Authors who made my childhood

I was racking my brain thinking of what to write this week. I'm halfway through my next book so I didn't want to delve into that, and I wanted to stick with something book related. Then it dawned on me. Why not talk about the books that made me love reading so much when I was a kid? I adored reading as a child, and would read aloud to my mum before bedtime most nights. I'm so glad it stuck with me from childhood to adulthood, and there are so many authors I have to thank for that.

Lucy Daniels - the Animal Ark series

When I was about eight or nine, my ambition was to become a vet. I loved animals so much, and reading the Animal Ark books only made me want it so much more. Dolphin in the Deep and Otter in the Outhouse were just a couple of the many many titles released. They revolved around Mandy and her best friend James, and in each book they would rescue an injured animal and nurse it back to health. Mandy's parents were veterinary surgeons and she shared the same love for animals that they did. 

I remember getting the books so vividly when I was younger. Every week we'd go to the supermarket to do the shopping, and I would always look forward to the book and magazine aisle near the tills. To be honest, the only time I genuinely remember is when my mum wouldn't let me have Fawn in the Forest and I was heartbroken that I couldn't have it!

I never filfilled my childhood dream of becoming a vet, but I'm pretty sure that most people don't end up living out their childhood ambitions.

Jacqueline Wilson

Almost everyone I knew loved Jacqueline Wilson's books when they were kids. They were down to earth, relatable, and so inherently British. I was lucky enough to meet her when I was about 12 years old at a book signing for The Diamond Girls, and I think it probably made my year (I was going to post the photo that was taken but I think I'll save myself the embarrassment of showcasing my 12 year old self). 

Midnight was my absolute favourite of her books. I remember going to see the stage production of the book as well after I'd read it, and it made it so much more magical for me. I think I enjoyed the element of fantasy in Midnight, and when I was younger I felt like Violet was a character I could relate to. She was caught up in her imagination, just like I was. 

I had so many other favourites written by Jacqueline Wilson; Vicky Angel, Suitcase Kid, Bad Girls, The Worry Website and so many others. I definitely think Jacqueline was the narrator of my childhood :)

Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl's stories are a gift to everyone. I must've read Fantastic Mr Fox at least twenty times when I was a child, and everytime I found something new to enjoy about it. His way of writing is so witty and clever, and I can safely say I've enjoyed his books well into adulthood. 

His Revolting Rhymes were some of my favourites as well. The mental image of Red Riding Hood whipping a pistol from her knickers will always stay with me, and to this day it still makes me giggle. Roald Dahl always gave his characters such unique voices and personalities, and that's probably just one of the reasons why so many people adore his work. 

J. K. Rowling

A list of childhood authors wouldn't be complete without J. K. Rowling. Harry Potter was an integral part of my childhood. I read the books and lived the books and saw the books burst on to the big screen. I'll never forget how adamant I was that I wouldn't read them when everyone first went crazy over the books. I know I was only about 6 when they first came out, but I think the storm came a little later on, and I was determined not to jump on the bandwagon (look at me being a hipster child...). My Auntie gave me the first book to read, and I gave in and never looked back.

I don't think I really need to explain just how much I adored the Harry Potter novels growing up. They gave me a wonderful escape, as well as showing me that you really can create any world that you want to if you have the imagination for it. The characters are well rounded and both lovable and detestable depending on which reaction is required. I'd definitely say that J.K. Rowling is one of the writers who inspired my love for writing. 

Louise Rennison

My teenage years were spent reading the Georgia Nicolson books, and oh god did I love them. Louise Rennison was such a wonderful, brilliant writer, and was absolutely hilarious. I often found myself genuinely laughing out loud at the things Georgia and her friends got up to, and wished I could be part of the Ace Gang. Myself and one of my friends definitely tried to mimic their words and phrases. Everything was 'fabbity fab' and we lived in the 'cake shop of agony'.

I wrote to Louise when I was university and looking for work placements to see if she had any suggestions or could help me in at all. I never expected her to write back to me, but she did :) A postcard arrived for me with a picture of her on the front riding a rodeo bull and a lovely message on the back. I was delighted that she'd even read my letter, and I've had the postcard stuck on my wall ever since.

I was devastated when she passed away last year. Her books and her humour brightened my teenage years and I'll always hold a special place in my heart for the Georgia Nicolson books.

There are so many other authors I loved as a child, but I fear I'll go on for ever and ever if I continue! Perhaps a few honorable mentions? Meg Cabot, Jerry Spinelli, Beatrix Potter, Anne Fine, Annie Dalton... the list could keep going.

~ C xxx 

Book Review: Lyrebird by Cecelia Ahern

"It seems that this woman
is built entirely on secrets;
created on one,
raised on one, exists on one"

My first book of 2017 was definitely not a disappointment.

Pre-warning: there are spoilers ahead so if you want to go ahead and read Cecelia Ahern's latest book spoiler free then stop right here!

Lyrebird tells the story of Laura Button, a woman who has lived her entire life in secret, only known to her mother, grandmother and, eventually, her father. She is discovered by Solomon, Bo and Rachel, a film crew set to film a follow-up documentary on the farm of the Toolin brothers. Their first documentary was an in-depth insight into the lives of these twin brothers; never married, never had any relationships other than the one that existed between them, and never having left the farm they grew up on. But everything they know seems to change the moment they stumble upon Laura.

Laura's remarkable ability for mimickry is the first thing that both strikes and puzzles them, all except Solomon. From the very beginning he has an unspoken understanding of her. He can interpret her sounds and noises, and Laura immediately feels comfortable around him.

From the start I was rooting for Laura and Solomon, despite the fact he was quite clearly with Bo. Something about Bo rubbed me up the wrong way - probably her selfishness throughout the story, which we eventually see is her way of showing that she cares. Bo invests herself so deeply into the projects she takes on that she often finds herself completely lost in them. Learning this definitely redeemed her for me.

For me, personally, Laura Button made the novel wonderful for me. It's so easy to make an innocent character too cliche and annoying, but I didn't think Ahern did that with Laura. She had a childlike innocence, understandably so because she'd been kept hidden from the world for the majority of her life. Her social interactions were limited, so it made sense for her to be so shy, naive and unaware of some social norms. We're shown throughout the novel just how human she is; she makes mistakes and she knows that she's at fault for them, no one else. Solomon obviously places her on a pedestal sometimes because of his feelings for her, but I could forgive him for that. Solomon is quite rightly protective over her because he knows the world so much better than she does. He knows both the bad and the good, and the ulterior motives that some people can have.   

I can't talk about Lyrebird without mentioning the bird that gives the book its title. I hadn't actually heard of a Lyrebird before reading the book and had to have a quick look on Youtube to give myself some context. Honestly though, the way Ahern describes Laura's mimicking and mannerisms gave my imagination more than enough to play with. I loved just how closely Laura showed traits of the bird. It really helped me as a reader to understand when she was excited or nervous, thus helping me to see how Solomon related to her and, consequently, how he fell in love with her. 

Laura is such a stark contrast to Bo. In the end though, I grew to appreciate Bo's differences. I was so fearful that she would follow the jealous girlfriend trope, but she didn't, and her companionship with both Laura and Solomon at the end made me feel all warm and fuzzy.

I've always been a huge, huge fan of Cecelia Ahern's work. I really click with the way she writes, and I love that all of her novels have such a strong connection to Ireland. From my experience, her books are always deep, emotive and heartwarming to the very core. Lyrebird is all of these things and more :)

10/10 from me! I've already started recommending this book to my friends and family.

~ C xxx 

My Top Books of 2016

2016 saw me get back into my reading groove. I read a lot of new (and old) books, some of which I never expected I would enjoy so much. My aim is to sail into 2017 reading so much more, and really broaden my horizons with the material that I choose to read. So far it's looking good :)

Here are some of my favourite books that I read last year. 

All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders

This was definitely a book I never expected to love so much. I have a habit of popping into book shops and picking up whatever looks appealing to me based on the cover or the title (talk about judging a book by its cover, I know). This is exactly what I did when I bought All the Birds in the Sky, and I wasn't disappointed. 

Without spoiling anything, All the Birds in the Sky is a delightful and adventurous read. It starts from the persepective of childhood friends Patricia and Laurence and documents both of their lives, how they grow closer to each other and inevitably drift apart. Their lives and worlds are so vastly different, Laurence is a scientist while Patricia is a witch with a very strong connection to the natural world. I suppose it's a story of nature versus technology in a way, tradition versus new methods, and how dangerous both can be. 

It wasn't a book that I had to put in a great deal of effort to get into, and I found myself wanting to stay on my lunch for a little while longer to get to the next part whenever I was reading. I think overall I'd give it 4/5 :)

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

I'd seen The Girl on the Train advertised in Leeds train station a number of times the year it was released, but wasn't initially drawn to it. I don't usually tend to read thriller/crime novels, and rarely tend to enjoy them just because of my own personal tastes. The moment I saw the trailer for the film adaptation though, I decided I wanted to read it. The book was described as the new Gone Girl, and I absolutely loved reading that. 

I'm sure that a lot of people have already read/seen The Girl on the Train, but I still don't want to spoil anything for those who haven't yet. It honestly kept me gripped throughout, and with such an unreliable narrator as Rachel who suffers from an alcohol addiction, I felt compelled to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. It was fast paced and had plenty of twists (some of which I predicted) and I thought it was a good read.

I haven't seen the film adaptation yet though, and I'm quite reluctant to, mostly because of the number of huge changes they've made. Saying that though, it's rare to enjoy a film more than the book, and that's something I've grown to accept. Overall, I'd give it 3.5/5 :)

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I've already written a separate blog post about this book here. It's funny how I happened to buy this book. It was a Saturday afternoon and I was horribly horribly hungover and had spent almost all day in bed. I stupidly agreed to go shopping with my parents and felt absolutely awful the whole way around. We popped into W H Smiths and in an attempt to make myself feel better I ended up buying The Night Circus. 

Hungover Courtney made a good decision because I thought this book was magical. It's a love story with a twist. Celia and Marco have been desitined to duel their whole lives, and there can only be one winner. Their life-long battle births The Night Circus and this is where we see the magic really take place. The characters are well constructed, as is the story, and I'd really recommend this to anyone who loves magic, fantasy and the mystery of the unknown. 

I'd give The Night Circus 4.5/5 - one of my favourites to read last year!

The Power by Naomi Alderman

I saw Alderman's book in Cosmopolitan's upcoming book releases, and the plot immediately struck me. What would the world be like if women had the physical power to inflict pain upon anyone they touch? I was so intrigued to read it, and impatiently waited until it was released. I managed to get hold of a signed copy from Waterstones at the end of October last year and started reading it straight away.

I practically ate this book I read it so quickly. Normally I really take my time with reading, especially if I enjoy a book, because I don't want it to end. I think I enjoyed The Power far too much though! I really don't want to spoil the plot of this book for anyone, but I will say if you're interested in feminism and apocalyptic themes, then you'll enjoy The Power. It's a very well written and well balanced book. I didn't feel like I was being fed anything by the narrative, simply that I was able to enjoy it.   

It gets 5/5 from me :)

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany

As a life-long Harry Potter fan, much like most of the population, I had to buy The Cursed Child when it came out. I doubt that I'll ever get to see it on stage, so reading the play was great. I didn't enjoy it as much as the original books because the story is different and I'm very emotionally attached to them. I did, however, love the development and growth of characters that we all know and love. We didn't get to see Ron and Hermione as much as I would've liked, but obviously the new story doesn't revolve around them.

I'm definitely of the opinion that the plot of The Cursed Child couldn't withstand being a full novel. Personally I thought it was a little predictable a less captivating than Rowling's beloved books. It works well as a play, and from seeing the cast I think it would be amazing to see in the West End. 

Hopefully I'll get to see it at some point in the future! For now, I'd give the book 3/5 :)

Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick

When I found out that Anna was releasing an autobiography I was so excited for it to come out. I've always loved Anna Kendrick, as an actress and just as a person in general. She's witty, awkward and her dry humour suits mine to a tee. 

Through her book she gives a 'warts and all' insight into the acting world and the bright lights of Hollywood. Things I thought would be super glamorous turn out to be... well, not so glamorous after all. Knowing that even after her nomination for an Academy Award for Up in the Air she still had barely a penny to her name gave me a much more realistic idea about what the life of an actress is like. 

A myriad of anecdotes, some hilarious and some touching, fill Anna's book and I really really enjoyed it. Every now and again I'll pick up something non-fiction to read, and I'm so glad that Scrappy Little Nobody didn't disappoint. If you love Anna Kendrick, then you'll love this. I give this one 4/5 :)

Mistletoe on 34th Street by Lisa Dickenson

This is not a book I would've chosen for myself. Being as judgemental as I am, I would have passed this book by and missed out on a treat. My friend bought me this as a Christmas present (which I opened early, don't judge me...) and I decided to get it read before Christmas was over. I'm superstitious and didn't want to read it at any other time of year.

I was so pleasantly surprised by how hooked I became from the off. Dickenson's style of writing is lovely, so fluid and uncomplicated. She doesn't throw in unnecesary synonyms like I seem to find in other books, which for me personally can make something so taxing to read. Each character had a voice, and I absolutely loved the main character Olivia. 

Set in New York for most of the novel, it follows Olivia's work and personal struggles, as well as the fact she's getting over the fact she's a Christmas Grinch. I found myself rooting for her to get everything she wanted. She was likeable because she had her faults as well as many positive characteristics. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this winter romance, and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a feel-good book to read. I give it 4.5/5 :)  


Thanks so much for reading my book post! I'd love to keep future posts more like this, and more book/writing focused. Let me know if you have any suggestions in the comments, or let me know what your favourite books of last year were. I'm always looking for recommendations :)

~ C xxx

2017: the year I became selfish

New year, new start and all that jazz. Usually I tell myself not to come up with any resolutions because I very rarely stick to them, however I want this year to be different. 2016 was a pretty terrible year for various reasons, both personal and on a larger, worldwide scale, and the next year has to be better. The only way for it to actually be better, is to make it so.

Just like everyone else in the world, I have moments of deep dissatisfaction with my life, but the only person who can change anything about it is myself. This year I've decided to set myself goals and to be more selfish with my own time. So many times I've wished for the New Year to bring me things like "someone who cares about me", "my other half", because society teaches us that the one thing to strive for in the world is a relationship. Of course I'd like someone else in my life, but being alone doesn't mean that I'm not already whole. 

Every single one of my resolutions revolves around me.

Number one is to declutter my life, namely my living space to be perfectly honest. I own so many books that need donating to charity, so many clothes I don't wear anymore, and so much crap that needs binning. Having a clear out always makes me feel better, and gives me the chance to clear my head. Plus, I started redecorating my bedroom last year and never actually got around to finishing it, so, there's that too.

An obvious and longstanding resolution for me is to read more books. I'm out of my book slump now and I've read a lot more in the past few months than I have in at least two or three years. Writing goes hand in hand with reading for me as well, and I really want to write more things that I feel confident sharing with people. A lot of my creative writing is very personal, and I don't make a habit of showing it to everyone. I want 2017 to be filled with my own creations, trial and error with my work, and a path to building my own confidence with everything I do.

One of the biggest thing I want to do is travel alone. For the past few years I've been desperate to go to so many places around the world, and the only thing that's been stopping me is the simple fact that I have no one to go with. I don't want this to stop me from doing the things I want or from visiting the places that I want to see. 2017 will be the year I truly fly the nest and take on the world alone, on my own terms and with a smile on my face the whole time. 

Here's to staying positive for the year ahead. It's not going to be all sunshine and rainbows, but I want to make sure that I at least let a little sunshine light up my life.