Bliss

"Less well known than Orhan Pamuk, Livanelli is another literary exponent of the contradictions of modern day Turkish life. 15 year old Meryem realized early on that God hates her: why else would he make her a sinful woman? Why would he kill her mother at her birth? And more significantly, why would he let her be raped by her fearsome uncle, an ultraconservative Muslim sheikh who dominates her small village? With the family honor now stained, Meryem's cousin Cemal is given an assignment: take the fallen girl to Istanbul and kill her. Cemal and Meryem embark on a journey through a swath of Turkish society: intellectuals, moguls, soldiers, revolutionaries, Islamists. Their eventual encounter with a disillusioned academic will have life changing consequences for all three.<br/><br/>There are weaknesses in this translation, and some of the characters seem to be included merely as types rather than fully developed personalities. Still, an intriguing, lyrical picture of a country's discomfort with starkly disparate cultures and values.<br/><br/>"

"<strong>Escaping the human condition of existentialism</strong><br/><br/>Humans have evolved creating astonishing advancements in our world, yet we can not escape the human condition of existentialism. <br/><br/>Bliss by Oluwole Ifakunle is quite literally the road map to dismantling self limiting beliefs and navigating the ever protective ego that can sometimes do more harm than good. It’s a Time Machine that transports one to the simplistic nature of our childhoods, when shadows and puddles were curious portals of joy. <br/><br/>I have read countless self help books, many of which, only seem to address perception; The control of how we observe our involvement in the world to create an experience, a living memory and understanding. Yet, in reading Bliss there was a sudden realization that the focus of the lens is only a fraction of what sparks our joy. We live in a society that is so wrought on impressions and imprinting that we forget how to live inside ourselves and WITH ourselves. Because when we do this, we exert much less effort into changing our perception of the world, and instead, naturally exude the unyielding contentment that shifts the paradigm our external realities. <br/><br/>Our world is awakening as we traverse the wonderment of the age of Aquarius. This time calls for dismantling outdated ways of thinking and modes of living to better connect with humanity as a collective. Yet, how do we dismantle consumptive intricate systems and rebuild the world outside ourselves for the prosperity of all? We go inward! <br/><br/>The road to Bliss can be enigmatic or it can be simplistic. Herein this wonderful read lies the choice, tools, and road map to accessing the divinity within us ALL known as BLISS."

"Anything by Rick Riordan, the Percy Jackson series for example."