On December

Definitely not my footprints, but those of a giant!

I am writing this snuggled up, after finishing the first season of The Crown (so good), seated at just the right angle to be able to watch the snow. I absolutely love snow; it is my all time favourite form of weather. As soon as I realised it was snowing, I wrapped up and went straight out into it. I love the crunch it makes and the glisten when it lays untouched. 

Here are some things I have been loving lately. 

Reading - I have always read a lot and since commuting I get through about a book a week. I have recently just finished His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman. I never read the second two books when I was younger but I got completely lost in them last month. I also highly recommend The Penguin Lessons by Tom Michell; it was such a lighthearted, easy read, perfect for an afternoon. 

KeepCup - I ordered one of these a little while ago after Boyf found it and thought it would be something really useful. This is such a great company; essentially they are trying to revolutionise the way we currently go to coffee shops by promoting using a reusable cup instead of the paper ones (which are horrendous for the environment). I got a Long Play which keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot - and you can design your own!

Nigella Lawson - Have you been watching At My Table? I have re-discovered my love of Nigella. I recently met her at Stylist Live after watching her speak, where she was actually quite inspirational. In her new book, she writes about how complicated life can be and how it is so nice to just gather around a table and eat food which isn't complicated. She deifnitely advocates a very nice way of living!

Fortnum & Masons - I love Fortnum's. I subscribed to their emails a little while ago and everything they do is crafted so wonderfully. They make such simple things seem so luxurious; I have been over the last couple of days really enjoying their Christmas Spiced Tea. Definitely a little Christmas luxury in it's beautiful tin! 

Christmas at Southbank - We went here last week to explore the Christmas market, expecting it to be fairly standard. However, it was so much better than expected! It has the usual little stalls of crafted goods, food and mulled beverages, but it also goes all the way through into an Alpine-esque Ski Lodge with fire pits. A really lovely smaller alternative to Winter Wonderland. 

Christmas is only 15 days away (!) as is 2018 drawing ever closer. I am about to write my Christmas cards (which I am making myself this year for a lucky few!) with some classic Christmas music in the background. I hope you are all enjoying the snow (if you are experiencing it!) 

Here's to the last few weeks of weeks 2017!

xoxo

On Recent Reads

Photo Credit

I have somewhat at least mentioned (I think?) that I have been absolutely ploughing through books lately. I don't remember the last time I read this many books. It is honestly the one, and I mean the one good thing about commuting. 

So here are some of the books I have loved recently and am definitely recommending!

Talking as Fast as I Can - Lauren Graham

This is a must for Gilmore Girls lovers. It's a really great, quick easy read that will make you want to re-re-rewatch Gilmore Girls and A Year In The Life and fall back in love with Lorelai and Rory all over again. It is autobiographical and sees Lauren go through her childhood, how she got into acting and everything in between. Including all thoughts on the latest episodes of Gilmore Girls - the end if a cliffhanger right?! Right?!

The Light Between Oceans - M L Stedman

This was such an original read and not one that I had ever been planning on reading (I acquired it as a bitter act of revenge when a doctor's appointment was stupidly delayed and refused to swap for another book ... ) Yet it was really good. I loved all of the characters and felt all of their emotions and would genuinely be unsure what to do in their situation also. A young couple who live in a lighthouse discover a washed up boat with a man and a baby inside and it follows their subsequent lives. It's a great story of the distance that love can go. 

Birds Art Life Death: A Field Guide to the Small and Significant - Kyo Maclear

This one I had been wanting to read for a little while (I'd heard so much!) Following the remaining time of her Father's life, Kyo begins to explore what life really means and what we can make of it. She begins to follow a birdwatcher and learns how the small and significant can be the things that really mean the most. This is one of those books (such as Marina Keegan's The Opposite of Loneliness) that will go into a special section of my bookshelves for those books that give more meaning to the more mundane and ordinary lives. One of those books that makes you want to do what you love and pursue your dreams more. 

The book is also filled with little drawings and is written really beautifully. And I am by no means at all interested in birds, but this did make me start to pay more attention to them!

Into The Water - Paula Hawkins

I mentioned this in my last post; I got through this literally in a few days. And I as I finished the last few pages I litrally sat there going Ohmygosh!!!!! Even to the final paragraph. There are a lot of narartors going on here and it does jump around a lot which some people have said they found difficult to follow. But for me I just felt it added to the mystique and intrigue. If you enjoyed Girl on the Train, then you will definitely like this one. I think it is a much better story (and I loved Girl on the Train), but the characters have a bit more depth and it sucked me in a lot more. 

I could carry on with this list, but I think I will save my further recommendations for now...but let me just say that Kate Atkinson has become of my new all time favourite authors. Life After Life anyone?!

Let me know your thoughts and any recommendations please send forth!

xoxo

On Sundays

I had my first PSL the other day. But as it's been so hot here this week, I went with the frappe version which I had never tried! Definitely the best combination between summer and autumn! I'm spending the day chilling with my parents today; I am so happy for a peaceful day! 

Have you heard of Book Marks? It's like Rotten Tomatoes but for books! It rates books with a grade making it easy to choose your new favourite. 

Glossier. This company is literally doing so well. This article about it was really interesting. And this one! (P.S. Please start shipping internationally!)

We have recently started using the app Wunderlist. It's so handy for making any sort of list, and sharing them! 

The Dog Story. Made me actually lol. (P.S. I have a great dog story!)

Cake Mascara making a comeback?

I did not know that Meghan Markle was behind The Tig !?!?

I loved this video from Louise Pentland aka Sprinkle of Glitter.

Have a good Sunday!

xoxo

On Books | Water For Elephants - Sara Gruen

Having watched the film around when it came out, I had never gotten round to reading the book Water For Elephants. I generally always, always, read the book before the film but this time that just didn't happen! Boyf's mum lent me this book and I got through it so quickly!

The story follows Jacob Jankowski in present day and during his youth. Jacob, now in a carehome, continues to reminisce about his younger days when he ended up working as the vet on a travelling circus. Following the tragic and sudden death of his parents, Jacob never quite finishes his final exams and with little left for him at home he, for want of a better word, runs away. He launches himself at a passing train, without knowing that he has landed in a carriage of the circus' train. 

As Jacob gets situated within the circus, he becomes close with one of the trainers August and his wife Marlena, one of the best performers on the circus. Jacob, as you can imagine, ends up falling for Marlena, which of course, is not without consequence. 

The circus eventually ends up taking on an elephant called Rosie. Jacob becomes extremely attached to her, yet she is difficult to train despite being seemingly very intelligent. Jacob watches over whilst August roughly and harshly attempts to train her to perform with Marlena. Yet August is very troubled and more often than not, things go wrong. 

Gruen writes at the end of the book how she ended up writing a book about circuses and the involvement of elephants. She references a lot of real life tragedies and amazing events that happened in the early 20th Century. Her story developed from real events and she writes in a very accurate way, describing the ins and outs of the circus as if you were watching it. (I have a crippling fear of clowns, but don't worry, they aren't involved; it's all about the animals here!) 

The story, despite having some harrowing scenes, is a very sweet and wonderfully written tale. It almost felt like it could have been a memoir of Jacob. Although not always lighthearted, the story has some beautiful moments in. 

If you are looking for a nice, well written, easy read, then I would definitely recommend this! Just be prepared that there are some aspects of animal cruelty and abuse, which are of course in this case fiction but do bring an awareness of the tragedies that did occur. Not to mention, Rosie is a completely loveable elephant!

Have you read Water for Elephants?

xoxo

On Books | Swimsuit - James Patterson

I'm just going to start with the truth; this book was okay. I've heard a lot about James Patterson and still have a couple of his books to read, but, I just was not that thrilled over the style of his writing. With this being the only book of his I have read, it is slightly unfair for me to judge that but I was not a big fan of it here. 

The storyline was pretty good and I did want to keep reading and finished this book in a few days. However I just did not like the format of the book. It starts with the main narrator of the book giving a note to his readers, as he himself is an author. Yet I just found this slightly confusing as to who was talking. The chapters also jumped around quite a lot with where they were set and who they focused on. It just was not as slick as I had been expecting.

With that being said, I did enjoy the storyline and most of the characters. The book follows Ben Mackenzie who is a retired police officer turned crime writer and how he gets caught up in some horrendous murders, following the disappearance of model Kim McDaniels. You see both his point of view and Henri's, the killer (no spoilers don't worry!) The story behind why Henri does what he does and his motivations are quite interesting in the sense that I have not read anything like it before and it's pretty inventive. 

Patterson does change his writing to fit with the different characters and personalities really well. There was a good sense that you were reading a different person and feeling their emotions and thoughts. 

The plot itself also accelerated in a way that I was not expecting, which did make for it to be quite a page turner. The ending however did leave me a bit underwhelmed, with very little conclusion to the actual storyline. 

Overall, Swimsuit wasn't my favourite book, but I would recommend if you love crime fictions, especially of the more unusual kind!

On a sidenote, having also been written with Maxine Paetro, I could not say how much was written by each author. However I have also seen that a lot of women find it odd that a woman would put her name to a book like this, as there are some horrible sexual encounters which were slightly uncomfortable to read. If that kind of thing bothers you, I would maybe steer away from this book!

Would you read Swimsuit?

xoxo

On Books | The Opposite of Loneliness - Marina Keegan

A few weeks ago I did post about this book over on Instagram, telling everyone that they need to read this book. This had been on my to-read list for a long time and I ordered it a couple of months back from Amazon after seeing someone else post about it and thought that now was the right time to read it. 

Marina had just graduated from Yale in 2012. I was just about to graduate when I started to read The Opposite of Loneliness. Tragically, Marina died four days after graduation; a tragedy which I think only hightens just how wonderful this book is. 

A combination of essays and stories, Marina's writing is amazing. I did not even realise at first that I was reading fiction, and not her own life, when I first started the book. That is how well she draws you into the stories. The essays (most of which were written for the Yale Daily News), all involve considerations that seem so mature and well thought out for someone so young (because I'm so old!) She was clearly highly intelligent; she knew what she was good at and how to do it, and do it she did. In her essays she covered thoughts that probably all 20 somethings have about how hard life is and what we are going to do with ourselves. She discusses topics that were obviously very close to her such as the conservation of whales and being a celiac. All of which are written in a way that makes you feel as if you are reading the thoughts directly from Marina's mind. 

The stories also hit directly on the emotions of the characters that you feel as though you know them, that they are your friends, that you are there going through the motions with them. 

The way that Marina writes gives you hope and inspires you to find something that you love and to pursue it. And with the knowledge that Marina could not do the same, it almost compels you to go and do that thing because of her. 

If nothing else, I truly found this book inspiring. At moments it was sad, funny, just good old interesting. If you read nothing else this year, then make it this book. I cannot explain how much I adored this book and want everyone else to as well.

xoxo

On World Book Night 2016

For the past five years (I started before university!) I have been a giver as part of World Book Night. This is an event that happens every year on the 23rd April. Chosen people all over the UK give out 16 copies of one of 20 different books to their friends, families, strangers, people that don't have great access to books or don't read very often. 

The books themselves are always a special edition of the book that varies each year and can be passed on to whoever you like once you're read them or kept as a special memento. As they read on the front, these books are a gift. World Book Night is a great cause and I'm so proud to have been a part of it for so many years and to have given out so many different books.

This year my book is Whispering Shadows  by Jan-Philipp Sendker. Now I know that this is going to be a pain and probably sound, but I never read blurbs. So other than this one involves Hong Kong (where my sister used to live and part of the reason why I chose it), I know very little about it! The few books that I have however given out thus far have gone down well!

Even if you aren't directly involved, the whole motivation behind World Book Night is to get everybody reading. So wherever you are and whatever you're doing today, make some time to sit down with a cup of tea and a book. Even if it's only one chapter.
You can also find out more here.

Happy World Book Night!

xoxo

On Stationery - Kikki.K

[Photo: http://www.tijgertjerawr.com/zweedse-pastelkleurtjes-van-kikki-k/]

After initially reading about Kikki.K opening in Covent Garden here, I looked up the shop, I browsed it's website, I sent it to my sister, I sent it to friends, I followed them on Instagram. I needed to go. Make up and Stationery (and books) are a few of the things that I fluctuate between buying the most and I had not actually bought any stationery in a while. 

I would like to say that I had not gone to Covent Garden solely for the purpose of going here ... but I cannot lie. This shop is incredible. It is kind of like Paperchase but a little bit sleeker [and don't get me wrong, I adore Paperchase. Ask the boyf and he can confirm]. Much the same as Paperchase it has different ranges with similar things in each; journals, Paper Lover's Books, decoration sets, planners, pencil cases. The list goes on. 

They even, in an almost Ikea-like format, have desk layouts. (Is this just a Swedish thing?) Everything is sososo beautiful and it is all such a lovely quality. Many of their items are focused on living a better, happier and more mindful life. This is not just ordinary stationery, it's stationery that is focused upon something and can help you to focus as well. 

These beautiful books each focus on a particular trait, such as happiness or habits and help you to focus these throughout your life. The books themselves are gorgeous and the insides are also beautiful; they have different sections for different considerations and time frames as well as questions that help you to guide your planning. 

This range was by far my favourite and possibly one of the cutest in there! 

To my amazement, I bought only one thing. The Paper Lover's Book. 

I don't think there are the words to even begin talking about this book.

Kikki.k is definitely one of the most beautiful (and Instagrammable) stationery shops that I have ever seen. If you sign up to them in store you get a £5 voucher and £5 on your birthday! Students: they also do 10% student discount. You're welcome.

xoxo

The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt | Book Review

Let me just start this review by saying that this book took me five months to read. I am a quick reader; the last book that took me a long time to read was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (a year and a half if anyone was wondering), and that was back in 2003. I can get through a book in a day, thus the length of time it took me to finish this, also noting that it was my 'travel' book at the time (including four flights, accumulating nearly 30 hours in total), my opinions of this book should already be fairly evident...

Essentially, the book follows Theo, a boy who loses his mother when a bomb goes off in the museum. Don't worry, this is not a spoiler. The psychological impact of this is in essence the underlying theme of the entire book. The painting, The Goldfinch by Fabritius of 1654, actually comes into it very little. Yet it is what Theo takes from the aftermath of the museum, given to him by a man who is dying there. The book then follows his life, which does veer on being one of those where things seem to just go from bad to worse. Or at the very least, they don't seem to ever go very well.

I started reading this book last August. I then finished it, desperately in December, to avoid having to bring it into the new year with me. I had kept on reading good reviews about it. It won the Pulitzer Prize. It was New York Times Bestseller. Everyone (seemed to have) loved it. Yet there I was, not hating it, but being so completely indifferent and unmoved by it, that I just became disillusioned with it. On numerous occasions when I was reading it in public, people stopped me and asked me if I was enjoying it. All I was ever capable of responding was with an audible 'Ehh...'
Don't get me wrong. The book is beautifully written; Tartt's writing style is one of my favourites and something that cannot be faulted. Her way with words is extraordinary. But the story and the characters...nothing captivated me. Not to mention it held nothing of the story I was expecting. Again, this may be through only fault of my own, in that I never read book blurbs, due to an immense fear and hatred of spoilers of any kind. Thus instead of a  beautiful story about a wonderful painting, I had 700 odd pages of the life of someone suffering with PTSD. 

Note that I mentioned I finished this three months ago. And am still bitter about it. This was reignited in me as I just read a review of it in which someone is a quarter of the way through and was raving about it. And I sat here going 'Why!? Just why!?' (For anyone who knows me, you will be able to imagine me saying this, and the gesticulation that went along with it). I am convinced that nobody actually likes this book. That it is all a ruse, which everyone is hiding behind because everybody else is. But I am here to bring you from that!
You do not need to love this book. I would never say do not read something, books are extremely subjective matters, but just keep in mind that there seems to be a conspiracy regarding the enjoyment of this book. I have discussed it with manymany people, and all of them have felt the same way as me about it. So stop with the positive reviews of The Goldfinch. If you don't like the charcters and their development, that's fine. If you don't like the storyline, that's fine. Yet if you cannot appreciate the way in which it has all been written, then that it not fine.

And with that, I shall leave you to make your own decisions upon this book.

Have you, or would you read The Goldfinch?

xoxo

p.s. I realise that this turneed into more a book rant, than review...but at least it was honest!

World Book Night 2015 - I'm A Giver Again!

It is three whole years since I posted this picture to my tumblr, celebrating that I had been selected a giver for World Book Night 2012. I can remember the exact day I was hearing about it. I was waking up in the back of my Dad's car after having been to a university open day. They were discussing it on the radio. A night where volunteers give out copies of one of their favourite books to promote reading? I NEEDED to be involved.
It was the first thing I did when I got back home that day. I looked it up. I applied. And I was chosen. And every year since then I have applied, and thankfully be chosen again!

This year I am giving away copies of  'If God Was A Rabbit' by Sarah Winman. This book has bene on my list to read for a long time and am really happy it's been given to me as my chosen book!

World Book Night happens every year on April 23rd. There are events organised all over, especially around cities and book shops. It is one of my favourite nights of the year and am soso happy to be involved again! I am not actually in England to pick up my books come April (the parents get that job), so I will be delaying my own WBN... but there will be more to come on this!

If you want more information about WBN, head on over to their website here.

Have you ever taken part in World Book Night?

xoxo

The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion | Book Review

I realised the other day that I haven't actually posted a book review in a while! This year I've posted a review of every single book I've read, which when I was getting ready to move to the States reeeally slowed down. Thus the reviews also slowed down, which I really apologise for!

I was asked a lot of questions about this book when I was reading it, and it's actually quite difficult to explain briefly the storyline. Or it probably isn't, but I always seem to make a hash(brown) of it. 

Essentially, it is about an autistic man called Don who is looking for a partner which is best for him. He works with genetics and thus for him, it makes perfect sense that if you rule out all the people that a relationship would not work with to find the right one, then things could only go perfectly.

He devises a quiz in order to find this particular woman. (The quiz itself is contained in at the back of the book...I failed to be Don's partner, quite tragically). However he then meets Rosie, and although she is completely unsuitable, and there is nothing about her which would cause the relationship to work between her and Don, something still seems to be simmering there.

The main aspect of Don and Rosie's relationship is that Rosie wishes to find her biological father, and enlists the help of Don due to his genetics background. This is what the true Rosie Project is. However, I do not wish to give anything away, other than this is where the base of the story lies, in the hunt for Rosie's father. 

I really enjoyed this book. It was very different to anything I've read before, and there is in fact little that I have read which comes from the perspective of someone with autism. All that springs to mind is Flowers For Algernon, and god I hated that book. (Nothing against people with autism or anything at all, I simply just did not enjoy it). It was also a really refreshing take on relationships and people which is always welcome!

If you're looking for something a bit different, then definitely give this book a try! Also, you know you want to find out the relevance of the lobster on the cover!

Would you read The Rosie Project?

xoxo

The Novel in the Viola - Natasha Solomons | Book Review

(Sometimes known as 'The House at Tyneford', I know confusing right? Oh I see. This other name is the US version; confusion resolved.) 

This was amazing! It really was one of those type of books. Now I know what I mean by that, but I'm not exactly sure how to get it across; it is one of those where the writing is just soso good that all of the sentences keep enticing you to read and read. The phrasing is so beautiful and the words feel so true and meaningful that you really do feel attached to the characters. These are my favourite kinds of books and this has definitely gone up to the top of the list!

Elise Landau lives with her wonderful parents and sister at their beautiful home in Vienna. They are a wealthy Jewish family and the story starts just before 1939. Yes, this is a war story, however quite unlike any that I have read previously. Her father is an author and he tells Elise that he has hidden his final novel in the viola, which she lacks the ability to play. Unlike her mother and sister, Elise is not blessed with musical talent and so she feels underwhelmed and as if she is a disapointment to her mother who is a world renowned performer. Her sister, Margo, is expected to follow in her footsteps. Yet with the war starting, Elise must move to England and become a house maid in order to protect herself and provide money for her family. It is Tyneford which for Elise then becomes home. 

The Master of the house takes kindly to Elise, unlike the other residents of the house. She struggles to get along with the daily tasks of servants and maids, having come from a bourgeoisie family previously where she has been used to being served on. Yet then she meets Kit, the Master's son and well I'm sure everyone could see where this is going. The two of them together cause outrage to the rest of the household, yet as teenagers they really don't care. And why would they? War is inevitable and on the horizon meaning that Kit will soon be leaving. Thus they must both learn how to change and adapt. Yet this is not where the story ends. I won't carry on so as not to ruin it, however it really is a gripping tale. 

There is little that I won't read, and I never read blurbs of books (I will not tolerate any sort of spoiler) and so I would never shy away from a book because it is set during the time of war, or that it is 'just another romance novel'. This book is so much more than both of those and I would definitely recommend it for anyone that really appreciates great writing and a thoroughly gripping story. 

Next Up: The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion

xoxo

Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin | Book Review

I chose this as my book to give away for World Book Night 2014 (see Instagram here for photos of the special edition copies) because it had had many greta reviews and was considered an acclaimed series. This is the first installment of the series.  Originally published in 1978, the book follows Mary Ann Singleton who has just moved to San Francisco. Although not fully explained, it would appear that Mary Ann wishes to escape the less interesting and more routine-based life of her parents house and realises a sudden need for her to be independent and try and make it on her own.
The story follows through various different perspectives of friends Mary has and makes, her neighbours, her dubious landlord Mrs.Madrigal. Considering the book was published in the late 70s, it covers numerous topics which would have seemed controversial at the time including homosexuality and a variety of alternative lifestyles. Due to these different styles of living portrayed in the book, the characters are a complete array of mismatched personas resulting in a very colourful depiction of San Franciscan life. There is not an exact, straight storyline, so much as Maupin just fumbles along with the characters as they attempt to find happiness and freedom. Drugs and sexuality and farily prominent within the book and Maupin writes with a tone which is not so often seen in modern day novels which makes for a very different read to what seems more readibly available!

I gave a copy of this to my Nan and at the time I had not read it. She, I am pretty sure it can be said, is not quite a fan... I definitely feel that this book is suited to more older readers, such as from young adult and above.
I reallu enjoyed the book; it was a ncie and easy read which really transported you back those 40 odd years to a time when people's lives were very different. Maupin has filled the book with mystery, relationships, life and death, all mixed in with a strange ability to really relate to all of the characters, especially Mary Ann Singleton.

Next Up: Little Women - Louise May Alcott

Would you read this series?

xoxo

Before I Met You - Lisa Jewell | Book Review

I'm quite behind with my book review at the moment, but I will catch you all up! This book was a birthday present from Emily after she read it and absolutely loved it. Whislt she was reading it, Emily did keep telling me just how good it was and that she couldn't put it down; I was completely the same! 

From the moment I started reading it, I knew that I just wanted to carry on reading. The storyline and the characters were all so capitivating, and it was quite unlike anything I had read before.

The story starts with a girl called Elizabeth visiting her Grandmother, Arlette with the result that Elizabeth and her mother are going to have to leave their home to move in with Arlette. Although greatly saddened by this at Elizabeth becomes closer and closer to her Grandmother, who begins to call her Betty. Arlette teaches her all about glamour and gorgeuous fashion and all other wonderful things that Betty has never known before on their home of Guernsey Island. 

Upon Arlette's death, Betty moves to SoHo in order to find a Clara Pickle who Arlette has mentioned in her will but that no one knows. The book then starts skipping back to the early decades of the 1900s, changing to Arlette's perspective and insight into London life of that time. The story then follows Arlette's past life and Betty's new one, trying to track down who her Grandmother really was.

The story is truly engaging, showing Betty struggle through life, both domestic and love, whislt trying to find the life that her Grandmother had led. As the story unfolds, you are left wanting to know more and more of both Betty and Arlette's lives. 

Jewll's writing is so convincing and ehr descriptions are so realistic that you feel as if you are in both worlds and that you are being transported back in time. Yet you also feel that you are living with Betty in dubious apartment with a rock star up the road and a record stall holder opposite. Words cannot describe just how good a read this was!

I would most definitely recommend this book to those who love storis of lost loves and glamour mixed with the modern day hustle and bustle of life. A truly wonderful  read! (Please ignore my sounding like a combination between a middle-aged woman and a broadsheet review, but my words speak the truth!)

Next Review to come: Tales of the City - Armistead Maupin

Have I convinced you to grap a copy?

xoxo

The Promise of Happiness - Justin Cartwright | Book Review

This was a book I picked up in a little charity shop round the corner from me at uni and am I glad I did! It starts off quite strange, with a main protagonatist peeing in a graveyard and this did set me off thinking that maybe this was going to be a bloody weird book.
However it has become one of my definite favourite books. It follows a family of five, who have been split up and spread all over the world for various reasons; the middle daughter in a questionable job and relationship in London, the youngest son becoming a millionaire in the States and the eldest daughter just coming out of prison for a crime she didn't technically commit and the loving Mother and distant Father is their resultant home in Devon. Don't worry, none of this is a spoiler!Cartwright portrayed the family soso well that you could really see them as being in existence and as really struggling with all of their problems and laughing through all of their good times.
His writing is also absolutely wonderful. Some of his sentences read just like poetry and give such a lovely, sentimental touch to the book, that I couldn't help keep on reading and reading through the chapters.

This was a truly great little read and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fairly heary-warming familial tale. I'm not going to lie, I also found the characters pretty inspiring, especially the beloved eldest daughter JuJu.

Next Up: Before I Met You - Lisa Jewel

Would you read this powerful work?

xoxo

The Wolf of Wall Street - Jordan Belfort | Book Review

[Sorry again for lack of actual picture; am currently living out of bags and suitcases]

Wow. Mr.Belfort, should I ever have the pleasure of meeting him, must be a truly astounding man. To be able to have written this book in the way he has, making it seem sososo realistic and great, that it's almost fiction, despite being a memoir, and to have lived the life that he did, just, wow. Coming from a background of pretty much complete stock-broking, never would you have expected a book such as this to have come out. I am deeply ashamed to admit that I saw the film first, merely due to timing and not choice, but there are quite a few differences. This doesn't alter the book or the film as being great pieces of work, but the film does alter the reality of what actually happened (spoiler alert!)

Belfort takes us along his journey through being a menial worker on Wall Street to running his own high-end stock broking business, to being caught by the FBI, days in rehab, and his eventual downfall from the wonder years of his life. All doing so, in what we must take to be near word-for-word perfection. You feel every emotion. You hear every word. You see everything. Not only did this book give a great insight into a world which I never really would have considered of much interest before, but he led you along the path of self-destruction in such a way that you understood and sympathised with how bad things actually happen to successful people. 

Whether or not you've seen the film, want to or not, just read this book. Appreciate it for the true piece of genius that it is. And join me in the line to shake Jordan, sorry the Wolf's hand.

Next Up: The Promise of Happiness - Justin Cartwright

Have you read Belfort's astounding work?

xoxo

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini | Book Review

So this is one of those books; you know the ones I mean. Everyone's read it, everyone loves it, everyone thinks it's amazing. Now don't get me wrong, I'm glad I've read it, but to be perfectly honest, this was one of the saddest books I have ever read (and the Noughts and Crosses series put me off reading, thank you very much Malorie Blackman). It just seemed that nothing good at all ever happened; at every turn everything that could have possibly gone wrong, did go wrong. Or as soon as something vaguely positive did happen, it would be drastically brought down by  devastation of some sort or another.
It follows a man called Amir sharing his life story, starting back when he was a child growing up in Afghanistan with a Hazara boy called Hassan. The relationship between these two is something which a part of me longs for; as a friend said of Hassan: 'He is such a beautiful person'. Various events unfold resulting in Amir and Hassan being separated. Amir ends up moving to America with his beloved, Baba, who throughout the entire book he strives to earn the respect and love from him which he believes he lacks.

The book was very well written, and at times I really did find myself captivated by the story, however a book such as this would normally take me days to get through. This took me around a month simply because I struggled so much to keep picking it up as it was depressing me so much. I would definitely recommend this book to those who absolutely adore reading, but word of warning: it is not for the faint-hearted.  

(Note: I apologise for the lack of proper photo; the problems of travelling back home for reading week...)

Next Up: The Wolf of Wall Street - Jordan Belfort

What are your thoughts?

xoxo

Divergent - Veronica Roth | Book Review

Hopefully some of you have also embarked on a reading challenge with me and I think that I've gotten off to a fairly good start! One week of the year down and I'm already one book down. Apparently I have completed 2% of my challenge! (From Good Reads). 

Divergent is the first instalment of what is simply called The Divergent Trilogy. It is the next big cult series following The Hunger Games and The Mortal Instruments. If you don't like these series' or are just thinking 'What!?', then this book is not for you.
The storyline is made up of a city which is split into different factions, upon which when you turn 16 you can then decide to stay in the faction you were born in or choose to join a different one, abandoning your family. The book follows Beatrice who embarks on this journey along with her brother Caleb. I thoroughly enjoyed this book; it had everything that you would want and expect. It had cliffhangers. It had violence. It had action. It had a bit of romance. I struggled to put it down to get out of bed in the mornings!
I would definitely recommend if this kind of genre is your type of thing. I now needneedneeeeed to read the next two books!!

Next Up: The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Let me know your thoughts!

xoxo

Reading Challenge 2014

Last year, using Good Reads, I set myself a challenge to read 50 books. For me, I thought that this was quite a small amount and did consider setting it as 100. However, I only managed 35 and am quite disappointed with myself to be honest! I know that to a lot of you this may seem a lot and for some hardly anything!
This year though I am really motivated to get that goal reached and I hope that some of you will also set yourself a reading challenge. I have applied for the third year running to be a World Book Night Volunteer and this will spur on my motivation! I'm also going to be blogging about the books I'm reading/would like to read etc so I am going to be on top of my reading.

Currently I'm reading Divergent by Veronica Roth; it's looking to be the new cult classic after The Mortal Instruments series.
So far: 157/487 pages.

For some ideas on what books to read, take a gander at my Good Reads profile (nice sly little plug there...)

What will be your goal?

xoxo