'The man is not rich because he is honest'

So I've started following the news a bit more regularly now, even though I know it is going to be full of awful things that mostly revolve around Donald Trump. As it's only been a couple of weeks since his inauguration, I was a little naïve and did not expect the amount of shit that has cropped up over the past few days in such a short space of time.

Anyway following the news that Trump is reducing the funding for Family planning, I expressed my extreme disappointment on Facebook. I got a couple of responses. The female response was supportive of my disgust. The male response was to point out to me that Trump was kindly not making abortion legal, instead he was just reducing funding. But that was okay, because charities could pick up the slack from the government would not provide. He followed the argument with the fact that he hoped there would be an exception for cases involving rape victims. I pointed out how impossibly ridiculous this was. He concluded that a large percentage of rapes do not end in pregnancy anyway. Surely it cannot be just me that thinks this is the wrong attitude to have? Perhaps it is my own fault for sharing my views, and posts, on social media outlets like facebook. But to say that cutting funding for something as essential as abortion was okay because most rapes do not end in pregnancy? Utterly ridiculous!

Additionally, this was the picture that was tacked on to this headline across facebook. Why is it okay for seven white men to decide anything about female reproductive organs?! I keep coming back to that interview I watched between Emma Watson and Caitlin Moran a couple of months ago, in which it was stated that because women are no longer being burnt at the stake there is no better time to be a woman. It is easy to argue that because of this, it is not a good time to be a woman at all and before I thought about it I had resided myself to that point of view. But when I thought about it, I realised that being a woman is pretty damn good right now. I think about all of those women that marched last week, across the world! All of those women that stood up for equality. That makes me proud to be a woman. I am just so sorry that we are still being attacked like this.


Then we have a Muslim ban that is meant to last for 90 days in favour of protecting American's from terrorism. He has banned people from seven mainly Muslim countries entering America, halts refugee admissions for 120 days and his actions are also preventing Syrian refugees seeking asylum in America for the foreseeable future. Now my favourite reaction videos and posts across the internet are the ones that question what all of the fuss is about. They state that it is 'only 90 days', suggesting that it is nothing to worry about. You are wrong if you think this will stop at 90 days. Instead, this feels like just the beginning. Yesterday I came across posts from people like Mo Farrah, a hugely influential figure that was afraid that he would have to inform his children that their parent may not be able to return home for a while. This was heartbreaking! Obviously his voice was heard, because he is Mo Farrah. But god only knows how many more people we have not heard in the wake of this disaster. The people that will be prevented from going back to their jobs, and face losing their homes as a result. President Trump stated that he wished to make America great again. I just wonder if this is what classifies as great? Fear does not equate to greatness, and I would have thought that was self explanatory.

At this moment in time there are more people across the world, not just Americans, that are more afraid of Donald Trump than of terrorism.

Additionally, protests are occurring within the UK once more in order to prevent Trump arriving in the UK on a state visit. I watched an interesting debate, that was streamed on Facebook yesterday, from the houses of parliament in which one lady compared Trump's actions to that of the basis for the holocaust. There were comments from facebook users adjoined to the video and they continued to flood in as I watched. The general consensus was that Trump should be banned from the United Kingdom, because of everything that he has done thus far. But I was surprised by the odd comment that drifted in that suggested this debate was not only pointless, but pathetic and childish. People suggested that the issues shouldn't be debated at all, that we should just let him enter our country on this state visit. I wondered about these individual reasons for feeling as though there should be no debate.

She states that 'the holocaust did not begin with the gas chambers'. But Boris Johnson responded with the fact that comparisons such as these trivialise the holocaust. However I don't think she was necessarily comparing the holocaust and the sheer magnitude of it. But she did make a valid point that the holocaust started long before gas chambers were involved. It started with prejudice, discrimination and segregation, which is a fair judgement. She simply expressed a fear that this situation could escalate, a fear that I am sure many of us are beginning to share by now.

However, Theresa May still refuses to prevent Trump from entering the UK due to a belief that a visit is in our best interests. I am not so naïve to think this is not the case. I am able to see why she believes it may have some benefit. But when one million people are petitioning online to prevent something, and more protests are taking place outside of Downing Street, you have to wonder what is more important.

Ellen DeGeneres put the Muslim Ban into terms that even Trump may actually understand, using the plot of Finding Dory.

I hope that despite all of this, you have a lovely week.

Monday Rambling.

Just a brief one as I'm making a mad, last minute, dash through Robinson Crusoe after leaving the book at my moms last week. I'm almost half way through!

Last night I went along to a poetry slam as part of the Wolverhampton Original Literature Festival. It was my first time at a slam, and the atmosphere was amazing! It was a sold out event and I really didn't know what to expect. I saw fifteen local poets read some amazing pieces. There were a range of topics; capitalism, Trump, bombings, one individual's womb.

I wish I had gone to more of the festivals events this weekend but the two that I did go along to, I loved!

The other half of my weekend has been spent reading and researching for university. I am already up to my neck in realist novels, and Shakespeare.

However, tomorrow I am determined to make some progress with Caraval! I've had it for five days now, I am not back at work for another two weeks and I've still yet to make a decent start with it. Very frustrating. I keep putting it in my handbags to take with me, but it doesn't come out again until I get home.

More later guys. Expect some Trump related posts!

Have a great day!

Debut Novels with James Hannah and Catherine O'Flynn

Initial reaction? Wow! For the past hour I've sat listening to Catherine O'Flynn and James Hannah talk about writing. I'm currently on my way home and I feel inspired and refreshed and suddenly like I have so much to say. I wish I'd taken notes! Regardless, this post is going to be full of gushing and I am sorry!

First of all, they are so humble and down to earth and lovely. I felt quite nervous when I arrived, as this was new territory for me. I've been to these sorts of events before with Jennifer Niven, but half the time I'm too caught up and starstruck (and emotional) to actually take any notes. I'll admit that shyness got the better of me. I had quite a few questions to ask. But when the time came, my voice failed me.

Regardless, the Q and A was led by my lecturer and he did a wonderful job! I had finished James Hannah's debut novel this week and was super excited to go to this event and I was not disappointed. Both Catherine O'Flynn and James Hannah addressed topics such as rejection in the long process that seems to be publication. O'Flynn admitted to having a selfishness about her writing, in that she only writes for herself. She described being unable to write according to a schedule and feeling as though her writing fell flat, and lacked something, when she did try to adhere to a schedule. Having experienced this it was refreshing to hear that to write when one felt like writing, and not before, was okay.

The pair agreed that when writing they found themselves coming back to the same sorts of subjects, for example O'Flynn addressed the fact that all three of her novels focussed on themes such as loss, a sense of place, and the past. But the thing I found remarkable about this was that they both agreed it was okay. Hannah used a wonderful phrase. He said that in writing, you find the limits of yourself. I thought that was a pretty wonderful way to describe it. It made me see writing differently, as if it were an exploration of the self.

Hannah also pointed out that you write bits of yourself into your work, and I've encountered this idea before amongst authors. I remember Jennifer Niven saying, back in November, that she writes little bits of herself into all of her characters. They are all a part of her. It was lovely to see that this was a common theme. Following this, O' Flynn expressed the sentiment that her first novel, What Was Lost, embodied a part of herself. She meant that she'd sometimes read it back, and whilst wincing as one often does when reading something they've written,  and she would realise that she had a clearer outlook then. That through her past novels, she was able to see a change in herself. I liked the idea of a novel, a piece of work, embodying a part of oneself. It made a novel seem like a snapshot; a record of old outlooks, opinions and thoughts.

Hannah, in reference to his own book, stated that his protagonist was unlikable. But I think that's what I found so endearing about Ivo. The fact that he was unapproachable and unlikable, but then I was privileged enough to see the character interact with characters like Amber, and Mia in his memories. Reading these interactions made the walls he put up a little more destructible. I like that about him.

Hannah warned that a writer should not give his work to their friends to read, for the first time. That if you did, you had to ask the question of why you are asking them to read it. 'Do you want to impress them? Do you want to depress them? Or do you want to sleep with them?' Now this had me laughing. But it's true! A member of the audience pointed out that he had given his work to his friends to read for the sake of an ego boost.

They discussed the importance of research, questioning whether or not it was important. O'Flynn described her own process of research. She discussed trying to figure out what kind of novel she wanted to write, rather than researching settings and things alike. She expressed the idea that sometimes research can put you off writing a novel in that the facts seem so perfect that you don't wish to disturb them. Hannah suggested that research was both important and unimportant. Though it was pointed out to me that I should ignore that, I shall remember that argument and it may come in handy as a student.

In short, this talk was insightful, and inspiring. It was a lovely Friday night! This is the kind of world that I want to be a part of; of literature, and research and academics. It is safe to say that after having stopped any creative writing for a long time, the talk tonight has made me want to go back to it. I feel a new notebook coming on.

I apologise for my gushing. Have a lovely weekend folks!

Austen-land

Just a quick one as the reason I came into university today was to get on with some serious reading, whilst working my way through Joni Mitchell's discography (I am now in love).

So I've managed to fight my way through Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts and finally finished it this morning, despite having to stop every couple of pages to laugh. My favourite alterations included Mr Collins being gay, Mr Bingley being gay and Lydia. Just, Lydia. I struggled to work out if this was meant to be serious? I felt as if it straddled the line between serious and silly. My particular favourite part was when Wickham informs Lizzy that Darcy supposedly runs a brothel in London, and Lizzy's response is essential 'oh shit!' However, her reaction is immediately followed by her 'thinking with fondness of the sheep that grazed in the surrounding countryside'. Then, she blushes and lowers her eyes to Wickham's crotch. I think this is one of the funnier retellings I've come across in the last month. Though it is not one that I would willingly pick up again. I can't wait to start Caraval when I get home today.


Anyway I will leave you with a picture of the majority of my Austen collection, featuring at least one copy of each of Austen's novels alongside a number of retellings and sequels that I've collected over the past month. I think Lydia has to be my favourite. There is also a colouring book!

Have a lovely day!

Fairy Loot!

I was woken up this morning to a delivery of Fairy Loot! It took me a while to find my keys but I eventually got the door open, and got ahold of the box. I think this was the first time that I have been at home to receive it. Normally, I end up getting a card through the door cause I've missed it by a few hours. I was not disappointed this month! I was so pleased with the box that I decided to post an unboxing here. Let's start with the first picture I took of the box. I love the minimalist design of these boxes. They're so lovely. I apologise in advance for all of the pictures.

So the theme for this month was Mystery and Mischief, and Fairy Loot used influences such as Sherlock Holmes, Alice in Wonderland and The Night Circus in order to construct this box. The element of mystery was a funko mini mystery. The company sent out both Harry Potter mini mysteries and Game of Thrones. I received a Game of Thrones one. I honestly couldn't tell you the characters name, having not seen Game of Thrones but the little figure was adorable anyway. (I think my mom is taking it off my hands).


The next item I came across was a candle that was inspired by this months book, and the author named the candle! It came in a little tin and smells beautiful! I have a small collection of bookish themed candles that I still haven't burnt, so this will probably join those for the time being. The tin itself reminds me of the circus.

Following this was a beautiful necklace. The pendant was a rose, and the clasp resembled a cute little padlock. It was novel inspired and will probably make more sense to me after reading the book, but very pretty all the same!

Other items included an Alice in Wonderland bookmark, which was absolutely beautiful and very good quality! There was also a signed letter from the author, a  small Passenger notebook, a collection of other book marks, and a hard back copy of How to Think Like Sherlock by Daniel Smith. Two books in one box made me so happy! Fairy Loot boxes include so many fantastic items.
There were other items such as a pillow case! It featured a lovely quote from The Night Circus! I absolutely love it.

This brings me to this months Fairy Loot book. We have the highly anticipated Caraval by Stephanie Garber. Not only is this cover absolutely gorgeous, but it isn't due to be released for another five days which means that Fairy Loot subscribers get to read it early! It definitely sounds as though it was inspired by The Night Circus, which I love anyway. I am so excited to read this. I intend to start it tonight after finishing my current read.

 I've spent my entire day at home today, trying to finish Pride and Prejudice: Hidden Lusts. I have to keep stopping to laugh. I have McCall's Emma to finish now, and I've finished all of the Austen retellings/sequels I have on my list for now. I may need to do a google search to find some more! I've had zombie versions, erotic versions, modern retellings,  and murder mysteries. I don't think anything has even come close to the original. I think tomorrow I may do an evaluation of all of them.

I've also been preparing for my university modules today, I reread The Tempest in preparation for my Shakespeare class next Wednesday. I'm so excited to carry on with The Realist Novel and my Shakespeare classes. Let's hope this streak of motivation continues long enough for me to start training for The Race for Life, as a friend and I signed up yesterday!

I'm going to a talk with James Hannah tomorrow night and I am so excited! I finished The A to Z of You and Me yesterday and I adored it. I'll probably be back here tomorrow night after that!

See you folks then!

Back to the grindstone...

As much as I love university, being here till 8pm on a Monday is very much not my idea of fun. I have just returned from my first class of the second semester and whilst most of my class mates appeared to be nodding off, I was in my element. The realist novel was entertaining and very interesting to me, I found it easy and amusing applying it to different aspects of Pride and Prejudice. I don't relish the thought of my first exam at university but I'm definitely looking forward to the rest of the semester. I still have two classes to go, however.

How far did I get with Hamlet? I think I made it to at least Act 2- I can appreciate it I just don't think that I am meant to find it amusing. It's hard not to laugh when the Ghost, who has announced his return to purgatory about six pages previously, 'cries from under the stage, Swear!'

I can't say that today has been all bad, I mean between 4pm and 5pm I was researching the realist novels, whilst listening to 80's Madonna. I don't care what anybody says, Vogue will always be one of my favourite songs. I also came across Joni Mitchell's version of Big Yellow Taxi! I call that a successful day.

To read or not to read...

Well today marks my return to university, which is nice. I have come in early to start the reading that I perhaps should have started earlier. I started with Hamlet, and I bought new highlighters. However I've read about nineteen pages then started this blog post. This is not going well.

In the last week I have managed to read a total of eight books! I finished the Harry Potter series. I felt as though Deathly Hallows was rushed, though definitely emotional.

I also got a hold of Veronica Roth's new release Carve the Mark! I finished it inside of twenty four hours. In comparison to her Divergent series, it was a slow burn. There were more chapters from Cyra's perspective, and it took me a long time to appreciate her character. The book itself was absolutely beautiful! I took off the dust jacket to read it, and found the cover was embossed with a map! It was a gorgeous hard cover.

Anyway, for a good twenty four hours I found it difficult to start a new book! I tried to finish Caitlin Moran's most recent book, Moranifesto. But in light of recent events, I found I wanted to read something by her that was more Trump focused. I tried a number of YA novels that were stocked up on my kindle. Nothing grabbed my attention. In the past twenty four hours I've read more openings to novels than every before. Instead, I found myself starting James Hannah's The A to Z of You and Me. I'm only in the first chapter, but so far so good. It's the first opening that really grabbed my attention. We'll see how this goes and pray that it does not distract me from Hamlet too much.

Happy Monday folks.