tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38799589803737492042024-03-13T04:30:38.535+00:00Life Between PagesSophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-51086966301549828902015-07-12T18:16:00.000+01:002015-07-12T18:16:26.831+01:00Review: Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Y0pIvASuPQSaVYiGJ4zfINKCI4CCVWa98Gx1UVQorIMOUCQJYxigy30oJhBr1ZLsf-DwKrLb_8qMYBFwGjh5GsXJDl8r5PSDWWKbYonkZAFTcrDwD2gl0DRhHarhw8UKlVfewXqzufw/s1600/audrey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Y0pIvASuPQSaVYiGJ4zfINKCI4CCVWa98Gx1UVQorIMOUCQJYxigy30oJhBr1ZLsf-DwKrLb_8qMYBFwGjh5GsXJDl8r5PSDWWKbYonkZAFTcrDwD2gl0DRhHarhw8UKlVfewXqzufw/s320/audrey.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj5KKs7WH36eY1-sVr2hoU87vyHi99UuX6a5gtrHDCdHhDA5W2oz-FykX7Y90ENCwwzJRZB_jPpSkDcZNsrxkF8ldpVyPsgK2h7BUpDumhRrnwMEry2-Ep4Qa19pO8jNhjgO0sTCyxNY/s1600/tudorconspiracy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><b></b>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">
An anxiety disorder disrupts fourteen-year-old Audrey’s daily life. She has been making slow but steady progress with Dr. Sarah, but when Audrey meets Linus, her brother’s gaming teammate, she is energized. She connects with him. Audrey can talk through her fears with Linus in a way she’s never been able to do with anyone before. As their friendship deepens and her recovery gains momentum, a sweet romantic connection develops, one that helps not just Audrey but also her entire family.<i>(via <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23305614-finding-audrey" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>)</i></div>
<br />
Because I've been so out of the loop, I had no idea that Sophie Kinsella was releasing her very first young adult novel. So when <i>Finding Audrey</i> arrived at work, I was pleasantly surprised and it wasn't long before I decided to purchase it.<br />
<br />
The theme of the book immediately intrigued me. It explores issues regarding fourteen-year-old Audrey's mental health following a major bullying incident at school, and how she progresses in the months following.<br />
<br />
I admire Kinsella for taking on such an important subject, and having dealt with anxiety issues throughout my life, I felt that the often misunderstood subject was well respected, and the writing accurate and insightful. I even took down several page numbers for future reference!<br />
<br />
But with that being said, I've always had a bit of a love/hate relationship with Kinsella's novels. While I seem to buy every one she releases, I find some of her characters rather annoying. And unfortunately, the characters in <i>Finding Audrey</i> weren't really an exception. Though I could identify with Audrey, I didn't feel as connected to her as I would have liked. Her mother also reminded me of a more typical Kinsella character <span style="background-color: #dff2f8; font-size: 15.4559993743896px; line-height: 23.1839981079102px;">–</span> high strung and a little bit silly. But as the novel moved on, I warmed up to her.
<br />
<br />
Altogether, <i>Finding Audrey</i> is a thoughtful and inspiring novel that teens and adults alike can relate to. While it wasn't perfect, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who has experienced anxiety or has ever felt like an outsider. I certainly wish this book was around when I was a teenager.
<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: 3.5 / 5</b>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-32457893533547509592015-05-05T20:16:00.001+01:002015-05-05T20:16:46.945+01:00Review: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhpwZ9pSt2BXGWrVnC6owBjjC57YCuA0xa2gv60Tpht8gWAPTb3Y2bfJ8OexTVYspW1rJ3qTY_ryEwVQhzAEWAXk4bdQwHxPUpFb0uzLgZYzMPkoO93c0bYGM4-MvHIqfK4LiYAFtUBI/s1600/22725304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhpwZ9pSt2BXGWrVnC6owBjjC57YCuA0xa2gv60Tpht8gWAPTb3Y2bfJ8OexTVYspW1rJ3qTY_ryEwVQhzAEWAXk4bdQwHxPUpFb0uzLgZYzMPkoO93c0bYGM4-MvHIqfK4LiYAFtUBI/s1600/22725304.jpg" height="320" width="203" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj5KKs7WH36eY1-sVr2hoU87vyHi99UuX6a5gtrHDCdHhDA5W2oz-FykX7Y90ENCwwzJRZB_jPpSkDcZNsrxkF8ldpVyPsgK2h7BUpDumhRrnwMEry2-Ep4Qa19pO8jNhjgO0sTCyxNY/s1600/tudorconspiracy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<b></b><br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">
<span id="freeText15065705043174519677">Imagine you're the only boy in a town of men. And you can hear everything they think. And they can hear everything you think. Imagine you don't fit in with their plans... Todd Hewitt is just one month away from the birthday that will make him a man. But his town has been keeping secrets from him. Secrets that are going to force him to run... The new edition of this unflinching novel about fear, flight and the terrifying path of self-discovery features the short story, The New World. Set before the events of The Knife of Never Letting Go, it is the story of Viola's dramatic journey to the New World. <i>(via <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22725304-the-knife-of-never-letting-go?ac=1" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>)</i></span></div>
<br />
You may recall me mentioning <i>The Knife of Never Letting Go</i>, and how I came across it, in <a href="http://www.lifebetweenpages.net/2015/05/write-write-write-and-discover.html" target="_blank">my last blog post</a>. It's admittedly the first book that I've read cover to cover for months (though this doesn't include two or three audio books which I've listened to in the meantime).<br />
<br />
I'd say that the novel has automatically earned a place on my 'top reads' list, purely because of the way it pulled me in and inspired me to read again. Many books have tried over the months, but this is the only one that could pique my interest and keep it there.<br />
<br />
Although, having said that, it wasn't perfect. I found the language, grammar, and spelling a little annoying at first, though I soon got used to it. This is actually an important element to the story, as the protagonist, Todd, narrates the book and everything he tells us can also be heard by the characters around him. It's part of his stream of consciousness, or his 'Noise' as it's called in the book, and reflects the way that he speaks out loud.<br />
<br />
The novel's emotional elements are really what drives it forward. At one point, I had tears in my eyes from reading a particularly heartbreaking scene. The characters are also strong and believable, and I found myself identifying with Todd and his ever changing world.<br />
<br />
There are two more books after this which I'm thinking about reading at some point in the future, though I didn't find the ending strong enough to have me leaping into the next installment straight away.<br />
<br />
Altogether, <i>The Knife of Letting Go</i> is a fast paced and exciting novel. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoyed <i>The Hunger Games</i> trilogy or <i>The Maze Runner</i> series.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: 4 / 5</b>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-32904948359773797022015-05-04T19:46:00.000+01:002015-05-04T19:46:07.170+01:00Write, write, write and discover...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJal6VTrjJLYX0N-qeLmau_hMew4vqPiFyKFzkhMf3dZ4luuFpRwSvVUzjj79DzhHb82B7SvqiJkY1eSCIspFBRFvJaZ1sVEphvxmd15XJTvBoQQT7QJIcskPmevwC00RbzQcRT-YmUes/s1600/IMG_20150504_072105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJal6VTrjJLYX0N-qeLmau_hMew4vqPiFyKFzkhMf3dZ4luuFpRwSvVUzjj79DzhHb82B7SvqiJkY1eSCIspFBRFvJaZ1sVEphvxmd15XJTvBoQQT7QJIcskPmevwC00RbzQcRT-YmUes/s320/IMG_20150504_072105.jpg" width="320" /></a>Since my last post, even more has changed.<br />
<br />
Having tried and failed at a couple of jobs which didn't suit me at all (but I tried so I didn't really fail, and that's how I'm choosing to look at it), I finally landed a role working at WHSmith. And when I'm not helping to man the tills, most of my day involves sorting through the books department. That's right, books! I'm about to go into my fourth week there, and though it's been a challenge, I'm really starting to enjoy it. Being around books and feeling productive and connecting with people again has been really helpful in getting my mind back to a place where I can see a clearer picture for myself moving forward.
<br />
<br />
The past few months haven't been easy on me. It's been hard. The job search seemed long and brutal, and I went to so many interviews before I got to where I am now. It really knocked my confidence. On top of that, I've been trying to come to terms with the absence of someone who made a significant impact on my life at the end of last year. That's probably been the most difficult thing, trying to deal with having my heart broken and trying my best to move on from it.
<br />
<br />
But it's true when they say that the challenging times really do give you an opportunity to reassess yourself and what you want from your life. I know that I have never felt so motivated and determined to improve myself and to push harder to reach my goals. Before all this, I used to just stop when things got tough, but now I use it all as motivation. As a driving force. I've become addicted to seeing results.
<br />
<br />
I've continued going to the gym and eating better, and I have lost 22lbs since the start of the year. I look and feel healthier than I have in years, which I am so proud of. WHSmith's book department was not really a goal. Not a direct one, anyway. My goal, at the start of the year, was to get a full-time office job and move out of my parent's house, and try to leave the memory of this person behind me. I tried the office thing but it didn't work out. So I looked elsewhere, fell into WHSmith and, somehow, books reentered my life. The pay isn't wonderful so there'll be no moving out yet, but my hours enable me to spend more time reading, writing, exercising, and growing on a more personal level.
<br />
<br />
Working there has just been so unexpectedly inspiring. Last week, as I was unloading some crates filled with various paperbacks, I came across a particular book called <i>The Knife of Never Letting Go</i> by Patrick Ness. I suppose it was the title that grabbed me, along with the clever cover design (I love the hidden scribbles). And you know what? I feel like it was calling me, because it's the first book I haven't been able to put down in months. Months! I haven't finished it yet, but you can certainly expect a review to pop up here as soon as I have.
<br />
<br />
So I think it's fair to say that a flame has been lit within me once more. My hunger for books, for reading, and for writing has reappeared. All because of these unexpected twists which my life has taken the last few months. Just like a good story, I suppose. A story I want to write.
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQN2hpf9tB4-wDWbjmola1Dr3jwIVQa2CwRJgwQjx27p7_Eu2q10DegoV-qRb0F_CANaqOCISy5epI2s-91ZIsW9ONifFLkLNZHDT5g8pzsPDjec62EmfDnAtBb-fNxN0K8zlg_l3xNew/s1600/o-GILMORE-GIRLS-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQN2hpf9tB4-wDWbjmola1Dr3jwIVQa2CwRJgwQjx27p7_Eu2q10DegoV-qRb0F_CANaqOCISy5epI2s-91ZIsW9ONifFLkLNZHDT5g8pzsPDjec62EmfDnAtBb-fNxN0K8zlg_l3xNew/s320/o-GILMORE-GIRLS-facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Gilmore Girls </i>has been a big presence in my life the past few<br />
months, too. Hopefully the Lorelai's smarts are <br />
rubbing off on me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This means that I am back, and I have decided to keep this blog going but continue making changes to its content. I'm going to be a lot more open with my posts from now on. There will certainly be a more personal element to them, but I'll also be reviewing and covering other book related topics. As I'm no longer an English Literature student, you might find that my reviews might be a little more disorderly and a little less formal. In other words, I'm going to try to think less about how I write and just let whatever comes out of my head and my heart translate onto the page. I think that's really what it's all about, all this writing. This art. You should never censor your self expression. And from now on, I'm going to try my best to do that. Just let it flow and see where it takes me.<br />
<br />
I'm riding the wave. I'll continue getting better, I'll learn to let go, and I'll learn to move forward with what matters and leave the rest behind. To quote the title of a novel written by my favourite Gilmore Girl, Lauren Graham: <i>Someday, someday, maybe</i>.Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-8808707030730851482015-02-18T19:32:00.001+00:002015-02-18T19:32:32.964+00:00The process of reinvention<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6W7Mh-foP4mX2xFHWW76IzEObUe8trnZui2Lfe4COT_VaTz3z0P1CxrPZtUOSWpCKV9cWd7YKiyCm0E-N_2kzUMhsLJDao4XxfcIQpxQoDsKSWmncmjLVYpqqtkcyFrq5kTg-iVFmw0/s1600/1508129_10204442022362200_7588813859327019141_n+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6W7Mh-foP4mX2xFHWW76IzEObUe8trnZui2Lfe4COT_VaTz3z0P1CxrPZtUOSWpCKV9cWd7YKiyCm0E-N_2kzUMhsLJDao4XxfcIQpxQoDsKSWmncmjLVYpqqtkcyFrq5kTg-iVFmw0/s1600/1508129_10204442022362200_7588813859327019141_n+(1).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise in Queensland, Australia. November 2014.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I don't really know where to start. It's been a while. I haven't posted since September, and that's pretty crazy if you consider how prolific I had been prior to that. Well, at least between 2011 and 2013.<br />
<br />
2014. Wow. What a year that was for me. Basically, my life turned into something I just did not expect. I got a job which I enjoyed, made a bunch of new friends, had family visiting from all over the world on a couple of occasions, I travelled to Australia for a month, and had more fun than I ever thought I would have. But, in all of this, guess what I forgot to do? I forgot to read.<br />
<br />
I know what you're thinking. <i>Sophie, you're a book blogger! How could you possibly forget to read?</i> Well, that's a good question. Perhaps it's not that I forgot, so much as I just didn't make time for it. I even had to defer my university course twice because I hadn't made time to go through the materials.<br />
<br />
The thing is, though, I learnt a lot about myself last year and, with everything that went on, I started to change. By the time I arrived home from Australia at the end of November, I'd reached a bunch of crossroads: I lost my job (budget cuts), I lost a few people (various ways), and I seriously began to consider a different university degree.<br />
<br />
So in these first couple of months of 2015, I have had to adapt. I'm still looking for work, but I'm not far from finding something (a couple of interviews lined up for this week). I've found ways to cope without having certain people in my life by focusing on losing weight and getting fit (the gym and healthy eating are new addictions). And I've changed my university degree.<br />
<br />
That's right, I'm no longer an English Literature student, but a Humanities student.<br />
<br />
And that brings me to why I'm here, I suppose. The truth is, I'm just not reading anymore. Not nearly as much as I used to, anyway. And so I'm considering a few options for this blog. Either it will move forward as more of a general lifestyle blog (with some book reviews included every now and again), or I will set up an entirely new blog and start over from scratch <span style="background-color: #dff2f8; font-size: 15.4559993743896px; line-height: 23.1839981079102px;">–</span> a new beginning to go with the new direction in which my life is headed.<br />
<br />
So I hope you all stay tuned a little longer while I figure this out. One thing's for sure, though: you never really know what the universe has in store for you.Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-56690655286279802662014-09-10T22:25:00.000+01:002014-09-10T22:25:18.809+01:00Experiencing The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Ernest Hemingway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtiE0MChHQjGxwhzQ1l3B3qCkNA4eIcwSnd9q_7BOywD-dwwxn6S24PPtnh8Xj_yV6oHu6lecoVuokj7xFHpLFWn1tp1Ht5nIDzL4KrtbEfHwWqJ7oWcHe8z66HOyF_2ROlZKBREv1SE/s1600/hemingway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtiE0MChHQjGxwhzQ1l3B3qCkNA4eIcwSnd9q_7BOywD-dwwxn6S24PPtnh8Xj_yV6oHu6lecoVuokj7xFHpLFWn1tp1Ht5nIDzL4KrtbEfHwWqJ7oWcHe8z66HOyF_2ROlZKBREv1SE/s1600/hemingway.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
Okay, I have to admit -- I've only ever read one other story by Ernest Hemingway and, yes, it was about <a href="http://www.sixwordstories.net/2008/12/for-sale-baby-shoes-never-worn-ernest-hemmingway/" target="_blank">baby shoes</a>. It's not that I haven't been interested. I read some of <i>The Old Man and the Sea</i> but it didn't grab me at all and, when something doesn't grab me, I usually give up within a few pages. I also own a copy of <i>For Whom the Bell Tolls</i>, though it has been sat on the shelf collecting dust with a bunch of other books which I'll get around to reading 'someday'.<br />
<br />
Then, yesterday, I was browsing the classics section at my local Oxfam bookshop when I came across <i>The Snows of Kilimanjaro and other stories</i>; eighteen of Hemingway's short stories contained within one small paperback. And being somewhat determined to find at least one piece of Hemingway which I could honestly say that I enjoyed, I purchased it.<br />
<br />
To explain the plot rather simply (and incompletely), it's about a man named Harry who is stranded in Africa, gangrene killing him, and he is looking back on his life. He fades in and out of dreams and daydreams, and in these moments we see into his mind as he reflects on all the stories he wish he had written during his life but hadn't, for one reason or another.<br />
<br />
How many of us can relate to this? Truthfully, in the moments when Harry pondered why he had procrastinated so severely, I felt as if Hemingway was speaking directly to me.<br />
<br />
Yes, enough of the fear. Enough of feeling inadequate. How can a person discover their full potential if they never even try? They can't, really.<br />
<br />
Here's one of my favourite passages from <i>The Snows of Kilimanjaro</i>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8cxLLjlsnIMdpEzy2RKYwcziJ00ghZXiAPfNeBzd1D9fkv_hguw1f8VqdQuYosrxfx06W0nCf95-YSUWW0LPJL6t2ZYld2NVzaqUMCubBEbdC_hHsaZHnaS4YIaCYfEyosTJh9kAM4I/s1600/kilimanjaro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8cxLLjlsnIMdpEzy2RKYwcziJ00ghZXiAPfNeBzd1D9fkv_hguw1f8VqdQuYosrxfx06W0nCf95-YSUWW0LPJL6t2ZYld2NVzaqUMCubBEbdC_hHsaZHnaS4YIaCYfEyosTJh9kAM4I/s1600/kilimanjaro.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a><i>You kept from thinking and it was all marvellous. You were equipped with good insides so that you did not go to pieces that way, the way most of them had, and you made an attitude that you cared nothing for the work you used to do, now that you could no longer do it. But, in yourself, you said that you would write about these people; about the very rich; that you were really not of them but a spy in their country; that you would leave it and write of it and for once it would be written by some one who knew what he was writing of. But he would never do it, because each day of not writing, of comfort, of being that which he despised, dulled his ability and softened his will to work so that, finally, he did no work at all. The people he knew now were all much more comfortable when he did not work. Africa was where he had been happiest in the good time of his life, so he had come out here to start again. They had made this safari with the minimum of comfort. There was no hardship; but there was no luxury and he had thought that he could get back into training that way. That in some way he could work the fat off his soul the way a fighter went into the mountains to work and train in order to burn it out of his body.</i> </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>[...] And he had felt the illusion of returning strength of will to work. Now if this was how it ended, and he knew it was, he must not turn like some snake biting itself because its back was broken.
</i></blockquote>
Of course, I've only isolated one theme found within Hemingway's beautiful and tragic story (another theme touches on relationships, but I'll reserve my thoughts on that for my journal). There's really so much to get out of <i>The Snows of Kilimanjaro</i>, and I can't recommend it enough. You can read it online <a href="http://xroads.virginia.edu/~DRBR/heming.html" target="_blank">here</a>, and purchase a copy for your shelf <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Snows-Kilimanjaro-Other-Stories-Ernest-Hemingway/9780099908807" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-23386716071569449822014-06-29T12:54:00.000+01:002014-06-29T12:54:04.817+01:00Typewritten no.2: It's about that time<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EIvLVQu8AKGmSppOHcEYo1L1HMaQ3jGICc6FiI8QGcTq6jTjtOW-cXDNoKOaDXbUHWcm98ub7-DiZ7jDpwz-DbKTtmt2KqDkF95_KSEIG6IMdwijtjJFoGCybH59ArGkjsb9wZjdUng/s1600/CameraZOOM-20130829195022035.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EIvLVQu8AKGmSppOHcEYo1L1HMaQ3jGICc6FiI8QGcTq6jTjtOW-cXDNoKOaDXbUHWcm98ub7-DiZ7jDpwz-DbKTtmt2KqDkF95_KSEIG6IMdwijtjJFoGCybH59ArGkjsb9wZjdUng/s320/CameraZOOM-20130829195022035.jpg" height="185" width="320" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcUjFOfjH1E1HV3Jtu8p18UI_tSub8-smMe05YVDt0TJ125AN9TsOi6I0jMFOeQgkPVhBikLm51CDk6f_mJve2Nqw189EfouoXSwMcaTO2ksU54TMpKUwwatcv9jbd-cqg6R2QgAZcgg/s1600/typewritten2_.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcUjFOfjH1E1HV3Jtu8p18UI_tSub8-smMe05YVDt0TJ125AN9TsOi6I0jMFOeQgkPVhBikLm51CDk6f_mJve2Nqw189EfouoXSwMcaTO2ksU54TMpKUwwatcv9jbd-cqg6R2QgAZcgg/s1600/typewritten2_.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVWqobQGsSuu_W1VDmGvb6PZRA6bqP8LiRXbsuZJUwn_JNuufdsWFGVbHR1fMgP-1bCze1M7GmTvVp8yxOSrynsAD7XGUPfLE__2UdeGqv-XaxNBSeQilqBUYLJKwPurfePzkmVe-wzE/s1600/typewritten2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-2899634522573234192014-06-22T12:30:00.000+01:002014-06-22T12:31:21.944+01:00Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcH8-C6vFWtjGzJXIb3WGI-dyH6ozt5Aq9P_fYO3UphAh8ctEvTxuMWrrdDKu7puseVgaYrt4QzLm1kX18KtEC5rnC52kj6TJmNAfSBIuehY5WD_s7UjkURI5lnDhSnHWjlJ0k3yRBppo/s1600/gonegirl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcH8-C6vFWtjGzJXIb3WGI-dyH6ozt5Aq9P_fYO3UphAh8ctEvTxuMWrrdDKu7puseVgaYrt4QzLm1kX18KtEC5rnC52kj6TJmNAfSBIuehY5WD_s7UjkURI5lnDhSnHWjlJ0k3yRBppo/s1600/gonegirl.jpg" height="320" width="210" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj5KKs7WH36eY1-sVr2hoU87vyHi99UuX6a5gtrHDCdHhDA5W2oz-FykX7Y90ENCwwzJRZB_jPpSkDcZNsrxkF8ldpVyPsgK2h7BUpDumhRrnwMEry2-Ep4Qa19pO8jNhjgO0sTCyxNY/s1600/tudorconspiracy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<b></b><br />
<div style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">
<span id="freeText15065705043174519677"><i>What are you
thinking, Amy? The question I've asked most often during our marriage,
if not out loud, if not to the person who could answer. I suppose these
questions stormcloud over every marriage: What are you thinking? How are
you feeling? Who are you? What have we done to each other? What will we
do?</i><br /><br />Just how well can you ever know the person you love?
This is the question that Nick Dunne must ask himself on the morning of
his fifth wedding anniversary, when his wife Amy suddenly disappears.
The police immediately suspect Nick. Amy's friends reveal that she was
afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn't true. A
police examination of his computer shows strange searches. He says they
aren't his. And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile
phone. So what really did happen to Nick's beautiful wife? And what was
in that half-wrapped box left so casually on their marital bed? In this
novel, marriage truly is the art of war... (<i>via <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13643133-gone-girl" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></i>)</span></div>
<br />
<i>Gone Girl</i> has been on my radar ever since I saw Gillian Flynn interviewed on<i> Late Night with Jimmy Fallon</i> last year. But, despite its acclaim, I was left rather disappointed.<br />
<br />
It started off well. I read the first page and was immediately sucked in to the action <span id="freeText6067065281908404535">–</span> the fast pace, vivid descriptions and mysterious characters kept the book firmly open in my hands. I couldn't wait to find out what was going on and where all the questions would lead.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, though, things went downhill after the first few chapters. The plot started getting repetitive, with the characters going over the same clues multiple times. It had me wondering how long it would take to actually go anywhere.<br />
<br />
But a major, very unexpected plot twist saved <i>Gone Girl</i> halfway through, and that kept me interested for a while. Eventually, however, the twist also became stale and I was once again bored. And then there was the ending which, to me, was a complete anti-climax.<br />
<br />
Not to mention the two main characters, Nick and Amy, who are fantastically developed but almost completely unlikeable. I can't say more without giving too much away but, to be honest, the polarising aspects of their personalities are pretty much what make the book. Who would be getting their just-desserts?<br />
<br />
I'll still see the film version of <i>Gone Girl</i> which comes out this autumn, though it will be interesting to see how they treat that ending. Altogether, a disappointing and somewhat frustrating, though also intriguing, read.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: 3 / 5</b><br />
<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-26244612874920824242014-04-21T15:11:00.000+01:002014-04-21T15:11:34.425+01:00Review: Wolf Bride by Elizabeth Moss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwapA0GD6evGOf8FQwFUayO6WtHM4b1ht4P1mYAiJyGD5ZRmk4Vm_weFtN-ZM5i4wctYo8cM_ibNMXa3zRJY4XfxnWz5GK27fapi_K3Bg2WjncjAoDcoya-AQt9l36lDzPllup8YV27o/s1600/wolfbride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwapA0GD6evGOf8FQwFUayO6WtHM4b1ht4P1mYAiJyGD5ZRmk4Vm_weFtN-ZM5i4wctYo8cM_ibNMXa3zRJY4XfxnWz5GK27fapi_K3Bg2WjncjAoDcoya-AQt9l36lDzPllup8YV27o/s1600/wolfbride.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj5KKs7WH36eY1-sVr2hoU87vyHi99UuX6a5gtrHDCdHhDA5W2oz-FykX7Y90ENCwwzJRZB_jPpSkDcZNsrxkF8ldpVyPsgK2h7BUpDumhRrnwMEry2-Ep4Qa19pO8jNhjgO0sTCyxNY/s1600/tudorconspiracy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
<b></b><br />
<div style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">
Hilary Mantel meets Sylvia Day: the first installment in a deliciously erotic trilogy, set against the sumptuous backdrop of the scandal-ridden Tudor Court.
<br />
<br />
England, 1536
<br />
<i>Bound to him against her will...
</i><br />
Lord Wolf, hardened soldier and expert lover, has come to King Henry VIII's court to claim his new bride: a girl who has intrigued him since he first saw her riding across the Yorkshire moors.
<br />
<br />
Eloise Tyrell, now lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne Boleyn, has other ideas. She has no desire to submit to a man she barely knows and who - though she is loath to admit it - frightens her not a little.
<br />
<br />
<i>Then comes that first kiss...
</i><br />
It awakens in both a fierce desire that bares them to the soul. But as the court erupts into scandal around the ill-fated Queen, Eloise sees first-hand what happens when powerful men tire of their wives.
<br />
<br />
Dare she surrender her body and her heart? (<i>via <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17886713-wolf-bride" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></i>)</div>
<br />
Last year I had the pleasure of <a href="http://www.lifebetweenpages.net/2013/11/interview-with-elizabeth-moss-author-of.html" target="_blank">interviewing Elizabeth Moss</a> about her critically acclaimed novel <i>Wolf Bride</i>, so I was excited to finally read it. For the most part I had a positive reading experience, though there were some aspects which I found more appealing than others.<br />
<br />
The plot wastes no time in getting started, with the first scene in the book introducing the wanton Queen Anne Boleyn. I certainly appreciated this introduction, as when I'm reading erotica, I prefer not to wait too long for the action! This also set up the premise of the novel very well as the latter parts of it centre around the Queen's demise.<br />
<br />
The novel also illustrates the time period well, whilst also incorporating a bit of a modern twist. I found it interesting to encounter all these historical places and people within a piece of fiction. <br />
<br />
Unfortunately, though, I didn't feel a big connection to the characters. While I appreciated Eloise (a headstrong, determined young woman), and Lord Wolf (definitely the most interesting character of them all <span id="freeText6067065281908404535">–</span> he is enigmatic, loyal, and unpredictable), I don't feel that they're characters I'll remember in a few month's time. They just didn't leave all that big of an impression on me.<br />
<br />
But despite the few issues I had with <i>Wolf Bride</i>, I'm still looking forward to reading the second book in the series. Overall this was an exciting, albeit imperfect, read.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: 3.5 / 5</b>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-69453403042630373952014-02-26T19:04:00.000+00:002014-02-26T19:04:06.073+00:00Meeting Karl Pilkington<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZHoAn0j7_cwORC90oVuNBLB7UAmPWly9QPS4f6KEofPT0jr8OeHq5vFxAAB2rguL_VyRqfVQmzuemZOGiDpcl0GIvrSXczJxW28-KX_v88z2Xh8JGJc70c3BpG6oQ7jewK2B-LV6MjM/s1600/1441362_544296912315222_11185324_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZHoAn0j7_cwORC90oVuNBLB7UAmPWly9QPS4f6KEofPT0jr8OeHq5vFxAAB2rguL_VyRqfVQmzuemZOGiDpcl0GIvrSXczJxW28-KX_v88z2Xh8JGJc70c3BpG6oQ7jewK2B-LV6MjM/s1600/1441362_544296912315222_11185324_n.jpg" height="200" width="65" /></a></div>
On November 23rd last year, I was lucky enough to meet one of my absolute favourite people: Karl Pilkington! He was at Waterstones' flagship store in London signing copies of his latest book, <i>The Moaning of Life</i>, which accompanies the TV series of the same name.<br />
<br />
It took a 6am start, almost two hours on the train and a gruelling three hour wait outside the bookshop in a line consisting of at least five-hundred people, but it was all definitely worth it for the minute or so that I had with the man himself.<br />
<br />
And I can happily say that he is exactly the same in person as he is on the TV (perhaps even nicer)! He was also very engaging and took his time to have a mini-conversation with me about the epic photograph that's on the back of his book. Here's a picture of us discussing it:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdYrlXlDbdNofQiolK7LUhoLJqPbSh6TdvFXQULzZ47XeBi2mlmAU0Z62ITUmxUhAm6MZ2D4Xh9C1qsD7NaS8hcHY0ZNwTxnzqPvG0HowxRLul9pNAtHiJY-Vad1WdFTZeeA_kcqgntY/s1600/1425798_10201881395548130_120979298_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdYrlXlDbdNofQiolK7LUhoLJqPbSh6TdvFXQULzZ47XeBi2mlmAU0Z62ITUmxUhAm6MZ2D4Xh9C1qsD7NaS8hcHY0ZNwTxnzqPvG0HowxRLul9pNAtHiJY-Vad1WdFTZeeA_kcqgntY/s1600/1425798_10201881395548130_120979298_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's smiling! I made Karl smile! YAY me!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Here's another photo of us together, which also features this little red gift bag that I'd brought for him. His reaction was, 'Oh, what is it? I hate surprises.' Yup, I had my very own classic Karl moment! He was amused, slightly, when he saw that it enclosed teabags (what can I say? The man enjoys his tea!)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkZmmNCqOnN235PJNomK7f8iySQrblKpBzT_AtAcgTCIfxupW9S1P57VuvSh-FsTk_THH47qAV5i1mHLv35bEpsmFgssoig5rhL-6uJE7Hnuh3hLvEsFeZh-X7icChczMR2QhkVPSpJM/s1600/969283_10201933727136387_2133038601_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxkZmmNCqOnN235PJNomK7f8iySQrblKpBzT_AtAcgTCIfxupW9S1P57VuvSh-FsTk_THH47qAV5i1mHLv35bEpsmFgssoig5rhL-6uJE7Hnuh3hLvEsFeZh-X7icChczMR2QhkVPSpJM/s1600/969283_10201933727136387_2133038601_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Finally, the signature he left inside my copy of <i>The Moaning of Life</i>. This will have pride of place on my bookshelf for a long time to come!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaJlJnujfN-fE0ds5KTmsPFuo4Dj3KkmptmIPq_Ja2QJr_3GNPnvTeeX574jzlOWU0BI9lWEvxTqcJ-Lwrth0LHXEKaZDrH8dL8vBDBWZZ1i1ykPvB6YcPeo2wBBOVaujLMblpLSpCsg/s1600/20140225_154924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKaJlJnujfN-fE0ds5KTmsPFuo4Dj3KkmptmIPq_Ja2QJr_3GNPnvTeeX574jzlOWU0BI9lWEvxTqcJ-Lwrth0LHXEKaZDrH8dL8vBDBWZZ1i1ykPvB6YcPeo2wBBOVaujLMblpLSpCsg/s1600/20140225_154924.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm so happy that I finally got to meet Karl and experience, first-hand, his unique personality. As he would say himself, 'yeah, was alright, wa'n't it?'<br />
<br />
Have you met any of your favourite famous people? Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-57858313924736191732014-01-19T00:44:00.000+00:002014-01-19T00:47:17.080+00:00Review: The Tudor Conspiracy by Christopher Gortner<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj5KKs7WH36eY1-sVr2hoU87vyHi99UuX6a5gtrHDCdHhDA5W2oz-FykX7Y90ENCwwzJRZB_jPpSkDcZNsrxkF8ldpVyPsgK2h7BUpDumhRrnwMEry2-Ep4Qa19pO8jNhjgO0sTCyxNY/s1600/tudorconspiracy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJj5KKs7WH36eY1-sVr2hoU87vyHi99UuX6a5gtrHDCdHhDA5W2oz-FykX7Y90ENCwwzJRZB_jPpSkDcZNsrxkF8ldpVyPsgK2h7BUpDumhRrnwMEry2-Ep4Qa19pO8jNhjgO0sTCyxNY/s1600/tudorconspiracy.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">
1553: Harsh winter falls across the realm. Mary Tudor has become queen and her enemies are imprisoned in the Tower, but rumours of a plot to depose her swirl around the one person many consider to be England's heir and only hope-- her half-sister, Princess Elizabeth.
<br />
<br />
Brendan Prescott's foe and mentor, the spymaster Cecil, brings news that sends Brendan back to London on a dangerous mission. Intent upon trying to save Elizabeth, he soon finds himself working as a double-agent for Mary herself.
<br />
<br />
Plunged into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a shadowy opponent who hides a terrifying secret, Brendan races against time to retrieve a cache of the princess's private letters, even as he begins to realize that in this dark world of betrayal and deceit - where power is supreme and sister can turn against sister - nobody can be trusted. (<i>via <a href="https://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781444720853" target="_blank">Hodder.co.uk</a></i>) </div>
<br />
Though <i>The Tudor Conspiracy</i> is the second book in the <i>Elizabeth's Spymaster</i> series, it also works as a standalone novel. So, as I'd not read its predecessor, <i>The Tudor Secret</i>, this served as my introduction to Brendan Prescott and the world he navigates.<br />
<br />
From the wonderful descriptions to the three-dimensional characters, <i>The Tudor Conspiracy</i> is an enjoyable read. The atmosphere Gortner creates is very evocative, and I found myself easily transported back to 1553 and its vast unpredictability under the rule of Queen Mary I. It also helped that the novel is set during winter, thus making it a fitting companion during these cold, grey days we're currently experiencing here in England!<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the characters; especially Brendan (who serves as narrator for the story) and Peregrine. But though the background of each character is fully explained through the plot, I did feel as if I came in at a bit of a disadvantage not having read <i>The Tudor Secret</i>. Perhaps I would have felt more of an attachment to the characters had I started the series from the very beginning (which I may still go back and do)?<br />
<br />
Overall, <i>The Tudor Conspiracy</i> is a suspenseful, fast-paced read with some exciting twists. I'm looking forward to finding out what happens to Brendan in the next novel!<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: 4 / 5</b><br />
<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-48659402692364992772013-12-31T13:06:00.000+00:002013-12-31T13:06:13.187+00:00Happy 2014!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfm3FH3bAH9TfM6JWCMwhDpoui9ALFbLRFvzzViIALFK8w7ax0yida79Zj2iqWFgtLN8qHfYKfX4i9D3ASL2hN4mMxf9xKxGKP9ZdWeSbgV-_YKDq-PyT8x6dmQHJtxwKwIynnKm25zg/s1600/2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrfm3FH3bAH9TfM6JWCMwhDpoui9ALFbLRFvzzViIALFK8w7ax0yida79Zj2iqWFgtLN8qHfYKfX4i9D3ASL2hN4mMxf9xKxGKP9ZdWeSbgV-_YKDq-PyT8x6dmQHJtxwKwIynnKm25zg/s320/2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Though I've had much less time to blog this year, it hasn't been a bad 2013. I've started an interesting job, met some fabulous new people in a variety of ways (including Karl Pilkington at a book signing <span id="freeText6067065281908404535">–</span> more on that in January), read some amazing books, and encountered some wonderful authors (and adjectives to go along with them!).<br />
<br />
I hope 2014 continues for me in the same manner, though I do hope I'll produce more posts! Only time will tell. But, for now, a massive thank you to all my followers and visitors for reading this little blog.<br />
<br />
Happy New Year! I hope it's a great one for all of you.<br />
<br />
See you on the other side... Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-68443775151651324452013-12-29T17:03:00.000+00:002013-12-29T17:03:29.447+00:00Review: The Girl Behind the Curtain by Stella Knightley [Hidden Women trilogy, book 3] <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3jNwGENlktazrYE4DLZ2aGNGVVQ7TqLdLmSRgke6dOLngZ5GeMdVtxB9CzBaUitkze5WLjfDbiWOou7-Ytz1DUyT7Z49z8B1KNrZwitrTKukBNopbtEezLlDSJNc6GSBO86wMJU_hqw/s1600/curtain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3jNwGENlktazrYE4DLZ2aGNGVVQ7TqLdLmSRgke6dOLngZ5GeMdVtxB9CzBaUitkze5WLjfDbiWOou7-Ytz1DUyT7Z49z8B1KNrZwitrTKukBNopbtEezLlDSJNc6GSBO86wMJU_hqw/s320/curtain.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<b>Warning</b>: There are spoilers beyond this point for anyone who hasn't read the <i>Hidden Women</i> trilogy (check out <a href="http://www.lifebetweenpages.net/search/label/Hidden%20Women%20trilogy" target="_blank">my reviews</a> for the first two books).<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">
Sarah Thomson and Marco Donato's complicated love affair continues - their passion is a deep one but both have been badly hurt before and are wary of exposing their vulnerabilities to the other.
<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, Sarah begins to research a new subject . . .
<br />
<br />
In Nineteen-Thirties Germany, Katherine Hazleton escapes her stuffy finishing school and runs away to Berlin in pursuit of an unsuitable man. Alone and penniless when her boyfriend deserts her, she is forced to become a hostess at a cabaret bar. There she reinvents herself as Kitty Katkin. Writing her own songs to accompany her risque dance routines, Kitty is soon a sensation. She is in love with Berlin and her handsome musician lover, Otto. But Germany is about to change.
<br />
<br />
Will Kitty and Sarah find the love they truly deserve? (<i>via <a href="https://www.hodder.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781444777093" target="_blank">Hodder.co.uk</a></i>)</div>
<br />
So, this is it. The last book in Stella Knightley's <i>Hidden Women</i> trilogy and, I must say, it went far beyond my expectations.<br />
<br />
<i>The Girl Behind the Curtain</i> continues the same structure, with Sarah's story running alongside that of a historical research subject <span id="freeText6067065281908404535">–</span> this time the fun, brave, and lovable Kitty. There are less sex scenes here than in the previous novels, but I found this to be very fitting of the plot's development and underlying message. Anything more would have seemed gratuitous.<br />
<br />
And though I'm sad that such a fabulous story has ended, I absolutely loved its conclusion. I stayed up for hours one night to finish the book because I was dying to find out the truth behind each mystery; including what becomes of Kitty and Otto's relationship and, of course, whether Sarah and Marco are finally able to make it work. <br />
<br />
Altogether, <i>The Girl Behind the Curtain</i> is a sweet, emotional, and atmospheric conclusion to an inspiring trilogy, and reveals a powerful message about the true value of love. I cannot recommend it enough!<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: 5 / 5</b><br />
<br />Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-23979052903572746522013-12-09T12:02:00.000+00:002013-12-09T12:09:46.274+00:00Review: Allegiant by Veronica Roth [Divergent Trilogy, book 3]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyucTsWCra6zlVvle5guGn-JbvxRZQHiYB2q-VvkzQ9uhqaZsGH-ic3-jv6AGMvWfk_5v1g-InWy_IR22Y11KxTi3VK8BMd-IQXzbE8vSfAwue2lD2nMxUCES1edkKGL-mpk0h8W1dC8/s1600/allegiant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWyucTsWCra6zlVvle5guGn-JbvxRZQHiYB2q-VvkzQ9uhqaZsGH-ic3-jv6AGMvWfk_5v1g-InWy_IR22Y11KxTi3VK8BMd-IQXzbE8vSfAwue2lD2nMxUCES1edkKGL-mpk0h8W1dC8/s320/allegiant.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Warning:</b> Don't read this review
if you haven't read the first two books in the <a href="http://www.lifebetweenpages.net/2013/06/review-divergent-by-veronica-roth.html" target="_blank"><i>Divergent</i></a> series
beforehand!<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">
What if your whole world was a lie?
<br />
What if a single revelation—like a single choice—changed everything?
<br />
What if love and loyalty made you do things you never expected?
<br />
<br />
The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling <i>Divergent</i> trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in <i>Divergent</i> and <i>Insurgent</i>. (<i>via <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17406183-allegiant" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></i>)</div>
<br />
I loved the first two books in the <i>Divergent</i> series, and I'd been counting down until the release of <i>Allegiant</i> – the final book in Veronica Roth’s bestselling dystopian trilogy. Unfortunately, however, I was disappointed.<br />
<br />
It’s hard to explain why without giving too much away, but I found that <i>Allegiant</i> had a completely different tone to its predecessors. It was in fact so different, and so unsatisfying, that I truly struggled with the first 80% of the novel. I found the events boring, frustrating, and far too removed from the dystopian society which I'd come to know and love.
<br />
<br />
By the time <i>Allegiant</i> reached its climax, I’d developed a sort of indifference to everything that was going on, and I even found it difficult to remember why I had loved the characters so much in the previous instalments. It felt as if my reactions had been watered down, and all I could think was, ‘huh’, although I really wanted to care more. I even met that controversial bit which has many <i>Divergent</i> fans throwing tear drenched tissues into bins and cursing at Veronica Roth with a surprising degree of apathy.<br />
<br />
So, overall, I found <i>Allegiant</i> to be an anticlimactic end to an otherwise superb series. At some point, I might go back and read all three books simultaneously, just to see if it makes a difference. For now, though, this will have to do.<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: 2.5 / 5</b>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-87684875921105934182013-12-05T23:41:00.000+00:002013-12-05T23:41:36.096+00:00Interview with Allison Rushby – author of the Living Blond trilogy + a giveaway<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtoIUpUOnDHLmzaSbwtj05jHWRtrjnKr1TNKOpdVRJLWMUB8UqZLpzOwfNmRhL1MPqUDq2jzvU4YGqHql1yk9x6MabMD6EXtNEzs6EALFqWmB0ki6FlPrS5IKWL_XgAVoGM2XfJDQrTM/s1600/AllisonRushby.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtoIUpUOnDHLmzaSbwtj05jHWRtrjnKr1TNKOpdVRJLWMUB8UqZLpzOwfNmRhL1MPqUDq2jzvU4YGqHql1yk9x6MabMD6EXtNEzs6EALFqWmB0ki6FlPrS5IKWL_XgAVoGM2XfJDQrTM/s320/AllisonRushby.png" width="229" /></a>It's wonderful to welcome Allison Rushby back to the blog, who's here to talk about her new young <br />
adult series, the <i>Living Blond</i> trilogy, which is available to buy now at <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=living+blond+allison+rushby" target="_blank">Amazon</a>. You can find its blurb at the bottom of the interview, along with a giveaway to win 1 of 20 'We Love Marilyn Monroe/Marilynette' wristbands.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<br />
<b>The <i>Living Blond</i> trilogy centres around Nessa, a teen who is obsessed with Marilyn Monroe. What inspired you to write the series based around one of film’s most iconic leading ladies?</b><br />
Nessa had a bit of a funny start in life as a character. I was house-sitting for a friend, who told me to peep inside her housemate's room one day (she was also away at the time). When I did this, I couldn't believe my eyes. All over the room were huge glamour portraits of the housemate dressed up as Marilyn Monroe. Apparently she had quite the Marilyn obsession, as the portraits demonstrated. I wondered about this for years afterwards – I couldn't stop thinking about how a young person could be so obsessed with Marilyn Monroe, a star long dead. This is how Nessa evolved – I took that character trait to an even younger, stranger place. Imagine a thirteen-year-old with a Marilyn obsession – how strange would that be? What would people make of it? What would her parents do about it if it got out of control? And that was how Nessa came to be. It was interesting to stay with her over three books and watch her grow and her obsession slowly fade, with her eventually handing the torch over to a new Marilyn fan by the end of the third book.
<br />
<br />
<b>Tell us about trilogy’s leading lady, Nessa. What do you hope readers will enjoy about her personality?</b><br />
I really hope readers will love her overactive imagination and crazy ability to see what might not be there (okay, is definitely not there, but is way more entertaining).
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Like your previous release, <i>Shooting Stars</i>, The <i>Living Blond</i> trilogy has been written for the young adult audience. What do you find most appealing about writing for this demographic? Do you see yourself writing for an older audience in future?</b><br />
I actually started out writing for adults (my first chick-lit novel came out in 2000) and moved towards writing for young adults after that as I found I simply enjoyed it so much. It's just such a great time of life – very heady and self-involved (in a good way!) when anything and everything is possible. I really love the immediacy of YA and the fact that characters tend to act on their true emotions.
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Now to get personal: what’s your favourite Marilyn Monroe movie?</b><br />
It has to be <i>Gentlemen Prefer Blondes</i> for its amazing lines. Like Lorelei Lee's line, 'Don't you know that a man being rich is like a girl being pretty? You might not marry a girl just because she's pretty, but, my goodness, Doesn't it help?'
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Lastly, what other projects do you currently have in the works and where can we keep up to date? </b><br />
In 2014, I'll be releasing two other YA books – <i>Blondtourage</i> and <i>Being Hartley</i>. Readers can always keep up-to-date at <a href="http://www.allisonrushby.com/">http://www.allisonrushby.com</a>, on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Allison_Rushby" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, or on<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/103615.Allison_Rushby" target="_blank"> Goodreads</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbVMYYV-M3iEfL1vj-TQaqSg7WKmZFdFi1FE6CCE2njYnj1H1RcaXuLI4c2URK9f_C4p5kOr31erdNKyEmfAyJk6NvYVPfzhYE-4r-lpbKjFduZmt5sCqQUa59S3zVCnGCitRqyxrou8/s1600/Living+Blond+banner+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbVMYYV-M3iEfL1vj-TQaqSg7WKmZFdFi1FE6CCE2njYnj1H1RcaXuLI4c2URK9f_C4p5kOr31erdNKyEmfAyJk6NvYVPfzhYE-4r-lpbKjFduZmt5sCqQUa59S3zVCnGCitRqyxrou8/s400/Living+Blond+banner+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i> </i><b>Blurb</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Nessa Joanne Mulholland, aka Marilyn Monroe's No. 1 teenage fan, is used to moving house. This time, however, she's relocating in movie-star style—crossing the Atlantic on board the Majestic, headed for Paris from New York City. And it really would be in movie-star style if it wasn't for the fact that she's bringing her cringe-fest professor dad along for the ride (Dad's specialization: human mating rituals—need Nessa say more?). Oh yeah, and sharing a cabin that's five decks below sea level and next to the engine room. Still, at least Holly Isles is on board. Yes, really, that Holly Isles—star of stage and screen. Suddenly, things are looking up. Looking a little Marilyn, in fact, because events are strangely mirroring Nessa's favorite movie of all time, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>International giveaway </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Complete the Rafflecopter form to win one of these very cute 'We Love Marilyn Monroe/Marilynette' wristbands!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9NCGqZW9WIHJfLMBavMYikz3Cu380bpV8aaU5Wt2hosYPtCtBr9s7yu3e0dDBsnU3h7WoXXJdareaa-CItqhtIuVfe-9Xxh48AI_7sujQpql8kQkWSjjTE0HDhr3ANoIc4_NP7ysXdE/s1600/il_570xN.383691688_rbhj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9NCGqZW9WIHJfLMBavMYikz3Cu380bpV8aaU5Wt2hosYPtCtBr9s7yu3e0dDBsnU3h7WoXXJdareaa-CItqhtIuVfe-9Xxh48AI_7sujQpql8kQkWSjjTE0HDhr3ANoIc4_NP7ysXdE/s200/il_570xN.383691688_rbhj.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0085453/" id="rc-0085453" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script></div>
Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-26809670271222934892013-11-20T21:16:00.000+00:002013-11-20T21:16:10.703+00:00Enter to win Karl Pilkington & The Moaning of Life goodies [UK only]<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmaGN3nVhE5FLEvmEFfzb3Krqlj3OtxQ7HoWiSnstHWQu7EyljmI50Yw8Eb2L64dlPJ-ZfO3iw8EpdpZLO46GEqco6l3CV33VmK_merEd1su_olmI4VhK6VZ_A4p1hwAuqqohCODIOG8/s1600/karlmoaning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipmaGN3nVhE5FLEvmEFfzb3Krqlj3OtxQ7HoWiSnstHWQu7EyljmI50Yw8Eb2L64dlPJ-ZfO3iw8EpdpZLO46GEqco6l3CV33VmK_merEd1su_olmI4VhK6VZ_A4p1hwAuqqohCODIOG8/s200/karlmoaning.jpg" width="128" /></a>If you're in the UK and happen to be a fan of Karl Pilkington, you'll love this competition where you can win a bunch of amazing <i>Moaning of Life</i> prizes!<br />
<br />
Check out the details here:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
If the approaching end of Karl Pilkington’s TV series <i>The Moaning of Life</i> is set to send you into a spiral of withdrawal, worry not as the book to accompany the show is <a href="http://ow.ly/qmGuB" target="_blank">out now</a>. And, to coincide with the launch of the DVD, a new competition has launched where <b>three lucky winners</b> will each receive:<br />
<ul>
<li>a SIGNED copy of the book</li>
<li>a SIGNED illustration from the book </li>
<li>a copy of the DVD. </li>
</ul>
Plus, <b>five runner-ups</b> will each receive a copy of the book. Does life get any better, Karl Pilkington fans?!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>To enter, simply look at the photo below and then e-mail <u><span style="color: #073763;"><a href="mailto:marketing@canongate.co.uk">marketing@canongate.co.uk</a></span></u> with <i>Karl Pilkington</i> in the subject line, telling us what you think Karl is saying in the picture:
</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eP5dDqeLwmvYvx1squF3hZJ3xzkigVhsleWfmcYVRLngt088Hqe50N1MbJJ6LqgqX3I-yVfo-MbI_Xn2G9QgTyqNR2RKO9jnslCq4DuJGNn4cldkAetI6ERgY-nXq9AfqK-9xRyZmr0/s1600/Vocation+33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eP5dDqeLwmvYvx1squF3hZJ3xzkigVhsleWfmcYVRLngt088Hqe50N1MbJJ6LqgqX3I-yVfo-MbI_Xn2G9QgTyqNR2RKO9jnslCq4DuJGNn4cldkAetI6ERgY-nXq9AfqK-9xRyZmr0/s640/Vocation+33.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
The funniest entries win. The competition closes on Monday 2 December and the lucky winners will be chosen at random by Canongate. </div>
<br />
Don’t forget to follow @<a href="https://twitter.com/welovemoaning" target="_blank">welovemoaning</a> on Twitter for all the latest updates on Karl Pilkington’s <i>Moaning of Life</i> book.<br />
<br />
Good luck, everyone! Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-1800926840148320922013-11-19T20:37:00.000+00:002013-11-19T20:37:09.209+00:00The 'I am officially back' post!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTdOpwbZBvJv0YjEVgMp1XYBDR7HHlIVn7-8yIXh-VNgJRGOAtJATVZg7D9N8Ny8XmzUNJdUCwXQvZhqJ6HNwthAVCOz6507eSlXATgIGTfe6pyUlsDr_ysOfp0IcFljw-dJzpSEToVs/s1600/IMG_20131119_200423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTdOpwbZBvJv0YjEVgMp1XYBDR7HHlIVn7-8yIXh-VNgJRGOAtJATVZg7D9N8Ny8XmzUNJdUCwXQvZhqJ6HNwthAVCOz6507eSlXATgIGTfe6pyUlsDr_ysOfp0IcFljw-dJzpSEToVs/s320/IMG_20131119_200423.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Okay, I know it's been ages. Aside from a <a href="http://www.lifebetweenpages.net/2013/11/interview-with-elizabeth-moss-author-of.html" target="_blank">must-read interview with Elizabeth Moss</a>, posted at the beginning of the month, I haven't exactly been around.<br />
<br />
And for this I blame life, which has really eaten up my free time and forced blogging into the back of my mind. But, from now on, that's going to change. I have a few weeks off work and I'm almost caught up with my studies, meaning I'll have more time to be here. Woohoo!<br />
<br />
So, over the next few days, look out for some fab new posts. Among these you'll find a competition, an interview with an awesome Young Adult author, and something <a href="http://www.lifebetweenpages.net/2013/08/typewritten-no1-wodehouse-and-hemingway.html" target="_blank">Typewritten</a>. I'm also currently reading <i>Allegiant</i>, the final instalment in Veronica Roth's <i>Divergent </i>series, so expect to see this reviewed sometime in the near future.<br />
<br />
It's certainly great to be back!Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-35665378325946944082013-11-07T02:04:00.000+00:002013-11-07T02:04:40.260+00:00Interview with Elizabeth Moss – author of Wolf Bride<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FA14k2h6GdgAfUf6DDrVhAR9onfUcLjuY1413vICxzhv-r_52xHBIahBjOo4q_wT9ZAHw6xG40jWLFOz01cLfcSAIx3Ylt946uLJaLkfEpziw0ecTqufYSD4rkDIIqudzWmixuMmXGY/s1600/elizabeth-moss-photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FA14k2h6GdgAfUf6DDrVhAR9onfUcLjuY1413vICxzhv-r_52xHBIahBjOo4q_wT9ZAHw6xG40jWLFOz01cLfcSAIx3Ylt946uLJaLkfEpziw0ecTqufYSD4rkDIIqudzWmixuMmXGY/s1600/elizabeth-moss-photo.jpg" /></a>It's delightful to welcome author Elizabeth Moss to the blog, who's here to talk about her newly <br />
released historical erotic romance novel, <i>Wolf Bride</i>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<br />
<b><i>Wolf Bride</i> tells the steamy tale of Queen Anne Boleyn’s lady in waiting, Eloise Tyrell, and the man she is betrothed to, Lord Wolf. What attracted you towards setting such a story during this historical period?</b><br />
The sheer drama of it. Everything was more life-and-death at the Tudor court than in most later periods of history, with the slightest error in judgement getting you carted off to the Tower of London. This raises the stakes in a romance to an alarming degree. With Henry VIII in the mix, it's not just 'Does the hero get the girl?' but 'Can they survive this and reach a happy ending?' And of course we know, as 21st century readers, that not everything is going to end well for Anne Boleyn at least.
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>What can you tell us about the two main characters? Are they based on any real historical figures?</b><br />
Lord Wolf and Eloise Tyrell are not based on any specific historical figures, but they are representative members of the Henrician Court. Lord Wolf is a superb soldier and commander, tough-minded, incredibly loyal to the crown, driven by his loyalty in fact. But as a nobleman, he approaches picking a wife - to breed an heir - with the same lack of emotion as when buying a horse. So you can imagine how a feisty and rebellious young woman like Eloise throws him off balance. Yet he finds her passion invigorating and seems to take pleasure in nettling her whenever they are together. Eloise has been serving the Queen for several years, and is an independent spirit. She wants to marry for love, so being forced into an arranged marriage - Tudor women often had little choice in the matter - makes her desperate. What stuns Eloise about Wolf is how well he seems to understand a woman's body - he's an expert lover, of course! - while failing to understand her heart. But just when things begin to hot up for them, Anne Boleyn is arrested, with Eloise suspected of hiding dangerous secrets about her mistress ...
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><i>Wolf Bride</i> has gained a positive response from several high-profile media outlets, and has been described as a cross between Hilary Mantel and Sylvia Day. What do you think critics and reviewers have found so appealing about the novel? </b><br />
Cross-genre writing is a very exciting development in fiction right now. And this is really an account of Anne Boleyn's fall from grace, but we see it not through the eyes of key historical characters, but via Wolf and Eloise's love story. By constantly foregrounding the dangers inherent in a marriage where a husband has absolute power over his wife, even to the point in Henry's case where he can sign her death warrant, <i>Wolf Bride</i> achieves an unsettling note that makes the erotic content more ... well, erotic. It responds to something in the zeitgeist, in my opinion. This is the right book for the right time, perhaps.
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Judging by the list of previous releases on your blog, you’re quite the productive writer. How do you stay motivated?</b><br />
I have a large family to support; needing to pay the bills is usually motivation enough to go to my desk every morning. When that doesn't work, I remind myself how little I have achieved so far in comparison with my late mother, who wrote over 150 novels under the name Charlotte Lamb. Now that's productive!
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Lastly, what’s next for you? Do you have any other projects currently in the works?</b><br />
I have two more novels in the <i>Lust in the Tudor Court</i> series to come out in 2014, but would dearly love to write a contemporary erotic series too. I do write under other names, but mostly historicals, so a contemporary story would be marvellous.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQfQcTz0sxYuop8wvemsNtvLH6E8B3uOJ-67jKPscUbWl23Uh-ZBIKA-iw2MnOi0uP4rQiwV1Y9DoBgB_XkoIpC7nyNz6XOjnawe0HG1tlPXZmZFqsmSgGL1oxW0oYbimdAORvplOCjE/s1600/wolfbride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQfQcTz0sxYuop8wvemsNtvLH6E8B3uOJ-67jKPscUbWl23Uh-ZBIKA-iw2MnOi0uP4rQiwV1Y9DoBgB_XkoIpC7nyNz6XOjnawe0HG1tlPXZmZFqsmSgGL1oxW0oYbimdAORvplOCjE/s320/wolfbride.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
Blurb:<br />
<i>England, 1536
</i><br />
<br />
<i>Bound to him against her will...
</i><br />
<i>Lord Wolf, hardened soldier and expert lover, has come to King Henry VIII's court to claim his new bride: a girl who has intrigued him since he first saw her riding across the Yorkshire moors.
</i><br />
<i>Eloise Tyrell, now lady-in-waiting to Queen Anne Boleyn, has other ideas. She has no desire to submit to a man she barely knows and who - though she is loath to admit it - frightens her not a little.
</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Then comes that first kiss...
</i><br />
<i>It awakens in both a fierce desire that bares them to the soul. But as the court erupts into scandal around the ill-fated Queen, Eloise sees first-hand what happens when powerful men tire of their wives.
</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Dare she surrender her body and her heart?</i><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.elizabethmossfiction.com/" target="_blank">Elizabeth's blog</a> - <a href="https://twitter.com/ElizabethMoss1" target="_blank">Twitter</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wolf-Bride-Lust-Tudor-Court/dp/1444752421/ref=tmm_pap_title_0" target="_blank">Purchase Wolf Bride</a></div>
Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-28961692889903475052013-09-29T13:14:00.000+01:002013-09-29T13:14:56.667+01:00Busy as a butterfly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMWuDd6N9JVs3dgRIPDPaQAot9yqo4y3upOC1kq6cCplmem6SjCYFugQDFxEDuhHEpRJpklzkIXcx47e24_fXszuFzEte6LgpbTnY8B7REEpgOi-64kwxESRZV0HGBlt9GeqXCXC10TI/s1600/IMG_20130809_185030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHMWuDd6N9JVs3dgRIPDPaQAot9yqo4y3upOC1kq6cCplmem6SjCYFugQDFxEDuhHEpRJpklzkIXcx47e24_fXszuFzEte6LgpbTnY8B7REEpgOi-64kwxESRZV0HGBlt9GeqXCXC10TI/s320/IMG_20130809_185030.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I wanted to apologise for the lack of posts lately (especially book reviews), and let you guys know that I'm still around!<br />
<br />
It's been a very weird and hectic few weeks for me, and it's only going to get busier. I started a new full-time job a few days ago and, on top of that, I have a university course kicking off in the next week. So, until I settle into my new schedule, I'm not going to be blogging or communicating as much as I would prefer.<br />
<br />
So bear with me, everyone, and I promise there will be new stuff on the blog before too long.<br />
<br />
See you soon!Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-25203588594909565082013-09-17T00:00:00.000+01:002013-09-17T00:00:00.905+01:00Interview with Katie Dale – author of Little White Lies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7y03ylqR_h_-z0R4_UA8VhKkq8IckzrRfK0WYfmYtqyFkTvFs-dQvi-397I2WzWqHGLtbyWA2MmqiF2rmsPvQlmWzmB0oMcFzP1XfdNL7EkuXPBvCkqLFPIqef-__UGvGyL0LST-Ig0/s1600/katiedale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7y03ylqR_h_-z0R4_UA8VhKkq8IckzrRfK0WYfmYtqyFkTvFs-dQvi-397I2WzWqHGLtbyWA2MmqiF2rmsPvQlmWzmB0oMcFzP1XfdNL7EkuXPBvCkqLFPIqef-__UGvGyL0LST-Ig0/s320/katiedale.jpg" width="213" /></a>It's a pleasure to welcome Katie Dale back to the blog, who's here this time to talk about her fabulous new young adult thriller, <i>Little White Lies</i> (out now). Check out its blurb at the bottom of the interview.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<br />
<b><i>Q: </i>Your new novel, <i>Little White Lies</i>, centres around Lou and a guy she meets named Christian, who turns out to be hiding some rather large secrets from her. What can you tell us about the settings for the story? Do the events occur in the present day or somewhere more distant?</b><br />
<i>A: </i>The setting for the story is present day – actually in September, so right now! – as Lou starts at Sheffield University as a fresher studying English Literature. As it happens, I myself also studied English Lit at Sheffield University, so a lot of the environment is based on my own memories of being a student there – going to pubs and trekking up and down the killer hills! – though my own hall of residence has sadly been knocked down so I had to do some research into the glitzy new “student village”!
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>The protagonist in your previous release, <i>Someone Else’s Life</i>, also discovers a secret which fuels the plot of the novel. What do you think it is that makes secrets so interesting to read about?</b><br />
I think secrets are so compelling because <i>everyone</i> wants to know a secret, to share a secret or to guess a secret before someone else. It’s what keeps us eagerly turning the pages in mystery books, detective stories, and thrillers, hungry to find out what <i>really</i> happened – that’s the kind of book I really like to read, and also the kind I love to write – with a good few twists in there as well, to keep readers guessing!
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Which <i>Little White Lies</i> character did you enjoy writing the most, and why?</b><br />
Funnily enough, I enjoyed writing two of the secondary characters most of all – Vix and Kenny. Vix is just so bubbly and full of life and ideas, whilst being incredibly loyal, whilst Kenny (who knows most of the secrets) is quite dry and witty and cunning, and it was really fun to write their dialogue.
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>What advice can you give to budding authors wishing to write for the Young Adult genre?</b><br />
Read as much YA as you can – it’s by far my favourite genre, as it’s always reinventing itself, pushing the boundaries and experimenting – and there are some really stunning books and authors out there. Then just imagine yourself as a teen – thinking you pretty much have life sussed out, but having so many surprises and choices left in store. There are so many possibilities awaiting teenagers – their lives aren’t mapped out yet, and it’s such an exciting time, and the scope for fiction of all kinds is vast.
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Finally, do you have any other projects in the works? Where can we stay updated?</b><br />
Ah, I’m afraid I’m going to have to keep my next project my own secret for now! But do stay updated at <a href="http://katiedaleuk.blogspot.com/">katiedaleuk.blogspot.com</a> and follow me on twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/katiedaleuk" target="_blank">@katiedaleuk</a> – You’ll hear about it there first! <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDLBYU_tKIP65Iv-6HdFTaupl-JPO18WIEj1d5oS9wsn42u3KukkVYu5j8efYRqbluGBblchsdj9hBMpyqpCI8KPNsR5oSy-Al_fYLf76pwuDEXQU1OYuc9erupU_OKDiqIRhysZhshk/s1600/17232924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDLBYU_tKIP65Iv-6HdFTaupl-JPO18WIEj1d5oS9wsn42u3KukkVYu5j8efYRqbluGBblchsdj9hBMpyqpCI8KPNsR5oSy-Al_fYLf76pwuDEXQU1OYuc9erupU_OKDiqIRhysZhshk/s320/17232924.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
Blurb:<br />
<i>The first time Lou meets tall, dark, and handsome Christian, she knows he's hiding something. Why does he clam up every time she asks about his past? Why doesn't he have any family photos and why does he dye his blond hair black?
</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Then suddenly his terrible secret is unveiled to the world - and it seems everything he's ever told Lou is a lie. Can what the media are saying about him really be true? Should Lou trust him? Or is she in terrible danger? But Christian isn't the only one keeping secrets. For what if their chance meeting was no accident at all ...?
</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>As lie follows lie, nothing is as it seems, and soon Lou finds herself ensnared in a web of deceit, her loyalties torn, her emotions in tatters as she faces a heart-wrenching dilemma: should she shatter the lives of those she holds dearest, or betray the guy who, against all odds, she's fallen in love with?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Full of family secrets, surprising twists and unexpected revelations, Katie Dale's second novel will have readers on the edge of their seats.</i>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-35873593108013736352013-09-12T00:04:00.000+01:002013-09-12T00:23:15.657+01:00Review: The Transfer (a Divergent short story) by Veronica Roth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifK-eXVVhfcnnjdsVy8CFFjpI3IaNxX1rvPGtX91DU4-sipt612oW-9yF0V1nmQooUaZeAt0tSzmA6NuYd3_HbdS7ZMhzyRd6oSQBZzXGA04pVTOrluJkuxY5RqIpECF9v0GTdguG0AB0/s1600/transfer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifK-eXVVhfcnnjdsVy8CFFjpI3IaNxX1rvPGtX91DU4-sipt612oW-9yF0V1nmQooUaZeAt0tSzmA6NuYd3_HbdS7ZMhzyRd6oSQBZzXGA04pVTOrluJkuxY5RqIpECF9v0GTdguG0AB0/s320/transfer.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<b>Warning:</b> Don't read this short story (or this review)
if you haven't read the first two books in the <a href="http://www.lifebetweenpages.net/2013/06/review-divergent-by-veronica-roth.html" target="_blank"><i>Divergent</i></a> series
beforehand!<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">
More Four! Fans of the Divergent series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by "The Transfer," the first of four new short stories told from Four’s perspective. Each brief story explores the world of the Divergent series through the eyes of the mysterious but charismatic Tobias Eaton, revealing previously unknown facets of his personality, backstory, and relationships. (<i>via <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18080920-the-transfer?from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></i>)</div>
<br />
Being a <i>Divergent</i> fan is great, isn't it? We get the last book in the trilogy next month, a high-profile film next year, <i>and</i> a whole set of short stories told from Four's point-of-view!<br />
<br />
<i>The Transfer</i> is the first short story to be released (if you don't count <i>Free Four</i>, which was available for free on the internet a few months ago before it was subsequently pulled. It'll be <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Free-Four-Tobias-Divergent-ebook/dp/B00EH18398/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1378933863&sr=8-1&keywords=free+four+veronica+roth" target="_blank">re-released as an eBook</a> in the UK on 26th September). It illustrates Tobias's life prior to becoming a Dauntless initiate; before he became the boy that Tris knows and loves. Indeed, he's certainly a very different person – here he is a scared, timid boy who is at the complete mercy of his tyrannical father, Marcus.<br />
<br />
Altogether, <i>The Transfer</i> is a fantastic short story which will both shock and delight its readers. I can't wait for <i>The Initiate</i>!<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 4 / 5</b>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-31576101100607578272013-09-03T16:24:00.000+01:002013-11-20T23:13:13.604+00:00Fifty Shades of Grey movie cast: Meet Anastasia and ChristianAfter more than a year of speculation, the actors cast in the lead roles for the <i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i> movie were finally announced yesterday. Were they the names people had expected?<br />
<br />
Well, not really. <br />
<br />
Social media has been going crazy with various campaigns for well-known actors to land the role of Christian Grey. There was Ryan Gosling, Ian Somerhalder, Alexander Skarsgård, Henry Cavill and, my personal favourite, Matt Bomer. Remember this image I posted <a href="http://www.lifebetweenpages.net/2012/07/matt-bomer-as-christian-grey-do-you.html" target="_blank">a few months ago</a>?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtO5VYqPgQwCiGaPtJ7upHxOSoGo8BydFKSPbbm-gem3SL833vaxTgBpT9gwi7gD2LfCjIOMiLF7KOgIe1GqSIX2EC6CEawqkNaSp0NLTUoKkrJQeyF5ig1hSSpl6UL03G7XfAlg9q3M4/s1600/289884-matt-bomer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtO5VYqPgQwCiGaPtJ7upHxOSoGo8BydFKSPbbm-gem3SL833vaxTgBpT9gwi7gD2LfCjIOMiLF7KOgIe1GqSIX2EC6CEawqkNaSp0NLTUoKkrJQeyF5ig1hSSpl6UL03G7XfAlg9q3M4/s320/289884-matt-bomer.jpg" width="238" /> </a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yeah, turns out that was a little fake! But not that we hadn't realised at the time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There was less speculation about Anastasia Steele but, nevertheless, people still had their favourites. I would love to have seen Alexis Bledel in the role, or perhaps even Emmy Rossum. Again, I wasn't the only one:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_F1yZM4yU0k2hhW5Cfb3nVDklRE8VJsof_VuudL_mvIyJnr18Ye59iOhUBYc7MOrbpu3eiJ1YYh9YCZm_glBu5ZjTYiX7g4YMQ7wmwvMrWplspxFs_g_lVxMEydmS-DD1o-RIEluEfM/s1600/matt_bomer__alexis_bledel_20121030_1631621485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD_F1yZM4yU0k2hhW5Cfb3nVDklRE8VJsof_VuudL_mvIyJnr18Ye59iOhUBYc7MOrbpu3eiJ1YYh9YCZm_glBu5ZjTYiX7g4YMQ7wmwvMrWplspxFs_g_lVxMEydmS-DD1o-RIEluEfM/s320/matt_bomer__alexis_bledel_20121030_1631621485.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">{<a href="http://ohfifty.com/gallery/movie-posters/matt-bomer-alexis-bledel-888" target="_blank">source</a>}</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So who are the strangers actually starring in the roles? Even though they're not immediately recognisable, they're not exactly newcomers either.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The first to be announced was Anastasia, who'll be played by Dakota Johnson. She's the daughter of actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson, and has previously starred in films such as <i>21 Jump Street </i>and <i>The Social Network</i>. Personally, I like her <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">–</span> she's got an understated beauty that Anastasia is said to have, and her voice has a delicacy which will suit the role. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qCv0YWjwfcomZMLO0yB73z1AQB1pHb70stNI8aNC7BgEh4N6x7EpGP_7-MEtbBRXMwPekaAMePRznODSEXNsTgtCkoUZRFJCSKNleBxmUSsHLgqS_l6F31aaAjS3zdjVOMxiF1tVkzM/s1600/dakota_johnson_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qCv0YWjwfcomZMLO0yB73z1AQB1pHb70stNI8aNC7BgEh4N6x7EpGP_7-MEtbBRXMwPekaAMePRznODSEXNsTgtCkoUZRFJCSKNleBxmUSsHLgqS_l6F31aaAjS3zdjVOMxiF1tVkzM/s400/dakota_johnson_1.jpg" width="322" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Here's an interview she did for Nylon TV:</div>
<center>
<br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="326" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/a3az2ZvZq1E?rel=0" width="580"></iframe></center>
<br />
Then, shortly afterwards, it was revealed that Charlie Hunnam will be playing Christian. Charlie is a Brit who is best known for his roles in <i>Pacific Rim</i> and <i>Sons of Anarchy</i>. I must admit that I hadn't heard of him before the announcement, and I was a little dubious at first, but he is starting to grow on me. He looks a bit like a cross between Heath Ledger and Daniel Craig, don't you think?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6edlXTZ80Sek2GtEuYeqJj_X7DkW_D0DtWodbI65WwkcAvKXnspAn6W7UdxsZ5XarLj9PixO2IcuOdeQDLdCKr-us7Mp7orAesknK5PyyFUNa9iOoAx2MfUFGH84y6lEP2pRhO8zJv7Y/s1600/sons-of-anarchy-charlie-hunnam-jackson-jax-teller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6edlXTZ80Sek2GtEuYeqJj_X7DkW_D0DtWodbI65WwkcAvKXnspAn6W7UdxsZ5XarLj9PixO2IcuOdeQDLdCKr-us7Mp7orAesknK5PyyFUNa9iOoAx2MfUFGH84y6lEP2pRhO8zJv7Y/s400/sons-of-anarchy-charlie-hunnam-jackson-jax-teller.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmC5PDOubpmWxIyr5vVj-8j-cjTvhJtg9mUYwXGh2DgPuUK3uCOX3mm1BqUnOQ5oeVGYLFUJOdkMNCRN2wOYPtAgWwYZoNbs7wpsfrXyDlVYTjCCdYiwTR3l9qFEbXWiF6CJNG1EkFRV0/s1600/chunnam_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
And here's Charlie in a clip from <i>Pacific Rim</i>. Love those arms!<br />
<br />
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="326" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/fIhtznRvxls?rel=0" width="580"></iframe></center>
<br />
What are your thoughts on the casting? Are you disappointed by the choices, or are you excited to see how the characters will be interpreted? Who do you think will be cast next?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
~ ~ ~</div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>ETA <span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; line-height: 115%;">–</span> 20/11/2013</b></u></span><br />
<br />
Well, that didn't last long...<br />
<br />
Charlie Hunnam is out, and Jamie Dornam is in as Christian Grey!<br />
<br />
Here are Jamie and Dakota <a href="http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/11/13/fifty-shades-grey-photos-jamie-dornan-dakota-johnson/" target="_blank">on the cover of Entertainment Weekly</a> (yup, it's real this time.). Personally, I think he might be a better choice. But how good of an actor is he? I guess we'll find out sometime around Valentine's Day 2015...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVkqmO8s7zwA9ybZGPnW6oQ6G2qTzbT59eT0Z1iQCaNc0qpXOh1nGDp-Gk0yUfCy0kshoWrtomhZOgW3YhNtTgE1242C1nKgFDAgCP9BkXkyr1ZyTdhjK_u6Q7wz1ZqYOW0RyQAtbMVg/s1600/1286EW-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVkqmO8s7zwA9ybZGPnW6oQ6G2qTzbT59eT0Z1iQCaNc0qpXOh1nGDp-Gk0yUfCy0kshoWrtomhZOgW3YhNtTgE1242C1nKgFDAgCP9BkXkyr1ZyTdhjK_u6Q7wz1ZqYOW0RyQAtbMVg/s640/1286EW-cover.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-51261169726857682042013-08-29T20:05:00.001+01:002013-08-29T20:05:58.003+01:00Typewritten no.1: Wodehouse and Hemingway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EIvLVQu8AKGmSppOHcEYo1L1HMaQ3jGICc6FiI8QGcTq6jTjtOW-cXDNoKOaDXbUHWcm98ub7-DiZ7jDpwz-DbKTtmt2KqDkF95_KSEIG6IMdwijtjJFoGCybH59ArGkjsb9wZjdUng/s1600/CameraZOOM-20130829195022035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EIvLVQu8AKGmSppOHcEYo1L1HMaQ3jGICc6FiI8QGcTq6jTjtOW-cXDNoKOaDXbUHWcm98ub7-DiZ7jDpwz-DbKTtmt2KqDkF95_KSEIG6IMdwijtjJFoGCybH59ArGkjsb9wZjdUng/s320/CameraZOOM-20130829195022035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVdLSUqHt3xB1R6cr4HhyFOcUr6f8FzlvxHwXYBHpuBeK19hRdmahmcrv6RqBr84ydm1RAZXcwvNoNpb4fXMynkCc5QHxS03XCw2RZl7Tfed4-wQTrq_-19VrbNbkzpgKFuMj2kncvJk/s1600/Scan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfVdLSUqHt3xB1R6cr4HhyFOcUr6f8FzlvxHwXYBHpuBeK19hRdmahmcrv6RqBr84ydm1RAZXcwvNoNpb4fXMynkCc5QHxS03XCw2RZl7Tfed4-wQTrq_-19VrbNbkzpgKFuMj2kncvJk/s640/Scan.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-59416892359418559852013-08-26T18:59:00.000+01:002013-08-26T18:59:57.441+01:00Review: The Memory of Scent by Lisa Burkitt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjlBpTONAHuQl54_pTO_2aOR5rl7wDW53NjlK61UKPnXxXZBBz1pUzAQVmnGXDrPJrkrPrEiaF8MlDR3RBYqyKHd7KLmbgAKE4bdO0nfGfFZcoaJa_wogWknidZhWTnVyHj_BW9aIYLg/s1600/scent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjlBpTONAHuQl54_pTO_2aOR5rl7wDW53NjlK61UKPnXxXZBBz1pUzAQVmnGXDrPJrkrPrEiaF8MlDR3RBYqyKHd7KLmbgAKE4bdO0nfGfFZcoaJa_wogWknidZhWTnVyHj_BW9aIYLg/s320/scent.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">
Set against the backdrop of Paris in 1883, The Memory of Scent is the story of two French women, Fleur and Babette, and of how their lives diverge when the artist they both model for is found dead. For Fleur, hers is a life lived on the fringes of the Impressionist movement in a world of colour and music; Babette is not so lucky, and following the death of the artist, her life begins to quickly unravel on the streets of France. This is a novel of the senses, in which memory, love and loss are explored and examined, and where it appears the ties which hold us together can also pull us apart. (<i>via <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Memory-Scent-Lisa-Burkitt/dp/1845887387/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377340913&sr=8-1&keywords=memory+of+scent+lisa+burkitt" target="_blank">Amazon.co.uk</a></i>)</div>
<br />
I love Paris and Impressionism, so I was very keen to read <i>The Memory of Scent</i>. But, as it turns out, my experience was quite mixed.
<br />
<br />
I enjoyed the backdrop of Paris, which the author describes in clear, nicely written detail. These descriptions give the novel a lovely romantic tone and bring this renowned era of Parisian history to life. The elements of scent are also well-integrated, and prove to be an extremely important catalyst to the plot. I particularly liked the way that each chapter is set around a specific smell, and how that smell conjures up thoughts, memories, or associations which then move the story forward.
<br />
<br />
However, I found some parts less agreeable. My chief problem was with the organisation of the plot, which could be confusing. I remember one point in particular where I needed to reread what had happened a few times, just to make sure that I hadn’t missed an important detail. Additionally, I found the voices of the two narrators, Babette and Fleur, a little too similar and sometimes this could add to my confusion.
<br />
<br />
But even though I believe <i>The Memory of Scent</i> could have benefited from further editing, I still found it a unique novel with some interesting twists. If you’re looking for something different and don’t mind a plot with a gentle pace, this might be for you.
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Rating: 3 / 5</b>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-67715947393108268842013-08-19T19:13:00.000+01:002013-08-19T19:13:52.475+01:00A manual typewriter can be a writer's best friend<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGk_sy-olHsMb4OYToWChzy6T_Nayw6yNghlLFUoQhmnpxcmXcSE92Yxe97uv-5vK3_xCbfcv1PDOO7qjnfhuwxBusBiUOJ928bno9Sy9DjrtN51vvGW9lmO3h0JKFVzjgbp5Cj5pcQrE/s1600/IMG_20130819_163435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGk_sy-olHsMb4OYToWChzy6T_Nayw6yNghlLFUoQhmnpxcmXcSE92Yxe97uv-5vK3_xCbfcv1PDOO7qjnfhuwxBusBiUOJ928bno9Sy9DjrtN51vvGW9lmO3h0JKFVzjgbp5Cj5pcQrE/s320/IMG_20130819_163435.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">One thing I learnt during my creative writing course
was that, in order to write well, you must first allow yourself to write badly.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I’ve hardly ever been able to carry this out, and
for that I blame word processors. They provide a person with too many opportunities to
second guess everything they’ve typed, meaning that a single paragraph can take
hours to construct. It’s incredibly frustrating!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But a manual typewriter doesn’t allow this option.
Nope, once you’ve punched a key and printed a letter straight onto a sheet
of paper, there’s no turning back. You’ve done it now – you might as well
follow that messy train of thought and clean it up later (my idea is to type first drafts with a typewriter, and then to later copy that onto a word processor for
editing).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Indeed, these are the primary reasons why I have
chosen to invest money into a classic machine. Plus, could I honestly pass up
the opportunity to own such a marvellous piece of iconic nostalgia? I’ve become quite infatuated
with nostalgia over the past few years, as various people know, and I often
wish that I’d been alive to experience the first seventy years of the twentieth
century (yup, I’m that specific!). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">A manual typewriter can communicate so much about a
decade, just by observing its appearance. Building them was certainly an art;
from the curves of their frames to the stylisation of the brand’s logo. And
they were built to last, unlike 90% of the gadgets which frequent our shops, homes, and workplaces these days. Here’s what Tom Hanks says on the subject, in an article published
by The New York Times earlier this month (read it in
full <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/opinion/sunday/i-am-tom-i-like-to-type-hear-that.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&" target="_blank">here</a>):</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The machine, too, may
last as long as the rocks of Stonehenge. Typewriters are dense things made of
steel and were engineered to take a beating, which they do. My dad’s Underwood,
bought used just after the war for his single year at U.S.C., had some keys so
worn out by his punishing fingers that they were misshapen and blank. The S key
was a mere nib. I sent it to a shop for what was meant to be only a cleaning,
but it came back with all the keys replaced. So long, Dad, and curse you,
industrious typewriter serviceperson.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">And I mustn’t forget to mention the therapeutic side to typewriting. Don't bother kicking holes in your walls anymore </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">–</span> if you’re really having a bad
day, write about it on your manual. Because of the sheer force you’ll need when
pressing down on the keys, you’re almost guaranteed to feel a little better!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So which typewriter did I choose to offer a new
home? Well, after much browsing, deliberation, a few bidding wars and some near
misses, I can reveal that I am now the proud owner of a 1958 British-made Remington
Quiet-Riter. Doesn’t
she just ooze that distinctively '50s style?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmC7WN51dMJif-SUsJcfD7jmOjKSN0y_YvevvEKdXHvyAhALcLx2U39JyQErynIIc32iwHhuKJhaPq-dfSDD_mMNdiDbiKHSF6ROMfeBM1fpSorHV8yX-CF7_xkUVLI8MwjDDFxiRTfY/s1600/IMG_20130819_170206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmC7WN51dMJif-SUsJcfD7jmOjKSN0y_YvevvEKdXHvyAhALcLx2U39JyQErynIIc32iwHhuKJhaPq-dfSDD_mMNdiDbiKHSF6ROMfeBM1fpSorHV8yX-CF7_xkUVLI8MwjDDFxiRTfY/s400/IMG_20130819_170206.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit_pjbdvggQHnv08Cguk1vrXdoQV8HrRL_2smU3cj8iEDzGgwVtGqStQuEKYKKqOoh-IcW4hZ2IkMznoANRZxt10wfdEFLHsx72FCbu0cR16V1U9wRBZl5UUKprAcEJv0594kbcx9plw/s1600/IMG_20130819_170319.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgit_pjbdvggQHnv08Cguk1vrXdoQV8HrRL_2smU3cj8iEDzGgwVtGqStQuEKYKKqOoh-IcW4hZ2IkMznoANRZxt10wfdEFLHsx72FCbu0cR16V1U9wRBZl5UUKprAcEJv0594kbcx9plw/s400/IMG_20130819_170319.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She also arrived with her original case (though very musty and worn), three ribbons (including the one inside the machine), all the
original instructions, and various other bits and bobs. Quite a find, I’d say! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJU7r3RNsQ15UxvznLt33QbiCdAFwweWDl_IPHQMhLIpSyyohv0oTgTYw6hICexph9WPEmYfKFLczuO7h12H3wB4xxQCYPS26F09pZvMyO-ylKid0IrDYYJQ5DNZm8DpEGfLEwD2s1Ms/s1600/IMG_20130819_153603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJU7r3RNsQ15UxvznLt33QbiCdAFwweWDl_IPHQMhLIpSyyohv0oTgTYw6hICexph9WPEmYfKFLczuO7h12H3wB4xxQCYPS26F09pZvMyO-ylKid0IrDYYJQ5DNZm8DpEGfLEwD2s1Ms/s400/IMG_20130819_153603.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fancy watching a TV commercial, straight from the
Fifties, advertising the American version of my Quiet-Riter? It’s on YouTube in
all its cheesy, upbeat glory!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<center>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Rar0CSSB9ts?rel=0" width="420"></iframe></center>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Oh, and I’ve named her 'Betty'! <i>(Insert crazy writer
jokes here!)</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And from now on, you can expect to see Betty
frequently on my blog. I’ve decided that, each week, I will share something
that I have produced on my typewriter. But it won’t be in the normal,
word-processed format – instead, I’ll scan whatever it is that I’ve typed and
attach the image to a blog post. It could be anything – part of a story, part
of a poem, an opinion, a quote, etc. You’ll never know!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But until then, folks, let me once again direct you
to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/opinion/sunday/i-am-tom-i-like-to-type-hear-that.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&" target="_blank">Tom Hanks’ ode to the typewriter</a>. I just love it!</span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3879958980373749204.post-24976349787914347312013-08-14T23:47:00.000+01:002013-08-14T23:47:04.036+01:00Review: Candide, or Optimism by Voltaire<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wA0EqQlpD-VXlHX5MIpfcKDlIoMHq_w1MYZGl_S6Tl819ChlBdVvHKH2jDfOWXnRldSP-etsyAQvhIgxmU2cvfPjW53uG5OpXidmjndDigjlITDeZgzZnpE_mGEEM_8Z6RPb4B5CEyw/s1600/candide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wA0EqQlpD-VXlHX5MIpfcKDlIoMHq_w1MYZGl_S6Tl819ChlBdVvHKH2jDfOWXnRldSP-etsyAQvhIgxmU2cvfPjW53uG5OpXidmjndDigjlITDeZgzZnpE_mGEEM_8Z6RPb4B5CEyw/s320/candide.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="background-color: #cfe2f3;">
Witty and caustic, <i>Candide</i> has ranked as one of the world's great satires since its first publication in 1759. In the story of the trials and travails of the youthful Candide, his mentor Dr. Pangloss, and a host of other characters, Voltaire mercilessly satirizes and exposes romance, science, philosophy, religion and government. (<i>via <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11060704-candide" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></i>)</div>
<br />
I wasn’t at all sure what to expect from <i>Candide</i>. I’d heard Voltaire’s name before, of course, though I knew very little about him or his works. In fact, it wasn’t until I found this book on my university reading list that I ventured to find out more.
<br />
<br />
What I did immediately discover was that <i>Candide</i> is a satire. But would I find it funny? This is mid-eighteenth century French humour so how much would I understand? Well, as it happens, quite a lot – I found it hilarious! A lot of <i>Candide </i>is obviously silly and so, having a wacky sense of humour myself, I was often laughing out loud.
<br />
<br />
It’s also fairly easy to identify some of the aspects which Voltaire has chosen to parody. Among these are societies, cultures, the adventure and romance genres, and philosophy. The context of the philosophical humour was a little lost on me at the time of reading, though I later found out that Voltaire's aim was to ridicule some of the more popular philosophies of his day.
<br />
<br />
I’m looking forward to learning more about <i>Candide</i> when my next course rolls around – I have a feeling it’ll be very interesting to analyse. For now, though, I can only say that my enjoyment was a very pleasant discovery.
<br />
<br />
<b>Rating: 4 / 5
</b>Sophiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357991269022348580noreply@blogger.com0