Deja Vu

I started reading the Stone Gods, after reading the blurb and thinking it sounded really interesting. After reading a couple of chapters the story became more and more familiar, until I realised that this is the second time I've read this book.

Having said that, I don't remember the plot, or even the character's quirks ahead of re-reading them, it's only when I read it again that the words remind me. This is quite a nice way to read books, although it doesn't say much for my memory.

I remember that my intuition was right, and I enjoyed the book, but my ignorance of the details means I can enjoy it a second time. It's sort of like meeting an old friend after a long time, and its only after spending time with them that you remember how good a friendship it was and how much you enjoyed their company.

Sometimes I wonder whether my time would be better spent reading new books (there's not enough time in the world for me to read them all, unfortunately) rather than revisiting old ones.

But I do both, I don't just revist the books of my past, I also read new books. And sometimes, as in this case, I can return to books without even meaning to. You can't argue with your subconscious.

Book clubs

I am thinking of joining a book club in my local pub. I've never been to one before, and although at first the idea seems perfect for me, I'm not quite so sure.

Of course getting recommendations from fellow book lovers, and discussing how great books are would be brilliant. I would also welcome the motivation to read books that otherwise I might not have even picked up.

But the dissecting, the evaluation? That sounds a bit too much like English Literature too me, and I left that behind with my GSCEs. Of course we can examine each little part of a book and consider why the author made these choices, and to what effect, and I can even acknowledge that this could give a greater type of fulfilment from a book as only then do you truly understand how great the writing is.

Then again, I have always held the suspicion that critiquing any form of media is less enjoyable than simply experiencing the media, in this case books, without any other agenda on your mind, no need to hold back from immersing yourself in the created world that lies before you in order to compare and contrast it with other books of its time, for example.

I read because I simply love reading. Not because I am interested in how authors from different times, personalities and circumstances set about creating these works of art. But maybe I'm just being too stubborn. I'm going to go along and see whether I enjoy it. The first book is To Kill a Mocking Bird (I've never read it, so that's a good start).

Books of 2011

So I realise this is quite late, but thought I would do a recap of some of my best books from last year. I also forget which books I've read, so this year plan to write down every single book, so I can have hopefully have a great long list this time next year!

Saddest book: Without a doubt its got to be A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini. Made me weep, but not in a life-is-so-desolate-The-Road kind of way, in a very human and uplifting way.

Best thriller: Before I go to sleep by S. Watson. So enthralling I had to read it extra quick to find out what was going on and who she could trust.

Best fantasy: Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan. Nearing the end of this series (this is book 13) they just seem to keep on getting better. So excited for the final installment.

Best horror: I seem to be lacking a bit in this area, but I promise I will return from my next trip to the library with armfuls of Steven King. In the meantime, for 2011, maybe Perfume? By Patrick Suskind. It's an amazing book, such a novel idea, just not sure if it qualifies as horror. Definitely weird.

Best romance: Delirium by Lauren Oliver. Very romantic and all about love defying all odds and how important it is, in every form, to our humanity.

Best sci-fi: Anything by John Wyndham! Probably The Trouble with Lichen. His books examine great and powerful ideas, beautifully woven into worlds where such strange things happen.

Best adventure: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, had to get it in there! Again, very fast-paced, exciting, with great characters and storyline. Bring on the film!

That's all the categories I can think of at the moment, so until next January, happy reading.

Merry Christmas!

I hope you all had a wonderful christmas :)

I was lucky enough to get some awesome presents, including a typewriter!

Isn't she beautiful?? It works as well, and I've been having great fun bashing out nonsense on it. Everything seems so must more certain when it's written on a typewriter...

I also got 'Before I go to sleep', that book I've been wanting to read forever. It's just as good as I expected, couldn't put it down. A perfect mix of thriller and intriguing medical anomaly, it's about a woman with severe amnesia who wakes up each morning not knowing where she is or who is lying next to her. Captures the fear and feeling of losing yourself that such circumstances must bring.

Just been to see the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (take two: hollywood version). I have to say I enjoyed it. Of course I have my quibbles, but generally it was a really good film and most of the actors had convincing Swedish accents. Roll on the Girl who Played With Fire!

Next on my reading list: The Handmaids Tale, The Crimson Petal and the White, the last three WoT books (in preparation for the final final installment next year). Also plan to read some Steven King books. Oh and the latest True Blood book is out, so that as well. Can't wait for 2012.

Literary spots in Oxford

If you happen to be visiting this lovely place (or even be lucky enough to live there) make sure you check out the following spots:

The Alice in Wonderland shop. Yes, shop! It sells all sorts of amazing goodies and memorabilia.
You can sit on Lyra's bench (Northern Lights) and dream your way into other worlds.
If you take a walk, you can find the same lamp post that marks the way into Narnia, and a carved wooden door which gave inspiration for the title The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.
Visit the Bird & Baby (real name: Eagle & Child) where great writers such as Tolkein and C.S.Lewis gathered around to talk about their books with the other 'Inklings'.
Parts of the Harry Potter films were also taken around Oxford, so keep your eyes open. For example, Hogwart's infirmary is set in the Bodleian Library (another great place to look around anyway).

I'm sure there are countless more references and literary haunts of past greats to be found in this city, and to be able to walk in their footsteps, sit where they sat, might even inspire a similar level of creative wondering.

The Hunger Games - verdict

So I read the Hunger Games. In a day. IT'S THAT GOOD.

But seriously, it really lived up to expectations. A perfect mix of adventure, and horrible-oppressed-world-of-the-future background that I find so fascinating. The books are very addictive, so much so that for a moment (just a moment) I considered staying at work so I could spend more time reading instead of taking the long (ten minute) walk home. When a story is this gripping, things like food, and moving become irrelevent compared to the necessity of just one. more. chapter.

As well as a good dose of fantasy and suspense, the Hunger Games has a great element of humanity that just tugs at your heartstrings; for Katniss's family, her friends, and all the people trapped in this terrible society.

There are only two things I find annoying about the series. One, Katniss's ignorance of what is going on around her can get tiring, especially when things are so obvious from an outsider's perspective. Yet, as I have acknowledged before, this is typical of anyone caught up in the middle of their own drama, and so only makes her more realistic. You don't like absolutely everything about any person you know, and this is true of main characters as well. We must empathise with them, we must like them, but not too much.

The other thing...I started the second book last night, and finished it about half an hour ago. I was excited to get to the end of the book, not only because I was so desperate to find out what happened, but also because I was looking forward to taking a break, and being able to do something other than read Suzanne Collins stupidly brilliant series. Just as I thought it was possible, the last sentences set the next book up perfectly and have me dying to know what it means, what's going to happen next and how it will all end.

I think I'm addicted.

Started writing again

My book that is. I never really realised that it would be so much fun. Perhaps I never expected it to be because some people do this for a living and work is not meant to be one of your favourite things. Or in an ideal world it is of course, but thats not reality. But I love writing, and I love books, so maybe my surprise was unfounded. Anyway, its fantastic! Developing characters means I can dissect the personalities of all the people I've met, mixing and matching characteristics, as well as my own, to create brand new people. Its kind of like the Sims, and I think treating it more like a game than something too serious could help ease any regimentalised pressure to write a certain amount of words each day or anything like that.

Additionally, that rush of excitement you get whenever you read about a place or activity you recognise? That happens all the time when its your own book, because the story and setting are inspired directly from your personal experience.

Writing a book also allows you a degree of objectivity to life; a perspective thats very welcome when you are prone to get caught up in the little things. Events that happen to you, people you meet; these can all become research, as opposed to dramatic changes. Things are often easier to understand, and accept, if you are not directly in the middle of things all the time.