Little Miss Bookworm

*Warning! I've got my geek-head on! This is a long post!*

You probably know this already, but I love, love, love books. Always have. I may not get as much time as I'd like to sit and read these days, but in my opinion there is no better way to pass a lazy Sunday than buring my head in a good book and getting completely lost in another world (with a nice cup of tea and some chocolate Hobnobs close at hand of course).

Books instantly calm me. I love knowing that I am the first to turn the pages of a new book. I love it when someone has read the same book and you can get into a really heated discussion/debate (delete as appropriate) about it.

Because that's what it's all about, isn't it? Using your imagination to visualise the people and places you're reading about. The best thing is that two people can adore the same story for the same reasons but they can have completely different opinions on what such-and-such character looks like or what the protagonist's environment looks like etc etc.

Take film adaptations for example. I can remember the Harry Potter community spitting blood over the casting of Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood. To me, Evanna was the Luna I'd always visualised in my mind, but others were so upset and outraged that you could tell that their perfect vision of the character was well and truly shattered.

And then there's Twilight... online forums went crazy after the casting of Rob Pattinson was announced, and most were heavily against him playing Edward. I can't add to that debate having only recently discovered the series, but I chose these two book/movie franchises as these are arguably the most popular (mainstream) adaptations of recent years - to those outside the fan communities, fans reactions may be silly and extreme but I think it's a great example of the power of a good book.

In fact, I would probably go as far as to say that I am always slightly suspicious of people who live in book-free homes, or those who claim that they don't read books - does anybody else relate to that? I always like to nosey through other people's bookshelves as I think it gives a really good insight into their personalities.

What mine say about me goodness only knows! I fall into two distinct camps with books. Firstly, the escapism books that are light and easy reads, and secondly, books that satisfy my inner geek - being anything to do with the Home Front in World War 2 (think the Blitz, rationing, general social history of the time).

Most of the books in today's post fall into the former category :)

When Tesco had their "Buy 2 for £7.00" offer, I was in bookworm heaven, and I knew that I had bought quite a few as reward for enduring the drudgery that is grocery shopping.... (who am I kidding? Any excuse!!)

It wasn't until I decided to rearrange my bedroom recently - including bookcase - that I realised exactly how many brand new unread books I have. In my defence the Tesco book offer ran for about 18 months, but still...            
(look for the justifications in italics - God loves a tryer!)

I am quite frankly shocked.....

These are all non-fiction! I owed it to the animals to read their stories!

and disgusted at the amount of books here....

Geeeeek books! Plus some of Atonement was filmed near me.

It would have been rude not to.

I wanted to read the film novels before the movies were released - oopsie!

And Alan Carr makes me laugh.

So inspired by Jane Tomlinson's story - she did so much for charity.

The Chantelle book was £1 from Asda's bargain bin and

it has hologram writing on the cover - I like rainbows

(errr ok. I concur. I have no excuse for the Chantelle book!)

I had to get the "Paris" book as I have the others in the series,

and I couldn't pass up on a geeek book which was on offer!

These are unread books that I have scoured from charity shops...

50p each!! And the New York one is BRAND NEW!

And these are car-boot beauties that my Daddy collected for me ♥...

Houston, we have a problem. Yes, you were indeed correct if you counted 37. Oh. My. God. I had no idea!!

I wonder if there is such a thing as Book-buyers Anonymous? I will definitely read them all though - I'm just on a book ban for the forseeable future.... umm apart from the Hummingbird Bakery recipe book that I've requested for my birthday. But obviously that doesn't count, being a recipe book. Hehe!

Have you read any of these? If you have, what did you think of them?

I would love to ask for your reading recommendations too but quite frankly I daren't. I will be the old lady with a million books if I don't restrain myself now :D

xx

Sad swollen chipmunk cheeks...

**Depressing (and a bit gory) blog post lovelies!!**

I'm feeling really glum today, and rather sorry for myself if I'm honest. Last year's depression aside, I'm generally very good at looking on the bright side of things and painting on a smile. But today....

I went into hospital on Thursday to have an impacted lower wisdom tooth removed by local anaesthetic and I'm in AGONY. I had to stop the surgeon twice because of a searing pain in my jaw and I soon discovered why.

Part of my jaw bone came away with the root of the tooth. I was told beforehand that this can happen, so I know it's not that serious because the bone will re-grow in a few weeks, but add to that 4 gum stitches and owww my gosh it hurts.

It was already bruised by the time I got to my Aunty Jennie's house 30 mins after leaving hospital (I stayed with my Aunt and Uncle that night - so pleased I did as I was going to come home until she told me that she didn't want me to be on my own) and after a rubbish night's sleep I woke up yesterday morning with a mahoooosive chipmunk cheek which literally looked as though it was housing a golf ball.

I was totally spoiled by my lovely aunt though and spent a really nice day yesterday helping her look after my cousin's two little ones. I came home to Gizmo cat yesterday evening and was so tired that I pretty much went straight to bed.

I thought that the chipmunk cheek was looking much better today until my neighbour saw me through the window - from across the road - and ran straight over to see if I was ok. Eeeek!

Anyhoo, am dosed up with painkillers that are not really working because I can still feel the stitches pulling. *sad face*

It took me 45 mins to eat some mashed potato and spaghetti hoops earlier too... I long for some nice solid food and to be able to open my mouth wide enough to actually eat it!

I'm also dreading work on Monday. I really don't want to go and sit on a reception desk and talk to people all day looking and feeling like this, but the bosses I work for hate people being off sick, and if they can drag themselves in with severed limbs (ok slight exaggeration here) then they expect us to do the same.

I'm sorry for bleating on about what most would probably consider to be a minor and trivial ailment (which it is, really) but feeling poorly and in so much pain always seems so much worse when you live on your own, and I just had to let it all out somewhere, you know?

And even Gizmo seems to know not to nuzzle up to me, so no cat cuddles either!

On the upside - see, I always have to try and turn my frown upside down! - Mr Postman has recently delivered my very first tiny MAC make up order aaaand some very cool books from Amazon, both parcels made me very happy indeed and I'll be blogging about my loot soon!

Once again apologies for this pitiful display of self indulgent wallowing. I hope that you are all well and enjoying your weekend :)

xxxx

(photo from weheartit)

"New Moon"... or once in a blue moon?

Excuse the rubbish title haha!

Bit of a trivial post this, but I've been trying to read "New Moon" by Stephenie Meyer for ages now and I just can't seem to immerse myself in it. I'm still only at page 104. Very annoying, as I loved the first "Twilight" novel.

I keep putting it down in favour of reading a few chapters of Lauren Conrad's "LA Candy"... which, actually, I am really enjoying! Yeah... I know... but at least we've established that I'm not a book snob ;)

I've been lent the "New Moon" DVD but everyone tells me to read the book first...

Have you read "New Moon"? If you have, did you experience the same as me initially or did it grab you from the first page? I HATE giving up on books but this is a bit of a slog at the moment!

xx