Thursday 28 December 2017

FAVOURITE READS OF 2017


2017 was an interesting year for my reading. For the first time in about four years, I didn't set a Goodreads goal. I wanted to see what my reading looked like when I wasn't aiming for a number, and I'm pretty happy with myself. I read thirty books, not including several unfinished books (reading specific chapters and sections for my classes) and some very short poetry pamphlets that didn't really count. I read some really great stuff this year, so I'm going to talk about my very favourite (non academic) reads from 2017. (Books that were sent to me by publishers will be marked with a *) 


THE POWER* by Naomi Alderman - The Power essentially asks the question 'What if?': What if tomorrow, women around the world suddenly develop the ability to cause devastating harm at will? How would the world change? What would happen in places like Moldova where thousands are trafficked as sex slaves, or in parts of the Middle East where women are legally inferior citizens? What would happen in the Western world where some claim equality is almost achieved? The Power is an extraordinary thought experiment with a compelling narrative, and Alderman shows, by holding up a mirror image, the ways in which damage is done in our own lives when one group has all the power.

"However bad any man treated a woman, he needs her in a fit condition to carry a child. But now... one genetically perfect man can sire a thousand - five thousand - children. And what do they need the rest of us for? They're going to kill us all."


THE NATURAL WAY OF THINGS by Charlotte Wood - A group of women awake from a drugged sleep to find themselves prisoners in a compound, the middle of the Australian desert. Each woman's crime is her involvement in a sexual scandal with a powerful man. I won't pretend this is a happy book, it's an upsetting, creeping, festering novel that crawls into your brain and refuses to leave. Wood lets the camera roll on this raw, ugly little microcosm and creates a bleak and slightly absurdist extended metaphor, for the ways in which we are all victims of social structure, and often our own worst enemies.

"Would it be said they were abandoned or taken, the way people said 'a girl was attacked', this femaleness always at the centre, as if womanhood itself were the cause of these things? As if the girls somehow, through the natural way of things did it to themselves. They lured abduction and abandonment to themselves."


THE TIDAL ZONE by Sarah Moss - Moss is an author I had wanted to read for some time, and I'm so glad I finally got round to her. The Tidal Zone is a masterclass in writing about the huge significance of the small quiet moments. The story is ultimately about a family of four, living a quiet life in Coventry, having to come to terms with a traumatic event that disrupts one ordinary day. Moss' characters are all intricate, nuanced and so human. They all cope with this sudden upheaval in different ways, and Moss shows how strange it is for a family, going through difficulties, to suddenly be so visible in their local community. With a constant awareness of social issues throughout, this book was just exquisite, and I can't wait to revisit Moss in 2018. A Full review of The Tidal Zone is here 

"Look mate, it's a job, the making of cakes and the washing of sheets, the coordination of laundry with PE lessons, the handling of the Christmas shopping and the girl's dental appointments, and the fact that your wife does it on top of her paid work without you noticing does not make you clever."

ALL THE BIRDS IN THE SKY* by Charlie Jane Anders - The last three books have all had pretty grim themes one way or another, but this book I read with a smile on my face almost the whole way through. A young witch and a tech genius befriend one another as children, part ways as they grow up, and must reunite as adults to save the world. If you don't want to read it, you're wrong. ATBITS is a lovely, silly read about the power you hold when you accept who you are. Plus I've just realised that the acronym of the title reads like '8 Bits' (a term relating to computer memory) which is actually very pertinent to the plot! Accidental or not, high five for you Anders! I won't pretend this book is especially well structured, or written, but for the sheer joy factor, it makes my top six.

"No matter what you do, people are going to expect you to be someone you're not. But if you're clever and lucky and work your butt off, then you get to be surrounded by people who expect you to be the person you wish you were."  



THE FIFTH SEASON by N.K Jemisin - Coming into 2017 I had long fallen off the fantasy wagon. I had enjoyed Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb in April, but was becoming tired of the same tropes and worlds and characters with ever harder-to-pronounce-made-up names. The Fifth Season was like a breath of fresh air. So unapologetically different from the usual settings and characters, Jemisin's world is a scarred, tumultuous land, where a few feared individuals have the ability to wield the earth's power for better or worse. In a genre of worlds usually filled with mostly straight, white dudes on horses, Jemisin is having absolutely none of it, and presents a rich complex cast of characters that add texture and human interest, and represent a world of humans, rather than of archetypes.

"Tell them they can be great someday, like us. Tell them they belong among us no matter how we treat them. Tell them they must earn the respect which everyone else receives by default."  

HOLD YOUR OWN by Kate Tempest - I've never been a poetry person, but over the last year or so I've begun to dip my toes in. Hold Your Own is kind of a collection, and also kind of one long sequence. It is based around a modern take on the myth of Tiresias, the blind prophet, who experiences life as both male and female, when he is turned into a woman by an angry Hera (for disrupting two snakes mating, which seems a bizarre thing to punish someone for but whatever Hera, you do your snake pervert thing.) The sequence has stand alone poems specifically about Tiresias, which are spaced around 'chapters' of poems titled 'childhood', 'manhood', 'womanhood' and 'blind prophet'. Full of classical and mythical references, social commentary and beautifully woven words, Hold Your Own convinced me that poetry might actually be my thing after all.

"And so, with face streaked warpaint red,
And every sense burnt white with pain,
He was give seven lifetimes
And dropped back down to Earth again."




Let me know if you've read any of these, and what your favourite reads of 2017 were! I'm looking forward to 2018 and another good year of reading so would love any recommendations.

Thank you for reading!

Saturday 2 December 2017

SUSTAINABLE GIFT GUIDE

The first brand I want to highlight is Ara The Altar.  It's founder Lauren creates stunning jewellery in intricate, minimalist designs.
Using recycled precious metals and biodegradable packaging, Lauren is one of many artisans choosing to value sustainability and integrity in their craft, offering products made to last a lifetime over cheap novelties.
Inspired by astronomy and nature, Lauren's pieces are perfect gifts for loved ones. They are keepsakes and statements of love.




Saturday 14 October 2017

MY NEW FAVOURITE THING

 

I've always been a fairly creative person. I don't pretend to be any kind of master at drawing or writing, but I find that indulging in creative projects is both soothing for an overworked brain, and something to provide excitement and purpose when I'm feeling a bit lacklustre.

I've played with writing for years and years, and so am pretty confident when I embark on a new project in that area, but recently I have decided to take up a medium that I am almost completely new to: Watercolours. I've owned a cheap crappy set and used them maybe ten times over the past few years, but recently I've felt the itch to actually devote some time and effort to trying out watercolour art in a more serious way. 

Friday 18 August 2017

HAPPINESS IS... SUMMER EDITION


. Giving grouchy looking, little plants a loving home in old candle holders.
. Vegetarian barbecues. (pepper, mushroom and halloumi skewers yisssss)
. Scouring second hand bookshops.
. Reading and studying for my MA.

Wednesday 16 August 2017

ON FINDING CREATIVITY IN DIFFICULT TIMES



Like most people looking to live a creative life in one form or another, I go through the occasional slump, periods of feeling completely uninspired and unmotivated. Normally these blow over in a week or so, but recently I've been up against a creative block lasting several months and I can't help feel that it's related to the current state of the world. 
  
When recent affairs seem to leapfrog from one horrible instance to the next with no respite, it can be difficult to feel as though creating things matters. How can I write poetry about my experiences when there are people suffering who need their stories told? What's the point of working on my novel draft, or sketching funny little doodles when it seems like intellectualism and joy are on their way out? 
 These are issues I've been struggling with lately and while there are no answers, I'm starting to understand that actually, in this horrible, strange period in history, it might be more important than ever for us to create, and I'm slowly beginning to write again.  




  I think creating, whether it be stories, painting or homemade felt finger puppets happens for two reasons: Either to spread a message, or to bring joy, and sometimes both. Maybe you want to create in order to tell your story to the world, or to bring a new idea into consciousness, or maybe you just want to make someone smile.


Monday 14 August 2017

CRUELTY FREE BEAUTY FAVES #1


I have been taking steps this year to completely switch up my beauty and makeup collection in favour of cruelty free products, and for me that means buying from brands that do not themselves test on animals, and are not owned by a parent company who tests on animals. It seems like it would be simple but navigating an industry where big heartless companies swallow up little companies with good intentions in the blink of an eye, or where animal testing can be worked in through all sorts of loopholes is tricky and often disheartening. But over the year I've found a few excellent products by excellent brands that are all fairly affordable and readily available, at least here in the UK, and I thought I'd share a few staples with you. 


Friday 4 August 2017

BOOK REVIEW | THE TIDAL ZONE - SARAH MOSS


Sarah Moss is the darling of many a Book blogger and BookTuber, but I had never found myself interested enough to pick up any of her work. The Tidal Zone however ticks a lot of my boxes, telling the story of a stay-at-home Dad, and his eldest daughter Miriam who suddenly collapses in the school playground when her heart stops beating.

I love stories about families, especially families who defy the norm. Adam is a homemaker, he makes cakes and puts on laundry and does a little academic work on the side, while his wife Emma is a high flying doctor and brings in the majority of their income. Miriam and Rose, fifteen and nine respectively, are interesting and intelligent without being unbelievable and, although the story is ultimately about parents being scared of losing their child, the conversations the family has and the stories they tell each other push the narrative to explore a much wider scope of human life.

Sunday 23 July 2017

HOW TO HYGGE IN HOT WEATHER

 If, last Christmas, you went anywhere near a bookshop or the pages of a magazine or lifestyle blog, you'll know that the Danish art of Hygge (Hyu-Gah) was the big Winter trend, In case you were under a rock Hygge translates very roughly to a cosy comforting atmosphere and appreciating simple pleasures in life, and all the articles and books about achieving this blissful state recommend big log fires, cosy blankets, hearty soups and calming hot drinks.

Even though it was a massive marketing gimmick, I do really believe in embracing the Hygge lifestyle, and spent the winter surrounded by candles and soft throws, making sure I had a warm comforting space to come home to after a long day at work or out in the cold. But everything I saw in the Hygge lifestyle can be translated to a happy and calming summer, so I thought I'd share tips on staying hygge in the heat.



Monday 17 July 2017

RECENT READS 001



Here in the UK, we've been enjoying a surprisingly long and balmy spell of summer, a perfect opportunity to get some reading done in the sunshine. Here are a few recent reads of mine that I feel deserve a mention, and the book I'm currently enjoying. 

I D A H O - Emily Rusckovich's debut novel is an extraordinary meditative piece, exploring the repercussions of a family tragedy from several perspectives. The writing is glorious and the ways in which she plays with elements of time and memory will leave you speechless.

Sunday 16 July 2017

SUMMER IN COPENHAGEN


Having not left the country since my trip to Paris in the New Year, Alex and I decided it was high time we went on an adventure of our own, and spent three days in the beautiful city of Copenhagen, Denmark. Despite the grizzly early morning start and the packed flight, the journey went smoothly and we arrived in the City in time to enjoy our first evening there. We were very lucky in that we had inadvertently visited the city during a week long jazz festival, and so spent hours exploring the city with music everywhere, from a big band performance in the heart of the city, where we climbed the Round Tower and had hotdogs from one of the 50+ stands (tofu hotdogs ftw) to a lone saxophone player on the waterfront where we spent the last hour of sunshine sat with beers and watching the world go by. 

Saturday 15 July 2017

ON CREATIVITY AND BEING 'ORIGINAL'


 I think it's only as you start becoming really serious about being creative that you suddenly fear being unoriginal. As a young teenager I wrote fanfiction and ripped off other people's ideas with zero shame or compunction, I loved playing in other people's worlds and reworking their ideas. But during my earlier twenties, when I decided seriously that I wanted to write novels and stories, I suddenly developed this massive complex around originality. It became the most important thing that my work seemed completely organic, and like nothing that had ever come before it. I discarded whole ideas and passages of written text because it felt derivative of something I loved. At one point I tried to write fantasy, but gave up because I had just read Game of Thrones and I seemed unable to write anything that didn't feel plucked straight from the pages of that series. 

Friday 7 July 2017

NEW YEARS IN PARIS

For my first post, I thought I would just take myself down memory lane and talk about how I started off 2017. In Paris with my very best friends, staying at one of their houses with her parents and boyfriend.

We'd all been to Paris before and none of us are the tourist type so we didn't do a huge amount of deliberate sightseeing, rushing from one attraction to the next, and instead spent a lot of the time walking through parks and finding places to eat, and playing games in our pyjamas in a beautiful Versailles apartment. Nevertheless you can't walk around Paris in winter without being drawn into some of it's sights.


Of course the Shakespeare and Company Bookshop was on all our 'To-Do' lists. Given that we're all big readers, the chance to visit somewhere with so much bookish history was one we couldn't miss. Taking photographs of the inside is not allowed, so all I've got for this segment is the same basic ass shop front shot that everyone else does. We'll survive I'm sure. The inside is big but crowded with people and high bookshelves, with the ground floor being a commercial bookstore and, up a narrow flight of stairs, another floor full of old books and information about the history of the shop.
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