Nirupama P.R.V.'s Blog: Catty Opinions of a Book Loving Couch Potato, page 14
May 28, 2020
Diary of a SAHM – Book Review
This is a review of my recent read – Dairy of a SAHM by Jess Newman.
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Short, sweet and written as journal entries per week, I found it to be an amusing, relatable and poignant account of a mother trying to do her best for the kids.
My rating was 5/5 stars.
The book did have a lot of Biblical references but they all had a short description or story attached (maximum 2 paragraphs). Considering that the journal entries were for a Bible Study Group for parents, as the author states at the outset; it is not surprising. I am not Christian or religious (not very) -so I appreciate that the author clarified all her analogies yet kept them brief.
The events described are ordinary and everyday occurrences but narrated in a way that draws you into their lives and share in their joys and fears. Jess’s hopes, aspirations, mom guilt, and love are authentic and beautiful.
I loved it and who knows, might even start my own journaling. Though maybe after the pandemic subsides. (Else you can expect to see me writing posts like My Least Favorite Person inspired by Stephen Hurley)
I love Epistolaries and while not quite like a Jean Webster or Meg Cabot, this was pretty good. It’s a real life account – with the good, bad and the messy. Overall, a charming read.
May 25, 2020
Monday Motivation
May 21, 2020
Quarantine Life
Hello everybody! How’s everyone faring with the lockdowns and quarantines?
Out here, we are safe at home!
Sure, the whole family oscillates between moments of ‘Home is where the Heart is’ and ‘Familiarity Breeds Contempt!’. But all said and done- happy to be safe and have the luxury of staying indoors!
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The weather here is amazing! North Carolina, I am delighted to report is gorgeous, blooming and sunny! Yes, years of Illinois has made me appreciate the weather very very much!
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I love Illinois (notice the tense here) – two kids, lifelong friends, great memories- it will be hard to beat that! But the weather is definitely not something I miss!
Even the rains we had here today is only adding to the sheer beauty of it all. (And well, when you grow up staring at the Konkan rainfall like I did, the threshold is just higher!)
The kiddos are growing up so quick I feel. Being indoors all the time does quadruple the housework. But the call of playing with kids is an easy enticement versus the nagging of the full sink/ laundry. I am making it a point to reflect each week if the kiddos and I did anything that we would remember- stories, games, activities. We’ll forget the details in a month or less but we’ll remember that we had fun!
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Mostly, we are happy to be blessed- (not in any order of significance)
our tiny family is together,
the choice of staying indoors,
good health,
technology that makes it way to connect and check in with loved ones everywhere,
grandparents who still are having virtual tea parties and playing with our dolls,
For teachers who are still teaching and grading assignments and answering queries and not batting an eyelid when the baby wants to join class meetings too!
For ebooks since the kiddos cannot visit libraries
Birds that sing outside our patio and squirrels that merrily romp around (I don’t like the bees or ants but nice to know they are enjoying this spell too!)
And with that, ending my post hoping your world is blessed too!
Stay safe everyone and take care!
#AloneTogether
May 18, 2020
Monday Motivation
Seem on my Goodreads app! 
May 14, 2020
Book Review Challenge- Day 08
Another week, another prompt from of the book review blog challenge. To be precise, last prompt of the challenge. #BookReviewBlogChallenge
Welcome to Day 08 of the #BookReviewBlogChallenge, and the LAST challenge prompt!
… today’s theme – “STAR”.
For this prompt, I choose Ann Rajaram’s book Data Science Jobs: Career Guide for Students & Professionals
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Rating :
5/5 Stars
Justification :
How does this book align with the prompt of the day?
In many ways like these:
What is the one technique people think of when they think of interviews? That’s right- STAR method. This book is about job searches and interviews. (Yep, logical connection)
With many people laid off or stressed out about further personnel reductions, people are trying to prep up for the jobs of the future as well as the fields that show potential for growth. And the #1 STAR in that list is of course, Analytics and Data Science. This book is a practical guide for people seeking jobs in the field.
Bagging the most coveted job of the current times might seem like shooting for the stars but this book breaks it down to a carefully constructed plan of execution.
Full disclosure- I do know the author. And that is the chief reason the book struck me as an apt one for the prompt. She IS a star. Award winning employee with a dazzling career graph, she also heads women’s initiatives in STEM aside from blogging and mentoring. (Considering how intensive all these can be individually themselves, it speaks volumes about her talents!)
This book is also the highest Starred book I read in 2019 As per my Goodreads Year in Review!
Reviews :
This book is more of a guide for job seekers in Data Science. It’s highly targeted and has specific strategies to bag roles in set industry.
It is beneficial for students and professionals alike, outlining steps for both cohorts.
The book is rightfully the bestseller in three categories, because it is extremely action oriented.
Which brings me to the next important point. It is short. Though the more accurate phrase would be clear and concise. I appreciate that the author respects the time of her readers and keeps her narrative short and specific. Remember the book is about jobs. Looking for jobs is a full time job in itself, so I fit one, am happy to digest less fluff and more substance.
To avoid spoilers, please find below a screen grab of the book description:
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Loved the book and am happy to note that all the points I highlighted above are truly covered. And that is what makes it the worthy submission for today’s prompt.
As ever, if you read the book, let me know your thoughts. If not, do you think you’d read based on this review? Share your thoughts and responses in the comments.
(Sadly, I am not getting paid for the review. Though I do wonder if I should ask her to add my review in her next edition? Or blog? Help me out with your opinions.)
Book Review Challenge- Day8
Another week, another prompt from of the book review blog challenge. To be precise, last prompt of the challenge. #BookReviewBlogChallenge
Welcome to Day 08 of the #BookReviewBlogChallenge, and the LAST challenge prompt!
… today’s theme – “STAR”.
For this prompt, I choose Ann Rajaram’s book Data Science Jobs: Career Guide for Students & Professionals
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Rating :
5/5 Stars
Justification :
How does this book align with the prompt of the day?
In many ways like these:
What is the one technique people think of when they think of interviews? That’s right- STAR method. This book is about job searches and interviews. (Yep, logical connection)
With many people laid off or stressed out about further personnel reductions, people are trying to prep up for the jobs of the future as well as the fields that show potential for growth. And the #1 STAR in that list is of course, Analytics and Data Science. This book is a practical guide for people seeking jobs in the field.
Bagging the most coveted job of the current times might seem like shooting for the stars but this book breaks it down to a carefully constructed plan of execution.
Full disclosure- I do know the author. And that is the chief reason the book struck me as an apt one for the prompt. She IS a star. Award winning employee with a dazzling career graph, she also heads women’s initiatives in STEM aside from blogging and mentoring. (Considering how intensive all these can be individually themselves, it speaks volumes about her talents!)
This book is also the highest Starred book I read in 2019 As per my Goodreads Year in Review!
Reviews :
This book is more of a guide for job seekers in Data Science. It’s highly targeted and has specific strategies to bag roles in set industry.
It is beneficial for students and professionals alike, outlining steps for both cohorts.
The book is rightfully the bestseller in three categories, because it is extremely action oriented.
Which brings me to the next important point. It is short. Though the more accurate phrase would be clear and concise. I appreciate that the author respects the time of her readers and keeps her narrative short and specific. Remember the book is about jobs. Looking for jobs is a full time job in itself, so I fit one, am happy to digest less fluff and more substance.
To avoid spoilers, please find below a screen grab of the book description:
[image error]
Loved the book and am happy to note that all the points I highlighted above are truly covered. And that is what makes it the worthy submission for today’s prompt.
As ever, if you read the book, let me know your thoughts. If not, do you think you’d read based on this review? Share your thoughts and responses in the comments.
(Sadly, I am not getting paid for the review. Though I do wonder if I should ask her to add my review in her next edition? Or blog? Help me out with your opinions.)
May 11, 2020
Monday Motivation
May 9, 2020
Book Review Challenge: Day 07
Another weekend, another prompt over at GreatNewReads.
Todays’s task reads: Welcome to Day 07 of the #BookReviewBlogChallenge. It is amazing how fast time flew and we are almost at the end of the competition! So, the theme “Time” for today’s challenge ties in quite nicely!
For today’s prompt I was sorely torn between Laura Vanderkam‘s book Off the Clock, her other bestseller I Know How She does It and my current read Diary of A SAHM by Jess Newman.
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The first two are related to time management while the last is a recount of a mother’s days – it has some wonderful recall of everyday experiences. But how it was amazing was the vulnerable reflection on how things always seem worse in the moment but much better and far less severe once it is firmly in the past.
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Since I still have a few chapter left of above shown book and I have already reviewed the first, I decided to go with Off the Clock.
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Do check out the author’s website for the book for some excellent videos: https://lauravanderkam.com/books/off-the-clock/
Rating:
5 out of 5
Review:
This is a fabulous book on learning how to expand time. Essentially you are learning how to leverage the Theory Of Relativity.Given the times we are in, cooped up most of the time, straining under the worry of the COVID19 and bristling with the classic ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ feeling, the book offers are wonderful tips to cope.
I don’t want to share spoilers but I was blown away by the present and future self concept. So cool and effective.
In a nutshell the book teaches readers to become aware of their time, learn how to manage time better and understand how to savor time better by strategizing and mindfulness.
Practical Application:
I, for one, am totally using the planning trick to infuse excitement and increase enjoyment for the kiddo. Being an extrovert social child, she simply is getting stressed at not being able to meet her friends and playmates. With me caring for the LO too, it’s just hard sometimes. So, we have been looking forward to our weekly Escape Room sessions.
I am totally planning to add something during the week as well – that will help me plan for the coming of summer!!! No schoolwork to help me keep her engaged then! (Pausing to reassure slightly panicked self)
If you raised eyebrows at the Escape Room, then check out the link from Whatsupmoms here. What a fabulous tip! Use it as a guide and just set it based on your child’s age, preferences and sensibilities.
And yes, the irony of looking forward to being locked up during Lockdown is not lost on me! Reframe it as looking forward to:
escaping from the fun locked room by solving clues
the grim realities of present
And mostly the monotony of what life has become.
Thinking about it all week long is satisfying for both kiddo and me. Her, because she spends about three days gloating over her escape with all and sundry (over video) and another three trying to get hints and clues and reminding me to set up the next one. Me because I get to see her happy and float in her prowess and rack my brains to set a newer, more challenging, fancier one. (Okay, not fancier. Definitely not fancier)
How’s that for making your time memorable and being Off the Clock?!
I loved the book and recommend it highly.
P.S.: This post might read more of a personal experience than a review . But that is the point I am trying to make. You can use the concepts in the book to make your own everyday life feel like a grand adventure. That’s how we gain time and make memories to last forever!
May 7, 2020
Book Review Challenge- Day 06
This post is a response to Day06 of the Book Review Challenge.
Today’s prompt is as follows:
Welcome to Day 06 of #BookReviewBlogChallenge. Today’s challenge is to review any book with 400+ pages.
For this challenge, I’m excited about adding Jeffrey Archer‘s masterpiece Prisoner of Birth.
I have read the physical book before but I laid hands on the Ebook version lately. So, I am totally savoring the different scenes and showdowns that the various characters have.
Review: 5/5
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At the outset, let me make it clear. It is loosely based on The Count of Monte Christo.
But if you read the novel, you realize that the novel is not a copy. Not at all!
Similar, yes, but nowhere the same. I consider it a glorious tribute to the original. The basic plot is the same – but it’s been masterfully weaved with modern settings, characters and scenes.
What I really love about the book is that every character is splendidly well etched. Some of my favorite scenes involve tertiary characters who appear in less than a tenth of the total page count. Yep, seriously.
Examples I can cite without giving away the story or scenes –
the priest to whom Beth confesses after the incident at St.Veronica’s
The prison warden who Susses out Danny
The housekeeper at The Boltons
Mr.Gene from Texas
Sandy the Scotsman
Brilliant, right?
The best part is of course the third and last segment of the book Revenge!
All the courtroom scenes are exceptional.
I want to call out more but I’d give away spoiler so I can summarize thus-
Drama, intrigue, action, romance, humor: this book has it all.
So, if you have not read the book and like thrillers– make this your next. If you have , let me know what your favorite scenes and characters were.
#BookReviewBlogChallenge
May 4, 2020
Monday Motivation
Courtesy Goodreads.com
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The months might feel like they are slipping by in an endless round, but still plenty of time to make this year better! Hoping the best is yet to be!
