New Reads



I finally fulfilled the new-book craving I have been having.
I went to Waterstones, spent too long browsing then grabbed two books as I left. But, sometimes that's the best way to do it.
I am going away and will be spending a ludicrous amount of time travelling so I thought these would while away several hours or would provide an escape from the obvious revision that will be taking place.

Lolita-Vladimir Nabokov (3.87 rating on Goodreads)
'Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta.'

This book is widely controversial. It is overtly presented as a book about pedophilia and, reading reviews, I have found accounts of people who are shocked that anyone would read a book about this topic. In all frankess, I was attracted simply to the beauty of the opening paragraph (above)-just the way it was written. Pure craft.
I cannot predict what I will make of this text; it was banned at one point in the UK but is now one of the '100 books you should read before you die' and is used as an option of A-level Eng. literature so I am hoping to find it analys-able and complex. This review I found put it really well so it may be worth reading.

In a Dark, Dark Wood-Ruth Ware (3.62 rating on Goodreads)

"Someone's getting married. Someone's getting murdered. In a dark dark wood. Nora hasn't seen clare for ten years. Not since Nora walked out of school one day and never went back. There was a dark, dark house. Until, out of the blue, an invitation to Clare's hen do arrives. is this the chance for Nora to finally put her past behind her? And in the dark dark house there was a dark, dark room...But something goes wrong. Very wrong. And in the dark, dark room...Some things can't stay secret forever."

This sounds so much more chilling than I am prepared for. I never really know how I deal with horror but this sounds fast pace and gripping and I adore books like that. It sounds dark and mysterious and I can't wait until I am away to begin reading it.

***
Speaking of books-I reread my favourite book-'We Were Liars' and I decided I would tell you my thoughts. I appreciate this book mostly for the insane writing style, it's confusing and complex but totally necessary to develop a good story. The mystery that surrounds it before you read it is, again, totally necessary to get the full 'experience' but, after reading it for the second time, I am still in love with it. I cried, which was a first, and felt such deep sympathy for the main character. I saw their flaws clearer than I did the first time but felt such heartache for Cadence. If you haven't read this, 100%  do it. Now.

I hope these will last me the two weeks I am away for, although I do have a few more stacked up on my shelf.
Have you read either of these books? What did you think?

Katie x
Twitter - Bloglovin - Instagram

Pinterest Round-Up


A Floral Wonderland by Cameo The Label:                          

.: Color me happy.:                 
of literature:


Lee Miller in Hitler's Bathtub 1945:
From my first time reading it, this quote has stuck with me...:

 : ••••:  



If you were to sum me up from this post, you would infer that I dream of lazy days charmed with adolescent youth, am a true fan of florals dashed with pastel tones, hope of (in a less morbid way than it sounds) escaping me and finding the 'joie de vivre' and just really bloody love F. Scott Fitzgerald. 

I suppose this is all true.
***
The picture of the lady in the bath is from an exhibition I went to see at the Imperial War museum not too long ago. Lee Miller's 'A Woman's War' and basically she is sitting in Hitlers bath, just hours after he committed suicide. It is highly staged and speaks a thousand words. 

I adore Pinterest and, as my idol (F.S.F) so eloquently put, you discover your longings and fears are universal. If anyone fancies following me, you can find my page here although I would say, look at my likes rather than my pins, they are far more interesting. 

Katie x
Currently: Reading: The Road to Wigan Pier//Missing: Sunshine and freedom//Loving: Friends and words//Lusting: A few more hours in the day

*
I am doing an EPQ  (extended project qualification-qualifies as half an A-level, an additional qualification thats kinda like a basic Masters) into the mind frame of the perpetrators of the Holocaust. I have a questionnaire that I am using to gather primary research-if you were interested you could fill it out (find it here)-it would be super helpful. I know its quite wordy and they are tough questions but it would be really useful!

February

01-01-16//After a job interview that left me in tears, a fun flute choir session at the Sage, Gateshead

02-02-16//Tulips

 03-01-16//Funky trousers that brightened my day up

04-01-16//Cinnamon bagel and tea after getting mock results

05-02-16//It was friday, the sun was shining brightly, I was wearing no makeup and I got a letter from Alice. As you can tell, I was happy.

06-02-16//Lunch (that purple stafff is beetroot humous)

07-01-16//Des promenades avec mon chien

08-02-16// THIS PHOTO IS HORRIFIC IM SORRY (its supposed to be the lights on the quayside)
 09-01-16//My sisters bday

10-01-16//These flowers always make me smile as I walk out the door

11-01-16//Readin'

12-01-16//Ignore the dirty windows omg

13-02-16//New trousers

14-02-16//The beach


 17-02-16//I dressed up as a star for a fancy dress party, unfortunately I missed the copious amounts of glitter I used. I painted yellow stars on my legs with acrylic paint, wore a pink sparkley dress and drowned my facial features in iridescent sparkles.

18-02-16//Fresh walks on the beach

19-02-16//A delicious lunch with Alice

20-02-16//Blossom

21-02-16//A picnic on a walk

22-02-16//Avcoo

23-02-16//Late winter evening

24-02-16//Quotes in my diary

25-02-16//If I ever can't find something to photograph, I choose my window

26-01-16//English

27-02-16//Partyinggg

28-02-16//The BEST breakfast

29-02-16//Unfortunately, I would have been happier without this extra day. But, a typical evening treat.

Another month fini, where is it going,
February, upon reflection, has been quite a trial but I am looking forward, although I am not really sure that's what I want to be doing.

Highlights:
-Pleasing mock results
-Drastic haircut
-Meeting new friends
-Fancy dress party
-Seeing the author of one of our English texts, we thought it was going to be a bit of a pisstake as we hate the text but it was really informative
-Spending the day under duvets with my pals
-Getting back into running (kinda)

Read:
-The Road to Wigan Pier-George Orwell
-I am Malala, Malala Yousafzai
(neither yet finished)

Have a good March,
Katie x

Instagram