Good afternoon,
I just had an urge to do another totally pointless yet weirdly fun-to-write tag. As always, I tag anyone who wants to do this as well, not before you've read mine though!
1. How many times do you check your email everyday?
I'm logged on to my work email all day, and pick it up at the weekends now too (yep, I'm starting to become one of those people). My personal is lesser used, but I do try to look at that one when I remember.
2. How many times a day do you go on Goodreads?
First of all, find me on Goodreads here!
I don't go on Goodreads every day, but I do like it, as the reviews are helpful, and I love reading them after I've finished a book to see if other people thought the same as I did. I find though, it encourages me to see the books I've read as 'just a number' and I always want that number to be bigger than it is!
Goodreads is quite helpful for my job sometimes; most recently the book quotes pages have been useful.
3. How long does it take you to edit your posts?
In my typical lazy fashion, after I've written my posts, I do the quickest of skim-throughs and then press 'publish'. I like looking at my post on the actual blog, rather than on the view you see when you're editing it, so then when I do have a look, I usually notice a ton of mistakes and go back and edit! I'd have made a terrible editor!
4. What kind of laptop do you use?
My own laptop died a death in a very untimely fashion during my university dissertation! I have since been using an ancient hand-me-down which is a HP (not sure which specifically but it has pretty swirly patterns on the top and the inside!).
5. How often do you check Twitter?
I go through phases of being massively into it and then not so much. Most of the time I'm on there pretty regularly and it gets quite addictive! I've been on it more recently now, because there is a lot of Tweeting and Twitter checking I have to do at work. So much so, that I had to get Tweetdeck the other day, which confuses me slightly, but I'm sure I'll work it out sooner or later!
6. Why do you use Blogger, Wordpress, etc?
Obviously I'm on Blogger at the moment, and I chose this platform because all the blogs I tended to be reading were using this one too. I like it because it's relatively easy to use and I think it looks quite good.
I've actually had a blog on a ton of platforms over the years, including WordPress (it still exists, but I'm going to leave you to find it for yourselves).
7. Are you good at keeping up with your reviews, tags, etc?
In a word: no! I definitely go through phases; some weeks I'll be great and other weeks, work just gets on top of me and I just can't find the time, unfortunately. I do love blogging though, and book reviews are always fun to write. The longer I leave them, the harder they are to actually write, as I just forget what I really thought of the book!
8. How many times a week do you post?
It's really not regular, and I don't stick to a schedule for blogging at all! If I made one, I would only fail at keeping it! The aim is to get better though!
xx
Sunday 19 April 2015
Sunday 5 April 2015
Book Review: Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
I hope you're all having a lovely Easter weekend!
I thought I'd stop by with another book review. I bought Bridget Jones's Diary a few years ago whilst I was at university, and somehow it took this long to make its way into my hands again. Most of my reading time occurs on the train to and from London for work. If like me, you read in public spaces, let me warn you now, you will laugh out loud and you won't be able to control it!
Bridget writes to us in diary entries for a year, detailing her hysterical exploits in love, work and friendship (I'm sure you've seen the film...who hasn't!). Despite knowing all the words to the film backwards, it was nice to read the book, as there were some differences in plot! In the book, Bridget's mother gets into quite shocking situation with a criminal who relieves the family and friends of all their money, leaving Mark Darcy to save the day!
I loved this book, and although some of the references now are rather outdated (confusion over how to use the TV recording set and lack of mobile phones), it doesn't affect the story at all! In fact, I think I really read this book at the right time as I am about to move to London, and I have just got a job in Publishing, like Bridget! So from that perspective it was fun to read!
I recommend this book if you have done a lot of 'heavy' reading recently and want something lighter for a change!
I am rating this book 5 stars because Bridget Jones is the ultimate chick-lit novel! It doesn't really come better!
I thought I'd stop by with another book review. I bought Bridget Jones's Diary a few years ago whilst I was at university, and somehow it took this long to make its way into my hands again. Most of my reading time occurs on the train to and from London for work. If like me, you read in public spaces, let me warn you now, you will laugh out loud and you won't be able to control it!
Bridget writes to us in diary entries for a year, detailing her hysterical exploits in love, work and friendship (I'm sure you've seen the film...who hasn't!). Despite knowing all the words to the film backwards, it was nice to read the book, as there were some differences in plot! In the book, Bridget's mother gets into quite shocking situation with a criminal who relieves the family and friends of all their money, leaving Mark Darcy to save the day!
I loved this book, and although some of the references now are rather outdated (confusion over how to use the TV recording set and lack of mobile phones), it doesn't affect the story at all! In fact, I think I really read this book at the right time as I am about to move to London, and I have just got a job in Publishing, like Bridget! So from that perspective it was fun to read!
I recommend this book if you have done a lot of 'heavy' reading recently and want something lighter for a change!
I am rating this book 5 stars because Bridget Jones is the ultimate chick-lit novel! It doesn't really come better!
Friday 3 April 2015
A Month In Book-World
So much has happened in my first month of work in PR, it's madness! I thought I'd share some of it here, in case it helps anybody who is thinking of working in books, publishing or PR to find out what goes on. My first month was quite events-heavy (no complaints, I met some amazing people!).
The first thing on the schedule was the YA Book Prize, an event to celebrate and recognise the growing success of young-adult fiction. This was the first year that it has run, and I think all will agree, it's a fantastic idea.
The event, hosted by The Bookseller, was held at Foyles in Charing Cross and was a fantastic evening. Most of the authors including Sally Green (Half Bad), Non Pratt (Trouble) and YA Book Prize winner Louise O'Neill (Only Ever Yours) were there to celebrate.
Highlights for me were spending the evening amongst such a talented bunch and meeting some really lovely people, including Rosianna from YouTube (I fangirled a little bit), who was on the judges' panel and was there to announce the award!
Rosianna Halse Rojas announcing the winner
Louise O'Neill accepting her award
The shortlisted books on display in Foyles, Charing Cross
The Shortlistees
A few days later the British Library held The Folio Prize Fiction Festival. Panels of shortlisted authors (a favourite of mine was Jeanette Winterson) were given a topic to discuss (conflict, desire, betrayal etc.). Watching these was fantastic, as they all had thought-provoking, insightful things to say on their topics, and it was interesting to watch the small panels of authors bounce off each other. The floor was then opened for the audience to ask questions, which was a nice idea.
From a work perspective, the main job was to look after the authors and running the book signings after each lecture. Having this responsibility was a first for me, and the experience of meeting authors I love was incredible! A couple of the authors really stood out to me during their lectures, and I definitely want to check them out based on how they came across; Colm Toibin (Nora Webster), Ali Smith (How to be Both) and Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (Dust).
I took lots of photos of the weekend, but here are a few of my favourites...
From a work perspective, the main job was to look after the authors and running the book signings after each lecture. Having this responsibility was a first for me, and the experience of meeting authors I love was incredible! A couple of the authors really stood out to me during their lectures, and I definitely want to check them out based on how they came across; Colm Toibin (Nora Webster), Ali Smith (How to be Both) and Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor (Dust).
I took lots of photos of the weekend, but here are a few of my favourites...
Book signing with Yvonne, A M Homes and Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor and Jeanette Winterson
Press photos
Colm Toibin
Ali Smith
Lecture: On Inheritance with A M Homes, Jeanette Winterson and Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor in conversation with Mark Lawson
Lecutre: On Endings with Jon Dunthorne, Jon McGregor, Justine Picardie and Suzi Feay in conversation
On Betrayal: Ben Lerner
The Monday after the Folio Prize Fiction Festival weekend, was prizegiving event. This was held at St Pancras Rennaisance Hotel, and was a very fancy affair with frocks and cocktails! The main job here was to welcome guests through the doors, helping the authors sign the books and being on hand when they went up on the stage. Congratulations goes to Akhil Sharma for winning the Folio Prize on the night, for his book Family Life! I will leave you with this picture of the team (I am on the right!).
xx
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