Book Blogging: a New Beginning.
Book
blogging is such an awesome thing. I am addicted to so many book
blogs and follow so many book bloggers. My two favourite things! Books and blogs. I use book blogs when I'm
stuck between shelves in Waterstones searching for a hot new read,
much more than I do my Goodreads app. I chatter with fellow bloggers and often find myself jotting down their latest recommendations - films and music, yes, but mostly books.
I've
always tried so very hard to do it myself. Reading is something I've
always been passionate about – at school I'd hide away at break
time and read in the library (I became a fully-fledged student
librarian in Year 9, not bragging or anything guys but yeah). I'd get
picked on and be made to feel freaky as I'd be hiding from the
playground goings on – I had no time for any of the pettiness or
popularity contests out there in that world. I wanted to disappear
into books. I remember so clearly when I was first introduced to
Hermione Granger and I felt like I'd finally found my soul mate, my
spirit animal and my literary sister.
Even
now, nothing makes me happier than sitting in a coffee shop and
diving into a book.
The
difference is that reading is making a major comeback in this day and
age. For a long while there it was a bit hard done by; it was deemed
'boring' by those who preferred to spend their free time gaming or
binging on TV (no disrespect, mind you – Sims 2 is my guilty
pleasure/ultimate calling, and I have been known to devour several
series of certain shows in a day or two, cheers for that Netflix),
and everyone was busy spending money on anything and everything else
– nobody had time for books.
I
would say I was true and faithful to the gorgeous literary world –
but alas, my degree didn't allow me much recreational reading time.
Especially with my course, it demanded I read all kinds of things –
plays, theatre company textbooks, gothic classics, general classics,
fairy tales, essay collections, poetry anthologies, and of course
every kind of script under the sun... In fact I think the only
me-time type reading I did, when I selected the book off the shelf
purely because I was interested in it and not because I had to
be, took place over the end of Christmas and Easter holidays each
year. I'd be taking a breather from assignments, often living at uni
when not many others were around meaning it was quiet and peaceful
everywhere, and for two years in a row I was rehearsing for upcoming
performances, so I found myself reading while sat still between my
scenes.
Since
uni, reading has been...everything! I read on breaks at work, on
trains (oh, I am always on trains these days), over a cuppa, and of
course right before bed for a good hour or so 'to tire my eyes
out'... Even in hospital. Especially in hospital. The second time
around, anyway. The first time I genuinely panicked and feared for my
life because after my operation I couldn't read.
As in, I would be sat there with a book in my lap, looking at the
words and turning the pages, but nothing would go in. I couldn't get
a grip on a plot, engage with characters, heck I couldn't even hold
on to a single sentence as I swept my eyes over it. It was horrible.
The books that I persevered with back then may need a re-read
someday; I was not in a good place when I 'read' them so my reviews
of them on Goodreads may have suffered because of that...
Getting
to the point now, I promise... I have recently found the most
wonderful friends in the UK YA community on Twitter. I have been
wowed by so many of my fellow bookish bloggers – they are all so
sweet, so friendly and so talented, all of them! They really care
about each other, and get such joy from reading and discussing their
reads! I am honoured to be in contact with these gorgeous people, and
so grateful that they have welcomed me into their awesome community.
I get so excited for events – the most recent of which was YA Shot
in Uxbridge, arranged by the amazing Alexia Casale, which was oh so
magical – and I am glued to my phone for #ukyachat almost every
Friday at 8pm.
A
lot of these guys work in the book world – be that writing,
publishing, editing, agent-ing – and I am beyond envious as that's
a dream career for me, for sure. I'd love to work at a publishing
house with a side gig as an author... Someday, maybe!
Also (yes, definitely getting to the point now) the majority of them interview authors and review books on their
blogs, or vlogs (BookTubers are so rad), which has totally inspired
me to get back to reviewing my reads.
Which
brings me back to my original aim for this blog post – which fast
became a gushing love story between me and the UK YA community, sorry
not sorry – I will be warming up my reviewing muscles with some
short 'n' sweet recent read recommendations... Ready? Here we go!
This
was the book that hauled me out of my reading slump. I was somewhere
deep in a murky emotional hangover after polishing off all of the
'New Day New Normal' tour books (The
Art of Being Normal by
Lisa Williamson, Only
Ever Yours by Louise
O'Neill, Another Day by
David Levithan – see this post for some more gushing on those beauts),
and because of this I didn't have high hopes for how many books I'd
need over the course of one weekend away. I had just two in my
backpack, but then one three-hour train journey later... Solitaire
was well and truly
devoured.
I've
always liked/been awed by Alice Oseman – she's my age, she has the
most brilliant mind and she's published before her degree is over.
Also her fan art is rather gorgeous. And it says 'professional emo'
in her Twitter bio. I feel like she and I could be the best of pals.
Solitaire
is
the story of Tori Spring, a blogger doing her A Levels and in the
'after' phase of some family drama. She is finding herself, and
definitely not getting feelings for a certain quirky guy.
The
story was leisurely to start with – there was a fair amount of
showing, not telling, which is always good – but the middle to the end was a real race.
Actually, that's how I'd describe the book; the storytelling. Real.
I
cannot wait for Alice's next release, Radio
Silence, in 2016!
Okay,
I'm a major fangirl when it comes to The
Princess Bride. It's a pathetic understatement merely saying it's my favourite film. I'm frankly
shocked that I've made it to 22 without getting 'as you wish' or
'inconceivable' tattooed somewhere.
For
months I was eyeing up this book in Forbidden Planet – all signed
copies, so therefore priceless, but somehow going for £5 less than
anywhere else! I was torn, having a TBR pile three stories high and
so on a self-inflicted book-buying ban, and yet yearning for this gorgeous account of the making of this perfect film written by the one and only
Westley... It's a first-person account but includes cute and
enlightening add-ins and comments from his co-stars, the writer and
director. It also includes photos taken on set and at the recent
twenty-fifth anniversary cast reunion, which made me so warm and
fuzzy.
This
has been the most delightful read between reads – a trusty hardback
that I can keep on side for when I'm between novels or just in need
of a break from one story. I don't think I'd actually commit to it
the same way I would a weighty fiction – and that's because I am
enjoying it so much I'm only allowing myself small doses so it won't
be over too soon!
I
got so so lucky here, guys. Once again I must thank Twitter – and
even pat myself on the back for my decision to start actually putting
myself out there and replying to people I admire now and
again. It's such a simple thing, makes total sense because it's one
of the best things about social media, but my gosh it took me ages to
finally tweet @ some of my favourite authors, journalists, TV types,
bloggers and vloggers. So many good things have come of being more
chatty and at times scarily forceful friendly on Twitter, and a proof
copy of Sara Barnard's debut novel (which she presented to me over a
cocktail on a school night in London so it was basically my dream
scenario, people) is one of the best of these things.
Beautiful
Broken Things is the story of
long-term besties Caddy and Rosie, and what happens when the
beautiful, exciting, reckless yet damaged Suzanne comes crashing into
their lives.
First
of all, I loved that this story took place in Brighton. I'm a Sussex
girl and Brighton is my sacred place. I also loved each character –
each sixteen year-old girl, their differing personalities and in one
case colourful and troubled past – they were written in such a way
that they came across so strongly and I became so invested and
attached to them all. I could identify with each of them, for one
reason or another.
Oh,
and I adored the fact that this was the tale of friendships, with no
romantic subplots – only the occasional mention of a boy and a wee
bit of kissing. Brilliant! I really feel like I've got a glimpse of something big, here. Just you wait, readers.
I
am so delighted with my proof copy, however I will be needing to
purchase the stunning blue and gold hardback when it's released
February 11th
2016. Because...pretty.
Okay, that's three recommendations done! That was nowhere near as frightening as
I'd anticipated, and actually got me so excited and tap-happy on my
keyboard, that after publishing this I will be steaming ahead with
the writing of my NaNoWriMo project (expect a post about this
soon!)...
So hopefully I'll be confidently posting reviews more frequently from now on! Hold me to this, please. I'm looking at you (pleadingly), my UK YA friends!
Also, following my mention of reading physical books making a comeback earlier on in this post somewhere amongst the nostalgia and gushing... I spoke to BBC World (wow, that sounds so uppity) at the Young Adult Literature Weekender in the Southbank Centre a few weeks ago about just that - books vs e-books, and why actual books will always win.
(I'll now add the disclaimer that I spoke to the camera for a good ten minutes and in the end they only used a few seconds) (See also: my fantastical friend Louise Jones talking more eloquently than me, and not Ryan Hutchings as he clearly didn't make the cut, your loss BBC!)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-34463922 (Start 1 minute in...)
(You would not believe how hard it was to get a screenshot in those few seconds, never mind a half-decent face-wise screenshot...)
Just FYI...
Twitter: @GracieActually (if you enjoy manic chattering)
Instagram: @gracieactually (if you like books, cats and coffees).
[Full list of favourite book blogs and bloggers COMING SOON!]
Fantastic post, I've been reading through your older posts for the past week or so and I just adore your writing style. Feels fresh and full of energy and always a pleasure to read. Keep up the amazing work Gracie.
ReplyDeleteAlways remember that whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.
Loved this post Grace! I've heard so much about Beautiful Broken Things already - can't wait to get hold of a copy next year!! Also, I'm so glad you included Solitaire because it's my absolute favourite book ever <3 xxxx
ReplyDeleteOh Gosh! How did I not know about 'As You Wish'! I must purchase this immediately!
ReplyDelete...I am denying the urge to say that it is inconceivable how I don't own it...but the urge is too strong! ;) Great post!