I don’t feel like posting anything intense right now as I feel extremely run down and my brain isn’t really working… so I thought I’d do something short, easy going and useless.
An explanation for the title of this post: I finally went out today and I’m ill. Probably. Or maybe it’s just an excuse to spend another day in my room? Who knows. I never go out. I mean never. Unless you count coffee shops that are 30 seconds away from my house, and I really need to suck it up if I am to watch Star Wars. The furthest I ever go, however, would be Waterstones, aka my safe haven. If I ever feel down, I go to Waterstones. If I ever want to leave my house, I go to Waterstones. If I ever feel like spending money in an actual store (as opposed to online, which is where 98% of my spending is done), I go to Waterstones. If I ever go anywhere more than 30 minutes away from my house (excluding uni), it is Waterstones. I like being around books and I like buying books (but don’t ask me how often I read the books that I buy. I have an overflowing bookshelf full of unread books). I am fully aware that there are MUCH cheaper options; I only buy a book from Waterstones if it’s no more than a couple pounds than on Amazon or somewhere, OR if it’s a special copy. Saying that, however, I am a total Waterstones fanboy. I could spend hours in there and I feel much better going to a store and buying a book than I do ordering it. Plus I have to really think about it before buying it. Amazon one-click will be the death of my bank account. Waterstones employees are great, too. Shout out to the cashier who struck up conversation about my Bateman lock screen today….let’s go.
- Sense & Sensibility – Jane Austen.
I don’t really need to say much about this book, it’s classic literature. Contrary to popular opinion, though….I’m just going to say it: I. Do. Not. Like. Jane. Austen. And it frustrates me that people love her work so much because I am forced to at least give her a chance; I started to read Pride and Prejudice and I hated it so much that I never got past the first few pages. I have to give them both a shot, though, as I need to read them both for university. Wish me luck. - Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushie.
This one is for my postcolonial module. Theoretically, given my interests, this is the module that should interest me most, and I was pretty excited for it. Until I saw the reading list. It’s bland, and this is one of the only books on the list that interest me. It’s something I’ve always wanted to read just to be able to say that I’ve read it, but now I regret wanting to read it because it looks pretty boring and I’ve also read some pretty scathing reviews about it… basically I’ll read it, but if I could spend the time reading another book, I would. Wish me luck for this one too. - Game of Thrones – George R.R Martin
As you can see I have finally decided to begin A Song of Ice and Fire about a million years too late, and yes, I chose the newer cover because it is in my favourite colour, and yes, I am reading it before watching it because I’ve heard that the show departs WILDLY from the books? I’m hoping to finish this by the end of December, what with all the reading and coursework/exam preparation I need to catch up on, we’ll see. - Henry’s Demons – Patrick & Henry Cockburn
I understand that most of you will have read or at least heard of the previous three books, but perhaps you won’t have known about this. This is the one book out of all of these that I didn’t feel obliged to buy, I felt compelled to buy it. I’ve been wanting to read this for a long time now and finally I have it in my possession. Books that explore ‘hard’ mental illnesses are probably the only ones I prefer over satirical novels or transgressive fiction (my favourites). More books that explore the ugly side of mental illness and less about romanticised depression. ALL stigma needs to be removed, not just that of depression and anxiety. Please.
I don’t need to talk about this. I think every writer always needs a Moleskine on them, am I right?
Expect another trip next week. There are so many books that I want to re-read, and so many books that I want to start reading, but there are also so many books on my reading list that I have to get through. The solution? Don’t read. Sleep.