October Wrap-up

Happy Halloween! Today I bring you something that isn't really related to Halloween but we'll live. It is time to tell you about all the books I read in October, I probably won't go into too much detail as I'm planning to write up a few reviews of these:

• The Epic Adventures of Lydia Bennet, Rachel Kiley & Kate Rorick- I have been waiting for this for ages, I loved the Lizzie Bennet Diaries (check it out on youtube if you don't know what it is) to bits so any continuation is brilliant. This follows Lydia right after the videos ended and it is a tough read, I got very, very emotional but I loved it! 
• Jane Eyre (play), devised by the company- The National Theatre are doing Jane Eyre at the mo and after seeing it with school I got the script and tore it apart (figuratively of course) I scribbled all over it which is something I love to do sometimes. 
• Persuasion, Jane Austen- I finally got my hands on this and it didn't quite beat Pride and Prejudice but it was flippin' close. I adore the witty mocking of society but also the romance between Anne and Wentworth. Jane Austen was a wonder at writing.

Currently Reading:

• Dracula, Bram Stoker- I thought I should read something gothic this month and so fair I'm really enjoying it.
• Carry On, Rainbow Rowell- I've waited for this book for ages too as Rainbow Rowell is one of my favourite authors and it is good but I'm yet to be entirely grip which makes me extremely sad but there is still plenty of pages for that to change.
• Grimm Tales, Philip Pullman- I adore the simplicity and charm of fairy tales so I am slowly making my way through this collection.

I hardly read anything from my TBR but I read more that last month which is great, I've also been doing a ton for school also!

Speak soon, 

Jade xx

13 Halloween Reads!

Hellooooo! It is a week till Halloween so I am here today with 13 halloween reads. They may not be scary but they have a spooky vibe to them I'm not to give much away about these as it may ruin them and some of them I haven't read too :)

• Dracula, Bram Stoker. Introducing Count Dracula!

• The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Washington Irving. The headless horseman.

• The Women in Black, Susan Hill. An old creepy house all alone on the marshes, isolated by the tide.

• The Women in White, Wilkie Collins. Ghost!

• Edgar Allan Poe, many poems and short stories with dark undertones. The word atmospheric comes to mind with him.

• Inferno, Dante. 14th Century journey into hell.

• Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Robert Louis Stevenson.

• Unrest, Michele Harrison. Haunted houses, mystery and bodies taken over by spirits. (this 1 creeped me out!)

• Frankenstein, Mary Shelley. Its alive!

• Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Ransom Riggs. Time travel and monsters.

• Hollow City, Ransom Riggs. More time travel and monsters. (sequel to the above)

• The Miniaturist, Jessie Burton. Amsterdam, 1686. A dolls house that's seems linked to the  household in mysterious ways.

So why not give 1 or 2 of these a go? Let me know what you think if you do!

Speak soon,

Jade xx

Why I Love Classics!

Hello lovelies! I've got something a little different today but it is something I really wanted to say. Since last year I have been taking Classical Civilisation at a-level. When I started to think about where I was going to go and what I was going to take at the end of my GCSE (I had to move as my school didn't have a 6th form) I saw classical civilisation as one of the offered subjects at my prefered school to move to, so I went to the introduction of it on the open evening was interested so put it down. Then when I started in September I completely fell in love!

Classics is the study of the ancient world in Year 12 for me I'm studying the Greece side via Homer's Odyssey and Greek Tragedy but the course is so varied that it depends where you are. It is a mash up of history and english as you are learning about the culture and myth through the analysis of the texts.

I'm basically writing this post because with me I just discovered it by chance and I know that not many schools offer this subject but if yours does then I strongly urge you to check it out especially if you like english and history. It is such an interesting subject with so much to it and I am so glad that I am taking it and planning to maybe continue it on at university.

If you have the chance to study classics then please give it a go because it seems everyone that do falls in love with it yet it is such an unknown subject!
Speak soon,
Jade xx

Finding Time to Read.

Hello lovelies! Today I wanted to talk to you about finding time to read. If you look at my August wrap-up and my September wrap-up you will see a pretty big difference in the number of things read; purely down to school starting. Nowadays I find that from 8:30-5:30 or later I don't stop and then I just crash, go on the internet and sleep. If I pick up a book I will enjoy it and be captivated but it is getting myself to pick up a book! It's very frustrating because I love reading and want to read but right now it isn't happening and I had the same problem last year.

I've decided to combat this and if you have any ways that you deal with this I would love to know but some of the things I'm going to try are:

1. Carrying a book with me everywhere- I used to this and I stopped especially for school which means at work when I could read I can't because I don't have a book. (sidenote, I go straight from school to work)
2. Challenging myself to read everyday in October even if it is just 2 pages!
3. Making sure I'm picking books that I really, really want to read, otherwise I won't be motivated.
4. Listening to audiobooks when I'm walking places and doing jobs round the house as this is a really easy way to get through a book!

Hopefully this month I can get back into reading because I miss it plus as an literature student I really should reading a ton!
Speak soon,
Jade xx

October TBR

The month of Halloween is here and I thought I would base my TBR on that theme this month, be festive and all that. So I've picked a little selection of books that I think fit and are a little spooky or gothic to choses from for October.

• The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham
• Inferno by Dante
• Dracula By Bram Stoker
• Edgar Allan Poe
• War of the Worlds by H.G.Wells
• Frankenstein by Mary Shelley 

September Wrap-up

Hello! So September flew by and I only got a little reading done but I'm not surprised because school was a bit of a shock to the system!

• The World's Wife, Carol Ann Duffy. This is a collection of poetry based around famous men's wives and their point of views on it. There are women from myths and legends like Penelope and Mrs Sisyphus and then real people like Mrs Darwin and Myra Hindley who is painted as the Devil's wife. It's witty and brilliant! 4.5 stars.
• The Night is Darkening Round Me, Emily Bronte. This is yet again more poetry, I don't know why but in the past month I've really enjoyed read and picking apart poetry whereas in the past it has been my least favourite part of studying english. I love Emily Bronte's poetry; obviously I like some better than others but that is how it works. Pretty much all her poems are occupied with death but the writing was beautiful.
• I wanted to briefly talk of all the books I've started to read at school because both English lit. and Classical Civilisation are full of reading! In english I'm currently studying Mean Time by Carol Ann Duffy and Room With a View by E.M.Forster. Then I am re-reading The Odyssey by Homer and Aeschylus' Agamemnon in Classics. It feels so good to be back in school and pulling these texts apart after 6 months away!
• I'm also currently reading and loving Persuasion by Jane Austen! 

Let me know what you read in September!

Speak soon,

Jade xx

T5W: Banned Books

Hey, it is Wednesday again and today's top 5 theme is Banned Books. Looking at the list I've only actually read 4 and 2 of them I didn't even like that much but I'll share them with you anyway :)

1. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. I studied this at GCSE and I loathe it! I was so sick of it by the exam; it is the only book that I say I truly hate. But I read The Pearl by Steinbeck and that wasn't as bad so I may read more of his work in the future.
2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D.Salinger. This is the other one I didn't like but I don't feel as strongly about it as Mice and Men. This is a book I can appreciate when it comes to symbolism and meaning and what not but I didn't enjoy it and I'm sorry to the people who love him but I couldn't stand Holden.
3. 1984, George Orwell. Now this book I do like even if it is a little scary. This was one of those books that made me look at the world and how it all works and I think that is important.
4. The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald. I read this for the first time last year in summer in preparation for studying it at school. I remember enjoying it but also sensing there was a lot more to the book that I was missing and it was such a pleasure to pick it apart and analysis it at school.

Sorry I can't give you 5 this week, I'll have to read more banned books!

Speak soon,

Jade xx

Book Haul #14

Hello! Here are the rest the books I bought recently that I promised to tell you about. Enjoy!

• The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, I heard amazing reviews about this and I believe it is about an alien invasion. Also it was absolute bargain at £2 for a hardback!
• The Land of Decoration by  another £2 hardback, I don't know much about this apart from that is follows a father and daughter and it is strange.
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, this is the 4th edition in the house now but I needed a specific copy for school.
• The Night is Darkening Round Me, Emily Bronte. This is a collection of her poetry.
• Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson. I've fallen in love with Stevenson's writing so I'm really looking forward to this!
• Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. I've heard that if you like Jane Eyre you'll like this and I love Jane Eyre so I'm going to give it go. 

I may have a birthday book haul coming up but I am putting myself on book buying ban for the rest of the year now except for 4 new books that I refuse to wait for any longer than I have too. Wish me luck!
Speak soon,
Jade xx

T5W: Title fonts on covers

Hello! Wednesday is upon us again (the days seems to be flying past since school has started again) The T5W topic today is favourite title fonts on covers. Now I'm a sucker for pretty cover so this was difficult to whittle down.

1. Emma by Jane Austen, Penguin Threads edition. This entire cover is like embroidery and it is stunning so the title is stitched on.
   
2. Landline by Rainbow Rowell. The title on this cover is done as if it is the curly cable to the phone and I just think it is really clever. 
   
3. There is this very thin straight font that looks really clean and for some reason I like a lot. Books like The Ring and the Crown. Love Letters to the Dead and Nimona. 
   
4. Knife by R J Anderson. The thing I like about this font is it looks like it is glowing. 
   
5. Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley. This is a very simple font but because of that and the silver colour it stands out wonderfully well in a fairly busy cover.
   

Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey and the goodreads group is here if you want any info or to join or purely to finds other people's lists.

Speak soon,

Jade xx

Book Haul #13

Hello lovelies! I have gone slightly crazy with the book buying recently, I had a few bad days where I was in close proximity to bookshops- not a good idea- but I've got a good selection that I'm really looking forward.

• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and other classic works, Lewis Carroll. I found this in T.K.Maxx for a really good prize and it's the edition I had my eye on so I picked it up.
• The Day of the Triffids, John Wyndham, I've wanted this since watching Pemberley Digital's Welcome to Sanditon. I think it is about most of the world going blind and plants try to take over the world.
• The Elder Edda, Andy Orchard. This is a collection of myths and legends from the Viking and it looks super interesting!
• All my Friends are Superheroes, Andrew Kaufman. I picked this up because it is one of Carrie Hope Fletcher's favourite books and it sounds good.
• GIlead, Marilynne Robinson. I picked this up because of Jen Campbell's review and because the 3rd book in this series, Lila, is longlisted for the Man Booker this year. 
• The World's Wife, Carol Ann Duffy. This is the poetry collection I'm studying this year and the witty poems are about famous men's wives.
• Lorali, Laura Dockrill. This is a YA mermaid book- which I enjoy! 

There are more than this but I tell you about them another time :)

Speak soon,

Jade xx

Stationery Haul

Hello, I thought I'd do something a little different today. For me the best part of the new school year is new stationery, I love the stuff! I already had some stuff like highlights and post it notes (i.e. the most useful things ever!) But there was still a few things :)

• I'm re-using 3 of my folders from last year but I picked up a new 1 for English from sainsbury's that is super pretty.
  
  
  
• A nice pen because I like getting a new pen every year especially now all I do is write essays.
• Pencil case because mine was getting old and had lost its zip. I really like the embroidery on this.
  
• Some dividers for my folders, I pretty good at keeping my notes organized nowadays because I get stressed if I can't find stuff.
• A notebook for a new Bullet Journal because my old 1 fell apart and I really like this method of keeping track of stuff, this 1 seems more sturdy thankfully.
• I also picked up 4 notebooks for just writing stuff not related to school from T.K.Maxx because I fell in love with them and I couldn't choose between them :)

I hope you liked that, I'm constantly making lists and writing so I've become a little obsessed with stationery.
Speak soon,
Jade xx

Recent Makes #2

Hello lovelies! I've been getting back into crochet recently which I started about a year and an half ago. I find crochet both relaxing and rewarding because it tends to grow pretty quick and if I'm going to finish something I need to clearly see my progress otherwise I get bored. When I crochet I mainly do Amigurumi which you work in a spiral to make little cute smalls things normally. All of the patterns I used were from the Simply Crochet or #Crochet magazines.

• Mr Egg. This is just a random egg from an easter issue. I think he looks rather dapper.                
  
• Racoon. This is meant to be a brooch but I didn't bother I was just making whatever that weekend to be honest. 
  
• Jigsaw Piece. This was a little more tricky for me because it was worked in a spiral and I'm used to that method. But it was good practise for my treble stitches. 
  
• Cat. I love cats, I have 3 which is why I (again randomly) made a cat. 
  
• My favourite of everything I made recently has to be these two little birds especially the smaller one which is actually the one I did wrong technically but it's so sweet! 
  
• Finally I actually did a little cross stitch which is very rare and it is even rarer for me to finish a piece. I'm a big lover of disney so I did this little Bambi :) 
  

 That's it for now but I have many plans in the works including 1 massive project I'm doing now so look out for those! Also send me some pics of anything you've made via instagram or something cause I would love to see!
Speak soon,
Jade xx

T5W: Favourite things about blogging

Hello! his week's Top 5 Wednesday is Favourite things about blogging. As always be sure to check out the goodreads group for any info you could need :)

1. Reading Blogs. I use this as little breaks between studying and jobs, it keeps me engaged but I love seeing what people are reading and their thoughts on books and other things too. 
2. Sharing Reading. This is the reason I started my blog; I wanted to share my passion for reading with people who loved it as much as me.
3. Readathons. If you have been my reading my blog you have probably seen how many of these I have done! I love them and they are great motivation for me. I think it shows the community at its best. My favourite readathon has to be Bout of Books.
4. Writing. I have always liked writing but I have also struggled with it, I go ages without writing anything or I don't know what to write. This keeps me ticking over.
5. Motivation. This kind of links in with 3 & 4 but this blog motivates me read, write and have something outside of  school that I can work towards. 

Speak soon,
Jade xx

August 2015 Book Haul (part 2)

Hey :) This would be the part 2 of my book haul I promised. I have another 7 books to tell you about today.

• A Room with a View by E.M.Forster. This is another book for school that I need to have read for September.
• The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh. This is based on A Thousand and One Nights where the ruler of the land takes a wife and every time she ends up dead the next morning. The book follows a girl whose friend was one of his victims and she decides to marry him to exact revenge. There have been so many good things said about this book and I can't what to read it!
• Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley. I believe this is about a girl who has always struggled to breathe because she belongs to another world which is calling her.
• Nimona by Noelle Stevenson. This is a graphic novel that just looks so much fun, I love the art too! The author/artist also did the  cover for Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl.
• Olalla by Robert Louis Stevenson. I read Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde earlier this year and enjoyed so I thought I'd pick up some more of his work. 
• The Great Winglebury Dual by Charles Dickens. I want to read more Dickens but I'm going to start small. 
• Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen. I know a little of Owen's poetry from school and I find it very moving and I'm glad to have a little collection of his for my own collection :)

I'm really looking forward to all of these especially Nimona cause I haven't read many graphic novels. I'd love to know if you've read any of these!

Speak soon,

Jade xx

September TBR

Hello lovelies! Today I'm going to share my September TBR. I am going back to school this month for the 1st time since March but I am determined to keep reading because I need to make sure I relax a little.

• A Room with a View by E.M.Forster. This is one of my school texts that I need to read before I go back. 
• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Another English lit. text, I've read this before but I want to refresh a little before studying it. 
• Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley. I'm already half way through this and enjoying it; it is about a girl who has always been ill and then finds out she is from another world in the sky.  
• The Elder Edda translated by Andy Orchard. I've started this also, it's a collection literature from the Vikings and I'm finding it very interesting so far especially as I'm seeing quite a few parallels to my classics a-level. 
• 1984 by George Orwell (re-read). I feel like reading this again basically, not particular reason.
• A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. I've had this one the go for months and I really need to just finish it, but I absolutely adore it!
• Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs. This is coming out a the end of the month and is the 3rd book in Miss Peregrine's- I'm so excited!
• The Night is Darkening Round Me, Emily Bronte. This is some of her poetry and I want to read Wuthering Heights soon, I thought this would be a nice intro to her work.

I have a ton of books right now that I desperately want to read and I want to make sure I'm reading widely for school so hopefully I will read all these!

Speak soon,

Jade xx

T5W: Favourite Cities

Hello! I'm back doing Top 5 Wednesdays again which was created by Lainey and make sure you check out the goodreads group for all of your T5W needs. This week's topic is favourite fictional cities.

1. Harry Potter's London- I mean how could I not included the wizarding world? Especially the day after the Hogwarts Express left King's Cross!
2. London in Lovelace and Babbage thrilling adventures- There is a multiverse steampunk London in this graphic novel where Lovelace and Babbage invent the 1st computer and all sorts happen; much more exciting than actual Victorian London.
3. Ingo- I guess this is kind of a country but its is a world underwater with mermaids. Need I say more?
4. The world of Etiquette and Espionage. Again this is a steampunk version of Victorian England and the main character's school is a ship where they are taught to be assassins and spies!
5. Island of Tamarind. There are tons of things on this secret, invisible island but the thing that captured my imagination the most when I was little was the treetop city made entirely of treehouses and bridges.

I actually found this a little difficult because most fictional cities I could think of were from dystopian books and all of them are terrible and cruel so yeah.

Speak soon,

Jade xx 

August Wrap-up

Hello! Long time no see! (kinda) I know I said I was going to post everyday but I burnt myself out a little so I just stepped away but I'm back now :) Today I have my August wrap-up because apparently summer has pretty much gone. I read 9 things in August which I am happy with especially since I read practically nothing in the 2nd half of the month.

• North & South, Elizabeth Gaskell. This was a re-read for me and I appreciated it so much more and spotted all these new things. I adore this story and Gaskell's writing. 5 stars.
• Macbeth, Shakespeare. I scribbled all over this when reading it, I've done bits and pieces of this play at school but never read it all the way through, though it can be a little difficult at times I am a big fan of Shakespeare. 4 stars.
• An Anthem For Doomed Youth, Wilfred Owen. This was a little collection of Owen's war poetry, I "enjoy" war poetry (for want of a better phrase) I think it is because of the amount of emotion behind the subject makes it very effective and moving. The only thing is that reading a whole load 1 after the other got a little depressing. 4 stars.
• Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops, Jen Campbell. This was another re-read because I needed a pick me and the things people say in bookshops- though worrying at times- is hilarious. 5 stars.
• Olalla, Robert Louis Stevenson. This is a gothic short story about vampires. I love Robert Louis Stevenson's writing and have an extremely strong urge to read every single thing by him the story was a little... off. 3 stars.
• A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams. I am studying this play at some point in the year which why i read it. It was ok and i picked up on a lot of symbolism and what not so that is good. But I read it in 1 sitting and it was so sad; it just hit like a ton of bricks really. 3 stars.
• Nimona, Noelle Stevenson. This is a graphic novel about a shapeshifter who joins forces with a villian to take on the town's hero. On the surface it is just super fun; underneath that though the characters are actually quite complex and deep. Also the art it gorgeous! 5 stars.
• The Great Winglebury Dual, Charles Dickens. This is an early short story of Dicken's and to be honest it was very odd and just didn't really go anywhere. 2 stars.
• The World's Wife, Carol Ann Duffy. I fancied some poetry the other day and so I was looking at the poetry section in waterstones and saw the collection I am studying this year. And for once I think I might like the poems I'm studying. The poems are based on famous Men's wives and is witty and brilliant. 4 stars.

So a pretty good reading month all in all even if I actually managed to read quite a few sad books. What did you read this month?

Speak soon,

Jade xx

T5W: Favourite Required Reading

Hello! This week’s top 5 Wednesday is all about required reading that you have to do for school and I haven’t actually done that much in my time but I can still make my list. I find a lot of the time that reading “for school” can take the fun out of things but at the same time it can open your eyes to book you may not have found otherwise.

1. Edgar Allan Poe. 2 years ago in year 10 I believe I was asked to read  some Poe and though it was a little difficult to get into, I loved it, I don’t if I would have read any of his work if it wasn’t for that group.
2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I am reading this this summer for the 2nd time as I will be studying it later this year. I can’t wait and school has given me the perfect excuse to re-read 1 of my favourite books!
3. When I was little I had to reading to me parents and log in a diary for school but it got to the point where I just wanted to read by myself and when they finally said that I could do that I was stupidly happy, I’ve never much liked reading aloud.
4. 1 of the best things is when you have already read the book you are asked to read because you can either leave it because you know it or give it a quick re-read. This happened with Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing last year, I’d already read it twice so I didn’t need to worry.
5. Finally I want to talk about reading lists. I prefer to be given a big long list of things to choose from rather than a set list of a few because it means you can tailor the books to your own taste.

What are your views on required reading? Top 5 Wednesday was created by Lainey and if you want to join or find everyone else’s lists go to the goodreads group!
Speak soon,
Jade xx

T5W: Favourite Maps

Hello lovelies! It is Wednesday so I’m doing another top 5 Wednesday :) This was GingerReadsLainey’s idea and if you want to know more about it or join yourself go to the goodreads group. Today’s theme is favourite maps and we all know that when there is a map in the front of a book it’s going to be a good one!

1. The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan- The map in this one is more decorative but it still shows some of the places in the novel. It so pretty I couldn’t not include in my list. 
2. Winnie the Pooh by A.A.Milne- I remember pouring over the map of the 100 acre wood when I was little, Winnie the Pooh is so charming!
3. Inkworld trilogy by Cornelia Funke- In each book of this trilogy the map is of a slightly different place to match the story and I find having some sense of the direction and distance the characters are travelling make it even more immersive.
4. The Lost Island of Tamarind by Nadia Aguiar- The same again, being able to where all the characters are makes it much more real.
5. Throne of Glass series by Sarah J Maas- This map is great as the world of this series is pretty big and complex so a map is super helpful. 

I don’t have much to on the map other than I like it when they are there!
Speak soon,
Jade xx

August 2015 Book Haul (part 1)

Hello lovelies! I have another book haul for you, I'm only showing you half of the books today and then in a couple of weeks I'll post part 2 because if I did all of them today it would be way too long. I've recently got a job so you can where that money is going! (in all seriousness I am saving most of it)

• Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider. I found this in whsmiths and it sounded good and it has a very pretty cover so I picked it up because I have no restraint. This is about a boy who goes to a boarding school for sick kids where he is expecting to be miserable but that is not the case once he meets is classmates. 
• It's About Love by Steven Camden. I read Tape by Steven in June and flew through it so when I saw his new book it was an auto-buy. I feel like this is going to be a very honest and real love story.
• To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han. I have wanted to read this for a while and what with all the hype surrounding the sequel at the time I caved when I saw it in asda. This book is about a girl who writes  very honest letters to her crushes and puts them in a hatbox instead of sending them to dispel the crush. One day these letters get sent out.
• The Isle of the Lost by Melissa De La Cruz. This is the prequel to Disney channel's new original movie Descendants about the kids of the villains and though I'm not sure on the film I am looking forward to the book.
• A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. I picked this up because I am studying it in September and I have no idea what it about.

So those are some of the books I have brought recently. Have you read any? If so I would love to know what you thought.
Speak soon,
Jade xx