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Series of Mini Book Reviews

Hello friends! Hope you are staying well and happy. It’s been a little while since I’ve written a book review, but that is not for lack of reading. I promise. So, today I will share a series of mini book reviews from some of my favorite reads in the past few months. The majority of the novels are part of a book club I joined. Below are the titles:

The Husband’s Secret – Liane Moriarty 

You Think It I’ll Say It by – Curtis Sittenfeld

Everything is Figureoutable – Marie Forleo

Little Fires Everywhere – Ng Celeste

The Guest List – Lucy Foley

The Confidence Code – Katty Kay and Claire Shipman

Where The Crawdads Sing – Delia Owens

The Husband’s Secret roped me in immediately with the introduction of a hidden letter to Cecilia Fitzpatrick, which she found. I read with baited breath, awaiting that moment of reveal—what did Cecilia’s husband’s letter say? But, the book is all about the journey. That’s why we read right? We long for storytelling. As I read, I attached myself to the characters and their lives, and held on to each word as their connections to one another unraveled. Cecilia’s patience was admirable. I would have torn the letter open as soon as I found it. Thankfully Cecilia didn’t, because then there’d be no story.

You Think It I’ll Say It was a fantastic compilation of short stories, and another book club selection. Yay for book clubs! Curtis Sittenfeld humanized her characters in a way every author should strive to emulate. The story’s characters were real, flawed, loved, and hurting. Even as I personally related, or didn’t, to each story, there was always at least one character who tugged at my heartstrings.

Everything is Figureoutable is a motivational non-fiction, self-help book. As some of you know, I love fiction, but recently thanks to the book club, I’ve really been enjoying non-fiction titles. I read them more slowly, but thoughtfully, because of the educational aspect. If you’d like direct, and unbiased advice on how to achieve your goals, this book will not disappoint.

Little Fires Everywhere was a spectacular work of fiction highlighting the bonds and disparities between an orderly, progressive family in an affluent area, and an enigmatic artist and her daughter who arrive in the town’s bubble. Secrets collide with entitlement. Motherhood’s fiery protection triggers conflict. You won’t be able to put this novel down. As always, the book was better than the on screen mini series.

The Guest List was a thrilling mystery, and I sped through the bestseller in three days. I needed to know who wound up dead at a celebrity destination wedding on the shabby chic island of old ghosts. And you will too, if you scoop this story up.

Currently, I am reading The Confidence Code, which was discussed in book club last week. Gasp! I’m behind. But it’s non-fiction y’all, so it will take me time. So far, The Confidence Code is a well-researched guide on attaining confidence as a woman. And though informative, the co-authors keep it light-hearted with subtle humor. Make note: We need to do better as women—our male counterparts are more pleased with themselves despite matched levels of abilities and competence. Wait, I just said we need to do better didn’t I? Even though I also said we need to be more pleased with ourselves. 

Our current book club novel is Where The Crawdads Sing. I read The New York Times Best Seller fiction work in two days. The story was that well-written. I simultaneously adored and hurt for the book’s main character, Kya. You will too, if you decide to read.

That’s all for today! Thanks for reading. How did you like the series of mini book reviews versus a single book review? What books are on your nightstand? Please share. I’d love to know.

Writing with Self-Care

As writers, self-motivation is key. But often this can lead to burnout, or worse yet demotivation. How do we find that writing balance, especially during the holidays?  My blog post today speaks to just that—writing with self care, while staying on task.

Do the upcoming holidays have you watching every single Christmas movie you can find on lifetime or the hallmark channel? Did you start them as early as Halloween? No, I am not talking about myself. Jeez. But, if I were to, say, have watched a couple, then I’d have to applaud the increased diversity in these feel good movies. Are any other holiday-ish happenings deterring you from your goals?

The holidays make me feel giddy and nostalgic. I want to cozy up with a good book, or hot chocolate and a movie. I don’t always feel like ensuring I accomplish a 2,000 or 3,000 a day word count, and a part of me thinks nanowrimo is purposely scheduled in November—just to keep writers on task during the holidays. (Don’t know what nanowrimo is? Click the link above.)

Whenever I finalize a major editorial or draft a few heavily-researched chapters, I take a well-deserved break. Because writing is a priority for me, I pour myself into it exhaustively when reaching towards a goal. Recently, I completed a major round of edits to my novel, and returned it to my agent and editor. Ensuring the content updates and additions grew the story and characters was key to me. And that desire for meaningful content and a moving story propelled me forward. But that didn’t deny the fact that moments after returning the draft, I exhaled. I felt accomplished, and relaxed.

So, here are a few helpful tips from me on how to maintain balance in writing, with self-care in mind. In the days that have followed since my editorial draft, I have of course continued to focus on my family, work and exercise. But, I’ve also watched a few movies (not saying which ones), and worked on a few home organization projects. And, I have meditated, read, and caught up with family and friends. I’ve dipped into a relaxing bubble bath. Next week I’m getting a massage. Gawrsh, do I feel recharged. Literally, I’m like a toy with new batteries installed. We’re talkin’ double AA, top of the line batteries. Does R&R after accomplishing a goal recharge you? What is your idea of R&R—maybe long walks in nature, a mini-getaway, or gardening? 

It would be easy to continue with this writing hiatus, citing excuses such as I am awaiting a revision, but I would only be dis-servicing myself. And you friend, would be doing the same if you halt moving forward with your goals. Discipline is key. So, set a time limit on your retreat from writing or your goals, be it one week, two weeks, or three. And then stick to it.

Now that I am recharged I am so excited to have some time to blog and work on my super-secret next novel. To be clear, I am not saying I will be writing on Thanksgiving, when I will self-inflict a food-induced coma. But you better believe Black Friday will not only be a shopping day.

My mother, the hardest working person I’ve ever met, used to say ‘everything in moderation’. It is a phrase I often repeat to myself. So, if this blog leaves you with one message let it be to: grind, work hard, grind some more, REST (in the way you need it, without apology). Repeat. 

How do you maintain balance with your family, work, and life? If you are a writer do you take breaks after major accomplishments? Do tell, I’d love to know.

Thanks for stopping by my blogspot friends! See you soon, same time, same place.

Writer’s Tips

Hello friends, and happy Friday! Anyone writing, editing, learning, or curling up with a good book this weekend? If you are looking to spend time educating yourself on all things literary this weekend, look no further.  Today, I wanted to share some tried and true writer’s resources and tips in the great world of the ‘webosphere’. They have supported me in my literary endeavors. Hopefully you will find them equally useful.

My primary educational resource is a monthly membership website, Compel Training, and it has been invaluable in guiding me. From platform building, to editing, to agent querying tips, to self-publishing tips the weekly trainings, forums, and sense of community this website provides have been key in my development as a writer. I have really honed in on my craft thanks to the writing education this platform has gifted me.

Now, if you are interested in resources, but don’t want to fork out the $30 per month membership fee, below are some free websites:

  1. This website, writer’s digest, contains a wealth of information, including agents to query, suggestions for getting published, a tip of the day, building your platform and more.  A literary agent I queried put me onto this site, and quite honestly it is a gold mine. They post new literary agent alerts, which is a wonderful opportunity to contact new agents seeking out authors to represent.
  2. Another site, Association of Authors Representatives Inc. is where I find agents to query. It is a professional organization of over 350 agents. The opportunities here are endless.
  3. Below are several writers’ blogs I stumbled onto or fellow writers shared with me:
    • Janice Hardy’s Fiction University  I haven’t read her books yet, but I have heard they are useful if you are seeking a book resource: “Plotting Your Novel” and “Revising Your Novel”.
    • Chris Fox Writes For self-publishing authors he shares a wealth of information on marketing your books.
    • Holly Lisle: read with hunger,write with joy,live with passion She hosts a weekly podcast providing tons of writing tips.
    • K.M. Weiland I love the reason she gives for why she writes: Stories are like breathing. Life without a story in my head is one-dimensional, stagnant, vapid. I love the life God has given me, but I think I love it better because I’m able to live out so many other lives on the page. I’m more content to be who I am because I’m not trapped in that identity. When I sit down at my computer and put my fingers on the keys, I can be anyone or anything, at any time in history. I write because it’s freedom.
    • Nathan Bransford’s blog This blog provides excellent resources for query letters, book proposals, self publishing, finding a literary agent and more. It is a favorite of mine.

These are just a few web-based resources, and there are many others, especially in the bookspace. Did you find this information useful? Do you have any recommendations for writers’ resources? Please share, I would love to know.

Thanks for stopping by my blog corner. See you in a couple of weeks. Same bat time, same bat place.

2019 Book Reading Goals

Hello, and happy new year, folks!  As we finish off the last year of this decade, I wanted to support you with any of your 2019 book reading goals. This said, I will be sharing book recommendations and reading challenges.  There are several reading challenges that kicked off at the start of the year, and maybe you can add some of these books to your list of reads for 2019.

1. The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy

In the most unique and unexpected of settings, Arundhati Roy uses vivid literary imagery to connect you to the characters in this novel.

2. The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

See my book review here: https://anitakharbanda.com/2018/12/28/the-palace-of-illusions-book-review/

3. Before We Visit the Goddess by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni

See my book review here: https://anitakharbanda.com/2018/10/03/before-we-visit-the-goddess-book-review/

4. Her Name is Kaur by Meeta Kaur

In this riveting collection of short stories, Sikh American women share their dramatic and humorous experiences with love, spirituality, community and family.

5. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

You cannot help the empathy and connection you can feel to the author in this memoir about her personal journey through a life altering event.

6. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

A perfectly tailored, and award-winning expression of the Indian immigrant experience.

Currently, I am reading a literary work by the up and coming author Balli Kaur Jaswal, entitled Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows. It was on Reese Witherspoon’s book club list, and already I cannot put it down.  Once I finish this novel, I will be moving onto Balli Kaur’s new release 2019 novel: The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters.

I am currently enrolled in two goodreads reading challenges. If you do not have a goodreads account you will need to set one up, which is relatively easy.  There are several reading challenges on goodreads, and other websites, but I am highlighting the two I joined.  The links to these are below.

The first reading challenge is a personal goal for the number of books you would like to read this year.   The second challenge is a goal to read 300 books this year. Yikes! Did I scare ya?  You are not alone. It is a virtual certainty that I will not read 300 novels this year, BUT I will be voraciously consuming any ‘goodreads’ possible. Pun intended.

There are several links in the 300 books club group to support the ambitious goal. Firstly, some Goodreads members of the 300 books group have recommended reading graphic novels, shorter novels, and poetry to facilitate the hefty goal. Secondly, there are several tools within this challenge to help you keep track of your novels, and follow the calendar, which runs for the entire year of 2019.  Thirdly, there are reading binge book days where you try to read as much as possible in a given day, usually a Saturday. Fourthly, a monthly book recommendation is also part of the challenge (certainly helpful when you are running out of suggestions and ‘want to reads’). Lasly, there is a link to a substantial list of book recommendations once you join the group. A few that piqued my interest on this list are: Becoming by Michelle Obama, Educated by Tara Westover, and Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Below are the challenge links:

1. Goodreads challenge personal book reading goal:

https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/8863-2019-reading-challenge

2. Goodreads 300 book reading challenge link:

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/757578-2019-reading-challenge

Hope this helps with any reading goals you may have for 2019. Do you have any book recommendations?  Please comment and share. I would love to know. Have a wonderful, and book-ish weekend!