I Won!

I love reading books. You might know it already.

I love to read financial blogs too. "My Own Advisor" and "Your Ever growing income" are among the favourites. 

I found Mark's blog in 2016. After studying several personal finance books and blogs, I started DIY investments. "My Own Advisor" is about Financial Independence, Work On Own Terms or #FIWOOT. Who is more interested in your money than you? 

The person behind "Your Ever Growing Income" is Mr Henry Mah. He talks about income investing, i.e. dividend investing. 

He has already published four books. I own two of them already. 

He was doing a giveaway of his new book, "Salary For Life", on his blog. I joined in the contest. I also won the ebook along with four others!

I wanted to buy the book, and it came to me!!

I learned about DRIP or dividend reinvestment plan from him. 

You can also ask him for advice, and in return, he will ask you to donate to Salvation Army. 

Thanks to Mr Henry Mah and his blog! 

 

Bindu

Me and The library.

I love books. 

That also means I read a lot of books. But, I don't buy that many books. 

That is where the Toronto Public Library comes. The library has a great collection of ebooks. 

I have an app called Libby. It is connected to the library with my card. So, I can download any Overdrive ebook for free. 

Library made me sane during the lockdown in 2020. Still, I find time to read while working full time.

Years before, while I wanted to do crafts, TPL gave me tons of books to learn crochet. Crochet learning led me to find other crafts like card making and bead &wire jewellery. 

Now, I am reading thrillers to kill time on the subway. I got interested in backyard gardening last summer. After reading Barbara Kingsolver's "Animal, Vegetable Miracle", I want to know more about homesteading. My shelf on Libby carries "The Weekend Homesteader" to delve into that.

Toronto public library is a well-used library system. Linkedin learning is free for all library members. I am so blessed to have access to the library.

Do you use your library at all? What features of the library do you like most?

Bindu

Book a week:Week 20

Oh yeah! 

My 20th book is finished!!!!! "Long Bright River" by Liz Moore is the 20th book. 

I got this book because my friend Vivian recommended it. I always trust her recommendations. 

The book is based on substance addiction. Two sisters, grown up in the same house, turned to live very different lives. One, became a cop and the other, a substance abuser. 

Mickey is a cop and a single mom. She has her own problems with life. Her sister Kacey lives on the street. Her ex boyfriend is not paying child support. Her son is only four years old! She needs a reliable babysitter too. 

Mickey is awkward in social situations. Their mother killed herself, when Mickey and Kacey were little. They were brought up by the grandmother, a very cold woman, who was traumatized by the overdose and eventual death of her own daughter. Their father left them too. The family didn't really care about education or being on the right side of the law. 

Kacey is missing. Even though Mickey is not on speaking terms with Kacey, she wants to find Kacey. 

Being born when mother was addicted to drugs, Kacy had withdrawal symptoms at birth. No one really knew about it then. Mickey's search for her sister made her realize how their mother's addiction might be the root cause of Kacey's fate. She also finds out where their father is living now. 

The novel taught me a lot about why people cannot get out of addiction. I didn't know a baby born to a woman who is a drug addict, needed to be held, and given medication to  help them from withdrawal symptoms. 

This tells the story of the strength and vulnerability of women.

A good read indeed. 

Any suggestions for my next read?

Book A week: Week 19

Last week, I finished the book, "Still Life" by Val McDermid. 

I love the cold case getting resolved. 

the story begins with a dead body caught by the fishermen, from Scotland. The evidence prove, he didn't drown. So, it becomes a murder case. Police found that the body belongs to a French citizen. When they found the dead man's real name, the case became more interesting. He was the brother of a man who disappeared without a trace from Scotland ten years before. 

Now, the case is more interesting. With possibility of political embarrassment, the case was assigned to DCI Karen Perie. 

Finally, Ms.Perie finds out the truth. It is really stunning! Love the style of narration. 

I used to skip some lines while reading novels. This one demands my full attention. 

Will I read another from Karen Perie series???

Yes, I will try for sure!

Bindu

Book a week: week18

This week I am posting about "The Go-Giver  A Little story about a powerful Business Idea". Not a thriller like previous ones. 

Bob Burg tells us about why the "go getter" attitude is not going to let us where we want to be. This book will give us the five principles of how to be "giver" and to receive gracefully.

What are we giving? It is not giving out money or food or things like that. You give your best self to others and serve them. In a nutshell, give more than what you receive in value while receiving from others gracefully.

The book is written in a story narrative kind of. So, not actually a self help kind of usual book. The story helps to let us keep reading and grasp the points better. 

Will it work in your life? I am not sure though. But, if you want to try giving more in value for the pay you receive,When you start giving more value to what you actually paid for, you will find a difference in your attitude and happiness. 

It is a really fun book to read. I have written 18 blog posts about my reading so far. I can also create my own graphics for the blog. isn't kind of cool?

 

Bindu

Book a week: week 16

 

I finished reading "Tear Me Apart" by J.T. Ellison. Actually I was trying to find "Lie to Me" on the library. I saw my friend Vivian was reading it one time. I needed to place hold and wait for that. I found "Tear me Apart" is  available to borrow. So, started reading. I got hooked on the novel. 

That smart teenage skier is not really the kid of her dad and mom. Things went on fire, when the mom and dad were not matched for bone marrow transplant for her. 

a very twisted story indeed! How Mindy ended with her current parents?

It all started with the friendship of two mentally disturbed girls. 

We think, we can predict how it is going to turn. But, not till the end. The author gets our full attention all the time. 

When I finished it, I felt so great that I chose the book to read. 

How the author think and bring the story to make an experience!

I suggest, you read it. 

The background image is created using Canva. As you can see, it is a different background. I think, this one really represent the story.

Should I forgive myself?

Aha!

Time flies! 

Especially the weekend goes before I even blink my eyes 

I got only one day off this week. It was usually a week day and then Sunday. But, I had to help out on that weekday.

I was very careful to do a load of laundry done during the week. That left one big load on Sunday. I did that on the morning. But, I procrastinated to fold it and put it back. Now it is sitting in my laundry bag, waiting for my attention

But, I did do vacuum clean the ground floor. Mopped the kitchen, and did all the dishes after helping hubby with cooking. 

Then some time was spent on Canva to do something fun. 

Now, it is evening, time to finish up the weekend fun

I am realizing, I have to finish the Book A Week for the blog. I finished reading "Lie to me" Tear me Apart" and "Snow"

On a second note, I bought the book "Income Investing Explained" from Amazon. 

I have the "Go Giver" downloaded to the phone from the Toronto Public Library. Seven chapters are finished already. 

Left over works are:

1. blogposts for the books I already finished.

2. Folding the laundry

3. Vacuum and mop the upstairs

4. Check the usual financial blogs. 

Those are the ones I still have to finish. I did called the most important people in my life and talked to them. There is still food in the fridge for tomorrow. Oh and I did half hour exercising. 

Considering all those are done, I think, I can catch up the unfinished work during the week.  

What you think? Should I forgive myself?

Bindu

A Book A week: Week14

This time it is another book from John Grisham. After Camino Island,  I can't resist another novel with the same background. 

This time, it is a murder mystery. When the hurricane hit the islands, and destroyed everything, few people stayed on the island. When the winds are gone and water receded, they started assessing the damages. 

Now, there is a famous writer, who is dead during the time. A closer examination of his friends revealed it is a murder. Who killed a writer? What happened to his newest novel he claimed to be finished?

Searching for the truth, Bruce hired a security firm. As a result, he got a girl killed. 

Story unravels in surprising ways. Finally they found the manuscript, along with the reason for the murder. But, finding the killer was hard. 

At the end, justice is served. A beautiful thriller to keep you turn the pages. 

Bindu

PS: I think, I have finished more than one book last week.

PPS: I shared last weeks book on Instagram and Alka Joshi messaged me about the next book😀. 

A Book A Week

Last week I was reading "The Henna Artist" as I wrote in the previous post.  

A very nice novel by Alka Joshi. It was mentioned to me by a friend. I had to wait for the book from The Toronto public Library. I placed hold almost a month ago. 

I was ready to read another Grisham novel, when my hold on The Henna Artist became available. A lot of people are waiting to read this one.

The story takes place in 1950s. India started enjoying the freedom from British. People were not free from their own mind. 

A woman living without a husband in a big city and having a successful life of her own in that era? Girls were married off very early then. The rich educated their daughters to marry boys from rich families. 

The story captures us and compels to turn the pages. The author takes us to Jaipur and walks us through Lakshmi's life. The society forgive the men for infidelity. But, they will punish the woman for all of it. There are so many divisions for humans there: religion, sex, caste, money....  

Ms Joshi says the book is for her mom, the woman who got married at a young age and sacrificed her ambitions for higher education to be a traditional housewife. 

The novel is about Lakshmi, the henna artist, her struggles in Jaipur. I enjoyed reading it. What about you? 

Bindu

Book A Week: Week 12

I can't believe, I am reading a LOT now a days. 

This  last week I finished "Camino Island" By John Grisham. It is not a legal thriller, like most of Grisham's novels. This one deals with rare books. 

There was a theft in Princeton library. Thieves took the precious manuscript by F. Scott Fitsgerald. FBI is involved in the case. Princeton will pay any thing for the safe return of the book. 

A private investigative team is also trying to get the book back. 

In the beautiful Camino Island, there is a thriving book store. Do the book store owner know about the manuscript? 

The private investigator team think so. Then will they get the manuscript back? If so how?

Grisham keeps us on the edge with his narration. 

I love reading Grisham's thrillers. 

PS: I use Canva to create the images. Like to make your own? Use this link to get some Canva rewards.

 https://www.canva.com/join/financier-laptop-mud 

PPS: If you use this link to join, Canva will give you and me a premium element for free. 

Bindu

Book a Week: Week 11

For week 11, I read "Recipe For a Perfect Wife" by Karma Brown.

Alice is fired from her job. But she lied to her husband about it. Actually, she was not honest to herself, when she agreed to move to suburbs. 

When Alice was agreeing to Nate about having a baby, she lied again. She was not ready for it. 

She was "writing a novel" was another lie she was telling everyone. 

But, things changed with Alice when she discovered Nellie's cook book. She started cooking. Then she learned more about Nellie. Then, she gained more information about Nellie  from her unsent letters to her mom. 

Karma Brown narrates two parallel stories of two women lived in the same house on different times. It is full of twists and turns. Both women had their own struggles. Actually, women still struggle to have ownership of their own body and mind, it seems. 

Throughout the story, I was questioning why Alice had to lie to her husband? We can understand Nellie as a victim, but who is Alice? Why can't she tell the truth about events happened in her life to her husband? 

I have to agree that it was a page turner. In the end Alice decided to stand for herself. A relief to my curious mind!!!

Bindu

A Book A week:Week 9

Last week I finished Emma Straub's "All Adults Here".

The novel starts with Astrid witnessing a bus accident. It happened just before her hair appointment. 

The accident make her think over her life. She was thinking about her past, her kids and then the future.

She realized she was not a great parent to her 3 kids. Now, her grand daughter is here to live with her. 

She realized, she has to do certain things now, or she will never get a chance. So, she decides to stick with truth. That is a lot of courage. 

I really loved reading this book. The style is capturing your attention. 

 

Bindu

A book a week: Week7

The last week I finished reading "The temptations of Forgiveness" by Donna Leon.

The story is taking place in Venice. It is the mystery of  commissario Guido Brunetti. It starts with Brunetti's meeting with his wife's colleague. Then he was called to visit a man in the hospital, who seems like got attacked.

It turned out the man in the hospital is the husband of his wife's co-worker.

Brunetti's investigation revealed the killer. Now the author leave us think about the morality of all this.

It is an okay book to read. Will I read another book about Brunetti's detective work? Not sure, may be not.

 

Bindu

A Book a week: Week6

Hi 

Yes, I did finish reading another book last week. 

This time it "American Dirt" by Jeanine cummins. 

The story begins with Luca learning about bullets flying through their place. His mom Lydia, a book store owner comes in to the bathroom and they both hid there. when everything was over there were 16 bodies in the backyard. Every one, Lydia loved are gone. 

Lydia knows, it was her favourite customer, who did it. When her husband and journalist Sebastian uncovered "The Owl", she was not thinking about this massacre.

The story moves on with Lydia's decision to escape from Mexico and the watching eyes of  The Owl. There was no one to help her. 

The novel tells us about her journey to America. The hardships they encounters, the people they met and connected through their journey are explained really well. It made me in tears to know the cruelties suffered by the sisters in the story. Ever thought of good looks being your worst enemy? 

While reading the book, I thought, the author must be an immigrant herself. Later, over the weekend, I learned about the controversy surrounding the book. I am not the one to judge! i loved the style of the book. I can seriously tell you that it changed my view point about illegal immigrants and refugees. I wonder, what will be the story of the person mentioning that they came to Canada as a refugee. 

The novel ends with Lydia getting settled in the United States. Luca is back to school too. 

Bindu

A Book A Week: Week5

Hi

I am still continuing to read one book a week. Last one was "Everything I Never Told You" by Celeste Ng .

It tells the story of a mixed race family, their secrets and the challenges. The story begins with Lydia's death. The story reveals how James Lee and Marilyn got together and started a family. 

Marilyn wanted to stand out and James, son of Asian immigrants wanted to blend in. Marilyn had to give up her dream of becoming a doctor, because she got pregnant. She tried to fulfill her dream by forcing Lydia to become a doctor.

Lydia, who find it hard to live up to the expectations of her parents started pretending. When her brother is ready to go to Harvard, she finds it hard to survive at home. She started going out with Jack, thinking he will be her lover. But, Jack confessed to her he actually is in love with Nath. 

While Nath believed Jack was the reason for Lydia's death, Hanna finds out the truth. When Nath fights with Jack and fell in to the lake, he realized he will never understand Lydia's death. He was dragged to safety by Jack. 

Celeste Ng's other book was "Little Fires Everywhere" . I read that one before. 

Bindu

Book A Week Week 3: Little Fires Everywhere

On the 3rd book for reading a book a week. Last week I finished reading "Little Fires Everywhere", by Celeste Ng. 

The story begins with a house on fire. Elena Richardson somehow escaped from the fire. It was scary to know, the house was put on fire by some one. 

They cannot find Izzy, the youngest child of the Richardsons. Their tenant Mia and her daughter vacated the house. 

The story happens in the 1090s. Mia Warren and her daughter rented a little home owned by Richardsons. When the house was fire, Mia already vacated from the home. 

We learn the background of Mia and Elena through the story. Finally, we understand who set the fire and why.

There is a Netflix show loosely based on the novel. There are considerable difference between two though.

When Elena's friend is trying to adopt a Chinese baby and the mother of the child shows up, Elena and Mia have different ideas. Suspected of Mia's motives, Elena digs out Mia's past. During this time, many things were happening in her home. Her daughter Lexie got an abortion. Trip fell in love with Mia's daughter Pearl and Izzy becomes Mia's unpaid assistant. 

The author takes up to Shaker and its planned life. Then make us ride with characters. 

Who started the fire and why? Ever wondered, how many little fires we started in our lives already?? 

 

Bindu

Book A week: week2

What is your soul is not ending with you? What if there is a databse of the souls kept by government? What if the scientists can find out  if a soul is reborn? what will happen your soul previously belonged to a criminal? 

 Soulprint dwell in to that scenario. 

As a part of my reading a book a week, last week I finished "Soulprint" by Megan Miranda. 

Alina Chase is held in an island for all her life. Why? Because her soul belongs to the whistle blower and blackmailer June. Alena is held there for her own protection, authorities told her. 

On her 17th birthday, she wanted to get out and wanted to have a normal life. Other three teens are trying to help her escape. 

June broke into the soul database and used it to blackmail people. That is what every one thinks. Everyone sees Alina as June. But, in her heart, Alina knows she is not June. She wanted to be different from June. She tried so hard for that. But everyone saw her as June.

Her rescuers wanted her to break in to the soul database. They all went through high adrenaline events. With all the tense circumstances, Alina started to trust Cameron. Eventually she fell in love with him too. 

Megan Miranda takes us for a ride with Alina Chase's journey.  Alina  follows the clues left by June to find out who was actually responsible for the black-mailings . That journey led her to find love too. 

I loved reading this book. For a person who was not a fan of sci-fi, this one was fun. 

 

Bindu

October 2020

October is half way now. Thanksgiving is over.

The pandemic is not over yet. Toronto went back to Stage 2 after thanksgiving. I am trying to read more now a days. 

Reading a book in a week? It will be possible, if you get interesting books to read. I found I can keep on reading, if it is a thriller. 

Toronto public library has Libby app and I can have ebooks for free on my phone. Commute time can be utilized for reading. 

The first novel I got was "The Reckoning" by John Grisham. The story about a war veteran killing the local priest and not giving any motive.  When the story unfolded, we learn how a lie ruined the lives of the family members of the killer. I finished the book in a week time!.

The story takes us to war zones and the sufferings of prisoners of war under Japanese army during world war 2. Grisham is known for his legal suspense. This one is also not different. I will find some other thriller for next week. 

How you use your commuting time? 

Bindu

What am I reading?

I want to tell you that I am reading "Mixed-Media Master Class with Sherrill Kahn"

The cover is eye catching. So, I looked inside. For a beginner in Mixed-Media, I am trying to learn as much as I can.
If you are like me, this book has a lot of information. Many techniques are explained step by step to make great backgrounds.
I am pretty sure, you may have your own unique ideas to make backgrounds. I am very interested in  keeping the spending a minimum while learning things.
I borrowed this from the Toronto Public Library. If I am going to do more mixed media, I might buy my own copy later.
I really want to incorporate fabric in my work. This book shows how to do that.
I am happy with the book as it is. Yet, I just wish to view more of her finished works in the book.
Which is your favourite book about Mixed-media?



 Bindu Designs