“Only the very weak-minded refuse to be influenced by literature and poetry.” - Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel

Jasper Fforde - The Eyre Affair 

This is a book I have been looking to buy for ages. I first heard about the book from a friend at university and I asked for it for my birthday last year but never received it and honestly just forgot about it. Then I was on holiday and just saw it lying there on the shelf at the holiday book exchange. I grabbed it immediately and can't wait to read it. The story is about a girl called Thursday Next and she lives in an alternate universe where if characters are erased form a book, they are erased from history. Furthermore, by changing books, you are able to change reality. Now, a master mind evil genius is going into books and kidnapping the characters and holding them to ransom, the first one to go is Jane Eyre. I loved the concept of this book as it is so different and it feels like sci-fi with a twist. Better yet, it is a bit of light reading and a bit fun for the summer. 

What do you think of the concept of the book? 

Lots of Love 

Elouise 

Summer is the annual permission slip to be lazy. To do nothing and have it count for something. To lie in the grass and count the stars. To sit on a branch and study the clouds - Regina Brett

Wow! It has been such a long time since I have posted, for that I am sorry! My 30 day blog post ended disastrously (and I started with so much gusto) but that is all behind us now and a long hot summer lies ahead with many dusty books which await awakening. So, in between travelling between Hull (exotic), Cardiff (mentoring a summer school) and Malta (actually exotic) I got a few moments to read some books I've been meaning to read for ages. 

Margaret Attwood - The Handmaid's Tale

I finally finished reading Margaret Attwood's The Handmaid's Tale. I have already written a post of the blurb of the story, which you can read here: http://elouiselilly.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/i-measure-progress-of-community-by.html When I finally started reading the novel, I was surprised that I liked the writing style because it constantly flits between memories and present events which can sometimes be confusing. Yet, Attwood manages to incorporate these features into the story making it a pleasurable read for a sunny afternoon (especially for those sci-fi fans out there) and, of course, you can never beat a classic. However I would have to suggest that you give the film a miss, it really is terrible as it loses the feeling of the book and makes you see event from a different perspective compared to the book. unfortunately some books really don't translate well into film, this is definitely one of them. 

Jon Ronson - The Psychopath Test 

The next book I have been reading is The Psychopath Test and I acquired this book, as I do with many of my books, from a second hand sale - 10 books for a pound (I mean who can really afford nine pounds for a book). Consequently, it meant that I had this one of his and also another book of his Lost at Sea. If you think you recognise his name, it is because you probably do, he is also the author of the best selling novel and film The Men Who Stare at Goats. I have not actually read this novel or see the film but after reading the aforementioned title, I will definitely consider checking ti out if (when) we have a rainy day. The book itself tells of Ronson's journey through the world of psychology, particularly examining psychopaths, from the dark corridors of Broadmoor to the bustling corporate world. I originally picked up this book as my sister was studying psychology at the time and I thought it would help her with her studies. In the end, she didn't read it, so I stole it off her shelf! I am so glad I did. I generally don't read non-fiction, but the style was engaging and the topic interesting, he knew how long to stay on a subject and the way he linked events, as if he was searching for a goal, could trick you into believing you were reading a quest narrative. He is an amazing journalist, who knows how to tell a story and ask the questions that no-one else would really think of. 

Susan Kiernan Lewis - Free Falling 

This is another book I have been reading whilst laying in the sunshine on holiday. A spoilt American family go on holiday to a remote cottage in rural Ireland and when they wake up on the second day, they discover that the nuclear apocalypse has happened. Luckily, Ireland was untouched and they are living on a farm, so technically they could survive. The only problem is that they need all the help of the community they can get, but it was the American's who dropped the bomb, so they are enemy number one. Watch them as they struggle to survive, grow as people and ultimately discover what it is to be human. Interesting, if not scary read. 

Have you been reading any books over the summer? If so, let me know.

Lots of Love

Elouise

xxx

Day 3 - Favourite Quote

How could I choose a favourite quote? The answer was I couldn't so I picked my top 5!

Sorry it has taken me so long to post this but I have been so busy gallivanting across the country. I hope you have been well and check back tomorrow for my next post. 

Lots of love, 

Elouise 

xxx

Day 2 - Your Dream Book

So, this is not about a book I dreamed about but rather elements of different books to make my perfect book. 

The Cover: Red, all red. No title, blurb or author (ultimately they are unimportant and distracting elements of a book). The books difference makes it both inconspicuous and mysterious. 

Genre: Dystopian with elements of political satire 

Protagonist: Strong female who is not seduced by her many male suitors 

The chapters would not be numbered but would be quotes that summed up the contents. The content would be a mix of poems, prose and pictures (all the best books should have pictures)

Ok, so this book does not actually exist (maybe I should write it) but these books come pretty close...

Trust Salinger to do it right!

Kafka's The Trail, political satire at its best, my favourite quote 'It's only because of their stupidity that they're able to be so sure of themselves.'

Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll 

A strong female character with great illustrations; an all round interesting read!

What would your dream book be? 

Lots of Love 

Elouise 

xxx

Day 1 - The first book you read that made you love reading

This is such a difficult question, I have no idea why I put it first. There are some many books that shaped my childhood but the first book I really remember reading is...

I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith 

I remember getting this book out of the school library even though I was too young to read it. I had to return the book before I finished it and I was so upset that my parents brought me the audio book for my birthday. I don't know why I picked this one out of all the books on the shelf, maybe it was the idea of the castle and I thought it would be princesses. It is actually so much more. The story began my questioning of love; sometimes the person who you love does not always love you back but it is not the end of the world. It illustrates the freedom you can gain from accepting and rejecting love but also shows independent women making their own decisions.

 I loved the idea of a bohemian life, living in a run down castle that was falling apart and just writing about you life; Smith makes the mundane exceptional. It is also the story of sisters and their relationship. Even though they are different, they find common ground and I found this relationship really easy to relate to that of me and my sister. The ending makes the book, it shows that even if life does not turn out how you expect, it can still be a happy ending; you do not need a husband to be happy, independent women are freed through their words. This is actually the book that inspired my writing and gave me the confidence to show people that my life was worth writing about. Reading back on my diaries, they are not exactly riveting but I have this book to thank for where I am today, studying Literature at university. I do not think my life would be the same without inspirational women writers speaking to me from a young age. 

What is the book that inspired you to read or have you not found it yet? 

Check back tomorrow for day 2 and have a great day today.

Lots of Love

Elouise

xxx

“I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.” ― L.M. Montgomery

Over the next month I will be completing a 30 day book challenge that I have created myself. Check back for the next month to see a new post everyday. 

Here it is;

1. The first book you read that made you love reading 

2. Your dream book 

3. Favourite quote 

4. A novel that makes you happy

5. A novel that makes you cry

6. A novel that makes you laugh 

7. The best book you have read this year 

8. A book that reminds you of childhood

9. Best beginning 

10. Most inspirational story 

11. The book that reminds you of home 

12. Favorite book that is the same age as you

13. A novel that is overrated 

14. Best film from novel translation

15. Book that you have most related to 

16. The best book you read in school 

17. Favourite writing style 

18. Best ending 

19. A book that you have been meaning to read for ages  

20. A novel that surprised you 

21. Best Female Character

22. Best Male Character 

23. Favourite Series

24. A book that you thought you would

      hate but ended up loving 

25. Best Female Author 

26. Best Male Author 

27. Best romance 

28. Favourite genre 

29. A book that would add to the school reading list 

30. If you were stuck on a desert 

      island and you could only have 

      one book, which one would it be?

I am looking forward to the next month and I hope you are too, see you tomorrow.

Lots of Love

Elouise

xxx

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek - Barack Obama

So... this is my final project! I developed a front cover, contents page and feature article and it was concerning Barack Obama's abolition of the 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' rule in the American Army. It was a huge ruling for Gay Rights, but now when Barack Obama's presidency is remembered, he is more likely to be remembered for his healthcare reforms than any of his other policies. I still really like this project as I was able to write about something I cared about and I feel it is still relevant today. If I was going to write the article today, it would be entitled 'lest we forget' and would talk about how (and if) attitudes and treatment has changed. It is a really fascinating topic and I would definitely suggest researching it if it is something you would be interested in. Actually... I feel the idea of an article brewing! 

The Front Cover

The Contents Page

Double page spread 

Feature Article 

I hope you enjoyed my project and look forward to my next entry, it is going to be a book review with a twist. 

Lots of Love 

Elouise 

xxx