Second Year of University

Hello, long time no see! I'm so sorry I've not blogged in awhile. I've been settling into my second year of uni so I often have a lot of work to do or I'm hanging out with friends, meaning I've not had much time to blog. Now that I'm more settled in and I know what to expect, I should be able to blog more.

The first couple of months at uni have certainly been different to my first year. It's had its ups and downs, but overall it's been an enjoyable experience. Take, for example, that I am now a programme rep for second year creative writing students. This means that I help look after my fellow second year creative writing students if they have any problems. I get to go to meetings and voice my opinions and address any concerns with other programme reps in the Faculty of Arts, and Student Union members.
The workload is much bigger than in my first year and at times I can get behind, but I try not to let that happen. I'm finding that class discussions in seminars are most interesting to talk about because I feel they are more stimulating. There is a lot of reading, especially for one of my modules, Literary Theory, however, it does me me feel more confident in my work and I can sometimes find when reading a text, I can apply a certain theory to it or link ideas together.

Because I've been busy with uni work, I've not had much time to do my own reading. As I mentioned earlier on, I'm more settled in. I'm hoping that this means I can have more time to read what I want. Do remember that if you have any recommendations, please feel free to comment on a blog post and I'll be sure to read it.

I have got assignments I need to work on which are due in soon, so I don't know how much reading I will get done,but I shall compose a November TBR list and post it up on here as soon as possible.

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. 

Umbrella by Will Self

First Published: 2012 by Bloomsbury (London)

Date Started: 27th June 2013

Date Finished: 8th July 2013

Genre: Historical Fiction

Read For: Casual

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Audrey Death suffers from Encephalitis Lethargica, an illness from the end of World War I, and has since been in a coma at Friern Hospital in London. In  1971, maverick psychiatrist Dr Zack Busner arrives. In his attempts to bring her back to life, he will have memories that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

Umbrella opens up with a quote by James Joyce, 'A brother is as easily forgotten as an umbrella', and when reading the book, it's understandable as to why Will Self used it. It may seem strange to think that 'a brother is as easily forgotten as an umbrella', but upon reading this  it seems true, although strange to imagine.

Written in a contemporary form and displaying traits of modernism, the book can be a bit of a challenge to read. The protagonist can switch at any moment, there is hardly any paragraphs which make it look clunky, and there are no chapters whatsoever. Yet the way it's written blends well with the story. It's almost as if the reader is shifting in and out of consciousness between the protagonists, like Audrey herself does with her past life and her present life in the hospital.

 Umbrella was a nominee of the Man Booker Prize 2012. Although it's not a light read it's a book that should be read. It's difficult to get into it at first, and the constant switching of protagonists can be confusing at times, but if you want to read a good book, this is one that I can recommend that you should read.

Before I Go To Sleep by S J Watson

First Published: 2012 by Black Swan (London)
Date Started: 16th June 2013
Date Finished: 18th June 2013
Genre: Crime/Thriller
Read For: Casual
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Memory is something Christine Lucas hasn't got. Every time she wakes up, she has no memory of her present life. She has to trust the man she is in the same bed with each time she wakes up, who claims to be her husband, Ben.
This thrilling story follows Christine in her attempt to find out why she has no memory and if she can ever get it back. It's also a story about trust, and when you have no memory who can you really trust?

I absolutely loved reading this book. I like how it is written from her point of view in the present tense and in the past from her diary entries. By reading her diary entries, it allows the reader to see how Christine develops. You get to see how her memory changes and how more and more each day she wants to find out why she has no memory.

The theme of trust is really something that helps to keep the reader engaged. I found myself at times changing back and forth with the characters who I could trust. With Christine having little or no memories of characters, it's engaging to find out who is telling the truth and who is lying. Although she does have flashbacks, the diary entries are the only thing Christine can trust, but at times, she doubts herself as to whether she is telling the truth or making stuff up. The only way she can find out is to follow through and hope for the best.

This is one of the books that you just have to keep on reading. I would highly recommend it to anybody who loves a good book.



*A bonus to this book is that there is going to be a film of it directed by Rowan Joffe and will star Nicole Kidman and Colin Firth, which will hopefully be realised sometime in 2014.

Grace by Grace Coddington

First Published: 2012 by Chatto and Windus (London)
Date Started: 12th June 2013
Date Finished: 16th June 2013
Genre: Autobiography/Memoir
Read For: Casual
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Grace Coddington has always played a massive part in the making of US Vogue magazine. Putting her all into her creative shoots, she helps to make the magazine what it is. Since the documentary, The September Issue, was realised, Grace has become known all over the fashion world. The documentary showed how Grace could be when working, but this book demonstrates who she really is.
From living in wartime Anglesey to being creative director of Vogue, her book tells the fascinating story of how she made it to where she is today.
Filled with funny stories and her own illustrations, this is a book for all fashion lovers all there.

I have no idea how many times I have watched The September Issue. Before I watched the documentary, I had never heard of Grace. When watching it, I loved what she did. I thought her shoots were amazing to look at as if they were a piece of art. She became someone who I looked up to and aspired to be. When I heard about this book, I knew I had to get it.

One of the great things about the book was that it didn't just talk about her work. She talks about her personal life including friendships, romance, and her family. It all builds up to where she is now. Photographs and illustrations help make the book even more fun to read.

Now that I've read the book, I've learned just how amazing Grace really is. Fashion lover or not, she's someone who can be looked up to. She's a hard-working and passionate woman who stands up for what she believes in.

My Life in Books (So Far)

Whilst eating my lunch today, I wanted to watch something on TV. After a bit of channel flicking, I saw a programme on BBC 2 called My Life in Books. I had never heard of it, but the title of it got me hooked on watching it straight away. The programme is hosted by Anne Robinson (who by the way, still does her classic wink face when ending the show, just like in the Weakest Link) and has two well known guests on. The guests sit on one sofa whilst Anne sits opposite them on another. Anne interviews both of them, switching back and forth, asking them to talk about the books they chose for the show with questions like why they chose them, what is there importance to them, and sometimes asking them to read a short extract from one or two of the books they chose.

After watching the show, I began thinking about what my life in books was like. I am only young but books have always played a big part in my life. In a way, this blog post comes in brilliant timing as next Monday is my 19th birthday, and so it allows me to look back on what books have made a mark on me in my life. So here it is, my life in books (so far):

Double Act by Jacqueline Wilson

"Ruby and Garnet are ten-year-old twins. They're identical, and they do EVERYTHING together, especially since their mother died three years earlier - but they couldn't be more different. Bossy, bouncy, funny Ruby loves to take charge, and is desperate to be a famous actress, while quiet, sensitive, academic Garnet loves nothing more than to curl up with one of her favourite books. And when everything around the twins is changing so much, can being a double act work for ever?"

Double Act has got to be my favourite book by Jacqueline Wilson. I was a huge fan of her when I was younger and I have to say now that she was probably the author who got me into reading. I did read a lot of her books but this one was the one I remembered liking and reading the most. I also loved, and still do love, Nick Sharratt's illustrations. They're so simplistic in how they are drawn and are so great to look at. Only a few years ago did I realise how she could write about real life issues in a way that children can understand and enjoy reading about. 

Jacqueline, if there ever is a chance that you read this, or if I ever get to meet you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for getting me into the beautiful hobby that is reading.

War Trash by Ha Jin

""War Trash" is the unforgettable story of Yu Yuan, a young Chinese army officer sent by Mao with a corps of volunteers' to help shore up the Communist side in Korea. When the Americans capture Yu, his command of English propels him into the role of unofficial interpreter in the psychological warfare that defines the POW camp. Desperate to return to his beloved fiancee and widowed mother, Yu is trapped by both barbed wire and politics."

This is just one of those books that have been written well and is extremely engaging. I remember that I got this from my local library as I just wanting something to read. I had no idea this existed and I had never really read anything like this before. This was one of those books that as soon as I woke up the next morning, I couldn't wait to continue reading it. When I go to the local library when I'm back home, I try to look for it on the shelves and hope that it's there. I haven't been in a while so maybe when I go there next, I'll try and find it again. By reading this book, it made me understand that trying out books that I don't usually read is a good thing to do as it allows me to be opened up to new experiences.

A Train in Winter: A Story of Resistance, Friendship and Survival by Caroline Moorehead

"On an icy dawn morning in Paris in January 1943, a group of 230 French women resisters were rounded up from the Gestapo detention camps and sent on a train to Auschwitz - the only train, in the four years of German occupation, to take women of the resistance to a death camp.The youngest was a schoolgirl of 15, the eldest a farmer's wife of 68; there were among them teachers, biochemists, sales girls, secretaries, housewives and university lecturers. The women turned to one another, finding solace and strength in friendship and shared experience. They supported and cared for one another, worked together, and faced the horror together. Friendship, almost as much as luck, dictated survival. Forty-nine of them came home. Caroline Moorehead's breathtaking new book is the story of these women - the first time it has been told. It is about who they were, how and why they joined the resistance, how they were captured by the French police and the Gestapo, their journey to Auschwitz and their daily life in the death camps - and about what it was like for the survivors when they returned to France. A Train in Winter covers a harrowing part of our history but is, ultimately, a portrait of ordinary people, of bravery and endurance, and of friendship."

I've always loved history. I love reading about it and I loved studying it (I did a GCSE and A Level in it). What I loved about this book was that not only did it tell in detail about the lives of the women before, during, and for those who were lucky, after , it allowed me as a reader to truly understand the value of friendship. The book showed how strong women back then could be and it emphasised how women were during the war, not just letting the men do all the fighting. As a woman, it taught me that I can fight for what I believe in and that it is possible to win. 

I hope you enjoyed reading this. I did only mention 3 books, but as I said, I'm only young. Perhaps I'll do another one of this post sometime ahead in the future. Let me know what your life in books is in the comments below.

Summer Hols.

Hey all, so sorry that I haven't posted anything in a long time. I've been really busy with uni coursework and sorting out a house for my second year. All my coursework is done now and the housing is more or less done (hopefully), so I should be back to blogging on a regular basis. I'm off for a glorious 4 months so I have loads of time to get some blogging done. I may be getting a job or volunteer work depending if I can find anything, but I hope that it doesn't effect this too much.

Thank you for you patience :)

Atonement by Ian McEwan

First Published: 2001 by Johnathan Cape (London)
Date Started: 05th April 2013
Date Finished: 09th April 2013
Genre: Fiction
Read for: Uni/1001 Books
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During the hottest day in summer in 1935, thirteen-year-old Briony Tallis witnesses something between her sister Cecilia, and childhood friend, Robbie, that ends up changing all of their lives from that day onward. Seeing her sister take off her clothes and go in the fountain, Briony's young imaginative mind ends up later telling all that she thinks is true, but all of them will end up feeling the pain for what she did for the rest of their  lives, and she will spend the rest of her life trying to atone.

The narrator being omniscient of the three main characters and often changing which characters view we are reading about, the story allows the reader to see and understand the lives and the choices each of them made, both in 1935 and in the future during WWII. As the story goes through two time periods, three if you include a further jump ahead of time but with just Briony, as a reader, we can see how over time, how they have developed as people as well as their opinions on that eventful day.
I really liked how Ian McEwan did this. To be able to see how over time the characters grow but still hold on to what happened that day is reflective of people in real life. McEwan held on close to what people in real life are like and that's what made it really interesting. Although the characters are fictional, they seemed like they could be real people and that made it gripping to read.

When reading the book, I felt like I was there. I could understand how and why all the characters acted the way that they did. I think when it comes to setting a novel that is in the past, in this case the twentieth century, as a writer, you have to make sure that you get all the facts right. It isn't just what was there and what wasn't, but also how people were back then. People like myself who were born in the later part of the twentieth century won't entirely act like those who were born in the earlier part of the twentieth century.

As the book covers several years, we learn how relationships can change, for better or for worse. McEwan not only includes the one between the three main characters, but also the ones with other family members. That day in 1935 does have an effect on some of the relationships, however, time itself and the way that life is demonstrates how relationships develop.
Romantic love for someone shows how far you're willing to go to be with them. For Cecilia, it means never speaking to her family again. Love is one of the themes that is covered in the book, and for the relationship between Cecilia and Robbie, it's that what keeps them going when they are not with each other, especially during the war when Robbie is out fighting with the army.
The emotions Briony goes through for the majority of the book shows that she is sorry for what she did and she wants to try and change what happened, even if part of her knows that it will probably not make much difference.
Relationships overall are dealt with really well and that makes the book a great read. It's a fictional story but with characters who could easily be people in real life.

Knowing how big of an author Ian McEwan is, I had been wanting to read some of his work and I now can see why he is a successful author. Atonement was an enjoyable read and I will definitely be reading more of his books. I'm wanting to now watch the film too, to see what it is like compared to the book. Hopefully it will be just as good.
    
 

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

First Published: 2002 by Cannongate Books Ltd (Edinburgh)
Date Started: 30th March 2013
Date Finished: 04th April 2013
Genre: Adventure
Read for: Casual/1001 Books
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Life of Pi tells the extraordinary story of young Piscine Molitor Patel (Pi) who is on the way to Canada with his family to start a new life, along with some of the animals in his father's zoo. When they are on the ship there, a sudden turn of events leads to Pi being stranded on a life boat in the Pacific Ocean. However, he is not alone. He is not with his family though, or any other people for that matter. In fact, he is with some of the animals who were on board the ship with him, including a Royal Bengal Tiger by the name of Richard Parker.

I loved reading about such a strange yet exciting adventure. At times I got so hooked reading it, I just needed to know what happened next. Before Pi ends up in the Pacific Ocean, Pi tells us about his upbringing, including his knowledge of zoology, both from studying it academically and living in a zoo. With this in mind, I was curious as to how Pi would use this in order to survive on the boat with Richard Parker and any of the other animals. The book is written in a way that as a reader, we can learn and understand the facts of animals and the choices Pi makes, and not be confused about it (I don't know about you, but I'm not a zoologist).
The animals in the story, especially Richard Parker, have been written to have their own characteristics. Although they are animals, I believed they were like their own people. Each animal is different in its own way, and it helps give a better element to the story in portraying Pi's adventure.

Religion is a theme that runs throughout the book and is very important to Pi. Being a Christian, Muslim, and Hindu, Pi is a character who is a big believer of faith and religion. He partakes in religious beliefs and acts, like praying, for all three religions, before and when on the life boat. At the beginning of the book, it does go on for a bit about Pi trying out all three religions and I did sometimes get bored by this. It wasn't till later on in the book that I realised how important this was, but at the beginning, it did seem to me that it could drag on a bit too much.

Clearly Yann Martel has done his research when it comes to showing how a person would survive in conditions like Pi is faced in. Martel made the decisions that Pi made seem like realistic choices that a person in real life in those same conditions would do. He made it fun to read and the more I read the book, the more closer I got to Pi. I could really understand his choices which reflected both his characteristics and the effects of being in the conditions that he was living with.

I won't reveal too much about the ending, but it was a surprise to me. It was a great twist to the story and makes you wonder what really did happen to Pi when he was out there. It is never told what is true and what is false in his adventure, but I'm glad it isn't. The overall theme and message to me is about faith and choosing what you want to believe in your life. Read the book and you'll understand why.    

The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson

First Published: 2012 by Hesperus Press Limited (London)
Date Started: 28th March 2013
Date Finished: 30th March 2013
Genre: Humour
Read for: Casual
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The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson tells the very funny story of Allan Karlsson, who on his one hundredth birthday is being thrown a party in the Old People's Home that he doesn't want. The mayor and the press are going to be there, and he will do anything to get out of going to it. So, not wanting to go to the party, he does what the title of the book says: he climbs out of the window.
Allan goes where life will take him, and soon ends up going on one huge adventure, meeting many people on the way. Most of these people end up being friends with him, but there are a few who are quite the opposite. Being a rather clever man when it comes to getting out of bad situations, and with the help of friends along the way, Allan continues to go with whatever will happen and with not a lot of bother and care whenever trouble is involved (which is pretty much the majority of the book).

I've never read anything quite like this before, and even though it is early on in the year, I have to say that this is my favourite book so far. It's laugh out loud funny and some of the characters are very unique. The narrative is written very well and at times made it hard to put down. The book is a translation done by Rod Bradbury as the original is written in Swedish. Although I've not read the original version (I'll let you guess the reasons as to why), I feel that Bradbury has done an excellent job of translating it to English. I did have some difficulty trying to think how to read the names of a few people and places, but nevertheless, I carried on reading.

One of the ways that I love the way that it's written is that it not only follows the present life of Allan, it also goes back in time to when he was younger, starting from when he was a child all the way to how he ended up in the Old People's Home. It really helps you to understand as a reader how Allan is the way that he is. Like in the present time of his life, Allan's life before he ended up in the Old People's Home is an exciting adventure. I'll not describe it to much as I don't want to tell any spoilers, but he ends up meeting with a lot of famous 20th century political leaders along the way, some end up being good friends and remembering him rather well, others who would very happily kill him.

This is a book that I would happily recommended to anyone who wants a good laugh and an addictive read. As it says on the cover, it's an international bestselling sensation,and I can see why it is. I have a feeling this is one of those books that I will re-read over time and still enjoy may years later.

York Literature Festival 2013

The week of 19th-24th March 2013 was a big week for literature lovers like myself. That week held the York Literature Festival, an event in which many guest speakers come and participate in events like reading from their work and teaching special workshops.

When I first heard about this a few months back, I was very excited. Getting told about writers coming to York and talking about what they do for their living made me feel over the moon. Studying for a joint honours degree in Creative Writing and English Literature, I loved the fact that I was able to take part in this event. I had never been apart of something like this, so as a student, and as someone who loves to read, it made me very happy.

The first event I went to was a workshop called Create Characters Not Caricatures with Kathlene Postma. Kathlene lives in the USA, and teaches creative writing at Pacific University in Oregon. She also writes poetry, short fiction, and non-fiction, as well as being an editor of the literary magazine, Silk Road. Kathlene has recently finished writing her first novel.
The aim of this workshop was to be able to write better characters in your stories, to make them seem more believable and making them more interesting to read about. Characters are one of the most important things when it comes to creative writing, so being able to present them well is a required skill. Giving out useful tips such as all characters have good and bad things about them, even if they only appear to be one or the other, made me realise how much attention needs to go into creating characters.

As well as this workshop, outside of the York Literature Festival, she came into my creative writing lecture and seminar that week to teach us students who were enrolled on the course. The creative writing side of my degree does feature a lot of guest speakers coming in to talk about their work, giving out advice, and allowing any questions we may have for them.
My assessment for this module is formative assignments, and for the week that Kathlene came in to teach us about fiction writing, focusing on the task for this week to write a fairy tale, the fairy tale being re-written in a contemporary form, or inventing a new one. Yet again, she gave us useful tips, which I shall hold on to very tightly.  Like in the workshop, we got to do writing exercises and she gave us useful feedback, telling us how we could improve our characters even more.
I felt like a learnt a lot from Kathlene that week, and I have to say that she has so far been my favourite guest speaker.

Moving on from Kathlene, I went to two other events. The first one of these was Will Self in Conversation. I hadn't read any of Will Self's work before, but knowing that he is such a well known writer and writes for newspapers like The Independent and The New York Times, I knew I wanted to see him. There is also the fact that his latest book, Umbrella, was short-listed for the Man Booker Prize for Fiction 2012, a definite bonus. On arrival at the event, there was a table selling his books. Judging from past experience, the books would have a few quid knocked off them, and there could possibly be the chance that he might do signings at the end. I eagerly bought Umbrella, with £2 off the original price. Being the huge book worm that I am, I tried to get the best seat I could (fifth row, right hand side, second seat to the left facing the stage, if you're interested).

When the event began, Will was interviewed by someone who helped to organise the York Literature Festival. His questions were mostly about his work but was asked about other interesting things too. I vividly remember him saying that 'Fifty shades is w**k' and that the new university fees which were recently put in place are 'dog-s**t'.
That aside, Will read an extract from Umbrella, explaining before hand where his inspiration to write the book came from. The reading was entertaining to watch, and he did get into the role of the characters.

At the end of the event, he did do signings, but he didn't have long to do this, so this end up leaving me quickly to gather my things, attempt to get out of the room as quick as possible, and rush to get into the queue. Luckily I was first (the lady next to me let me go ahead, thank you whoever you are. I am eternally grateful).

The other event that I went to was Simon Armitage. I knew some of his poetry well from school when I was doing my GCSE's. His poetry was some of the work featured in the anthology, so to be able to see him live in person was something I was very much looking forward to. The same procedure happened again for me: buy one of his books with a few quid knocked off (£2 again) and get a good seat (fourth row, right hand side, first seat to the left facing the stage, this time). I did though keep my book very close by, ready to pick up, along with my other things, if he was doing signings, so I could escape as quickly as possible.
Unlike the previous event, there was no interviewing going on, just him reading several extracts from his works. Unbeknown to me, he also writes fiction, which the book I bought was one of his fiction books. I was a bit disappointed that I wouldn't be able to read more of his poetry, but then I realised that it gave me the opportunity to read another side of his work that I didn't know about.

 Like Will Self did with his book, Simon explained the reasons why he wrote each piece of the work he was about to read out. It helps give a better understanding to the work knowing why it was written. He even read out some poems that I recognised from school which gave me a feeling of nostalgia.
I did get my book signed at the end of the event. I wasn't first in the queue this time, but I was quite close, so I was happy enough. As long as I would get it signed, that would leave me very happy.

 I really enjoyed going to York Literature Festival. I had such a good time. I've learnt new skills that will help me with my writing, and I got to listen to talks from famous writers and get their autographs. It was a brilliant week and I can't wait for next one.

Below are recordings I did of Will Self and Simon Armitage reading out their work if you want to watch it.
I'm not sure why they've turned on the side though and I apologise for the not so good quality. I had to lower it because the original files were too big and wouldn't upload.

Will Self is the top one. Simon Armitage is the bottom one.

Just a quick little apology

So sorry that I've not been posting anything recently. I've been busy with uni stuff so I've not had much time to post unfortunately. However, I'm now off for 3 weeks for my Easter holidays, so I will be getting some posts up, including a post about the York Literature Festival in which I went to a few events.

I'll be back writing soon to make up for me not posting these past couple of weeks. Hope you enjoy reading!

A lesson in the art of graphic novels.

This week in my creative writing module, Writing to Order, we are focusing on comics and graphic novels. As I don't tend to read them, I wasn't particularly keen on going to the lecture this morning. The week before, we had been given a handout with some comic and graphic novel sketches and scripts. I did have a quick flick through the night before, but I didn't really take much interest to it.                                                                                  I've never classed graphic novels as 'literature' as such, and for me, I didn't really understand why we had to study this. I have watched a review of some graphic novels on YouTube by booksandquills, which I did like watching, but I still was unsure by them then. However, by the end of the lecture, my viewpoint on them had taken quite the turn.

Our guest lecturer was someone who taught film and media where I study, but also does some teaching on the literature course. He would often talk about how he thought it was an art, and at the beginning, I was failing to understand his views on this. To me, they were just the comics and graphic novels that you would give to kids, teenagers, comic nerds, and manga lovers. They were, just basically, not my thing at all.

It wasn't until he gave us a five minute task to draw a few blocks of our own that my viewpoint changed. I'm not sure why it changed, but perhaps it could have been that because I was doing it for myself, I understood more how graphic novels can tell stories in the way that they do. He had explained this before we did the task, but I wasn't completely convinced. 
I'm not the best artist in the world, and plus we only had five minutes, but I felt like a story was beginning to get told. When I was doing this, it gave me the idea that if I had writers block, perhaps drawing out my ideas could help me out.

I've not converted to being a graphic novel fan as I've not read any for myself, but I'm thinking that I could give one a go and see what it's like. If you have any suggestions, let me know in the comments.



By the way, this is what I did. I told you I'm not an artist!

Sex and the City: Book vs. TV Series

Book: Written by Candace Bushnell

TV Series: Produced by Darren Star (HBO) from 1998-2004

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Ever since I was first introduced to the TV Series of Sex and the City, I was immediately hooked. I loved the four main characters, I loved the stories in each episode, I loved the fashion, and I loved New York City.

 

For those who don’t know what Sex and the City is about, it is about four best friends who live through the daily drama of a New York City lifestyle.  The four main characters are Carrie, Samantha, Miranda, and Charlotte; each successful in their own right, but when living in the big apple, there is always something bound to go wrong.  There is a main focus on Carrie though; a journalist who writes her own column based on her current life situations and those of her friends. This column is centered on each show and we often see her in the TV show on her laptop typing up articles.

What I do like about the book is that the New York City lifestyle is more focused on, not just with Carrie, Miranda, and Samantha, but with other characters mentioned as well (in the book, Charlotte is rarely mentioned). Characters are drawn into conversations about life in the city in a majority of the book and as a reader; it helped me establish a better sense of what it would be like to live there.  In earlier episodes of the show, this too does happen, but as the producers of the show make more series, this tends to happen much less, if at all.

The first TV series does follow some aspects from the book and when either reading or watching the show (depending on which you do first) you can see this quite clearly. The characters on the TV series are like the ones in the book which is something I really like the show as it is entertaining seeing how the producers of the show have attempted to portray them on TV.  As the making of more series happens, more characters are introduced. Not all of them are as important as the four girls, but some of them do play a big role and end up on the show until the end of the final series.  

In most cases, I prefer the book to the film or whatever it has been adapted to, but in this case, I actually prefer the TV series. I did like reading the book but I felt the TV series made it much better. With the TV series, I felt I could connect more with the four main characters and understand why they do what they do in order to get by. With the book, at times I felt as if there were too many characters and it made it difficult to engage with specific characters.  The blurb on my edition of the book mentions Carrie, Samantha, and Miranda and how they try to get on in their life, but they aren't seen much together, especially as a three. I felt as if Carrie is only really important towards about three quarters through the book, unlike in the book where she is highly focused.

I am glad that I read the book because I loved the TV series and so being able to see what it was like was a big enjoyment for me. Also, because I had read the two prequels of the book and series (not published till much later though), I wanted to see what this one would be like.  Knowing that I have read the book, I can happily state that I have read it, and seen the shows (as well as the two movies). As I have said, I do prefer the TV series more to the book, I think reading the book is something you should do if you like the show. One thing I would say though before reading the book is that don’t use your knowledge of the show as in a lot of the ways, the book is different and so might ruin the reading for you.

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

First Published: 1998 by Villard Books (New York)
Date Started: 24th February 2013
Date Finished: 25th February 2013
Genre: Non-Fiction
Read for: Uni
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Into the Wild tells the story of Chris McCandless, a man from a well-doing background, who when graduating college, gives up everything and decides to to hitchhike to Alaska. McCandless begins a new life out in the wild, but unfortunately, he ends up being found dead four months later by a hunter.

Although I do like reading non-fiction books, especially biographies, I haven't really read anything like this one before. Something that I found interesting about this, was that Jon Krakauer would also talk about other people like McCandless and explain how they were alike in whatever way. I was intrigued by this because at first I thought that maybe he was just trying to make the book thicker and/or he was struggling with what else he could put in. Upon reading though, I realised why Krakauer did this, and I'm kind of glad he did; it made me realise how throughout history, there have been other people who were like McCandless. Thinking about that now, it makes me wonder about why certain people go so far in the ways that they do to 'become one with nature'.
Another thing I was a bit unsure about (and part of me is still a bit unsure now) is that Krakauer talks about his own life, from being raised as a child to where he is now. I can understand why he did it as he can, in certain aspects, relate to McCandless, and as a reader I can see that too. For me though, it made me feel like he was trying to get something for himself out of this, like a little fame almost. I do feel bad writing that, but it is something that's playing on my mind.

Krakauer mentions the people who McCandless meets along the way and how they helped him out, him often returning the favour.I could see just how much these people grew to care about him. His family background is important as well as it helps to establish his relationships with each member and why, in some cases, McCandless made the decisions that he did. I liked that he talked about the family, before and after his death, as it allowed me to see how the relationships had developed over time.

I think I would of enjoyed this book more if I was into exploring nature and activities like climbing, but as I'm not, at times I didn't want to carry on reading as I found it a bit difficult to connect with McCandless and what he was doing. I am glad that I did though because firstly I had to do it for my course, but more importantly, it gained me a new insight into how biographies can be written.                                
However, maybe you don't have to connect with him, you just have to know what he did and why. As I mentioned, I'm not into the things that McCandless was, but if I was, could I have connected with him and therefore enjoy the book more?

The Radleys by Matt Haig

First Published: 2010 by Canongate (Edinburgh)
Date Started: 18th February 2013
Date Finished: 18th February 2013
Genre: Fiction
Read for: Uni
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At first, the Radleys seem like a normal family doing stereo-typically normal things and acting as if their is nothing wrong with them. They appear to be just an average family, or so that's what the kids think. When their teenage daughter, Clara, gets attacked on the way home from a party, life suddenly takes a dramatic turn.  They learn why they have to do certain things like put on Factor 50 before going outside and why they can't get much sleep.
When their uncle Will comes into the picture, everything truly changes and secrets are revealed that the parents tried so desperately to hide. What happens when he arrives gives a whole new meaning to life itself.

I really like what Matt Haig has done with the concept of vampires; he makes them appear more believable in how they behave and how they try to blend in with society, yet he still gives them supernatural traits what vampires were originally known for (so no sparkly vampires in this novel).

There is also the idea of the 'good vampire vs bad vampire' in the book, the good ones being the Radleys who don't attack humans to drink their blood and act like civilized human beings, and the bad ones being Will and a few other small characters mentioned, who do drink blood and also go on exciting adventures, travelling all over the world. This helped me more to connect with the characters and to understand why they do the things that they do.  It certainly made the novel more exciting knowing the actions and characterizations behind each individual character.

 In terms of the style of the chapters, they are split into days, the first being Friday. Within each day are several little chapters which makes the book very easy to come back to. Another good thing about this is that it makes it easier to switch between the characters and their situations.

A little bonus about the book is that it was featured on the TV Book Club 2011 and viewers voted it as their favourite summer read, so you know that it's going to be good.


----> Matt came to my uni as part of my Creative Writing module and talked about his work and what it's like to be a writer, as well as giving us advice and answering any questions we had for him. He came in for my lecture and my seminar which was great fun.

He was happy to give signings at the end of the lecture, and as you can see by the picture. I, of course got mine signed, being the huge book worm that I am.

Thanks Matt!

The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa, the African by Olaudah Equiano

First Published:1794 by T.Wilkins (London)
Date Started-8th February 2013
Date Finished-14th February 2013
Genre: Autobiography
Read for: 1001 Books
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The Interesting Narrative tells the life of Olaudah Equiano of when he was kidnapped and made to be a slave. The story narrates from being a child, to when he is a free man and trying to save other slaves, describing his many adventures and how each one helped to develop him as a person, including being told about the people in his life, those that have treated him well and those who have not.

One of things I loved about this is that it helped me to gain a perspective of what it was like to be a slave in his time. It allowed me as a reader, as well as someone who loves history, to understand what life could be like for them. When reading the book, I went through several emotions ranging from feeling sorry for him to being happy because of something good happening to him.
The way he tells his story helped me to connect with him and allowed me to understand not just a life of a slave, but how the slave trade worked and how people treated them. The book isn't just fact, fact, fact; it is,as the title of the book says, a narrative.

Something I did find a little strange though when reading this was that at the beginning of each chapter, he would give a brief summary as to what will happen in the particular chapter. This is something I had never come across before and so I found rather unusual. A lot of the time, I did find it a bit annoying as it is like a spoiler alert. However, I did sometimes like this as I knew what was going to happen and it made me want to carry on reading and find out more about what happens.

If your someone who loves history, especially eighteenth century, I would recommend this. The knowledge you gain from this is definitely one that will be hard to forget and will help you obtain a new perspective of the slave trade.