Tuesday, April 14, 2026
When, for no particular reason, someone in real life or even on television makes you cringe or stirs negative emotions in you become conscious of yourself, examine your thoughts at that moment and ask yourself, why am I reacting negatively against this person? Am I biased or prejudiced? Am I stereotyping him or her? And bear witness to your own answers.
Now let’s move on to reading for pleasure, the topic for this month. Does reading make you happy, make you forget who you are or where you are? Reading is my passion—anything that has something to do with language—fiction and nonfiction books, stories, essays. In addition, to reading I’m devoted to writing. I write more than I read.
Dorothea Brande (Becoming a Writer, 1934) and Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way, 2016) suggest that writers should recharge themselves with nonverbal activities like going to museums, watching theatrical performances, boating, fishing, running, listening to music, meditating. In other words, practicing an activity that does not use words at all. I used to get engaged in some of those activities quite often but now my interests are focused on meditation, walking, looking at artworks and a little yoga.
So read a lot or at least one book a month . . . or two . . . for pleasure and enjoy! And please let me know which are the books you enjoyed reading last year or the one’s you’ve read long time ago and still think about.
Lorraine
Amazing colored pencil work! What is in the smaller circles?
I’ve been asking many questions about faith, trust, power, loyalty, moral-responsibility… and I’ve been paying close attention to my gut reactions.
As for reading, my book club is reading Mrs Endicott’s Splendid Adventure; I’m reading a cute mystery (Clue in the Crumbs) and on a more cerebral note, I’m re-reading A Wrinkle in Time. (And a bunch of picture book and graphic novel mentor texts.)
Jenn Diamond
Oh, Madhu! A LOVELY illustration by your talented husband! For my current reading, I am reading a horror novel written by the Pennwriters Conference keynote speaker. It’s VERY well written and a wonderful example of how horror is not about the “gore” but about deeper human issues (but it is not for the faint-of-heart). I am also currently reading Julia Cameron’s latest book called THE PROSPEROUS HEART, which about how creative people need to learn to handle “money issues” which I need because I feel strange when I think about “asking people for money” while selling my books. Thank you for sharing!
Madhu B. Wangu
Thank you, Lorraine! The title of the drawing is “Innovator.” This is one of the works which Manoj plans to exhibit at his upcoming one-person-show. The repeated images within the circles are of a robot that packages medications for the hospitals. Manoj has a copyright for that and 40+ more copyrighted machines.
Curiosity makes you wiser even if you’re already wise, dear friend. You seem to have a lot of books on your bedside table. How wonderful!
Madhu B. Wangu
Reading horror genre! How courageous, Jenn! I can’t. However, we just started watching Stranger Things on Netflix. Have you watched it? Is it any good?
Creative people don’t want anything to do with money although most of us definitely need it. Let’s be brave together and begin demanding and accepting money for the books we work hard for and feel proud for doing so.