There are a lot of blog posts that I’ve been wanting to write, but the one I’ve been fixating on for months now is this one: how the world sees women who don’t have or want children. It is a pillar of patriarchy since time immemorial, this pigeonholing of women. And we are treated accordingly depending on how we react to it. If we have children, we’re rewarded for it. But if we say we don’t want children, oh heavens save us, we are looked down upon. Society (even people we know) makes sure to tell us that we are the embodiment of the devil himself. Just go watch the pro-lifers and you’ll see what I’m saying.
Category Archives: Opinions
10 Reasons Why I Think the Duolingo App is Bringing About Its Own Downfall
If you had asked me a year ago what I think of Duolingo, I’d have probably told you it was the second coming of God. And you know what? It WAS true for a long, long time. The concept of having new languages at our disposal, all for free, was a mind-boggling, game-changing one, even if it was unguided and even if it was just setting a wobbly foundation. I was obsessed with the Duolingo app, religiously doing lessons every single day, maintaining a streak that I was proud of (got up to 818 days), and recommending it to anyone who was looking for a way to get started on the path to learning a new language. It was this enthusiasm, perhaps, that came back to bite me, a weird karma or Uno reverse of sorts, because now, I can’t stand the app.
The Perils of Being a Book ‘Influencer’ on Social Media and the Changes It Effects…
The advantages and disadvantages of social media have probably been talked about a million times before and cautioned for and against even more than that. But we’ve usually seen that in a wider context. What happens to people like me who are on the Internet, shouting from the proverbial rooftops about books? What impact does it have on us? How does it change us? How do we navigate the double whammy that is social media and our love for books?
Of course, when I say this, I’m only talking about my own experiences, something that seems fitting enough given that the day this goes up is my birthday. If you happen to relate to it, we’re two of a kind. If you don’t, then take it with a grain of salt because there are as many opinions in the world, if not more, as there are people.
Can You Say You Enjoyed Reading Sad, Grim, or Unsettling Books? | Monday Melodramatic Musings
If I look back upon the past few years and my modern reading, I see books that made me cry become my favorites more than those that made me laugh. I see books that talked about unsettling topics become my favorites. I see books that dig up some long-buried emotions and reactions from deep within me. How can I say that I “enjoyed” reading them? And if I said that, does that make me some kind of a sociopath? Do I thrive on sadness? On the dark? Surely not!
The Treatment of Book Influencers – A Little Rant
If you write a book, people will show their awe for you. And fittingly so, because writing a book is no mean feat. It doesn’t matter that the reviews for the book aren’t what you thought they would be. Completing a book and putting it out into the world is a huge thing, an achievement in itself. And who knows, maybe years down the line, this very story might age well and catch on? So that isn’t something that you should worry your storytelling brain about.
When the public is this supportive of the world of books, I wonder why every person in this world doesn’t get the same amount of respect.
My Social Media Journey (and why I’m tired of it) | #Blogtober22 – Day 16
One’s introduction to social media is so exciting, isn’t it? Oh, we can connect to friends on social media! Oh, I’m going to meet so many new people on there! Oh, my favorite artists are only one click away and I can interact with them! Oh, I’m going to become a phenomenon overnight because I’m going share and share and share and talk and talk and talk! And only one of these isn’t true. Because despite all the positives that social media extends to us, it can also be a draining experience. The constant need to put oneself out there and keep on top of the trend and stay updated takes something out of us.
The Sexism of Cosmetic Plastic Surgery | #Blogtober22 – Day 14
I’ve been watching a series – finished a second and third loop, too – that has some great acting, some great premises in there. Some characters can be annoying, as is the case everywhere, but some are simply brilliant. The layers to them are so great to watch because underneath all these characters is a strong foundation of what makes them. The female main character especially is a firework in a best meaning of the word. She is badass, she is impulsive, she won’t take sh*t from anyone, she is persuasive, and she is the kindest and most understanding person you’ll ever meet. But cross her and you’ll see!
TBRs: Yay or Nay? | Should You Be Making TBRs? | #Blogtober22 – Day 8
Till the end of 2021, every month saw me making a TBR list. For the uninitiated, a TBR or To-Be-Read list is a list of all the books that one wants to read in a particular period of time. And I was a huge fan of making these lists, both for myself and for my channel. I used to get so excited at the prospect of making a new list every month. Fresh books that I could pick! New worlds of possibilities! Oh, the joys of making a TBR every month! It gave me joy and it gave me the views – a combination that is amazing for a creator!
Why Is Getting Paid for Book Reviews Frowned Upon? | #Blogtober22 – Day 3
The world is a weird place to be living in. On one hand, we think of all the possibilities that await us, the people we can be, the change we can bring. But on the other hand, the system in place is one that actively makes sure that a huge percentage of people don’t get the chance to prove themselves. It’s an ableist, capitalistic world that focuses on money. Yet, when it comes to paying people for doing their job, they are met with resistance and derision from the unlikeliest of places. Perhaps because here, too, it has decided to be selective with nobody having any idea about what the criteria are. Book reviewers face the worst of this treatment.
FONTain of Thought: The Importance of Fonts for Readers.
When we pick up a book, excited to read it, we’ve already given part of ourselves to the journey that’s before us. The anticipation makes us want to zoom through the pages, late into the night, giving us the dark circles that we may or may not be proud to flaunt. But then, we open the book. And what do we see there? Ants crawling across the page. Tiny, tiny letters that we must squint at to even make out. By the time we’ve gathered the story and understood what the author is trying to say, we’ve got a raging migraine and the urge to raise the book to the sun in the hope that maybe some divine photosynthesis will make the font grow larger.
The Melodramatic Bookworm 