Post-holiday blues meant that I was less enthusiastic about reading and more interested in flights. I always opt for quick and easy reads when I momentarily fall out of love with reading.
Both books were great choices and sparked my creativity in different ways; Writing Down The Bones is like chicken soup for the writer’s soul…if that’s your kind of thing!
The Thing Around Your Neck – Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche
I don’t usually read short stories, but I’ll always make an exception for Aunty Chimamanda. The Thing Around Your Neck is a collection of 12 short stories based on everything from love to displacement. At first I wasn’t impressed, but as the book progressed I really started to enjoy it.
My favourite stories were: Ghosts, On Monday Of Last Week, Jumping Monkey Hill and The American Embassy. If I’m honest, the themes felt very repetitive and not too dissimilar from her novels which is a shame. With that said, I stan for Chimamanda and will be ordering Dear Ijeawele to add to my reading list.
Writing Down The Bones – Natalie Goldberg
This book was recommended to me via Twitter, I just wish I could remember who! Writing Down Bones encourages writers to write freely and creatively to develop their craft. This book is a spiritual guide to the practice of writing, with each ‘chapter’ being no more than three pages. It was a quick and easy read, but it gave me the boost I needed to create, much like one of favourite books Steal Like An Artist.
What are you currently reading?