Books & Film
World Book and Copyright Day: Read, Become a Better You
The question often is, are you a reader? But the even bigger question is, why aren’t you a reader? Finding the time to sit down with a good book can seem like an impossible luxury with adulting and capitalism on the win. However, as we celebrate World Book and Copyright Day, it’s essential to reflect on the importance of reading and why it should be an integral part of your life. But, beyond that, we also spotlight Qwani, a foundation dedicated to promoting readership and providing a platform for young writers to get published, as it plays a crucial role in cultivating a reading culture among people.
Reading is not just about words on a page; it’s about expanding our horizons, exploring new worlds, and gaining valuable insights into the human experience. In a world where distractions are plentiful, books offer a sanctuary, a place where we can immerse ourselves in stories, ideas, and perspectives that enrich our lives. Lessons without unfortunately learning through experience.
One of the significant benefits of reading is that it enhances our emotional intelligence. Do you ever talk to someone who simply struggles to express their emotions? People who struggle with understanding your emotions? That’s how showy it is when you don’t read. When we read, we are exposed to a vast array of emotions, and we learn to understand and empathize with different perspectives. Books are the windows to the human soul. They enable us to experience emotions and situations that we may not encounter in our daily lives, thus increasing our emotional intelligence.
My biggest red flag in people is a lack of empathy, run away from people who are not empathetic. Reading is a gateway to empathy. When we read, we step into the shoes of characters from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. We learn to see the world through their eyes, fostering empathy and understanding. Through books, we can walk in someone else’s shoes, experiencing their joys, sorrows, and struggles. This fosters empathy, compassion, and a deeper understanding of the world around us.
But, if your excuse for not reading is volume and attention span, consider anthologies like Qwani. Keith Ang’ana addresses this by saying, “…but it is exactly that matter which we’re using to curate the book.”(talking about short attention spans) Qwani’s approach is to provide a diverse range of content, including stories as short as one page long and others as long as eleven pages. “One can, slowly by slowly, start by reading the shorter stories, and then, progressively, get to the longer stories, as they build up their reading capacity,” Keith Ang’ana suggests.
Qwani addresses this by providing a diverse array of content, all under one roof. “We have Poetry, we have Short Stories, we have Philosophy, we have Science, we have Sheng stories, and we also have reviews about Film and Music,” Keith Ang’ana explains. “Furthermore, they are spread out in the book, such that, at no point in time will you cross over from one piece to another both of the same genre or same theme. This, then, helps in making it colourful and diverse, alleviating the initial boredom that encumbers people from reading longer works.”
For anyone trying to get back to reading books, I suggest anthologies like Qwani
As we celebrate World Book and Copyright Day, let’s remember the immense value of reading. Through books, we can expand our horizons, cultivate empathy, and sharpen our minds. If you are writer, please continue to paint the world with your words, and for the readers, may we always find solace in books. With initiatives like Qwani, we have the opportunity not only to enjoy the benefits of reading but also to contribute to a culture of readership that enriches lives and communities. “Qwani is a foundation pushing for more readership by providing young writers with a platform to get published. We’re also aiming to cultivate a reading culture among people,” Keith Ang’ana concludes. And I am happy to watch Qwani soar and achieve this dream.
Qwani-ni hauna copy? Grab yourself the second edition of Qwani’s anthology here.
November is closing spooky season and beginning Christmas early with holiday movies and more. Do not miss out on this exciting adventure. Get yourself some popcorns and let’s dive in to what the cinemas have to offer this month:
1. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Will Be Released On November 8, 2024
Six juvenile delinquent siblings who inadvertently find themselves participating in the local church pageant during the holidays unleash chaos but they might just teach a shocked community the true meaning of Christmas.
2.Heretic
Will Be Released On November 8, 2024
Heretic is a horror thriller of two young missionaries who try to convert Mr. Reed (Hugh Grant). However, the mission takes a sinister turn as Mr. Reed is actually far more dangerous than they could have anticipated. Will their faith help them make it out alive?
3.Small Things Like These
Will Be Released On November 8, 2024
Cillian Murphy is back after his previous movie Oppenheimer which hit the cinemas last year! Let’s take a look at what he has to offer this year.
Bill Furlong (Cillian Murphy), a coal merchant living next to a convent. Furlong ends up discovering the dark secrets and disturbing things that happen inside the convent, leading him to confront the secrets of the Irish town of New Ross.
4.Red One
Will Be Released On November 10, 2024
Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans star in this christmas comedy film where Dwayne Johnson head of security of the North Pole, and Chris Evans the infamous hacker and bounty hunter team up to save Santa Claus who has been kidnapped. Will they save him on time to save Christmas altogether?
5.Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point
Will Be Released On November 15, 2024
A family gathers on Christmas Eve for what could be the last holiday in their ancestral home. As the night wears on and tensions arise, one of the teenagers sneaks out with her friends to claim the wintry suburb for her own.
6.Gladiator II
Will Be Released On November 22, 2024
With rage in Lucius’ heart and the future of the empire at stake, he looks to the past to find the strength and honor needed to return the glory of Rome to its people. Will he succeed? Let’s find out.
7.Wicked
Will Be Released On November 22, 2024
Wicked tells the story of Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), who has been misunderstood due to her green skin her whole life, but she forms a profound friendship with Glinda (Ariana Grande), who longs for popularity. Their relationship soon reaches a crossroad as their lives begin to take very different paths.
8.Moana 2
Will Be Released On November 27, 2024
Moana (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) reunites with the demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson), and along with her crew, they go into the far seas of Oceania to break the curse of the god Nalo on the hidden island of Motufetu.
9.Maria
Will Be Released On November 27, 2024
Maria tells the story of real-life opera singer Maria Callas (played by Angelina Jolie), following the final years of her life.
In Tara Westover’s Educated she unlocks her memories and takes you on a roller coaster of her early life growing up in the Mormon culture.
Tara is the youngest of seven children born to Gene and LaRee Westover. .
At Buck Peak’s somewhere in Idaho, she looks over the princess, a mountain. She wonders what lies ahead past that. The only world she’s ever known off is that built by her family. Where seeking an education would lead them to be infiltrated by societies such as the Illuminati and forget the norms of Mormonism and dress as a tiny harlot while at that.
Funny thing is that Tara was allowed to drive and work at a certain grocery shop. It’s not until her elder brother Tyler, took an interest in wanting to seek an education outside from the little homeschooling that they had been taught by their mother, is when Tara also gained interest.
She recalls of how she would lie at the feet of Tyler in his room, listening to some of his music while he studied. The only texts that Tara had ever read was the Holy Bible and those of John Smith and other Mormon leaders.
Tyler passed his General Education Development (GED) test and went ahead to study at Brighton Young University (BYU) where Tara would equally follow suite years later.
Tara’s mother was the type who always stood by their husband. She was a midwife and also a herbalist. The family alongside with other Mormons did not believe in hospitals or modern medicine. The unveiling of several accidents including two road accidents, which left her mother recovering at the basement for months, Luke’s leg getting burnt and her father being blasted and most of his skin scarred, all these cases were treated at home.
A rift with Tara and her father began when one day her brother Shawn got an accident and instead of bringing him home to mother for treatment, she called an ambulance instead to the hospital.
However, Tara excels in her university education earning her Masters and PhD from Cambridge University.
Finally, she manages to break from the shell of her family. This was after exposing, the physical and emotional abuse that Shawn had subjected her too. Nobody believed aside from her brothers Richard, Tony and Tyler. Everyone else completely cut her off.
It is a story of strength and liberation. Seeking her own self, world, identity outside of the norms of Mormonism. Also a story of loss and grief as she struggled to accept that her own family chose to disown her instead of believe her. But most importantly it is a story of great courage and seeking better for oneself, an education.
A cacophony of transformation, metamorphosis, falsity and betrayal.
This October is packed with a stellar(you’ll only get it if you’ve seen SpyxFamily) lineup of anime releases. Several highly anticipated series and returning favourites are coming back, making the fall season a major event for anime enthusiasts. Here’s what you should be most excited for
1. Re: Zero Season 3
OCTOBER 2
The third season of Re: Zero returns after a long wait, continuing Subaru’s intense journey through alternate realities filled with dangers and hard-won triumphs. The gripping storyline and beloved characters will certainly keep fans hooked.
2. Dragon Ball Daima
OCTOBER 11
The Dragon Ball franchise introduces a new spin with Dragon Ball Daima. While keeping the franchise’s core characters like Goku, Vegeta, and Bulma, the plot focuses on a fresh storyline that involves Goku’s “grand adventure,” filled with new enemies like Gomah and the Masked Majin. With Toriyama heavily involved, this is expected to be a high-energy addition to the Dragon Ball legacy.
3. Blue Lock Season 2
OCTOBER 5
Following its massively successful first season, Blue Lock Season 2 kicks off with more intense soccer action. As Yoichi Isagi and the team face tougher challenges from international players, the stakes are higher than ever. This series is perfect for sports anime lovers, especially those drawn to fierce competition and emotional growth. I hope the trailers are not a foreshadowing.
4. Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War Part 3
OCTOBER 5
The war continues in Bleach, where Ichigo Kurosaki and his allies are thrust deeper into the battle with the Wandenreich. This part of the series, highly anticipated by fans, promises even more action-packed scenes and dramatic plot twists. Let the conflict begin.
5. Tower of God Season 2, Cour 2
OCTOBER 6
Following the success of its first part, Tower of God resumes with its intricate plotlines, testing the limits of Bam and his companions as they continue their climb in the mysterious tower.
6. Danmachi Season 5
OCTOBER 4
The adventures in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon? return, bringing viewers back to the labyrinthine world of Orario. Season 5 promises more adventures, romance, and challenges for Bell and his companions.
7. Uzumaki
SEPTEMBER 28
For fans of horror, Uzumaki, based on Junji Ito’s spine-chilling manga, is finally arriving this fall. Its visually disturbing art and haunting storyline will likely make it one of the top horror anime of the season.
Fall 2024 anime release dates
- Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online II (October 4, 2024)
- Look Back (October 4, 2024) [MOVIE]
- Ranma 1/2 (October 5, 2024)
- Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft (October 10, 2024)
- Gundam: Requiem for Vengeance (October 11, 2024)
- My Hero Academia: You’re Next (October 11, 2024) [MOVIE]
- Attack on Titan The Movie: The Last Attack (November 8, 2024 in Japan) [MOVIE]
- Arcane season 2 (Beginning November 9, 2024)
- Fate/strange Fake (November 2024)
- Beastars season 3 (December 2024)
This season’s lineup offers a broad spectrum of genres, from sports (Blue Lock), action (Dragon Ball Daima), and fantasy (Danmachi), to horror (Uzumaki), showcasing just how packed and exciting October will be for anime fans.
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