Crikey. It's been a while.
Wow. It's been a long old time since I've sat down to write a blog post. Over two years in fact. And you know what, I have no excuse apart from I haven't felt inclined or particularly inspired to write. Sure, I've thought about it but I've also been busy breaking up with someone, falling in love with someone else, moving cities and moving jobs (twice). So really, I do have an excuse. I also don't think you can force something: if I don't fancy writing, I ain't gonna write. That being said, I'm looking forward to picking it up again and I actually have some content ideas so I can forward plan a bit (I heard this is important when blogging? Apparently it's not supposed to just be a long stream of consciousness - who knew!?).
I read back over my old blog posts and it's funny really - I feel like I'm reading the words of someone who isn't me. It was me (obviously), but I've done quite a bit of changing in the past 2-3 years so it seems a little teenage angsty for my liking. A little 'cringe'. I made a lot of claims about travelling and writing and vlogging. The travelling I feel I've achieved in parts, but all else is a WIP (work in progress).
I know what's inspired me to write again: I've been reading A LOT.
So, going back to the original reason I set up this blog all those years ago, I'm going to give you three book recommendations to get you through these long winter months.
NB: I'm not going to go into great detail and provide a whole synopsis about each of the books I'm recommending here, but I will give some kind of obscure brief summary on why I think YOU should read these and why you will NOT regret it.
1. A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara
I mean, where do I start. This book is relentless. Harrowing. Heartbreaking. But I don't mean to put you off. It's beautifully written. I don't want to say much else, apart from - like a lot of incredible novels - it's a slow burner. But I encourage you to stick with it and don't leave too much time between picking it up again else you'll forget what the bloody hell is going on.
2. The Wildflowers - Harriet Evans
I was recommended this book by a work colleague who I'm trying to make a work friend (and then, perhaps, an out of work friend), so naturally I purchased and started reading this book quickly. However, the need to have a topic of discussion with new found colleague/friend was soon overtaken by the brilliant narrative and character exploration of this novel - I was finished within a matter of days despite it being a sizeable story! And what a story it was. It has everything you want from a good family saga; spanning several generations and told from various family members' viewpoints, it will take you on a journey of discovery with some obvious - and some not so obvious - plot twists. A really great holiday read, if you're after one.
3. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman
If you haven't read this book, you're probably one of the few people left in the world yet to read it. And like everyone else, I'm going to say that you must now go and buy it/borrow it/download it/rent it and read it immediately. This is Gail Honeyman's first novel and it's brilliant in so many ways. It genuinely will make you laugh on one page and cry on the next. It tackles the issue of loneliness in such a compelling and relevant way. The most worrying thing is that I actually agree and relate to Eleanor during a lot of her narrative (her impatience and intolerance of other people especially, although hers is due to lack of social awareness and mine is due to grumpiness). Although I've left this one until last, it would actually be my number one recommendation. Please tell me what you thought as I feel the constant need to discuss it.
Next blog post will probably be in another 3 years, so enjoy this while it lasts.
Love, Alice x
I read back over my old blog posts and it's funny really - I feel like I'm reading the words of someone who isn't me. It was me (obviously), but I've done quite a bit of changing in the past 2-3 years so it seems a little teenage angsty for my liking. A little 'cringe'. I made a lot of claims about travelling and writing and vlogging. The travelling I feel I've achieved in parts, but all else is a WIP (work in progress).
I know what's inspired me to write again: I've been reading A LOT.
So, going back to the original reason I set up this blog all those years ago, I'm going to give you three book recommendations to get you through these long winter months.
NB: I'm not going to go into great detail and provide a whole synopsis about each of the books I'm recommending here, but I will give some kind of obscure brief summary on why I think YOU should read these and why you will NOT regret it.
1. A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara
I mean, where do I start. This book is relentless. Harrowing. Heartbreaking. But I don't mean to put you off. It's beautifully written. I don't want to say much else, apart from - like a lot of incredible novels - it's a slow burner. But I encourage you to stick with it and don't leave too much time between picking it up again else you'll forget what the bloody hell is going on.
2. The Wildflowers - Harriet Evans
I was recommended this book by a work colleague who I'm trying to make a work friend (and then, perhaps, an out of work friend), so naturally I purchased and started reading this book quickly. However, the need to have a topic of discussion with new found colleague/friend was soon overtaken by the brilliant narrative and character exploration of this novel - I was finished within a matter of days despite it being a sizeable story! And what a story it was. It has everything you want from a good family saga; spanning several generations and told from various family members' viewpoints, it will take you on a journey of discovery with some obvious - and some not so obvious - plot twists. A really great holiday read, if you're after one.
3. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine - Gail Honeyman
If you haven't read this book, you're probably one of the few people left in the world yet to read it. And like everyone else, I'm going to say that you must now go and buy it/borrow it/download it/rent it and read it immediately. This is Gail Honeyman's first novel and it's brilliant in so many ways. It genuinely will make you laugh on one page and cry on the next. It tackles the issue of loneliness in such a compelling and relevant way. The most worrying thing is that I actually agree and relate to Eleanor during a lot of her narrative (her impatience and intolerance of other people especially, although hers is due to lack of social awareness and mine is due to grumpiness). Although I've left this one until last, it would actually be my number one recommendation. Please tell me what you thought as I feel the constant need to discuss it.
Next blog post will probably be in another 3 years, so enjoy this while it lasts.
Love, Alice x
Lovely to see you here again xxx
ReplyDeleteThank you! Lovely to be back :)
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