Justin Pyfrom's Blog, page 4

2024 Reading Challenge (February)

For 2024, I’m doing something different. Instead of telling you every story I’ve read each month, I will tell you my top five favorites for each month. So! While I have read twenty-one books for January, here are my Top 5 favorites.

This Is Just To Say by William Carlos Williams

I have to say. Taking the American Modernism course for my Master’s program has been revolutionary for me. The stories were intriguing and amazing while the poems were oddly straightforward for me to read. Williams is one prominent example as he writes how I write –  colloquially, that is. I find it brave when the writer speaks like their culture/community allows them to. It creates a sense of vulnerable authenticity with their audience.

The Chinese Zodiac in Cultures and Traditions by Cindy I-Fen Cheng & The Great Courses

I have always loved The Great Courses ever since I came across them in 2020. Learning new things has always been my mantra and this is no different. I already knew about the Chinese Zodiac from my middle school years, but it’s always nice to understand the history and formation around them. I’m not kidding when I say that I ended up coming up with a story. Inspiration hits at the oddest of times.

A Courtly History: Romance in the 19th Century by Stephanie Insley Hershinow & The Great Courses

Mainly because of Bridgerton, I have always been curious about the actual history of courting. I know there are others, but I’m drawing a blank right now. Anyway, it was nice to learn the origin of terminology as well as ones that I either didn’t know existed or the proper meaning. This is useful for anybody who is a fan of these shows because you can separate fact from fiction.

The Shadow by Hans Christian Andersen

So, I literally just read this story with my tenth-grade students and I instantly loved it. It has been a long time since I read something like this. The story has a perfect blend of dark and humorous aspects. Also, it’s the first time that I even heard the name “Hans Christian Andersen” although I have read many of his stories in my youth. So, I have been going on an “Andersen bender” of sorts.

The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen

I’ve read nine stories on my “Andersen bender”, which lasted all of two and a half hours. While The Red Shoes is a wonderful story about being careful what you wish for, I found this one to be so heartbreaking, yet hopeful. Also, it’s right up my alley on happy moments with a twist ending of sadness.

2024 Reading Challenge (January)

For 2024, I’m doing something different. Instead of telling you every story I’ve read each month, I will tell you my top five favorites for each month. So! While I have read twenty-four books for January, here are my Top 5 favorites.

Camp Red Moon by R.L. Stine

R.L. Stine always has a special plan in my heart as his books were the first ones that I read on my own, thus beginning my love for literature. This is a new territory for R.L. Stine and, yet, the result is nothing short of charming and witty. Not scary because…you know…I’m an adult, but it works for my younger students. Four stories, one creepier than the last. An absolute must-listen.

Hunting Game by Candice Fox

Thrillers have always been a hit-or-miss with me. I love the pacing, but sometimes I can see ahead of the story and figure out the rest. Hunting Game was a breath of fresh air for me because I was surprised every step of the way. Well, almost every step of the way, I managed to figure out one of two plot points, but definitely not the final one. Also, I’m a huge fan of  Krysten Ritter (Jessica Jones, anybody?)

“The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber” by Ernest Hemingway

Ernest Hemingway has always been one of my favorite short story writers. One of my Top 10 (that should be a list of its own). I had to read his famous short stories for my American Modernism course. I’ve always loved an author who never insulted their reader’s intelligence. Moreover, I love a story that leaves room for various interpretations. This is a great first step into learning Modernism.

Cut and Run by Ben Acker & Ben Blacker

This is a yearly thing for me. Since its release in 2020, I’ve been listening to this Audible Original and laughing at the same parts over and over again. Yes! It is just as funny as it is charming. When talking about Audible to anybody, I always refer to this comedy as a starting point. My favorite character is Gordon Grimbsy as he’s just as witty as me with an attention span of a hummingbird.

Escape From Virtual Island by John Lutz

Same as Cut and Run in its release year but this is science fiction (my favorite). Any way to show the danger that technology can pose to people who misuse it – or are careless. And if it can be done with a modest dose of humor then I am all for it. The many pop references were a delightful source of allusions. Still, you can’t put Jane Krakowski in anything and expect her not to steal the show.

A Week To Go ‘Til Home

This post is going to be short and brief because I’m trying to get as much work done (school and author) before heading back to Philadelphia for Chinese New Year.  Just know that I’m excited and ready to see everybody. I also have to finish my pedagogical duties including talking to my students’ parents. Just one more week…

Please don’t forget to follow me on my social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads) on my web page’s right side. Also, I love hearing suggestions of what books to read outside of my norm (Science fiction and Fantasy) as I am a part of the Goodreads’ reading challenge for 2024. For this year, my goal is 150, and I’m already at 21. Given that I’m in school and teaching English, I will blast through this challenge.

Wow…Time Just Flew…

In three more days, the students will be home having a long well-deserved rest as they bring in the Chinese New Year. They are extremely excited and they should be. They have been working extremely hard for these last five months and – let me tell you – World Literature and Economics have been a real doozy for them. I can attest to the World Literature part; teaching it has been quite a welcoming challenge. But, now, it is time to enjoy the next marvel…Philadelphia.

After four years of being away, I’m finally able to go home and see my family and friends. I’m finally going to be able to walk around Center City. I’m finally going to see all my old stomping grounds. I’m quite curious to see what has changed and what remained the same. I’m definitely going to visit the Gayborhood. My friends have already called dibs on the locations of where we’re going to do the celebration. They’re just as excited as me – almost. I mean…I’m pretty freaking excited.

My grandma is also pretty stoked about my return. She promises to cook every day and I don’t doubt it. However, I did advise her to not go overboard since I’m going to be visiting and re-exploring my beloved city. I don’t think she was listening; I wouldn’t be surprised. Additionally, the fact that I get to see my little brother, again, is something I’ve been looking forward to for a long time. I can’t believe it…I’m finally going back home.

Of course, my students want me to take pictures of my city and I’m way ahead of them. I’m going to be taking pictures like there’s no tomorrow and sharing them with them. I should start packing…yep! Definitely needs to start packing. I do know that I need to buy some things when I get there because of the snowstorm. You know… things like boots, a transpass, and extra thermals.

Please don’t forget to follow me on my social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads) on my web page’s right side. Also, I love hearing suggestions of what books to read outside of my norm (Science fiction and Fantasy) as I am a part of the Goodreads’ reading challenge for 2024. For this year, my goal is 150, and I’m already at 10. Given that I’m in school and teaching English, I will blast through this challenge.

December’s Book for 2023 Reading Challenge…and 2024 Challenge

So, last year, for the 2023 Reading Challenge, I met – and beat – my goal of reading 200 books by 59 books. Now, for the 2024 Reading Challenge, I’m aiming to read 150 books. I know it’s a drop but – trust me – I will end up reading over 200 books, again. That’s without a doubt. But, I still want to show the books I’ve read for the last month.

Now, for December 2023, I have read 32 books. These are the books I loved during December 2023.

These are the books I really liked during December 2023.

These are the books I liked during December 2023.

    

Adiós 2023…Hola 2024

Thank you so much to everybody who has read my blog over the years. 2023 has been a transformative year for me and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me in 2024.

First and foremost, I’m finally going to be able to release the Arabic version of my Sinful Tales of Wicked Vile Delights. This also means that I need a new banner for my Twitter Page. Still, I have more milestones to obtain.

I want to finish my Master’s this year while saving for Spain. I want to ensure I am ready to teach Creative Writing to European high school and university students when I’m done with China.

I also want to finish the script of my friends’ comic series that we are going to star in. We are pretty excited about that. I already have a six-part arc planned that my friends are beyond impressed; they’re also not surprised at all.

Finally, while I’m in China, I want to get Act 1 and part of Act 2 of my LGBTQ+ Crimeverse done. I’ve realized that I want to take advantage of the LGBTQ+ conventions and book clubs to market and advertise them properly.

Oh! I still have to makeover my website to accommodate the growing trend of book trailers and teasers. I’m still researching great minds in videography and photography to bring them to life as well as a YouTube page. Oh, yeah, 2024 is going to be a good year for me. I hope it will be for all of you, too. Happy New Year!!

Quid Pro Quo for Christmas

Ten more days until Christmas and two more months until the Chinese New Year and I’m glad that I will finally be able to go home to see my family. I haven’t seen them since my move to China due to COVID, traveling restrictions, and a few other things so, yeah, it was all overdue. But there is still some work to be done before I get to enjoy my holidays.

First, the Christmas holiday. It’s not surprising that the Chinese government doesn’t recognize Christmas as a federal holiday. With that in mind, they weren’t very keen on giving us a day off to celebrate it.  So, a deal was made. Simply put, we have to come in tomorrow (Saturday) for some face-time with the parents of potential students. Now, I hate giving up my Saturdays for anything; that is my sacred day where I can relax and reset. But then I thought about it: a few hours on Saturday for the whole Christmas day to myself…sounds fair, right?

In regards to the Chinese New Year, that’s already taken care of. I asked my friend if he could use his Chinese citizenship to buy the tickets for me. Of course, I paid him back. I just wanted to take advantage of the major price difference between locals and foreigners. Worked like a charm, too, because I paid WAY less than what was expected of me. Now, I just have to wait patiently for February to arrive and I will be throwing back on some Philly cheesesteaks.

Finally, on a completely different topic, I finally found an Arabic translator for Sinful Tales of Wicked Vile Delight. Took me long enough, right? Well, it’s difficult to find a proper translator who is willing to take up the task of translating a book – especially on this topic. So, the fact that I found one is a big deal to me. Finally! The Arabic version of Sinful Tales of Wicked Vile Delights will be released by the end of the month!!

Now, please don’t forget to follow me on my social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads) on my web page’s right side. Also, I love hearing suggestions of what books to read outside of my norm (Science fiction and Fantasy) as I am a part of the Goodreads’ reading challenge for 2023. I am happy to announce that I have completed my 2023 Challenge and still going. Right now, I’m at 245.

November’s Book for 2023 Reading Challenge

For the month of November, I have read 24 books. These are the books I loved during the month of November.

      

 

These are the books I really liked during the month of November.

These are the books I liked during the month of November.

Back In School…and It Feels So Good

Everything is going pretty well this week and I thank God for that as it doesn’t happen often. I wouldn’t say it was “smooth sailing” because it’s the education field and nothing is ever “smooth sailing”. However, I will say that it was one of my easier work weeks.

For starters, my students are almost done with their ELA course work and it’s going a lot smoother than I could ever hope for. No surprise there, really. My students are brilliant and always up for a challenge. I did have to skip the reading of The Prince because I was uncomfortable with the content, but my colleagues helped me look at it through a different lens. Though I can’t take back my decision, I can – at least – have a more open mindset for next year. That is if they keep the book on there for next year.

Outside of school, I began writing the second installment of the main series of my LGBTQ+ Crimeverse as well as plotting out everything that’s meant to happen in the second act of it all. On top of that, I’ve finally decided to release the first book AFTER I’m done with China. That way I can properly advertise and market the book at conventions with sexy shirtless models like the good Lord intended.  Two more years of China and I’ll be back home spreading my literature and fairy dust around in no time.

And the best news for last…I’m back in school. I got the banking system down and registered for my next class. So, what’s my next class? It’s American Modernism…and it’s another literary criticism/analytical class. I half expected to be nervous about taking another literary theory class but I’m oddly calm about it. I know what to expect and I think I have a handle on it this time around. I still don’t like analyzing literature but, at least, I can say that I can do it. Correct, too. Here to me praying so.

Now, please don’t forget to follow me on my social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads) on my web page’s right side. Also, I love hearing suggestions of what books to read outside of my norm (Science fiction and Fantasy) as I am a part of the Goodreads’ reading challenge for 2023. I am happy to announce that I have completed my 2023 Challenge and still going. Right now, I’m at 226.

Sports, Parents, and Some Tuition on the Side

There are so many things that I had to do for my students; I’m amazed that I’m still awake while typing.  On top of that, I had to get my tuition taken care of for this month – and the next semester. I wanted to make sure that my last semester was paid for before I begin my next semester.  That was the easiest part, believe it or not. The other things on my list…not so much.

Parent-Teacher meeting was this week and it was a doozy. Most of them (parents) were delightful while only a couple were a little overbearing for my taste. One is beyond concerned about her kid’s progression in English (he started very late) while another wanted us to convince her daughter to abandon her art path for economics or business. Yeah, being an artist myself, I sure as hell wasn’t going to do that. While I can only speculate as I’m not in their household or mind, there was no way I was going to let the progression of my students so unnoticed. And, I definitely will never discourage another artist from following their dreams. However, I will give them a reality check about their path before helping them. Luckily, both of parents left with a little better of an understanding of their kid…I hope.

Additionally, my school had their annual Sports Day Celebration. Similiar to that of Field Day,  the students got to show off their athletic skills in various sport activities. I was at the bank for most of it, but I got make it to the staff tug-of-war which we made to the Finals. My students were impressed that I was holding my own in the back. They knew I was strong, but that strong. I had to tell them that I’m not strong; I just know my body very well. Unfortunately, we lost, but I did have a lot of fun, though I didn’t admit it to anybody. Ha ha ha!

This week is done and the weekend shall being. Time to make sure that I complete one game while starting another one. Maybe a little editing and schedule on the side. Much deserved, I say.

Now, please don’t forget to follow me on my social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads) on my web page’s right side. Also, I love hearing suggestions of what books to read outside of my norm (Science fiction and Fantasy) as I am a part of the Goodreads’ reading challenge for 2023. I am happy to announce that I have completed my 2023 Challenge and still going. Right now, I’m at 217.