Wall Wednesday: My Book Collection (Part 1)

This past weekend, I found out that March is National Reading Month, and decided that I would post a book collection video to commemorate it.  This video caused my first major YouTube struggle: attempting to upload an unnecessarily long video.  So now it's in three parts (and the first barely made it on a Wednesday!)

Over the next two weeks, I'll upload the next two parts (one for each bookshelf).  If you have any suggestions for future reading, or a book collection of your own that you'd like to share, don't hesitate to leave a comment!  I absolutely love reading/watching videos about this sort of thing.

Book Review: Interpreter of Maladies

Interpreter of Maladies
Jhumpa Lahiri
198 pages

As in most things in my life, I am currently a bit behind on my 75-book challenge for this year.  According to my Goodreads widget, I am exactly 8 books behind.  Last night, I sat and frowned at that number, trying to figure out how that could be possible.  I'm an English major; it's my job to read all day!

Then I realized it's probably because the classes I'm taking this year are mainly focusing on short stories.  This means I've started a lot of collections, read the few required stories, and moved on.  But not with this one.  I was originally assigned Interpreter of Maladies for an Asian-American Lit class, and literally could not put it down.  I actually read and reread stories before class (and I never reread just for class!) and then moved on to finish the collection on my own.  As you probably know by now, I'm a sucker for simply yet descriptive language, and that describes Lahiri to the letter.  All of her stories are jam-packed with multiple layers of meaning and motive, but she does this in the most minimal, uncluttered way possible.  I love knowing that every word she writes is not wasted, but rather pointed and intended to be considered carefully.

Interpreter of Maladies is a collection of short stories that all revolve around Indian or Indian-American characters.  A lot of the stories involve Indian-American couples or families that are struggling to find balance between assimilation and maintaining their ethnic heritage.  These are not particularly uplifting stories, but rather very honest narrations about the state of immigration and assimilation in American society.  I found it particularly interesting that, as an Indian-American herself, Lahiri does not shy away from criticizing her culture through her characters.  She boldly pokes at both American society and the individuals trying to find their niche in it.

In other words, if you enjoy books that make you think about the world you live in, or enjoy small moments of heartbreak, then this book is definitely something you should check out.

Wall Wednesday: Clement Street Storage Haul

I thought I'd try my hand at an "in person" Wall Wednesday, or at least as close as we can get!  I know I've said this before, but I really cannot believe how many ideas I've been coming up with since starting be a more active YouTuber.  That being said, I have not forgotten that I am a blogger first!  I am planning blog posts such as a book review, pictures from spring break at home, and a long planned and slowly actualized SF Essentials guide!

Get excited, and happy Wall Wednesday!  Any fun decorating or organizing going on in your world?

February Favorites

I know I sort of explain this in the video, but let me clarify a bit.  These monthly favorites are going to be replacing Fun Finds because I'm trying to focus on loving what I already have rather than obsessing over things that I really shouldn't be spending money on right now.

I'm amazed how many ideas I've come up with since decided to incorporate vlogs.  I'm having a ton of fun with this, so I hope you enjoy the video too!  Do you have any fun monthly favorites?