kashvireads: book recommendations & more

Question of the Week : What are your thoughts on police brutality in your country? How serious of an issue is it? Let me know on instagram.com/kashvireads or twitter.com/kashvireads . I'm taking a small break because of uni exams & to be with family for the holidays but I'll be back soon! 🤍

this week, I have two questions for you:. 1️⃣ How do you deal with close-minded individuals? 2️⃣ How do you react to learning something that you weren't aware of earlier during an argument? Let me know on instagram.com/kashvireads or twitter.com/kashvireads

question of the week: what kind of a person do you think you'll be when you're old? let me know on instagram.com/kashvireads or twitter.com/kashvireads

question of the week: do you think that reading books can help improve your mental health?

let me know what you think on instagram.com/kashvireads or twitter.com/kashvireads 🤍

looking forward to your answers 🙌🏽

Question of the Week: Do you read dystopian novels? Which ones are you favourites? Let me know on twitter.com/kashvireads or instagram.com/kashvireads 🌐 The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood written in 1985 is a gripping novel set in the Republic of Gilead, a dystopian and chillingly mysoginistic society. It is a military dictatorship where the United States constitution has been suspended and media has been censored by a radical political group that believes in the limitation of people's rights (women specifically).

♀️ Offred (the protagonist) along with the other women of Gilead, live restricted lives. They are not allowed to read, write, own property, or handle money. Even worse so, their right to control their reproductive organs is snatched in the Republic of Gilead. They are objectified and treated as inferiors; Margaret Atwood conjures up an alternate reality in her book that is satirical but also a cautionary tale. 

🗯️ Dystopian novels are often believed to be mirrors to a future where the world is dehumanized and to be frightened of. Atwood's novel does exaclty that - it will not only make you think but also terrify you completely. This isn't because of disturbing imagery; it's the setting that she has created and the bone-chilling atmosphere in the Republic of Gilead. 

📚 When I finished reading the book, I was yearning the sequel because it ended with a cliffhanger. I'm really excited to pick it up soon because I've read high praise for it and I want to know what happens next in the autocratic mess of Gilead. 

⚠️ This isn't an easy read - it's pretty horrifying to read about a world where women are nothing more than their reproductive organs. Also, the narration is slightly complex because it keeps switching between the past and the present. Would recommend this to anyone who is into dystopian literature or feminist writing, non-fiction readers might appreciate this one as well!

Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

#thehandmaidstale #margaretatwood #vintagebooks

#dystopia #dystopianfiction #feminism #feminist #feministliterature #booksbywomen #atwood #readersofinstagram #bookreview #bookrecommendation

Question of the Week: What are your most toxic distractions? How do you get rid of them? Let me know on instagram.com/kashvireads or twitter.com/kashvireads . QOTD: What are your thoughts on Deep Work? How often do you practice it?

⭐ 'Deep Work’ is a term coined by Cal Newport, the writer of this book, and it refers to professional activities performed in a state of distraction free concentration that push your cognitive capabilities to their limit. Newport’s book is filled with constructive advice for readers to instill the “superpower” of Deep Work in their day-to-day lives in addition to detailed explanations as to why Deep Work is rare, valuable and meaningful.

💡 What I liked the most is that Newport has considered a wide spectrum of people and their likely routines while writing this book. He offers solutions for employees with strict bosses as well as students striving to perform better and even writers who want to finish the first draft of their novel. Also, I really like how he makes it clear that the ability to go deep is not for everyone and thus, not everyone would find value in this book because although Deep Work is meaningful, it is extremely demanding of your commitment, which many people would not be willing to make. Thus, it is also rare.

⚡ Even though there are multiple parts of this book that require skimming because of its repetitive nature, “Deep Work” by Cal Newport is a comprehensive and practical guide for people who are willing to go the extra mile to achieve more. There are several extracts from this book that you will find unnecessary or arguable, but don’t let that get in the way of understanding the more relevant aspects of Deep Work

#deepwork #calnewport #bookrecommendations #booksummary #keytakeaways #bookstagramindia #booklover #nonfictionreads #focus #procrastination #businessbooks #adviceoftheday #quotes #quoteoftheday #adviceforwriters #sogoodtheycantignoreyou

What do you think of myth retellings?

Let me know on Instagram.com/kashvireads or twitter.com/kashvireads ❤️

‘The Song of Achilles’ by Madeline Miller is a retelling of Homer’s, ‘Illiad’ from the POV of Patroclus. Although I found the first few chapters to be unnecessarily elongated, the rest of the novel is one of the best Historical Fiction books that I have read.

The book begins with Patroclus as a child and the story of his exile from Phthia. He is taken under the wing of King Peleus, father of Greek hero Achilles, who was destined for greatness. Over the course of a few years, Patroclus and Achilles form an unseverable bond and a very deep ‘friendship’, to the displeasure of Thetis, a sea goddess and mother of Achilles. Together, the two inseparable companions grow as individuals as well as skilled men. 

The narrative picks up when Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped and the young men have been called to serve in the war against her kidnappers. Achilles sees this call as his chance to shine but Patroclus fears what the next few years will entail. Despite the hesitation, he follows Achilles into the war because, well, as Patroclus mentions in the book, he would follow Achilles anywhere, “even into death”.

My favourite part of this book was the portrayal of Achilles. In all the myths that I’ve read and legends I’ve heard of, Achilles is meant to be a ruthless, arrogant bully but Madeline Miller’s writing sheds light on his softer side, the one that Patroclus falls in love with. In this light, we see Achilles as someone who is conflicted, yes, but also as someone who is capable of love and compassion. It was really refreshing to read his character from a lover’s POV. Speaking of which, this book is an ode to their relationship. It is an ode to how important they were in harnessing qualities that would have never seen the light of day without the presence of the other. Patroclus finally gets the credit he deserved for Achilles’ greatness.

All in all, this was a brilliantly written and engaging novel. SoA has provided me with a lot of context that I needed to properly grasp The Illiad by Homer. I’m looking forward to completing it this year! I would recommend it to all the YA readers and anyone who is into/trying to get into Greek mythology.

Question of the Week: Do you have a morning routine? What does it look like?

Answer me on instagram.com/kashvireads or twitter.com/kashvireads!

🌄 The 5 a.m. Club by Robin Sharma is a transformational piece of writing that encourages readers to lead a more meaningful life by taking control of their day from the very start by establishing a stellar morning routine. The 5 am club technique, over 20 years old, has previously helped Robin Sharma's clients maximize their daily productivity and enhance their performance.

📚 I love this book. It creates the perfect balance between inspiration & technical information that equips the reader to actually implement what they learn. Afterall, information without execution is a delusion. Coming to implementation, I'm nowhere close to it but I will definitely get there someday, haha. The idea of waking up early and working on your craft has always appealed to me but I've never pushed myself enough to actually implement it.

🤍 My favourite thing about the book is it's authenticity. Robin Sharma acknowledges that being a member of the 5 am club isn't something that's easy. Change takes time. However, the beginning of transformation lies in awareness. Small daily improvements when done consistently over time lead to stunning results.

Question of the Week: Do you like summer? What are your favourite things to do during summer?

🤍 'We Were Liars' is the most critically acclaimed YA novel that I've read and if you know me, you know that i love everything critically acclaimed.

🌿 At it's core, the book is about the wealthy, seemingly perfect Sinclair family who spend every summer together on their private island. In the family, four of the older cousins have a group and they are dubbed to be the "Liars". Well, they're not all cousins. Cadence (the protagonist), johnny and mirren are cousins and the fourth liar, Gat, is a friend of johnny's. The Liars spend summer together every year. Every summer has its own story.

☕ During Cadence's 15th summer, something happened that changed her world forever, and it's something that you wouldn't expect. She loses most of her memories and begins to suffer from migraines. The rest is a mystery that is slowly uncovered as you flip the pages.

🕊️ The book mainly revolves around the theme of self-acceptance, family morals, and the consequences of your choices. The story is packed with emotional drama and family conflicts that are far from cliché but will still make you nostalgic.

📚 If you need a good cry, 'We Were Liars' is your go-to book. I don't like to admit it but there were moments where i had to literally put the book down and just sob. Please read this one if you like teen fiction & good writing. Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑

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Question of the Week: What do you do when the odds are against you?

Let me know @kashvireads on Instagram & Twitter🥇 This book is not for everyone. Actually, it’s not for most people because it is brutally honest & let’s be real - most people hate that. But, if you think that you can handle a few ugly truth bombs & are willing to make serious changes in life - Goggins, the ‘Toughest Man Alive’, wrote his book for you.

🏃🏾‍♂️Context: David Goggins is an American ultramarathon runner, ultra-distance cyclist, motivational speaker & author. Now a retired United States Navy SEAL & former US Air Force member who served in the Iraq War. 

📚 "Can't Hurt Me" can be classified as an autobiography combined with the self-help but I'd like to call it a textbook for winners. It starts off with a close look into David’s traumatic childhood. He grew up in a physically abusive household & lived in poverty for years. By the time he was in his 20s, Goggins was sick of his own self & his terrible habits that hindered his mental as well as physical well-being. Through self-discipline, hard work & tenacity, he transformed himself into a tough, calloused athlete & militant.

🏆 Personally, I loved this book. It is brutally honest & to-the-point. Goggins tells it like it is. He gives genuine, realistic advice to the readers & challenges us to always be bigger than our problems. He overcame every single obstacle that came his way. Just when you think that his life couldn't get worse, boom! Plot twist. Goggins always beats the odds by pushing his limits & encourages the readers to do the same because he believes that it unlocks your mind to new levels of performance & excellence, resulting in rewards far deeper than material success.

⭐ There were definitely some parts that got me thinking, "Damn, he needs to see a therapist" but as I read ahead I realised that Goggins is very much aware of his actions & he takes pride in his coping mechanisms, even though they may seem fallible to another. I don't think that it is my place to critique the 'Toughest Man Alive' but I think that I can definitely learn from him, & so can you. Highly recommended if you want to push your own limits & toughen up your mindset.

Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑