Kat's Blog of Books

Okay, so the diet is going appallingly...I don't care what anyone thinks, I'm a chocoholic LOL! So, I have decided to try something else in my quest - I have actually joined the gym! I have NEVER joined a gym, I almost did a couple of years ago, but then I lost my job, and I could no longer afford it so had to pull out just as I was joining! It's at the gym where I go swimming anyway, so I'm comfortable going there, and the boyfriend has decided to change gyms now he has graduated (his last one was at the college!), so we are going to be gym buddies (this could be very good, or very, very bad!!)

I had my second meeting about my business today, and I've finally been given my own Business Advisor, and I'm hopefully going to be taking a couple of courses on how to market myself and my business, and another one on bookkeeping.

I finally decided to order myself some business cards, and I am really excited about the ones that I have made up, because on the reverse, instead of a blank card or irrelevant picture, I decided to put some of my favourite quotes - I thought this was a great idea, because quotes represent my writing, and my love for quotes, and I think that representing a part of yourself in your business cards is pretty important! Can't wait for them to arrive

My reading of Eclipse is going quite well, since I was on holiday, I appear to have got myself into a good routine of reading before I go to bed, and with my reading light I don't have to disturb anyone by keeping the light on So, I am getting through this book much quicker than the last one!

Anyway, go read a book

Kat x

Well I have finally finished reading New Moon, and since it took me two months to read, I'm not going to grace it with a review - it's not that I disliked the book, more the fact that a lot of it dragged, and I just wanted to cut over half the book out with a big editing knife! I don't think it would have lost anything if much of it was cut out!!

As you can see from yesterdays review, I managed to get through Nick and Norah a lot faster, but then again the book was a quarter of the length of New Moon (which begs the question as to why these two books had the same RRP of £6.99?? Where is the logic in that??) Adding to the notes I wrote about Nick and Norah yesterday, I found it interesting that like Howl's Moving Castle, the book is completely different to the film, and even though I think the films play on the idea of searching for "Where's Fluffy", and the larger role for Norah's friend Caroline seemed to worked better than in the book, but it was still a good read! Well, I must have enjoyed it, because I felt compelled to watch the film again afterwards - I love that film! Such a nice, feel-good film! The book was certainly a good holiday read!

So, yesterday I was in desperate need of a new book, and have bought Eclipse (when I eventually found it in HMV, they seem to have plenty of copies of all the other four books, but Eclipse was hidden near the tills, so if they hadn't been selling the Twilight film for a fiver, I probably wouldn't have found the book at all!!!)

I'm seriously hoping that Eclipse is going to be a little better than New Moon, and I really hope that it doesn't take me as long to read, because I really don't want to be still reading it for my birthday!!!

But anyway, I am slowly getting back into the writing groove, after being up a mountain for the past week!

Go read a book

Kat x

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I actually saw the film before the book, and having absolutely loved the film, it only seemed right to give the book a shot, but I think that both are just completely different.

I noticed that a few people have complained about the f-word being used so much throughout this book, but you know what, it didn't really bother me, because I think that whether we like it or not the f-word is part of our language, and whether we like it or not (I don't like the word personally), teenagers are going to use the word! And I think removing usage of the word would make the novel devoid of being any kind of representation of what it is like to be 18. I'm not saying ALL 18-year-olds swear, because I certainly didn't (my mum would have killed me!!!) but unfortunately a lot of 18-year-olds do...that is just a fact of life!

I thought the book was a brilliant representation of unexpected romance, and those nights that seem to go on forever (I am very lucky to have experienced this for myself).

It was good for a quick read, and proved that life isn't as simple or as black and white as we might think it is.

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Wow, I can't believe it's over a week ago since I last posted a blog -time flies when you're having fun (or just really really busy

Well anyway, I went to see my Business Advisor for the first time last Tuesday, and whilst the meeting seemed a little fruitless, mainly because I didn't feel like I got much specific guidance. I think the problem was that she just didn't know anything about the writing industry, or even the media industry...I find it weird that when you say "writer" that instantly means that you want to write for magazines and newspapers, so when you then turnaround and say that you don't want to write journalistic-style they look at you as if to say "how can you possibly be a writer if you don't want to write for the only types of media there is for writers?" meaning that in so many peoples' eyes there is no other use for writers other in the obvious places!

But, my main issue with writing for magazines and newspapers, is the fact that I'm just too damned opinionated, and with journalistic type writing, I tend to start bringing in my own opinions.

She did however suggest that I wrote to some marketing companies on spec t see if they used freelance writers, and that certainly got me thinking.

Before I went to the meeting, I was having problems coming up with a specific niche to write about, of which I pointed out to her pretty early on.And when I was explaining some of the work I'd already done, she suggested that I should make "travel writing" my niche, which sounds brilliant, because I do love travelling, but I think the expense of travelling might wear me down a little financially, especially right now. I can't believe some travel writers get paid to actually travel, that would be so incredible, and to then write about afterwards WOW!

As a result of my meeting, I did actually order a book from Amazon on Freelance Writing, that inspired to set up a brand new blog aimed at students (past, present, future and mature!) which can be found here It's still in it's early stages, but if anyone out there is a past, present, future or mature student and want to contribute to the blog in any way, just let me know, because I am keen to get lots of people involved

So, that's about it really. I'm on holiday next week, so I'm not seeing my Advisor again until the end of September, but atleast I am going again, because when I wrote my last post I was convinced that I was going to get shot down and told that I wouldn't be able to run this business, or have any holes picked wide apart, but she was actually quite impressed about how much I'd thought about it, and she admitted that she could tell how passionate I am about my writing....which is where I think has always failed me at past interviews...if writing is all I'm passionate about (if you know what I mean), how can I make someone believe that I will be passionate about a job that I have absolutely no interest in? Bizarre, and I think that anyone who can do that, is truly talented

Still haven't finished New Moon, about 400-odd pages into it now, and the end is slowly getting closer! HAve decided not to take it on holiday with me, because it is just too frustrating. Instead, I have order the book of Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist from Waterstones, because I absolutely loved the film I just hope it arrives on time

Now go read a book

I am feeling incredibly nervous. Have a meeting with a business advice type place tomorrow, with the hope of getting a little advice on moving me forward with my writing and I am very nervous about it. I feel like I'm going to an interview, and from my experience of interviews, I am expecting to be completely ripped apart, with any small hole in my ideas picked at and spread open for the world to see.

It's weird because I know that I can do it, and I'm not going to let anyone tell me otherwise, but I fear a confidence bashing.

It sounds silly really, because I don't know that it will turn out like that. And I've been so positive lately, that I'm surprised that I'm getting so paranoid about it. But, I dunno. Nerves get the better of me I guess!

Weigh in: 16st 8lbs.

Yay - down a pound! It's not a lot but it is still something, so I am very happy!

I'm a little bunged up with cold and a sore throat today, but I shall soldier on. I'm ahead of myself on a few jobs, so I can't be doing too badly today! And I was out all day yesterday, so I had a bit of catching up to do as well! Anyway, catch up with you guys soon

So, I'm going to a Wedding Reception at the end of October, and against my better judgement I decided that I am going to wear a dress! Now, I should note here that I have not worn a dress since 2005, when I wore a dress for my May Ball just before I graduated from University, and yes, dresses are not really my thing. But I took the plunge and bid on a dress on Ebay, and wahey, I won!! As you can see from the picture, it's black, so I have set myself a little challenge!!

Basically, I've decided to make a necklace and bracelet to go with my dress, and because they say that if you intend to wear black you should accessorise with something bright and cheerful, I have decided that they will be red! This also fits because I have a gorgeous red coat that I intend to wear, so a red necklace would go with my coat too!

My biggest issue with this is, that I have never made a necklace to go with a specific outfit - usually I make jewellery out of beads that I just like, with no real outfit in mind, but this time I have to make sure that it goes with both my dress and with my coat.

I do have an idea of what I want, and have been looking for some chunky red and black beads. But luckily I have plenty of time to suss it out

Weigh-in: 16st 9lbs

Todays weigh-in has actually got me really down. I honestly believe that I have tried hard this week not to over-indulge, but I'm not going to say that I haven't had any chocolate, because I have, but I certainly haven't had as much, and I've put on 3lbs.

I'd really hoped that by writing about my weight in my blog, that it would force me to be more proactive, and I feel ashamed of myself for not pushing myself hard enough. And it's kind of sad, because I had been so proud of how I coped with the walk on Tuesday.

But, I refuse to feel sorry for myself. I am just going to have to try even harder this week I think that this calls for desperate measures...if I can't cope allowing myself a little chocolate, then I'm going to try and not let myself have any at all...it worked (for a short period) when I gave up chocolate for Lent, I think I managed two whole weeks without it at that point! But at the minute, I'm lucky if I manage an entire day (although I managed to go two days this week without any chocolate).

My brother came home for a few days last weekend, and on Sunday he drove us up to Yorkshire to the North Yorks Moors Railway, which was really cool! I love riding on steam trains, but we only went between Goathland and Grosmont, but it was still really good! For those that don't know, Goathland is where they film Heartbeat, I've been there a few times, but I think the first times I was kinda too young to really appreciate the place!

Yorkshire is just such a beautiful part of the country, and we ended up "attempting" to walk to Mallyan Spout which is a well-known waterfall that's not too far from Goathland...well, that's what my mum told us anyway, and noting that my brother only had a pair of trainers on, it was quite a hefty walk. We had to go down loads of pretty deep steps to get there initially, which was pretty exhausting, but I could feel those calories burning off We eventually got near to the waterfall but my mum and I had to give up, because you have to climb over these really big and slippery rocks, which I was really worried my mum wouldn't be able to manage, and knew damn well that I wasn't. But my brother and the boyfriend dared to (although they were both pretty sweaty when they got back lmao), and luckily they both had cameras, so we still got to see pics and footage After the long walk down, we decided not to go back up the stairs, which we all predicted would be a tough walk, so my mum suggested that we head down to Beck Hole where we could pick up the old Railway line that would take us back into Goathland, and let's just say that I'm not really sure this was the better option.

The uphills towards Beck Hole were quite tough going, and it wasn't as much I got tired, more hot under the cover of the damp trees which were being heated by the sun above! But, I actually think that the downs were almost as bad (and I usually like downs lol), they were just a long line of incredibly steep and often slippery steps, that the boyfriend kept stumbling down.

The last stretch along the old Railway line was difficult, but it was just a case of "I need a drink" lol.

I will admit that I found the walk really difficult, but not because I was tired or anything ached (which I'm kinda surprised about) because for a change, my feet didn't hurt at all, and my knees only ached a little on some of the really steep steps.

I'm glad that I did it though, because I was determined not to stop or give in (although I don't think giving in when you're in the middle of a wood is really an option anyway), and I felt so proud of myself for how I handled it. Yeah, I got a little hot and tired, but I still did it without having to stop every ten seconds!!

I had my final SAGE exam on Wednesday, and boy did that suck! I thought I was doing okay, until I realised that whoever did the exam before me had failed to put the pages in the right order, meaning that I had missed a whole page out, luckily I hadn't got so far that I wouldn't be able to go back and do it. And then, as I predicted, I forgot how to print stuff out. Some stuff I'm not even really convinced that I knew how to do it in the first place! I'd only had three sessions on this module, the first one I couldn't print stuff out because I was on a computer with extra security, to...as my tutor put it "Stop chavs looking at porn!!!!" ...the second time I printed stuff out with the help of my tutor, and then the third time (last week) the printer wouldn't print!!! I do kinda feel like I rushed into that exam, but oh well, it isn't the end of the world

The boyfriend took me to the pub for lunch to celebrate having finished, and I had the nicest lasagne that I think I've ever had in a pub...it wasn't burnt like so many pubs serve up!

One of my mums work colleagues offered us a sofa a few weeks back, and since we have a big car my mum and brother went and picked it up for us Wednesday evening, before my brother went home again! So I now have a lovely comfy sofa woohoo! I'm very chuffed about that! When you haven't had a sofa of your own, you really appreciate it when you suddenly get one!! I even went to Asda yesterday and picked up a few nice (but cheap) cushions to go with it!

And, oh-my-god, this blog has turned into a mini essay So, I shall stop now.

NEW MOON UPDATE: I'm nearly at the 200 page mark now, so even though it's slow, I am making progress on it! I'm certainly enjoying it, and since I am apparently going to Gainsborough tomorrow, I shall have chance to read it on the train Although maybe I shouldn't read it too fast....what will I read on the train to Wales....eeee, three weeks today! So excited!!!

Knowledge of Angels by Jill Paton Walsh

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
I read this for my AS Level English Literature, and unfortunately it was a closed book exam (meaning that I could not take the book into the exam room with me), meaning that I had to take this exam twice before I got an even bearable grade, and I know several people who actually ended up taking the exam at least three times - not cheap, I assure you!

It's not that this is a bad book, because I like the ideas and message behind it, I just found it an incredibly difficult read. At times it was very intense, and if you're not drawn into it pretty quickly you're fairly likely to fall into the trap that I did and find yourself not really having a clue what on earth is going on.

Despite this, the book is intriguing as it flits between the story of a man stranded in a religious society and dares to declare his atheism, and the story of a savage girl raised away from human beings and being forced into it, whilst being completely unaccepted by the world around her.

I wonder if my main issue with this book, is really down to my own atheism, meaning that I found it extremely difficult to understand the dilemmas of the people having to deal with one person who has denounced God and another who has no idea about God.

There was also a rather creepy and luckily very short chapter where the atheist encourages sex between a young couple. I found the whole thing really weird and out of place!

Since finishing College seven years ago, I have often considered re-reading this book, but have never been able to find it in my local Library, however, looking back on it, I don't think that by re-reading it I would ever learn to like this book. Maybe I'm just stubborn...

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