I was about twenty years old the first time I read this book and I fell in love with it immediately. Your late teens/early twenties is essentially a time when you're "finding yourself." This book really made me think about how we all have a purpose in life, even though we may not know it at a time. No matter how mundane our lives are, we all have a reason to be here and should never take that for granted. I've read this book a few times since, and it never fails to give me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch

This was another lovely book I was introduced to by my monthly book club. Randy Pausch was a University professor who was diagnosed with cancer. The book is about the trials and tribulations he went through with his family and friends during his last days, his chemotherapy and his process of creating his "last lecture."

What an inspirational human being! Even though he was diagnosed with cancer, and he knew he was about to die, he decided to live before he died. This is something many of us forget to do. We are so concerned about the insignificant things in life, that we truly forget to live. Refer to the link below to hear his beautiful lecture.

Achieving your Childhood Dreams

Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier

Yes, another book club book indeed! The story starts off with an unnamed heroin who meets the charming (widower) Maxim DeWinter. They soon get married, and she moves to Manderly with him, a romantic town with a beautiful backdrop. The wife always feels like she is being compared to Maxim's deceased wife, Rebecca. She starts off a very shy, meek and quiet girl who allows people to take advantage of her. However, she soon becomes a strong and independent woman, able to express her thoughts, feelings and opinions. The book is written from the point of view of the heroin.

I instantly fell in love with this book. In my opinion, it's a book which I think all young women should read. It really shows that you can be strong and opinionated woman but still be a good person. We see lots of growth in the heroin through out the novel and it's written beautifully.

Movies

Yes Man

This is a goofy comedy starring Jim Carrey. Carl (Jim Carrey) is a recently divorced man with a dead end job. He never wants to go out with friends, meet new people or try anything new. Until one of his friends takes him to a motivational speech encouraging people to say "yes" to all opportunities that come their way in life. Carl soon says yes to everything and begins living his life to it's full potential.

This is one of my top "feel good" movies. How many opportunities have you missed in your life, simply out of fear of saying "yes?" What's the worse that can happen? The only way to truly be happy in life is to experience new things. How else will you know if you like (or don't like) something, if you've never tried it? I've re-watched this movie a few too many times, and it's completely changed my perspective on life.

The Truman Show

Another Jim Carrey drama. This movie follows the life of Truman Burbank. His life is recorded on screen where everyone watches his every move 24/7. Truman is completely oblivious to his star status and is unaware that his family and friends are simply just actors in his "TV show."

Truman feels truly trapped and lost, until one day he discovers the truth about his life. This film really made me think about free will. Are we really living life because we want to, or because it's expected of us? This is another gem I've seen numerous times, and love it every time. I always get goosebumps in the last scene of The Truman Show where Truman is quoted as saying, "In case I don't see ya. Good afternoon, good evening and goodnight."

"12 Reasons I Have Decided to Read One Book Per Week"

I wanted to do something different today. Rather than writing my own blog, I wanted to refer you guys to another wonderful blog post I discovered yesterday. It was quite inspiring and beautiful. Please follow the link below and enjoy.


12 Reasons I Have Decided to Read One Book Per Week