It was the hardest night of my life. But, after 10 hours of climbing and 1,295m of ascent I had made it. I was officially at the top of Africa standing upon the world’s tallest free-standing mountain. Finally, all of the pain and exhaustion had been worth it. The elation of having made it, the…
UK vs US book covers: who does it better?
We get told from an early age not to judge a book by its cover, but not only is it impossible not to, but book design is also a key factor in how well a book sells. There are lots of amazing book covers out there, from the abstract colourful patterns which adorn literary fiction…
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So, “what do you want to do post-uni?”
photo: pawel-czerwinski-jj4LC7iKA6Q-unsplash Man, I get asked this question a lot, and hey, I understand it is a perfectly normal and obvious question to ask as I approach my last year of uni - but if I'm being completely honest I haven't really got a Scooby-Doo. I have sat down many times in front of my…
The Ultimate Book Recommendations From Every Fiction Genre: Pt.3
Feature Image: https://www.readitforward.com/essay/article/17-books-were-excited-to-read-in-2017/ Disclaimer: The links to the book listed, are Amazon affiliate links – so if you are inspired and decide to buy it, I benefit a little too. We’re sharing the love! … Mystery & Crime This is also sometimes called detective fiction. Simply it’s a ‘who dunnit’ narrative. Whilst these books can be…
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Book Review: Crime and Punishment, Dostoevsky
Crime and Punishment is a widely known novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, a giant of Russian literature, published in 1866. The book is not a crime novel: instead it is a novel where crime has happened. It is not a fast-paced thriller, but rather a fascinating slow-burner. Almost immediately the identity of the criminal is revealed,…
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A Mindful Quarantine
Recently I have begun to wonder, what might happen next? The simplicity of the question doesn’t lead to an easy answer; there is no fairy-tale ending, the story is full of twists and turns. After navigating the strict lockdown period for about 2 months and finally being allowed a bit more freedom, I find myself confused. What…
9 women of ages 14-85 answer the same question: ‘What one piece of advice would you give to someone younger than you?’
As I begin to transition into another new chapter in my life, one of greater independence, study and responsibility; and with this extended period of time at home – it has given me the chance to reflect on what I’ve learnt and how much I still have to learn. But learning from others, those who…
Best Selling Books from the year I was born: how has literature changed in 20 years?
Title Photo by Ed Robertson on Unsplash I have been thinking about my future a lot recently and wondering where and what I might be doing in a few years’ time, which also lead me to reflect on my life thus far. Inevitably, I have changed a lot in many ways but that is a whole other blog…
Simply Put One Foot In Front Of The Other
Nature is fuel for the soul. One of the best habits I adopted a couple of years ago was getting out for my 'daily steps' in the fresh air. If I felt sluggish, tired, stressed or nervous, one of the things I would do that would make me feel instantly better was simply going for…
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How to have an eco-friendly Christmas
Christmas is often a time when people indulge, treat themselves and take extra time to relax and be with those they love. But it can also be a time of excess – with lots of trees, wrapping paper, food and gifts going to waste. My family is big on doing what we can to help…
A Week Of Walking
I was fortunate enough this year to escape for a week in the Lake District with my family during the glorious weather here in the UK in mid-July. Whilst I am looking forward to heading abroad again and experiencing new sights and cultures, the great English countryside certainly doesn't disappoint. I have always been a…
A brain dump
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash Hello again! I haven’t committed ‘pen to paper’ for a while now, and to be honest I’m not quite sure why. I think partly it is because I have temporarily lost the love of words a little, at least for pure enjoyment anyways. This summer I had to do an exam, and…
Best places to visit along the South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path is England’s longest trail stretching 630 miles from Minehead in Somerset to Poole Harbour in Dorset. It runs along the coastline of Exmoor, into North Devon and through Cornwall. The path offers extraordinary scenery, breath-taking views and a walk to suit everyone’s needs. It has strenuous, steep sections, rolling hills…
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The Ultimate Book Recommendations From Every Fiction Genre: Pt. 2
Feature Image: http://www.walsom.com/illustrations/commercial-retail/bookshop-interior-4.html Disclaimer: The links to the book listed, are Amazon affiliate links – so if you are inspired and decide to buy anything, I benefit a little too. We’re sharing the love! … Graphic novel Some books aren’t defined by their content but by their form. Graphic novels are a visual form of literature,…
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The Ultimate Book Recommendations From Every Fiction Genre: Pt. 1
Feature image: https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/11/13/my-ideal-bookshelf-jane-mount-thessaly-la-force/ “So, what do you want to do in the future Becky?” Umm…anything to do with books! Recently I have put my serious thinking hat on about what I might want my career and future to look like. When faced with the largest, scariest, open-ended questions such as ‘Where do you see yourself…
Continue reading ➞ The Ultimate Book Recommendations From Every Fiction Genre: Pt. 1