The First in a Long Literary Adventure

COVID-19 Has Me Thinking…

I mean, of course COVID has me thinking. My work is closed, all other activities are cancelled, and my whole family is stuck together for at least two weeks. There is nothing for me to do but think. But what should I do with all of these unspoken thoughts? Let them bottle up until I burst or send them out into the void, hoping someone finds them interesting?

I favour the latter option.

But what could an opinionated bookworm such as myself possibly blog about? The answer to this question is a story in itself, and I do hope you enjoy it. 

One particularly dull day at work, I asked my coworker - a kind, Czech man, only a few years older than myself - what he would want to do for work, if he could have any job, regardless of qualifications or salary. He pondered the question for a moment, then proceeded to tell me about how he would love to work with animals, and to help protect endangered species. He then turned the question on me, and I was slightly embarrassed when I realized that my answer was far less noble. Nevertheless, I admitted that I would like to critique books. 

It seems an impossible thing, to make a living off of critiquing books. But on our last day of work before we were forced to close due to COVID, this same coworker said, "Now you have nothing to do, you might as well critique books."

Looking for one more push, I posed the idea to my very wise best friend, who was (of course), incredibly supportive and immediately offered her help, as she also knows I'm terrible with computers. Whether or not any of the three people who pushed me to write actually think me a capable writer seems to be irrelevant; three votes in favour of me starting a blog means I should probably give it a go. 

So, here I am. Blogging. 

As my name (The Opinionated Bookworm) suggests, I will be writing about my opinions on books that I have read, but I would like to point out that my opinion is in no way a final judgement on any piece of literature. People interpret books differently, based on who they are, and what they believe in. That is the beauty of books.

For example, I am in three different bookclubs; the first is an online chat where nine women share what they have been reading, give opinions, and suggest books to those who are in a rut. The second is a work bookclub, in which the young men I work with and I read fantasy novels. The third was founded by me and my bestie to satisfy our need to talk about current events through what we are reading. 

Because my interests vary drastically, I joined these three different bookclubs so that my own reading would benefit from many genres and viewpoints. For this same purpose, I am also attempting to complete a personal challenge of reading my way around the world, which was inspired by Ann Morgan's TedTalk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh09xlzxRmE). 

I don't know what I expect from this blog, but I do hope it will be fun. My aim is not meant to dissuade anyone from reading any particular book, nor is it to force other books onto people. If anything, I want to bring people together in a time where they might be panicking. If you disagree with my opinions, let's talk about it! Anyone who knows me will tell you that I love a good debate, as long as it is friendly and constructive. Anyhow, if you can't disagree and debate about books, then what are you meant to disagree and debate about?

Shall we begin?

The first book I read in 2020 was The 10,000 Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow (and yes, I did read the book in the month of January). Set in early 1900s America, the story follows a young girl by the name of January, who lives with her father's employer, Mr. Locke. While January's father travels the world in search of artifacts on behalf of Mr. Locke, January is raised in Mr. Locke's manor in the hopes that she will be transformed into a proper young lady. At first, January craves Mr. Locke's approval, but she also craves adventure, something far beyond the extravagant life her guardian is offering. One day, as January is exploring one of the rooms full of artifacts in Locke's house, she comes across a book that opens doors to other worlds, and shares a love story she never could have imagined.

Harrow's story is absolutely captivating, and the perfect escape if you are unable to leave your house but are searching for an adventure. Nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novel (Fantasy/Science-Fiction), it is a fantasy novel that reads like a true account of a young girl's life, and tells of a how she must seize the opportunity to embrace her true self in a world that would prefer she stay silent and "proper." With the help of faithful friends, and a loyal dog, January finds the courage to stand up to those who are trying to morph her into the young person that they think she should be. What story could be more relevant to readers in 2020? Hopeful, heartbreaking and happy all in one, the story is innovative, and the words beautiful, perfect for those who are self-isolating during this troubling time. 

The only thing that I can think of that might turn a reader away from this book, is that it is categorized in the "Fantasy/Science-Fiction" genre. To those who are not fans of fantasy or sci-fi, I say to you, please do not judge this book by its category. Instead, try my book-picking strategy: Pick it up, read the summary. If that entices you, read the first page. If you cannot help but turning the page to see what happens next, then the book is likely right for you, regardless of the genre. 

With nothing to complain about, I will bestow 4.5/5 stars upon this book. In my next blog, we will travel to Pakistan together and learn about a young journalist's life as a Muslim, immigrant and Queer person.

That's all for now! I'm off to read another book. If you are looking for a recommendation, or have a book recommendation for me, please email me at theopinionatedbookworm@gmail.com.