Long Time, No Write

I feel like I've been neglecting this blog ever since I decided to get Tumblr, in the same way a small child is easily distracted with brand new, shiny toys at Christmas. So I have come back here, had a girly redecorate and am working on a new blog post :)

Here is a link to my Tumblr: http://curlywhirly511.tumblr.com/ ...you know you want to have a sneaky peak

Five Books You Have To Read

One Day – David Nicholls

Recommended to me as a must read of summer 2010, it tells the story of two friends and their friendship over the course of twenty years.  What makes this book stand out and what sets it apart from other books I have read is the way in which it is written. The novel focuses on one day, the 15^th of July, and each successive chapter jumps a year forward from the last. This book had me hooked right until the very end and is one I have re-read many times. I don’t want to say too much because I wouldn’t want to spoil the genius of this book, but I highly recommend it. 

In Cold Blood – Truman Capote

A ‘Non-fiction novel’ about the murder of the Cutler family from Holcomb in 1959 that was first introduced to me as a set text for my English Lang and Lit AS coursework. I found this book compelling to read and sped through it. I’m not entirely sure how to describe just how good it is without sounding slightly weird. All I can say is READ it...read it, read it, read it.

The Undomestic Goddess – Sophie Kinsella

I am a fan of Sophie Kinsella and I love all her novels, but this has to be my favourite of them all. It was the first novel I read by Kinsella and I was hooked instantly. Funny, heart warming and brilliantly written, you can’t help but love main character Samantha. Every time I pick up one of her novels I can’t put it down, I could recommend all of the books she has written and I will recommend them all. Her novels are a fantastic slice of good ‘chick-lit’. One final note read the shopaholic series instead of watching the film, much, much better. 

Threepenny Memoir - Carl Barat

I’m biased here, for me Carl can do no wrong. I have his Libertine’s albums, Dirty Pretty Things albums, his solo album (signed), have seen DPT perform and now have a ticket to see him on his solo tour. So present me a book entirely dedicated to Carl and, well, I snapped that up as soon as I had the cash.  This is a candid book with real warmth that frankly and honestly looks back at the highs and lows of the life of a Libertine, as well as tales of what comes next. 

An Idiot Abroad: The Travel Diaries of Karl Pilkington

I am absolutely gutted I only saw part of the TV series on sky, so when Sainsbury’s were offering the book for only a fiver I jumped at the chance to reader the travel diary of quite possible one of the best humans on this planet. I’m only a little way into it at the moment but when Karl Pilkington described the pyramids as “like a massive game of jenga that has got out of hand” I knew this was going to be pure genius.     

Marmitey goodness

I shall start by saying: I love Marmite. Today I received my secret Santa present and it was a-ma-zing :D ...blog-worthy in fact. Now I present to you my Christmas presents full of Marmitey goodness, wrapping paper and all:

Marmite WRAPPING PAPER :D

Marmite coaster

Marmite poster

Taaa daaaa...how awesome are they? I must admit to being hugely excited about the wrapping paper, I may even frame it :P 

New Year's Resolutions? No thanks...

New Year’s resolutions: the goals we set at the beginning of each year, in an attempt to ‘reinvent’ ourselves and generally become an all round better person.

Typically they involve giving something up, losing weight or just doing something better. More often than not resolutions are broken or forgotten within the first few weeks, and we are left with the unpleasant feelings of failure and disappointment that are miles from the drunken New Year’s optimism where anything seemed possible. Unless you are a special human being with the will power of a saint or someone who just hates failing, the cycle can spoil the New Year and it’s time to put a stop to it.

A New Year presents all sorts of opportunities and I believe by making a New Year’s resolution you are almost setting yourself up for disappointment which will only spoil such a wonderful time of year; it is almost as if you are limiting your freedom to live the way you want to. Constantly you have that nagging voice in the back of your head saying “Wait, you can’t do that remember your resolution?” Life needs to be lived with the possibility to do anything, not be held back by a few words uttered at midnight because it’s what you’re meant to do on New Year’s Eve.

So, unsurprisingly I haven’t set any resolutions this year. I didn’t last year and looking back at 2010 it was probably one of the best years so far, actually I am a little bit disappointed to see it end. And, yes, 2011 will be one of the most stressful years of my life but I believe by entering into it with an open mind and without being held back by a resolution it could just top 2010 and be pretty damn a-ma-zing.

Therefore New Year’s resolutions can, to quote my favourite film, “*Blows Raspberry* jog on.”