Author: Zakiya N. Jamal

Zakiya N. Jamal was born in Queens, raised in Long Island, and currently resides in Brooklyn. In other words, she’s a New Yorker through and through. She holds a BA in English from Georgetown University and a MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Writing for Children and Young Adults from The New School. She has been published in Romper, BuzzFeed, People.com, Thought Catalog, and more. Her non-fiction essay about her "Cuban Impostor Syndrome" can be found in the Latinx anthology, Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed. You can find her on Twitter at @ZakiyaNJamal.

Woman Crush Wednesday: Vida

Posted on July 8, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Vida doesn’t show up in The Darkest Minds trilogy until book two, which is shame because she’s one of my favorite characters. When we first met Vida I wasn’t sure if she was going to be one of the good guys or not but she actually turns out to be a helpful ally to Ruby even when Ruby neglects to realize how much she needs a friend like Vida.

What I love most about Vida is she’s brutally honest and overprotective. She doesn’t sugar coat things for people’s benefit and let’s you know exactly what she thinks of you with no hesitation. Vida has a hard core but a soft center. When she does let people into her life she doesn’t let go. It’s hard for her to trust people but once she does she’s in it for the long haul.

Also, according to Ruby, Vida’s gorgeous and she has blue hair but I couldn’t find a picture that accurately represents the hair color and her beauty. And her relationship or friendship (it’s unclear really) with Chubs is so fantastic. Their quips with each other are so cute and funny. I just want them to love each other and be happy together always.

Honestly, I would love another Darkest Minds book just to see how she and the others are dealing with the world now. In the series the U.S. is hit be a disease called IAAN that kills kids or gives them abilities that they call Psi. Vida went through a lot when the disease hit and she also lost a lot. I’d love Vida to find happiness and although I think she’s already found a new family I’d love to see the affect that has on her.

You can learn more about Vida and all her friends in The Darkest Minds trilogy. Check it out!

Then he was stepping back, away, letting distance flood between us again. His voice was low, rough. “Give ’em hell, darlin’.”

“And for the love of God, bitch, don’t get stabbed this time!” Vida added.

Book Review: Summer and the City

Posted on July 7, 2015August 17, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis from Amazon:

Meet teenage Carrie Bradshaw as she hits the bright lights, big city of New York for the very first time! Find out how Carrie transforms from country girl to super-cool fashionista in the second explosive CARRIE DIARIES novel from the globally bestselling author of SEX AND THE CITY. Summer is a magical time in New York City and Carrie is in love with all of it – the crazy characters in her neighbourhood, the vintage-clothing boutiques, the wild parties and the glamorous man who has swept her off her feet. Best of all, she’s finally in a real writing class, taking her first steps toward fulfilling her dream. This sequel to THE CARRIE DIARIES brings surprising revelations as Carrie learns to navigate her way around the Big Apple, going from being a country “sparrow” – as Samantha Jones dubs her – to the person she always wanted to be. But as it becomes increasingly difficult to reconcile her past with her future, Carrie realises that making it in New York is much more complicated than she ever imagined. With her signature wit and sparkling humour, Candace Bushnell reveals the irresistible story of how Carrie met Samantha and Miranda, and what turned a small-town girl into one of the New York City’s most unforgettable icons, Carrie Bradshaw.

Although this book has it’s faults, the fact that it shows how the famous Sex and the City group came to be makes this book worth the buy. If you haven’t read The Carrie Diaries yet and don’t want to be spoiled stop reading here. You’ve been warned.

This book picks up right around where we left off. Carrie’s getting her bearings in NYC with Samantha Jones as her sophisticated mentor. Additionally, the purse that Carrie lost at the end of The Carries Diaries is found by Miranda Hobbes, leading to the start of another beautiful friendship. Young Samantha Jones and Miranda Hobbes made this book for me. Samantha is struggling to become the woman her fiancé wants her to be and Miranda is a fiery feminist who makes a lot of valid points.

The novel is a slew of new characters and only a few appearances by the people in Carrie’s “past life.” Although I’d usually be against a sequel that completely drops the characters of the first novel, Candace Bushnell makes the right choice here. Carrie’s family and high school friends just don’t fit Carrie’s NYC narrative and the parts where they do show up were my least favorite.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. Carrie’s gone from naive, suburban teen, to an arrogant young adult. Although she annoyed be from time to time I much preferred Carrie’s confidence to her pushover lifestyle. Additionally there were so many characters to love in this novel. Besides the Sex and the City crew there’s Carrie’s classmates including Lil’, who turns out to be way more interesting than I first thought, Capote, the know it all, and Ryan, the flirt with a model fiancé. There’s also Carrie’s professor who has a strange mustache that Carrie names Waldo, and Carrie’s quirky city friends including a famous playwright who turns out to be more trouble than he’s worth.

My only issue with the novel is it’s very focused on sex and Carrie losing her virginity. This in it of itself isn’t the problem for me. The problem is that if that’s the focus of the novel I don’t appreciate when it’s finally Carrie’s time to find out what the big deal is about sex the scene is skipped over and then talked about in the past tense. Why not give it to me in the present? Why have her wake up and say, “Oh yeah that happened.” I understand this is a children’s book and I’m not looking for anything on a Fifty Shades level, I was just expecting more from this moment that was so built up in this book and the last.

Despite that, I still really liked this novel and definitely think it’s worth your money and time.

Borrow or Buy: Buy! It’s a keeper!

Favorite Line:

“Just because something doesn’t last forever, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t meaningful while it did last. It doesn’t mean it wasn’t important.”

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Man Crush Monday: Jace Wayland

Posted on July 6, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Jace is your typical cool boy with an ice cold demeanor but a secretly kind heart that’s still wounded by past grievances. He’s scarred by his past but doesn’t want to talk about. He’s the dark brooding type that you want to help but also know you should probably stay away from because he’ll probably break your heart. And he’s hot.

What makes Jace stand out from the rest, however, is his quick wit. He has the one liners to end all one liners. He’s funny and brutally honest in a way that makes you know you can trust him. My favorite description of Jace is only ask him a question if you’re ready to hear an honest answer.

Jace’s best quality, although it could also be seen as a flaw, is his fear of love. He believes it’s bad to be loved or to be in love, which is understandable considering who his father is. This fact makes Jace scared to give into his feelings for Clary, the protagonist of The Mortal Instruments novels, while also confusing him and making him into an adorable character you just want to help.

All in all, Jace is a keeper. As long as he’s not your long lost brother, of course.

“Have you fallen in love with the wrong person yet?’
Jace said, “Unfortunately, Lady of the Haven, my one true love remains myself.”
…”At least,” she said, “you don’t have to worry about rejection, Jace Wayland.”
“Not necessarily. I turn myself down occasionally, just to keep it interesting.” – City of Bones

POLL: YA or Adult Novels?

Posted on July 3, 2015July 3, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

I’m a big fan of both young adult and adult novels. Even so, I often tend to lean towards young adult. Maybe it’s because I am one or maybe it’s because I just truly prefer them. Either way I love both types of novels but I want to know if you have a preference. Vote in the poll below and let me know in the comments why you’re more of a YA fan or a strictly adult novels person.

Results of last week’s poll:

How do you prefer to read?

With 60% of the votes, paperbacks were the winner. Paperbacks or the perfect books because you can fold them over and bend them any which way while still having the comfort of holding an actual book in your hands. It’s a win-win.

Book Review: City of Bones

Posted on July 2, 2015July 2, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

Synopsis from Amazon:

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It’s hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing—not even a smear of blood—to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary’s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It’s also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace’s world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know…

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare’s ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

I’m hooked. I didn’t want to be hooked because I don’t have time to be hooked on another series but here I am hooked.

Clary Fray is a great protagonist. I won’t go into much detail about why I think so highly of her here because I did that yesterday. What I will say is I loved her and Jace’s chemistry. Jace is sarcastic and cocky from the start. He knows he’s good looking and a great Shadowhunter and he’s proud. I really want them to be together but … well I won’t spoil it for you. What I will say is it’s not over until I finish the last book.

Moving on, the other characters were also spectacular. Clary’s best friend, Simon, is adorkable, Isabelle and Alec, the Lightwood siblings and basically Jace’s family, are very different but also similar in an interesting way. I like Isabelle’s tough girl attitude and I really like Alec and his whole story line. I’m excited to see where that goes in the next books.

The adults are also great and have their own crazy back stories. Hodge, Alec, Isabelle, and Jace’s guardian, is basically the chill godfather who loves his garden and herbs. Kind of like a hippie but can also take you out if you try anything. Luke, Clary’s godfather type figure, is a boss. Period. I don’t want to spoil it so I’ll leave it that. I’m just a really big fan of Luke. Clary’s mom isn’t really relevant but from what we learn about her I wasn’t a fan. To be fair she’s not in the majority of the book so I really can’t pass judgement. Even so, I could do with less of her.

As for the plot I was never bored. There’s an air of mystery to the novel as well as some plot twists (some expected, some not). Overall, as the first book in The Mortal Instruments series, Cassandra Clare did a really good job of laying the foundation for this world without it being boring. Well done. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

Borrow or Buy: This was a tough call and I went back and forth on it. On the one hand I really did enjoy this book. On the other hand I just couldn’t imagine actually buying it. It was good but it just wasn’t that good.

Favorite Line:

“Don’t.” Clary raised a warning hand. “I’m not really in the mood right now.”
“That’s got to be the first time a girl’s ever said that to me,” Jace mused.”

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Woman Crush Wednesday: Clary Fray

Posted on July 1, 2015July 1, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Can you just take a moment to see how bad a** Clary looks? She looks like a boss because she is a boss.

However, Clary doesn’t start off that way, which is one of the reasons why I love her. The character growth of this girl is phenomenal and deserves all the praise. And I’ve only read the first book so I’m sure she has much further to grow.

If you don’t already know, Clary is the main character of The Mortal Instruments series. She’s goregous (but of course she doesn’t know it) and discovers that she’s the child of a Shadowhunter, half-human, half-angel species that hunts demons and demon breeds (Downworlders).

Clary starts off all sweet and innocent but even from the beginning she doesn’t take things just sitting down. She doesn’t let people (specifically love interest #1, Jace) talk down to her and keep her out of the loop. She wants to be part of the action and help find her mother who’s been kidnapped (parentnapped?).

What I really love about Clary is she’s not here for anyone’s BS. She’s a pretty good judge of character and in a world where it’s hard to know who to trust she does a pretty good job of picking the right people. Overall, Clary is smart, beautiful, and even funny and I love her.

“I don’t want tea,” said Clary, with muffled force. “I want to find my mother. And then I want to find out who took her in the first place, and I want to kill them.”
“Unfortunately,” said Hodge, “we’re all out of bitter revenge at the moment, so it’s either tea or nothing.”

Book Review: The Carrie Diaries

Posted on June 30, 2015June 30, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2015 Reading Challenge*

Synopsis from Amazon:

The Carrie Diaries is the coming-of-age story of one of the most iconic characters of our generation.

Before Sex and the City, Carrie Bradshaw was a small-town girl who knew she wanted more. She’s ready for real life to start, but first she must navigate her senior year of high school. Up until now, Carrie and her friends have been inseparable. Then Sebastian Kydd comes into the picture, and a friend’s betrayal makes her question everything.

With an unforgettable cast of characters, The Carrie Diaries is the story of how a regular girl learns to think for herself and evolves into a sharp, insightful writer. Through adventures both audacious and poignant, we’ll see what brings Carrie to her beloved New York City, where her new life begins.

Don’t let the borrow stamp fool you, this was actually a really good book. It was funny and witty and I’m excited to read the next one. However, I just can’t see myself rereading this book. Here’s why.

Carrie, although she is smart, funny, and quirky, her naivety is annoying. Her obsessive love for Sebastian is infuriating and although I’m usually all for putting others before yourself, Carrie wasn’t really selfless as much as she was a push over. All I wanted from Carrie during this book was stand up for herself and I think we get more of that towards the end but throughout the book I was constantly frustrated because I could tell what was happening but Carrie was in deep denial.

Even so, I did like this book. I think I probably would’ve enjoyed it more if I watched Sex and the City beforehand but I thought it was well written and well thought out and it was interesting seeing where Carrie Bradshaw got her start. I can’t wait to find out what happens next (although I guess I kind of already do but you know what I mean).

Borrow or Buy: Borrow. I liked it a lot but I didn’t love it.

Favorite Line:

“What if I’m a princess on another planet? And no one on this planet knows it?”

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Man Crush Monday: Daemon Black

Posted on June 29, 2015July 11, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Although I love Katy, my favorite part of the Lux series is Daemon Black, the hot alien that she inevitably falls in love with.

Sassy, funny, and such a flirt he kind of reminds me of Damon from The Vampire Diaries. He’s also hot which is always a plus. What really makes Daemon such a man crush is his over protective tendencies. He puts everyone else in his life ahead of himself and does whatever it takes to protect the people he cares about. Also, the way he calls Katy “Kitten” is ridiculously adorable.

That’s why I’m super excited that Jennifer L. Armentrout is doing another Lux series book called Oblivion, which will be the first three books of the series in Daemon’s point of view. When we finally got books with his POV I loved them. I found his POV to be more interesting than Katy’s, honestly, and I’m excited to see everything from his POV.

If you haven’t checked out the Lux series yet you definitely need to. The first book wasn’t the best but it gets so much better after that if you just push through. One of my favorite series that is way underrated. Also, who doesn’t want a hot alien in your life?

“So I was thinking, there’re eighty-six thousand, four hundred seconds in a day, right? There’re one thousand, four hundred and forty minutes in a day…There’re one hundred and sixty-eight hours in a week. Around eighty-seven hundred and then some hours in a year, and you know what?…I want to spend every second, every minute, every hour with you…I want a year’s worth of seconds and minutes with you. I want a decade’s worth of hours, so many that I can’t add them up.” – Origin

POLL: How do you prefer to read?

Posted on June 26, 2015June 25, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Hardcover, paperback, Kindle, Nook, iPad, audio. There’s so many ways to read a book these days it’s hard to keep track. Even so, people almost always have a preference. Some like to have an actual book, others prefer the connivence of e-books, and there are those who rather listen to their books. Where do you fall on the spectrum? Comment below why your way of reading is the best way or why you can’t choose just one way to read.

Results of last week’s poll:

Do you have to finish every book you read?

This one was close but with 60% most of you said you have to finish every book you read. I applaud those of you that do. I am not one of them.

Book Review: The Goddess Test

Posted on June 25, 2015June 24, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Book Reviews

*This book is part of my POPSUGAR 2015 Reading Challenge*

Synopsis from Amazon.com:

It’s always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he’s crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.

After just finishing the True Love trilogy, another Greek mythology based series, The Goddess Test just didn’t impress me.

First, the beginning of the novel moved way to quickly. I think Aimée Carter just really wanted to get to the part where Henry reveals who he is and what Kate is going to have to do. By the end of the novel I understood why the beginning was the way it was but at first I almost stopped reading this book because the plot seemed so wacky.

For example, everyone’s actions, including mean girl Ava and fast friend James just seemed either too mean or too easy. Again it later becomes clear why all the events of the first chapters occurred but I think Carter should’ve slowed down the beginning of the novel. It just seemed like the first few chapters moved very quickly and then once Kate got into the goddess test everything slowed down.

Besides that though, the book was pretty good. I fell in love with Henry (Hades) and Kate wasn’t so bad either. Their chemistry was great and I appreciated the novel’s twists. Although I can’t see myself rereading this book anytime soon (read: ever) I’m interested enough to read the sequel. Maybe the next book will be better. Here’s to hoping.

Borrow or Buy: Borrow. Not worth the money but a nice, quick read.

Favorite Line:

“I care,” he said in a trembling voice. “I care so much that I do not know how to tell you without it seeming inconsequential compared to how I feel. Even if I am distant at times and seem as if I do not want to be with you, it is only because this scares me, too.”

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