Review: The Courage to be Disliked

The Courage to be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Inspiring, thought-provoking and deeper than a Taylor Swift song.

'All you can do with regard to your own life is choose the best path that you believe in. On the other hand, what kind of judgement do people pass on that choice? That is the task of other people, and is not a matter you can do anything about.'

This quote kinda sums up the book. It's about returning the focus to only what you can affect, and living your own life a moment at a time.

There are some ideas here that are familiar to me but I really enjoyed the way they were approached. Yes, you need to have the courage to be who you believe you should be, with no influence from the opinions of others. This book discusses how that becomes possible. It's not something you can change instantly, despite what this book suggests. You need to be open, and work constantly to remind yourself of practising task separation etc. You need to continue working at these habits until they become second nature. Like anything, changing your mindset requires practice.

Okay. Let's talk about the ugly stuff.

There are some really tough ideas here; one in particular being, 'trauma does not exist'. This is quite damaging if you take it at surface level, but once you understand the Alderian psychological viewpoint they are communicating, it becomes a little clearer. It's not about victim blaming or anything similar - it's about how a person responds to traumatic events. And yes, it is really tough to comprehend, but the notion is that people who let their life be defined by traumatic events in their past are holding onto it for some subconscious purpose. I think when you contemplate it further, it goes a way to explaining why some people are broken by trauma, where others become stronger. But the whole overall concept is about living life in the moment so it makes sense that they are discarding past events. If you're offended easily, this is one section that's going to put you off completely. But if you're open-minded, let the book explain itself and it might actually help you with overcoming trauma.

This book is quite easy to read, which is uncommon for a book that deals with some pretty heavy material. The format of the Youth vs Philosopher in conversation means that objections you might have are likely to be addressed. There were some objections that I thought were a bit ridiculous, so I guess how you feel about the format will depend on how skeptical you are.

I wouldn't necessarily call this a hippie book, but it's very in line with the 'mindfulness' trend that's been taking over the world lately. Its simplicity will help it reach a wider audience and it's quite logical. It gets a little confusing in parts but overall there are some great nuggets of wisdom contained within its text.

I really enjoyed reading this, but could only do so at certain times because if you don't quite process a sentence you lose track easily. So make sure your mind is open when you read it and you should take away a lot of new ideas.

Then all you have to do is drink.

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Blogger Life (1)

So apparently if you want people to actually read your blog you have to put effort into it?

I mean, that sounds HARD.

But here I am anyway, writing an actual post instead of just clicking the 'post to blog' button on my latest Goodreads review.

So.

What is it that book-loving blog readers like to read about? I need hints here people.

Shall I start with why I'm giving this blog-writing thing another crack?

Yes, I say 'another' and that's not a typo. I've tried in the past. I have. I'm not lazy, I swear. I'm just too busy reading. I'm a book lover, remember?

But I've decided to start making a little more effort because I'm one of those book lovers who is a wannabe writer. And of course part of being a writer is writing. Regularly.

I HAVE SO MANY IDEAS. I just completely suck at putting them on paper.

So here's to this blog getting my creative mojo flowing.

I'm hoping it'll be a fun learning experience, and that maybe I'll write stuff that people will actually want to read. If you're paying attention, you might even get that sneaky access to my rough drafts. Which may not seem that exciting now but, trust me, it's gonna make you feel super special when the polished versions are published and I become a household name. (So modest, I am so, so modest.)

So thanks for reading and feel free to leave your thoughts!

***

Question Time: (I've seen this on other blogs; it's clearly an important part.) Do you blog? And if so, why?

Review: Gravity Is The Thing

Gravity Is The Thing by Jaclyn Moriarty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OH MY FRAGILE HEART.

GUH.

So much love for this. SO MUCH.

When I was younger, I discovered Finding Cassie Crazy. I didn't even realise it was a second book in a series. I just fell instantly in love. It was so witty and light and fun but it had real talk, too, and made you think long and hard about important things.

I loved this for all the same reasons and more. It was so incredibly relevant, despite featuring a single mum. I normally feel distanced from stories told by mothers but not so with this one. Because it's a story about life and how, sometimes, it kinda just happens to you without you getting to have much say.

I don't really want to say too much more, other than that it's beautifully written, and quirky, and disjointed, but somehow so seamless, so elegant and graceful and light. There's true substance but it's not oppressive; it lifts you slowly and lowers you gently.

This is definitely going straight to the bestseller lists when it releases. You'll be crazy to leave it sitting on the shelf.

An absolutely stunning read that left me with a lot to think about, and reaffirmed my admiration for this author. Can't wait to read what she writes next.

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Review: The Towering Sky

The Towering Sky by Katharine McGee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just happily filing myself into the trash-for-trash category because of my love of this series.

Rich Kid Drama is like my new fave sub-genre. Is it new though? Or has this series just finally awakened a part of me that has been sleeping since I got bored with Gossip Girl 2? Either way, I'm beginning to embrace the fact that I love me some Rich Kid Drama.

True to the format of the previous two novels, this book begins with its ending. Very dramatic. I made sense of it pretty quick but the journey to get there was a lot of fun. Less scandalous than I hoped for, but still plenty of drama so I'm happy.

Our favourite couples (and not so favourite couples *coughaveryandatlascough*) have taken some time off from each other after the dramatic scenes at Dubai towards the end of book 2. But after the suspicious circumstances of that cliffhanger they're all thrown back together and emotions are suddenly running hot again.

My favourite drama queen, Leda, is less mischievous this time around which, I'll admit, was slightly disappointing, but she's still pretty cool. Watt's persistence really makes her stubborn streak shine. Avery is once again the shining star in her father's very public life and she's got some new arm candy whom I did not warm to at all because he's all about shunning the lifestyles of the rich and famous. YOU DON'T EVEN GO HERE. Please save your awkward charm for the next John Green novel.

Not that I was ready to be forced to root for Avery and Atlas again. But no matter how much that forbidden romance makes me want to vomit it does allow for some satisfying scandalous moments. Plus hello making me question my moral judgement. Am I a terrible person for not approving of their love? They're not related by blood so it's entirely a rebellion against societal norm that has me struggling. Does that make me a jerk? I am uncomfortable with this line of questioning.

Totally backing the Anderton boys though. Mmmhmm. I thought Brice was kind of a jerk in the first book but look at him over here winning my heart. I wish he and Calliope had gotten a little more wild together, though. They're both such rebels. And then romantic Cord back at his pining for Rylin. *happy sigh* Damnnnn this book turned on the love hard.

Make no mistake - this book is full of ridiculous coincidences, firework touches and all-consuming teenage love, set in a world of fancy dresses and overdecorated scenes that take place outside of school far too often for a book driven by school-aged teens. There's some fun sci-fi gadgets and technology etc but overall it's pretty classic high school drama for its futuristic setting. (I think that's a little bit the point, though - it doesn't matter how much you change the world around you, people will still be driven by the same basic needs and emotions.)

I just can't help but love it, though. I don't care if it's full of chance meetings that are highly unlikely. I need those meetings to fuel up my Rich Kid Drama Meter. I LIVE FOR THE DRAMA.

So in conclusion, I am sad this is a conclusion. :( I am here for the Next Gen stories 110%.

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The Pebble

There was only Darkness.

A great, all-encompassing Darkness that filled every corner of the world with a blackness that tainted and devoured. An endless motley shade of midnight and grey, indigo and deep purple, it raged like a mad beast; frenzied and terrifying. Its undulating movement pummelled like the waves of a ferocious storm called forth by the old sea gods—had they still existed within this Darkness that left no question of life beyond itself.

It seemed to have no purpose other than to spread fear and pain, and seep into every vulnerable crack. Whether it was barraging abandoned shores or poisoning the air, it searched for everything that could be destroyed. Nothing was permitted to survive.

Yet there was a survivor: a tiny white pebble completely at the mercy of the Darkness yet resilient. Swept up in the storm, it was battered and tossed around; or sometimes still—surrounded by a menacing calm as the Darkness lay in wait. With the Darkness enveloping everything, it was inevitable that the pebble would be struck repeatedly; so insignificant that it seemed likely the pebble would be destroyed alongside everything else. Yet still the pebble remained whole, somehow unable to be completely destroyed by the Darkness. The Darkness only became more enraged, and concentrated its efforts. Eternally trembling from repeated blows, the pebble felt the Darkness consume and rage, each blow leaving its mark yet still failing to destroy. The tides of the Darkness carried the little pebble along in its madness, and the battle between the monstrous Darkness and the tiny pebble became its own legend.

After three years of submitting to the tide of Darkness, the battered pebble washed up unexpectedly on a new shore. Although the rage of the Darkness had simmered somewhat, it still hung poisonous in the air. Yet the shore the pebble was now part of seemed less affected; the Darkness was broken by patches of light, which exposed a beach full of fine sand, and dust and  ̶  more pebbles. As the pebble lay in the momentary calm of this new reality, the matter around it drifted closer. Some combination of light and untainted water allowed the various fragments to become fused together, so that the first pebble was unexpectedly strengthened against the Darkness’s inevitable forthcoming attacks. When the Darkness renewed its raging, throwing the pebble back and forth sporadically, the pebble was hardier, and every time it rolled into the light a little more sand and pebble dust stuck to it so that it became increasingly bigger with each hit it took.

Almost as though in response, the Darkness became less. It was no less menacing, but its presence became smaller; its attacks, fewer. It took on a more solid shape; grew smaller.

Transformed.

By the time the seven year mark came around, the Darkness had become a three-headed Demon with six eyes firmly focused on the pebble. It had three ugly faces, long claws and sharp teeth and was constantly gnawing on the pebble with each of its mouths.

The rest of the world was left to rebuild, regrow. It began to flourish with this new opportunity for life, and colour crept back into the world. It used the newfound peace to develop and spread light wherever it could, determined to counteract the destruction caused by The Darkness. The new world was stronger for what it had suffered, and peace reigned.

The legendary battle between the Darkness and the pebble continued, but now it was a discreet, personal battle. The Demon knew it was losing—the sandstone shell now encasing the pebble had hardened, and though there were weaknesses these were few. Truth was, with all of the extra layers the pebble had accumulated over the past four years, it had now become almost a boulder, and its size was much bigger than that of the Darkness Demon.

The persistent Demon leapt around the pebble, lunging in to attack and then withdrawing to disappear into an inky cloud, only to attempt again from a different angle. It was merciless.

Yet each time the Demon attacked, the pebble withstood the blows a little better. The weight of the sand and pebbles that made up its skin now anchored it, keeping it stable in the chaos of the Darkness Demon’s attacks. The Demon diminished. The demon became small.

Despite its less frequent successes, the demon was not to be underestimated. When it did manage to take a bite with its sharp teeth, or slice the pebble with its claws, something of a scream issued forth from the pebble. But the pebbles and sand that made up the hardened new layers were strong. Each blow was absorbed by many, and thus weakened. The demon became less.

The final blow was a realisation, and it was this:

The shrinking of the darkness was no mere coincidence. It was no inevitable decline caused by time. The Darkness, darkness, demon—in every form it shared one thing.

Does the darkness …?

Seven years of madness and raging and hate and bitterness.

Maybe?

Seven years of storms and poison and pain.

Just maybe?

Seven years attempting to destroy that which refuses to be destroyed.

Fear the Pebble?

Thus the demon was vanquished, and light was restored.

And the Pebble was free.

Review: Red Lotus

Red Lotus by Pai Kit Fai
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I've been reading this one on and off for one year and ten days now.

It's so loooooooong and sloooooooow and by the time I got to Part 2 I just wanted it to be over. So ...

DNF @ Page 263 (53%)

VOILA! It's over.

It's just so draining. It seems like it has an interesting story but it's so flowery and poetic and takes so damn long to say anything that it just became a chore to read. I found it so hard to pick up. I also really struggled with figuring out when it was set? I think it did eventually mention it somewhere but I honestly had no idea. There's a lot of info about the culture, in excruciating detail, and while you kinda feel sad for all that Li-Xia ha to go through, it's too long-winded to solidify the bond between character and reader.

This is one for the patient readers, who like to take their time and mull over pretty words. There IS an intriguing story here, but I just don't have the time or patience to tease it out of all the superfluous detail.

I'm as done as I'll ever be, I think.

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Review: Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Dang, the third book had me worried.

I mean, I really enjoyed the way things wrapped up in the second book, but I felt like there was unfinished business with McClaren and even Josh a little bit so was keen to see what kinda drama was gonna play out in this one, and how Kavinsky would again triumph over all.

But it was all about boring wedding stuff???

I don't care about boring wedding stuff! I don't even like Ms Rothschild! I'm kinda with Margot on that - she just kinda slotted herself into this story and it felt invasive and I did not like it. So naturally I wasn't pleased to spend half of this book reading about her and wedding plans etc.

Then again, my parents have been going solid for 37 years so I wonder if maybe people with lovable step-parents will appreciate it more?

Anyhoo.

The point is that I needed more fun and obnoxious Kavinsky and what I got was Boring Wedding Stuff and Mopey Kavinksy and it just did not do it for me.

But!

There were still some really cute scenes. And Lara Jean is still happy and positive and just as lovable as ever.

I feel like maybe some of the stuff here was added for closure but it felt messy and unauthentic so honestly we probably could have done without this book. It was way less satisfying.

It was still an easy read, and nice and fluffy, and Kavinsky still made me AW out loud, but it was just underwhelming compared to the first two. I'd probably recommend that people who are in love with the first two maybe forget this book was ever written. The heartwarming Kavinsky moments are kind of too little too late, in my opinion.

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