Book Review: I can’t make this up, life lessons by Kevin Hart

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Bhanu Misra Marya

Done & dusted!

I’ve finished my first book of the year!

I can’t make this up, life lessons by Kevin Hart!
Get from Chapters Indigo
Get from Amazon.ca

I couldnt have started the year with a better book. Kevin takes us on a personal account of his challenges and perseverance as he chased his dream of becoming a famous comedian, actor and now author!

The book starts off funny, mellows out for some serious themes in the middle and ends on a funny yet inspiring. His positive outlook, consistency and belief in himself is relatable and a great way to begin the year!

Some of my favourite quotes:

“How you handle rejection is very similar to how you’ll handle success. If you’re strong enough to handle rejection without taking it personally, without holding a grudge, and without losing your passion and drive, then you’ll be strong enough to reap the rewards. But if you’re too weak to handle failure and disappointment, then you’re too weak to handle success, which will only end up damaging your life and happiness.”

“It turns out that the things I hated most as a child are the same things that serve me the most as an adult.”

“You are already in your experience. So you can either resent and resist it, and make it that much less enjoyable, or you can accept it and find something positive in it.”

One qualm I had about the book – is that there are no date references!

Blogmas | Books I read in 2022

Posted on December 19, 2022 by Bhanu Misra Marya

I’m one of the people that has a stack of books to be read. I’m constantly updating my good reads “to read” shelf. But I’m happy to report that this year I made a HUGE dent in my reading goals.

Links to books (all are Chapters Indigo, but you could check amazon or any local book retailer)

Here are some numbers

8 new/modern fiction books read
1 classic fiction book
3 non fiction/self development books
8 (all) fiction books with strong female characters

What went well

I was able to read fiction books fast
I need to balance all the fiction with some non fiction, spiritual & self development
Following BookTok & Bookstagram

What didn’t go well

Reading slumps came on quickly if I tried to read more than self dev book in succession
Tried to push myself to finish a book I was no longer interested in

Fav fiction book read this year

Verity (hands down)

Fav non fiction book read this year

The Four Agreements

Book Review: The School of Good Mothers

Posted on September 16, 2022 by Bhanu Misra Marya

I can’t recall if it was “tiktok that made me read it” or maybe one of the book influencers I follow on Social – but I recently read the book The School of Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan.

I want to start by saying that I had high expectations for this book. The book had me hooked at the beginning as we begin to learn about Frida’s (the protagonist mom) very bad day. Reading this part made me think of the countless times similar ideas pop into a mothers head – but daring to do it…is another question!

The novel continues by illustrating that the state has put into place a “school that will focus on re-programming bad mothers” with the help of robot dolls as the mother’s adopted children no less! The story is written in away that you are transported to this prison-school where you feel you are sitting in the classroom with the robot dolls. Majority of the lessons are harsh and challenging. Mothers are taught to mother in a very mechanical way (read: if this else that). Consequences are delivered out hourly. The mothers also learn that there is a school for dads, where in contrast, the dad’s are treated with grace and respect.

The women are graded and medically analyzed to see if they are fit to return to the society as mothers to their children. Most are not, which drives Frida to take a drastic decision.

This book was interesting right until the end. I mean I could understand her mindset and her reasons for doing what she did – but I didn’t agree with it. And as always I wanted more science fiction in the story. Would recommend 6.5/10

February Reads

Posted on March 12, 2022 by Bhanu Misra Marya

Well I took it a little easier with February and decided on a fiction read that I knew was already streaming ;)

Little fires everywhere by Celeste Ng

Usually when I start a book, it takes me a few pages or at least a chapter before I start to connect the dots and actually start to “listen” (read: pay attention) to what’s going on. Which means I don’t always get the story line right away. I also didn’t follow the story until Moody was watching Pearl from afar after biking to her new home. What really drew me to the story initially was Mia’s story line. I loved that she is a mixed media artist and a photographer in the truest sense. This book was full of little twists and turns but in a way that wasn’t too abrupt or aggressive. Seeing the juxtaposition between privilege and humble family lives was both lovely and painful. I enjoyed how the author made little links between Mia and Elena’s life (as mothers, women creating careers/pursing their life’s work and as humans living a traditional and not so traditional North American life). Another small detail I love about this book – it’s set in the 90s!

In my head I imagined Mia/Pearl to be Asian (in the book their race is unspecified but not in the show adaptation). And it wasn’t until we learn that Lexie is in an interracial couple that I noticed that race was an underlying theme of the book. I really appreciated that the novel talks about race, biases and the way a community my think they are “doing better” than the rest of the world/country.

If you need a weekend read or a vacation read. Or just a break from the business/strategy/self development books (like me) I would definitely suggest picking this book up!

Find Little Fires Everywhere at Chapters Indigo (Canada)

Reading, Little Fires Everywhere, Chapters, Library Book, Book on Bed, Reader

January Reads

Posted on February 7, 2022 by Bhanu Misra Marya

Reading Routine, Habits, Brain Boosters, Rituals, Best Self, Higher Self, Reading for pleasure, Reading for Fun, Thriller, Suspense, GoodReads, Bookstagram

I’ve been trying to read 20+ pages a day which has really helped me to read more efficiently. And because of that I managed to finish 2 books in a little over a month! I’m trying to diversify what I read because I’ll normally read business/strategy/career books and get bored and not want to read for a while. Or read thriller/suspense/fiction one after another and then I feel like I’m consuming without learning anything. So to prevent that – I switch it up (ie: thriller, followed by business, followed by fiction, followed by self growth, followed by thriller etc). It’s a good way to stay motivated and the habit of reading a certain number of pages of day helps too! Read on to see my reviews :)

How Women Rise by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith

This book had me nodding in agreement throughout! The authors present 12 habits that women specifically do to serve them well earlier in their career – actually end up holding them back when they further their career. What I really like about this book is that they talk about women-specific behaviours that I’ve learned also learned from other sources (like women not speaking up for their accomplishments). The peer reviewed sense of it really made me feel like these things I do are common to all women and I shouldn’t feel bad. More specifically, the habits of building relationships and never leveraging them or try to be perfectionists – I was immediately able to see the habit in me and other women I knew. With each habit, the book provided an example and actions to overcome it. A great book and something I will reference and read again.

Find How Women Rise at Chapters Indigo (Canada)

Such a quiet place by Megan Miranda

This book is about a close knit community and the strange things they know about one another and the efforts they go to preserve what they believe to be the truth about their neighbours. The story reads well and although I wouldn’t say it’s a page-turner, it was definitely something that kept me engrossed. Harper’s roommate is sentenced to 20 years in prison for a crime. But her conviction is overturned which sends all of her accusing neighbours into a frenzy (and against Ruby). Including Harper, who although believed Ruby to be innocent, but now wants to remain on the inside with her community. There are twists, turns and random pieces of information that don’t necessarily add to the story but are still interesting info about the characters. Definitely a great vacation ready! *fingers crossed* we’ll be able to take vacations this year ;)

Find Such a quiet place at Chapters Indigo (Canada)

Unlearn & Relearn + Books we are reading

Posted on July 6, 2020 by Bhanu Misra Marya

The beauty of anti-racism is that you don’t have to pretend to be free of racism to be an anti-racist. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it’s the only way forward. // Ijeoma Oluo

Racism has always been here. But we’ve haven’t been forced to sit with it in this way. And although I’ve talked to the girls a few years ago about the colour of our skin and acceptance (I think I felt compelled to after there was talk about cultural appropriation in the media), it really needs to be an ongoing conversation that will become more difficult with time.

I’ve read or watched so many articles and broadcasts on the topic so I am doing my best to unlearn what I now realize is not serving the people of society and relearn where I need to improve on. I should say that this one started it all, and the others like this helped me realize what my privilege is.

Reading accounts of black people feeling uncomfortable driving their luxury vehicles or walking in their neighbourhoods. Listening to biracial women who understand that having a white parent has offered them some privilege against their darker skinned colleagues or friends. And even more, realizing that white people are learning that they have no idea what black, indigenous or persons of colour (BIPOC) have to deal with. It’s been very eye opening to say the least.

I think I have an obligation as a parent to make sure that I keep these conversations going. We started reading these books last month. I truly hope this keeps the lines communication open with our kids and they feel comfortable talking to us about what they see, hear or understand. And for me, it’s making sure that I a step up and have those uncomfortable conversations when ever they need to happen.

The Colours of Us: A story about a child who wants to find all the right paint colours to paint pictures of her friends and family. The child learns about the similarities and differences between us and that brown comes in different shades.
Youtube Read Along / Chapters / Amazon

Whoever You Are: A reminder to adults and children, that kids all over the world are experiencing the same joys, sadness, happiness and fears. Regardless of where they are in the world or what they look like.
Youtube Read Along / Chapters / Amazon

Same, Same but Different: A story of two boys from the US and India who become pen-pals. They share stories and pictures from their life. They do all the same things (go to school, climb trees, live with their families) but a little differently.
Youtube Read Along / Chapters / Amazon

A kids book about racism: A direct and open explanation about what racism is and what it makes people feel like.
Youtube Read Along / Amazon