The 5th Wave Book and Exploring the Fear of Human Extermination

Reading Time: 4 minutes Summary of Post: This post is a discussion of Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave and its reflection on humanity’s anxiety around the future and the unknown. In particular, I want to talk about Yancey’s focus on the effects of the alien invasion on the characters within the story, especially: Cassie Sulivan, Ben Parrish, and …

Meeting History and Toxic Masculinity in Classic Naguib Mahfouz Novel

Reading Time: 3 minutes Some of you may know that I lived in Egypt in the 90s. I was mostly isolated by my mental illness, but even then, I had noticed the prominence of the Si-Sayed figure. What I didn’t ever expect is that this figure appears in Naguib Mahfouz’s 1956 classic called The Palace …

Reading Sarah J. Maas Books While Maintaining a Critical Approach

Reading Time: 2 minutes Way back in February, I went to the library and grabbed my first Sarah J. Maas book. It was her first published novel, Throne of Glass. My nervousness as a people pleaser was an all-time high. This was the case because Sarah J. Maas has been criticized a lot over the years on …

Intersectionality and The Process of Including Minorities in Narratives

Reading Time: 2 minutes Okay, so I tried writing this post a few times. Lots of deleting took place. Needless to say, it sounds like it’s something I’m genuinely afraid of. Therefore, let’s talk about my journey with understanding intersectionality and the inclusion of minorities to narratives. Introduction to Intersectionality This is a sad …

Discussion: Shame-Based Narratives and Mental Illness

Reading Time: 3 minutes It’s been a while since we have had a discussion. Have a seat. Let’s talk about the shame-based narrative that is prominent in discussions of mental illness. The Assumption Many people assume that if they “find out” about someone’s mental illness, they have the upper hand. I have encountered people …

Vagueness in Including Queer Characters

Reading Time: 2 minutes I posted this discussion regarding queer characters in some popular shows. My point is that there is a certain kind of vagueness in the inclusion of queer characters in shows. I obviously don’t mean to use queer as a derogatory term. As an aro ace person, I identify as queer. …

Disc.: Disability and Representation

Reading Time: 3 minutes Before getting sick, I didn’t think much about disability. I assumed that all disabled people are easy to spot. I also thought they didn’t want attention; they have been disabled all their lives (this is very embarrassing. Keep reading). Oh, the embarrassment of seeing a seizure for the first time …

Disc.: Facebook, Social Media, and Mental Illness

Reading Time: 2 minutes Social media is rarely seen with a concentration on mental illness. It is fascinating to think of it under the mental health lens because of its prevalence. Those not on social media are often seen with judgment and concern. The norm is to be on the Internet. In other words, …

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