Recent Reads: My Holiday in July.
I
really enjoyed my gal Emma Oulton's Bustle post about reading 8 books in 8 days on holiday – so much so that it somewhat inspired
this post! Another Recent Reads, this time all books featured being
read on my 5 day holiday to the gorgeous island of Majorca!
Ctrl
Alt Delete: How I Grew Up Online, by
Emma Gannon.
The
perfect start to my holiday. I took this out and opened it for the
very first time when we were on the plane, having resisted reading
any the night before, and by the time we landed I was over halfway
through. It was speaking to me on every level. Full review to come,
with next level gushing and some cringe-tastic anecdotes, don't y'all
worry!
I
kept saying, to my dad and grandad, that my friend wrote the book. I
referred to it as 'my friend Emma's book'. Because that's how Emma,
the girl lost in the city who is doing pretty darn well if that's
still the case, feels to me. Like an old school friend, who inspires
me every Sunday via email and most days via tweet and blog.
If
I Was Your Girl, by Meredith
Russo.
I
rarely get attached to, no I mean invested in, stories written in an
alien place to me. Ermm, I promise I'm not a Brexit supporter (eww)
or one of those ignorant mindless xenophobes (what even, tho, guys)
but I can't help it, I just feel more comfortable and content reading
a contemporary story set in the UK. American tales can get me going,
but they have to be properly cracking to do so, it seems. I'm working
on it...
Moving
on from my shameful literary small-mindedness, I LOVED THIS BOOK.
Holy shit, it was powerful as can be and gorgeous, just dripping with
feeling and beauty. Just, read it guys. ASAP. It opened my eyes and
warmed (and hurt) my heart.
What's
A Girl Gotta Do? by Holly
Bourne.
I
thoroughly enjoyed the third in the Spinster Club trilogy. I love
that it's a 3-parter that isn't like, a strict traditional 3-parter.
You can pick up any of these books and read, it doesn't really
totally properly matter the order. But obvs it's best to obey the
publication dates appropriately.
I
knew I'd love this. I knew it. Holly said at an event recently that
she was worried about writing this instalment in the girls' story,
because she knew Lottie would be the biggest ask – and maybe the
biggest pain in the arse?! – but whoa, she slayed. It was worth the
wait. I always knew Lottie was my fave.
Holly Bourne is winning at social media recently. From her mad trend on Twitter #IAmAFeminist to her epic YouTube collabs - I particularly loved her video with my excellent friend Stevie. Oh, and the one with Hannah Witton. Also the one with gorgeous Amber. ALL OF THE VIDEOS.
Holly Bourne is winning at social media recently. From her mad trend on Twitter #IAmAFeminist to her epic YouTube collabs - I particularly loved her video with my excellent friend Stevie. Oh, and the one with Hannah Witton. Also the one with gorgeous Amber. ALL OF THE VIDEOS.
This
book officially came out on Monday 1st
August. What a lovely day that was. A book was released, and I turned 23. An excellent collision of events. I am more than happy to
share my day with Lottie's expulsion into bookshops.
*the cover in my pic is a PROOF that I was lucky enough to receive. See here for the actual gorgeous proper cover!*
*the cover in my pic is a PROOF that I was lucky enough to receive. See here for the actual gorgeous proper cover!*
Radio
Silence, by
Alice Oseman.
I
have no clue why this took me so long to read. I started it when it
was released, months
ago,
and yet I had to put it aside for a while and pick it back up on
holiday. I'll say this was because I needed to treat it with care and
allow it maximum time and concentration for the perfect story to sink
in and affect me – oh wait, that's 100% true. I just didn't realise
it when I left it less-than-half-finished a few months back. When I
finally picked it up again, I stormed through 300 pages in 2 days.
I bloody love Alice Oseman. She is everything I wanna be. A published author, a happy graduate who hilariously documented most of her worst uni experiences on Twitter, and Lauren James' best friend. I recently attended a talk the two of them hosted at YALC (YALC, OMG YALC) and they blew my mind repeatedly.
I bloody love Alice Oseman. She is everything I wanna be. A published author, a happy graduate who hilariously documented most of her worst uni experiences on Twitter, and Lauren James' best friend. I recently attended a talk the two of them hosted at YALC (YALC, OMG YALC) and they blew my mind repeatedly.
Back to the book. I am usually a bit irritated by the use of social media in contemporary
novels. It rubs me up the wrong way, for some reason. It's mostly
because I hate reading the word 'Facebook' in a book. It's like a
First World modern day phobia. However, Alice aced it. Smashed it.
This book was everything. The social media was crucial and perfect,
her take on it all was spot on and brilliant. Like, yeah.
So, those were the books I read by the pool at the luxurious hotel in Majorca. When I wasn't drinking gin on the balcony and playing cards with my Dad & Grandad, I was reading. It was a magical holiday. Again, please? I'd happily re-read each of these if need be!
So, those were the books I read by the pool at the luxurious hotel in Majorca. When I wasn't drinking gin on the balcony and playing cards with my Dad & Grandad, I was reading. It was a magical holiday. Again, please? I'd happily re-read each of these if need be!
I keep hearing Ctrl Alt Del is amazing, and then being unable to actually find a copy! Maybe that's testament to how good it is, that everyone's reading it!
ReplyDeleteIf you fancy a wartime saga, try The Cazalet stories by Elizabeth Jane Howard- they're set in our neck of the woods and are wonderful! There are five books in the saga... I think The Light Years is the first one. PS Ctrl Alt Del is on my wish list :-) X
ReplyDeleteIf you fancy a wartime saga, try The Cazalet stories by Elizabeth Jane Howard- they're set in our neck of the woods and are wonderful! There are five books in the saga... I think The Light Years is the first one. PS Ctrl Alt Del is on my wish list :-) X
ReplyDeleteWow I can't believe you managed to get through all these books in 5 days! That is some dedication, will have to try it myself next time I'm away.
ReplyDeleteI've recently picked up all of Holly Bourne's books on kindle because I have heard so much about them and I seriously can't wait to jump in! Also dying to pick up ctrl alt delete and your mini review hasn't helped but I'm meant to be on a book buying ban!
You've picked some really super books for your hols, I'm desperate to read Emma's book at the mo!
ReplyDeleteMel ★ www.meleaglestone.co.uk