Quote of the day...

"She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice; it was supposed to make you feel something." 

- Park, Eleanor and Park, by Rainbow Rowell.

Quote of the Day...

“Writers of novels live in a strange world where what’s made up is as important as what’s real.”

- Sara Sheridan (via writingquotes)

Op-shopping Adventures and Literary Rescue

Some days I find myself wandering down to the local op-shops (thrift shop?) in search of something new, and I've often found some really affordable -and interesting- books in this way. Whenever I do purchase second hand books, I feel as though I'm rescuing them; giving them a second chance where they may have been dismissed, given up for something else, perhaps. Giving old books a new home is extremely satisfying, for me.
It's a hobby of mine, really. Even if I don't really have the room for it...

What's the best thing you've picked up from an op-shopping adventure? A tale of love and woe? Or maybe an antique record player, a real piece of history. Whatever it is, I'd love to hear about it in the comments!

Come talk to me, I promise I don't bite.
-Em xx

Next up: Eleanor and Park

Love, Anxiety, and Girl Online

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

How did you celebrate the end of 2014/beginning of 2015? Was there food? Fireworks? Friends and family?
I myself wasn't lucky enough to participate in any such event or 'celebration', if you will, but I can't say I'm all to disappointed by how I spent my evening/morning.

I spent my night finishing the last several chapters of Zoe Sugg's debut novel, Girl Online.

Girl Online follows the life (and embarrassment) of a sixteen-year-old UK blogger by the name of Penny Porter (A.K.A. Girl Online), and her incredible and romantic adventure in New York over Christmas and the New Year.

It was an easy book to fall in love with, as both the layout and the plot of the novel are fabulous. The text size is easily readable and not migraine inducing, as I have found with smaller font sizes. The chapters are short and perfect for reading before work, during lunch-breaks, or before bed without having to worry about leaving halfway through a chapter (which is always super annoying). I'm in love with the cover art, as it's both simple and aesthetically pleasing, which is always a nice addition to any bookshelf.

It's easy to fall in love with the characters in this novel, and to feel inspired by their different experiences and personalities. Penny, especially, inspires a sense of understanding, and is generally a very relatable character. As somebody who once suffered from panic attacks, and now has friends who suffer similar, if not the same, anxieties, I find Penny's story to be quite relevant and even helpful in the case of dealing with the fears and stress anxiety causes.

On that note, of course, I'd like to just give a general trigger warning for Girl Online, because there are mentions of panic attacks and even brief descriptions of the experience (as well as various ways to help with calming down after or during an attack). I know for a fact that this kind of mention is a trigger for some, and so just a warning if you do choose to read and you're affected by the mention of panic attacks then you may want to proceed with caution. It's a truly inspiring journey through anxiety, facing fears, and falling in love, so even though there are a few triggers throughout, as well as a generous serve of secondhand embarrassment, Girl Online is ultimately a very helpful and fun novel to read.

As always, of course, this work of fiction would not be at all possible without the lovely author, Zoe Sugg, a.k.a Zoella (popular YouTube personality and Beauty blogger). A four year work in progress, Girl Online is a fun-romantic-exciting-dramatic work and was a pleasure to read, and I sincerely suggest it for readers who also liked The Fault in our Stars (John Green) or Fangirl (Rainbow Rowell).

I hope 2015 brings you some kind of happiness, and that you stick to at least one of your New Years Resolutions.

Keep Reading!

Girl Online, Going Offline xx

[ See what I did there? You'll get it if you read the book ;) ] 
-Em xx