Blogaversary Series: Day Three

So, my blogaversary series continues apace, and today I have two more links for you from the archive:

1. The first is my review of Wilkie Collins' 'The Woman in White', entitled, quite dramatically, 'I am a Literary Sensationalist!' , from October last year.

Reason: I think 'The Woman in White' was the first book that I read purely because it had been so highly recommended in the book blogs I read. Before I started blogging about books a lot myself, my reading choices were based on things that caught my eye in the library or store, things by authors I already knew, and the classics that you hear so much about and feel you should get on and read. This book fell into none of those camps, as, to be honest, it was never a book I'd really heard of and there is no reason nowadays to place it at the front of the library or store. It was pure book blogger love that did it, and it was pure love that I felt for this book. Also, my review got a bit feminist-political at the end, which is always nice. A complete win all round. 

2. Link two today is a post called 'This is Why Writing is Awesome', which describes a realisation I had at a career mentoring day for teenagers, where I was the writing representative.

Reason: Well, obviously I knew before the day I wrote this post that writing is awesome, but it was so nice to see that reinforced back to me on the faces of kids that I really wanted to write about it. A lot of Twitter discussion followed this post and it was nice to see that other writers felt the same way. And it's good to do something for the kids, of course *air grab* and nice to feel that you can be a role model of sorts.

Check back tomorrow for another look and a sneaky giveaway...







So...2011!

So, we have reached the end of 2011. Where has the year gone? I feel like this one has flown by. 

Looking back, it's been a mixed bag, overall, in terms of writing, blogging and reading - if I were to summarise this year in a sentence, it would be as 'the year in which I read a lot of books I didn't want to be reading'.








'I am a Literary Sensationalist!'

Or so it would seem: have you read 'The Woman in White'? Of course, you have, but I've only just got to it. Not to rave or anything, but I totally want to rave about it. It was like a shot in the arm - that plot arc! those coincidences! Marian's upper lip! Wow.







In My Mailbox, No. 2

Welcome to my second In My Mailbox, a Story Siren meme where I list all the books in my immediate vicinity, so even if I don't blog about them you know they're there, patiently waiting near the top of my TBR pile, about to leap into (or out of) my hand. 

Bit of an eclectic one this month:








In My Mailbox, No. 1

As promised in my previous post, I am now doing In My Mailbox, a Story Siren meme where I list all the books in my immediate vicinity, so even if I don't blog about them you know they're there. And they don't feel ignored and rise up against me, which would be as frightening to you as it is to me if you could see Just. How. Many. There. Are. 

Seriously, shelves, bookcases, lampshades, fridge. Everywhere. All of them simultaneously giving me the evil eye and the come on until I don't know which way to look. Essh.

Barry Unsworth's 'The Quality of Mercy': ARC from Hutchison, review to come in next week or so;

Wilkie Collin's 'The Woman in White': an ex-Book Club choice. However, seeing as I am no longer doing the book club (I'll tell you that story sometime) I have put it down for now. I will pick up it soon though, as it's really rather good.

Tea Obreht's 'The Tiger's Wife': I have read this actually, but it's hanging around waiting for a Book Quote Friday post or a review.

Javier Marias' 'Written Lives': bought after reading this post on 'Wuthering Expectations'. Sounds a little crazy, but that makes it all the more tempting to pick up.

George R. R. Martin's 'A Feast for Crows': although, to be honest, I am not reading this and have all but no intention to. My husband is reading his way through the entire series however, so they are all over the house. And 'Game of Thrones' was, until the series ended, all over my TV. So it deserves a mention I think.