Write, write, write and discover...

Since my last post, even more has changed.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 The Knife of Never Letting Go 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.

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.

Gilmore Girls has been a big presence in my life the past few
months, too. Hopefully the Lorelai's smarts are
rubbing off on me!

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.

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: Someday, someday, maybe.

The process of reinvention

Sunrise in Queensland, Australia. November 2014.

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.

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.

I know what you're thinking. Sophie, you're a book blogger! How could you possibly forget to read? 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.

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.

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.

That's right, I'm no longer an English Literature student, but a Humanities student.

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 – a new beginning to go with the new direction in which my life is headed.

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.

Happy 2014!

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 – more on that in January), read some amazing books, and encountered some wonderful authors (and adjectives to go along with them!).

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.

Happy New Year! I hope it's a great one for all of you.

See you on the other side...

The 'I am officially back' post!

Okay, I know it's been ages. Aside from a must-read interview with Elizabeth Moss, posted at the beginning of the month, I haven't exactly been around.

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!

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 Typewritten. I'm also currently reading Allegiant, the final instalment in Veronica Roth's Divergent series, so expect to see this reviewed sometime in the near future.

It's certainly great to be back!

Busy as a butterfly

 

I wanted to apologise for the lack of posts lately (especially book reviews), and let you guys know that I'm still around!

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.

So bear with me, everyone, and I promise there will be new stuff on the blog before too long.

See you soon!

Bloglovin' time!

Happy July, fellow book lovers!

This is just a quick post to let you know that I'm now on Bloglovin' – a clean, simple website where you can follow and keep up-to-date with all your favourite blogs.

I realise I'm a little late posting this, as Google Reader is officially shut down today, but better late than never, right? So if you want to follow my posts using Bloglovin' just click on the bird on the left (or the button on the right!). See you there!

Happy Birthday, Life Between Pages!

I would say it's hard to believe that my blog is two years old today, but that would be a lie! Truly, it's been an amazing journey and what is difficult for me to grasp is the good fortune I've had thus far.

I expected little when I started writing Life Between Pages. It began because of the stacks of books lying about my house which needed reading, and I saw a blog as being the perfect way to get them read, record my perspectives and improve my writer's voice.

And although I have now read a few of the books which were previously collecting dust, their absence seems to have only made room for more! I guess that's what happens when one is not only an impulsive shopper (I need rehab!), but also when one has the privilege of working with, and on behalf of, talented authors, publishers, and other representatives of such a fantastic industry. I am grateful to them for believing in me and my little blog, and for trusting me with their craft.

Thank you, also, to my fellow book bloggers, and to those who stop-by every now and again to have a read. I definitely wouldn't have reached this point without so many clicks and comments. Having almost 50,000 blog views in two years is crazy!

I may not be posting as much these days, but this isn't because of waning enthusiasm. Life Between Pages has given me confidence and a direction in life which I've never had before, and there is no way I'd abandon it now. Indeed, we'll be around for years to come, even if it does mean only four or five posts a month due to a busier life.

Finally, here are links to some of my favourite posts from year two, month-by-month.

June 2012:

Review: Taste by Kate Evangelista

July:

Matt Bomer as Christian Grey? Do you really think so, Entertainment Weekly?

August:

Review: Tigers in Red Weather by Liza Klaussman 

September:

Paris in Photographs 

October:

Filmmaking with the Raindance Film Festival 

November:

Audio books vs. the budget 

December:

Visiting Professor Tolkien's final resting place 

January 2013:

Interview with C.W. Gortner – author of The Queen's Vow 

February:

First drafts and business cards 

March:

Interview with Richard C. Morais – author of Buddhaland Brooklyn 

April:

Review: The Girl Behind the Mask by Stella Knightley 

May:

Interview with Annemarie Neary – author of A Parachute in the Lime Tree

Catching up in May and June

{source}

April has been a strange and busy month so unfortunately I haven't had much time to post.

However, I'm hoping I'll be able to pick up some speed in May and June, owing to the fact that I have some exciting books to read and review, events to recount, and perhaps some author interviews and guest posts in the works.

One thing to watch out for is a recap of my very first experience of the London Book Fair, which I attended on April 15th. It was a pretty insightful day for a variety of reasons, and I'm looking forward to sharing my perspective with fellow book bloggers and students.

So stay tuned, everyone, and remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, or Google Friend Connect for the latest!

2012 in reflection

We were spared by the Mayan prophecy, so today is officially the last of 2012! It's been a varied year for me, in both life and blogging.

In terms of the blog, there are many things that I'm grateful to have accomplished, and certainly wouldn't have thought possible when the year began. There is also much I would have done differently and plan to take advantage of in 2013.

Stand-out moments

More readers –– I'm so grateful for everyone who has joined my blog over the past year. When all this began, I didn't think I'd have even 30 readers! I hope you stick around because I have a few things up my sleeve for 2013.

Guest posts and interviews –– I've been fortunate enough to have been in contact with some wonderful authors, publishers, PR companies and so forth, and I can't wait to do this some more in 2013. A notable post is my interview with author Trilby Kent, who wrote what has become one of my favourite novels.

Talking to EL James –– I never thought I'd have the chance to talk to a best-selling author, much less the one behind this year's biggest release! Watch what happened here.

Published by Company –– It was a big moment when I was asked to contribute a piece for Company magazine's iPhone app. To have been recognised for something like this gives me a little more faith in my writing abilities.

Changes for the New Year

Reading –– 2012 hasn't been my best year for reading. Many factors contributed, like exams and work commitments. But it seems as though I'm coming out of this lull and will have more luck in 2013. One of the first challenges I'm setting myself is to read the entire Harry Potter series. I can't wait!

Networking –– I have been awful at networking this year. I haven't visited many blogs, posted much on Twitter, and have rarely conversed with fellow book lovers on sites such as Goodreads and Book Blogs. Look for a more active and sociable Sophie in 2013!

Events –– I want to attend more events in the new year. I might not be able to make it to New York for 2013's Book Expo America, but I aim to attend the London Book Fair and Oxford Literary Festival. Perhaps I might even finally meet up with some fellow bloggers?

~

Happy New Year, everybody! What are your own goals for 2013?

Just checking in

I've finally finished the job! Woohoo! Though things aren't showing signs of slowing down just yet – September was much more eventful than I thought it would be. Plus, my university creative writing module has just started, and I'm going to spend this weekend getting myself completely settled into that. So, it looks like I won't have much time to read until next week at the earliest (though I'm sure I'll fit it in somewhere!)

I'm hoping that, once I've got into a routine, I'll have much more time to blog. I may even have time to start accepting books to review again! Needless to say, I'm looking forward to getting back into the regular ol' swing of things around here.

Slow September

For the next two to four weeks, I'm going to be working full time and so won't have a lot of spare moments for reading or blogging. Yup, it certainly sucks, but I'll be back in force by the time this is over (and I can't wait!)

In the meantime, if you're an author, publisher, or even another blogger and are interested in producing a guest post for my blog, now's definitely the right time to get in touch. Email me at: sophie@lifebetweenpages.net, telling me a little bit about yourself and what you have to offer.

See you soon!

Where has Quote of the Week gone, you ask?

Just as a bonus, here's the king of quotes!

 
I've decided to change Quote of the Week to Quote of the Month. On average, I publish up to three posts a week of reviews, articles, and the occasional guest post, interview, or giveaway. And I've started to notice that, because of this relatively low number, all these weekly quotes tend to overwhelm the blog and compromise its appearance.

So, from now on, I'm going to post a quote at the beginning of each month when I know there'll be a fairer amount of content between each one. Makes more sense, right?

Also, if you'd like to see one of your favourite quotes featured as the QOTM, let me know.

Happy quoting!

Welcome to spring! Here's an update.

I have been seriously useless at blogging this month, haven't I?! Apologies for not being around a lot lately, everyone. I'm definitely not giving up on my blog, I've just been beyond busy with university work and seeing to a poorly guinea pig. I also have an exam at the end of April, so it's likely that for the next month you won't see a lot of me here. After that, though, I don't have another course starting until the end of September, so look for a massive boost this summer!

Meanwhile, I hope everyone in the northern hemisphere is enjoying spring! It's been beautiful here the past few days, so I'm gonna go write and research my essay in the garden.

Back soon!

Catch-up: websites, t-shirts, viral videos, and Peyton Manning

My apologies for not being on the blog for a while! I haven't been feeling myself the past couple of weeks so I've neglected reading, writing and even studying to the point where I have nearly a whole text book to read in just over a week! Yikes. But I'm jumping back on the wagon and powering through.

In this post, I just wanted to mention a few random tidbits to get me back in the flow. It's gonna be super random, but here we go! In no particular order...


Buy bookish items and support literacy
I was contacted this week by Brad, who asked me to mention his new philanthropic company, Gone Reading International. By visiting their website and buying from a range of reader-oriented products, you can help improve literacy around the world. Check it out – shipping within the US is free with orders over $25, and worldwide shipping is also available at very reasonable prices. I especially love these cute bookmarks... perhaps I will be purchasing one soon!
To learn more about Gone Reading International's mission, click here.

Kony goes viral
I'm pretty sure you all would've heard about the Stop Kony campaign of 2012, but incase you haven't, please watch this video. The children of Uganda need our help!







I won Paulo Coelho! Well, sort of...
Straying away from saving-the-world antics, here's some perfectly useless but entirely interesting information: I won a Paulo Coelho t-shirt on Twitter the other day! Woohoo! HarperCollins UK were giving them away this week to promote the release of Coelho's latest novel, Aleph, to paperback, and a re-issue of The Alchemist. So be sure to check those out next time you're in Waterstones!

Indianapolis Colts - Peyton Manning = one sad fan

Sigh. I have to mention this because it's what has been on my mind most of the week. I'm a massive fan of professional American football (NFL), the Indianapolis Colts, and most of all Peyton Manning. If you watch it, or even if you don't and just live in the US (the guy must be everywhere right now!), then you probably know he was released by the Colts this week after missing the entire 2011 season due to a neck injury. And, to be completely dramatic, my heart is broken. He has been the Colts quarterback for 'fourteen wonderful years' (as he said in the press conference... and they have been much more than wonderful), and because of these completely unforeseen circumstances, he has left to find a new team. I'm devastated that he's not going to be playing for my Colts anymore, but I'll definitely be following him and cheering him on wherever he goes. He's a legendary player and an even better person! I'll miss seeing him in a Colts uniform like a mad person, but at least he'll be back on the field doing what he loves. To the team who gets him: be prepared to kick some serious behind next season because he's gonna definitely take you on an amazing ride! We'll loan him to you for now ;P ...

Crafty Jackie's being crafty!
Back to plugging websites! This time, I want to tell you about my good friend Jackie's new craft website, Crafty Jackie. Here she sells a lot of awesome homemade items such as bags, soft toys, key rings, and so on. You can even send her requests for items, and she'll make them especially for you. So if you're looking for a gift for a friend, perhaps something for Mother's Day, or just want to treat yourself, you might be able to find it there.

~

Okay. So I think I'm done being random for now! Hope you found it a little interesting, haha. I'll be back soon with a review of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (nearly finished!)

What's been on your mind?

This girl and her experimental scribbles

I'm very eager to grow as a writer in all respects during 2012. So I've just set up a new blog on WordPress, which I hope to use as an additional place where my clumsy writing skills might become a little less so. While Life Between Pages will remain my main blog, my WordPress blog will focus on experimenting with a variety of styles on a collection of different topics.

If you'd like to check out the latest place, click here. I'm hoping I can commit to posting at least one thing a week over there.

Cheers!

Six months of blogging in 2011

I can't believe that it's already the last day of 2011! This year sure has sped by pretty fast. It's hard to believe that I've managed to fulfil six whole months of prosperous blogging, too. At the beginning of the year, I had a completely different blog which covered more general things – life, sports, films – you name it. Needless to say it never got very many followers and so I forgot about posting. But a few months later, I had a brain wave; what about books? I'm studying English lit anyway, and blogging about them will give me even more incentive to read, maybe even improve my writing skills.

Six months and 250+ followers on, my blog is still going strong. I never thought that I would stick to this for that long as I've been, ahem, known for giving up on things in the past quite easily. But I honestly think committing to this blog has helped my life in so many ways. During the times when I haven't been able to post as frequently due to university work and so forth, I've definitely felt deprived! This has turned into a healthy outlet for me to grow as a person. A great sign that I've finally stumbled onto something that can happily stay in my life for years to come!

It's also been amazing to meet so many like-minded bloggers, authors, publishers and friends to share my time and passion for blogging and for books with. I hope 2012 is equally prosperous and lucky for all of us. Here's to another six months and beyond!

Where for art ...I?!

Apologies for not updating my blog in a while! It's been an unbelievably busy week because of assignments, and it's not going to calm down for at least another one. I have two week's worth of studying to squeeze into one week now, due to having neglected one of my courses completely to focus on this assignment. So, as you can guess, I haven't had time to do much leisurely reading, either. Hopefully I'll be back to my regular blogging schedule a week tomorrow when I've caught up with everything, and have some reviews in tow! See you soon, everyone! :-))

Anybody know where the time is?

 

It's nearing the end of the month, which means that uni is starting up again in the next couple of weeks for me. I swear that October has gone so quickly... as has the rest of the year in fact! Where has the time gone?

Anyway I just wanted to apologise for not being in touch a whole lot recently; it's been pretty hectic so I haven't had as much time to read or network. Hopefully, though, you'll see much more of me in November and December as soon as things even out. It's really important for me to make sure that during these first couple of weeks I stay on top of the course work, otherwise I'll fall dangerously behind. Can someone teach me how to read faster?! Heh. Don't be too afraid that I'm vanishing again, though - I'll still be reviewing and stuff, just probably not as frequently.


So, who has epic plans for Halloween? :D

Brief hiatus

My current university module is wrapping up and things are getting super-duper busy, so I'm going to be taking a short break from the blogging scene until around the middle or end of next week. Fear not, because it won't be all that long! And hopefully I'll be back with at least one review that isn't a manga book, haha. ;-)

Until then, take care everyone!

August Mix-up

Happy first-day-of-August!

The blog is going to quieten down over the next couple of weeks since I've got an assignment due a week Friday. Also, the reviews will be spaced out a bit more as I'm going to be reading two books at a time this month – one being Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen as part of Risa at Breadcrumb Reads' read-along (come join us!)

Just so's you know when to expect me. ;-))

Hope you're enjoying summer!