Autumn Reads

Autumn Reads

Wednesday, 31 October 2018

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It's that time of year where all I want to do is curl up in a cosy corner with a mug of tea and my dog and read all of the books. I just love the idea of sitting by a window, with the leaves falling, and getting completely lost in a book. But in all honesty it's been a very long time since I've done that. And this year, for the first time in a very, very long time, I’ve actually done it. I  have read loads! Loads!  I haven’t read like this since before I went to university, and ultimately, destroyed my concentration and ability to focus on anything that wasn't instagram for longer than 30 seconds. Over the last six weeks I've made reading a serious priority, and have really reminded myself of how much I fucking love books and reading. I love it so much. Why did I stop? Anyway here's just some of the books I've read and loved recently.

No Further Questions by Gillian McAllister

If you love a slightly trashy but compelling crime novel (my fave!) then look no further (is that a pun?!) Told from the perspective of both sides, No Further Questions is a courtroom drama, about sisters, Martha and Becky, who are embroiled in a court case, where one of them - Becky - stands accused of murdering the other’s baby. Despite the quite dark subject matter, not going to lie I don’t love reading about children being murdered, I was completely consumed by the story, which drew me in from the very first page and kept me reading until the bitter end. It’s a fantastic read.

What Would The Spice Girls Do? by Lauren Bravo

What Would The Spice Girls Do? is an exploration of the Spice Girls and their undeniable impact on pop culture and, not to be overdramatic, the world. More importantly, it's about the Girl Power generation and how we grew up. 

I was only five when Wannabe came out and set the world on fire, so I am a fully paid up member of the Girl Power generation and a former Baby Spice wannabe. I grew up with the Spice Girls. I was obsessed with them. I loved them! And I loved reading this book because of that. Reading it was so nostalgic, because I lived it all. I was obsessed, I had the dolls, I had the photo cards, I had the Impulse body spray, I ate the crisps and I even had an unofficial blue Spice Girls t-shirt that my mum got me from the market. And you probably did too. 

Now even if you didn't love the Spice Girls - you did, you know you did! - it's still a fascinating and hilarious read. It's whip-smart, hilariously funny and stridently feminist without being preachy. I'm a total Lauren Bravo fangirl, and the way she writes is just *italian chef finger kiss* It's brilliant.

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

Set inside a Women's Clinic in Mississippi which has been taken over by a shooter, A Spark of Light is an incredible book about abortion and the different arguments on either side of this very contentious topic. Starting at the end, the story works backwards and is told from multiple perspectives, including that of the shooter. It's very cleverly and sensitively done, but it's also incredibly well written. I'm reading it at the moment, and I'm about half way through but I'm finding it to be a really compelling read. It's utterly addictive and compelling but thought provoking and incredibly relevant. I think it's amazing and I can't wait to find out what's going to happen. 

My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen

You don't have to be a fan of Lily Allen's - I wasn't particularly, I am now - to think that her autobiography is a spectacular piece of work. It's honestly incredible and I wasn't expecting to be as emotionally invested in it as I was. My Thoughts Exactly is Lily's answer to all the tabloid stories and trolling and all other horrible bull shit she faces on a day-to-day basis. It's her story told  in her words, and those words are bloody brilliant. She's very open and honest, to the point where it's painful  at times, but she's also funny and warm, and her story is really moving. I loved it.

This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Phillips 

Okay, so this is the only one I haven't read yet, but it's next on my reading list. Lately, like the rest of the world, I've become a bit obsessed with Busy Phillips. Her autobiography, This Will Only Hurt a Little, from what I've heard, is funny, brutally honest, refreshing, heartbreaking and awesome. I cannot wait to get stuck in. 

So those are my reading recommendations, what are yours? Let me know xxx

The Weekly Round #11: feeling ill & re-reading Me Before You

The Weekly Round #11: feeling ill & re-reading Me Before You

Sunday, 21 February 2016

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Sorry for the radio silence for the past week folks. I've been stuck in bed since Tuesday with the flu. I'm feeling a bit better but not quite 100% yet. I'm still coughing a lot but I'm getting there. I haven't done much this week because I've been so poorly, all I've done really is curl up in a ball, moan pathetically, drink way more lemsip than advisable and surf youtube. That's literally been my week.

I did get the chance to read Me Before You, which is something I've wanted to do for a while. I first read it a few years back and I absolutely loved it but after the release of the film trailer, which looks amazing by the way, watch it here, and the release of the second book, After You, I thought it was about time I re-read it. And it was even better than I remembered. I cried for like 2 hours after finishing it because it is so heartbreakingly sad. If you haven't read it you definitely need to change that, but for those of you who don't know Me Before You is about Louisa Clark, who after losing her job in a cafe, takes a job as a companion for the quadriplegic Will Traynor. Before his accident Will was a thrill seeker and a daredevil but is now confined to his wheelchair with only the limited use of his hand and a plan to end it all. Neither of them are aware of the profound impact they're going to have on each other.

It raises a lot of really important questions about a person's right to die and highlights the difference between what is legally right and what is morally right. On top of that it is a fabulously written, beautiful, funny, heartbreaking and bitter sweet story about love. Sorry I'll put my English Literature nerd back in her box now and just tell you that it's amazing and definitely worth a read before the film comes out in June. But make sure you have a box of tissues nearby.

What have you been up to this week? Have you read Me Before You? What did you think? Let me know in the comments below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat - search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

Paper Towns Book Review

Paper Towns Book Review

Wednesday, 18 February 2015

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Image via

At 11 years old Margo Roth Spiegelman and Quentin 'Q' Jacobsen find a dead body in the park by their houses.  Q has loved Margo from afar ever since. 7 years later Margo  appears at Q's window in the middle of the night  and  asks him to come  on an adventure with her. During the night Margo and Q wreck havoc on Margo's enemies and break into Seaworld. The next day Margo goes missing, but not before leaving a series of clues for Q to find her. As Q delves deeper and deeper into Margo's past in search for more clues, the more he realises that he never really knew Margo at all. 

The thing I found most interesting in Paper Towns was Q's perception of Margo. He built her up to be his perfect, dream girl. It's only after he begins to get to know her through the clues she's left behind that he begins to see her as a real person rather than a fantasy. But even Q's idea of her as a real person is wrong.  It's not real, it's not who Margo really is but only what Q thinks she really is.  I think everyone, myself especially, is guilty of moulding a person into something they're not in our heads, falling in love with an idea and then being disappointed after finding out who they really are.  I do this a lot, I build people up to be this amazing person, I even do this with people I know quite well and then I'm so disappointed when they're not who I want them to be.  So this really spoke to me on a more personal level. One of my favourite quotes in the book is towards the end  when Q realises that Margo isn't who he thought she was. 

'I realize that the idea is not only wrong but dangerous. What a treacherous thing it is to believe a person is more than a person.' 

That just speaks volumes to me.

All in all I really enjoyed this book. I found it gripping, laugh out loud funny at times, poignant and sad at others and in a lot of ways not what I was expecting. I also had to stop myself looking up the ending on Wikipedia a number of times. Having said that I had a quick look on goodreads and a lot of people have said that Paper Towns is pretty much exactly the same as John Green's earlier novel Looking for Alaska, which I haven't read (I am planning to read it) so I can't really comment. But I love John Green so I was always gonna enjoy it. I'm a great advocate of reading the book before seeing the film so I strongly recommend giving this a read because it is really good, and the film looks like it's gonna be good too. 

Have you read Paper Towns? What did you think?  Let me know by commenting below, on twitter or by sending me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also have a look at my instagram,  facebook, bloglovin & pinterest. 

Love love love xxx

Friday I'm in Love #2

Friday I'm in Love #2

Friday, 6 June 2014

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I am back with my second installment of Friday I'm in Love. This week I have been loving…

Jimmy Fallon - Many an hour has been lost surfing youtube for videos from The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. I am so gutted that we don't get it over here because he is absolutely hilarious! When I was writing my dissertation, and stressing so badly that I wanted to cry like all the time, I would quickly click over to youtube to watch a Jimmy Fallon vid and laugh my troubles away for roughly 5 minutes before going back to stressing about feminism. I was first introduced to Jimmy Fallon when a link for his lip sync battle against the one and only Emma Stone appeared in my facebook feed. Ever since then I have become a subscriber on youtube and a regular viewer of his hysterical antics. My personal favourite is his must-see lip sync battle against Paul Rudd, whose Tina Turner is nothing short of magical.

Frizz Ease Extra Strength 6 Effects Serum

I have been using this for years,it's one of the few products that can keep my untamed mane in check. I use it every other day on soaking wet hair to combat frizz and it works. Two pumps of this on soaking wet hair and my curls are no longer a mad tangle of cherry coloured wire but smooth and shiny. It is a must for anyone with curly hair. Having said that it is a must for anyone with frizz prone hair, my mum has straight hair and she's used it to eliminate frizz. It's fantastic and it smells nice too.

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Elderberry

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Elderberry

Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Elderberry

I bought this over the weekend and it has been on my fingertips ever since. It is the most beautiful pale blue with a smoky grey undertone. It's beautiful.  I love Barry M Nail Paints (I have 35 of them), their range of colours and effects is amazing and the formula is always so gorgeous and easy to use and it lasts a decent amount of time as well.

Collection's Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Powder in 02 Medium

Collection's Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Powder in 02 Medium

I bought this last week to counter the unfortunate sheen that Maybelline New York's Dream Satin Liquid Foundation left on my face (read more about that here). Normally I'm not a huge fan of powders, in the past I have found the coverage to be a bit meh and the powders themselves to be a bit cakey. But the coverage on this is really good and it's not at all cakey. I really like it.

Neal's Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Hand Cream

Neal's Yard Remedies Bee Lovely Hand Cream

I got this free with a magazine about a million years ago and had never used it until yesterday. After a massive spring clean my hands were left so sore and dry and then I found this in my cupboard and thought I would give it a try. It is amazing. Containing organic honey and orange essential oil it smells absolutely gorgeous but left my hands feeling so nourished and soft.

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

(My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick. Sadly this is not my copy, I read it on my ipad but how pretty is it?)

I had been dying to read this for ages, but with the heavy reading that comes with being a third and final year English student it was relegated to the bottom of the pile. It tells the story of Samantha Reed who lives next door to the loud, messy, lovely and massive Garrett family (they have 8 kids). Samantha, the younger of 2 daughters, has been intrigued by the Garrett's for years but has never made any contact with them due to her disapproving mother, who is both a state senator and a complete bitch. But then Samantha meets Jase Garrett and they fall in love.  However there is a twist, which I won't give away because it is really good and I think you should go and read it. This is not just another YA love story, it is incredibly funny and really sad at some points but it is so, so good and best of all it's the first of a series, with the second one due out in 2015. I loved it and I will definitely be re-reading it (partly because I am totally in love with Jase!)

Dairy Milk Chocolate with Oreo

Dairy Milk Chocolate with Oreo

AKA the best chocolate in the world. So yummy! No explanation needed.

My SOTW is Everything Louder than Everything Else by the one and only MeatLoaf purely because everything MeatLoaf does gets me super pumped. It's the perfect work out song.

What are  you guys loving this week? Let me know using the hashtag #FridayIminLove also check me out on twitter, facebook, Bloglovin, instagram & pinterest.

Anyway lovely people I will be back on Monday with my Girl Crushes of 2014, if you can't wait until then you can read my 2013 list here.

Love love love xxx

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns): A Review

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns): A Review

Monday, 17 February 2014

Read post

I've been looking to expand my blog into other areas as I'm on a no new make up ban until April. So far it's going well but unfortunately that means my main source of inspiration is currently in short supply.

I absolutely adore reading, always have done. According to my mum I taught myself to read when I was 3 (I don't know how true this is) even now I love nothing more than curling up and losing myself in a really good book, particularly when it's raining or cold outside.  I recently read and loved Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling and I thought I would review it for you lovely lot.

 As a third year English student I spend most of my time reading however I usually don't have the time to read something I actually want to read rather than something I have to for my degree. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) -hereafter referred to as IEHOWM - is the first book in a long time that I've read purely because I wanted to.

IEHOWM is a memoir interspersed with observational essays, detailing Mindy's life from a geeky yet adorable child, to working as a babysitter in New York and then finally to landing her dream job as a writer on the brilliant and hilariously funny US adaptation of The Office. Usually I am not a fan of autobiographies, much preferring to lose myself in a fictional word where children are forced to fight to the death (I realise that sentence makes me look like a psycho) or a boy wizard who has the fate of the magical world on his shoulders. Having said that I utterly adored it, Mindy's book was both hilarious and utterly absorbing. I could not and did not put it down.

I love Mindy, I'm a huge fan of both The Mindy Project and The Office (US) so I'm not even a little bit surprised that I thoroughly enjoyed her book. The thing I love most about Mindy is that she knows who she is and is completely unashamed of that fact. This comes through in her writing and I adored it. A self confessed "vain flake" Mindy comes across as both funny and honest, making the book like a conversation with your best friend where neither of you can stop laughing.

Obviously I loved finding more about Mindy, (she's my spirit animal, her and Jennifer Lawrence), but what I really loved about this book was the random lists, I am the kind of person who makes lists for everything in life. My To Do List has it's own To Do List (would that be a To Do To Do List?). I particularly loved Best Friend Rights and Responsibilities and Types of Women in Romantic Comedies Who Aren't Real. Both were hilarious and accurate. In fact I found myself saying "it's funny cause it's true" whilst giggling more times than I can count throughout the course of this book.

My absolute favourite part though was entitled When You're Not Skinny This Is What People Want You To Wear. As a fellow not skinny girl I know how awful it is when people pick out clothes that they think you should wear, I'll give you an example for Christmas my size 8 sister bought me, among other things, crop tops. I'll say that again crop tops and that's plural, as in more than one . I would not be seen dead in a crop top for a lot of reasons and can't even begin to fathom why she bought them for me. Oh we'll it's the thought that counts. Anyway...

  

I thoroughly recommend this book for anyone who wants to have a giggle with one of the funniest ladies in comedy. I loved it.

Until next time lovelies check out my twitter, facebook, Bloglovin, instagram & pinterest. 

Love love love xx