The Heretic Queen

Although I have not delved into the depths of historical fiction, I find the genre fascinating. The Heretic Queen felt like a thrilling ease into the genre. The story follows the niece of Egypt's former queen, Nerfertari. The author portrays the growth from reckless girl to powerful queen, with every heart break and struggle along the way. Based heavily on history, with vivid fiction filling in the cracks, this story was enrapturing. The environments are descriptive, giving you a real experience of ancient Egypt. The writing style was simple, not flowery or distracting. And it was honest and emotional. The author clearly conveys Nerfertari's strength, and her uncertainty.

The plot consists of Nerfertari's struggle to survive as a forgotten princess. Her dead family is branded as heretical, shunning her from her full princess status. As a childhood friend of Ramesses, the prince in line for the throne, she plots to become his queen to gain the status and recognition she was denied. Nefertiti slowly climbs the ladder to success, fighting to keep her life and her morality. Her story is gripping, filled with indecision and heartbreak. Nerfartari is portrayed as determined, a women equipped with the wits and strength to succeed.

The main focus of the story is Nerfertari, however the side characters are equally charming. Ramesses is shown to have a strong sense of justice, and a kind heart. Nefertari's personal maid is wise, nurturing, with strong morals. Even Nerfertari's head priestess is shown to have her own personal struggles. All of these characters combine to form a fascinating story of strength, love, and sacrifice.

The novel concludes with a confrontation of Egypt and a rival land. Egypt's roots are shaken and Nerfertari must hold her county together. In proving herself she wins over the people and Egypt is victorious.

Overall, this novel is unique even among historical fiction. Nerfertari is not as well known as other Egyptian Queens, but her story is equally worthwhile. It covers the great change of a mighty nation. And the dedication of a fearless women.

Is The Heretic Queen a novel you would try?

Enigma

The Free Thinkers

Life is not what you think it is going to be. You plan things, you make assumptions. Whether consciously, or unconsciously, we do it. We assume all the time. We assume we will be alive tomorrow, we assume the grocery store will have food, and we assume our pay checks will come in on time. In short, we assume life will maintain a steady rhythm. Until it doesn't. As much as we like to think we lust for adventure, we strive for stability, predictability.
It takes a strong heart to break away and pursue the unknown, to lust after the abyss. But there are a few who succeed. Some who are so out of the box we can't wrap our minds around them, so society shuns them. They are the ones so bizarre, so out of common character, they cant possibly be one of us. When in fact they are the best of us.

I've been lucky enough in my life to meet several people who have broken the chains of normality. They are a precious encounter. These people inspire me to break free of general ideas. To contemplate the unknown, the unspoken. These people rebel simply by being. While multiple minds might fervently agree on a topic, theses people pause. They reflect and analyze. And when they point out a flaw, or a different idea, they are given strange looks. They are banished from social circles. But they are blessed with a lens that strips away lies and facade.

Some of these characters are well known, moral celebrities. Others never reach fame. The social outcast rarely lusts after it. But they don't need to, these individuals have a way of attracting attention from the masses. Whether you chat getting a coffee, or meet intentionally, one thing is for sure, these genius free thinking minds are one of humanities gems.


Have you met a free thinker?

Enigma

How to Make it Through the Winter

There's a heavy cloud that hangs over my head around this time of year. My spirit seems to darken as much as the sky in these dark winter months. With dampness in my bones and no sunshine in sight, it can be hard to keep your spirits up. When I feel myself fall into this post New Years dip, there are a few things I've found that help keep the weariness away. This is a list of seven ways to help make it through the winter.

1: Making space for Pastimes: No matter how busy you are, pastimes are a vital and simple way to stay positive. Reading in bed or building toy models, whatever your interest, going back to fun is a great way to take a break from busy life and reduce stress.

2:Go Outside: Even though the weather may be horrid, wet and slushy, frigid and icy; go outside. If only for a couple minutes. Moving around outside is a sure way to get rid of the winter sluggishness.

3: Be around pets: There are scientific studies proving that pets improve the mood of their human companions. If you have a pet, spend some snuggle time. If not, visit a friend's or volunteer at a shelter to get your animal time in.

4: Exercise: Exercise not only makes your body healthy, it also makes you feel good. Whether you like stretches, yoga, or weightlifting finding time to exercise in the winter will keep you in  good spirits.

5:Balance your Diet: While it's great to have a good diet all year round, many of us struggle with it the most during the cold months. Cookies, muffins and all the holiday leftovers can lead to some junk eating habits, which drain your energy. Making sure to eat some healthy foods every day will keep your energy up.

6:Sleep: When its over cast and dreary I want to take a 7 hour nap. For most that's not possible, or practical. However getting some extra sleep will go a long way in tackling the cold day.

7: Have Fun: You don't have to like the cold or the snow, but finding something positive about it that you can enjoy such as skiing, sledding, or even drinking hot chocolate, can help you squeeze some joy from the harshness of winter.

For many winter is the highlight of the year, the time to whip out the snow gear and go extreme. I am not one of those people. I have the frail cold resistance of a desert lizard, so winter is something of a dread for me. These are just a few things I remind myself of when the going gets tough.

What is your winter survival trick?

Enigma

The Devil Wear's Prada

 This book was truly a roller coaster ride. From start to finish it was bustling with activity and downright insanity. The story is told from the perspective of Andrea Sachs, a women fresh out of college who lands a job as an assistant to a high class fashion magazine's editor; the reader is left helpless as Andrea is subjected to endless demands from her snippy boss.
Through the book your enveloped in Andrea's personal hell, slowly coming to the realization that this job may not be worth the reward. It's an out of the box read, one relatable to many who have been in a tough job predicament.

The characters in the devil wears prada are very well written. Even when most characters in the novel fall under the same type, fashionable, appearance obsessed,  and snobby. The author Lauren Weisberger still manages to make each one memorable and unique. Her writing style is punchy, clear and concise, while also sly and amusing. Andrea is a refreshing protagonist, strong in her views but just desperate enough to sacrifice parts of who she is for this hellish job. I found the progression of the story intense and absorbing. However nearing the end of the book it seemed to drag on, in danger of becoming redundant, that dullness only lasted a small chapter or two and then the book resumed its full speed.

The ending feels like a well deserved break after the rapid pacing of the novel. Andrea's energy starts to dwindle and the story comes to a natural close. For me, the story was fully immersive, having me lose track of time on more than one occasion. It was not the most satisfying book I have read but I did appreciate the realism of it, there was no sugar coating Andrea's hard work. I felt just as relieved as Andrea by the time I turned the last page.

This story was truly original. It wasn't deeply philosophical or mind blowing, but the outrageousness
in the book felt relatable. Reading the devil wears prada is a work experience everyone should go through.

What are your thoughts on this quirky novel?

Enigma

The New Year's Jar

It's the first day of the new year, the time of the year where people are scrambling to set goals and wishes, or wandering in a daze as to how the year went by so fast. I would land somewhere between the two extremes.
Regardless, the new year has a way of bringing stress along with the excitement. A reminder for the frazzled, you don't need New Year's to change your habits or set a goal to achieve. In fact depending on your lifestyle, January 1st may be the worst time of the year to add more to your plate. So cut yourself some slack and don't give up. Its never too late to improve upon yourself and learn something new. One way to help you stay focused on your goals is to stay positive.

I'm a fan of fun traditions, one of my favorite New Year's traditions that I have been following for many years now is something I like to call the New Year's jar. Its a simple mason jar, or any container that you fancy, and throughout the year you put notes in it. Small slips of paper recalling fun trips you went on, special moments, or really anything that made you happy. You can make a point to add a slip every day, week, month, or simply when it strikes you.
On New Year's, you take out all the slips one at a time, and read through the fun things that happened to you that year. I've found this is a huge mood booster to fight the stress of the new year. It's also a great memento, you can keep the papers and make a scrapbook, or you can simply cherish the memory of looking through them over the past years.

On New Years day, when I've finished looking through my papers, I empty the jar and start over for the next year. Its such a simple, yet powerful way to stay positive and remember all the good that has happened to you. Look on the bright side this year, go for your goals with all you've got, and remember you don't need to wait for New Year's to do something awesome.

Tell me, have you ever tried a New Year's Jar?

Enigma

The Values of Tiny Living

There is a growing movement going around that has been labeled tiny Living. While some consider it a passing trend, I would disagree. The research I've done and interviews I've watched of people who have ventured into this movement have shown me that it is stronger than a trend; it's a life style change, a change of mind and a change of heart. A shifting of attitude from the false belief that things will make you happy and content, to the perspective of letting go; holding onto memories and possessions that bring practical or emotional satisfaction not monetary value.

From the bit that I have dabbled in I have to say it is immensely satisfying. As a natural born collector I have a way of becoming attached to things quickly, whether they are necessary or not. The minimalist mindset has helped me to cut down on my amount of consumer waste, as well as put value to the things I really need or love. One result of this way of thinking for me has been a thinned out wardrobe, as well as cutting down on my clutter of useless doo-dads. As a newcomer and explorer to this way of living I have compiled seven things to think about when downsizing, or attempting to "live small".

1: "Tiny" is relative: There is a basic standard for a small or large space, however that standard is subjective. Downsizing can be cleaning out your garage, or selling off extra pieces of furniture. It doesn't have to be moving to a small house.

2: You don't have to get rid of everything: Part of the tiny living mindset is living purposefully, if you love your glass figurine collection more than anything and it makes you happy, keep it, just be aware of what you really value.

3: Sentimental vs practical: This has got to be the toughest one for me. Keeping things purely for sentimental reasons will leave you in a pile of useless stuff. If it doesn't have real emotional or practical value, it doesn't need to be there.

4:Breathing Room: Take the plunge, get started on something. Once you start getting rid of things you'll be able to appreciate the breathing room it leaves.

5:Be realistic: Don't try to squeeze yourself into a smaller space than you'll be happy with. At the same time give your self some credit, you may find you'll adapt quickly once your living in a small space. Balance your lifestyle with your space, but remember, the bigger space you have, the more stuff you'll find to fill it.

6: Cost: Going small can be a huge relief on the wallet. Many people have built their own tinny homes with only a few thousands dollars. While others have opted for buying a tiny home already built. Regardless of your preference, these homes are far more realistic than a regular house to pay off and own outright for the future.

7: Connecting with like minded people: The tiny living movement has grown into a national community. Going small will bring you into contact with other people who live by similar values. Connecting with others who have been or are going through a situation similar to yours can be a huge motivation for downsizing yourself.

The beauty of the Tiny Living movement is that it can be as big a change in lifestyle or as small a change as you want it to be. Downsizing can mean going through all your closets every year and preventing them from overflowing with useless things. Or it can mean selling your house and buying a tiny home, its up to you.


Enigma

Already Christmas?

I really cant believe its already December. It feels like yesterday I was psyching myself up for Thanksgiving. I'm blessed to eat apple pie twice in two months.
But besides the food, the looming arrival of Christmas got me thinking. As someone who doesn't personally celebrate Christmas, watching my friends and family panic about getting enough gifts, baking and travel; well it got me wanting to put out a reminder to enjoy the holidays. Instead of frantically buying gifts and stuffing stockings, remember to just be. Spend time with your family, laugh, focus on relaxing. Maybe even pass up gifts all together and plan a trip somewhere. Collect memories, not stuff. Sometimes the two go hand and hand, but keep it balanced. Take pictures, this year will only happen once. I doubt you will regret laughing with your loved ones, however I'm sure at least some of you have regretted gifts you've bought, or the debt that often comes with them.

Christmas is significant to many people and families, and I think its wonderful to celebrate what you believe, however its important to remember what the purpose of your celebration is. In recent times Christmas has become more commercial, revolving around buying gifts, gifts, and more gifts. While the spur to give in December is a beautiful thing, if the gift is bought because of obligation, its hardly a gifts at all. In so many things, less is more. Expressing appreciation and love is an invaluable gift, and one  that doesn't have to be given just for Christmas.

So take a minute to think this Christmas before rushing in for all the "great deals". Remember that time and love have more value than any gift.

Enigma