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!)
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!
50p each!! And the New York one is BRAND NEW!
And these are car-boot beauties that my Daddy collected for me ♥...
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
