How did you cross over?
Where were you and what were you doing?
Like most Nigerian Christians, I was at Church, praying my way into the New Year. My husband used to take umbrage at this way of moving into a New Year but he's married to me now so umbrage or not, we go to Church.
I'm going to try really hard not to be preachy but this is my first post of the year (Yay!) so bear with me...
And now I've lost my train of thought (yup, old age).
Oh well, let's talk about a much maligned word - Resolutions.
Do you have any?
I do:
Write. Finish a novel and edit 3 anthologies.
Read 50 books.
Be happy. Take deep breaths. Don't be so easily offended.
Be emotionally independent. Do not allow other people's mood swings swing your moods.
Love. Be patient. Be kind. Do not keep a record of wrongs.
That's it.
There should be something about weight loss and exercise but those aren't resolutions. They are on my to do list. Speaking of weight loss, here's a little sumthin' from the wonderful Miss Wana Wana. It's called Weight Loss. I saw her perform it at Bogobiri and I loved it and her. If you ever can, see her live.
Anywhichway, Happy New Year.
Make Glorious Mistakes. Make Glorious Art.
PS. I figured out (more like discovered) how to do this. Phew!
Showing posts with label bibliophile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bibliophile. Show all posts
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
It's been a while
Holla!
Happy 53rd Independence Day, Nigerians!
What do we have to be happy about? Life and Hope. At all, at all, na winch!
Anyway, this is what I've been up to:
This is what I'm reading now:
And this is my current playlist:
Once More With Feeling
Thanks.
Oh, and Papa Goo's movie TABLOID for EbonyLife TV (Channel 165 on DSTV) will be airing on the 6th of October. That's in 4 days. Make sure you watch it!
Happy 53rd Independence Day, Nigerians!
What do we have to be happy about? Life and Hope. At all, at all, na winch!
Anyway, this is what I've been up to:
This is what I'm reading now:
And this is my current playlist:
Once More With Feeling
- Dog days are over - Florence and The Machine
- When it gets down to it - Fred Hammond
- What the water gave me - Florence and The Machine
- Ring a bell - Late Night Alumni
- Hope is rising - Downhere
- The sun is shining - Third Day
- Breathe slow - Alesha Dixon
- Love song - Third Day
- Supermassive black hole - Muse
- Loved on me - Fred Hammond
- Till it happens to you - Corrine Bailey Rae
- Automatic - Tokio Hotel
- Atmosphere (remix) - DC Talk
- Reformation - GS Megaphone
- Sing, sing, sing - Chris Tomlin
- A Thousand Years - Christina Perri
- Stronger - Mary J. Blige
- In my place - Coldplay
- Don't wait - Kaskade feat. Haley
- Letters from the sky - Civil Twilight
- Poison and Wine - The Civil Wars
- We are hungry/I will not be silent - Jesus Culture
Thanks.
Oh, and Papa Goo's movie TABLOID for EbonyLife TV (Channel 165 on DSTV) will be airing on the 6th of October. That's in 4 days. Make sure you watch it!
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Conversations with Myself
Me: I want a coke.
Myself: Take water.
Me: But I really want a coke.
Myself: Water is better.
Me: Cooooke!
Myself: How about fruit juice? Or fruit?
Me: Fruit juice? Hmm.
Myself: Better than a coke.
Me: Hmm. Coke.
Myself: How about a malt?
Me: Hmm. Maaalt.
Myself: Yup. Malt.
Me: I'd rather have a coke.
Myself: Why don't you just get yourself a coke?
I am now drinking a coke.
In other news, Hey! It's been a while. No, I have not been avoiding you. I've just been mostly knackered. All I had energy for after taking care of The Goo and Papa Goo was to read.
So that's what I've been up to.
Oh yeah, and I've upped my challenge goal back to 300. Fun times!
I know I should say something about my writing but honestly, I don't want to. I will say, I ALWAYS expect things to be easy - school, marriage, childbirth (no words!), writing a book, but they NEVER are.
So...that's all folks!
Myself: Take water.
Me: But I really want a coke.
Myself: Water is better.
Me: Cooooke!
Myself: How about fruit juice? Or fruit?
Me: Fruit juice? Hmm.
Myself: Better than a coke.
Me: Hmm. Coke.
Myself: How about a malt?
Me: Hmm. Maaalt.
Myself: Yup. Malt.
Me: I'd rather have a coke.
Myself: Why don't you just get yourself a coke?
I am now drinking a coke.
In other news, Hey! It's been a while. No, I have not been avoiding you. I've just been mostly knackered. All I had energy for after taking care of The Goo and Papa Goo was to read.
So that's what I've been up to.
Oh yeah, and I've upped my challenge goal back to 300. Fun times!
I know I should say something about my writing but honestly, I don't want to. I will say, I ALWAYS expect things to be easy - school, marriage, childbirth (no words!), writing a book, but they NEVER are.
So...that's all folks!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Q1: A Review
Hey Everyone,
Yes, I know I disappeared for a bit. No, I still haven't gotten any writing done. I did read a lot of books. Some wonderful and mind blowing - 26A by Diana Evans, The Dating Detox by Gemma Burgess, The Mrs. Club by Ekene Onu, Miss Match by Erynn Mangum, The Other Woman's Shoes by Adele Parks among others.
I did not register for the writing course. I tried to pay online for 3 days and did not succeed and as a result missed the discount window. Will I still take the course? Oh yes, but now there's no hurry. Besides, the money has gone to other things like rechargeable standing fans, and car repairs, and replacing the sliding door.
Anyway, it's April and I should start writing short stories. I may or may not put them up. I haven't decided yet. Maybe I'll let Cho decide. However, for now, here's a little something from me.
Enjoy!
PS. If this post seems brusque, it's because The Goo isn't feeling well, and won't eat, and therefore can't take her medicine...I'm pulling my hair out over here. Say a prayer for her, will you.
Yes, I know I disappeared for a bit. No, I still haven't gotten any writing done. I did read a lot of books. Some wonderful and mind blowing - 26A by Diana Evans, The Dating Detox by Gemma Burgess, The Mrs. Club by Ekene Onu, Miss Match by Erynn Mangum, The Other Woman's Shoes by Adele Parks among others.
I did not register for the writing course. I tried to pay online for 3 days and did not succeed and as a result missed the discount window. Will I still take the course? Oh yes, but now there's no hurry. Besides, the money has gone to other things like rechargeable standing fans, and car repairs, and replacing the sliding door.
Anyway, it's April and I should start writing short stories. I may or may not put them up. I haven't decided yet. Maybe I'll let Cho decide. However, for now, here's a little something from me.
Enjoy!
PS. If this post seems brusque, it's because The Goo isn't feeling well, and won't eat, and therefore can't take her medicine...I'm pulling my hair out over here. Say a prayer for her, will you.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
The 200 Book Reading Challenge
Yes, I changed my goal again. Let's face it, if I'm going to be reading all those romance novels (and I will), then the tally is going to go up rather quickly. Romance novels are definitely smack dab in the middle of my comfort zone, and since I'm trying not to over indulge with chocolate, cake, or chocolate cake, then well...hello Nora!
Also, this past week I was kinda sorta under the weather - nauseous, poor appetite, insomnia, headaches - bring on the comforting. That's not to say, I won't try to expand my horizon and read things I would normally not read. However, I won't lie...I really like my comfort zone.
In other news, work has resumed. I've started on the wrong foot and am behind schedule, but that should be sorted out by tomorrow. I've decided to put my personal feelings aside, and be a disciplined professional. Yup. A Disciplined Professional.
I'm not entirely happy with my prep work for Good Intentions, but I have to start. Writing is rewriting, I've been told, so I suppose I should just jump to it.
Wish me luck. I'm actually a little nervous.
PS. I write the weekly column Rita's Road for Poise Finishing School's insert in Business Day newspaper (every Tuesday). If you could check it out, and let me know what you think, I would really appreciate it. Muchos Gracias, and have a great week.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The Year in Review: My Favourite Books
Hey people!
Y'alright?
As the year comes to a close (Yay! Another year almost done!), I'm reviewing my journals (yes, I do journal), and taking a look at what this year has been for me. I found a journal entry called My Favourite Books, and thought it would be nice to share it.
DISCLAIMER: I'm not very good at book reviews, so please bear with me.
My favourite books are:
1. The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho: My husband got this for me on our first wedding anniversary. It's such a beautiful story. If I ever write a book like this I can die happy. I loved the simplicity of it. A story of a boy on a journey at the end of which he would become a man in every sense of the word. I loved the story. I loved the way it was told. Both story and storytelling were what I consider stripped down and pure. Nothing unnecessary. Nothing wasted.
2. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis: A rather dark book by a Christian author. I'm scared of the dark, but sometimes dark stories need to be told, and C.S. Lewis did not shy away from it. He didn't sensationalize it. He did not condemn it. He did not celebrate it. He told the story of darkness. I was impressed.
3. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien: I could say this is a simple story well told, but it's much more than that. It's not a simple story - it's a story of magic and hobbits; dwarves and trolls; giant eagles and gold; a dragon, and of course, Gollum. It was a story of magic and adventure, simply told.
4. Ake by Wole Soyinka: This was the first 'grown-up' book that inspired me. I read an excerpt in my English Textbook in JSS2 and I was hooked. I skipped through the pages of the textbook looking for more excerpts and reread them as often as possible. Imagine my delight when I discovered an autographed copy (oh yeah!) in my father's study. Naturally, the book became mine, and I have enjoyed the rambling description of Wole Soyinka's childhood years many a time since then.
5. The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi: My sister recommended this book to me. Her words, "Timi, you'll like this". I did. I was especially impressed by (and a little envious of) the author's age by the time she wrote that book. That aside, I loved the story. I had never read Nigerian fantasy that wasn't heavy on rural melodrama. This was a story with clean lines, and I absolutely love the open endedness (is that a word?) of the end.
So there you have it. My favourite books so far. With my 300 book reading challenge next year, who knows how this list will change? I can hardly wait!
Now your turn, what are your favourite books, and why?
Y'alright?
As the year comes to a close (Yay! Another year almost done!), I'm reviewing my journals (yes, I do journal), and taking a look at what this year has been for me. I found a journal entry called My Favourite Books, and thought it would be nice to share it.
DISCLAIMER: I'm not very good at book reviews, so please bear with me.
My favourite books are:
1. The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho: My husband got this for me on our first wedding anniversary. It's such a beautiful story. If I ever write a book like this I can die happy. I loved the simplicity of it. A story of a boy on a journey at the end of which he would become a man in every sense of the word. I loved the story. I loved the way it was told. Both story and storytelling were what I consider stripped down and pure. Nothing unnecessary. Nothing wasted.
2. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis: A rather dark book by a Christian author. I'm scared of the dark, but sometimes dark stories need to be told, and C.S. Lewis did not shy away from it. He didn't sensationalize it. He did not condemn it. He did not celebrate it. He told the story of darkness. I was impressed.
3. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien: I could say this is a simple story well told, but it's much more than that. It's not a simple story - it's a story of magic and hobbits; dwarves and trolls; giant eagles and gold; a dragon, and of course, Gollum. It was a story of magic and adventure, simply told.
4. Ake by Wole Soyinka: This was the first 'grown-up' book that inspired me. I read an excerpt in my English Textbook in JSS2 and I was hooked. I skipped through the pages of the textbook looking for more excerpts and reread them as often as possible. Imagine my delight when I discovered an autographed copy (oh yeah!) in my father's study. Naturally, the book became mine, and I have enjoyed the rambling description of Wole Soyinka's childhood years many a time since then.
5. The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi: My sister recommended this book to me. Her words, "Timi, you'll like this". I did. I was especially impressed by (and a little envious of) the author's age by the time she wrote that book. That aside, I loved the story. I had never read Nigerian fantasy that wasn't heavy on rural melodrama. This was a story with clean lines, and I absolutely love the open endedness (is that a word?) of the end.
So there you have it. My favourite books so far. With my 300 book reading challenge next year, who knows how this list will change? I can hardly wait!
Now your turn, what are your favourite books, and why?
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The (Unnamed) Book Club
A few months ago, I let loose a bit of a rant on twitter about The Definition of an 'African' Writer, and how we are expected to write village square stories or colonial time stories or civil war stories. Basically, historical fiction. After my rant, and some distance, and some deep breathing, I became somewhat ashamed of myself.
What right did I have to complain about the type of work African writers are expected to produce? First of all, where is my body of work? Second, how many African writers have I actually read? Where did I get the idea that there was a stereotype aspiring authors like myself had to conform to? Shame on me.
So, I decided that next year, as part of my 300 book reading challenge (more on that later), I would read more African authors. Enter my BFF, Cho, who out of the blue asked me to start a book club.
"Why?"
"Maybe it will encourage me to read more".
Hmm. I ran the idea by our mutual friend, Joy, who said, "I've been meaning to start a book club, but never got around to it". Well, then, I was gingered. I asked them some more questions on the number of books we would read - 1 a month, the genres, and other little details. We all agreed to think of a name later, but I was so excited about it (books!!!) that I opened a Blackberry group with the the tentative name - The (Unnamed) Book Club. Little did I know, that once (Unnamed) forever shall it be. Thankfully, the other 12 members of our all female group (which includes Ann) like the quirky name (no one has said they hate it, so yay!).
We don't officially start reading and discussing the books till next year (which is just around the corner), but so far, it has been fun. First, there were nominations, and then campaigns, and then votes. Just this Sunday, the polls closed and we have our reading list for 2013. Drum roll please....
January - The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
February - I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
March - The Mrs. Club by Ekene Onu
April - Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beechar Stowe
May - Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
June - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
July - Half of A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
August - Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
September - On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
October - Stardust by Neil Gaiman or The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (we're still voting, but Stardust is in the lead. yay!)
November - Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
December - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
I'M SO EXCITED!!!
PS. I nominated Fine Boys by Eghosa Imasuen but it didn't make the cut *sniff sniff*, but I'm going to mention it anyway because the author was nice enough to respond to my inquiry on twitter about an image of his book cover for my campaign.
Will you be taking a reading challenge next year? What books are you just dying to read?
PPS. Sigh. Internet is acting up (I hope that means it will rain tonight), and so that means alas, I cannot upload images of the book covers tonight, but mark my words, I will eventually.
(Cue evil laugh)
(Felt like the thing to do)
What right did I have to complain about the type of work African writers are expected to produce? First of all, where is my body of work? Second, how many African writers have I actually read? Where did I get the idea that there was a stereotype aspiring authors like myself had to conform to? Shame on me.
So, I decided that next year, as part of my 300 book reading challenge (more on that later), I would read more African authors. Enter my BFF, Cho, who out of the blue asked me to start a book club.
"Why?"
"Maybe it will encourage me to read more".
Hmm. I ran the idea by our mutual friend, Joy, who said, "I've been meaning to start a book club, but never got around to it". Well, then, I was gingered. I asked them some more questions on the number of books we would read - 1 a month, the genres, and other little details. We all agreed to think of a name later, but I was so excited about it (books!!!) that I opened a Blackberry group with the the tentative name - The (Unnamed) Book Club. Little did I know, that once (Unnamed) forever shall it be. Thankfully, the other 12 members of our all female group (which includes Ann) like the quirky name (no one has said they hate it, so yay!).
We don't officially start reading and discussing the books till next year (which is just around the corner), but so far, it has been fun. First, there were nominations, and then campaigns, and then votes. Just this Sunday, the polls closed and we have our reading list for 2013. Drum roll please....
January - The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin
February - I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella
March - The Mrs. Club by Ekene Onu
April - Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beechar Stowe
May - Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
June - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
July - Half of A Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
August - Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
September - On Black Sisters Street by Chika Unigwe
October - Stardust by Neil Gaiman or The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis (we're still voting, but Stardust is in the lead. yay!)
November - Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
December - The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
I'M SO EXCITED!!!
PS. I nominated Fine Boys by Eghosa Imasuen but it didn't make the cut *sniff sniff*, but I'm going to mention it anyway because the author was nice enough to respond to my inquiry on twitter about an image of his book cover for my campaign.
Will you be taking a reading challenge next year? What books are you just dying to read?
PPS. Sigh. Internet is acting up (I hope that means it will rain tonight), and so that means alas, I cannot upload images of the book covers tonight, but mark my words, I will eventually.
(Cue evil laugh)
(Felt like the thing to do)
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