April reads & impressions

 Woohoo, first official book post of the blog! 

This year my goal is to read at least forty books. It's quite ambitious for me considering that I am now entering a crucial time of my life where I prepare for university and that whole chapter of my life. This month my goal is to read at least six books. I have already read five and below are my impressions and thoughts of the books I have read so far. :) 

Palace Walk (Cairo Trilogy #1) by Naguib Mafhouz 

I really loved this book. It really played with my emotions. Being one that doesn't really cry with books, this novel has won me over and made me cry more than I can count. The family dynamic in the book is one that is not rare yet the way Naguib writes it moves one to emotion as it's written from a omniscent point of view. I loved this book so much and had such a fun time reading it. Many unfair things happen to the most fair character in the novel but that is the beauty of literature, it exposes the flaws and fallibilities of those we deem superiror and above us. 

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Nievan

This book, guys. This book was eye-opening and had me hooked. At one point, I did not leave my seat for close to three hours because I was just so invested in the plot. After I finished, I sat in disbelief of what I had just read and reached out to a couple friends who I haven't talked with in a while. Out of the three I wrote to, only one responded. I suspect that the other two I wrote to just want their own space and I hope they will reach out to me when they feel it's best. This book was a young adult fiction novel and I'm now in search of books similar to it. I didn't know y/a to be so moving. Definetly lived up to it's hype on booktok. 

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthurs Court by Mark Twain

I had to read this for a school project and... I really did not enjoy it. There were times when I wanted to just burn this copy and others when I wished I hadn't taken the class (even though it is my absolute favorite of the year). I tried to make it as fun as I could so my teacher could feel that I liked her novel of choice for this project but rather than that... it was just such a drag. 

Fundamentals of Tawheed by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilaal Phillips

This book is a classic for me. I first read it when I was twelve, not being able to grasp most of its content yet I still enjoyed reading it very much. As I am growing older trying to learn more about my religion and the way of life that it preaches, I hold this book in very high esteem. It is not a very long book and I love how it is written in simple sentences as can sometimes not be the case in more classical works such as those authored by Ibn Taymiyyah and Ibn al Qayyim. 

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros 

Again, this is another book my class had to read for an upcoming project. Unlike the case with Twain's novel, I LOVED this book. There were parts when I just sat in awe of what I had read. This book is a lyrical masterpiece written in vingettes and short sentences. There were parts when I teared up and remembered things from my own childhood and stories from the women in my family. It did not exactly make me cry, but I feel like if I was alone in a room with my thoughts and this book, I would most likely cry. Absolutely wonderful. 

Those are the five books I have read so far this month. I am actively reading two but I have many books that I have started and have not yet finished (I hope you guys can relate to that). 

Current reads 

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Honestly, I don't really know how to feel about this one just yet. I love the story and plot, I really do, but after watching the movie (1999 edition) the book itself all of a sudden just seems so long, LOL. But I do enjoy Austen's style of writing. I find her books to be very warm, comfortable, and cosy. 

Animal Farm by George Orwell

I read this back in eighth grade for a school project and I really liked it. I wanted to feel thirteen again and read it for the second time.

By the end of this month, I hope to finish at least one of my current reads. I think I can but as I am extremely busy with schoolwork and moving homes it can be a bit hard. Also, I am fasting. I want to start another religious book too for my Ramadan reads so let's see how that goes, Insha Allah. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post !

The American Bookslayer (Asma) xx

Spring Time

I love the Spring but I feel terrible because every Spring, I feel like I'm not doing enough. However, I have been trying to work on that more recently in my own weird ways. With the pandemic, it's a bit harder for me to go to some places but I try to make the most of it where I can. 

1. Walks

I've always enjoyed taking walks around the park and hearing the birds sing so this year I have been trying to do that more. It's just, sometimes I forget how warm it gets in April (as in, today's high is 90ºF... are you actually kidding me). It's not that I hate the heat because I actually don't it just gets annoying to walk in but once you find that one perfect tree to sit under and relax... it's totally worth it. 

2. Picnics without the picnic

I don't really like picnics because I always end up getting ants in my sweets but I love to sit in the grass. It's fun to take a light book, something comfortable to sit on, and light snacks. I like to take with me fruits and on my lucky days, dark chocolate. You can never go wrong with dark chocolate. Also, make sure to wear lightweight clothes and not winter-ish ones. This happens to me almost every spring when I forget to pack away my seasonal clothes because quite surprisingly, it gets pretty cold here.

3. Baking

Okay so I usually like to reserve my baking for winter and summer, mostly because I'm really busy this time of year, but baking in spring hit different. You don't have to make anything grand and special but something light and sweet always sounds so agreeable in this weather. A couple days ago I baked two banana bread loaves with cranberries and walnuts, and my goodness it was amazing (Alhamdulillah)! I have a lot of things I want to bake this season but I'll save that for another post once I try it out. 

4. Reading

I feel like this is illegal to say as an avid reader but I experience severe reading slumps during some times of the year - and for no particular reason, too! I don't really get it that bad in April but in May it's just... disgusting. I've been really into classics and I'm getting started with Arabic literature and poetry so hopefully, that will keep my spirits high and deter my slump. 

5. Getting into crafts

Like with reading, I also experience ~ creative slumps ~ with crafts such as crochet. I love to crochet but it takes me the longest time to finish a project. Not because they're complicated and take too long, but because I get bored with it and end up starting a new one. As of now, I have four projects that I work on whenever I remember them: a cardigan, a pair of socks for my father (which were supposed to be done in January, lol), a pair of socks for myself (they're pretty much done I just have to weave in the ends and sew together the heel) and then a granny square purse.

These are just some things I like to do during the springtime. I hope this may have been of some use to you! 

The American Bookslayer (Asma) xx

Ramadan 2021

Ramadan Mubarak ! 

I am so blessed to be witnessing another Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. This is a month where we give up what is halal (permissible) for us such as food and we fast from our desires, which may also be understood as food. Ramadan is a very special month for Muslims as it is when our holy book the Qur'an was revealed to our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Though Islam is not the only religion that commands a fast, unlike others, it has its own rules and regalations. Ramadan is a time when by fasting, Muslims are supposed to sympatize with those who are unfortunate by means of food and wealth. We are supposed to feel what they do (though we still have the luxury of being able to eat once breaking the fast) and should make us strive to become a better person by helping those in need, which is one of the five pillars of our faith. 

I like to set myself goals for the month so that I may come out of it as a better person. 

1) Not to be extravagent in my food

2) Take time to help others 

3) Learn more about my religion and teach it to others 

What are some goals you have set for yourself and what do you want to come out of this month? 

The American Bookslayer (Asma) xx

Introduction - Get to know the author

Greetings, friends! 

Welcome to my new blog and creative corner of the internet. Over the years, I have found social media to be a boresome place for me to express who I really am. Often I feel cramped and judged in that space and have been looking for a more freeing and creative space where I can be me. Only me. The Boss. The one who writes everything. Most of you may already know me, but for those who aren't as close to me (and want to be 😉) here is a little bit about me.

❀ I am a high school junior (so in my third year). This doesn't mean much except hard classes, no time for myself, excruciating circumstances, teenage life crisis-es, oh and amazing teachers. Also, great books. 

❀ For those familiar with the MBTI (Myer Briggs Type Indicator - basically halal astrology as in pseudo-psychology you can rave about to friends who really don't care), I am an ISTJ though I have also received the INTJ multiple times. So yea, I'm an IXTJ (I can promise you that we're nicer in person and in letters). 

❀ I am a mega nerd, at least my brother, sister, and father consider me one. I love to read, I can tell you really random facts that you probably didn't ask to hear, and I like learning all sorts of things except computer programming. 

❀ I love tea, cookies, cats, and talking with people although I am an introvert (meaning, I get my energy from being alone). 

This is a little bit about me and now time for what I want this blog to be. 

For the longest time, I wanted to have a space where I could express my interests online without feeling judged or closeted. I wanted social media without the "social". Obviously with blogs my readers can still comment which is what I wanted. Here you can expect to find all things books (reviews, hauls, opinions, and whatever else comes with it), crochet projects I am working on, snippets from my venturings, and some of my own cooking recipes. And many more. I wanted this to be something fun for me as social media started to make me feel trapped and like I had to wear a mask to fit in. Yes, it sounds silly but when you're so young sometimes it can take you years to realize that you shouldn't care about what others may think about you. Actually, I take that back - even adults can take years to realize that. 

I hope you will enjoy this blog as much as I do and that it will be a fun source of "entertainment" for you. Feel free to comment on whatever comes to mind while remaining polite and respectful, not because I am sensitive, but because I want my blog to be a place where my friends and family will both feel comfortable. And me of course. 

And with that, I shall sign off. Thank you so much for reading what I have to say and once more, I hope this can be a fun experience for us all. 

The American Bookslayer (Asma) xx

May 12, 2022

Hello, this is an update on the author of this blog. 

I am in my senior year and graduate next month Inshallah. I can tell you that I am very stressed at the moment with school work. 

Not many things have changed about me since I wrote this first introduction. Well, I guess one thing that changed is that now I am an INFJ if that really matters. I am also more social or at least have been going out more. I am not as much a nerd as I once was or would like to be but perhaps that may or may not change. 

I have been into poetry recently so I am hoping to bring more of that and what I read to the blog. I am also enjoying Middle Eastern/Islamic fiction stories a lot. History is.. idk, haven't read much historical fiction or even classical fiction recently. But that is okay. :) Dearest reader, I hope you are well and in good health! Signing off, The American Bookslayer