The B-Roll: March ‘24 Round Up
Rounding up with books I’ve read and March’s lesson on slowing down.
Whew!
We made it to April. Firstly, I thank God but secondly, that was fast! This year is going by in the blink of an eye and I can’t believe we’re already a quarter of the way through.
So what’s been going on?
Well, I write this from the comfort of my newly-named ‘Cosy Contemplation Corner’, as pictured above. It's safe to say that my life is now incandescently complete. I don’t need nor want anymore when I’m in this space. She says.
Marching on
I’ve been rather quiet giving myself some breathing space as I settle back into the normalcy of a slower pace of life in the East Midlands. It’s now been 2 months since our move and it’s been wonderfully mundane. That time and space to recalibrate is so important and I highly recommend you give it a go, no matter what form it takes.
March has flown by with the observance of Ramadan starting off at nearly the beginning of March. Ramadan is a busy time given the extra mindful focus the month brings on restoring a connection with God.
Every Ramadan I learn something new. Where last year, I appreciated the experience in a very isolated fashion in New Zealand, this year’s experience has taught me more about myself: that I need to slow down and give myself a chance to rest.
But more on that later. Let’s jump right into the books I’ve been reading.
Booked up with…Demon Copperhead
Everyone has been raving about Demon Copperhead and I’m here to do the same.
I have a funny story to tell - I recently posted a reel review of Demon Copperhead on my Instagram and discovered through a comment that it’s a retelling of Charles Dickens’ iconic classic, David Copperfield. Imagine my shame and embarrassment, thankfully all behind the safety of a screen knowing that I’d read the entire book without realising the story’s roots.
Where David Copperfield is set in Victorian England that charts the protagonist’s growth from the harsh conditions of his childhood, Demon Copperhead is exactly the same story but set in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia. Although he navigates the contemporary issues of the American South with a determined grit, Demon Copperhead is upbeat, smart-mouthed and an incredibly likeable and quick-thinking character throughout the novel.
I’m gonna be straight here — this book was a tome for me. At a hefty 560 pages, it took me over a month to finish. If it wasn’t for the threat of reading the book into Ramadan (where I’m too busy to read anything but the Quran), there’s every chance it would have taken me 2 months to finish.
There were parts in the middle where it felt stilted and dragged on, but Barbara Kingsolver is an immensely talented writer and only she could have written a retelling of a beloved classic with a completely different backdrop.
Does it make me want to go and read David Copperfield? Nope. A quick wiki-search showed me that there are very few differences between both books and I have no desire to read the same story in more depressing circumstances. Speaking of depressing, if you’re a fan of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, then think of Demon Copperhead as a positive version of that. There’s plenty of suffering but Demon pushes through with resilience and doesn’t give in to giving up on life.
What did I take away from the story? That there’s always a solution to everything. It might not come to you straightaway but you’ll find it eventually.
Why read David Copperfield when you can read Demon Copperhead instead?
Don’t hate me. I said what I said.
In my good books or blacklisted? Top of my good books! Rating: 5/5
Enough with the physical, let’s get digital!
What am I reading on my Kindle right now? Well, it’s a toss up between two books and they’re vastly different.
The frenzy of fanfiction
With the news of Manacled being snapped up for a book deal, I was intrigued. Of course BookTok was abuzz about this and I’d heard about Manacled for years prior to that, but thought the days of reading Harry Potter fanfiction were behind me.
It’s a big deal for me to admit this but I spent my early 20s devouring Draco-Hermione, aka Dramione, fanfiction — my big reading secret’s out. My husband only just found out and we’ve been married for over 15 years.
So, when I heard that Manacled is yet another Dramione fanfiction that has BookTok the reading world in a chokehold, my younger 20s self needed to know more. It is without shame that I can tell you I have downloaded the book and am reading it.
10% in and it’s less Harry Potter and more Handmaid’s Tale. It doesn’t get better than this. I can’t say more but if you’re interested, you can read Manacled here. Beware —this book comes with many trigger warnings which the author prefaces the novel with.
Unlearning uncertainty
If you’re judging me, all is not lost.
The other book I’m currently reading is Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? by Dr Julie Smith.
Woah.
This book took my breath away in the first chapter. Never has someone stared so deeply into my soul and left me feeling seen, acknowledged and validated all at the same time. Only 26% in and not only does Dr. Smith tell me things that I wish I had known sooner, she does it with an immediate articulation that leaves the reader in no doubt that things are not as bad as they seem, alongside finding control of a situation that we thought wasn’t in our control at all.
I’m yet to read more but it’s safe to say that I’m reasonably impressed thus far.
Mindful moments amidst the mundanities
Where’s my mind been at?
Ramadan has certainly helped me to shift my focus towards more mindful ways to spend my time.
As a busy mum ferrying children between school, extracurriculars and fun stuff and trying to maintain my concentration on work, the addition of fasting, interrupted sleep and the dreaded caffeine withdrawal left me with a horrendous migraine within a week.
The cause? Not resting enough.
This was purely self-inflicted and a result of my negative self-talk — the critic within that tells me I’m lazy for having a quick rest because how dare I be unproductive for an hour. The funny thing is that taking a rest is fundamental to success and can make you more productive.
After that horrendous migraine, I forced myself to rest everyday for an hour. Was I more productive? Let’s put it in this way — after a lie-down and a 15 minute nap on the first day, I smashed through work within a few hours, prepared dinner and even put away all the laundry just in time for me to go and do the school pick up in the afternoon, thus freeing me up my evening and leaving me feeling less stressed overall.
Lesson learned and an all-round success strategy for me.
Some notable reads and posts.
That’s March done. Let’s see what others have been saying.
Substack Notes
Must-read Substack posts
Other parts of the internet
Conspiracy, monetisation and weirdness by Nesrine Malik
Telling Muslim Stories in an Islamophobic World by Ream Shukairy
The B-Roll is a monthly round up of book reviews with a dash of slow living for a community of diverse readers. I’d appreciate it if you had a look at my Instagram page to give it a quick like or follow and if you could subscribe to The B-Roll to keep reading my work. Even better, leave me a comment on this post because I love connecting with people and hearing what they have to say.
Totally agree with your comment about Demon Copperhead being a tome! I thought it could definitely have been shorter or some parts told in less detail.
It's good to hear you've settled into your new home 😊