What’s On Your Nightstand: September 2017

What’s on Your Nightstand is a monthly meme hosted by 5 Minutes for Books on the last Tuesday of every month that summarizes what you’ve read for the month, what you’re currently reading, and what you plan to read next. For my posts, I also include articles, music, art, TV shows, and whatever else I did in the month.

September was a turbulent month for most what with the many hurricanes sweeping through the Caribbean and the earthquakes rocking Mexico City. Following that came Trump’s insensitivity towards those affected by these disasters that left many, including myself, angry, annoyed, and frustrated with his leadership and lack of consideration for others.

I do hope that the people affected will receive the support needed to rebuild, but because I am a bit of a pessimist and because of the reports I’ve heard about mismanagement, corruption, and insensitivity around the world, I do wonder if needed support will be delivered. Many are willing to help now but rebuilding will take time and once newscasters start focusing on the next big story, some places affected by these disasters might be forgotten.

On a lighter note, personally September was a dull month that flew by quickly in retrospect. I spent the majority of the month looking forward to its end when my week-long vacation would begin. It was a vacation I desperately needed because as much as I like my new job, it’s very boring there and I craved a break from it. It was a week well spent. Anyway, here’s what I did in September.

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Books read:

I read just one book and that’s The Shining by Stephen King, which I enjoyed. I was surprised to like this book as much as I did. It’s about a clairvoyant boy who spends the winter months at an old hotel with his family. When the family is snowed in, weird things start to happen as the hotel seems to come alive.

I read so much in August for the many readathons I was participating in that by the time September rolled around, I needed a little break. I focused on The Shining, which is why I completed it this month, but I also have several other books on the go…probably too many.

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Other things consumed in September:

Articles

Americans in a Battered Paradise (nytimes.com)

An opinion piece by Tiphanie Yanique, author of Land of Love and Drowning, about the lack of consideration for natives of the U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma. The response after Hurricane Irma casts those from and living in the U.S. Virgin Islands as separate from Americans from the mainland.

“When we Virgin Islanders leave the Virgin Islands for the mainland, we find that we are immigrants in our own country.”

White Feminists Attack Carnival Culture, Criticize John Boyega for Winning at Notting Hill (afropunk.com)

A short article that calls out those feminists who criticized Boyega for participating in Carnival culture. When I heard about it (the criticism), I was annoyed. Obviously those feminists don’t know what the hell they’re talking about. It’s deeply frustrating when your culture is criticized by others because it doesn’t fit their idea of ideal.

“…white feminists think anything that might be demeaning to those-who-have-never-learned-to-wine-nor-have-the-hips-to-do-so is demeaning to all women.”

I Don’t Care That This Wrinkly, Abusive Old Turtle is Dead: Hugh Hefner Was a Terrible Person (babe.net)

My sentiments exactly.

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Video break

One of my favorite songs. Here’s some soca for your soul and CARNIVAL CULTURE!!! 😛

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Bookish news

‘Insecure’ Director to Adapt Man Booker Prize-Winning Novel for Amazon Studios (hollywoodreporter.com)

Marlon James’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel A Brief History of Seven Killings will be adapted for Amazon Studios. (BAP! BAP!) 😀

D.C.’s Library Foundation is Hiding Provocative Books Around the City. It’s Up to You to Find Them. (washingtonpost.com)

In honor of Banned Books Week, the D.C. Library Foundation hides books around the city. Again, I missed out on it. 😦 Next year I’ll participate.

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Other awesome ‘ish

Word Wonders’ TBR Expansion: Books With Black Main Characters (wordwoonders.wordpress.com)

“Back to School Reading Lists: featuring Cauleen Smith’s “Human _3.0 Reading List” (folkloreandliteracy.com)

13 writing tips, from beloved teacher Anne Lamott (ideas.ted.com)

Celebrate Banned Books Week 2017 with Comics (diamondbookshelf.com)

Harry Potter & Classics | The Philosopher’s Stone (youtube.com)

A look at classical references in the first Harry Potter book.

You’ll Want to Accio Everything in This Harry Potter Home Collection (refinery29.com)

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Another video break ’cause I’m in a dancing mood

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Podcasts

Witch, Please (ohwitchplease.ca)

My new favorite podcast. I’m so hooked! I was fiending for something Harry Potter-related and stumbled upon this podcast. So glad I did. If you love to listen/read analyses of the Harry Potter books, treat yourself to an episode. They’re free. 🙂

First Draft Podcast (firstdraftpod.com)

Hosted by Sarah Enni, these are podcasts featuring authors of young-adult and middle-grade books. Authors discuss a variety of things: writing process, inspiration, their books, reading, etc.

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Shows I’m hooked on

Games of Thrones

I’m on season 2 now and OMG!! Totally didn’t expect to be hooked on this. Now I wish I’d started watching when everyone else started, but that’s okay. I have 2 years to catch up before new episodes are released.

Hunger Games

I watched it for the second time while on vacation and loved it (I didn’t like it much when the movie was just released and I saw it in theaters). I so enjoyed it that now I want to reread the first book and maybe the second and probably the third, which I’ve never read.

The Purge: Election Year

This is one of the most disturbing movies I’ve ever seen, but it’s so damn intriguing that I now want to watch the first to see how the story, the Purge, started. I remember when the first was released. I refused to watch it then because I didn’t like the story idea. I still don’t, but I’m intrigued.

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Okay, okay, this is the last video break. I swear! Lol 😀

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As for other stuff I did this month: I went to the Small Press Expo this month and got a bunch of comics and visited Mexico and saw a bunch of iguanas. And that’s it for September. I wonder what October will bring. Hopefully more travelling 🙂 and lots of books.

Since I’m here wining as I type this, kinda, lemme leave y’all with another video. Enjoy!

Last one. I SWEAR!!!