re-reading

there are some books that I could read over and over, and the great gatsby is one of them. I'm reading this brilliant novel again and I find something new to love about it each time!!! 

A Medical Affair by Anne McCarthy Strauss

I got asked to review this book and agreed despite it being not my usual genre or type of book I go for, and I enjoyed it!!! I'll definitely be trying new things in the future, without hesitation.  

at first this book interested me, as I, like many others, wasn't aware of the forbidden relationship between a doctor and a patient that so frequently occurs. I was very interested in the character of Jeff but found that Heather's character lacked depth and detail especially as she was the protagonist, as the reader I didn't connect with her emotionally and found it hard to relate to her situation. 

I also found that the book mentioned Heather's molestation as a child somewhat shallowly and didn't go into depth with it, leading to the subject appearing somewhat insensitive. 

another thing about the book that perplexed me was that Heather spoke of avoiding 'making Jeff aware that the tape existed'. Without giving away too much, I was confused as surely, Jeff having made the tape, would be aware that it existed? 

overall this book was interesting and intriguing but I found the most eyecatching part was the legal fight between Jeff and Heather towards the end. 

 

I would recommend this book to round adults and anyone interested in victim rights or legal battles in general.

~happy reading~ 

bookish nails

today's post is a little different: 

newspaper nail art. this idea is a different spin on simple nails but also fits with my book/writing themed life!! follow the steps for bookish nails:-)

step 1.

clear your nails of of any left over varnish and paint a pale colour on your clean nails. I chose cavier but any white, light grey or pale pink will work just as well. 

step 2.

paint your nails with a few coats and then add a clear coat to help the colour stay. make sure they're completely dry so as not to leave imprints when you press the newspaper clippings on later. 

step 3. 

next cut out ten bits of newspaper and cut them to slightly bigger than your nails. 

step 4. 

dip the newspaper clippings in water and let the excess drip of briefly then press firmly onto the nails. avoid moving the newspaper at all when pressing onto the nail so the ink doesn't smudge. 

step 5. 

leave the cutout on the nail for about one minute before removing the newspaper taking care not to smudge the ink. 

step 6. 

now remove the newspaper cutting slowly and apply a clear top coat. this is essential to stop the ink from smudging. 

step 7. 

and voilà!!!!! 

newspaper nails, easy and quick!! 

poem tuesday

if those I loved were lost 

by emily dickinson

if those I loved were lost 

the criers voice would tell me -

if those I loved were found 

the bells of Ghent would ring -

did those I love repose 

the daisy would impel me. 

phillip - when bewildered

bore his riddle in!

to read:

my to-read list:

• small island 

• jasmine nights 

• a medical affair

• my dear I wanted to tell you

• sargasso sea 

• dear nobody

• refugee boy

unbelievably excited to read all these and so many more!! I'll be doing reviews on a medical affair, my dear I wanted to tell you and small island before christmas!! watch this space:-)

paul mccartney

   

- even sir paul reads

a paris wife by paula mclain review

the novel 'the paris wife' is written from the view of the protagonist, Ernest Hemingway's first wife Hadley. I was hooked right from the start of this book with the honest description and compelling detail of setting and dialogue. Hadley falls in love with the mysterious Ernest Hemingway and wallows in the midst of a lot of famous people. The book is set during the 1920's, when infidelity wasn't uncommon, but athletically built but somewhat slow Hadley doesn't catch on with her husbands antics, as they live in the golden jazz age in paris. their marriage begins to spiral into turnmoil after Hadley's clumsiness leads to her losing a valise of Ernest Hemingway's early work on a train. 

the one fault in this novel is McLain portrays Hadley as a slight bore with little substance, where as in Hemingway's 'a moveable feast' she's shown to be more lively and naturally intriguing, but of course that's her personality from Hemingway's point of view and could have been masked by his love. the readers draw their own conclusions of Hadley's character but McLain relies on clumsily written foreshadowing to convey her desires. 

the paris wife is a heartbreaking novel which relies on historic research and details to keep the reader interested throughout despite it's intriguing beginning. I would totally recommend it to anyone who likes Hemingway's later work and especially his novel 'the sun also rises'. 

fantasy bedroom

this would be my perfect bedroom oh pleeeeeease 

fanfic

so recently I've discovered an amazing new phenomenon - which isn't really that new but I'm new here, give me a break? - called fanfic which is short for fan fiction. fan fiction is generally a short story using the characters and scenarios of a previously written and published story to create a different or similar story line. 

anyway, in sharing this with you guys because I've recently come across a piece of fanfic that I've fallen in love with. I keep reading it again and again and again and again it's official - I'm hooked. I came across this piece on twitter as it was written by someone I follow. this piece of fanfic is based on the harry potter books and is a story about lily and james potter whilst they are at school. 

I'll put the link below but you guys must must must MUST check it out, it's brilliant!!!!!! 

http://themaraudersmagic.tumblr.com/post/62634798255/jily-fanfic 

characters I'd invite to my literary dinner party

1. top of my list would be one f my favourite characters of all time as any of you who have even scanned my blog before know; mr jay gatsby. I'd love to have a conversation about him and hear all about his life in west egg and before and his view on daisy and just everything about him. 

2. augustus waters, because he is a hero and such a strong young man who's gone through so much it would be one of the greatest pleasures to talk to him and to serve him some of my famous stir fry. 

3. hadley (from the paris wife) as she was the first wife of one of the most well known writers of all time. I know she's a real person but she is also in a fictional book so it counts as a character alright?

4. katniss everdeen from the hunger games as she's, again, such an inspiration and a strong independent woman

5. alaska young from looking for alaska as she's so complex and deep but also because I think she's quite like myself: bad mood swings and retires to books in her spare time in order to escape the weekday warriors 

6. finally the one the only....hermione granger!!! my idol, my inspiration, my everything, I love her and I owe her so much with all she's done for me over the years, keeping me sane, hermione granger will sit at the head of my dinner party table

this post was inspired by www.themilelongbookshelf.com book blog, I saw her literary tea party guests and it got me think..who would mine be? if you want to check out her blog, it's brilliant, full of reviews and interviews and recommendations:-) 

emma watson

emma watson is such an inspiration, she carried on with her education, graduated from university and is a strong female role model, who doesn't sell her body for money but is a classy, sophisticated and down to earth young woman who I really look up to. 

also

      -she is so pretty and I'm in love with her jumper I need it I need it I need it

books my future children must read

matilda

    - a classic 

the hunger games 

    - be grateful for the things you have, many people have it worse. also, my precious daughter, don't let any man tell you he's better than you

my sister jodie

    - as much as your siblings annoy you, they love you and will do anything to protect you

I was jane austen's best friend 

    - brilliant book about family and one of the greatest women in history

mary poppins 

    - a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine of down

toms midnight garden 

    - keep their imagination alight

war horse 

    - history is written by the winners and remember, human tradgedies aren't the only ones that effect our world

harry potter's

    - every single one of them because friendship, loyalty and courage are the most important things in life, even when everything else fails 

and also because hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home 

currently reading:

an abundance of katherines 

poem tuesday

I know it's a day late, but here's my poem tuesday, love this one

the moon by emily dickinson

the moon was but a chin of gold

a night or two ago

and now she turns her perfect face

upon the world below

poem tuesday

today's poem is the jabberwocky by lewis carroll, one of my most favourite writers. 

'twas brillig and the slithy toves 

did gyre and gimble in the wabe; 

all mimsy were the borogoves, 

and the mome raths outgrabe.

'beware the jabberwock, my son! 

the jaws that bite, the claws that catch

beware the jubjub bird, and shun 

the fruminous bandersnatch!'

he took his vorpal sword in hand:

long time the manxome foe he sought- 

so rested he by the tumtum tree

and sat a while in thought. 

and as in uffish thought he stood,

the jabberwock, with eyes of flame, 

came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

and burbled as it came!

one, two! one, two! and through and through

the vorpal blade went snicker-snack! 

he left it dead and with its head

he went galumphing back. 

'and has thou slain the jabberwock?

come to my arms my beamish boy!

o frabjous day! callooh! callay!'

he chortled in his joy

'twas brillig and the slithy toves

did gyre and gimble in the wabe; 

all mimsy were the borogoves, 

and the mome raths outgrabe. 

in love

what does it feel like to be in love?

I never want to leave you. I feel this overbearing emptiness when you're not with me, it's like hunger if the heart. my hunger and longing for your sweet words to echo round my head. it makes me want to laugh and cry and dance all at the same time. you affect my every thought, I see you wherever I go. I love you. I find it hard to comprehend what life was like before I knew you. 

but I know our love can't last, it will end soon, as it always does. it feels as if my strength is draining, my happiness going with it, I can't let you go. but I must. I will have to close the book soon and carry on with my real existence without you. but don't worry my dear, I will rekindle our love, a few months down the line, when I open your cover and flick to page one again. 

yes, I love you, fictional character, but I must go now; until next time x

powers of a cup of coffee

all my best ideas come when I'm sipping coffee from my favourite mug and writing in my black book of ideas.. 

how do you guys get your best ideas? walking the dog? people watching at work? on the bus? let me know:-) 

my feminist idol

I love caitlin moran. I can honestly say I feel a deep emotional connection to her. Well to her writing. And the part of her I know through her writing. I devour her column in the the times sunday magazine every week and have posters of her and clippings of her writing plastered all over my bedroom. Ok, that might be a slight exaggeration but caitlin's face does have the honour of being on the wall next to my bed and her article 'my posthumous advice for my daughter' framed along side it. 

for those of you who don't know who caitlin moran is (do you live under a rock or something or are you just anti-humorous, strikingly feminist, legendary writing?), she's a journalist, author and broadcaster who writes the most hilarious and relatable articles ever known. 

here's a list as to why you lot who have never heard of her should be ashamed: 

• she's eye-wateringly, belly-achingly hilarious 

• she wrote about real things that real women care about - no I don't give a hot rats if 'katie price is married AGAIN' or if west life are starting a reunion tour, but I do care about 'why female genital mutilation must end' and if you do too I suggest you look at some of her work (it's unbelievably witty and charming)

• she's a feminist 

• her book 'how to be a woman' is so honest, I felt like we was sitting on the end of my bed explaining all this, whilst we painted our nails black and talked about why the suppression of women needs to stop now before we explode 

• she's gorgeous - what more reason do you need?

back to the reasoning of my post; I wanted to share my feelings in her article 'my posthumous advice to my daughter'. 

my mother, a long time smoker, often jokes about how I couldn't survive with out her - which is entirely true. And as I read caitlin's article in the times Sunday magazine in way back in July, I was convinced my mum and her had worked together on this piece: the words appeared in my head as if they were coming from my mums mouth! 

 

my favourite line from this historic article?

'never ever start smoking. it's like buying a fun baby dragon that will grow and eventually burn down your f***ing house.'

can't express enough how much you guys need to read the rest of this article. just go. 

~happy reading~ 

poem tuesday

the soldier by rupert brooke

if I should die, think only this of me:

that there's some corner of a foreign field

that is for ever england. there shall be

in that rich earth a richer dust concealed; 

a dust whom england bore, shaped, made aware,

gave, once, her flowers to love, her ways to roam,

a body of england's, breathing english air,

washed by the rivers, blest by suns of home. 

and think, this heart, all evil shed away,

a pulse in the eternal mind, no less

gives somewhere back the thoughts by england 

             given; 

her sights and sounds; dreams happy as her day;

and laughter learnt of friends; and gentleness, 

in hearts at peace, under an english heaven. 

why books are better than films

recently I've been inundated with people asking me why I read books when there are films of those books..is this the most ridiculous question ever or what? I mean don't get me wrong I love watching films and the harry potter films are my favourite films, but books are just so much more individual to each person!

another thing about books is you can use your imagination!! No one decides what you're experiencing: there are no limits to the ways you interpret a book! Whereas in a film it's the directors interpretation seen on the screen and as interesting and unique that is, every person who watches sees and experiences the same things. 

reading also enhances your vocabulary and can help with your writing. As much as films can be visual inspiration to write, books are the actual physical form of the written word and allows the reader to learn from the author new techniques and ways to describe things. 

who else has fallen in love with a book and then gone to watch to film adaption but been sorely disappointed? Did the director leave bits out? This is my biggest annoyance about films - they ALWAYS leave something out. And yes I know you can't fit a 500 page book into a two hour film AND include everything but it frustrates me nonetheless. 

in books you get to know the character better and you know every thought and feeling they're experiencing, which otherwise would not happen in a film even with a particularly good actor. I find it easier to fall in love with a book character than a film character and I connect more to them. 

books are far more portable and practical - ever tried to carry around a dvd player and dvd and tv? Not easy. Whereas a book slips into a bag or even a coat pocket with ease and you can take it anywhere. Limitless.  

which do you guys prefer, books or films? leave a comment below and let me know:-) 

twitter

tweet tweet

so I've got a twitter to promote my blog if any of you want to follow I'll post updates on my blog along with links, I'll share some ideas and quotes and my general babbling thoughts!! 

@secondchapter_

don't interrupt my reading

one of my pet hates: when people can see I'm immersed in a brilliant book and yet they still try to pull me from my alternative universe by

(a) talking to me 

(b) touching me 

(c) talking loudly amongst themselves

(d) playing music 

(e) putting on the tv

(f) breathing down my neck 

(g) reading over my shoulder or

(h) looking at me

so yeah.. if you interrupt my reading, don't expect a warm response

favourite last lines of books

over the summer I read looking for alaska by john green, in which the protagonist has a deep love for people's last words so this post is inspired by miles from looking for alaska  

my favourite last lines of books;

mister pip by lloyd jones

'I would try where pip failed. I would try to return home.' 

I love this quote because family is very important to me - having what I call a 'patchwork family' (commonly known as a 'broken' family but I disagree with this terminology) I have different branches of family that are spread all over the world. My family members in America mean just as much to me as the ones in France, Australia or Britain. I think it's very important I remember that, no matter what happens, family is there for you and you must never forget where you came from and who loved you from the beginning. This also refers to wider family such as godparents or long lost cousins. So when Matilda says 'home' I think she means not just her physical home but to her family too - as home is where the family is. 

harry potter and the deathly hallows by j.k rowling 

'[harry speaking] "I've had enough trouble for a lifetime"' 

this quote, although not technically the final quote in the book if you count the chapter on 'nineteen years later', is the final line of the best series of books in all of time. This one sentence sums up the whole series in a witty, charming and memorable sentence that I'd like to say made me laugh. But I'd be lying. However with 100% honestly, although I didn't laugh, I did do that thing where you blow air out of your nose hard and fast with a smile lurking on the corner of your mouth.Near enough. 

 

the great gatsby by f. scott fitzgerald 

'so we beat in, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.'

this is another of my favourite last lines because it, again, sums up the whole book. The 'pushing against the current' concludes gatsby's character fully as he's always trying to go back, to go against the flow, to be with daisy. It also portrays the way humans are always longing to recreate the past as we see it in bright colours - as does gatsby. A wonderful end to a wonderful book. 

what are your favourite last lines of books? let me know in a comment below:-) 

brainstorming

little book of ideas 

best times to read

like many people, I love to read at all times, day and night but there are a lot of moments when it's the perfect time to whip out a book - but remember timing is everything.. 

1. when some ignorant, lifeless soul says 'reading is boring' just pull out your nearest book and flick through it with a deep look on your face then look up at them as if you forgot they were there

2. everyone hates doctors waiting rooms - it's like waiting for plants to grow knowing they'll be weeds in the end anyway.. so why not read a book to take your mind of the damp pale room? 

3. during a maths lesson; let's face it maths isn't going to help you to enter into a relationship with your favourite fictional character so it is a good time to immerse yourself in the fictional world that allows you to be closer to said fictional character 

4. on an aeroplane. You're already on your way to a new world of culture and discoveries, read a book and you double the adventure 

~happy reading

the help

the help was written by the American author Kathryn Stockett. It's based in the 1960's in southern America and focuses on the race issues in Mississippi. The 60's in Jackson, Mississippi is still a segregated society with strict laws and rules on what the black community can and cannot do. 

The Help tells the story of a white woman, Skeeter, as she tries to become a successful author by writing a book from the point of view of the black help in Jackson. In a time when even talking to black people was shunned, Skeeter joins forces with two black maids Aibileen and Minny to write a book revealing the life of the help in Jackson. 

this book is told in alternative view points so the reader gets all sides of the story and really helps to explain, especially to younger generations, the day to day struggles African-American people had to endure up to as late as the 1960's. 

living in a completely ethnically diverse community, I find it hard to believe that anyone could treat another human as unfairly as black people were treated in America during the time this book is set. The Help really creates a clear and detailed picture in my mind of how society used to treat non-white people and the alternative view points allows an even stronger image to form in my mind. 

I found this book such a good portrayal of the struggles of the black community in southern America in the 20th century and was really engaging. With many teary-eyed moments it's not for the faint hearted but over all an informative and up lifting book, really enjoyed reading it. Would recommend to anyone interested in African-American history or anyone looking for something a bit different to your usual holiday read. 

happy reading

when I have kids..

pretty much 

currently:

the great gatsby

the great gatsby by f.scott fitzgerald was first published in 1925 and is often considered the defining work of the 1920's. Young men all over America had sacrificed their lives in war that took place on another continent. Many of the men 'left over' from the war tried to submerge themselves in luxurious, extravagant material possessions to help them forget the deep emotional scars they had suffered. The innocent young men who went to fight during world war 1 came back broken and were often referred to as the 'lost generation'. 

the novel focusses hugely on money as the foundation of American society and the immigrants moving to the united states with the hope of abandoning their poverty ridden pasts and embracing the American Dream. 

this book was written from the point of view of Nick Carraway, a Yale man, who moves to Long Island to begin a new life and follows his journey over the summer of 1922 when he moves in next door to the irrepressible dreamer Jay Gatsby and is thrust into the lavish lifestyle of the rich and famous. The story tells of how the American Dream started off being about the pursuit of happiness but how 'easy money' had corrupted the dream and it goes on to explain about Gatsby's desire to recreate the past as he sees the past as a better time than the one he is currently in. Jay Gatsby was one of those people who believed that if he had the money he could achieve his emotional fulfilment  and repeat the love he once was a part of. 

one of the most explored parts of the novel is the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. It represents Gatsby's dreams for the future and his hopes of regaining Daisy's love and acceptance through materialism. The colour green represents the money and the belief of many Americans; that money can solve any problem. 

'Gatsby believed in the green light' 

I honestly love this book, it must be my favourite book; every time I pick it up again I find something else to love and to think about. The portrayal of women in the 1920's fascinates me as they have a driving desire for success and they begin to become truly individual humans, with no need of a man to put them out there in the world. I love the flappers style too! 

Daisy's character intrigued me from the beginning; she has a strong desire for love yet didn't marry her true love, Gatsby. She is the object of Gatsby's limitless love yet didn't wait for him to return from war. I think her need to be loved is a feature of why she is so superficial and cynical. I was also interested by Daisy's character as she was so careless and attention-seeking, for example always using her looks to get young men's attention but often feels little moral responsibility for her actions. 

without giving too much away - the great gatsby is a heart wrenching tale of love and the harsh reality of the American Dream. I would strongly recommend this to anyone with a love of classics as it is a deep, meaningful novel and an important piece of literature. 

happy reading

the power of books

one of my favourite things about books is you can escape into a different world..on a rainy day I open the window and hear the patter whilst disappearing into another universe and forgetting all my problems and falling in love with fictional characters 

to come

here are a list of books I've read recently that you can expect a review for anytime soon:

The Paris Wife by Paula McLain

Looking For Alaska by John Green

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chobsky

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones

 

Of Mice and Men

like most fifteen year olds nowadays, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a compulsory read, to prepare you for your GCSE's. Its set in California during the Great Depression in the 1930's and is told from a third person point of view in order for the narrative to access the mind of any character within the story. The book was first published in 1937.

I first read Of Mice and Men back in November last year and was quite impressed- the imagery used to describe the hillsides of California drew my attention and kept me intrigued. The use of foreshadowing to suggest to the reader what was to come built suspense but still left an spark of mystery until the ending.

however..as we had to analyse the book for an assessment, I felt like we over-analysed it and dug too far into the story that it stopped being enjoyable, although it did help to grasp all the themes such as the desire but failure to achieve the American dream and the tragedy of the depression.

I would recommend this book to young teenagers right through to adults of any age for an easy read with deep hidden meanings and to anyone interested in tragic or mystery stories.

everyone hates newbies..

hello there bookworms,
so I've been thinking about starting a blog for over a year now and have attempted it a few times, but all ending disastrously. I was thinking 'the amount of times I've read an amazing book and wanted to shout about it to the world is becoming unnatural' and then I thought 'mm what about a blog?' I can just write all my ideas and opinions on books and authors and poetry on here for the whole world to see/take no notice of whatsoever..

I'm the newbie...be nice!