Brilliant reads for Autumn

Now summer's been and gone and Autumn is in full swing its a great time to delve into a book. Here's a few recommendations of books I've enjoyed over the past few months.

Bitter Orange by Claire Fuller.
Presently reading this dark psychological thriller set in a crumbling country house in 1969 England.

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins.
The second novel from the Girl on the Train writer. Another brilliant thriller about women from different eras ending life suspiciously in 'the drowning pool'.

From the Corner of the Oval Office by Beck Dorey-Stein.
An amazing insight into the life of Beck who worked as a stenographer in the Obama white house.

Autumn by Ali Smith.
About friendships coming in all shapes and forms.

Lace by Shirley Conran.
Lace has been named the original and much better 50 shades of Grey. Set in late 1978 this book follows the lives of four women living in London, Paris and New York.

The Wrong Knickers by Bryony Gordon.
A memoir from journalist Brynony about the antics she got up to in her twenties. Very hilarious and relatable.

Everything I know about Love by Dolly Alderton.
An amazingly relevant memoir about growing up as a millennial. Funny, intelligent and beautifully written. 

Places I stopped on the way Home by Meg Fee.
A beautifully written memoir about Meg's time living in New York city.

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer.
An insight into the lives of six teenagers who met in the mid 1970’s and always vowed to be interesting. Fast forward two decades and their once strong friendship is put under strain by envy and crushing disappointment.

Has reading a book become a lost art??

I love to read - so much so that a man who sees me regularly whilst waiting for my bus home from work commented "You're always reading a book". Random comment, but it really reminded me of how much I love reading. In today's fast paced online world, the joy of reading a (physical) book seems to have been lost. We all read on a regular basis but this tends to be tweets, Facebook posts and comments, daily mail articles or magazines, I'm sure we're all guilty of one the above, right? 

Somewhere along the way we've forgotten to read books. Whilst on my daily travels it is rare to see a fellow commuter reading a book. Looking at their phones yes, but no book! When was the last time you actually sat and read a book? 

Reading has continually been part of my life but more recent in the last year. Since January I've read about 15 books and I have to admit it was a struggle at first. It felt as though I was learning how to read all over again. Focusing on the story and not getting lost in other thoughts was difficult. Learning to follow the story line and think about what might happen next and understanding the characters all seemed new to me. Finding a book that has meaning, that leaves you feeling something is always my main aim. This is a challenge within it's self as it's often difficult to find an exciting and interesting book that's keeps you wanting to turn the page. Great writers can detail something so clearly that you can be transported there in a moment. 

Books can be life changing, they teach us things about ourselves and others that no other medium can. Reading is one of the things that keeps me mentally sane and stops me from worrying about life. 

It fills my boring bus journeys and Saturday afternoons in front of the fire when it's freezing. They are a way to escape our sometimes mundane lives, because let's be honest life's not always fun. Whilst my heads in a book I can forget about the stresses and imagine myself in that world. I also think I might single handedly be able to keep my local library in business (despite government cut backs.)

If you're a book lover or newbie novel reader here's some of my favourites  - 

Savages by Shirley Conran 

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte 

The Girl on the Train - Paula Hawkins

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride

Ph credit teachingliteracy.tumblr.com via Pinterest

This week I'm reading

I finished University for Summer way back in late April but somehow time has managed to quickly pass me by. Now it's officially the school summer holidays and I finally have a little time to relax. What better way to do so than with a good book. I may be the only 20 something girl that still borrows library books but there's so much great choice on offer, so why buy? Yes, I may be behind the times when it comes to technology but in a contest of e-book versus hardback - hardback always wins. 

Anyway down to my chosen selection, every girl loves shoes and whats better then the story behind designer shoe brand Jimmy Choo. 'In my Shoes A Memoir' by Tamara Mellon is a self written biography about Tamara Mellon's life and co-founding the Jimmy Choo brand. Next up on my reading list 'Vogue on Vivienne Westwood'. Page after page of beautiful model wearing beautiful clothing designed by great British designer, Westwood. What more does a fashion loving girl need.

Happy Summer

Sartorial through the camera lens

The Sartorialist by Scott Schuman was the first great photography blog I ever came across. You can see everything though his camera lens. Fashion, life, art......to name a few. Originally for me it was always about the clothes but after 4 years of following it has turned into something else, reading both his books may have impacted on this. Yes the clothes are still amazing, the people still stylish, but there's just something else about them....he captures something natural, something real. 

'My interest is never to report on what people are wearing but in capturing my romantic take on what I have seen on the street. I find myself wanting to understand these individuals better. The result is the introduction of more tightly composed portraits that bring me closer to the true essence of the person whilst still capturing them as stylish subjects.'

Scott Schuman, The Sartorialist 

After flicking through The Sartorialist Closer for many hours over the past couple of months. I have found some great images to love. 

The Sartorialist is a must see, take a peak here

Some summer time reading

Sadly I'm not venturing to a sunny far away country this year, so there goes relaxing by the pool with a book or scooting around a foreign island on the back of a Vespa (oh Ibiza I miss you). Instead I'll be relaxing in the garden with a selection of books I picked up at my local library (you readers know how much I love the library) and a large glass of homemade lemonade. 

I've been reading The Sartorialist blog for a few years and was very happy to find a copy of his first book 'The Sartorialist' by Scott Schuman in my local library. The book has an amazing selection of street style photos, each capturing your eye in their own way whether it be an amazing hair colour, a gorgeous pair of shoes or just a beautiful smile.
I also picked up a classic 'Emma' by Jane Austin, I'm only a few pages in but the old style English language is so romantic. 
Since seeing Grace Kelly in Alfred Hitchcock's 'Rear Window' I've loved her and I can't wait to read this biography True Grace by 'Wendy Leigh'. The book is filled with photos and words from Grace's life, from becoming a movie star to the Princess of Monaco.

For the rest of the summer I will be working, preparing for university and looking forward to drinking cider and partying at Leeds Festival in late August. Oh and my birthday...yippee!!

This week I'm reading.....Harpers Bazaar Greatest Hits

One of my favourite things to do whilst being a student is wandering around the fashion and photography department of my college library. Yes it might sound a little geeky but I love the large and pretty fantastic selection of books and journals (Lulu and i-D are my favourites) and I'm forever been seen carrying around the heaviest books they have.

Whilst browsing the fashion photography section last week I came across this amazing book 'Harpers Bazaar Greatest Hits by Glenda Bailey, 2011'. It has some of the most amazing photo shoots and magazine covers the magazine has ever made. Photo shoots with the likes of Sarah Jessica Parker through to Barack Obama, created by photographers including Patrick Demarchelier and Peter Lindbergh.

I particularly love Sarah Jessica Parker channelling Harper’s Bazaar legend Diana Vreeland with her 'Why Don't you?'

'Keep a bucket filled with Candy. Cheap candy, it will scratch the itch'. 

'Use your local library, so few people do anymore'.

I love the candy one, it’s very me....

The September 2007 issue of Chloe Sevigny is another favourite, Peter Lindbergh played paparazzo, shooting Sevigny with a telephoto lens, I love this secretive photo

 

'The In Crowd' photographed for the March 2007 Issue by William Klien

 Chloe Sevigny in 'They tried to make me go to rehab' photographed for the September 2007 issue by Peter Lindbergh

'Harlem on my mind' Chanel Iman photographed for the September 2009 issue by Peter Lindbergh