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I've never really considered myself a "good" reader. Growing up, reading felt more like a competition than something to enjoy. I struggled with understanding words and sentences, and while others seemed to breeze through books, I felt like I was just trying to keep up. It was frustrating. Watching classmates move ahead, confidently flipping pages and talking about stories they read, made me feel insecure—like I was behind in a race I never wanted to run.

For a long time, I carried that feeling with me. I'd avoid reading when I could because it felt like I wasn't smart enough for it. I saw books as a reminder of something I couldn't quite do right. But over time, something changed. I started watching horror movies and realized I loved the way fear could be built up and the way tension could make my heart race. That same feeling—suspense, unpredictability, that thrill of not knowing what comes next—I found it in horror books too. And books? They go even further. They let me imagine the scenes in more graphic, detailed ways than any movie ever could.

Now, I enjoy reading—especially horror. It's no longer about being good at it. It's about how the story makes me feel, how I can escape into a world that's terrifying but fascinating. Reading isn't a competition anymore. It's personal. It's mine.

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1. Read a book with a lighter or happier theme to step outside of my usual comfort zone of sad or horror stories and experiences more uplifting perspective.

2. Listen to more audiobooks during my downtime—like when I’m relaxing or doing chores—instead of always choosing podcast, to make more room for stories in my daily routine.

3. Expand my range of authors unintentionally picking books from writers I haven’t read before, instead of only sticking to the few I already know and like.

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1. How does the structure affect the reader's experience?

2. Did the book change your perspective on anything?

3. How does the author's writing style contribute to the book's message or theme?

4. What is your favourite passage from a book?

5. Would you recommend this book to someone else? Who would enjoy?

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In part 5 of The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom by Shari Franke, the author effectively crafts a gripping and emotionally charged narrative that brings her story to a powerful conclusion. This section focuses on unravelling her mother, Ruby’s crimes, the emotional aftermath, and Franke’s final steps toward freedom. Through careful structuring, suspense, and raw emotion, Franke creates a compelling ending that leaves readers with closure.

One of the most haunting moments comes from a former roommate telling her, “Shari, I don't know who this man is, but he sounds . . . like a demon” (Franke, 246). This quote refers to Derek: a man who is introduced in the memoir as a former church member but then commits crimes involving stalking and sexual assault toward Franke. Ironically, the description of him as a “demon” can be portrayed to have a deeper meaning as a flashback of Franke’s upbringing. It reflects the evil Franke has faced—not just from Derek, but also from her mother and the religious structures that allowed abuse to persist.

Franke also uses suspense to engage readers, especially in the aftermath of Ruby’s arrest. When Franke prays, “Please God, let the children be okay” (260), the italics emphasize her desperation and lingering indoctrination. Even as the truth about her mother is exposed, she still turns to faith, revealing how deeply Ruby and the LDS Mormon Church conditioned her. This moment highlights the internal conflict she faces—recognizing the abuse while struggling to let go of the beliefs that shaped her.

The book’s sense of closure comes in one of the most striking moments: Ruby’s sentencing. As the court delivers justice, Franke thinks, “Ruby, you did this to yourself” (274). This final acknowledgement of her mother’s guilt is significant. Franke has spent the entire book refusing to call Ruby “Mom”, even when discussing her when she was younger. This is a deliberate choice that reinforces her emotional detachment. By addressing her by name, she asserts her independence and refuses to see Ruby as a mother figure.

The conclusion delivers a powerful message through vivid storytelling, emotional depth, and suspenseful pacing. Franke masterfully connects post-events to their inevitable consequences, showing how abuse, denial, and justice are intertwined. By the end, she achieves a clear sense of closure, not just for the narrative but for herself, finally breaking free from her mother’s control.

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In Bird by Bird, Anne Lamott uses humour and personal stories to make her writing advice feel honest, human, and deeply encouraging. One of the most powerful craft moves she makes is sharing her own messy experiences with writing, which helps readers feel less alone in their struggles. For example, when she talks about her brother panicking over a school project and her father calmly telling him to take it "bird by bird" (Lamott, 19), it becomes a metaphor for writing and handling overwhelming tasks in life. Lamott is also unafraid to be funny and self-deprecating, as she says, "Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts" (25). That line reassures readers that perfection isn't the goal—starting is. These moves make back more than just a writing manual, they make it feel like a conversation with a wise and witty friend who truly gets it. Even with Lamott's humorous jokes, she provides a sense of balance by allowing herself to get emotional with her audience. Lamott does this by providing little scripts of inspirational or emotional poems written, for example, when talking to one of her students, she provides a poem called August in Waterton, Alberta,

"Above me, wind does its best

to blow leaves off

the aspen tree a month too soon

No use wind. All you succeed

in doing is making music, the noise

of failure growing beautiful" (156).

Not only that this poem speak volumes, it also allows the reader to be more involved, as if the reader is in Lamott's writing class.

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"despite knowing

they won't be here for long

they still choose to live

their brightest lives

-sunflowers"

Rupi Kaur’s poem about sunflowers speaks to me on such a deep, emotional level because it reminds me of the kind of resilience I want to carry through life. The lines capture something beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time — the idea that life is short, but we can still choose joy, beauty, and strength anyway. Sometimes, when I think about how fast time moves or how uncertain the future feels — especially during moments of stress or sadness — I find it easy to feel overwhelmed or hopeless. But this poem is a gentle reminder that even in the face of impermanence, I can still bloom. Just like sunflowers, I can stand tall, turn toward the light, and choose to live with brightness and purpose, even when things aren’t perfect or guaranteed.

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I would recommend Healing Through Words by Rupi Kaur to anyone who is on a journey of self-discovery, emotional healing, or simply needs space to feel seen and heard. This book isn't just for young adults navigating identity; powerful for adults navigating identity, trauma, or the weight of expectations, as Kaur's guided writing exercises create a safe and intimate space to explore these emotions. I would also recommend this to people who struggle to express themselves, because the book offers gentle prompts that slowly open the door to vulnerability. Whether someone is healing from heartbreak, loss, cultural displacement, or even everyday stress. Healing Through Words can be a meaningful companion.

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The novel All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven is about a girl named Violet and a boy named Finch. Violet's character deals with survivor's guilt to the point of breaking down, while Finch portrays a character who deals with Bipolar Disorder. In the book, fate brings the two together when both climb the bell tower at school, both planning to jump off the ledge. Portraying mental illnesses is difficult because one has to be educated and portray them accurately. Niven does this by showing alternating periods where Finch has an elevated mood and deep depression periods. This is shown when Finch says, "Labels like bipolar say, this is why you are the way you are. This is who you are. They explain people away as illnesses" (166, Niven). Not only does Finch try to suggest he has Bipolar disorder, but it also shows his discomfort with diagnostic labels.

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Jenny Han uses a nonlinear structure in The Summer I Turned Pretty to create emotional depth and suspense, keeping readers engaged by slowly revealing important memories that shaped "Belly's" summer. The novel offers past and present tense, which not only changes but also emphasizes the intensity of Belly’s long-standing feelings. For example, in a flashback to when she was thirteen, Belly recalls a painful moment with Conrad, “He didn’t look at me the way I wanted him to. Like I was a girl. Like I was someone to notice” (Han, 53). This memory helps readers understand why Belly’s newfound beauty and confidence this summer feel so significant to her. The structure also builds tension by revealing details gradually, such as when Han withholds the full truth about Susannah’s illness until later in the novel. On page 220, Belly admits, “I’d known for a while. About Susannah. But knowing and accepting were two different things (220). By weaving these past moments with the present storyline, Han gives emotional weight to each interaction, especially between Belly and the boys, showing how every summer has built up to this one. The back-and-forth timeline makes the story feel more realistic and layered, compelling readers to piece together the emotional history that drives Belly’s choices.

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Overall, I feel that I met my reading goals during this semester. I was able to stay focused, understand and listen to what I was reading. I reflected on the structure and writing of every book, focusing on the dialogue that is usually missed. It helped me think more critically about how stories are built and how characters express themselves. Through this process, I’ve learned I’m a reader who does best when I connect emotionally with the story. I also realized I like books that have meaning beneath the surface and make me reflect on real-life situations. Moving forward, I want to read more stories that are based on true events or explore real human emotions. I’m also interested in reading more nonfiction books, such as textbooks or memoirs, so I can continue to learn while engaging in storytelling. My next goal as a reader is to find books that are interesting and help me grow emotionally, intellectually, and personally.