Monday, August 31, 2020

Secrets to Being Amazing: What Confident People Don't Do by Denise Wijayaratne

(c) Denise Wijayaratne

Ever wonder what the secret is to be amazing?

Author Denise Wijayaratne wrote a book detailing her secrets on how to deal with everyday situations and how to best handle them, more confidently than you probably do now! She focuses on the importance of self-love and how you must remember to love yourself in building relationships with everyone around you. 

Ms. Wijayaratne is a classical pianist from Malaysia. Her background made me interested to read her book, as she had to cope with a particularly negative narcissistic relationship  with her mother, including dealing with emotional abuse. Psychology Today defines narcissism as "...not necessarily represent[ing] a surplus of self-esteem or of insecurity; more accurately, it encompasses a hunger for appreciation or admiration, a desire to be the center of attention, and an expectation of special treatment reflecting perceived higher status." As someone who is quite interested in psychology, this particular background called to me. It is hard to be positive with a negative influence in your life, but coming to terms with the fact that you are not the problem, pulling yourself away emotionally and overcoming the negative is an impressive and huge step towards your own well-being. Ms. Wijayaratne saw the negativity narcissism wrought out on relationships and so wrote a book on how to help others overcome such negative influences in their lives. 

I enjoyed reading Ms. Wijayaratne's tips on being amazing. Especially in this pandemic, it is pleasant to read something positive. Ms. Wijayaratne has performed her own background research in psychology and uses this research and her experiences as empirical research to develop her tips. The book is written in a self-help format, with "Amazingness Keys" at the end of each short chapter, summarizing the key points of the chapter and providing ways of improving yourself in regard to that specific chapter's points. She provides lessons of self-awareness to bring out the positive in your attitude and look for ways of growing and going forward. Sometimes you forget to tell yourself "I am good enough," and this book will provide helpful tips in remembering it. It also points out negative aspects, such as feelings of insecurity and inferiority, and how to recognize the signs and overcome them. Secrets to Being Amazing is a quick motivational book, providing a valuable reminder about how to love yourself for who you are. 

About the Author: Denise Wijayaratne

Denise Wijayaratne has a deep passion for classical music which led to her learning the piano from the age of 5 and becoming a classical pianist. She has , because of her interest in personal growth and emotional intelligence, spent many years researching and observing different aspects of human behavior and how that impacts relationships. Born and raised in a Southeast Asian culture, she has also lived in Western countries for 10 years, and has learned to take the best of both worlds and apply it to life. Other activities she loves include baking, traveling and trying new experiences.

Friday, July 31, 2020

Dog Days of Summer

Hello Bookworms!

The dog days of summer are here! The weather is starting to cool down, new books are starting to be sold, and what is a better way to escape the pandemic than getting lost in a good book?

I am behind on my book reviews (nothing new there), which my flickering internet has not helped with! Here is a quick post on some fun links and contests that I think you may enjoy:
  • Princess Mia has been updating her Corona Princess Diaries, keeping in time with the pandemic , which you can read for free here, courtesy of Meg Cabot. 
  • Kellogg's is giving away books to those who buy participating products (i.e. eat cereal and get a free book). You can also choose to donate your book, if you do not want it. For more information, check out Kellogg's Feeding Reading program details here. 
  • Want to help out with a library project? The Boston Public Library needs your help transcribing anti-slavery documents from the 19th century! This volunteer position will help the library digitize their archives line by line. The platform is not available on phones or tables, but if you can spare a moment, sit down by a computer and learn something new by archiving!
  • If you are missing out on conventions, DC is hosting FanDome: A Global Experience on August 22nd. It is a 24-hour FREE immersive virtual fan experience, where you can show off your cosplay from the comfort of your home to going behind the scenes of the comics, movies, shows, and games with artists, authors, producers, and more. 
Photo from Pixabay
Also, how are you guys doing with Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge 2020? Here is a sneak peek into my list (which needs to be filled out a bit more - I have some books I am in between, so hopefully I can update it soon!):
  • Read a YA nonfiction book
  • Read a retelling of a classic of the canon, fairytale, or myth by an author of color
    • Snow White, an Islamic Tale by Fawzia Gilani-Williams  
  • Read a mystery where the victim(s) is not a woman
  • Read a graphic memoir
    • Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
    • They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker
  • Read a book about a natural disaster
  • Read a play by an author of color and/or queer author
  • Read a historical fiction novel not set in WWII
  • Read an audiobook of poetry
  • Read the LAST book in a series
    •  The Fiercest Joy by Shana AbĂ©
  • Read a book that takes place in a rural setting
  • Read a debut novel by a queer author
  • Read a memoir by someone from a religious tradition (or lack of religious tradition) that is not your own
  • Read a food book about a cuisine you’ve never tried before
  • Read a romance starring a single parent
  • Read a book about climate change
  • Read a doorstopper (over 500 pages) published after 1950, written by a woman
  • Read a sci-fi/fantasy novella (under 120 pages)
  • Read a picture book with a human main character from a marginalized community
  • Read a book by or about a refugee
  • Read a middle grade book that doesn’t take place in the U.S. or the UK
  • Read a book with a main character or protagonist with a disability (fiction or non)
    • The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda 
  • Read a horror book published by an indie press
  • Read an edition of a literary magazine (digital or physical)
  • Read a book in any genre by a Native, First Nations, or Indigenous author
Photo by Erik Scheel from Pexels
I am going to try and catch up on all my work (now that I have a new router) and enjoy some more regular books, audiobooks, and walks in this beautiful weather.

What are you reading this summer? Do you have any requests that you would like to see more content of? Let me know in the comments!

I hope you are having a healthy and happy summer!