Month: March 2024

𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕 𝚒𝚗 𝙰𝚕𝚍𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝙷𝚞𝚡𝚕𝚎𝚢’𝚜 “𝙰 𝙱𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝙽𝚎𝚠 𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍” 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝙰𝚝𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍’𝚜 “𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚍’𝚜 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚎” 𝚖𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚊𝚗 𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚗. 𝙱𝚘𝚝𝚑 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚞𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚌 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚢𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚌 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚖𝚙𝚑𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚎𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚜 𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚊𝚕𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚢 “𝚏𝚕𝚊𝚠𝚎𝚍” 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚊𝚞𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚛𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚜 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚖𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝙸 𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚞𝚝𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢.

𝙰𝚕𝚍𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝙷𝚞𝚡𝚕𝚎𝚢’𝚜 “𝙰 𝙱𝚛𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝙽𝚎𝚠 𝚆𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍” 𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚡𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚠𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚒𝚗 𝚜𝚎𝚡𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚕𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚞𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌 𝚔𝚗𝚘𝚠𝚕𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚎𝚡𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚎𝚍. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚒𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚜 𝚎𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚢 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚎𝚕𝚜𝚎 𝚞𝚝𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚣𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚒𝚌 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚙𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚝𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚜 𝚢𝚎𝚝 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚕𝚊𝚌𝚔 𝚘𝚏 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚕 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚍𝚘𝚖 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚎 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚜 𝚊 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚎𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚣𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚍𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚞𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚏 𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗.

𝚆𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚜, 𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚝 𝙰𝚝𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍’𝚜 “𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙷𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚖𝚊𝚒𝚍’𝚜 𝚃𝚊𝚕𝚎” 𝚍𝚎𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚝𝚜 𝚊 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚛𝚘𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚏𝚢𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚎𝚡𝚒𝚜𝚝 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚐𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚘𝚕𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚌𝚎𝚜𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚛𝚎𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚍𝚞𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗. 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚘𝚐𝚢𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢 “𝙶𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚍” 𝚌𝚕𝚊𝚒𝚖𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚟𝚊𝚕𝚞𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚏-𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚊𝚜 𝚒𝚝 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚎𝚘𝚞𝚜𝚕𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚍𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚜 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚞𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚛𝚛𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚞𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚕 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚏𝚜. 𝙲𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚢, 𝙰𝚝𝚠𝚘𝚘𝚍’𝚜 𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚛𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚕 𝚜𝚘𝚌𝚒𝚎𝚝𝚢 𝚍𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚜 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚎𝚑𝚞𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚣𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗 𝚒𝚝𝚜 𝚖𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚍𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚎𝚡𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚢 𝚊 𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚐𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚗; 𝚗𝚘𝚝𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚢 𝚋𝚢 𝚘𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚖𝚎𝚗 𝚒𝚗 𝚙𝚘𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚙𝚘𝚠𝚎𝚛 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚖. 𝙸𝚗 𝚜𝚞𝚖𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚢, 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝙸 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚖 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚠𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚔𝚜 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚑𝚘𝚠 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚋𝚕𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚛𝚊𝚒𝚜𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚊𝚛 𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎𝚗.

Currently I am reading the book How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Contrary to the popular belief that this book is teaching lonely people how to make friends, it’s not. It is much more to do with how to influence or alter the perspectives of friends you already have, as well as strangers you’ve never met. A quote that really that I highlighted whilst reading was:

First, arouse in the other person an eager want. He who can do this has the whole world with him. He who cannot walks a lonely way.

I have read over the chapter, in which this quote is found, many times. “Arousing a want” sounded so simple when I read it on paper, so I have started to implement Carnegie’s words into my everyday life. I have started to see differences in how people to respond to things I ask of them using this technique.

I have nearly finished reading “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. It’s been a unique experience for me, as I’m not used to reading books with such advanced vocabulary. However, it has also helped me learn new words and expand my vocabulary, which is fantastic. In the following quote, Elizabeth is introduced to Mr. Darcy’s magnificent estate at Pemberley.

They gradually ascended for half a mile, and then found themselves at the top of a considerable eminence, where the wood ceased, and the eye was instantly caught by Pemberley House, situated on the opposite side of a valley, into which the road with some abruptness wound. It was a large, handsome, stone building, standing well on rising ground, and backed by a ridge of high woody hills;—and in front, a stream of some natural importance was swelled into greater, but without any artificial appearance. Its banks were neither formal, nor falsely adorned. Elizabeth was delighted. She had never seen a place where nature had done more, or where natural beauty had been so little counteracted by an awkward taste. They were all of them warm in her admiration; and at that moment she felt that to be mistress of Pemberley might be something! (p. 163).

Elizabeth’s visit to Darcy’s house is a major milestone in her feelings towards him. While conversing with the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, Elizabeth catches the glowingly admiring word of Darcy’s generosity and kindness as a master. The change, however, comes when she meets Darcy himself, unexpectedly, while she is walking through the grounds of his estate, Pemberley. His former haughtiness appears to have decreased, and Elizabeth now perceives him in a different way. The elaborate description of Pemberley’s construction and grounds are a symbolic representation of Darcy’s personality. That stream is actually his pride, being natural it also represents his honesty. Elizabeth’s joy and quick realization about the pleasure of being the mistress of Pemberley foreshadow her subsequent bliss as devoted wife of Darcy.

I have been enjoying ‘The Hunger Games’ lately and I really like it because of it’s descriptions. I like how it can give me an clear imagery of the scene even though I have not watch the movie I hope to finish the book then watch the movie just to see if what I had imagined is similar to the movie

“Look what I shot.” Gale holds up a loaf of bread with an arrow stick in it, and I laugh. It’s real bakery bread, not the flat, dense loaves we make from our grain rations. I take it in my hands, pull out the arrow, and hold the puncture in the crust to my nose, inhaling the fragrance that makes my mouth flood with with saliva. Fine bread like this is for special occasions.

p.7

I am just very impressed when books can give me an imagery on what is actually happening so in the above example I think it had given me enough descriptions to think of an imagery.

The book I’m reading is Icebreaker, and I found this quote and I really liked it

Falling in love with Nathan Hawkins was not something I could have planned. No planner, iPad, or freaking sticker chart could have prepared me for my future. My imagination isn’t capable of dreaming up this level of happiness.

this quote shows the main character’s surprising and deep love for Nathan Hawkins. It shows how unpredictable love can be and how it may exceed all preparations and expectations. It’s about the joy and surprise of discovering deep happiness in the most unexpected places. The character highlights the good parts of life and love when they come to the realization that no amount of planning could have brought them to the happiness she discovered with Nathan.

In White fangs, by Jack London, Bill and Henry are tasked in the middle of Winter, with transporting a person caucus. However, on the way, they are harassed by a group of Wolves. The Wolve pack have already eaten up 5 of their sled dogs. Name losses his nerves and goes with his revolver and the three bullets to kill the wolfs.

“He heard a shot, then two shots in rapid succession, and he knew that Bill’s ammunition was gone. Then he heard a great outcry of snarls and yelps. He recognized One Ear’s yell of pain and terror, and he heard a wolf-cry that bespoken a stricken animal. And that was all,” (p.108, l.15)

I really like this specific scene because, how jack London tells us indirectly to the reader that Bill is dead. It is also highly creative to tell someone died.

In the Novel Magnolia Parks, by Jessa Hastings, Magnolia and BJ are written in the stars, just suspended in a strange kind of love that looks like hurting each other a lot of the time. But at the end of each of their sad efforts to get over one another, it’s always each other that they crawl back to. As the “nanny” Marsaili reads the paper she sees BJ and Magnolia on the headline saying:

“On-again-off-again” couple Magnolia Parks and BJ Ballentine caused quite a scene last    night at Annabel’s as the pair ran into one of Park’s many ex-lovers—unnamed—“

[…]

“Jealous Ballentine appeared ready for fisticuffs, but the situation was diffused before it went any further.”

“Beej shrugs. “Not bad.”

“Fisticuffs,” I muse.”

“And then there are several photos where it looks like the two of you are together—“   (p.33)

When I read this scene I had to think about the author’s key question “How many Loves do you get in a lifetime”. The situation made clear that the two of them are drawn to each other but can’t properly show it, as they keep hurting each other but also care for each other at the same time. A complex chaos of feelings mixed up in wrong actions and bad timing. 

Limitless: Upgrade Your Brain, Learn Anything Faster, and Unlock Your Exceptional Life by Jim Kwik. The author, Jim Kwik, is discussing the power of mindset in achieving success and personal growth. “The truth is that we are all limitless. The only limits we have are the ones we impose on ourselves.” (Kwik, 2020, p. 27) This quotation shows the central theme of the book, emphasizing that our potential is not limited by external circumstances but by our own beliefs and mindset. It highlights the importance of overcoming self-imposed limitations to unlock our full potential and lead an exceptional life. The message is empowering and encourages readers to adopt a growth mindset, believing in their ability to learn, grow, and achieve their goals. Kwik’s assertion that our brains can be trained and improved is supported by scientific research on neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. By emphasizing this point, Kwik challenges readers to take control of their own learning and cognitive abilities, empowering them to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. I like that this book is non fiction and provides facts to support the main idea. It challenges readers to rethink their capabilities, embrace a growth mindset, and unlock their full potential, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and exceptional life.

This quote is from the book I’m reading currently, Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and its a conversation between the narrator and her brother.

Did you tell Aunty Ifeoma about your finger?’ I asked. I should not have asked. I should have let it be. But there, it was out. It was only when I was alone with Jaja that the bubbles in my throat let my words come out. “She asked me, and I told her.” He was tapping his foot on the verandah floor in an energetic rhythm. I stared at my hands, at the short nails that Papa used to cut to a chaffing shortness, when I would sit between his legs and his cheeks would brush mine gently, until I was old enough to do it myself — and I always cut them to a chaffing shortness, too. Had Jaja forgotten that we never told, that there was so much that we never told? When people asked, he always said his finger was “something” that had happened at home. That way, it was not a lie and it let them imagine some accident, perhaps involving a heavy door. I wanted to ask Jaja why he had told Aunty Ifeoma, but I knew there was no need to, that this was one question he did not know the answer to. (p. 154)

The Auschwitz Ballerina is a book written by Edith Eger, this book isn’t a story, this book is an experience she had on WW2 times. Edith Eger is a jew and suffer through Hittler’s atrocities and managed to survive. It all started when she was 16 years old when the nazis took her family and her to Auschwitz. her parents were sent to a gas camera and she stayed with her sister waiting for death. but little did she knew that dancing “the blue danube” for Mengele saved her life.

“In the private darkness inside me, I hear my mother’s words, as if she were here, in the inhospitable room, whispering beneath the music. <<Remember that no one can take away what you put in your mind>> Dr. Mengele, my squalid companions in confinement, the rebels who will survive and those who would soon be dead, even my dear sister disappear, and the only world that exists is in my head.” (pg.69)

this phrase is said by the main character (the author) and I find it really interesting because it explains how she felt in the certain moment she knew that one false step she could get killed, who would’ve known that dancing would be the thing that made her stay alive and get out of Auschwitz.

One book that I have read whose message and quotes truly stuck with me was Divine Rivals, by Rebecca Ross. In the fantastical world of magic and intrigue, Ross creates a story that unfolds as you read, and she truly captured me from the start. The emotional depth of the characters and the plot points she diverged impacted me immensely, specifically, this one excerpt spoken by the protagonist in a moment of vulnerability. It goes as follows:

“It takes courage to let down your armour, to welcome people to see you as you are. Sometimes I feel the same as you: I can’t risk having people behold me as I truly am. But there’s also a small voice in the back of my mind, a voice that tells me, “You will miss so much by being so guarded.”

This quote was the catalyst that began the unfolding of the protagonist’s character. It is when she first lets down her guard and is honest with the other characters in the book, and it shows the truth behind the phrase “there is strength in vulnerability.” It touched me as a reader because I feel I can relate to the meaning Ross is trying to convey. There are times where we hide our true selves to impress, relate, or be liked by others. After all, it is too dangerous to show yourself and be open to the risk of failure, of disappointment. But that is why I think it is so special; bearing yourself for conviction and vulnerability also opens up opportunities that, as the protagonist also puts it, you would have missed otherwise. This quote conveys that to let down your armour is a strength, not a weakness, and that is something truly remarkable.

Layla by Colleen Hoover is a thrilling and emotional novel that follows the story of Layla and Leeds, a couple who have been through a lot of ups and downs in their relationship. They decide to take a break from their busy lives and go on a romantic getaway to a bed and breakfast in the mountains. However, their peaceful trip takes a dark turn when they encounter a mysterious and eerie presence in the house, which seems to have a connection to Layla’s past. As the couple tries to unravel the secrets of the house and Layla’s past, they are forced to confront their fears and insecurities and make some difficult decisions that will change their lives forever. The novel is a perfect blend of romance, suspense, and psychological thriller, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

“I want to be the best part of your worst day”

The quote is a statement made by Layla, one of the main characters in the novel “Layla” by Colleen Hoover. The quote means that Layla wants to be there for her partner, Leeds, even on his worst days. She wants to be the one who can make him smile, even when everything else seems to be going wrong. She wants to be his source of comfort and support, and she wants to be able to make a positive impact on his life. Essentially, the quote is about being there for someone you love, no matter what, and being the best part of their day, even when everything else is falling apart. I love this quote as it shows the importance of love and how you will love someone on their bad and good days. 

I recently began reading a book entitled Agatha Christie – Marple. The book is a collection of short stories written by different authors, using the Ms. Marple character to explore a variety of scenarios. At the end of one investigation, Ms. Marple’s friend, Emmy, says to her:

“Well, Jane, you’ve only been here for twenty-four hours and already you’ve discovered two murders that no one else even realised were murders. And in Fishbourne, of all places!”

“You have lived a sheltered life, Emmy. But there is wickedness everywhere.” (p. 332)

This quotation captures perfectly what I feel is wrong with the book: there is no build up. The murders are well constructed,  but there’s no time to analyze them and create theories before Ms. Marple has solved it, everyone cheers, and we move onto the next mystery. Additionally, evidence that could be used to solve the murder is either heavily emphasized or not mentioned at all. Multiple times throughout the book, Ms. Marple reminded the readers that there were, for example, two or three things that stuck out to her in a specific scene. This is unnecessary: anyone who started reading a murder mystery book would already be analyzing every sentence. It’s as if Ms. Marple turns towards the audience, sees they’re struggling to figure out the mystery, and decides she needs to slap them over the head with some evidence because they’re too stupid to figure it out.

One, two, three, four! 200 minimum words!

Just two weeks ago, I began reading a novel called, “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy. Even in such a short time, it has become one of my favourite novels from 19th Century Russian authors. This novel explores the themes of families,  death and love. Especially love, I don’t think I have ever read a book where such a multitude of protagonists who have so many troubles with love. The novel follows a woman named Anna Karenina, a married woman, who falls in love with the charming officer Vronsky. The quotation I chose is of Dolly, Anna’s sister-in-law telling Anna about her husband, Oblonsky’s recent affair with their governess,

“‘Everything is at an end and that’s all’ said Dolly. ‘And the worst of it is, you understand, that I can’t leave him: there are the children, and I am bound. Yet I can’t live with him; it is torture for me to see him.'” (Pg. 67).

I chose this quotation because it is an introduction to the ideas of adultery of married individuals and the societal norms of the time stopping women from getting divorced. As Anna is being sympathetic with Dolly in this scene it feels very hypocritical because as the reader we know Anna is not faithful to her husband. To me, this felt like a way for Tolstoy to try to share his idea of humans’ tendency to be contradictory in their values and desires.

For my next IRJE, I chose a quotation in the next book in the “Emily of New Moon” series, Emily Climbs, by L.M. Montgomery. In the story, the protagonist Emily is on a trip with her best friend Ilse canvassing for subscriptions (visiting neighborhoods asking people to subscribe) to a newspaper from their town in which they are boarding for school. However, while walking they get lost and will not be able to get to the house in which they are to stay in time before dark. Instead, they decide to stay the night on a haystack near the road, and Emily stays awake gazing at the stars and the beauty of the night.

“She was glad Ilse was asleep. Any human companionship, even the dearest and most perfect, would have been alien to her then. She was sufficient unto herself, needing not love nor comradeship nor any human emotion to round out her felicity. Such moments come rarely in life, but when they do come they are inexpressibly wonderful – as if the finite were for a second divinity – as if humanity were for a space uplifted into divinity – as if all ugliness had vanished, leaving only flawless beauty” (p. 177).

This quotation highlights one of my favorite parts of both this series in particular and L.M. Montgomery’s writing in general – her descriptions of the world, even the smaller things in life. She often describes nature in very fantastical and vivid descriptions and accentuate small things such as the wind rustling through the trees or a clump of flowers. Even a simple thing such as laying and gazing at the stars can have great meaning, and be what make life interesting.

In Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austin, Elizabeth is the main character. She is the second daughter of the Bennet family. Mrs. Bennet, Elizabeth’s mother, is concerned about marrying her five daughters with wealthy escorts. When Mr. Bingley’s moves into the neighborhood, he develops a mutual affection with Jane Bennet, the oldest sister. When Mr. Darcy appears, Mr. Bingley’s close friend, his proud personality hurts Elizabeth’s feelings. Darcy starts to feel affection towards Elizabeth’s intelligence, and he finds it hard to express his feelings. When Mr. Darcy asks her father for his permission to marry her, you could clearly see her father’s love and preoccupation.

“Go with your father, he wants you in the library.” She was gone directly.
Her father was walking in the room, looking grave and anxious. “Lizzy” said he, “what are you doing? Are you out of your senses, to be accepting this man? Have you not always hated him?”
(p. 253)

This quotation reminded me of the relationship with my father, he is always worried about me and my feelings, and always goes out of the way to make my days better. That is why for me, this was the most lovely part throughout the whole book. Lizzy ‘s father was only worried about how her daughter feels and how she would feel. Mr. Bennet did not care about marrying her with a wealthy partner, or for her to have the expected future for her, he was only worried about her girl.

Not so long ago, I started reading the book “Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead” by Olga Tokarczuk. As a detective lover, this book got my full attention, even though I only finished the second chapter. I am not sure yet how the event will go, but the mysterious death of a man that everyone calls Big Foot is really interesting. There was also a short story about his dog. He locks her up in a shed, where she howls because of the cold. The woman rescues her and brings the dog home, where she gives her food and a warm place to sleep, but after a while, at night, the dog runs outside and goes back.

“And so she went back to her Prison” (p. 32).

I included this part because I liked how loyal the dog is. Despite how badly the owner treated her, the dog returned to him. When I told my sister about this book, she said that this situation reminded her of some people she knew.

I just finished the book, Someone Is Always Watching by Kelly Armstrong. As you may expect this is a horror book. I found an interesting horror scene that gave me goosebumps.

Dear Blythe,

You clicked the link, right? After making absolutely sure it seemed legit, of course. Did you check the URL? Type it in? Be certain I wasn’t scamming you?

I’m not scamming you. I wish I was, but I’m not.

So, you read the article, and tgen you went looking for more, didn’t you? And the only thing you found was that second article. WHiips, it’s all a mistake! Poor kid just accidentally died in a field, naked, with his throat slit!

Yes, none of that was in the article. But that’s what happened. I can send crime-scene photos, but I’ll spare you that. For now, you need to take my word for it.

It wasn’t an accident. Wasn’t a perv, either. The police dropped it because they couldn’t very well say that the murderer was an eight-year-old boy. Clearly, the kid didn’t know what he was doing.

How do you slit a boy’s throat, strip him to make it look like a perv, and not knowing what you’re doing?

You don’t.

He knew exactly what he was doing. Killing a kid who had the nerve to be nice to the guy’s little sister. That was the dead boy’s crime. His only crime. He was an eighth-grader who was mentoring a second-grade girl, and her brother killed him.

She saw it. The sister, that is. Got there after the kid was dead, and she saw what her brother had done.

Can you imagibe what that was like for her? How much it changed her? Damaged her?

Do you know any damaged girls, Blythe?

I think you do. (p63-65)

This whole part of horror kind of traumatized me and it can connect to the real world. This part makes me feel like the person who sent this email is some kind of stalker. Since there are more emails sent by an anonymous person. This connects to the title that the authors created.

I have just begun reading the book, The Subtle Art of Not Giving a [Bleep] by Mark Manson (p. 5). I found this quotation to be quite meaningful, as it related to the book we were reading earlier by Neil Postman.

Everyone and their TV commercial wants you to believe that the key to a good life is a nicer job, or a more rugged car, or a prettier girlfriend, or a hot tub with an inflatable pool for the kids. The world is constantly telling you that the path to a better life is more, more, more–buy more, own more, make more, f*** more, be more. You are constantly bombarded with messages to give a f*** about everything, all the time. 

Manson explains how businesses use propaganda to seep your attention from you to better their business and sell more products. Later on in the book he explains how the key to living a more positive life is to narrow in on the things you actually care about and stop worrying about random things you see online.

I recently finished the fantasy novel “A Sadow in the Ember” written by Jennifer L. Armentrout. This novel in the complex “From Blood and Ash” series offers a different perspective from a character in the past. Similar to the protagonist Poppy in “From Blood and Ash”, Seraphena (Sera) Mierel’s future has never been her own, imprisoned behind a veil. She’s raised in a destructive environment, with many not even acknowledging her as a person, simply a failure. Sera has always known what she is. Chosen. Consort. Assassin. Weapon. A specter never fully formed yet drenched in blood. A monster. Until her path crosses with the Primal of Death, whom she begins to trust. This relationship chases away Sera’s darkness, until his true intentions become clear, forcing her to reconsider the agony and consequences behind trust.

“It is far easier to be lied to than to acknowledge that you have been lied to.” (pg. 247).

This quote sparked a sense of sympathy and understanding from me, as it is an unknown concept that can be applied in many ordinary people’s lives. The quote reveals how harmless lying is until its consequences begin to configure. Once you begin to actually acknowledge the hurt and despair of lying as an action and the depth someone’s words can go, you begin to recognize the suffering of the victim. Typically lies are masked, mimicking a mental barrier of invisibility between each person. But as the wall breaks, it’s tempting to explore into that world of deception even if the outcome will only bring more hurt.

“The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People”, by Stephen Covey, published in 1989, is a step-by-step guide to complete the development of your life and your career or profession, a highly recognized book in the zone of self-help and self-development. The path to achieving effectiveness is built from seven habits which start from mental self-control, learning to work as a team, knowing how to communicate, and reaching the habit of constant improvement. The book makes clear its opposition to the search for quick solutions to internal or serious problems, making us understand that they never work in the long term. Also, the book through anecdotes, from the author and from people he has worked with, and practical exercises, Covey guarantees and facilitates the creation of habits in our daily lives. The book offers wisdom through its quotes from the author himself, for example.

“Sow a thought, reap an action; Sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” (p. 46).

Stephen Covey’s book today remains a highly regarded book that provides lasting habits for a balanced and principled approach to success, inner happiness, creating and implementing good habits into our daily routine, and continued self-improvement.

In the book I am reading: Fire Star by Chris D’ Lacey, one of the main characters- Lucy -has a dispute withe her mother -Liz. This dispute stuck out to me because it a dispute that I have had many times with my mother and probably most other people with their mothers. Previous to this argument, Lucy had mailed off and application that the previous tenant of the house -David- had trusted her to mail. So when Lucy saw the application still hidden in her Liz’s draw she decided to mail it off without telling her mother. When Liz finds out she confronts Lucy and scolds her because the application was dangerous and could put David in danger and it was not out of their hands.

“‘You did what?’ Liz lowered her shopping bags and threw her daughter such a look of deep shock that Lucy felt compelled to pull a tissue from her sleeve, and blow her nose to avoid eye contact. ‘It was in a drawer – with a stamp and everything.’ ‘Yes and that’s where it should have stayed.’. ‘But you promised me you would mail it and I thought you had. Instead you hid it and you didn’t even tell me. That’s sneaky, mom. David would go mad.” -( Chris D’ Lacey, Fire Star)

This is a perfect example of the consequences lies can have, especially in a household. Often times when parents don’t trust their children with the truth it will end up with disputes where the children will end up making an assumption on the basis that they don’t know what they are doing is wrong. This is the reason I chose this quote. Because the sheer amount of times when I see this in real life as well as books where all those problems could be solved with the truth

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” is the last book of the Hunger Games saga by Suzanne Collins. In this book, she tells the story of the young Coriolanus Snow and the District 12 tribute, Lucy Gray. Lucy Gray is a young woman that her passion is to sing but her life changes drastically when she gets the bad luck of being selected as District 12 tribute to go and play for her life in the annual Hunger Games. Coriolanus Snow is a well known student from the capitol, his family has to keep the appearance even though they are broke and have no money at all. Each student of the Capitol needs to train a tribute from the different districts and make him or her win the Hunger Games and with that obtain money from the capitol for the rest of their lives. Lucy Gray is Coriolanus snow tribute to train, but eventually, they fall in love. Everyone feared the principal of the capitol, Dr. Volumnia Gaul, but Lucy Gray wasn’t going to accept this terrible killing games so she decides to say the next quote to the principal in live television.

“You’ve no right to starve people, to punish them for no reason. No right to take away their life and freedom. Those are things everyone is born with, and they’re not yours for the taking. Winning a war doesn’t give you that right. Having more weapons doesn’t give you that right. Being from the Capitol doesn’t give you that right. Nothing does.” (p. 311)

I chose this quote because I found incredible and very brave how Lucy Gray fought for her life and to defend her ideology in this movie. She didn’t agree with the fact that the government, in this case the Capitol, made all of the citizens participate in the Hunger Games just to control them or to treat them as less. What she says in this quote is very real and we get to see it in our own countries, in our daily life. People that have more privileges, more money, make people that don’t to feel inferior, to feel less, they made them think that they’re not worth anything. We have no right to treat people as objects or to punish them for no reason just because we think we are better than everyone else.  Just as her, I strongly think that we all should defend our ideologies and never think that we are better than someone else.