They'll either want to kill you, kiss you, or be you.

This may be a short post, but I realize every time I say that it ends up being fairly long or my average blog post length. Feel free to scratch that.

****Mockingjay Whistle****


Now that all protocols have been observed, with the anthem and  of course District 12 salute. Can you believe it? It's over. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins, why ? No more Panem or Katniss and I cannot believe I am saying this, President Snow!!!

I remember my first encounter with the Hunger Games like it was yesterday. Call it my first dystopian experience. All doom and gloom, mostly gloom then Boom! (Ha! That rhymed) pink wig, shrieky voice, outrageous make up...mhmm Effie Trinket and the haunting words, "May the odds be ever in your favour," don't they just give you chills? And the ever dramatic "I volunteer". That was the movie trailer and the rest of my future.

 I promised myself I would never be a book series reader/lover but I had broken that rule more than once. What? Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events, could you have passed that up? All I can say is rules are meant to be broken and the Hunger Games trilogy was no exception.

But like all good things, in true good things fashion, the Hunger Games lived up to its
expectation of coming to an end.

So, you know how your grandparents had Little Women, Anna Karenina and I can't think of a manly book right about now, okay one just came to me, David Copperfield, not manly enough I know. Then your parents had their dystopia 1984 and the likes of Things Fall Apart, The Man, Cry the Beloved Country, The Beautiful Ones Are Not Yet Born, a lot of African titles, can you guess what continent I live in? I feel more than privileged to say that I had  The Book Thief, The Fault in our Stars and may I just say evolution is the bomb dot com because I also get to say I was there when book series took over, hence the Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games needs no review. I am not worthy to critique Suzanne Collins. Maybe it is a dystopian love affair I have going on but the Hunger Games was an eye opener, Mocking Jay was life  and Catching Fire left me in all sorts of emotion, grief being the most predominant. Let me have my moment here: Finnick, Prim even President Coin and Katniss' decision? (No spoilers. See how I got you,)

The point of this blog post? A memoir and  a gratitude note to Suzanne Collins, Thanks for the memories!!

What is your favorite book series?

P.S. Is this how PotterHeads felt?

TCWT: Use pictures and individual words to show what, to you, is the essence of being a teenager.

Hello Teens Can Write Too! community.It is always a pleasure writing with you and for you so without further adieu, this month's blog chain topic:

Use pictures and individual words to show what, to you, is the essence of being a teenager. 

This topic could not have come at a better time especiallywith how I am about to bid a bitter farewell to teenage-hood in a few weeks time. To me the essence of being a teenager is all the experiences that you will go through/have gone through, which let's face it, words cannot describe but heck, I love a challenge. My individual words and pictures are categorized by ages 13-19, so here goes:  
13
Anticipation 
Disappointment 

Responsibility
Change
Friends
Pimples 
Grades 
Math

14
High school
Fear
Lone 
Excitement
New experiences

Temporary relief
Dread

15
New
Fitting in
Abbreviations(F.O.M.O, Y.O.L.O)
Cool
Weird
Clubs and Societies

16
Sweet
Fun
Achievements
Trends
Grief
Realization
Restrictions
Books(Y.A.)

17
Lasts
Finals(High school)
Goodbyes
Milestones
Dreams
Reality

18
University
New people

Money problems
Music
Social awkwardness
Emojis
Chill

19
Identity
God

Social media
Trying
Wishes 
Acceptance
Opportunities 
Bests
Frustration
Trilogies
Reality T.V
Crushes
Regrets
Thrifting 
Internships
What-ifs
Growing

So this is not accurate but one thing is for sure, being a teenager is no where close. Enjoy your teens while they last because they will be gone just like that(trust me I know). I guess you just have to let go and let God. For now, that's all folks!!
Be sure to check out the other blogs on the chain:

5th – http://vergeofexisting.wordpress.com/

6th – http://irisbloomsblog.wordpress.com/

7th – http://musingsfromnevillesnavel.wordpress.com/

8th – http://freeasagirlwithwings.wordpress.com/

9th – http://clockworkdesires.wordpress.com/

10th – http://www.pamelanicolewrites.com/

11th – http://randommorbidinsanity.blogspot.com/

12th – http://www.kirabudge.weebly.com/my-blog

13th – http://semilegacy.blogspot.com/

14th – http://oliviarivers.wordpress.com/

15th – http://miriamjoywrites.com/

16th – http://unikkelyfe.wordpress.com/

17th – http://maralaurey.wordpress.com/

18th – http://quirkyteenwriter.wordpress.com/

19th – http://butterfliesoftheimagination.wordpress.com/

20th – http://www.juliathewritergirl.com/

21st – http://whileishouldbedoingprecal.weebly.com/

22nd – http://paperdaydreams.com/

23rd – http://theedfiles.blogspot.com/

Surviving College: #WalkingNineToFive

Yes people, you read that right, walking nine to five. Of course you'll probably also be working nine to five, okay, I lie probably more hours than that, but nevertheless, you still have to be comfortable especially in the feet department. I can guarantee you will be walking everywhere because that bus fare is not as cheap as you initially thought.

At this point, I think this would be the right time to tell you that fashion and style go out the window, not completely though, while comfort, versatility and durability come into play. You're probably going to have to say bye to your ballet flats because honey, these Nairobi Streets will have no mercy on them. And heels, well, I suggest you change into them once you reach your destination. That's fair enough,right?

So onto my choice of shoes for your comfort:

1. These shoes are no doubt the most comfortable and durable, but best of all, they do not cost you an arm or a leg or both. These shoes go with all informal pants i.e jeans, khaki, chinoes you name it. Seen here. These shoes retail between 300/- and 500/-. Yet another plus is they do not have shoe laces and are very similar to TOMS, which could be the best shoes ever invented.

  And to keep my promise of fashion and style not going entirely out of the window, I am going to give you a minute to see how Shameless Maya styles them here and how Sharon Mundia of thisisEss styles yet another pair of shoes also as comfy here You see how I got you.

2. These next shoes I practically live in. Yet again they are cheap(within the same price range as the one's above), comfy and durable. The closest image I could find was the one below. Of course, these are a different brand and price but you get the visual idea.

(Both are available in Bata stores.)

If you are not into all these pocket friendly shoes, I still got you. In fact, the shoe world is your oyster. Let me refer you to my wishlist:
These are available in Bata and retail for Ksh.1,799.

There are a lot more shoes of course from Vans to North Stars to adorable thrift finds. The choice is yours, and your pocket's of course.

The only down side to these shoes is when the rainy season strikes you would be safer opting for boots, let me just emphasize, water proof boots.
My all time fave, riding boots:

Make the right shoe choice people no matter how good that pair of heels is looking. Happy and comfy walking guys!!

Book Review: #It'sKindOfAFunnyStory Ned Vizzini

She's alive...I know, I know its been one awfully long minute but don't blame me, blame the person who invented education. Okay maybe not? But I think any loyal reader deserves an explanation...one word WORK. I have been neck deep in assignments, group work, tonnes of reading the list could go on and on, so let me stop myself and book review!!

Well, It's Kind Of A Funny Story is kind of a funny story. What? It is.

Let me give you the rap. Craig Gilner, a boy in his early teens, fifteen to be exact who happens to be depressed. His depression takes a turn for the worst when he becomes suicidal. He ends up checking himself into a psych ward in a bid to become better. We follow Craig on his remarkable journey during his five day stay in the hospital.

I cannot begin to explain how accurate this book is, especially when you begin to see the teenage decisions Craig is faced with. The teenage years, still the worst. Take for instance Craig who literally studies his middle school life away yet his best friend hardly lifts a finger and, they both get in. Relatable, no? Come on we all know that one person who works on an application an hour befre the deadline, sails through and then there's you, the unfortunate soul who slaved away for days, no weeks, no months to possibly get in.

Then the lame notion that the grass is always greener on the other side. Ha! Such a lie. Ned Vizzini could not have been more spot on capturing this aspect. Craig who was under the illusion that the school of his dreams was going to be all that and a bag of chips, turns out is what got him into the psych ward in the first place! Yup, the grass you are currently on all yellow and smelly, dead, dry and wilted isn't actually that bad.

The accuracy was one thing but the different perspective that Ned let's you see mental patients from is another. This line sums it all up,

"PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS CONTRIBUTE TO OUR WORLD..."

So, the book does live up to its title, you know, being kind of funny and all. Craig, despite being on the verge of suicide, his thoughts send you on a bout of stifled laughter. His diagnosis after he checks himself in is "suicidal ideation". Let me just tell you he is not the only one who thinks that that would make a rad' band name. Kind of funny huh?

This book couldn't be more versatile. It's for the confused new teen just as much as it is for the curious tween. Are you in a mid life crisis? This is possibly the book for you. Are you a parent to a teenager? This book somewhat helps you to understand the teenage mind, but let's face it you'll never fully understand it.

Of  course, I didn't like everything about it especially the steamy scene at the end but other than that everything was great especially the characters Muqtada, Solomon and of course how could I forget Noelle and all the other incredible characters?

A book dealing with mental illness of course is not all rainbows and cherubs but once in a while a reality check is in order.

P.S Ned Vizzini, the author, did spend five days in a psych ward and look what came of it, a bestseller!

Songs on replay while I was reading this book:

Foster The People- Coming of age

Sam Smith- Restart

Feel free to comment with anything #It'sKindOfAFunnyStory and tell me since this book has a motion picture to it, do you think the book was kept in the movie or was the movie better?

Happy reading y'all!!