REVIEW: THE SILVERSMITH'S WIFE by Sophia Tobin (2014)

Rating: ****  ( 4 Stars)

 

Brief reasons for ratings:

 This debut novel from Sophia Tobin would pluck at the heartstrings of the most hardened of criminals. Although I feel that it would have been to the reader's benefit for there to have been a few more signposts on the journey through the story at times, the swift changes of direction might arguably add to the mystery of the book. The plot is certainly not predictable, and feels increasingly intimate as the narrative proceeds. Berkeley Square is beautifully described and brings about a gothic 'small village' feel to the characters interactions, and the additional descriptions of the crafting of precious metals lends a mythical, dragonish fascination with the items made and sold throughout the plot.

Recommended for:

Fans of historical fiction and crime. Suggested age 16+

Analysis:

Tobin's excellence lies primarily through her characterization- Mary, the fragile near-gothic widow, seems both freed and more tightly bound by the absence of her bullying former spouse. She is both obvious suspect and clear victim in a strangely ethereal and beautifully appealing manner. Joanna, lady's maid and very complex woman, is an earthy opposite, as is Mallory, Mary's sister, and these two provide context of the more 'standard' lifestyle of a woman in 1792. Children, of course, are a key device and both Joanna's lost babe and Mallory's brood design much of their reactions and personality within the story. The men within the story seem to be cast more firmly into either good/evil roles, and the time spent developing Pierre, Alban and Digby in particular strongly encourages interest in their perspectives and relationships.

OVERALL:

Very much recommended as a book for the commute, as I liked being able to dip in and out, and found this allowed me to think about the characters and their decisions with more objectivity. Not for the faint of heart, but very accessible and absorbing, especially to fans of the historical/crime/psychology genres.

The Curious Incident of the Hound in the Night-Time: Thoughts on The Hound of the Baskervilles by A Conan Doyle, 1901-1902.

Rating: ***  (3 Stars)

 

Brief reasons for ratings:

 

Although I very much enjoyed this story, I felt that it was not one of the best Great Detective mysteries. Sherlock was in absentia for a large percentage of the plot, and Watson, in my opinion, is portrayed as a little too bumbling for my interest.

Recommended for:

Sherlock Holmes fans, all ages, and especially readers of Gothic mysteries and crime thrillers set in Victorian times.

Analysis:

‘You ain’t nothing but a hound-dog,

cryin’ all the time…’

Elvis Presley, Hound Dog, recorded 1956, written by Lieber & Stoller.

 

As with so much in life, Elvis cuts straight to the point.

My first thought upon sitting down to review this Sherlock Holmes story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, serialized 1901-1902, was not of Watson, Holmes, Sir Henry or any other human character in the book, but in fact of the Hound. 

The titular dog (which I personally picture as some sort of oversized mastiff gone mad) is a truly fantastic gothic literary device, serving as the ‘ravenous beast’ that terrorizes the people of the rural area of Dartmoor which surrounds Baskerville Hall. In the same way that myths of a hideous and hungry monster living in a nearby forest might have circulated through villages and campfires ‘back in the day’ (so to speak), this hound is the figurehead on which all the horror of the novel is centered. Take, for example, the most oft quoted sentence and climax of the first ‘act’ of the novel, uttered by Dr Mortimer:

"Mr. Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!"

All this drama- and just for footprints! The presence of the animal itself is not necessary, even, to stir unease within a reader. This suggestion of, and then focus on a figure of horror, especially when also featured in the title of the work (‘The Monk’, ‘Dracula’ etc), is a standard and effective feature of Gothic storytelling. In fact, it is almost an authorial standard recipe for increasing the fear factor of your ‘beast’- introduce the possibility of a supernatural threat, strengthen the evidence for its existence, then produce it at a suitably theatrical peak for maximum horror. However, rarely is it done in such a short space, with such good effect, without their actually being a supernatural component to the threat- the mark of quality writing in my opinion.

The backdrop effect of the almost medieval setting of the Hall is remarkable in itself. Set in isolation, with few servants, and all the creepy horror paraphernalia weather and location can produce for atmosphere (including fogs, mists, swamps, deep dark nights, significant amount of moon presence/absence, and of course the chilling baying of the hound on the hunt…) these important items increase the ‘dread’ factor of the story, and support the heroic qualities of Watson and Holmes in tackling the mystery. The chills and sense of creeping threat gained from the inclusion of these in the work cannot be undervalued, especially when the threat of the hound is most strongly present in the story, boosting the urgency and driving the plot, as the mystery must be solved before Sir Henry is literally killed by the unknown.

My favourite passage from the book, in fact, begins when a dark and foggy evening descends across Dartmoor. While Holmes and Watson stake out Merripit House, Sir Henry leaves a friendly dinner, not aware that while he walks, the vile character Stapleton has unleashed the hound! What a great moment of transformation from normality to gothic horror…

Imagine- you’re stumbling, slightly tipsy, home across the dark fields at night, warm and cosy from dinner. Finally you’ve had a night off from thinking about murder, and time to relax! It’s a misty night, and you just bumble along, full of food and warm thoughts. Perhaps you have a small lamp or torchlight to see where to put your feet (watching out for the quicksand, you see), but it barely shines a meter ahead of you. Then, startling, in the distance (or is it closer?) a mournful howl… Creeping fear of the predator sets in. It’s baying at the moon, demanding blood, and then- only then- does the cold dark creep in across the miles of empty moorland and surround you, along with the knowledge that wherever it is, it’s coming for you…

Eeek!

OVERALL:

You’ll have to read the story for yourself to find out what happens and feel the truly spine-tingling aspects of this book…

Perhaps my only criticism would be that the mystery is too easily solved, shortening the suspense earlier than necessary. However, this is after all a mystery novel of the Great Detective, and not in fact, an Ann Radcliffe gothic novel, and so perhaps better suited to those who like a touch of horror with their mystery, rather than vice versa. 

However, it is worth noting also that this is one of the stories which shows Conan-Doyle’s interest in the supernatural, and as such may be a reflection of his interest in (and eventual adoption of) Spiritualism, which is recorded significantly in another novel called ‘The Land of Mist’ which I thoroughly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good ghost story.

All in all, having re-read and enjoyed this book, I can definitively confirm that Holmes and Watson are far braver than I. Call me overly imaginative, but I would most certainly not walk the moors at night….


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
[N.B. A version of this post is also available on The Edge of Reading, the blog for a book group I belong to. Check it out!]

REVIEW: The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (1999)

SPOILERS are included in this review.

Rating: **** (4 Stars)

Brief reasons for ratings:

I found this beautifully written novel is both moving and deeply sad, while being unable to put it down. Although this has been on the market for a while now, and even had a film version released in 2012, it is still fresh and will be relevant to a wide cross section of readers. My only criticism, which is rather personal, is that I believe that it starts off rather too slowly - I felt that a greater impact and appreciation of Charlie's character and issues would have been taken from a more decisive beginning.

Recommended for:

Some sensitivity must be used here, as the content could be upsetting for those who may have personal connection or particular awareness of some of the issues in the book, or children/young adults going through a troubled time. However, the book is very suitable for 16+, and particularly those readers who are able to draw conclusions and analyze as they read or as part of a discussed/class reading project.

Analysis:

The Perks of Being A Wallflower is narrated by 'Charlie' (an alias), in the form of letters to 'a friend'. Through this epistolary style, Charlie reveals his introspection, social awkwardness and some fairly serious mental health problems, which all seem to originate from the death of his Aunt Helen on his birthday, which falls at Christmas.

Chbosky details the agony of teenage years with a surprising respect for the difficulties experienced, and a sympathetic yet direct clarity which expects objectivity from a reader- especially when Charlie comes head to head with controversial topics such as drug use, sexuality and mental health. Charlie's personable character is at its most endearing at such times, with a naive and non-judgmental attitude, he skates over prejudice and, as a fellow social misfit, is firmly accepted into the group. 

Charlie's family seem a casual mixture of self-involved, oblivious and simply ordinary which provides a rather lightly shaded background upon which Charlie's personality and problems stand out to the reader. However, this sheer normality also allows for Charlie's issues to both be accepted as Charlie's own personal norm, and be disregarded as such. The appeal of this to the reader is that it highlights the possibility of the circumstances and the horror of them in a very strong, relate-able manner: this family could be yours. It could be your neighbor. It could be your friend. Statistically, the probability is that everyone has come across (whether aware or not) someone who has had to deal with some kind of abuse, and this happens to normal people- Chbosky's novel brings this home in a very rounded, gentle, terrible fashion. 

However, the vast majority of the plot focuses on Charlie's current life, friends and experiences, and these are not often overshadowed by events his past, except through his own (lack of) social skills. The relationship between Charlie and Sam, and development of Charlie's sexuality, is what truly brings about Charlie's recovered memories of trauma. This is encouraged by his awareness of Patrick's homosexual relationship with the school jock, and his protection of Patrick when this falls apart. 

The famous quote from this book is about feeling 'infinite', and the infinity of youth, which narrows to an acute awareness of time passing as we grow older, is very present within the novel. One aspect of this that particularly interests me, is the subtlety and kindness with which this concept is developed for the reader. Perhaps writing with the younger reader in mind, Chbosky shows a growing awareness of morality, human frailty, the possibility of choice and the responsibilities of adulthood. Charlie passively encourages the readers awareness of this burgeoning mental ability to understand and cope through his narration and reactions to 'typical' teen stimuli- for example, Charlie's choice to kiss Sam and not Mary Elizabeth, and the peer censorship he receives for this 'wrong' choice.

OVERALL:

This book is a thoughtful, inspirational, uplifting and honest. Warm while exploring some of the coldest aspects of human experience, Charlie is a 'hero' that is engaging and intelligent and Chbosky tells his story with delicate sensitivity. A book to be read with some care, which gives back more food for thought the longer you spend thinking about each page, I very much enjoyed the novel, and will certainly consider watching the film additionally.

Book Club: The New (literary) Black

Book Group? But that's something that my Mum does!

Richard and Judy, Radio Four and the like have a LOT to answer for in my opinion....

Somehow, the idea of a group of intelligent people getting together in a semi-bohemian fashion and talk about books that have made them think/feel/change in their very cores has become 'uncool' and therefore a thing of the past. I mean, very few people in their 20's these days have the ability to host a large group of people in their home, serve canapes and wine and contribute enthusiastically to a discussion while doing so. How did book clubs become 'pre-retro' (as in, they haven't come back into fashion- yet) and why is there this strange anticipated catering etiquette around having 'a bok club meeting'?

In the good old bohemian days, a really good book would take the world by storm. Discussed more than Kim & Kanye's new sprog (or the equivalent) by those in the know, a book might provoke arguments, passionate defenses, a new philosophy or at the very least a lot of deep reflection. People might talk together about new ideas offered, and their merits or flaws. Authors might discuss their works together (like the Inklings group attended by J R R Tolkein, C S Lewis amongst others) and read aloud their new projects for criticism/review.

Call me vintage, but that sounds absolutely awesome. Talking about books you love, with intelligent people (and probably wine)? What's not to love, people!? 

So when a friend set up an event for such a group, I went along and had an awesome time talking about Neil Gaiman's 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane' (review to follow), and some very nice wine, with some very intelligent people. We're all still working on the details (and a name!) but all will be revealed in due time. In the meantime, I urge you- go forth and book club!

Of course, if you're in Oxford, and interested in joining us, let me know and we'll get some details to you when we can...

Have a good week!

Emma

Ben Aaronovitch's Broken Homes: The relationships of nature and the unnatural

REVIEW: Broken Homes by Ben Aaronovitch (2013)

SPOILERS are included in this review.

Ratings:

Broken Homes: ***** (5 Stars)

Brief reasons for ratings: The latest in the Peter Grant series (now comprising four titles, starting at
Rivers of London (UK title), Moon Over Soho, Whispers Under Ground and now continuing with Broken Homes) carries on the narrative flow smoothly from the previous novels. The new addition brings new detail about familiar characters and wends its way through a beautifully shaped plot to a rather surprising end. I was carried through on a wave of excitement, and really didn't want to set the book down until the final page had been turned- and even then rather excessively enjoyed the Author's note ('mine, mine I tell you!')... Personable, unpretentiously intelligent and humorous in a particularly British/Londoner style, this book is as magical and intricate as London itself. 

Recommended for:

YA readers, those who like fantasy fiction with 'many levels' and lots of fun vocab/language and all Londoners in general. Particularly recommended for fans of Terry Pratchett-esque blends of magic and realism, who like a good mix of crime, magic, 'headology' and plot twists, as they will love this book (and the series). Also recommended is that once you've purchased a copy, you set aside some time, some tea and some hobnobs, because you won't want to leave the sofa for a good while....
 

Analysis:

The wonder of the magic within this series is that it is treated much like an undiscovered, under-budgeted science. This is continued in the same way, as the magical task force that the main characters belong to are a tiny, under-budgeted branch of the Metropolitan police. Both evoke a strong sense of solid (British) government/beaureaucracy and realism that serves as a fantastic and atmospheric backdrop for the more surreal moments in the story.

  As well as including Nightingale as a more 'Gandalf' type traditional wizard (come on- Shadowfax would have definitely been a Jaguar if he was around these days) mentor figure, Peter Grant's modernity serves as a very grounded and real update to the stereotypical 'young apprentice' character. Peter's ability to adapt the world around him to include both modern conveniences (electricity, computers etc) and magic (Latin, spells etc) is very Steve Jobs and communicates his intelligence as well as his witticisms and smart decisions do throughout the book.

Aaronovitch's fascination with nature, the unnatural and human construction is very present within the book. This is even mirrored in the positioning of the magical folk/anthropomorphized and symbolic nature deities as both part of and opposite to the city of London itself. Taking multiculturalism a step further forward, the characters in this book are of varied personality, ethnicity, background and class, and it only serves to further a very strong sense of culture- Londoner first, everything else, second- and a sort of direct honesty that may, upon occasion, make the mild mannered cringe.

The nature/construction theme very much applies also to the architecture featured within the novel, and I particularly enjoyed the Hanging Gardens of Babylon and Terry's Chocolate Orange attributes of the council block that features as a main plot device (to find out more, read the book!) The inclusion of an architect and a variety of architectural description to set the scene and encourage mood is interestingly done in a subtle and yet consistent fashion that is surprisingly satisfying for even those with minimal architectural interest.

Setting aside the more traditional 'detective story' themes allows the author an extra degree of freedom to take his characters to places that really define both them and the authors style. For example, the fight in the Goblin Market takes place in a way that is more reminiscent of Jason Bourne in extreme domestic violence than a wizards duel. The narrative is freely but well shaped, and flows naturally downstream, carrying the reader with it- with only a few accidental dunks under the surface. For me, the betrayal at the end was more serious than it seemed to Peter Grant, and that reminded me of one of his greatest skills- being able to adapt to whatever life throws at him. Whether that is Faceless men, wizards, the King of the Fairies or simply his mother after some money, Peter Grant's endearing sturdiness and adaptability is one of him most redeeming strengths.  

OVERALL:

Thoroughly enjoyed myself reading this book, and fully intend to take a second pass at it, to check that I didn't miss anything awesome on the first read. Looking forward to the next one already!

Marcus Sedgewick: Vampires for Clever Children (and adults).

 REVIEW - Marcus Sedgewick

N.B.: This review will contain SPOILERS for both books.

 

Ratings:

 My Swordhand is Singing: ***** (5 stars)
The Kiss of Death: **** (4.5 stars)

Brief reasons for ratings: I felt that The Kiss of Death lacks some of the fear factor of My Swordhand is Singing, and does not have so strong a sense of locational horror, which I particularly enjoyed in the first novel. My Swordhand is Singing is one of the best YA horror novels that I have read in years, and takes enough from historical stories to fit in well with tales of vampire/werewolf history (the legend of Peter Stumpp, for example) while bringing a very fresh originality to the table.
 

Recommended for:

YA Fiction fans, Vampire enthusiasts.
 

Analysis:

I have recently read both My Swordhand is Singing, and it's follow-up, The Kiss of Death, by Marcus Sedgewick, and quite frankly, I am a little blown away.

Set in the 1700s and 1800s respectively, these books both feature a boy and girl, and their encounters with vampires and 'The Shadow Queen'. 

A writer with an exceptionally clear 'voice' and style, part of the eerie nature of these stories is the almost journalistic distance with which Sedgewick writes, as if observing the characters completely impartially. This is not to say that the tales are unemotional, rather, that there is a bleakness reminiscent of the everyday cruelty associated with earlier historical times, where children regularly experienced horrors we would shudder at, and learned to disassociate themselves as necessary. All four main characters -Peter and Sophia from My Swordhand is Singing and Marko and Sorrel from The Kiss of Death- have absent or troubled parents, and both Marko and Peter have taken up the role of provider and 'man of the house' for their families, which then naturally leads into an unsurprising ability to take charge even in the unusual (read: vampire) supernatural events of the books.

These books are very much a return to the 'original horror' of Nosferatu by Franz Murnau, and it seems inconceivable that movie rights should not have already been optioned for at least one of the books. Set in both a small village/forest in Eastern Europe and Venice, Italy respectively, Sedgewick has chosen atmospheric, gothic locations that ground the story and add a host of creepy details to the plot ( my favorite moments include chases through the woods at night, small village mob scenes, maliciously anonymous carnivale masks and plague island bacchanalia, to name but a few).

Move over, Dracula- the blood is no longer the life. Sedgewick very specifically moves away from the sexuality of the vampire and the carnal/bloody/bestial/fetish themes that have previously dominated and even characterized Vampire film and fiction. Instead of focusing on the reproductive/sexual bite and transformation, Sedgewick prefers to dwell on the dead/zombie vampire as a prisoner of evil who's soul has been consumed by evil. Key to the fact that they are referred to as 'hostages', Sedgewick updates the Renfield syndrome with a modern/terrorism slant that is more in touch for current audiences than the original Dracula's insidious immigrant issues and xenophobia. Both Sedgewick and Stoker are clearly men of their times, and it is interesting to see how this may be (subconsciously?) conveyed within their books.

The final fact that struck me in reading these books is Sedgewick's intelligence. Impossible to avoid, and reliably present in both novels, these books have thrillingly intricate plots and sympathetically human lead characters who are grounded in a detailed yet edgily fantastical reality. Although these books are rooted strongly enough in myth to imply a general direction for each novel, Sedgewick still manages to provide enough realistic twists and turns (and hidden pathways!) within the stories that it seems preferable to skip analytical reading on the first pass, and simply 'go with the flow' and enjoy the (goose-bump inducing!) ride.

Especially recommended for those seeking to expand their knowledge of vampire literature, and YA readers who like a clever, chilling read.

Book At This

I have a new favorite author! I have just finished reading everything ever written by J R Ward/ Jessica Bird, and my world has changed- love it when that happens!

Really great authors, especially those who have a reasonable body of work available for me to dive into, make me reconsider everything that came before...and I really mean everything. I review and mull over various life choices, friendships, thought patterns, behavior and even occasionally my wardrobe. I look at the way characters reacted to situations, and think about how and where that might apply in my life and how I can learn from what I am reading.

I like especially to read about strong female characters, because it reminds me of ways I can be/am strong myself, and that I'm fortunate to have a lot of choices in life.Being reminded that there are so many perspectives and options and choices out there ahead of us, and that we have to go get them ourselves, and not just wait for them to come to us is so important! It's so easy, as a prolific reader, to live in your head more than in the moment. That's why I think it's good to love a wide variety of genres- crime, romance, sci-if, fantasy- they all offer different encouragement to expand the mind, world view and real world experiences.

NEWSFLASH!

A brief summary of interesting things this week (and it's only Tuesday)...

• #RoyalBaby happened. The country seems split- cooing or furious, pick a side.
• Thunderstorms and 30 degree heat in the UK battle to surpass 6 months of winter in their bid for stardom on extreme weather documentaries.
• The Manbooker prize longlist madness begins (like a literary X-Factor)...
• Hot Pink (from out of nowhere) became an overnight trend
• A Batman/Superman mashup was announced by Zack Snyder.

I'm not sure which to be most excited about...Probably the last one? I'm such a geek...

'overseen' in Oxford....

The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers....

In the past 24 hours, a number of 'unfortunate events' (a la Lemony Snicket) have occurred. The more minor ones include:

1. Getting to the gym to discover they had sold out of still water.
2. Purchasing overpriced sparkling water which then exploded all over me, iPhone  & treadmill.
3. Dropping iphone hard on the floor, as it was slippery from water.
4. Bike breaking on the way home from gym, causing me to have to cycle like an unfit octogenarian.
5. Mudguard spoke thingy falling off as I pass a restaurant full of people- cycle of shame back to collect it from nice lady who had picked it up and hollered at me loudly to make sure I'd noticed it fall (I had, thanks- and now everyone else has too).
6. Missing the bus this morning.
7. Catching surrogate bus with a pal, and dropping sunglasses down the bus loudly.
8. Crawling all over bus floor in a rather pesky dress to get them.
9. Tripping as I stood up and flashing the (amused) spectators a substantial amount of upper leg flesh. This was, as they say, the final straw.

At this woeful point, two types of reaction lay before me- the way that adult Emma would react, and Teenage Emma's reaction.  It felt like the Matrix- everything slowed down, and time crawled past in tiny increments while I looked at my options:

Teenage Emma was cringing in shame, desperate to run back to her comfy nirvana T-shirt and cords and read fanfiction until it was all forgotten. Adult Emma was laughing her head off, and reminding me that it could have been worse (although she couldn't think how at that exact moment).

It was a moment of crazy duality, where I could picture my past and future selves standing beside me, showing me how I was evolving and where I was heading. Kind of like a concertina, every incarnation of myself suddenly stretched out in front and behind me, presenting me with an option on how to react to this compendium of minor disasters, and on who to be in that moment.

If you're interested, I chose to laugh...and allow myself some fanfiction time later. As a twenty-something, I figure that you sometimes have to accept that while you are 'grown up', there will be room for lapses. And maybe that is the wonderful thing about Tiggers- Tiggers are wonderful things, just the way they are at that precise moment. With, or without comfort Magnum ice cream.

 

Phew! It's Hot In The City...

Yes, yes it is....And while it is a little too uncomfortably hot to be in an office sans air conditioning, there is still a lot to enjoy about this heatwave!

See my list below of' reasons not to complain about the heat and to plan in something awesome to do today, even if that's just sunbathing with a glass of iced water beside you....

1. Magnums instead of tea at 3pm....yummy!
2. 6 MONTHS OF WINTER
3. Claiming you're 'too hot to think' is a genuine excuse
4. Everyone is getting a little tanned (even the redheads!)
5. Nobody is complaining about lack of vitamin D
6. Men in shorts & T-shirts ;)
7. Cycling! Everywhere!
8. Brightly colored clothes
9. Tropical fruits taste better
10. People are more willing to go for a drink (and not hurry home 'for dinner')
11. The siesta...yay, legit napping!
12. Pimms/Sangria
13. Picnic lunches outside of the office
14. Weekend walks
15. Drinks with ice (and lemon/lime) in
16. Eating chips by the water in the sunshine with friends

On that note, I'm off to implement one of these myself!

Emma

Make A Difference: Help Now.

I challenge you to Make A Difference Right Now.

Why, you ask, is this so urgent? Well, I reply, why wait? What else could possibly be more important?

Advances in cancer treatment and care have made huge leaps forward in the past years, and a significant part of this is due to the huge amounts of money raised through events like Race for Life and charities like Cancer UK, MacMillan, CLIC Sargent, Hope for Tomorrow and a multitude of other groups that have benefited cancer patients and their families and friends. However, the battle isn't over, and there are lots of ways in which we can still improve cancer care and treatment for those suffering from this disease or the effects of it. Some types of cancer still have a survival rate below 5% even with early diagnosis, or cannot be cured at all. We are still discovering new kinds of cancer, and their causes, every year.

There is a lot of work to be done, and this must be funded. So please don't wait until you or someone you love is diagnosed to make a difference- Help Now. In whatever capacity you can. I promise, you'll be glad someday that you did.

My friend and I took part in Race for Life on Sunday, which I assure you, is 5k further than I usually like to run (being more of a cycling/yoga/swimming person) but for a really great cause, one that I believe in [obvious plug: if you would like to sponsor us, thank you in advance].

In September, I plan to run 10k with friends to raise money for Hope For Tomorrow, which provides mobile chemotherapy units to rural areas, so that patients life spans do not decrease through the exhaustion of traveling miles for a treatment which takes a heavy toll all by itself. These units can save lives, or give loved ones more time together- and every month or year really counts in these situations.

I'll be fundraising more for this, and will put up links to events etc as soon as possible. If you'd like to help, or get involved, please do get in touch- or alternatively, perhaps choose a way that is personal to you to make a difference.

My brain and I love to read- but sometimes it can't let go....

[clip art].

 

I *love* reading, and so does my brain. 'Book crazy' is scarily close to a good description at times...

Yes, I love reading in that crazy zombie/daydreaming/psych-eval needing half-awake/half-in the world of the book kind of reality- and I like it that way. Sometimes, however, this leads to 'reading'  because despite having physically put the book down, my mind is still 'reading' the story.

By 'reading', you'll note that I'm referring to the way my brain cannot process the fact that the book is gone and so it makes up it's own continuation of the plot as a kind of soothing balm to cover this strange mental 'wound' caused by the sudden removal of a world that it was kind of into. Sometimes this can last five seconds. Sometimes, this leads to me writing fanfiction. Sometimes it hovers in the background until I can pick up the book again and finish it.

I've used this as a measure before, to evaluate a good writer/author/novel/series. The authors that have sent me deepest down the rabbit hole have often become favorites, and gone on to sell thousands (or more!) copies. Conversely, when I hear that someone 'can't put a book down', I have been known to ask if they have thought about the plot once they have been forced to put the book down- if yes, then I'm much more likely to take the recommendation seriously.

I love my mini-escapes into fictional worlds, and that books can give us this opportunity to expand the imagination. I also like the perspectives this can force us to consider, as we relate more closely to characters and gain deeper understanding of their motives, and within this, our own lives. Perhaps the brain is the key link between books and movies; providing a middle ground or personal cinema service that a good book can work with in order to motivate further consideration and visualization, and an even deeper 'reading' and learning experience. All I know is, my brain can take a good story and run with it- as far as I need us to go.

Social Media Adventures... I have officially dipped my toes in the deep end of the pool...

So, no updates for a while- and you can blame twitter, tumblr and facebook for that!

I have been working hard recently on coming out of my luddite shell, and embracing technology. It's so important that I dedicated whole evenings to it! Between the Publishing Industry's Digital Evolution/Revolution, and my own interests in networking, keeping up with the times, and staying connected with fabulous online communities, I thoroughly believe taking time to build a good online presence is something everyone should do.

I've really enjoyed it, and am quietly proud of my small Twitter following, and that I've been working on building followers for our Society of Young Publisher's Facebook group. I've very much enjoyed looking at and sharing in the relaxed social atmosphere of Tumblr, and all the great gifs and links that are passed around. I now think that I really truly am starting to understand and embrace the reason that these sites are called social media, as I've made some great friends who have similar interests and send me all the best articles, links and cat pictures out there...

My next goal is to post regularly here, and keep everything ticking over. Life, as always, for everyone, is busy. However, a short post from time to time, on issues that really interest me, will keep the creativity flowing and encourage me to write other things that I'm interested in. Ideally, I'd like to also start regularly reviewing books and films on here, and maybe start up a private writing project that might one day actually be published!

There have also been some important lessons- Tumblr is mainly for pictures, it seems, and I can't get the hang of Pinterest at all- ironically, I seem to have no 'pinterest' in it despite having friends/colleagues who swear by it. I've also learned that it's increasingly important to pay attention to privacy settings, and to control what is shared where/when. Personally I've also decided that it is useful to try to clearly separate out your 'work' persona and your personal life online, so that accidental crossovers are minimal/not an issue when or if they occur.

So wish me luck, and I send you all my best with your own social media endeavours! Please do share tips/tricks/suggestions in the comments if you have any :)

Peeking Out From The Bottom Rung #WhyDon'tWeLookUp? 

So today I have been pondering the Economy. Big thoughts - especially for both the first day of October and a Monday...

I have been interested in people watching, and seeing how the people around me look at the world. And suddenly a random movie clip, from god knows where, played through my mind a vaguely reconstructed phrase: 

'Human's don't look up- it's evolutionary.'

I looked around. The people around me were all looking at the ground, at each other, at traffic, at their children, at potential obstructions to their path. Nobody was looking up. 

And why should they, you might ask. Oxford isn't some kind of bohemian hipster paradise, where everyone has time to smell the roses on their way to work- well, the occasional student might have. But it seemed to me that this went beyond a commuting issue. 

Was this a metaphor for how I was living? Could I apply this to, for example, my attitude to work? Thinking on it, I realised that I live my working life too busy looking at the ground, at my colleagues, for potential problems, that I wasn't focusing enough on looking up to my next steps, and at what I could strive for and achieve. 

And, with this unusually spiritual realisation and the resulting pep talk, I had a good day at work. Every hour, I looked up from my work, evaluated what I really wanted to achieve that hour, and before I knew it, I'd done things that I'd procrastinated about for days. (After high five-ing myself) I set up a meeting to discuss my goals with my manager, which was productive.

Tomorrow, who knows? But I felt like today was the peek out from the bottom rung of a corporate ladder that showed me the next step up in my career, and how to achieve it. So maybe, if you're feeling like you're on the bottom rung today, you should take a moment. Just a quick moment and 

Look Up.

Peeking Over The Edge  #Changes

I feel like making some changes...

So you probably don't know what's around the corner for you next. I always wondered- do spontaneous people have more fun? Am I missing out on something?

So I was thinking- surely there have got to be ways of developing yourself  a la Eat Pray Love and coming to love and understand all of your quirks, strengths and major flaws that don't involve a month in an Ashram (it's sad, but I really can't afford to bugger off to India right now) or a carb-y fiesta (trust me- an excess of carbs isn't going to help) although I'd be ok with meeting some new loving, gorgeous and sexy bloke (time well spent, surely?)

So I want to peek over the edge, around the corner, under the lid- whatever is most appropriate, really- at some things that I haven't dared to do, be, see or think about before. I also want to share it with you- yes, all of you. Comments more than welcome, and suggestions welcome but taken with a pinch of salt.