Literary Rebounds

As I turned the last page of my book and came to the end of Pi Patel’s story, I was slightly disheartened to realise that it had taken me seven weeks to finish the novel. At 348 pages, Life of Pi’s length does not rival War and Peace – imagine how long that would take me! As much as I’d love to spend every morning in bed, sipping an endless supply of coffee whilst devouring a wonderful novel, life gets in the way and such simple pleasures become Sunday’s prerogative instead.

In truth though, I’m no speed reader when it comes to fiction. I like to take my time, to re-read passages if necessary to understand and slightly overanalyse every detail that may conceal hidden emotions or motives. I suspect it’s due in part to a literature degree hangover. Having to read up to four plays and novels a week, there is something so delightful about reading at a leisurely pace with no time constraints.

Still, seven weeks is a long time to follow a character’s story. It wouldn’t have mattered if it had taken me seven days or seven weeks to finish Life of Pi, however, because I had spent a far more extensive period of time with Pi and his sole companion, a 450 pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

In total I had spent an agonising 227 days following the unlikely pair as, stranded at sea, they made their way across the Pacific Ocean in a small lifeboat. I had been on their journey; a safe bystander, but a witness nonetheless. That’s what great writing does: it transports us, geographically and temporally.

It’s a sentiment that my friend Rachel described brilliantly: “When you remember any book you've read, you don't remember being sat looking at words on a page. You remember scenes, you remember images; characters, locations, bright and vibrant as though you actually experienced them.”

It’s this immersive experience that I believe lends to the literary rebound effect, in which I just can’t seem to start a book the day I finish my previous one. It’s the equivalent of breaking up with a boyfriend at breakfast and finding a rebound by dinner. Hyperbolic, yes, but what can I say – I bloody love books.

The perfect Sunday, no?

I’m not equating the heartbreak of a relationship suddenly ending to the experience of finishing a book. But there are some undeniable similarities there: investing time getting to know someone and their world, and then not being part of it or following their journey anymore. Much like a breakup, I need time to process the closing of a chapter, before starting one in a new novel.

A great book is one that you simultaneously want to finish to learn the fate of the protagonists, yet don’t want to leave the characters and their quirks behind. The most poignant personal example that I can recall is finishing Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower quite a few years ago on holiday. It’s a beautiful, emotional story that I believe goes way beyond the confines of the ‘young adult’ genre.

As I read the epilogue, I wept on the beach, – my tears disguised by sunglasses, of course – deeply sad to close the book on the narrator Charlie’s life but also ecstatic to have reached the cathartic finale. As I dried my salty tears and stared out towards the sea’s rolling waves I did consider reaching for another book that was tucked away in my bag but thought better of it. Jumping into another world that same day oddly felt like I was being unfaithful to Chbosky’s characters. And so, instead, I laid down for a nap in the warm afternoon breeze, the book in my bag laid untouched for another day. 

NG <3

Photos via Shutterstock.

A Winter's Tale

I am currently a basic b*tch. And I'm not even sorry about it. The minute autumn is in sight I turn into a pumpkin-spice latté drinking, cinnamon-Yankee-candle smelling, scarf lover who can't help but tweet/instagram/pinterest my love of picturesque woodland walks.

I exaggerate of course (I'm more of a full-fat caramel girl myself) but my point is that I FREAKING love this time of year in a horrendously clichéd way. I can't help it that I approach a childish level of giddiness at the sight of an untouched pile of crisp, golden leaves, nor that my obsession with winter knits sees me bankrupt before I even begin thinking about Christmas shopping.

As much as I’ve tried to become an outdoorsy person I’m ultimately hardwired (as I suspect most of us are) to detest early rises and leaving my bed for the harsh winter weather. But isn’t that so much easier to do when you can snuggle into a woolly, oversized coat and soft, tartan scarf? Well, maybe not so much easier, but it certainly helps.

Nights in during the summer months can feel a little tedious. It seems that as the days get shorter and cooler there’s less regret in favouring an indulgent night in rather than braving icy nights on the town. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Christmas nights out and all the glamour associated, but sometimes passing on sequins and sangrias for cosy, button down pyjamas and a deliciously good book can be just as, if not more, rewarding. There’s a pile of books on my bedside table threatening to topple from ever increasing height and I can’t wait to make the most of winter nights and get stuck in. Laura Barnett’s The Versions of Us and Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar are at the top of my reading list. After that? I'm tempted to re-read The Picture of Dorian Gray; there's something more atmospheric about reading a chilling, beautifully written horror at this time of year.

It’s not just nights of literary enlightenment that have got me excited about staying in though. No matter what time of year it is, I love nothing more than a highly unproductive day lost to a Netflix series, preferably accompanied by my duvet and a mountain of Galaxy Caramel, but this season is particularly excellent for TV shows. I’m loving the new episodes of Crazy Ex- Girlfriend, Jane the Virgin and the glossy reboot of Dynasty - a sumptuous cocktail of Gossip Girl, The OC and well, every other bad but seriously addictive show about beautiful, rich people. It’s exactly what you’d expect from Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage which is a very good thing, especially when lazy Sundays roll around. That should keep me covered at least until the 27^th October when racing through season 2 of Stranger Things will inevitably become my priority.

Winter is a tale of two contradictions: the busy and the quiet. The weather may be bitterly cold and the grass may seem greener on the other side (i.e those long, hazy summer days) but there is something magical about the period, something that all too often gets lost in the frantic run up to Christmas. Winter should also be about relaxation and taking time to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. It is, after all, the most wonderful time of the year…

NG <3

Photo Credits: Kristin Vogt and Pixabay via Pexels. 

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Growing Pains

Something surprising has happened over the past few months; I think I’m finally growing up. At the start of the year I turned 23, hardly geriatric, but truth be told if my younger self looked a year ahead and saw me now I feel that she’d describe me as that word I once dreaded the most: boring. And I’m perfectly happy with that.

 A friend recently asked me on a night out in my hometown and I politely declined. The idea of spending a good hour layering on make-up and agonising over which black dress to wear (I swear they’re all so different) to spend an eye-watering sum of money on radioactive looking shots (drinks should not be acid green), only to wake up next to a greasy, potentially food poisoning inducing kebab did just not appeal to me.

I’m being hyperbolic of course, I’ve had some fantastic nights out in my hometown but of late I just can’t seem to fathom the idea of spending my night sticking to a club floor when I could be in bed indulging in a novel or my latest Netflix find. Bacardi and coke? I’ll stick to a peppermint tea and my book on the Brontës, thanks.

I recently took a walk down memory lane and returned to Nottingham, the city where I spent three years living as a student. It didn’t quite feel the same. During my gap year working I would escape to Nottingham any chance I got to visit my friends there. I suspect a secondary reason to my frequent visits was partial denial at the fact that I had graduated and wasn’t quite where I expected to be in life. I clung onto how walking through Lenton, my former stomping ground, made me feel like a student again, the future still full of possibility while the luxury of not having a definite plan was just part of the package.

I can’t pinpoint the change in my attitude, although I suspect it probably shifted when I began studying at Sheffield. Rather than view my MA as retreating back into a security of student life, I approached it knowing that it would pass quickly and that I would have to consider the future from the minute I stepped foot on campus. It’s daunting but I’ve embraced it. During my gap year I felt stilted; despite having a full time job I was hovering about and didn’t feel quite like an actual adult while I was so fresh out of uni. Ironically, returning to university has made me feel more grown up than ever.

We reached peak Ocean in 2013

During my recent trip to Nottingham I returned to a student club where I spent many boozy nights as an undergrad. I swore I’d never grow tired of the place, from its overpriced VK chasers to the eclectic playlist that jumped from the Arctic Monkeys to Paul Simon to S Club 7 within an hour. “I’m too old for this shit,” I told my friend, barely audible over ‘Lady Marmalade’ (told you the music was brilliant).

The real sour cherry on top of the cake was when the only member of the opposite sex outside the group I was with spoke to me: “So are you a first year then? What hall are you in?” he asked. “No, I’m 23,” I replied. I then gave this very fresh-faced fresher a pearl of wisdom that I certainly didn’t take on board when I was 18: “you’re going to have the best three years of your life. Enjoy every minute. It’ll be over before you know it.”

I felt like I’d moved on from my days in Nottingham, being there felt like I was replaying a happy memory in my mind, in a ‘been there, done that’ sense. And so my friend and I left before midnight, got in our cosiest PJs, had a cup of tea and played a game of monopoly. This ‘boring’ life isn’t so bad after all…

NG <3

Cat photo credit: David O'Hare via Flickr

February Reads

Ahh, February. You crept up so quickly. January was an intense month full of media law revision and enjoying the subsequent week of freedom that followed said exams. During that week I finally got stuck into a pile of books that have been gathering dust on my shelf since last year and am looking forward to whizzing through these this month (although admittedly they will probably see me well into March).

Q&A a day

Although it's not a novel or a 'February read' as such, this 5 year journal is a perfect way to briefly chronicle your thoughts and feelings each day. Every page has a new, simple question, ranging from trivial topics to more serious matters, with space to write an answer on that same day for 5 years. It's a fantastic way to chart how you evolve through the years while indulging in nostalgia and self-reflection.

Viral by Helen Fitzgerald

I sped through this novel in 2 days. It's about a young girl whose life is turned upside down after a video showing her performing sex acts at a club in Magaluf goes viral. The book follows the toxic chain reaction of events after the video becomes infamous and raises serious questions about misogyny and identity. It's a gripping thriller which had me hooked from the provocative first line.

Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart

I can't wait to start this novel after I finish Invincible Summer. It's a true story based on Constance Kopp, one of America's first female deputy sheriffs. The novel follows the life of Kopp and her sisters and their struggle against a ruthless factory owner in the early 20th century.

The Establishment by Owen Jones

I've been dipping in and out of this book for about a year now but now, more than ever, seems like a poignant time to read it. The Guardian columnist writes about the UK government and the privileged few who are really pulling the strings in this powerful bestseller.

Invincible Summer by Alice Adams

The novel follows four friends, Eva, Benedict, Sylvie and Lucien, as they navigate their lives after meeting and graduating university. Is their bond really as strong as they first thought when they go down different paths in life? As I'm finishing my MA course later this year, the story of friends finding their place in the world after graduating is very appealing.

What are you planning to read in February? Do you have any recommendations?

NG <3

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July Favourites

Wow, July. Sorry to sound a touch cliche but you flew by! It's that time again when I fill you in on my best products/pieces/literature/films of the previous month. Sometimes I consider not doing these posts anymore as this area of blogging is over saturated but I don't think I'll stop doing them purely for the fact that I have so much fun putting them together and revisiting the previous month. And because I never tire of reading them.

Max Factor Wild Mega Volume Mascara

Now I've heard some mixed reviews about this cheap and cheerful product from Max Factor but I have to say it is a winner for me. Although I do hold the opinion that mascara is slightly similar to foundation, as in what works for one won't necessarily work for another. My mascara checklist is as follows;

• Volume-and lots of it!
• Length-even in the daytime I still love big lashes.
• A product that's relatively clump-free.

To be honest for the price, £4.99, I wasn't expecting it to give me the bold lashes I craved but I was pleasantly surprised. The packaging is a lot less sleeker than the typical Max Factor products but at least it's easy to spot in your make up bag!

17 Back Lash Mascara

As you can tell I've been on a bit of mascara binge this month and to be honest the only reason I purchased this particular mascara was because it came with a free eyeliner! I don't think I've ever tried a 17 mascara before so to be honest I had indifferent expectations. It's a great mascara for subtle length and is not too OTT. Honestly, this is just a great back-to-basics mascara. Nowadays there's so many different formulas, brush shapes and effects so its refreshing to have a simple mascara that gives you a little length.

Sleek i-Divine Palette in 'Snapshots'

I'm no beauty wild-child but I do love a bright colour! What I love about this palette from Sleek is the variety of colours, from sugary pastels to vivid brights. The colours are highly pigmented and to be honest the only grumble that I have concerning this product is the Sleek administration and their customer services regarding faulty orders. The next time I purchase Sleek products it will definitely be in superdrug and not over the companies' website.

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in '16'

This was my first ever Kate Moss lippie and I actually bought the shade by mistake, picking out the wrong number. And, boy I'm glad I did. It's not a colour I'd usually go for, and is quite peachy and fluorescent but to be honest but it worked so well even with my pale complexion-especially when teamed with smoky eyes! It's not the longest lasting colour but I do love the creamy consistency and to be honest I'm won over 100% by the shade.

Blue/Turquoise/Green Rings

There's something about the colours blue and green in summer. They just automatically take my mind to a refreshing, aqua coast in the Mediterranean, even on the gloomiest of days. I found what I've been incorporating my new favourite colour into the most is accessories, particularly rings. These are my two favourite ones at the moment, the one on the left was from a holiday and the one on the left I got from Accesorize years ago as a gift.

Bag, a gift

One of my favourite places to shop or receive gifts from is far away destinations because you know you're really getting a unique piece. My parents got me this from Tunisia and it, quite literally, has not left my arm this month. Dark brown is my favourite colour for bags and I love the glossy finish of the leather.

 

Warm Bodies

At the start of July I was left in sole charge of a house and a dog, I think it was secretly my parents way of forcing me to live more independently, whilst they jetted off to Africa. So what did I do? Probably the opposite of what your standard 19 year old would do (i.e many parties, even more alcohol), and went to Blockbuster and rented a stack of movies to catch up on. Yes, it was all very thrilling, I can assure you. My favourite film I watched of the month, and probably the year, was Warm Bodies, the zombie romance (yes, really) starring the deliciously brooding Nicholas Hoult and my new girl crush Teresa Palmer. So the whole vampire/ human love story has been done, as has the werewolf (I'm looking at you Mr Lautner)/ human/vampire love triangle. So it was inevitable that a zombie romance would arise from the grave. And, surprisingly, it  worked. Sure, a zombie can't exactly work the rugged good looks of Damon Salvatore, but it was actually a really sweet, well-thought out plot with characters that were likable, and SMILED. Even the zombie.

Elle Magazine

If you are a regular reader you will know that for me Elle is the one. It's an inspiring, thought-provoking magazine (the world's best selling fashion magazine, nonetheless). A couple of months ago Elle had a 'digital-age' makeover and to be honest I wasn't impressed. I'm not the biggest fan of change. But now the magazine has had several issues to warm up their new layout and I have to say I love the change now even more so than the original layout.


What have been your July favourites?


NG <3

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What's in my Bag? Travel Edition

As you may know from my last post, I have recently been on holiday to Spain and seeing as 'What's in my Bag' posts are SO popular I've decided to update my own and show you what was inside my hand luggage whilst travelling.

Boohoo Bag.

Forget passports and boarding cards, reading material is my ultimate holiday essential and even though I usually won't even finish reading a magazine on a single flight, for some reason I insist on taking all my reading material in my hand luggage. This time round I elected Cosmopolitan, Elle and Company plus my trusty Kindle. And the eager beavers amongst you may realise that these magazines are from last month and outdated but I have a lot of magazine catching up to do! I also keep a small notebook in my bag just in case I get an idea in my head that needs to be jotted down in the moment.

Of course all liquid cosmetics have to be under 100ml so I always bear this in mind when packing-I couldn't bear to throw a perfectly good cream away! In my hand luggage I tend to stick to the absolute minimum with a uniform of quick fix products for touching up pre-landing. Amongst these are 17 Shimmer Brick in 'Golden Bronze' for a golden flush of colour and shimmer to cheeks, Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in '16', a peachy shade that instantly perks up a tired face, a waterproof mascara, lip balm and Rimmel Cocktail Collection Nail Polish in 'Shirley Temple'. I also pack a moisturiser to keep skin hydrated.

The rest of my hand luggage is usually made up of everyday essentials like my phone, iPod and purse. Also when travelling to a hot destination I always pack my sunglasses because they a) hide tired eyes and b) are a must for facing the sun. I usually take a hairbrush with a few extra bobbles so I can do a quick updo as my hair often ends up static when I'm on a plane! And you can never resist a sweet treat for the ride!

What are your hand luggage essentials?

Oh and on another quick note don't forget to follow me on  bloglovin' so you stay in touch when google reader goes down!


NG <3

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Wise words

"There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written or badly written"

-Oscar Wilde

NG <3