On Living Happily Ever After

The concept of Happily Ever After is simply viewed as a childlike fantasy; one of the connotations of all fairytales that have ever been put from pen to paper. It is the promise that, what opens up with so many possibilities for the characters, can end with the same endless list of opportunities. It is the statement that, when we were younger, allowed us to turn that final page, satisfied that the characters will not see similar events unfold again. It was what first introduced us to the idea of dreams; those that have manifested into the ambitions we have today. But, why can't the ideal our past favourite novels were based on continue when we are slightly older? Who says that happily ever-afters can't exist within the world of YA - without being deemed as unrealistic or clichéd? Why can't we, as fiction is a form of escapism, still enjoy an ending where the main characters - and their sidekicks - do survive?


I'm not suggesting that we introduce a Prince Charming or Fairy Godmother to most YA novels. That, within the time-scale of a chapter, all of the characters' problems should be solved with the wave of a wand or true-love's kiss; that protagonists should all have the ability to slay, with their trusty swords, all creatures that might pose a threat, or stumble across a healing-potion that prevents any fictional deaths(Wouldn't it have been nice to see one appear in Allegiant?I know that's being a little idealistic. I'm not expecting all fictional relationships to last for eternity, or for those counting pennies to suddenly stumble across their fortune and live a life of luxury; for all children in the novel to remain trapped in their eternal youth, the concept of death simply ceasing to exist.

As readers of YA, we've all come to terms with tragedy; come face-to-face with grief and guilt, death and despair. To put it bluntly: we've all read a John Green novel. And there no sugar-coating can be found. Both as those mature enough to handle the themes that are written about in YA and those who are aware of some of the issues that threaten the population at large, we know that - outside of our bedroom walls - the world is not a place for the faint-hearted. We are not oblivious enough to see that the happily ever-afters we used to read about are far-fetched, or to realise that -  it is impossible to achieve the 'perfect' lifestyle we wish to have. From reading YA, I've almost accepted that being a teenager is a synonym for tragedy; that it is the beginner of a tale crammed with cruel plot twists and turns. When there are endings that allow the characters a second chance, the common reaction - it seems - is to threaten to throw the book across the room and start criticising it. But I'm beginning to ask why I, and so many others, are tempted to do this.
 

Sometimes, we need a little bit of hope. And, once in a while, it should be viewed as okay to show someone that all is not lost. To, perhaps, indulge in the littlest of happily ever-afters. Not all YA novels need to end in destruction to be deemed as a 'realistic portrayal' of a certain issue or strive to be a 'tragic tale of love gone wrong'. Just because we are slightly older, it doesn't mean we can't read a book where the dreams of the main character do come true. Two characters, perhaps they become a couple at a point in the book, should both be able to make it to the end of a novel. Friendships that were strong at the beginning of a book should still involve heart-to-hearts and sleepovers at the end; best friends should remain as simply that. When lives are completely torn-apart, and the pieces scattered across the floor, they should be retrievable. In YA, there should be more happy ever-afters, and we should allow ourselves to become immersed in them. It's impossible to name a recent bestseller that does have one of these style endings.  After all, books are our escape from the reality where they could - or could not - ever exist.

***

Do you think we need to welcome more happily ever afters into YA?
Or indulge in them like children do more often?

Tell me in the comments!
 

UKYA Extravaganza Blog Tour: Q&A with Kate Ormand

 

Next weekend, I'm heading to Birmingham - for the first time in years - to attend UKYA Extravaganza, which will be taking place at Waterstones Birmingham! To celebrate UKYA, and the work of the authors, bloggers and other people within the community, Kerry Drewery and Emma Pass have managed to piece together a line-up of thirty-five authors for the afternoon's events! I spent a few panicked minutes on the phone waiting to hear whether tickets were still available over the phone a few weeks ago, just in time before they sold out(within twenty-four hours of initially going on sale!).

 

 As part of the countdown to the event, I'm hosting today's Blog Tour stop with the wonderful Kate Ormand, who is an author appearing at next weekend's event, and one of the cheerleaders for UKYA online. Also, she has an incredible amount of patience when it comes to waiting for questions to be sent by an apologetic blogger!

 

Find out more about Kate and her books:  Twitter | Website | Facebook

Hi Sophie! Thanks so much for having me!

Q. UKYA Extravaganza is next weekend! Now the countdown is coming to an end, what are you anticipating most about the event?

A. I'm so excited to meet everybody! I'm looking forward to getting a few of my books signed by some of the other authors too.

Q. Since this tour stop is a celebration of all things UKYA, can you share with us a few of your favourite books that fit into this category?

A. I LOVE Emma Pass's books, ACID and THE FEARLESS. I recently read 7 DAYS by Eve Ainsworth, which I thought was brilliant. THE SIN EATER'S DAUGHTER by Melinda Salisbury is also a new favourite. VENDETTA by Catherine Doyle is incredible. And I just finished the fantastic SLATED trilogy by Teri Terry.

Q. 'UKYA' is a fairly new term to the publishing world. What do you think has made this 'brand' so popular in such a short space of time?

A. The people who read it, write it and are passionate about it. Teams like Bookish Brits on YouTube. Lucy Powrie has Project UKYA and runs hugely popular Twitter chats that everyone's welcome to. Michelle at Fluttering Butterflies is running a British Books reading challenge this year and always creates UKYA lists on Goodreads. Debbie at Snuggling on the Sofa created an awesome spreadsheet for UKYA this year too! Things like this, and the people behind them, really give UKYA a boost and the love is spreading!

Q. As well as being an author, you also co-founded the blog Author Allsorts. How does it feel to be a part of the UKYA community, both as a blogger and an author?

A. I love it! I love reading and talking about books online, so it's nice to still be doing that - if I wasn't, I wouldn't have been able to join in the Scholastic Bloggers' Brunch with you guys last month!

Q.Most of the books we see being made into blockbusters are categorised as USYA. Do you think this is a genre UKYA can begin to challenge?

A. Definitely! Think of Teri Terry's SLATED or Sally Green's HALF BAD on the big screen - amazing!

Q. You will be at UKYA Extravaganza to promote your debut, Dark Days, which was released last year. What has surprised you the most about life as a published author so far?

A. People reading my books, supporting me, wanting me to write my name on things! Sometimes I don't think about the whole "author" bit, I just write and read and talk about books and go along with my day, then sometimes it hits me and it all seems so surreal and wonderful.

I've fallen head-over-heels for the pink font!

Q. Dark Days is a dystopia novel where the world has been divided into sectors and the people separated. How did you go about constructing this world? Were there notes, maps, drawings...?

A. I did draw a map of the sector and one of the New World to help me when navigating Sia through her setting. I had a lot of notes from reasons  for how the world is the way it is in the novel. I always had them all around me at the desk for easy access and making sure I remembered it all on top of everything else! I also have a pinterest board - images are a great source of inspiration to me.

Q. Sia, the main character, finds out early on in the novel that she has fifteen days before she gets 'eaten' by cyborgs. How would you react - honestly if you found yourself in her position?

I'd be devastated. I wouldn't be able to cope. She's SO much braver than me. And we do see different reactions in the book of how other characters handle the news.

Q. I've also just been reading about your upcoming book The Wanderers. Where does the inspiration for the creatures such as the shifters - and the cyborgs featured in Dark Days - come from?

A. I thought of the idea for THE WANDERERS when I saw a circus poster on my way to university one day. It was bright yellow, all torn and weathered, and I said, "What if I wrote a circus book where all the animals were shapeshifters?" And then...I did! Shapeshifters feature in plenty of books I've read, so I'm hoping to have given them a unique twists. The cyborgs - I like robots! I'm even playing with the idea for another robot book (but they're not vicious and deadly this time!).

Q. Will you be continuing to write UKYA novels?

A. Definitely! I love UKYA and I'm so proud and grateful to be a part of it! Thank you, Sophie!

Thank you so much for answering my questions, Kate!

***

 

You can follow the rest of the blog tour, and keep up to date with news about Saturday's event, by using #UKYAExtravaganza!

I will be writing a recap sharing my thoughts on the event that will be up on the blog next Monday!

Will I be seeing you at UKYA Extravaganza?
If not, would you like to see similar events held elsewhere?

Tell me in the comments!

Sophie
x

 

10 Stages of Bookshopping

A few weeks ago, whilst sorting through the assortment of A4 paper decorating the kitchen table, I unearthed a sheet where I had scribbled-down the heading '8 Stages of Bookshopping'. Having managed to now finish that draft, a little while later, I've now realised it takes more energy - and effort - than I first thought to take a trip to Waterstones! And I've also managed to find a few new stages whilst thinking about my own - regular - visits...

 

***

 

STEP 1 - ATTEMPTING TO RESIST

 

The point in which, when walking down the street, your local bookstore appears up-ahead. With it's window-display decorated with new releases and the tables stacked high with bestsellers visible inside, it's a challenge to resist running straight through the doors and to the YA section. You stand outside for a while, attempting to move on, telling yourself that - under no circumstances - you're going to enter.

 

 You can't resist the temptation.

 

STEP 2 - SETTING THE BOUNDARIES

At this point, all readers tend to lay down the law of the trip inside, repeating a mantra over in their heads.

 

"Only for a few minutes..."

 

"Just to see whether they have the final book in that series..."

 

"No more than one..."

 

"As long as I have enough for everything else I'm meant to buy..."

 

Sound familiar? But, you never listen.

 

STEP 3 - TAKE IT ALL IN

 

The rows after rows of shelving that line the wall; the colourful covers that decorate the children's section; the collection of paperbacks and hardbacks. The scent of the coffee that drifts down from the café; the freshly printed-pages waiting to be turned; the air tainted by the leather-bound covers. The recommendations that are shared amongst friends; the discussions over series endings; the excited squeals as a much-anticipated sequel is found.

 

You are reminded of home.

STEP 4 - LET'S BE FRIENDS
 

Who can help but listen to the other conversations taking place? You catch snippets of sentences where your favourite books are mentioned, discussions about movie castings taking place between a group of friends friends, and it takes all of your self-perseverance to not interrupt. A stranger approaching would scare them. You hear mentions of a book you are yet to read, attempting to block out the conversation, not wanting the book to be ruined.  All you can do is pretend the art of distraction, listening from a distance, seemingly admiring a randomly-selected fantasy.

You want to ask whether you can be friends.

STEP 5 - IT'S A BALANCING ACT

Attempting to carry the choices you have made so far, that Game of Thrones box set threatening to break your back, still adding to your stack of books as you attempt to navigate the store. By this point, it's becoming a struggle to see where you are going. It's a form of weightlifting.

You agree that this counts as your workout for the day.
 

STEP 6- MAKING THE CUT

Somehow, the selection of a dozen novels you have made whilst browsing the store needs to be narrowed down to fit within your budget(which will never be enough to cover your book-buying obsession). You spend the time re-reading the blurbs, opening the books to random pages, admiring the covers. It's almost too painful to watch as you place those that are on your wish-list back on the shelves.

You recall it's similar to choosing a favourite child.

STEP 7 - FINAL DECISIONS

Avoiding the awkward glances from those around you, it is time to search through the stacks like some feral-animal on the hunt for the most 'perfect' copy to add to your collection. There can no broken spines; no bent pages; no marks on the cover. The book(s) you buy need to be spotless.

You can't help but be a perfectionist.

STEP 8 - OVERCOME WITH REGRET

Let's admit it: the promises that were made when walking through the doors are rarely kept. The likelihood is more time has been spent inside than anticipated, and there are a considerable number of books tucked under your arm - not just one. When you're head stops spinning from the excitement of all the book-buying, you come to terms with the amount of money that has been spent.

You realise your purse is almost empty - and are overcome with guilt.

STEP 9 - NEED TO RE-ENGERGISE

There's no excuse to not grab a brownie from the bookstore café on the way out. Or to collapse into one of the comfy seats for a while and read your new buys.

You are exhausted.

STEP 10 - PRIDE IN PURCHASES

Pictured: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn | We Are All Completely Beside
Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler

Would there be any extra 'stages' to your own - unplanned - bookstore visit?

Tell me in the comments!

Sophie
x
 

Sharing the Sin Eater's Daughter Love: Q&A with Melinda Salisbury

You're not the only one wondering how Melinda Salisbury is my Valentine this year. In fact, I feel like I should be baking a batch of heart-shaped biscuits in the kitchen or re-writing lines of prose in a homemade card at the moment. Instead, I'm hosting the blog tour for Mel's debut, The Sin Eater's Daughter (better than cramming a box of chocolates on my own!) which was released last week. Even before publication, comparisons were made between Salisbury's new series and the likes of Throne of Glass and Shadow and Bone, and it's not disappointed! After meeting Mel at the Scholastic Bloggers' Brunch a few weeks ago, having just sent the questions, I loved that her personality shone through in the answers I received!

 

Goodreads | Twitter | Website

Q) What was it that made you want to write Fantasy novels in particular?

A) They're my favourite kinds of stories, so it was a natural fit for me. I'm an escapist reader - books, to me, are a passport to another place, and I want to visit places unlike anything I've ever known. Plus, a lot of my other interests fit into that fantasy box - I love medieval history, and magic, and fairytales, all things that also mesh well with fantasy worlds. I think I'd struggle to write a contemporary novel, because I'm not a very grounded person.

Q) What was the writing process like for The Sin Eater's Daughter? Did you have a certain writing spot or snack that helped you through?

A) It was strange, because I wasn't writing it really with the intention of getting it published. Whilst I was writing it I actually had another story on submission with agents, and I started writing The Sin Eater's Daughter a chapter or two a day, just to keep myself occupied. I was sending it to my friend Liv every time I finished a chapter, and she kept asking what happened next, so I'd write another. It was only really at the end I realised I had a book, and it was way better than the one I was submitting. Luckily, the woman who became my agent agreed. I like to drink tea while I'm writing. I switch to coffee when I'm editing. I also have a thing about Cadbury Twirls. No idea why.

Q) Despite being set in a fictional world, are there any aspects of your debut that were inspired by your own experiences?

A) Yes  - many. Twylla's struggles with the life she has have been mine, in the past. I've been in that place where you're going through the motions of doing what you're told you should do, ticking boxes and not really living. Obviously, our actual experiences are very different, but her sleepwalking through her life, shying away from confronting the problems with it have been my struggles too. I suspect there are a lot of people living the lives they think they ought to, instead of the ones they want to. I had everything you're supposed to want and it wasn't enough and it made me hate myself, just as she does. And like her, I was shaken out of it.

I also travel a lot, and that's really influenced the novel. The mirror maze in the book is based on a real one I visited in Prague, the food and geography and climate is stolen from places I've visited. The world of The Sin Eater's Daughter was basically mined from my life, and honed, and made into a thing entirely of its own.

Q) For The Sin Eater's Daughter, you had to imagine the entire Kingdom of Lorene. If you could explore another alternate Fantasy world for a day, which would it be?

A) The wizarding world of Harry Potter. Hands down. I'd want to go to The Three Broomsticks and The Leaky Cauldron and eat Pumpkin Pasties and bow to Hippogriff and see it if bowed back. I'd like to be flummoxed by a moving staircase at Hogwarts, and watch a Quidditch match. But I wouldn't leave at the end of the day. I'd see if I could get a job as Hagrid's assistant, or a Muggle Liaison officer.

Doesn't this dress - worn at the recent
 Vanity Fair Oscar Party match The Sin Eater's
Daughter perfectly?

Q) Multiple Young Adult novels have received a movie adaptation recently. Who would you dream cast if a film of The Sin Eater's Daughter was going to be made?

A) I really don't know! Friends have asked me this, and it's really hard for me to cast people, because obviously in my head I can see exactly what all of the characters look like and they just look like themselves. I can think of some actors that resemble the images in my head, for example Aneurin Barnard in The White Queen was very close to my Merek, and Saoirse Ronan has the wistful sadness of Twylla in her looks, but I think it's something I'd rather leave to readers, or casting agents to decide on.

Q) Was there a playlist that you wrote your novel to? If not, what songs would be a part of it?

A) I don't write to music at all. I need silence when I'm writing, and it's not something I draw inspiration from. I get all of my outside input from travelling and nature. Having said that, I was listening to the radio in the kitchen one night on a break from editing and I heard Broken Crown by Mumford and Sons and thought, "Oh my God, that's the theme song of the book." The same thing happened when I was writing the second one, I heard London Grammar's Sights and it was the song. I'm so excited to see what song encapsulates book three.

Q) So far, what has been the highlight of your publication journey?

A) I know it might sound a little trite, but it's been all of the people I've met. The people I've worked with at Scholastic, my agent, other authors, bloggers, fans, booksellers. The YA scene in the UK is just so incredibly supportive and friendly and I've made so many friends along the way. Seeing a copy of the book for the first time was incredible but seeing my ne friends being just as excited, and proud, as I am is beyond amazing. That so many people are embracing my dream, and talking about it, is humbling and incredible.

As a thank you, I wish I could send some Red Velvet Valentine's Day cupcakes your way!

Have you picked up a copy of The Sin Eater's Daughter yet?
Anticipating the rest of the series?
 

Tell me in the comments!

Thank you to Rachel from Scholastic for asking me to host and Mel for answering my questions!

 

Sophie

x

Apple and Rain Blog Tour: Inspiring Teachers

There were two reasons for why, when I was asked to participate in the blog tour for the Apple and Rain paperback, I replied within moments of seeing the email.

 The first: I absolutely adore Crossan's writing. No matter how much time I had spent staring at the white hardback edition in the bookstore, I hadn't yet managed to pick up Apple and Rain, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity. Whilst I still like the simplicity of the hardback, I can't help but prefer the bold colour of the new edition; not many people have missed it when I've been reading in class! It's no surprise that, since receiving the copy, I've spent the nights curled up reading it. I've been willing to read anything Sarah has written from the time I discovered Breathe!

Second: I saw a suggestion for what the post could be about - inspiring teachers - and knew it couldn't have fit better with my own experiences at school. I'll admit that I almost live in the English Department, in my own seat beside the radiator, and it's been the teachers there that have inspired me to pick up a pen. It's those that will spend the extra hour after class talking about daily life - what happens outside those four walls - or those that will lend you a copy of a John Green novel they enjoyed, that make an impact. I was introduced to the quote that has shaped the past two years by my English teacher, and been inspired by her support to want to do the same. I guess I've had my own Mr Gaydon! You can see when a teacher cares about what they are teacher, and like Sarah, I can't contemplate why we're still holding back creativity.*

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Have you seen the new ad on TV with that guy from Educating Yorkshire in it? The ad encouraging people to train as teachers? It’s fabulous. It makes me want to get back into the classroom and inspire a whole generation of young people to be their very best selves, to live fully, to dream bravely. And yet, I’m not sure the ad tells the truth about what it means to be a teacher in this country at the moment. I’m not sure it reflects what the government wants from teachers and students. I’m not sure how easy it is these days to be an inspiring teacher.

In my latest novel, Apple and Rain, a teacher called Mr Gaydon promotes poetry in his classroom in a way that’s fun and exciting and completely non-threatening. He gets his students interested and makes them see that poetry belongs to them. My protagonist is transformed by this process. So why did I include Mr Gaydon in my book? Well, I created this impassioned teacher because that’s how I feel poetry should be taught – as something which appeals to our emotions first and intellects second. We allow students to enjoy music before studying it, to ponder paintings before explaining the symbolism, but poetry is taught backwards – it begins as something to be puzzled over and examined, something to feel frightened of, and then we ask students whether or not they enjoyed the poems we’ve taught. And I don’t blame the teachers for this.

As I intimated, I was a teacher myself for ten years, and I know how hard it is to be penned in by a curriculum that leaves very little space for fun. Everything that’s taught is then tested, so how can teachers feel free to let students love poems before understanding them? To feel their musicality before examining the structure of the language? There simply isn’t the time.

And this is where the government comes in. Change the way we teach students and test them. Give teachers time to inspire. Leave space in the curriculum for fun and laughter. Maybe that sounds frightening. What about the unruly teachers, won’t they waste this time, fail to teach young people anything useful? There is that risk. Obviously. But I’d say a very low percentage of teachers would abuse a system that asked them to teach what they love.

When I lived in New Jersey I taught at an amazingly progressive school founded by a smart, warm woman called Suellen Newman where the teachers were encouraged to write their own curriculums and teach their passions, which we all did. The result? Mayhem! No, that's a joke. It was amazing! Teachers were happy and students thrived. Grades soared and the young people were roused to set up their own clubs, societies and interest groups, everyone taking responsibility for his or her own learning. The motivation stopped coming from the teacher and started coming from the students themselves who simply wanted to learn for learning's sake. And what more can we ask of young people than they take ownership of their own educations. Is it a fantasy? I don't think so. I've seen it happen. And maybe if the government eased up just a tiny little bit on teachers, it could happen in the UK too

***

It's the Apple and Rain paperback's book-birthday today(February 12th)! Make sure to pick up a copy - if only to be able to own that cover on your shelves!

 

Any memories of an inspiring teacher?

Share them in the comments!

 

*I was a Year Seven taught Harry Potter to a soundtrack of this parody. I know that was not on the syllabus!

Discussion: Is Mental Illness Becoming a Trend?

In the past, I've cheered-on authors for including the topic of mental illness in their novels, and even sat down to write a blog post about how I want to read about characters that suffer from the conditions we hardly hear about, to possibly challenge some of the stereotypes we - and society - have come to accept. We have all heard the comments made about the organisation-obsession those with OCD have, or how the person who is having a particularly bad day is deemed as 'depressed'. But, where are the books where main characters are struggling with eating-disorders? Battling against bulimia? I don't know.

 

When addressed with care, including mental illness in YA can have an undeniable impact on readers, offering them the chance to learn - through the characters - how to support a friend or recognise the symptoms of a condition.  Not only can it teach empathy skills to non-sufferers - and end the stigma that surrounds many of the most common conditions -  but a book that tackles mental illness can provide a safe-haven for a teenager in need. They have the comfort of knowing one of their favourite characters is in a similar situation - and is likely to survive it. I could write an almost endless list of all the positives that come from writing about mental illness - but that's for another time. What I wanted to discuss was the trend that is beginning to appear when it comes to tackling mental illness, and why I hope it comes to an end soon.

***

 

Responses to the likes of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and The Silver Linings Playbook, which became well-known for breaking down the barriers of mental illness in fiction, have been overwhelming. Authors have followed their lead, penning their own tales about other 'taboo' topics of conversation, and YA sections have never been so diverse. And I do love this. Although, the success of those that are not sugar-coated seems to have set the precedent for some mistreatment of mental health issues within fiction. In fact, it is seemingly being used as the latest 'selling point' in the YA world; a trend reminiscent of the vampire take-over that followed the Twilight Saga, and the Dystopia-craze that we saw in the Hunger Games aftermath. I'm not the only one that complained about how every YA was centred on a sixteen year-old protagonist, who was likely to be facing a life-or-death scenario.

 

Lately, whilst in a bookstore, I've lost count of the number of novels I've come across that include a mentally ill main central character on the search of new beginnings, and who meets a friend that is described as being equally ''messed up". YA presents the idea that, in a crowded world, those with mental illnesses seem to gravitate towards each other. That, in doing so, they will probably develop a relationship - one that, by the end of the book, typically come to an end; the characters seemingly causing some form of self-destruction. Books need to show that those with a mental illness are not 'outsiders', but are capable of immersing themselves in our society.  Equally, the life of those with a mental illness should not be viewed as a fast-track to a dramatic storyline or heart-breaking ending that will have readers reaching for the Kleenex. Can we not just bring back the idea of a Happily Ever After?

The assumption also seems to have been made that, to score a few extra stars on rating systems, a YA book needs to include a mentally ill character. That it needs to embody a sense of diversity by forcing a condition upon a character or a more 'mature' subject matter onto the novel as a whole.  The same, though, can be said when it comes to including someone who is LGBT or disabled.  I've seen the half-hearted attempts by authors to feature a mentally-ill character, with very little thought for the subject matter itself, and it's no surprise that I've begun to feel hesitant. Mental illness is not a fast-track ticket to becoming the next critically-acclaimed novel. Including a character with a mental illness should be a decision that is thought-out and well-researched; handled with an emotional-depth and understanding that other topics don't call for. Remember: those with the conditions that are written about do read the novels, and they need to see themselves reflected in the tale.

 

At times, though, mental illness shouldn't be all a book is about, but simply mentioned consistently. I'd love to see a book written that features a mentally ill character, yet  isn't about the condition they have directly. I've never seen this done before. Use books to represent the fact that people of all ages live their daily lives with a mental illness, and it may only affect them in the most subtle ways. When authors decide to include mental illness, they do so in a way that means it dominates the whole storyline.  I would rather see a character whose illness has become part of them but who has a life outside the label of 'mentally ill'.

As more novels about mental illness crowd the shelves, and most lack the understanding of the last, I've resorted to wanting less novels about the subject matter. I'd rather read a few where the author has considered the feelings of those who do have a mental illness, than a lot where writers have simply followed the crowd.

 

Are issues like mental illness being used as a selling point?

Are they becoming the latest trend?

 

Tell me in the comments!
 

These discussion posts are never written with the intent to harm a reader. If you do find something that could be viewed as offensive in this post, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sophie
x

A Belated Book Haul

I'm surprised that I've managed to make it to my desk to write this post, and am not buried under the stack of books that I've seemed to accumulate over the past few weeks. In fact, those that I have received have spent the majority of their time stacked wherever I can fit them, some still inside the gift bags that they were handed to me within in an attempt to save some space. No matter the hours I spent sorting through the new additions to my shelves, and photographing them for this haul - when there was, for once, some natural light streaming in through my window - novels still decorate the entirety of my bedroom. I'm not complaining, though!

 

It's been more than a few months since I decided to piece together a haul, but I've just decided to share some of the bookish purchases I have made within the past few weeks!

 

Wreck This Journal | The Year of the Rat | The Direputable History...|
Gone Girl | We Are All Completely Besides Ourselves | More Than This

This Christmas, I was all too aware of the selection still sitting on my shelf from 2013, those that I hadn't yet opened. I could recall the panic-buying that had taken place the previous year, noticing a few titles I must have heard mentioned before, immediately grabbing them heading to the checkout as the store was threatening to close in a few minutes. I wasn't really anticipating any of the books I had purchased - hence the reason, apart from one or two, the rest have been left to gather dust. I was, though, determined for this not to happen again. I'll admit that, over the Christmas period, I must have spent hours in bookstores and sections, carefully choosing the titles I wanted. But, I can't wait to delve into each one that I decided to buy.



We Are All Completely Besides Ourselves | More Than This





There may be a slight colour-scheme between the books I did decide to pick up; the shelves in my room now comprise of mostly black and yellow monochrome. What was gift-wrapped on Christmas morning included:

 

-We Are All Completely Besides Ourselves by Karen Jay Fowler

- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

-More Than This by Patrick Ness

-The Year of the Rat by Claire Furniss

-The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks by E. Lockhart

 

 

The Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook |
The Hummingbird Bakery: Home

 When I'm not blogging, I absolutely adore spending nights baking, and usually choose to make batches of cupcakes or different types of confectionary. Over the Christmas holidays, the cookbooks inspired by a bakery I recently visited whilst in London, called The Hummingbird Bakery, started appearing in bookshops as gift recommendations, and I couldn't help but fall in love with them. Each one I came across was crammed with gorgeous photography, detailed page designs, and split into different sections including recipes for cupcakes, biscuits and traybakes.

 

Simply, I couldn't leave them behind!

 

 In what I'm convinced is an attempt to make me a little bit less of a perfectionist, my parents also finally caught onto my constant hints in the middle of Waterstones and I received a Wreck It Journal by Keri Smith from them!

 

An Island of Our Own | The Sin Eater's Daughter | 7 Days

Recently, I took a trip to the Scholastic offices for their Book Bloggers' Brunch, which was a chance for them to share their 2015 highlights with us and meet up with some other bloggers! I wrote a wrap-up of the event in-detail here, where I talked a little about the glossy goody-bags that were handed out towards the end of the Brunch, which contained some books to read on the journey home. The review copy of Melinda Salisbury's upcoming The Sin Eater's Daughter stood out instantly, intricately tied with brown ribbon and wrapped in baking-paper. Not only was I able to put this baking paper to good use when taking some pictures for upcoming blog posts, but the review copy itself had such a beautiful cover it could challenge the actual edition!

 

I've accumulated a postcard obsession.

Also from Scholastic:

 

-The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

-7 Days by Eve Ainsworth

-An Island of Our Own by Sally Nicholls

-To All The Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han(received a few days later in the post!)

-Collection of postcards for upcoming releases, including The Game of Love and Death.





All The Bright Places | To All The Boys I've Loved Before

Whilst in London, I also managed to tick a trip to Waterstones Piccadilly off my bucket-list, and spend a while exploring the endless bookcases.

The majority of the time I spent there was spent within the YA Section, which probably had the largest collection of new releases and popular books that I had come across before, where I found All The Bright Places by Jenny Niven! After the praise I had read for this debut online, Niven's writing said to match the likes of John Green, I had been desperate to pick this up.

Thank you to everyone who sent or gifted me any of the books above! I hope you also had as much of a book-filled Christmas as I did!

What did you receive? Any of the above?

Tell me in the comments!

 

All pictures taken in this post are my own and should not be re-used without permission.



Event Recap: Scholastic Bloggers' Book Feast

Before I curled up beneath the covers on Christmas Eve, I decided to sign into my email account one more time, sure that I would find no new messages. That's why, when I noticed an email from Rachel at Scholastic, I was more than a little surprised. Having found it with a few minutes until midnight, I was convinced that the email - which was an invite to the Scholastic Bloggers' Brunch the following month - was a Christmas miracle(or mistake!). It was due to this email that I was being woken at 4.45am on Saturday, my Throne of Glass tote bag packed ready for the four-hour journey into London.

 



What more could you ask for?

The Brunch was being held at Scholastic HQ to showcase their upcoming titles for 2015, a few of which I had seen mentioned online before(and had added to my wish-list), from a mixture of celebrated bestsellers to fresh-faced debuts. Two of the latest additions to the Scholastic team, authors Eve Ainsworth and Melinda Salisbury, were also going to be making an appearance, there to discuss their upcoming titles with us. One of the main reasons I had been so desperate to make it to the event was to see inside a publishing house, and Scholastic's own offices didn't disappoint. The walls were decorated in book-quotes from some of the most loved Children's books and the furniture followed a red colour-scheme. The room where the event was being held had such a cosy atmosphere, crammed full with tables that we could all sit around, pots of fresh fruits and glasses of orange juice lining the room. Let's just say that the Scholastic team know how to prepare for a blogger event!

 

The event kick-started with some information about Scholastic's upcoming titles and their continuing projects. We were told about the books that are soon to hit-the-shelves, including the next instalment in the Raven Cycle Trilogy - which I still haven't read yet - and the sequel to Jenny Han's To All The Boys I Loved Before, called PS: I Still Love You. We couldn't help but joke that Cecelia Ahern shouldn't be told about that title! Just hearing about the sequel made me more excited about getting the chance to pick up Han's debut, a novel I have heard nothing but praise for since it was first released. What I think I'm most excited about from the list is The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury, which I'm certain I will fall in love with! As soon as I read the synopsis a few weeks ago, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy, and was so excited when I found one neatly wrapped in brown baking paper inside my goodie bag.  It was so adorable that I didn't want to open it to be signed by Mel(but I soon got over that!).

 

Author Melinda Salisbury discusses her new novel!

After we had been told about all of the upcoming titles, it was over to Mel and Eve to tell us more about their debuts - and a lot about dinosaurs. With Mel having just come from spending the night at the Natural History Museum, I'll admit conversation was focused slightly on that, and I couldn't help but ask afterwards about what it was like to be there(and the food!). Mel was such a lively and bubbly presence, making witty remarks as she discussed the influence her own travelling had on her novel. Eve, who is the author of the upcoming 7 Days, expressed her love for the community that book lovers, authors and publishers have developed and her feelings about being welcomed into it. What Eve made clear about her  novel was that she had been able to do a lot of research within schools, and I can't wait to read such a realistic take on the issue of bullying(which always needs to be addressed).

 

I spent the rest of the afternoon attempting to read name badges, trying to work out whether I recognised some of the bloggers from when they might have appeared on my Twitter feed, and starting discussions with those I had never met before. Crowded around, we spent the time discussing our own daily-lives, the topics of conversation ranging from work(or school in my case) to the bookstores we were to visit that afternoon. Being someone who would love to work in publishing, I was also able to receive some advice from the Scholastic Team whilst we chatted. Although, I'll admit the best part was collecting my own red bag filled with some treats to read over the next few weeks!

 

To make the day even more bookish, I managed to take a trip to Waterstones Piccadilly for the first time, where I came across Georgia from The Bibliomaniac, who was also wandering around the Teen Section! We chatted for a while before I chose Jennifer Niven's All The Bright Places from what must be the most well-stocked bookstore I've ever come across. It was such a difficult decision to chose just one!

 

***

 

Thank you to Rachel from Scholastic for inviting me along to the Bloggers' Brunch! It was definitely worth the trip!
 

Disclaimer: All pictures used in the post are from Scholastic UK.

Blue Monday: Life Saving Books

The weather is threatening to transform our streets into a world resemblant of Narnia; the clock, no matter how much you want it to, will not move any faster; the next school holiday is just over a month away. I've now resorted to heading to school equipped with a flask, a selection of tea bags and a library book, but I still can't seem to forget my numb hands. It's the beginning of a week, the middle of Winter, and today is aptly known as Blue Monday: when people feel the most miserable. Over the past few weeks, I've been following the plans that the Guardian Children's Books site has to drag us through the day, without needing to resort to the tub of cinnamon biscuits or more caffeine than usual. Or more of the Cookies and Cream Cupcakes I made yesterday. Instead, they are using it as a way to broadcast life-changing books for Teens, at a time when most of us need a little bit of a boost. Authors have been sharing lists of their favourites on the site, and readers discussing which books have helped them through tough times.
 

 What I've always loved about books is how the experience of reading one is different for every person. That how somebody feels or reacts to a novel can be the complete contrast to what a friend or family member thought. Calling a book 'life-changing' is a very personal thing. The books that have resonated with me the most might have not have left a single mark on another person; merely put down after a few chapters and never finished. It's difficult to contemplate some of the most important that have made up my teenage years so far being discarded, but I understand reader is different. At certain times, we are going to find what happens to a specific character more relatable than other readers, but this is what makes the list of life-changing novels so diverse. Some people can write a list of ten books, maybe more, that have changed their life. I'm only in debt to a handful, the likes of Pretty Girl Thirteen by Liz Coley and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins being two of these, but the most important is This Song Will Save Your Life.

 

When it came to reading Sales' novel, I simply picked it up as a quick-read - determined to finish it within a few days - to catch up with my reading challenge. I didn't expect it to have the impact it did on me. The protagonist, Elise, was a character I could completely relate to,  in particular through her attempt to fit in. When I was around age eleven, I strived for the popularity those around me had, desperate to be a part of their cliché. Repeatedly, like the main character, I've tried to change myself in the hope that it would lead to me being accepted by others. It's never worked, though. Sales managed to capture perfectly what it feels like to live on the sidelines and then find somewhere you do belong(for me, that was the blogging world). Over the past few years, I've tried time and time again to do what I believe will make me 'cool', and I saw that Elise was also struggling with her image. It was her novel that made me want to embrace being an outsider, rather than wanting to escape it at the next opportunity. She made me see that life within this 'circle' is boring - and that it's much better to be an individual and on the vicinity.

 

"Popularity rewards the uninteresting."

 

This Song Will Save Your Life not only helped me to accept myself, but it taught me lessons I've been able to share with others in need. Sales tackled extremely serious topics in her novel, such as self-harm and suicide, and made me more aware of how people coping with these issues feel. When it came to offering advice to a friend, I felt like I could attempt to understand the position she was in from what I had read, and this made it easier to console her. Without even knowing about This Song Will Save Your Life, although I may have mentioned it off-hand in conversation a few times, it's probably had a great impact on her life too. I don't think we ever really notice what we do learn from books until real life presents a similar situation, and then you remember that life sometimes imitates art. Even now, I'm only just realising some of the life lessons that I learnt from Sales' debut. It managed to make me realise that trying to change myself would only make me bitter towards others, like my young sister who is at the beginning of her teenage years, and their carefree attitude about the opinions of their friends. It taught me that accepting myself, and embracing the talents and skills I have, can lead to greater things - just like in Elise's case.

What books have helped you through tough times?
Tell me in the comments!

Happy Blue Monday! Remember to join in with the Twitter chat tonight at 7pm GMT using #GdnBlueMonday.
Sophie
x

How to Buy For a Bibliophile!

I'm sitting at my desk with the heating turned up to almost maximum, wearing a too-small fleece(the only thing known to keep me warm) and some fluffy blue socks I had last Christmas. There's an outline of a few posts I need to write before the end of the year, an ink pen without its lid and a chewed pencil I now refuse to pick up. And I actually have some time to sit down and blog for the first time in a month. Hibernating for a few weeks wasn't planned. With revision for January exams, prep for Mocks and an almost endless 'To Do' list, I forgot about the ever-growing TBR waiting for me. And that I was meant to open my Advent Calendar every day this month.  Now that the holidays have finally begun, I thought I would piece together a guide for anyone who is trying to buy for a bibliophile this Christmas(and rushing their shopping last minute like I am).

Have a Conversation
Whether you're buying for a best friend that spends most of the day sitting beside you at school or a fellow blogger online, the best way to decide on a gift is to simply ask. Maybe question them on what they have read recently or ask who their favourite author is? Pester them about what is on their Christmas wishlist? If that friend does send back a list - pages long like I would - featuring all the books that they hope to find beneath the tree, then you're job is merely ordering them online or heading to your local bookstore to pick one of them up.

When there's not an entire list to base your Christmas shop on, attempt to use what they have read recently when it comes to choosing a book, but make sure that they enjoyed it! After meeting up with a friend at Starbucks a few weeks ago, I knew that she wanted to read The Fault in Our Stars, so all I had to do was work out what else to put in the gift bag like one of Santa's Elves.

Search Through a Wishlist
If you know the person you are buying for has an online presence, don't miss the opportunity to scroll through their social media accounts for some ideas. Many booklovers use Goodreads where you can easily access the wishlists of those you may be buying for, and usually it comprises of pages of paperbacks and hardbacks. If you have already selected a book and set it aside, waiting to be wrapped and sent before Christmas Day, it could be worth checking their 'read' list. Otherwise, the novel will spend the next year sitting upon a shelf collecting dusk, unwanted as they have read it before. If you are buying for a blogger, then scrolling through their site is a must. There could be a wishlist you are yet to read, or a review archive that you can take a look through for some inspiration.

Select A Theme



London Diary and Geek Girl by Holly Smale(along
with the Christmas tree that sits on my desk!)

After searching through multiple websites and social media accounts, choosing a novel at the bookstore should have become a little less daunting. Selecting gifts for friends, and strolling around the shops searching for that one item that I know fits with their interests, is one of my favourite parts of the holiday season. Although, it does result in a few hours spent trying to find the copy of the book with no bent pages or creases in the covers.

If you want to make sure that a gift bag or package is being sent crammed-full of gifts, then you can follow a theme when choosing a few smaller items. Usually, I decide on a 'main gift' and pick up a handful of other stocking-fillers based around it. When it came to picking up John Green's novel for my friend, I chose to use the colours of the cover - white, blue and black - to fill the rest of the bag. I was soon wrapping a selection of nail varnish to match and a box of chocolates ready for when the comfort-eating kicks in! Afterwards, I realised I should have included a box of Kleenex!

Add Some Extras

Can you really blame me for adding the glasses?

Along with the colour of the cover, you can also use the setting or plot as a theme for your friend's Christmas gifts. There's the likes of London, Tokyo or New York to choose from if you're buying for a Geek Girl fan, or for those who love Stephanie Perkins, then you can also buy Paris-themed items to match the novel. Using successful franchises is also my safety-net. Simply picking up a Mockingjay Pin or Divergent poster - to co-exist with the books - can help create the perfect Christmas package; merchandise for these popular series' can be found almost anywhere.

Choose smaller stocking fillers that match the cover!

As an example for this post, I decided to piece-together a possible gift bag for a bibliophile, based on Holly Smale's series. Since it is a popular UKYA novel, and Harriet spends most of the first novel in England, I decided that a notepad I recently purchased would fit with a 'Very British' theme. Whilst I resisted the urge to add some tea bags, I managed to find nail varnish to match the book's cover, and a selection of chocolates with a red-packet - to tie-in with the Union Jack. Remembering Harriet's love of lists, there is also a copy of the Literary Listography, something the main character herself would probably want to own.

Wrap It Up!

Literary Listography - the perfect gift idea - and Geek Girl.

Since the Frozen wrapping paper I selected a few days ago was slightly more expensive than those

decorated with Santa and his sleigh, I decided to not wrap these in fear of running out! When you are adding the finishing touches to your gift, simply add a decorative bow or ribbon to the package, and make sure to add name tags if you're buying more than one! Unlike most gifts, you won't be able to shake it to work out what it is!
 

Have you made any bookish purchases this year?
Or are there any books on your own wishlist?

Tell me in the comments!

Bookshops I Want To Visit!

For the past few hours, I've browsed lists of bookshops that every reader needs to visit in their lifetime, reading about those that are based in the likes of renovated train stations and museums. Before reading articles on different sites about how many miles of shelving bookstores in New York have, I had a small list of those I wanted to visit, including Watestones Piccadilly that, after multiple visits to London, I still haven't seen!

Strand Book Store - New York City



Strand Book Store

I have, over the past few years, fallen in love with New York City. There's the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and Times Square, all of which I want to visit with my guidebook in hand. But, it's also home to the Library Hotel, the New York Public Library and, annually, Book Expo America(BEA). Within a few substation stops, you have all a booklover would ever need.
World famous bookstores line the streets, including Strand Book Store, housing rare collections and second hand books with yellowing-pages. Whilst searching the website, I discovered that the bookstore has eighteen miles of book shelving; an amount that I can't comprehend. Maths is not a skill of mine, but - at an estimate - this would be my walk home from school, but around nineteen times over. Just from the outside, with its red sign, The Strand appears to be so welcoming; set on the corner of a busy New York street where yellow cabs are passing every few minutes. When I visited Hay-on-Wye - named 'the town of books' - I loved admiring the leather-bound, hand-written books, mainly because it became a competition to find the most expensive book available. I think I would have a similar experience in the Strand!

Although it's not a bookstore, the Library Hotel NYC has been a place I've wanted to stay at for a while now, all of the rooms decorated with stacked-shelves. Who wouldn't want to wake up at the Library Hotel, then head over to the Convention Centre for BEA, only to pause at a Barnes and Noble on the way back? Or maybe head to The Strand?

Waterstones Piccadilly - London

Sadly, I'm going to have to wait a few years before visiting the Strand. But, Waterstones Piccadilly is a much more realistic goal, as I love visiting London; somehow, when I've walked through Piccadilly, I've missed the eight-storey bookshop. Every week, news of events at the store gather on my Twitter feed, most recently authors Maureen Johnson, Sarah Rees Brennan, James Dawson, David Levithan and Rainbow Rowell. have made an appearance there. I'd love to be able to make it to an event at the store, as they are constantly championing YA novels, and I've seen numerous pictures of their colourful displays inside and out. And, after reading about the shop on other blogs, I've heard nothing but praise for it's teen section. I'm just waiting for the time I can spend hours browsing the shelves without worrying about having a train to catch! Maybe I'll manage to do this and stay the night instead?

Ler Devagar - Lisbon

Ler Devagar*

This bookstore is beautiful. Pictures of the building, with a bicycle hanging from the ceiling and stacks of multi-coloured books covering the walls, were on most lists of must-visit bookshops when I was reading them. Ler Devager is storeys high, a difference to my local bookshops which - at most - have two(one holding the books, another with a café). Whilst I was able to gather facts about the other stores above with ease, this bookshop proved to be a more difficult task, its website written in a foreign language(Spanish, perhaps?). I, though, adore bookshops like Ler Devagar, as they make people - especially those who may not necessarily like to read - excited about reading. I know I wouldn't be able to walk into such a shop without feeling overwhelmed; or without running up the multiple flights of stairs to the fiction section.

Another bookstore I continue to come across is the Poplar Kid's Republic Bookstore in Beijing,. There are reading nooks designed in a wide selection of shapes, rainbow-coloured carpets and different rooms to read in. I wish there had been a bookstore - or library - this interesting to visit when I first began to enjoy reading. It would have made my reading experience much more vivid.

Libreria El Ateneo Grand Splendid - Argentina

I saw a picture of this bookstore and sat admiring it for a few minutes before reading the information beneath it. Once, I walked into a bookshop that was a converted cinema, and was really impressed, loving how the stars were still painted on the top floor ceiling. Hundreds of shelved books in a theatre, though, is even better. Having been voted one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world, I have no worries that this isn't as impressive when you walk through the doors. I'd adore browsing the shelves in the stands, looking down on the stage below, where the seating area is filled with yet more books. It's a gorgeous setting for a bookstore, with a vintage-feel that makes me want to sit on the stage and read a Jane Austen novel. 

So, what bookshops would you like to visit?

Tell me in the comments!

Sophie
x

*Images used in this post are not my own but, have been re-sized to fit with the format of my post.

UKYA Authors I Haven't Read Yet(But Want To)!

Earlier, notepad and pen in-hand, I sat down with the intent of writing a short-list of those authors I haven't read yet. Unlike those whose books I buy instantly, the moment they reach bookstores, these I have never picked up. Not once. I've read reviews of their novels, added them to a wishlist, admired shelves dedicated to them in a bookstore. As the list soon became two pages long, rather than the few bullet-points I was expecting, I decided to split it in two: the first being about UKYA authors, who I love supporting. We have some brilliant writers in YA, and I would love to spend more time reading what they have written, as - admittedly - most of my bookshelf features novels from American writers.

Moira Young

Moira Young's Blood Red Road - the first in the Dustlands trilogy - has been waiting on my shelf, in a space between my favourite dystopias, to be read for almost a year. In desperate attempts to find time to read it, I've taken it on road trips, becoming caught up in conversation rather than in the  characters and plot. Since the copy I own is covered in reviews on the inside cover comparing it to The Hunger Games, it's no surprise that I snatched this up. Teamed with the raving-reviews, book-award wins and intriguing synopsis, I knew this was a must-read. Already, I love the aspects Young has drawn into one novel, including a life or death scenario, and can't wait to read the first book by this author. With the three novels already published, I have no excuse not to pick them all up, especially since I've wanted to see whether Moira Young's writing lives up to they hype.

Annabel Pitcher

At the beginning of this year, Ketchup Clouds was at the top of my must-read list after receiving it for Christmas, picked up after I read about the novel on Amber's blog. I admired - and continue to - Pitcher's idea for the novel, that seemed so bold, the choice to write about a child sending letters to a criminal on Death Row. There is such a contrast between an 'innocent' child and somebody in an American prison. When I bought Ketchup Clouds, I also saw Pitcher's debut - My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece - on the shelves, but decided not to pick it up; wanting to try one before buying the entire collection. I've passed it during almost every trip to a bookstore since, but with one of her books still unread, I know I can't add it to my shelf. I'm really excited to read both of Pitcher's novels; expecting for them to be two of my favourite reads this year. I'll love the covers - and spine decoration - regardless, though! 

Holly Bourne

Whilst writing a post about the lack of books about mental illness, and how important it is for more to be published, Holly Bourne announced that her next novel would be about OCD. And I couldn't have been happier. After reading more about the book - which will be published in 2015 - I found out it was exactly what I had been waiting for. A novel, not with a friend or parent - a secondary character - suffering, but the main character struggling with illness. With recent events, it's crystal-clear that disorders like OCD and Depression do need to be covered more in novels, to raise awareness. The more they are written about, the less stigma surrounds the subject. 

Before it's released, though, I'd love to be able to read her previous novels - Soulmates and The Manifesto and How To Be Interesting - as both have been praised endlessly in reviews. Already, I love how both her published novels are completely different genres; hopefully, I'll love how Bourne tackles them.

CJ Daugherty

Outside of blogging only a few of my friends love to read and, mostly, I recommend novels to them - and then am forced to pick up double the amount of merchandise from book events to share. It's a small price to pay. When discussing reading in class once - amidst the release of The Fault in Our Stars - I was asked if I had read the Night School series. I hadn't. Since, we've had a few conversations about the series, and I've become really interested in the Bullingdon Club - a secret society in Oxford University that the likes of David Cameron have been members of - that the book is based around. From what I had read about the series before, I had always assumed that it was a fantasy series, following in the footsteps of The Twilight Saga. Now I know more about the inspiration behind the series, I'm looking forward to reading them, and discovering CJ Daugherty's world.     

So, what UKYA authors haven't you read that you want to?

Any from the list above?

Tell me in the comments!