The first week of January has been pretty productive. Now that I’m not working 24/7 (holiday retail). I’ve done a lot of stuff for the blog, I’ve got all of the next weeks to post scheduled giving me room to work on the week after and socialize on other blogs more.
I finished my first book of the year and the review should be up next week. The first book was More to the Story by Hena Khan. Now those of you who have been reading the blog know I love pretty much everything Hena Khan puts out so this shouldn’t be much of a surprise.
Reading
More to the Story
A retelling of Little Women set in a Pakistani American family. In this case, Jo is Jameela Mirza who was just picked to be the feature editor in her middle school newspaper. Jameela wants to be an award-winning journalist like a late family member. The head editor keeps shooting down her ideas, and she finds herself writing about a new student, a boy with a British accent who keeps to himself. But how will she make this story engaging enough to win a national media contest?
But things get complicated when Jameela’s family is shaken up by her father taking an overseas job that takes him away from their Georgia home. Jameela, along with her three sisters aren’t sure what to do. Missing her father ignites a fire under Jameela, she’s going to write the best article ever and make her dad proud.
But when her younger sister gets seriously ill, Jameela has to decide what is really important. She has to make the same choice at school where her quest for fame might cost her a friend.
While trying to find out what matters most Jameela wonders whether she’s cut out to be a journalist after all.
Written by Pakistani-American writer Hena Khan.
I’m also working on my second book of the year, Finding Perfect by Elly Schartz. As a blogger with mental health disorders (too many to list but the biggest ones being Schizophrenia and OCD.) I really like the way this book is portraying the condition. Expect a review maybe next week.
Disclaimer: I’m not a huge fan of the words disorder or issue but I’m trying to find words to better communicate it. Especially as someone who also has cognitive issues, please bear with me. 🙂
Finding Perfect
To twelve-year-old Molly Nathans, perfect is:
―The number four
―The tip of a newly sharpened No. 2 pencil
―A crisp white pad of paper
―Her neatly aligned glass animal figurines
What’s not perfect is Molly’s mother leaving the family to take a faraway job with the promise to return in one year. Molly knows that promises are sometimes broken, so she hatches a plan to bring her mother home: Win the Lakeville Middle School Poetry Slam Contest. The winner is honored at a fancy banquet with white tablecloths. Molly is sure her mother would never miss that. Right…?
But as time passes, writing and reciting slam poetry become harder. Actually, everything becomes harder as new habits appear, and counting, cleaning, and organizing are not enough to keep Molly’s world from spinning out of control. In this fresh-voiced debut novel, one girl learns there is no such thing as perfect.
Also written by Elly Swartz is the wonderful Give and Take which focuses on hoarding.
Gaming
I’m still working on Pokemon Sheild and really enjoying it. I’ve gotten past the first three gyms now I’m exploring the next wild area. This game has really helped my mental health. I’m also looking forward to borrowing Luigi’s Mansion from a friend soon.
Health
My mental health isn’t doing super awesome, so if posts take dive here then that’s why. Also, I hurt my hand making it tougher to type. So yay, lots of fun things that mess with my productivity.
How have the first couple of weeks of the New Year been for you?