Liebster Award

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Thanks so much to Josh at Been There, Read That for your kind nomination! The idea behind this award is to promote new and obscure blogs, to help them gain followers and readers.

Here are the rules for this award:

  1. Link back to the person who nominated you.
  2. Answer 11 questions from the individual who nominated you.
  3. Nominate 11 new bloggers (with under 200 followers) and come up with your own 11 questions. You cannot nominate the person who nominated you.
  4. Inform your nominee on being nominated.

Okay, so here we go!

  1. Books are full of memorable quotes: which one is your favourite?

“Every book, every volume you see here, has a soul. The soul of the person who wrote it and of those who read it and lived and dreamed with it. Every time a book changes hands, every time someone runs his eyes down its pages, its spirit grows and strengthens.” — Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The Shadow of the Wind

2. Out of all the fictional characters we’ve read about, there are plenty that we can all relate to; but which one do you relate to most?

Well this question just sparks off my indecisiveness. So for the sake of having an answer, I’m going to say Dorothy from Wizard of Oz.  Loyal to the scarecrow, tries to do what is right by destroying evil and save those she cares about, determined on the path she must follow but unsure all the same, goes on crazy journeys and gets swept up in whirlwinds….But in the end she realises that the dream world only takes her so far, and there’s no place like home. (Not to mention she’s a gal with a craaazy imagination!)

3. Speaking of characters: who is your number one?

I’m going to say Scarlet O’Hara just because I finished “Gone with the Wind” recently- she’s not a particularly likeable character but she’s down to earth and someone I aspire to be more like despite her faults! She is enduring with a strong, spirited personality and weathers all storms!

4. You know all of those characters you love? if they were real, who would you most like to date?

So, so tricky. Can I say a character in a story I wrote? Ha! If not, then maybe Bowman in the “Wind on Fire” trilogy. (the last one, because otherwise he is definitely underaged!) he is reliable, loyal, not to mention has really high EQ skills and can talk to animals… but actually there are definitely dateable book characters- let’s face it, most of them are pretty perfect on paper.

5. What do you feel is the best book->movie adaptation?

I enjoyed “Holes”. I also liked the BBC (most BBC adaptations actually) of “Tess of the d’Urbervilles” and “Emma”. But generally I hold the view that books are better than films! And my favourite films were not books to start off with…

6.What book or book series would you like to become a movie?

I would say “The Wind on Fire” series, but I’m glad they haven’t been made into a movie as it would ruin it completely! And I am pretty positive I would not be happy with the main character choices!

7. If you were zapped into Middle-Earth, which race would you like to become?

Definitely an elf. They’re gorgeous. They’re super-fast and have awesome arrow shooting skills among other assets.

8. Come, tell us a story! How did you first get into reading?

I was reading as long as I remember, I used to borrow around 4 books a week from the local library. I guess my mum told me a funny story about how my grandmother used to prop my head up for me as a baby while I was glued to the pages…I also have a memory of reading Beatrix Potter in red trousers, but that’s just…random.

9. E-books, paperbacks, or hardbacks?

I would have said paperbacks, but now hardbacks. Having seen such beautiful leather covers that exist in the world, I can’t go back. Ever.

10. How many books do you think you’ve read in your entire life? Go on, take a guess!

Hundreds, thousands, millions. Ha joking…I have no idea.

11. As we have all probably though about this: if you could have saved one character in Harry Potter, who would it be and why?

Lupin & Tonks? That was unnecessary. Dobby’s death was traumatic- along with all those that died in the crossfire, yeah I would have saved them all, but that wouldn’t have made for good reading would it?

I now nominate:

Reading and Roaming

Mind Ecology

Beautiful Insanity

Dating Dickens

magicnaturepoem 

It’s your turn lovely people! The questions:

  1. If you could be transported into a book- which would it be and why?
  2. Kindle or hard copy?
  3. What is your favourite fairy tale?
  4. Have you ever wanted to write your own novel/piece? If so, what inspired you to start writing?
  5. Is there a character you truly hate?
  6. What is your favourite book? Why?
  7. Do you prefer reading short stories, poetry or novels?
  8. If you could time travel, where would you go and why? (ok so, limited to book worlds)
  9. What do you think about the idea of leaving books in public places for others to read? Would you do this?
  10. Are your books well loved/dog eared and spine bent, or kept in pristine condition?
  11. Have you ever had a book signed by the author? If so what was it? If not, who would you want to sign your book?

Have fun, and looking forward to reading your answers! 🙂

~ “Dombey & Son”, “Villette” Book Reviews ~

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Recently I got more Dickens books- some more classics ordered and on their way! (Leatherbound classics, Barnes & Nobles copies- if you have seen previous posts you will know my obsession with them!)

Along with “Dombey and Son“, I also picked up “Villette” by Charlotte Bronte. Any thoughts on this? I hadn’t heard of it before but it seemed intriguing, especially due to many classic lit lover’s hype surrounding Jane Eyre. I had recently finished Ann and Emily’s works so it would be interesting to compare writing styles.

It has been a while, but I am fully committed to getting back to writing reviews! I finished “Gone with the Wind” – it was great! If you like epic historical dramas/romance, you need to give it a try. If you have any recommended readings or requests for book reviews, feel free to let me know. A literature book club sounds fun! (possible to set one up here? haha)

Reviews will be posted shortly.  🙂

Kate

Inspiration #13

littleprincefoxrose“Here is my Secret. It’s quite simple: One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.”

Le Petit Prince- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

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A Happy Story

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“So go on, tell me a story.”
I wish I knew how a happy story began. Instead I start with “it happened with the whispering folds of a satin curtain sliding down a staircase. I hid behind the library door as the rasping breath of the priest added to the dust expiring from the floorboards. Every cell of his body strained towards the silver signet ring that dangled tantalising from the bronze statue. He was consumed by desire, iris’s dilating as he imagined the power that would soon course through his veins…”
“This doesn’t sound promising.”
“Cindy can you stop interrupting me?” My seven year old cousin sighs. Her lips are pressed together in a disapproving smoulder, like a dried apricot.
“Once upon a time,” I try again “there was a girl who lived in a cottage, shrouded by a crab apple tree and a blue summerhouse, and a yellow rose bush that blocked out all light.” The beginning sounded crap but I hoped the faster I spoke, the less chance I would be interrupted by her majesty, the story critic Queen. “Sombre ideas flittering in her mind like dancing piano keys. She dreamed of a castle in the sky made entirely of ice crystals, where a figure in a black suit roamed the corridors carrying nothing but a candle, searching. Searching for someone at least, and until he found her, he would not rest. Now, when the light of dusk faded, the clouds shot fountains of ink like a canon, with lanterns to herald the-”
“Bored.”
“You hardly listened.”
“I just want a bedtime story.”
I take a deep breath. The bobbled underside of my slippers make a plastic squelch on the vinyl as I meander my way to the bookshelf, past crushed pizza boxes, phone charger wires and Fanta in sticky glass goblets. I yank a book viciously from the pile, fling it open and prod the black and white illustration with my index finger.
“There, the Blue Bird. It’s a great one.”
“I don’t want a Grimm’s fairytale. How old am I?”
“You tell me.” I try to match her sarcasm, but instead my eyes bulge like a dead fish as I try to maintain the wide eyed look of intimidation.
“Forget it. I’ll read myself.” She peels away the covers and vanishes from the room. I feel oddly cheated. And it is in this state of being pissed off that I drift to sleep curled like a python at the foot of the bed.

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Copyright © 2014 by Kate W J White (All Rights Reserved)

What to do??

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Sadly, I’ve relapsed into a reading dormancy.

…Which also means no book reviews. I’m currently midway between a Wilkie Collins book, “Heart of Darkness” and “Sense & Sensibility”. I’ve never multi tasked with so many books before. I’ve considered getting on the bandwagon for the latest best-sellers but which are the ones to read? 

So I started listening to audiotapes. On the plus side, it’s quicker than reading and you can rest your eyes!

Problem: I haven’t bought subscriptions because a) they’re so costly and b) the public domains I rely on don’t have modern books. It seems there is no way around it. It also requires your full concentration. After a max of 20 mins, the lulling words blur together and I either fall asleep, or zone out and have to rewind it all. What’s the solution??

Here’s hoping I get back to ‘reading mode’ soon!!

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Inspiration #9

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“Live for a while in the books you love. Learn from them what is worth learning, but above all love them….Whatever your life may become, these books -of this I am certain- will weave through the web of your unfolding. They will be among the strongest of all threads of your experiences, disappointments, and joys.”

– R. M. Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet

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Clarity

girl-lake-nature-painting-wallpaper-1920x1080Her face was like Athens.

It was Rome, Alexandria, London.

It was the changing seasons, flashing amber, scarlet;

the colour of the sun.

Fluttering;

like the moth eaten pages of a journal

faded, yellowed; long exposed,

yearning for clarity.

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Copyright © 2014 by Kate W J White (All Rights Reserved)