Walking Home by Simon Armitage

First Published: 2012 by Faber and Faber (London)
Date Started: 8th August 2013
Date Finished: 12th August 2013
Genre: Travel
Read For: Casual
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In the summer of 2010, Simon Armitage decided to walk the Pennine Way. However, he did the walk backwards. Normally approached from south to north, Armitage did it from north to south. That way he really would be walking home. He also did it with no money. Relying on his poetry and the kindness of strangers, he tackled the grueling 256 mile walk with some difficulties, but with enough strength to keep going to try and prove to himself that he could do it.

Armitage wasn't a new writer to me as I studied his poems when I was doing my GCSE's at school. What was new to me though was this piece of non-fiction travel writing. I bought this book at the York Literature Festival 2013 where he was doing readings of his work at my university. Having managed to get myself a free ticket, due to the university having a limited amount of free tickets for its students, I was excited to go. I also got my book signed by him which I shall continue to treasure.

Where he walks each day is illustrated in ways that I could visualize clearly and effectively. Reading about where he walks made me appreciate the beauty of the English countryside and realize what it is I have on my very own doorstep. Although I won't be taking up the challenge of the Pennine Way, I would like to be able to see parts of it for myself as well as other parts of the English countryside and natural scenery.  

What I loved about this book was the personal touch he gave to it. As a reader, it made me feel like I got to know him a little bit more as the book progressed. The people who he met along the way were described in such detail that it felt like I was walking along with them. Armitage acknowledges the people, it's not a case of I met this person on that day, we chatted for a bit and I never saw them again. They are like characters in a fictional book, each one important in their own ways.

I don't tend to read travel books. Having read some travel pieces in college as part of my A Level English Language & Literature course, I'm not new to this genre. I just normally wouldn't pick one up and read it. After reading this, I would like to be able to read more travel books. In a way, they are like non fictional adventure books. If you do know of any good travel books. or have an interesting travel story to tell, please let me know in the comments below as I would love to read about it.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

First Published: 1813
Date Started: 2nd August 2013
Date Finished: 8th August 2013
Genre: Classic/Romance
Read For: Casual/1001 Books
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This well known and beloved classic of English literature tells the story of the 5 Bennett sisters in their quest to find a suitable husband to marry. Dealing with issues like marriage and morality, this early 19th century novel is a book that was loved when first released and is still loved now, both by academics and by people who just enjoy a good book.
The famous couple of the book, Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy, is one that has been written into the history of English literature and whether or not you have read the book, chances are high you have at least heard of them.

As well as these two characters, the opening of the book is one that is recognized to literary lovers all over the world.

Pride and Prejudice had been one of those books that I started and read a few pages of but then put down and never read again. This time I was determined to get through it all. One problem that I had though was that after I had read Northanger Abbey, I was a bit put off reading any of Austen's other works as I worried that I wouldn't enjoy it.  I can happily say that I was wrong.

The relationship between Elizabeth and Mr Darcy was what kept me going to read the book. I had an idea that they got together in the end, yet when reading the book I was kept intrigued due to all the events and the nature of these two characters, as well as the surrounding ones. How they got together in the end, I felt was truly representative of them and makes Pride and Prejudice the love story that it is.

I'm not declaring myself a 'Janeite', who relies on Austen related things in order to breathe and live, but I certainly wouldn't hesitate on reading another of her books. Perhaps I might re-read Northanger Abbey one day and have a different view, however I'd have to wait and see.


 

August TBR

We're 3/4 quarters into 2013 already and it's gone so fast! I can already say that this has been a good year of reading, but who knows what I'll have read by the end of it. If you have any recommendations, please comment below and I'll be sure to reply back.

To make sure I become more of a dedicated blogger, I'm going to start doing a monthly TBR (to be read). If you watch book review videos on YouTube from well known 'booktubers', you'll be well in the know of what that means.
By doing this, for me, that means I know what I'll be reading and I'll want to tell you what I think of them. For you, it means you know what can be expected. I will follow each one up with reviews (I'm not too entirely sure how/when I'll be doing this though, so stay tuned).

So, here is my August TBR:

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)
• Walking Home by Simon Armitage (2012)
• A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (2007)

For  now, it is only short but maybe as the months go by, I'll know what I'm capable of doing. Maybe I'll manage to read even more than the three above.