Hello Readers. How is January treating you? I know it can be a sucker punch of a month, when you're already feeling a little larger than usual after the Christmas celebrations, and tired of the rain and cold, and stupid storms with ridiculous names - which I guess they give them in order to humanise them, and then you have a name to yell as you shout to the skies and curse them for all eternity. And that return to work or study or school is like going out into said, absurdly named storm, wearing only underwear, but still, the year has to start somewhere, right?
In this rant I'd like to tell you about two things that happened on the tube this week. I am using the tube and trains a lot more than I used to do, and thankfully, the 46 bus less and less. We all know how I feel about that stringy turd of a bus route.
And so, I'll start with the annoying thing that happened to me yesterday. I was sat reading my Italian Short Stories for Intermediate Readers book - oh yes, I'm intermediate now. Whoop. Though I still have to underline a lot of words and circle things in a WTF does that mean sort of way - when two women sat either side of me and as the train moved off, they both encroached on me with their elbows, taking over both arm rests and caging me in. I'm not sure how they expected me to make myself any smaller. It was like I wasn't even there. Rude.
I tried to fight back, silently, by rearranging myself and trying to fan out my elbows a bit, but the territory had been staked. I mean, I expect this from men, but women of the world, I thought we were together in solidarity. I thought we looked out for one another. If you start this, then there's no escape. I will be forever trapped between other people's elbows. Though I can't really ask women to stop this because men do it all the time and I'm all about equality. But hey, stop it! All of you. I need space too.
And then to the wonderful thing that happened on Wednesday. I was reading my Sylvia Plath Letters Home book, though it's more of a brick, and some guy taps me on the shoulder and gestures for me to take out my ear buds. I oblige and then we have a lovely conversation about the book and about Plath and how incredible she was, and how young, and how tragic it was. And people say nobody talks to each other in London and we hate strangers and we all keep to ourselves and it's unfriendly and a hostile place to live. And I say, bugger off.
Yes, people mainly keep to themselves, but that could be for any number of reasons and when you do have these moments with complete strangers, bonding over a pair of incredible shoes, or a haircut that you think is gorgeous and you just have to tell the person, or you notice someone reading a book by an author you love, or you see someone writing sheet music whilst sat on the floor of the train and you want to comment, then these moments become even more special.
Thank you book guy. And please everyone, watch those elbows. I have as much right to arm rests as you do.
Just a short one today. Thanks for reading.
Rants
Friday, January 26, 2018
Thursday, January 4, 2018
A Year of Running: 2017
This blog was supposed to be written over the Christmas break in between Italian feasts and northern delights, but unfortunately it didn't happen.
For those of you that don't know, 2017 was a big fundraising year for me. I set myself a challenge to run ten x ten kilometre runs over the course of the year, with the extra challenge of getting under ten hours time for the lot. As always my fundraising was for the wonderful Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Charity. And I was hoping to make around £300 towards the incredible work they do there, transforming lives through music. https://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/
I had finished 2016 with a new PB of 57.02 and was desperate to continue my fast streak, and so my first run of the year was a chilly Saturday morning in Victoria Park and it turns out I run quite fast when it's cold but calm.
Race 1: Victoria Park Saturday 14th January 2017: The One Where I got a PB!
With my musical socks, skirt and scarf on, and a banner on my back explaining my fundraising goals, I set off wearing number 1333 for my first run of the year. Sadly, my charity t-shirt was hidden underneath the long sleeved layer I had to wear as it was a trifle cold that morning. But I was wearing it.
And so, with no kilometre markers, only mile markers, and a three lap course, I set off feeling confident and just wanting to get under the hour. As I passed the mile markers, I realised I was actually going quite fast and tried to keep up the pace. This was the run where I actually realised that 10 km is not 6 miles, it's actually 6.2 miles - I know, I've done a lot of these races and should have noticed that sooner, but when you deal with kilometre markers then you just don't question it. And so, I actually passed through 6 miles at about 54 minutes, not realising that I had another 0.2 of a mile to go. Anyhoo, I crossed the line in 56.18, smashing my previous PB and making a great start to the challenge.
1 race down, 9 to go and currently 3.42 under time. Whoop!
With my medal and banana at the finish. Happy Helen.
Race 2: Lee Valley Velopark Saturday 25th February 2017: The One That Broke Me
I knew this race would be tough, as I had run the Velopark mile before as part of the Newham Anniversary Run, which runs every year in July to mark the anniversary of the 2012 Olympic games. There are a lot of ups and downs and it would be six laps of the same mile course, with those extra 0.2 of a mile at the beginning.
What I hadn't factored in was that we were being visited by various storms that week. I think it was the tail end of Doris and the beginning of Ewan, which made an already tough course, even tougher. And the only flat, straight bit, had the wind pushing against you. This run was not fun. I was not happy. The least said, the better.
I hadn't even brought my phone with me to take a photograph, but a lovely fellow runner, pinned my fundraising message on my back and sent me this photo on twitter. Thank you for that.
However, with a time of 61.25. Boo! And extremely sore legs, this was definitely one to forget.
2 runs down, 8 to go and currently 2.17 under target.
Run 3: Hyde Park Sunday 26th March 2017: The One That Felt Really Tough
The only picture I have from this run is a professional photo that I bought afterwards. Usually I don't bother but look at me beating all those men. Ha ha. Anyway, you'll have to take my word for it. I was cold, I was tired and it felt much longer than two 5 km laps, but I made it in 58.36 and it was good to be back under the hour.
3 down, 7 to go and currently 3 minutes 41 under time.
Run 4: Peckham 10 km Saturday 6th May 2017: The One With That was Badly Organised
Oh dear this run was badly organised. From the mile long queues to be told your running number, only to then have to queue to pick up your physical number, to the quest to find which tree was the start line, this was an interesting one. No official timing, so I had my timing watch and some very inconsistent kilometre markers.
Apparently this tree is the start line. Who knew?
Here's me on the sprint finish.
And here's me and partner after finishing. I'm not going to lie to you, I prefer running alone. But on a day like that it was lovely to have someone to vent frustrations with and laugh it out.
4 down, 6 to go and currently 5.11 under time.
Race 5: Vitality 10,000 Green Park Monday 29th May 2017: The One Where I was Ill
I love the Vitality 10,000 run every Bank Holiday at the end of May. I run it every year regardless of whether I am fundraising. I love the course, which is fast and mostly flat. I love the big event feeling. And despite feeling terribly ill and knowing I probably shouldn't run, I did anyway. And I am so glad I did! Finishing in 58.27 without the ability to breathe through my nose, was definitely an achievement and of course I will be back there this year at my favourite run.
5 down, 5 to go and currently 6.44 under time. Half way!
Race 6: Turks Head 10 km Sunday 11th June 2017: The One That was Extremely Hot
I was supposed to run this race with a friend and then my partner, but due to illnesses and other reasons, I ran it alone. And they called it a fun run, but for me it was anything but fun, it was about times and the challenge and waiting minutes to cross foot bridges, and on one of the hottest days of the year so far, I found myself melting.
To finish with a time of 60.01 was actually quite impressive as I had to wait at various river bridge crossings and at times we were running in the roads dodging traffic and other runners as the pavements were super narrow. But it was definitely a change from the hyper organised Vitality run.
6 down, 4 to go and currently 6.43 under target.
Race 7: Newham Anniversary Run Sunday 2nd July 2017: The One Where I was Over the Moon
I have run this race four times out of the five it has been run, and I have always struggled due to the heat and that pesky mile in the Velopark, but this year I finally made it under an hour, and not just under an hour: 57.52. I was delighted! And we usually finish in the Olympic stadium by running 300 metres on the track, but as they were preparing for the Para World Athletics we instead sprinted the 100 metres. Usain Bolt eat your heart out.
7 down, 3 to go and currently 8.51 under time. Whoop!
Race 8: Lee Valley Velopark (Again) Saturday 30th September 2017: The One Where I Defeated the Velopark
Believe me, I did not want to brave the Velopark races again. It is an evil course and I still had the lingering memory of February's race in my mind. However, due to various weekend commitments, I had few other options and so I braved the Velopark for the second time.
This time I had a little sunshine and a bit of wind but no storms chasing me. And I smashed that course finishing in 57.13 which was my third fastest time ever at a 10 km. Yes! Yes! Yes!
8 down, 2 to go and currently 11.36 under time.
Race 9: Virtual Run Hampstead Heath: Sunday 22nd October 2017: The One Where I Smashed my PB
You might be thinking, virtual run? What? It was purchased for me by a friend for my birthday and I had to run in October and prove I had run a certain distance in order to claim the medal, which was a Nightmare Before Christmas themed medal with Jack Skellington on it. Cool or what? So I used a GPS timing watch and set off on Hampstead Heath, with no clear race path, and just kept going until we hit 10 km. (My partner was with me.)
I knew we had set off fast but I had no idea how fast until we completed just over 10 km in 55.32. Say what?!
9 down, 1 to go and currently 16.04 under target. Yes!
Normally, I would have run the Trick or Treat Halloween run as part of my challenge, however this year they changed it to a 5 km race. Boo! But anyhoo, I got a new PB at 5 km (26.02) after a night out - not too shabby - and here is a picture of me dressed as a pumpkin.
Race 10: Olympic Park Sunday 10th December 2017: The One Where it Snowed
And so to the final race of the year and I was back at one of my favourite places in London: Olympic Park. This was the course I had run last year and gained a huge PB at, and so I was confident and also knew I had a lot of leeway with the time. However, I did not counter in the snow factor.
My feet were soggy throughout. The slush and wet floor was slippery, and even the tube failed us, so I only arrived five minutes before the start. I had just enough time to pin on my number and go. No warm up, no stretches. Eek.
It snowed the entire time and my feet were practically numb, but actually running in the snow was tough but fun. I had never run in the snow before and I even met an elf along the way who had a nice chat with me.
To finish in under an hour, in those conditions was a proud moment, and not only that, but the end of my challenge for the year. And I smashed it! Finishing that race in 58.43 meant that after 10 races, my culminated time was 9 hours 42 minutes 39 seconds, which was 17.21 under target.
I would like to do a huge shout out to http://www.runthrough.co.uk/ who are a fantastic race organising team and four of my ten charity runs were taken care of by them. They are fantastically run and always full of helpful, supportive volunteers. I love my banana after the race and all the great themed medals.
Also, a huge shout out to the Vitality 10,000 which is a wonderful run that I take part in every year. If you like a big race and want to feel part of something huge, then the course is flat and fast and so well organised. I love it. https://www.vitalitylondon10000.co.uk/
Finally, I raised a whopping £354.94 for Nordoff-Robbins and would like to thank all my sponsors and friends who have supported me along the way. What a great year of running and I may be getting older, but I seem to be getting faster too. Bring on 2018!
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Helen-Richards16
Thank you for reading.
Rants (Helen)
For those of you that don't know, 2017 was a big fundraising year for me. I set myself a challenge to run ten x ten kilometre runs over the course of the year, with the extra challenge of getting under ten hours time for the lot. As always my fundraising was for the wonderful Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Charity. And I was hoping to make around £300 towards the incredible work they do there, transforming lives through music. https://www.nordoff-robbins.org.uk/
I had finished 2016 with a new PB of 57.02 and was desperate to continue my fast streak, and so my first run of the year was a chilly Saturday morning in Victoria Park and it turns out I run quite fast when it's cold but calm.
Race 1: Victoria Park Saturday 14th January 2017: The One Where I got a PB!
With my musical socks, skirt and scarf on, and a banner on my back explaining my fundraising goals, I set off wearing number 1333 for my first run of the year. Sadly, my charity t-shirt was hidden underneath the long sleeved layer I had to wear as it was a trifle cold that morning. But I was wearing it.
And so, with no kilometre markers, only mile markers, and a three lap course, I set off feeling confident and just wanting to get under the hour. As I passed the mile markers, I realised I was actually going quite fast and tried to keep up the pace. This was the run where I actually realised that 10 km is not 6 miles, it's actually 6.2 miles - I know, I've done a lot of these races and should have noticed that sooner, but when you deal with kilometre markers then you just don't question it. And so, I actually passed through 6 miles at about 54 minutes, not realising that I had another 0.2 of a mile to go. Anyhoo, I crossed the line in 56.18, smashing my previous PB and making a great start to the challenge.
1 race down, 9 to go and currently 3.42 under time. Whoop!
With my medal and banana at the finish. Happy Helen.
Race 2: Lee Valley Velopark Saturday 25th February 2017: The One That Broke Me
I knew this race would be tough, as I had run the Velopark mile before as part of the Newham Anniversary Run, which runs every year in July to mark the anniversary of the 2012 Olympic games. There are a lot of ups and downs and it would be six laps of the same mile course, with those extra 0.2 of a mile at the beginning.
What I hadn't factored in was that we were being visited by various storms that week. I think it was the tail end of Doris and the beginning of Ewan, which made an already tough course, even tougher. And the only flat, straight bit, had the wind pushing against you. This run was not fun. I was not happy. The least said, the better.
I hadn't even brought my phone with me to take a photograph, but a lovely fellow runner, pinned my fundraising message on my back and sent me this photo on twitter. Thank you for that.
However, with a time of 61.25. Boo! And extremely sore legs, this was definitely one to forget.
2 runs down, 8 to go and currently 2.17 under target.
Run 3: Hyde Park Sunday 26th March 2017: The One That Felt Really Tough
The only picture I have from this run is a professional photo that I bought afterwards. Usually I don't bother but look at me beating all those men. Ha ha. Anyway, you'll have to take my word for it. I was cold, I was tired and it felt much longer than two 5 km laps, but I made it in 58.36 and it was good to be back under the hour.
3 down, 7 to go and currently 3 minutes 41 under time.
Run 4: Peckham 10 km Saturday 6th May 2017: The One With That was Badly Organised
Oh dear this run was badly organised. From the mile long queues to be told your running number, only to then have to queue to pick up your physical number, to the quest to find which tree was the start line, this was an interesting one. No official timing, so I had my timing watch and some very inconsistent kilometre markers.
Apparently this tree is the start line. Who knew?Here's me on the sprint finish.
And here's me and partner after finishing. I'm not going to lie to you, I prefer running alone. But on a day like that it was lovely to have someone to vent frustrations with and laugh it out.4 down, 6 to go and currently 5.11 under time.
Race 5: Vitality 10,000 Green Park Monday 29th May 2017: The One Where I was Ill
I love the Vitality 10,000 run every Bank Holiday at the end of May. I run it every year regardless of whether I am fundraising. I love the course, which is fast and mostly flat. I love the big event feeling. And despite feeling terribly ill and knowing I probably shouldn't run, I did anyway. And I am so glad I did! Finishing in 58.27 without the ability to breathe through my nose, was definitely an achievement and of course I will be back there this year at my favourite run.
5 down, 5 to go and currently 6.44 under time. Half way!
Race 6: Turks Head 10 km Sunday 11th June 2017: The One That was Extremely Hot
I was supposed to run this race with a friend and then my partner, but due to illnesses and other reasons, I ran it alone. And they called it a fun run, but for me it was anything but fun, it was about times and the challenge and waiting minutes to cross foot bridges, and on one of the hottest days of the year so far, I found myself melting.
To finish with a time of 60.01 was actually quite impressive as I had to wait at various river bridge crossings and at times we were running in the roads dodging traffic and other runners as the pavements were super narrow. But it was definitely a change from the hyper organised Vitality run.
6 down, 4 to go and currently 6.43 under target.
Race 7: Newham Anniversary Run Sunday 2nd July 2017: The One Where I was Over the Moon
I have run this race four times out of the five it has been run, and I have always struggled due to the heat and that pesky mile in the Velopark, but this year I finally made it under an hour, and not just under an hour: 57.52. I was delighted! And we usually finish in the Olympic stadium by running 300 metres on the track, but as they were preparing for the Para World Athletics we instead sprinted the 100 metres. Usain Bolt eat your heart out.
7 down, 3 to go and currently 8.51 under time. Whoop!
Race 8: Lee Valley Velopark (Again) Saturday 30th September 2017: The One Where I Defeated the Velopark
Believe me, I did not want to brave the Velopark races again. It is an evil course and I still had the lingering memory of February's race in my mind. However, due to various weekend commitments, I had few other options and so I braved the Velopark for the second time.
This time I had a little sunshine and a bit of wind but no storms chasing me. And I smashed that course finishing in 57.13 which was my third fastest time ever at a 10 km. Yes! Yes! Yes!
8 down, 2 to go and currently 11.36 under time.
Race 9: Virtual Run Hampstead Heath: Sunday 22nd October 2017: The One Where I Smashed my PB
You might be thinking, virtual run? What? It was purchased for me by a friend for my birthday and I had to run in October and prove I had run a certain distance in order to claim the medal, which was a Nightmare Before Christmas themed medal with Jack Skellington on it. Cool or what? So I used a GPS timing watch and set off on Hampstead Heath, with no clear race path, and just kept going until we hit 10 km. (My partner was with me.)
I knew we had set off fast but I had no idea how fast until we completed just over 10 km in 55.32. Say what?!
9 down, 1 to go and currently 16.04 under target. Yes!
Normally, I would have run the Trick or Treat Halloween run as part of my challenge, however this year they changed it to a 5 km race. Boo! But anyhoo, I got a new PB at 5 km (26.02) after a night out - not too shabby - and here is a picture of me dressed as a pumpkin.
Race 10: Olympic Park Sunday 10th December 2017: The One Where it Snowed
And so to the final race of the year and I was back at one of my favourite places in London: Olympic Park. This was the course I had run last year and gained a huge PB at, and so I was confident and also knew I had a lot of leeway with the time. However, I did not counter in the snow factor.
My feet were soggy throughout. The slush and wet floor was slippery, and even the tube failed us, so I only arrived five minutes before the start. I had just enough time to pin on my number and go. No warm up, no stretches. Eek.
It snowed the entire time and my feet were practically numb, but actually running in the snow was tough but fun. I had never run in the snow before and I even met an elf along the way who had a nice chat with me.
To finish in under an hour, in those conditions was a proud moment, and not only that, but the end of my challenge for the year. And I smashed it! Finishing that race in 58.43 meant that after 10 races, my culminated time was 9 hours 42 minutes 39 seconds, which was 17.21 under target.
I would like to do a huge shout out to http://www.runthrough.co.uk/ who are a fantastic race organising team and four of my ten charity runs were taken care of by them. They are fantastically run and always full of helpful, supportive volunteers. I love my banana after the race and all the great themed medals.
Also, a huge shout out to the Vitality 10,000 which is a wonderful run that I take part in every year. If you like a big race and want to feel part of something huge, then the course is flat and fast and so well organised. I love it. https://www.vitalitylondon10000.co.uk/
Finally, I raised a whopping £354.94 for Nordoff-Robbins and would like to thank all my sponsors and friends who have supported me along the way. What a great year of running and I may be getting older, but I seem to be getting faster too. Bring on 2018!
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Helen-Richards16
Thank you for reading.
Rants (Helen)
Tuesday, January 2, 2018
2017: A Year in Books
I finally stopped eating long enough to write my year in books, 2017 blog. It's been a great year of variety in terms of authors and genres. I had my first foray into graphic novels and almost completed a 52 point reading challenge - more on that later. As always, there is a mixture of kindle books, library books, borrowed and bought books. And without further ado, here it is, my year in books.
Books I read in January:
Books I read in January:
- The Monstrous Child - Francesca Simon (Reading Challenge: A book based on mythology.)
- Soulmates - Holly Borne (Kindle)
- The Winter Over - Matthew Iden (Kindle) (Reading Challenge: A book with one of the four seasons in the title.)
- Continents - Jim Crace
- The Devil's Larder - Jim Crace (Reading Challenge: A book about food.)
- Harvest - Jim Crace (Reading Challenge: A book with a red spine.)
- Code Name Verity - Elizabeth Wein (Reading Challenge: A novel set during war time.)
- Holding up the Universe - Jennifer Niven (Reading Challenge: A bestseller from 2016.)
- Bridget Jones's Baby - The Diaries: Helen Fielding (Reading Challenge: A book with a title that's a character's name.)
- Mother MOTHER - Koren Zailckons (Reading Challenge: A book with a family-member term in the title.)
- Warm Bodies - Isaac Marion (Kindle) (Reading Challenge: The first book in a series you haven't read before.)
- Evelyn: After - Victoria Helen Stone (Reading Challenge: A book by an author who uses a pseudonym.)
As you can see January was a good reading month. For me it is a bleak month and so I usually over compensate by reading a shed load and escaping into as many worlds as I possibly can. It was also a good month for ticking off quite a few of the reading challenges and most of them by fluke. The winner of best book for this month goes to Holly Bourne and her YA book: Soulmates. I love this writer and for me she can do no wrong.
Books I read in February
- The Cry of the Owl - Patricia Highsmith (Reading Challenge: A book you got from a used book sale.)
- The Bone Season - Samantha Shannon
- The Children Act - Ian McEwan (Reading Challenge: A book from a genre/subgenre that you've never heard of - Religious and inspirational.)
- Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy - Cassandra Clare, Sarah Rees Brennan, Maureen Johnson and Robin Wasserman (Reading Challenge: A book with multiple authors.)
- A Tale for the Time Being - Ruth Ozeki (Reading Challenge: A book about a difficult topic.)
- Beautiful Broken Things - Sara Barnard (Kindle)
- Fairytales of Gold - Alan Garner (Reading Challenge: A book you loved as a child.)
- The Radleys - Matt Haig (Reading Challenge: A book you've read before that never fails to make you laugh.)
February was also a good month for the reading challenge and for me it is usually even bleaker than January, so again, escapism is the key to survival. Leading the charge this month is Beautiful Broken Things by Sara Barnard, another YA wonder.
Books I read in March
- Take the Key and Lock her up (Embassy Row #3) - Ally Carter
- Cuckoo - Keren David
- Dead of Night - Michael Grant
- Wilderness Tips - Margaret Atwood (Reading Challenge: A book set in the wilderness.)
- Frog Music - Emma Donoghue
- The Ladybird Book of the Zombie Apocalypse
- Omicidio alla Modo - Cinzia Medaglia
- Hag-Seed - Margaret Atwood (Reading Challenge: A book that was a story within a story.)
- The Guilded Cage -Vic James
- Flawed - Celia Ahern (Kindle)
- A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens (kindle) (Reading Challenge: A book mentioned in another book.)
- The Doll Funeral - Kate Hamer (Reading Challenge: A book set in two different time periods.)
- Omicidio in Paserella - Cinzia Medaglia
March was a good month for Italian short stories and novellas. I ticked off another few reading challenges and enjoyed a nice mix of adult and YA books. I chose Frog Music by Emma Donoghue as my top book of the month. Everything I have read by her, I have really enjoyed. She is a talented author and if you haven't checked her out yet, then I highly recommend you do.
Books I read in April
- Is it Just me? - Miranda Hart (Reading Challenge: A bestseller from a genre you don't normally read.)
- We Were Liars - E.Lockhart (Reading Challenge: A book with an unreliable narrator.)
- Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll (Reading Challenge: A book with am eccentric character.)
- Black Light Express - Philip Reeve
- SAGA Volume 1 - Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples (Reading Challenge: A book with pictures.)
- To the Lighthouse - Virginia Woolf
- Fire Colour One - Jenny Valentine
- Boneshaker - Cherie Priest (Reading Challenge: A steampunk novel.)
- Italian Short Stories for Beginners Volume 2 - Olly Richards
I like the mix of books I read in April, from comedy/autobiography to steampunk, to treasured classics and more YA wonders. But the pinnacle of the month was my first delve into the world of graphic novels with SAGA Volume 1. The illustrations are incredible and whilst you get through each volume at the speed of light, you can't wait for the next one. Thank you to my friend for recommending I start there. The author/illustrator combination is amazing and long may they continue this saga.
Books I read in May
- SAGA Volume 2 - Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
- SAGA Volume 3 - Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
- Black Moon - Kenneth Calhoun
- Release - Patrick Ness (Reading Challenge: A book written by someone you admire.)
- Charm and Strange - Stephanie Kuehn
- The House on Stone's Throw Island - Dan Poblocki
- Lost and Found - Brooke Davis (Reading Challenge: A book by an author from a country you've never visited.)
- How to be an Alien - Mikes and Bentley (Reading Challenge: A book you bought on a trip.)
- Saint Mazie - Jami Attenberg (Reading Challenge: A book about an interesting woman.)
- Lady Midnight (TDA #1) - Cassandra Clare (Re-read)
- Morte in Maratona - Cinzia Medaglia
- Lord of Shadows (TDA #2) - Cassandra Clare
May became my hardback-obsessive month. Six of the twelve titles were read in hard back (4-9 on the list) and I just really enjoyed reading them. I always take the paper cases off, which often reveals a very sexy hard cover. There is always an air of excitement surrounding a Cassandra Clare new release and she did not disappoint. And the same with Patrick Ness. You can imagine how giddy I was having both of their new releases this month. However, the top honours go to Lost and Found by Brooke Davis, which I found in the local book shop in Kentish Town, on sale, and I loved it. The characters are so unique and eccentric and there is so much emotional depth and humour in it. I deeply recommend this book.
Books I read in June
- Jackdaw Summer - David Almond
- Go Set a Watchman - Harper Lee
- The Power - Naomi Alderman (Reading Challenge: A book recommended by an author you love.)
- My Name is Leon - Kit de Waal (Reading Challenge: A book where the main character is a different ethnicity than you.)
- Dolce Vita - A. De Guili and C.M Naddeo
- The Waves - Virginia Woolf
- Jacob's Room - Virginia Woolf
- Un Amore per la tua Cucina - Cinzia Medaglia
- Surfacing - Margaret Atwood
June was a really tough month for choosing a favourite book. David Almond is always up there and with Harper Lee's triumphant sequel and women taking over the world in The Power, it was tough, tough, tough. But eventually, I chose the lovely, lovely, Leon. This book is heart breaking and so beautifully written, you can't help but fall in love with Leon. Thank you Kit de Waal for creating him. He's a superstar!
Books I read in July
- Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation - Lynne Truss (Reading Challenge: A book with a subtitle.)
- The Beneath - S.C. Ransom
- Shadowmagic - John Lenahan (Reading Challenge: A book involving a mythical creature.)
- The Robber Bride - Margaret Atwood
- Lady Killer (in Italian) - Joelle Jones and James. S. Rich
- The Stone Gods - Jeanette Winterson
- Heartbreak Hotel - Deborah Moggach (Reading challenge: A book set in a hotel.)
- Demon Dentist - David Walliams (Reading Challenge: A book with a cat on the cover.)
July saw me read my first David Walliams book, lent to me by the eight year old I pick up from school twice a week. He is also a voracious reader, which is nice. We have lots to talk about. It was a good month for the reading challenge and me improving my Italian. The winner of July was The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood, lent to me by one of my favourite people on the planet. it's about women and relationships and it is classic Atwood. I love her.
Books I read in August
- Gender Games - Juno Dawson
- Chasing the Stars - Malorie Blackman (Reading Challenge: A book by a person of colour.)
- The Graces - Laure Eve (Kindle)
- The One Memory of Flora Banks - Emily Barr (Kindle) (Reading Challenge: A book involving travel.)
- Caraval - Stephanie Garber (Kindle)
- The Adventures of the Princess and Mr Whipple - Patrick Rothfuss
I cheated this month. I chose a non-fiction favourite and a fiction favourite. It's my blog and I can do what I like. Gender Games by Juno Dawson is a book about gender and how it screws us up from birth. Not only should every parent and every expectant parent read it, but just all people should read it. Juno executes her tale with her usual northern charm and humour, and punctuates it with plenty of true stories from her rather interesting life. And Caraval is escapism at its best. I loved this fantasy world and would quite happily have leapt in and joined in the game. I look forward to more from Stephanie Garber.
Books I read in September
- Here's to you Rachel Robinson - Judy Blume
- Unconventional - Maggie Harcourt (Kindle)
- My Name is Lucy Barton - Elizabeth Strout
- How to Stop Time - Matt Haig (Reading Challenge: A book that takes place over a character's life span.)
- When Dimple met Rishi - Sandhya Menon (Kindle)
- When Mr Dog Bites - Brian Conaghan (Reading Challenge: A book by or about a person with a disability.)
- Sweetfreak - Sophia Mckenzie
- The Sun is Also a Star - Nicole Yoon (Kindle)
- Salem's Lot - Stephen King (Kindle)
I enjoyed my September reads. It was a great month of horror, love, and laughter. This was another tough month to decide on the best book, but due to the fact that you had to prise my kindle out of my hands in order to go to work, eat and/or sleep, the top honour goes to Maggie Harcourt. I could not put Unconventional down. The characters and the premise were so real and honest. I would quite happily have coexisted with them. I highly recommend this book.
Books I read in October
- It Only Happens in the Movies - Holly Bourne (Kindle) (Reading Challenge: A book published in 2017.)
- Amiche per la Pelle (My first full length Italian novel. It took me months to get through it, but I persevered!) - Laila Wadia (Reading Challenge: A book about an immigrant or refugee.)
- Black Friday - Alex Kava (Reading Challenge: A book with a month or day of the week in the title.)
- The World's Worst Children - David Walliams
- Clockwork Prince (TID #2) - Cassandra Clare (Audiobook) (Reading Challenge: An audiobook.)
- Pride and Prejudice a Graphic Novel - Austen, Edginton, Deas
- Transparent - Natalie Whipple
- Under my Hat: Tales from the Cauldron - Edited by Jonathon Strahan
- SAGA Volume 4 - Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples
- The Hate U Give - Angie Thomas
Ordinarily, on any given month, Holly Bourne would be likely to win best book, but the powerhouse that is Angie Thomas and her incredible novel: The Hate U Give, left everyone waiting in the wings. This book is powerful and real and necessary to the world. I am not giving anything away, you will have to read it to find out. But it is spectacular.
Book I read in November
- IT - Stephen King (Kindle) (Reading Challenge: A book that's more than 800 pages.)
- Il Segreto di Julia - Cinzia Medaglia
- Halloween Party - Agatha Christie (Reading Challenge: A book set around a holiday other than Christmas.)
You may notice a distinct lack of titles in November and there are a couple of reasons for this. Number one being that IT is over one thousand pages long and takes a good while to read. Also, I was writing a novel myself for NaNoWriMo and had only thirty days to do so, which takes a lot of time and brain power. IT won the month, of course, not that it had much competition. But the level of detail in this book is extraordinary. Man, I would love to sit down with that chap.
Books I read in December
- Our Kind of Traitor - John le Carre (Reading Challenge: An espionage thriller.)
- Railsea - China Mieville (Reading Challenge: A book recommended by a librarian.)
- Black Beauty - Anna Sewell (Reading Challenge: A book from a nonhuman perspective.)
- Reckless 3: The Golden Yarn - Cornelia Funke (Reading Challenge: A book that's been on your TBR list for way too long.)
- On Writers and Writing - Margaret Atwood (Reading Challenge: A book with career advice.)
- The Circle - Dave Eggers (Reading Challenge: A book that's becoming a movie in 2017.)
As you can see, December was all about trying to complete my reading challenge, which I almost did, but sadly I had one challenge I failed to complete, which was to read a book of letters. I have the book, which is letters from Sylvia Plath to her friends and family, but it is a large book with very small print and there was no way I could finish it before the end of the year. But still, 51/52 on the reading challenge and 105 books read altogether is not too shabby, 2017!
The final winner of the year is The Circle by Dave Eggers which is terrifyingly creepy and so realistic. It is also a film on Netflix, with Emma Watson and Tom Hanks, so you should check it out, but not to be too cliche, the book is way better than the film. They cut out all the sex from the film too. So definitely read the book!
And that's it, my year in books, which due to a saving error in blogger, I've just had to write out most of it twice. Yay! I just love wasting hours of my life. I hope I have inspired or recommended a book to some of you, or maybe just entertained you enough for you to keep reading. And here's to the next year of reading. Let's hope we find new worlds to visit and new horrors to scare us and new voices to guide us.
Thanks for reading this, now go and read a book.
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