Reading & Mini Reviews

On My Night Stand

Posted on by Khaya Ronkainen / 19 Comments

Read, read, read. —William Faulkner

There are so many things I could write about this “liminal season” I’m in, but I’m a slow processor. Instead I share books I’m reading and rereading these days. Some of the following books are more than entertainment but staple nourishment or part of my self-care regimen.

A great many of us turn to poetry in time of need.

As if I didn’t know this already. But it has been a much needed reminder for me (as a writer of poetry) to keep writing. In the near future, I promise to share why I questioned my writing. 

Am I a bird that skims the clouds along,
Or am I a wild storm, or a great song?

I have to hold space for my words to find new climbing trellises.

This book is like a friend every writer should have. It’s gentle, wise and encouraging.

Imaginative and futuristic things; an Afropolitan in space. This is a series I want to devour but have to slow down so that I can enjoy this imaginary world much longer.

This is the first book of a two-series ‘Living Autobiography’ on writing and womanhood. This has become my reference book. I’ll also write more about this at some point.

Hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse of reads that keep me going while in quarantine. By the way, I highly recommend all these books. You don’t have to be a writer to enjoy or relate to the ones about writing, themes are universal.

special note: April is the birth month of my writer friend, Magaly. This post is in response to her birthday request, and for enjoyment of all my readers, to share the titles of stories (in the shape of books and TV shows) that are keeping us entertained these days.

Wishing you all a beautiful spring, regardless!

Prose

Reflections by the Lake

Posted on by Khaya Ronkainen / 41 Comments

As I wander around the frozen lake, I ponder if there is any difference between solitude and isolation as they both honour alone time. But then, what is time when the duration of events is unknown?

I try to make sense of time by looking at changes, not of the world but of self. And I identify a subtle selfish streak. I have somewhat changed. Because nowadays, I’m not afraid to admit that in order to keep afloat I can only take care of myself and loved ones, before I expend myself to the world.

Even loved ones have to ask, I decide as I recall this “Sometimes people can only help us when we ask for that help…if we try to keep ourselves all tightly wrapped together, there’s no space for someone to step in and assist us.”

I walk back home energized not because I have figured out the difference between solitude and isolation. But because I witnessed a miracle as the lake started to melt; water is still wet.

Mallard standing on the lake
Writing & Living

Where I left Off!

Posted on by Khaya Ronkainen / 33 Comments

Don’t talk unless you can improve the silence. – Jorge Luis Borges

I’ve been silent about random things. Well, my word for 2020 has led to a number of split exercises. Unfortunately these “splits” are not as graceful as that of a gymnast. I’ll be honest, I resisted the word “expand” at first. Because I suspected it might stretch me in uncomfortable ways. Anyway, here’s what I’ve been up to:

1. Refocusing my content

I didn’t decide to refocus my content in order to rank up high in search engines, though that should be the aim, too. But it was to remind myself why I started this blog; to share my poetry initially. This remains my focus, even though I’m not “just [getting] the poems out there” at this point. Then there’s creative nonfiction, which I enjoy writing too.

2. The cleaning job

Towards end of last year, I started a series of Random Things. Even though I enjoyed, it felt haphazard and unfocused. I mean I didn’t even have proper post titles. I had to rethink it a bit and aim for some kind of coherence. So, this is my picking up from where I left off, and focusing on one or related subject(s) per post.

3. Consistency

Consistency remains a stretch. I enjoy interacting with you here, and also visiting and reading my favourite blogs. All this takes time. Therefore random things will be posted randomly and as time permits. But flash memoir will stay in place, i.e. every first Sunday of every month. Mini reviews of books I’ve read or listened to will be posted only where books are sold, even though I’ll continue to share what I’m reading here.

an expansive lake

4. Exploring other forms of storytelling

There are other forms of storytelling I want to explore or develop further. Anyhow, I’ll keep you posted as these (not-so) new explorations take shape.

5. Beyond this blog

One of the ways I’m trying to stretch myself is to tell stories beyond this blog, and to different audiences. This is already in progress…

So, my “unproductive” creative period turned out to be productive, after all. Because a writer is always at work, even when she dusts the bookshelves.

Now I’d love to hear from you. How is your writing or creativity going, more especially in this time of Coronavirus that’s affecting everyone and everything? We are working and studying remotely this side; video/conference calls and online chats are the order of the day.

But more importantly, I hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy. Have a restful weekend!