Timely Social Issues Discussed in Books

Books are known to bring you the best of both worlds. With only paper and ink, they can form a story that can move mountains and urged many to make a difference. Beyond the substantial and amazing tales, they also have the power to educate and inform people about the good, the bad, and the ugly in the society. What most individuals don’t know is that books often take inspiration on the real world regardless of their fictional characteristics. There are many authors that inject different social issues in their works with the hopes of making the public aware from these things.

Social issues refer to the problem that impact the community and the populace. These present-day concerns have the power to increase the burden of everyone that lives within a society. As a result, these unfortunate individuals either strive to follow the right path or gave in to the temptation of becoming astray. With this wide array of issues that are already beyond the control of everyone due to different factors, many were affected and have taken their impact either positively or negatively.

There are many mediums that people have come up in the attempt to spread awareness and invoke initiative to slowly eliminate these problems. Authors are among the proactive people that try to eradicate these problems gradually through their remarkable tales. That said, here are among the most common social problems highlighted in books that you should know.

Poverty

This refers to the state wherein an individual or a community fall short of the finances and other resources that are essential for the basic living standards. Poverty also pertains to a person or a group who receives little to no income, which cannot provide the primary needs of humans — such as shelter, food, clothing, and water. The Face of Hunger: Reflections on a Famine in Ethiopia by Dr. Byron Conner is a great example of a book that discusses poverty along with famine in Ethiopia.

Bullying

Bullying pertains to the repeated utilization of force, threats, harassments, aggression, and other similar aspects with the purpose of dominating or scaring others. One significant requirement is the views of either the bully or others of the inequality of physical or social authority. This disparity identifies bullying from conflict. There are many books that tackle this issue, such as The Ladybug children’s book by Caroleann Rice or rather The Ladybug and the Bully Frog.

Discrimination

According to Britannica, discrimination is the social issue that shows the distinctive treatment of individuals or groups due to specific generalized characteristics, such as color, religion, gender orientation, and more. Racism is the term referring to the discrimination of race. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a YA fiction book that greatly captures what racisms is. Another remarkable book that shows a progress when it comes to gender inequality is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott, where it gave female readers more choices other than marriage.

Substance Abuse

Substance abuse doesn’t only pertain to drugs but also to alcohol, tobacco, and more. It commonly describes the pattern of dangerous utilization of any substances that are intoxicating and psychedelic purposes. The abuse can happened when the individual is in taking the substances in a manner that is inappropriate and unsuitable. Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker talks about the story of the author how she turned her life around after being addicted to alcohol.

Domestic Violence

You may have known someone who was beaten in their homes or have read in Big Little Lies by Liane Morriarty or other books, which is categorized as domestic violence. This social problem is defined as the abuse or violence done in a household. The most common scenario is a married or co-habiting couple physically fighting leading to one being badly hurt. This can also be in the form of marital rape, assault, and more.  

Imagine living in a society full of faults and imperfections but having no idea that they exist. That would be horrible. Luckily, books are here to educate and remind everyone about the impact of these issues and the ways to gradually help the society become a better place.

Do’s and Don’ts of Writing a Book

You have this intense drive and motivation to write a book. However, you are not sure what steps to take and what actions to avoid. Writing a book is daunting because there are a lot of things to consider in crafting an amazing one. Also, there are many factors that you should look out for before you can produce a publishing-worthy manuscript — the one that captures the attention of both publishers and readers. With the current number of books that are competing in the market today, taking the leap and risking it all to be the next best-selling author is definitely hard. You should be able to survive the competition and have what it takes to be on top of the list.

Apart from that, there are also different genres that you must consider before writing one, which are prose, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Examples of each genre are 1984 by George Orwell for prose, Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur for poetry, Jasmine: A Better Love by Monique Boyd for fiction, and Sabbath Economics: A Spiritual Guide Linking Love with Money by Judith Wright Favor for nonfiction.

However, if you are determined to write the next remarkable book that can touch the lives of many, the here are the points that you must take note of and you should avoid.

Do’s

Brainstorm for the basics

Take some time to brainstorm for some ideas and concepts that can surely elevate the beauty of the story that you are about to write. This activity enables you to think extensively. Hence, you can think of different options that you can incorporate on every aspect of the story, such as setting, plot, characters, point-of-view, theme, and more. Afterward, you can create an outline base on the results of your brainstorming.

Research the important details

Conducting a research before you start writing is the best thing to do. Regardless of what genre your tale belongs, you should study and collect factual and reliable details. It cannot be avoided that there are aspects of your book that needs correct descriptions in order to help the readers imagine the exact place or event that you want to show them. This also strengthens the quality of your book because readers can identify how the incorporated details are related or close to the real world.

Pay attention to plot holes

Plot holes can throw your story off. Imagine putting all the hard work in writing the manuscript but ending up losing the interest of the readers due to unnoticed plot holes. To prevent that to happen, you should scan your work after finishing each chapter or the whole story. You may hire an advanced reader to give you some feedback on what parts of the plot that is lacking and uninteresting. Also, you can hire a professional editor to enhance the overall quality of your work.  

Don’ts

Rush to end the story

There are times that you become demotivated in finishing the book that even a paragraph becomes difficult to finish. There are also moments that you feel so much inspiration that you are unintentionally enhancing your pace and almost ending the story. If either of these happens, please take a quick breather in order to regain the pace that you normally have. Rushing to end the book is not a good thing because there will aspects that you might miss out leading to a dull and so-so story. This will affect the impact that your book might leave to your readers.

Switch the point of view all of the sudden

The POV is important. This is the element that helps the readers navigate and witness the story through the eyes of the character, narrator, or etc. They can also see get a glimpse on the emotions, thoughts, and experiences of the characters. You, as the author, are the only one who has the power to choose what point of view to use. What you need to avoid is the sudden switching of point of views without proper indication whose POV is already being used in the chapters. Although there are stories that uses different eyes of the characters, such as Eleanor & Park, they still did a great job on the switching part because there are enough details and indication that didn’t confuse the readers.

What Seniors Should Know about the Covid-19 Vaccine

After several months of thorough research and studies, the science community finally developed vaccines to help everyone protect themselves from Covid-19. In the middle of these tough times where many lives have been lost, and many individuals are still fighting for their lives, vaccines turned as the ray of hope.

Vaccination is an easy, effective, and secure method of safeguarding everyone against dangerous diseases. According to the World Health Organization, vaccines lessen the hazards of contracting a disease by working with your body’s immunity. The moment that you get the shot, your immune system gradually creates a response to it. Moreover, when they get injected into your body, it does the following: notices the foreign bodies, like viruses and bacteria; creates antibodies to fight them; and remembers the disease and how to defeat it. 

Covid-19 had been igniting fear to many ever since its outbreak last year. Its ability to spread and infect others quickly increased the fear that has been lingering in people’s lives. Furthermore, kids below 15 years old and people over 50 years old are more vulnerable to the virus, added to society’s tension. According to the Oxford Academic, individuals having underlying medical conditions have higher chances to contract the disease. 

In America, many elderly are residing at nursing homes or taken care of by caregivers in their homes. For the latter, their caregivers must do their best to sanitize their home, follow health protocols, and execute proper hygiene. It is one of the requirements of a caregiver to put the safety and comfort of the elderly first before themselves. In the book One Caregiver’s Journey, Eleanor Gaccetta’s prerequisite to becoming a caregiver was ideally tackled and spotlighted; and, this might help caregivers understand the nature of their jobs.

With the current situation, many may have second thoughts about whether or not to get vaccinated. The older people might have a lot of questions regarding the efficiency and side effects of the shots. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of severe diseases that are the product of Covid-19 is directly proportional to a person’s age. That is why seniors are among the most important people who should be vaccinated as early as possible, not only to eliminate the risk of getting infected and suffer from the virus but also to prevent infecting others. 

From the second week of December 2020 to the first week of April 2021, there are already more than 160 million doses of vaccines that were administered in the U.S.A. in the hopes of making people immune from the virus. Studies have shown that the vaccines are safe and are working based on how the researchers designed them to be, which is to prevent the effects of Covid-19. Since there are different vaccine brands, the seniors may ask help from their caregivers to investigate and compare each available vaccine. They can also talk to their regular physician for advice on whether they should immediately get a shot or which brand they should get. However, once a person secures an appointment to be vaccinated they will receive the vaccine on hand by that provider. Currently, Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson and Johnson are the only vaccines approved in the US.

Seniors, moreover, should know that different side effects commonly show after receiving their first to second shot of vaccine. These side effects include arm pain, nausea, chills, headache, swelling, fatigue, and more. Since every person’s body is different, some will experience a short-term effect after getting their shots, while others may go through a long-term effect afterward. However, the latter rarely happens based on the feedback given by those who got their shots.

Therefore, in this fight with the virus, everyone must also do their part. Cooperating with the medical community and protecting themselves from Covid-19 are two of the essential things seniors can do to protect themselves at this time. Seniors, vulnerable as they are, should get vaccinated to prevent the risk of contracting the virus, experience some complications, and avoid infecting others. With the different feedback emerging from those who just got vaccinated, those who are having second thoughts should look closely and weigh things out. It is not only that their lives that can be at stake if they don’t get the prevention developed to fight Covid-19 but also the lives of the people around them. But, the decision is all in their hands.

7 Reasons Why You Should Love Fantasy Novels

On the surface, you may think it’s all about dungeons and dragons. When, in fact, it is much more complicated than that. If you’re a reader of the fantasy genre you might know what I’m probably talking about. You can’t get enough of how the story unfolds, how the character suffers and thrives within each conquest, and how the story can take you to a completely different world. It’s mesmerizing, it’s inspiring, and it’s fantasy!

However, if you’re new to the concept of the world of fantasy. That’s just one of the many reasons why you should start reading fantasy novels. The Shadow of the Staff: A Wizard’s Revenge by M.A. Haddad is a great place to start if you’re new to fantasy books. This is the first novel in a series based on a story of magic, grandiose adventure, eons-old lineages, and self-discovery. This book would undoubtedly entice you to read more and pique your interest in reading even further. Here are only a few of the many reasons why fantasy literature is so popular:

It’s unique

The fantasy genre has always been a diverse literary piece that has captivated it’s readers.  And we’re not talking about the traditional tropes like elves, dwarves, wizards, or dragons here! We’re talking about broader elements– general concepts where the story can be creative and innovative as the author wants.  With fantasy, it’s always something different, something extraordinary, and something more than we can possibly imagine. And fantasy authors like M.A Haddad always have a way of putting everything together, including genres with romance, sorcery, magic and etc.

They’re extraordinary ability to handcraft stories of characters and settings is incredible that we can’t help but ask for more.

It has contrasting characters

In fantasy fiction, or in any other genre, it’s the character that often gets readers invested in the story. Over the years, the fantasy genre has created some of the most memorable characters (e.g., sorcerers, witches, war-beasts, and etc.) each one charming and dynamic enough to make you fall in love with. Fantasy characters that can accomplish great feats are impossible in the real world, but only improbable in their own.

I’m sure while reading this you probably thought of your favorite character just now. And he or she may be of a different race or species, have different height and weight, and may appear to be eye-candy in your imagination. Nothing is impossible in the fantasy world, and diversity is what makes it so unique.

It has an exceptional character background

What makes a good story is the character’s back story. Whether it may be the protagonist, antagonist, or the auxiliary character’s back story, a three dimensional character with depth, personality, and clear motivation (e.g., such as ambition or dream) is essential in every story. This may sound like a cliché back story, but most fantasy characters start with the most surprising encounters. Like finding a mystical sword in the forest, a hidden family secret where they could use magic, or finding out that he was actually the illegitimate son of a royal. You don’t want to admit it, but you know we like these kinds of back stories.

It has a well-developed setting

The fantasy genre’s realms are unambiguous in nature. Fantasy realms defy the laws of physics while retaining some resemblance to the real world. Any inconsistency in the laws that rule the world has a compelling rationale. This explains the changes in terms that the human mind can comprehend. By design, this makes the fantasy genre the sole owner of this unique world building. The level of detail and complexity used to construct the fictional universe is unrivaled. Everything from language to social traditions to history and mythology is explored to create the author’s fantasy world.

And who in their right mind wouldn’t want to read something out of the ordinary.

It has one of the most amazing character developments

A novel is composed primarily of the character’s interactions with events over a period of time. Character and plot are strongly intertwined since a person is defined by their experiences. In fantasy novels, there is always that unexpected journey for the hero where he battles evil. Shortly after he has accomplished his conquest, he will come home a different person. And these kinds of stories help us reflect on how we should battle our own demons, and win the fight!

A central conflict

Whether it may be a fairytale or a series of novels, conflict is essential in creating a good story. No matter how small or large the conflict may be. And, M.A Haddad’s The Shadow of the Staff fits the bill— pillaging, war, mystery, magic and monsters are some of the factors that sparks conflict.

An unexpected plot twist

Is there anything more satisfying than a great plot twist? Twists, turns, major surprises, and unexpected endings that keep you up all night, astonished by the events that begin with plot twists like how the hero’s father was actually the villain. With fantasy, this kind of plot twists is commonly used in the adventure, and magic story.

If you love fantasy, the story’s plot twists are virtually endless. It may be a cliche, but it also has some of the aspects of a great story; even if it’s just a brief revelation, it may have a greater impact on the readers. And who wouldn’t want to be part of that. If you look closely, the fantasy genre is very insightful. Despite its diversity, you’ll find that everybody has more influence on their lives than those who don’t. Regardless of the genre, nonfiction or fiction, you can always count on them to entertain you while also providing you with valuable information and knowledge on a variety of subjects.

So don’t wait, and be sure to give the fantasy genre a shot; you’ll be hooked.

The Best Traits of Horror Fiction

You probably might think that horror only exist in TV shows and films. But, you should know that there are also thousands of horror fiction books written by brilliant authors that are meant to frighten and excite the readers. Some of the shows and movies that you see on the screen are, in fact, adapted from horror books. So, what could be the best definition of horror fiction? Horror fiction is a rich genre of literature that is known for its ability to scare and repulse the readers through its thrilling story.

Carrie by Stephen King, World War Z by Max Brooks, The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris, The Missing Medium by Joab Stieglitz, and Coraline by Neil Gaiman are some of the best examples of horror fiction. Moreover, there are many outstanding elements that these books have, which became the reason why many readers tend to patronize them. These aspects include the following.

They have an amazing set of characters

You might see this as a common factor in stories that are beyond the horror fiction genre, but great set of characters is the key to a well-driven tale. The tension and conflict of the story are being dealt with them; hence, they are definitely essential in every story. Horror fiction showcases a great bunch of characters that aims to connect with the readers by living up to the expectations, showing their traits, and accomplishing their motives. That is why this genre showcases many characters with cool backstories, different perspectives in life, good characteristics, and other realistic traits. The closer they are to reality the more they can elevate the quality of the story and impact the readers; and, that is what horror fiction has been doing all along.

They utilize the core elements of tragedy well

There are many horror stories that focus the spotlight to tragedies and other unfortunate events. The mishaps alone can increase the thrill and magnet the attention of the readers, how much more taking advantage of that event? Horror fiction has been utilizing the center aspects of tragedy for a while now, where some parts of it have already become tropes or clichés. But, these core elements contribute to the story by increasing tension, developing characters, captivating readers, inflicting lessons, and improving the uncanny events. This awesome trait of the story reminds everyone that flaws and mistakes can turn into a great lesson.

They connect into the usual human fears

People have different fears. The common aspects that most individuals are afraid of are heights, spiders, darkness, dogs, holes, narrow spaces, oceans, and more. With these factors, horror fiction found a way to utilize and incorporate them to give readers thrilling and exciting stories. Even the fear of the unknown can craft a good horror story. The way writers tapped into these phobias are exceptional, because they made the fictional story closer to reality resulting into a better reading experience and impact. These

They evoke different kinds of intense emotions

Horror typically generates different feelings, such as shock and disgust. But, it doesn’t only focus on extracting intense fear but also abhorrence and astonishment. The different literary devices used by stories, such as foreshadowing, suspense, allegory, and more. Combining these devices with the other elements of the story, they can successfully evoke a lot of intense emotions from the readers. The more they dive into the story, the deeper the connection becomes. Readers will crave for more events that can alleviate their feelings and thirst for the resolution of the conflict. Nothing could definitely top the feeling of reading a story and experiencing fear, surprise, excitement, and thrill all at once while on the way to turn each page.

Horror fiction is indeed a one-of-a-kind genre. Its aspects and traits justify its popularity. Readers who are fond of reading horror stories and even those that aren’t surely have a place in their book shelves for horror books. The characteristics of horror fiction works are enough reason why people should check them out. Aside from the, every story brings not just the peculiar and strong feelings but also the fun and learning that are essential products of reading.

Literature 101: Young Adult Fiction

If you are a solid bookworm, then you might already be familiar of the young adult fiction genre. It is often called YA or YA fiction, which houses books intended for readers’ ages 12 to 18 years old. But, that doesn’t mean that readers beyond the genre’s set target are not allowed to read YA books — in fact, many adults are fond of works from this genre and are constantly waiting for new releases.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Looking for Alaska by John Green, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven, The Other Side of Love by Attilio Guardo, and Playing Hurt by Nardella are some of the promising YA fiction books .

Additionally, the typical themes and subgenres of YA fiction correspond with the age and experience of the main character. The stories typically center on different essential themes, such as struggles of the youth, first love, heartbreaks, identity, and more.

Common Characteristics of YA Fiction

  • The most basic trait of YA fiction is a teenage main character that is commonly in high school, which is really related to the age bracket of its target readers. However, there are still a bunch of exceptions to this rule where the main character is already a university-aged, which means that he or she is already a college freshman.
  • The issues faced by the main characters should be relevant to their age and capabilities, such as coming of age and self-discovery. However, focusing on the issues about growing up shouldn’t be the main conflict of the story. There should be a more vivid and stronger central obstacle to set the mood, increase the engagement, develop the characters, and move the plot.
  • Young Adult fiction novels are usually told using the first-person point of view; but, that doesn’t mean that authors aren’t allowed to use other POVs. The first-person POV enables readers to connect with the characters and somehow experience the events in the story through their eyes easily.

Tropes of YA Fiction

The tropes used in YA fiction can either make or break the story. Some say that these tropes are the genre’s largest flaw; but, if you come to think of it, they can become the greatest strength of the book if the author used them in a uniquely beautiful way.

Love Triangle

It is the most isolating yet popular trope. Contemporary YA novels usually feature a love triangle. There is at least one main love interest and a secondary love interest; both are competing to win the heart of the protagonist.

A great example is the love triangle found on Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. Readers seem to predict the where the friendship of Katniss and Gale is going, which could be towards a blossoming love story. But, the author surprised the readers after Katniss found love on one of the tributes named Peeta Mellark. The protagonist didn’t openly show her interest on Peeta romantically during the games, but it was manifested as a survival tactic on a dangerous quest instead. However, Katniss’ focus wasn’t in love but on the game. Thus, the love triangle instantly becomes a literary device to build tension and help move the story forward instead of becoming the main problem.

Being Different from Others

Conforming to the norm is one of the most common tropes in YA fiction. Characters that are high school students tend to portray the predator-prey relationship. They often go in groups, fight for popularity, and try so hard to fit in. But, there will always be that character that outshines the others because of his or her looks or traits — which is usually portrayed by the protagonist.

This “different” character is not your typical high school student who wants to become a cheerleader or have the most famous group in school. But, it is someone who is plain and simple yet still found a way to climb up the ladder by staying true to his or herself.

A great example is Lara Jean Covey from To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. At first, there wasn’t something special in her. She just loves to bake cookies, write letters, and spend time with her family until everything starts to twist and turn. She started to date the most popular boy in the campus, reconnect with old friends, and get known by others while still being the same old Lara Jean.

Perks of Reading Historical Fiction Books

History and literature are two of the most significant things in life. The former is the account of the past events that happened in the lives of people while the latter is the way of life. When blended together, each of their remarkable aspects complements each other forming a wonderful whole. Thus, a literary genre called historical fiction that houses a wide array of stories with elements that are either real or imaginary.

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel, Scourged Souls by Keith Niles Corman, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, and Code Name Verity by Elizabeth E. Wein are some of the best historical fiction books of all-time. Reading books of this genre has a lot of perks, such as the following:

Allows you to understand the past events

There are many events in the past that are deemed to be incomprehensible, especially for those born in the later generation. Writers of historical fiction pick a particular happening in the history and infuse it with fictional ingredients. It depends on the writer on what part of the story will he inject the factual information; but, it was always the setting that is being commonly used. Reading books of this genre allows you to get to know the events that took place on that particular time with a more entertaining reading experience because it is mixed with imaginary details. Thus, you will come to know what happened during the Civil war, how countries were colonized, and more.

Develops your empathy

Empathy is the ability to put your feet on someone else’s shoes. Although those people who experienced the cruelty and harshness of life on a particular time in the past, reading books that feature them can still make you feel empathic. Hence, the books of historical fiction doesn’t only inform us about the events in the history but make us feel the emotions and experiences instead. They help us develop our empathy for the experiences of various people in diverse moments in history in a certain method that is different from our personal and political views.

Helps you see the root of today’s problems

There are many problems today that are product of the unsolved issues of the past. What sets everything apart is the fact that the society of today is more relaxed than it was before. But, there are still many societal problems that are still not given the correct solution or haven’t been eradicated. These problems may include racism, sexism, poverty, abuse of power, classicism, and more. The elements of fiction give the book more freedom to express and educate the readers. As a result, there are many books that show people the root of many problems by delivering facts with a hint of fiction.

Brings you to the past while you’re at the present

Books are great means of transportation. There are many extraordinarily beautiful places and times that they can bring you. While you are reading, you will be transported into a particular place and moment in history where you can bear witness on the events that took place on that setting. You will find yourself on living the life of the characters and overcoming his obstacles during the time where the Nazis rule or when the society has looked down on your because of your skin color. This is where you can use empathy and sympathy, as well as form great realizations that you can apply to the present.

Makes you see life in different angles

Life is a big mystery that many try to crack. When you look at it from one fixed angle from the moment that you learn to stand on your own feet until the time that you can no longer stand due to old age, you will miss half of your life. But, historical fiction — and even books in general, will shift your perspective and make you see the world from a better and clearer angle. You will come to know how the events of the past have formed society in the present. The more you read, the more you come to know why life has turned the other way around and how the world is coping up with its ups and downs.

Covid-19 Updates in Ethiopia

The advancements made to fight Covid-19 have been so great that the world is already in its process to get everyone vaccinated. From no known protection against the virus to different brands of vaccines developed to help everyone fight the virus, it has truly been great progress even if it took how many months to develop. However, that doesn’t mean that the pandemic has been fought off already. Many countries still have a lot of Covid-19 cases, such as Ethiopia.

According to World Health Organization, Ethiopia has collective total cases of 178, 108 with 2,573 fatalities. As of March 16, 2021, the reported cases were 1, 490. With the amount of lives that are at risk due to the pandemic, there is really a need to follow the health protocols imposed by the government to be safe and prevent community transmission. The highly contagious nature of Covid-19 is responsible for the tighter and more dangerous response in Ethiopia.

The socio-economic conditions in Ethiopia have been greatly affected by the pandemic. Its economy is currently dealing with drastic challenges after Covid-19 lessens its mobility and progress. Knowing that the country has faced multiple problems before, such as famine and hunger that was written in Dr. Byron Conner’s The Face of Hunger: Reflections on a Famine in Ethiopia, restoring the economy might become a little too hard.  

Different aspects of the economy have been impacted, including tourism, exporting and importing goods, hotel accommodation services, and remittances to Ethiopia. As of the present, the country has been going through the decline of remittances, which largely affected household consumption, hugely hindered economic growth, and significantly heightened debt risks. There inflation rate and the unemployment rate have also increased since the pandemic hit the country; hence, the business and tourism sectors have been directly lowered too. Although the government has imposed a wide array of health policies, travel protocols, and other necessary measures to contain the virus, there are still a lot of deficiencies due to the following factors: poor health system; weak nutritional conditions; insufficient hygiene and sanitation access; and highly populated cities.

In the early outbreak of Covid-19 in Ethiopia, travel bans were imposed. No foreigners can come and go in order to secure the health of the citizens. Knowing that it is home to different amazing spots, the tourism branch of the country has been greatly affected. Nobody can enjoy the beautiful Danakil Depression, Babile Elephant Sanctuary, The Omo Valley, Simien Mountains, and more. But as the country gradually adjusted to the situation and everyone already knew about the nature of the disease, the tourism sector slowly opened its arms for travelers but with new health protocols enforced.

Since the tourism sector plays a significant role in the economy, the Ethiopian government released the requirements and measures for travelers in order to somehow revive the economy of the country. Allowing travelers to enter the country is one of the riskiest steps, especially now that there are already different Covid-19 variants like B.1.1.7, 501.V2, and more; hence, travel policies are important. Each traveler, foreigners and Ethiopian returnees, ages 11 years old and above from different countries need to present a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test result that was taken not less and more than 120 hours before arrival to Ethiopia.

Travelers arriving at the international airports with positive RT-PCR results cannot enter the country. When it comes to transit passengers, they are prohibited to go beyond the bounds of the airport as well as step into the city. People who wish to enter Ethiopia via land border, they need to present the same RT-PCR test results and documents and will be required to self-quarantine for a week.

Now that the pandemic is still taking place, everyone should not put their guard down and remain vigilant. Base on the report provided by the African Press Organization last Wednesday, from the 7,338 laboratory tests received — there were 591 severe Covid-19 cases. 1,490 of those cases were freshly recorded. There were also 660 recoveries and 18 fatalities. With that being said, always be cautious and follow the imposed health policies so that you wouldn’t be one of the 1,490. Keep safe and be healthy.

Amazing Fantasy Books for Your Spring Reading List

Fantasy is one of the creams of the crop of fiction. Most stories in this category showcase magic and supernatural aspects, which clearly don’t exist in reality. Even though some authors utilize the real-world factors and fantastical features side by side, many have formed completely fictional worlds with their own rules and logic. These imaginary realms that are product of the authors’ creative minds also have their own extraordinary people, race, and such. Readers from all ages have been really fond of fantasy books.

Apart from the magic, fairy tale, and supernatural features of these books, the way they convey the real-life issues — such as love, self-discovery, bravery, societal problems, and more, is really remarkable. C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis Carroll, Susanna Clarke, and Rick Riordan are some of the notable fantasy authors of all-time.

If you are looking for brand-new titles to add to your shelf this spring, then you are on the right page! Listed below are the best fantasy books that you should check out.

The Shadow of the Staff: A Wizard’s Revenge by M.A. Haddad

This remarkable book by M.A. Haddad was published in 2020 by Readersmagnet. The Shadow of the Staff: A Wizard’s Revenge is the first book of Haddad’s fantasy-adventure series. It centers on the journey and adventures of the people that lives in the place called Hatu. The continent is filled with different magical creatures, such as elves, trolls, orcs, wizards, and more. With the diverse beings inhabiting Hatu, it cannot be helped that conflict will form. A brand-new power has emerged to again put Hatu at risk; thus, the Dwarves, Men, and Elves have set their differences aside to face the vengeful Orcs and Trolls. Master Burton Brew, the last of the Brew line, was requested to pass on the message from the Mindeloria to the Dwarf community of Doubblegate. Will Burton carry out the challenge and use his powers for good? Find out.

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

Critically-acclaimed authors Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett penned Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch, a fantasy fiction that was published in 2006. The book centers on the prophecy by The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch that the end-of-the-world will happen on a Saturday. That particular doomsday is near; thus, both Good and Evil troops are assembling, Atlantis is emerging, frogs are dropping, and tempers are blazing. Every event in the world seems to be leading to the prophecy. However, the kind of finicky angel and a pleasure-seeking monster are really not keen on the idea of the incoming Rapture.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

You are probably familiar on this book for it was already adapted into film. Eragon is the first book of The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. The book centers on the tale of Eragon, a farm boy who discovered a peculiar stone in the mountain. The mysterious thing that he discovered turned out to be a dragon egg and not a stone. The egg was hatched and he named the dragon “Saphira.” However, the evil ruler of came to know about the dragon’s egg; thus, he sent his troops to obtain it. Eragon and Saphira, along with a storyteller named Brom, started to escape their hometown so that the evil servants won’t reach and harm them.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl is a young-adult fantasy novel by Eoin Colfer. It was published in 2001 by the Viking Press. The cover artist of the book is Goni Montes. It is the first book of the Artemis Fowl series that opens the adventures of the protagonist that has the same name as the title. He is a 12-year-old lawbreaker mastermind who abducted a fairy named Holly Short for a huge amount of gold for ransom. The point-of-view used was the third person; hence, the unknown narrator of the book changes from human to fairy characters to show the central messages of conflict and greed. The book was adapted into a film with the same title as the book and was released last year on Disney+. After Artemis Fowl, there were more than 10 books that followed to continue the adventures of the protagonist.

Why Murder Mystery Books Never Go Out of Style

As a bookworm, you may already have heard of murder-mystery. It is a popular genre that showcases stories about criminal activities that are being solved by notable detectives with great twists. There are many reasons why many bookworms never miss reading murder mystery books; but, one thing is for sure, they make every reader hooked with their interesting storylines. The murder mystery books by Greg Van Arsdale are some of the best contemporary novels of this genre. The books are well-mixed with the elements of a murder mystery that stir excitement and anticipation from the readers.

The murder mystery has been conquering the literary work for the longest time. Even in the 21st century, this genre has never gone out of style. What could the possible reasons behind it? Here are the reasons why.

They have interesting storylines     

A storyline contains the order of events in a story. Most murder mystery books are being read by readers from generation to generation mainly because of their plots. They have engaging and interesting sequences of events that let the readers get to know more about the setting, characters, conflict, and other necessary elements of a story. Novels under this genre don’t always follow the conventional plot, which made it more interesting to the murder mystery fans.

They showcase well-developed characters

Good character development is among the most essential parts of a feature of a story. In murder mystery books, growth in characters is definitely necessary. Without character development, mysteries wouldn’t be solved, plots wouldn’t be engaging, and themes wouldn’t be impactful. Readers will lose their interest in reading these types of books. Luckily, murder mystery authors never fail to give the growth that the characters deserve. That is why most of their stories always create a mark on the lives of their readers and motivate them to read more. The more development is given to the characters, the more the readers tend to relate to them — making every bit of the story closer to reality.

They feature a remarkable writing style

The style of writing varies from one author to another. Murder mystery books require a lot of things, such as fact-checking, data gathering, researching, and more. Writers need to sew all these essential details into one seamless product. If the crafting isn’t perfect, readers wouldn’t be interested in them. That is why every author has his own way of writing the story. You can examine the writing style by looking into the language, terminologies, tone, and other vital parts of the book. The style will help the readers easily identify the author, if they have read his books, without looking at the cover. Bookworms will also easily understand the themes and messages of the stories because of how well the novels were written.

They contain many literary devices

Literary devices are tactics that are used by authors to increase the beauty of their stories. These devices showcase the essential ideas in the book, support the narrative, and help the patrons to connect to the elements of the story. They give more depth to the book. Among the commonly known literary devices that you may notice in the different murder mystery books are foreshadowing, motif, archetype, point of view, flashbacks, symbolism, and more. Moreover, these devices are being hidden from one chapter to another seamlessly, which means that readers may not notice them at first but realize their presence after a thorough examination of the book. They work precisely in order to enhance the course and pacing of the story.

They stir different emotions from the readers

With the action-packed scenes in the novel, readers will definitely find themselves at the end of their seats wanting to turn the page even more. The plot and other crucial elements that form the best murder mystery story also help in engaging the readers better. How can you identify if the readers are whipped by the book? They tend to feel different intense emotions that developed their drive to continue reading and enhanced their attachment to the book. They will feel the tension and suspense upon finding out who the culprit is, as well as the anticipation and fear of slowly uncovering the secrets of the characters.

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