Recently Read

It's been a long time since I've done one of these! Since I got my Kindle in October the number of physical books I've been reading has decreased more drastically than I would care to admit- which also means no pretty physical covers to photograph, and I'm not 100% OK with that... It's a shame and of course, I still much prefer real books but the appeal of the eBook with its much cheaper, instant download is often all too much to bear, especially being the poor student that I am. At the moment I also find myself having to save the very limited shelf space I have for my more attractive editions and copies of books I have really enjoyed. So basically, in terms of my relationship with my Kindle, I almost feel like a bit of an addict in denial... and I appreciate that's probably what I sound like too. It's so wrong, but it feels so right, you know? No hate.

Anyway, in the time since my last monthly reading roundup around September/October time I've read quite a few books, but I think I'm only going to chat here about a few that I feel are worth mentioning, either because I loved/strongly disliked them or because they're quite popular at the minute and I'd sort of like to contribute my thoughts into the mix. 

The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

Melanie is a little girl who loves nothing more than lessons with her favourite teacher, Miss Justineau, and gets up and ready for school each morning just like any other child. Except she's not just like any other child. Instead, Melanie is confined to a cell and each morning is strapped tightly into a wheelchair, a gun pointed to her head, before being wheeled into the classroom for another day of learning about an outside world that she has never known for herself.

I don't think I'll say much more than that as I feel like this is the sort of book where the less you know about it to start with, the better. What I will say though was that it really was an excellent read. M.R. Carey here has created such an inspired, elaborate post-apocalyptic world in this suspenseful novel that grips you right from the beginning. There is quite a lot of gore in this book, so if you're particularly squeamish I'd bear that in mind, however, at the same time, while it does sort of belong somewhere in the thriller/horror genre I feel like the story and characters will appeal to people right across the board, particularly the protagonist, Melanie who really is an absolute darlin'.
Rating: «««««

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

In 1686, 18-year-old Nella Oortman leaves her family and rural town behind to marry a wealthy merchant, Johannes Brandt and begin a new life with him in his Amsterdam home. It soon transpires, however, that married life is not all that she had imagined. Her husband, when he is not away on business, is distant and disinterested, making Nella doubt her decision to move away from her childhood home. However, it's not long before she finds some salvation in the the form of tiny pieces sent to her by a mysterious city craftsman that seem to reveal to Nella the secrets of her strange new household.

I was keen to read 'The Miniaturist', it being a number one best-seller and all. However, in the end I was little disappointed with it. That being said, I know there were a lot of people who really enjoyed it so perhaps it just wasn't to my taste. I just didn't really feel much sympathy for, or connection to any of the characters and the plot, for me, was a bit thin. I thought the premise sounded really good but in the end I just didn't feel like it really delivered.
Rating: ««

The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August by Claire North

This book revolves around the experiences of a man called Harry August, a member of an elusive strand of the human race who call themselves Kalachakra. These are basically men and women who when they die, return to the place they first began and live the same life over and over again, retaining all the memories of the lives they've lived before. 

I wish I could explain the story a little bit better here but in truth the plot and the concept is quite complex so I feel like I'd just end up tripping over myself!
I found this book a bit of a challenge if I'm honest. At the beginning I was fascinated by the whole idea of this sort of "rebirth" as its portrayed here and the whole book really made me think a lot about life and the fact that while all these Kalachakra have unlimited opportunities to make the most of their time on earth, I don't. It's kind of depressing in a way but I feel like I could use a reminder like that more often. However, once I got over the initial thrill of the concept itself I felt the story really start to slow down and then just became more and more laborious to the point where I really had to push myself to finish it. It's quite science-heavy in parts which I feel like was part of the problem because that sort of thing just doesn't really interest me, plus, most of it also ended up going straight over my head. I think in retrospect though, it was still a clever and thought-provoking read.
Rating: «««

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins 

Rachel gets the same commuter train to work every morning which stops at a signal in the same spot each day allowing her to look into a house that backs onto the tracks and into the lives of its young occupants. She creates a world for these people in her head, imaging every aspect of their perfect personal lives. However, all her illusions are soon shattered when she witnesses a shocking event that brings their lives into collision with her own.

I had a bit of a love/hate relationship with this book when I read it. I really enjoyed it the whole way through but at the same time I found it so heavy and depressing so it was a bit of a challenge to get through. By the time I came to the end of this book though, I was glad that I'd persevered. It's a really gripping, entertaining thriller, probably one of the best I've read in this genre and I would certainly recommend it.

Rating: ««««

Disclaimer: all images property of their respective owners.

A Day with Mum | Castle Leslie, Co. Monaghan

I took a little impromptu break home last weekend. I'd started to feel a little overwhelmed by uni life and felt like a trip back home would just help to clear my head a bit, which it definitely did. Because I was home from uni my mum took last Friday off work and we both set off on a little road trip to Castle Leslie, a stately home in Co. Monaghan, just over the border into the South of Ireland, that also doubles as a hotel and spa. This is one of my mum's and my favourite places to go when we have a free day together because the grounds are just so beautiful. Aside from the castle itself there's a number of stunning outbuildings and even a church, as well as a lake and some gorgeous walks.

We normally start off our visit with some tea or hot chocolate in the restaurant before paying a visit to the horses on the yard at the castle's adjoining equestrian centre- always my favourite part of the day!- and taking a stroll through the grounds. Despite it's appearances, however, would you believe that Castle Leslie is actually said to be one of the most haunted castles in Ireland? I've personally never seen a ghost on any of my visits, but the stories surrounding the castle and its history are truly fascinating. I think my personal favourite is that of Norman Leslie who was killed in action during the First World War. Around the time of his death, however, he was spotted walking through the grounds of the castle by a gardener who, assuming Norman had returned from war, hurried off to alert the family of his arrival. Though as the day passed and night fell, Norman did not return to the house. A week later a telegram was delivered to the castle confirming that Norman had met an unfortunate demise charging a German machine gun armed only with a sword. His figure has apparently been seen wandering the castle even in very recent years. Spooky, huh? 

Twitter and Blogging | The Low-Down on Blogger Chats

I never used to be much of a Twitter user. In fact, I've had a bit of a love/hate relationship with it it over the years (leaning a little bit more towards the 'hate' side, that being said). I feel like this was mostly down to me growing tired, not only of my classmates' endless Twitter commentaries in my final year of school, but also as the chronic over-sharer that I am, the potential for my feed to also be subject to their scrutiny. To be honest, I'm just not a big social media fan in general- ironic I know, being a blogger and everything!- and, as a result, for the first several months of my blog's existence, since I hadn't had Twitter for a long time before then, I really didn't feel the need to get it again. However, in September last year, in some moment of reckless abandon, I decided to bite the bullet and create a Twitter for my blog. I think at the time I was just curious to see what I was missing, and honestly for the extent to which Twitter has enriched my blogging experience, I'm so glad I finally did it! 

I think it was from then, through Twitter, that blogging and the blogosphere really started to become a community to me. I mean, it always had been before, but now it just felt all the more tangible. Suddenly I was able to really connect with all the amazing bloggers whose content I had enjoyed reading for so long. I could have discussions with them, hear their thoughts and share mine, and consequently, over the last few months I've really warmed to Twitter as well as having begun to really appreciate it's role in forming relationships in the blogging world.

One of the best discoveries of my time on Twitter has definitely been the huge number of blogger chats taking place throughout the week, which is something I literally had no idea existed before! I'm therefore kind of writing this post for the benefit of any Twitter n00bs, like me, out there who have maybe seen something about these chats or have wanted to join in but aren't too sure what the whole thing's about. Just because I wish I'd had some comprehensible breakdown of what the heck was going on!

So, what are blogger chats?
Basically blogger chats are way to engage with other bloggers, generally about topics related to blogging or whatever type of blogging you do, via Twitter. A number of these chats take place at certain times on certain days during the week and are led by "host" accounts that ask questions to encourage discussion, which you can then answer or contribute to using the chat's designated hashtag. Some chats have a specific topic for each chat, some are just general and some are then a mixture of the two.

How can I take part?
I've tried to make up a somewhat comprehensive list below of all the different chats you can participate in and their times! Please note that all the times listed below are GMT unless stated otherwise.

Monday
#bdib: 7-8pm; hosted by @blogsdoitbetter (@touchofbelle)
One of the more general chats. Topics tend to include everything from promoting your blog to finding inspiration for content.
#fbloggers: 8-9pm; hosted by @BeckyBedbug
A chat for all things related to fashion blogging.
#blogtrends: 9-10pm EST (Tues 2-3am GMT); hosted by @BlogTrends
A chat designed to offer advice and support on how to grow and develop your blog

Tuesday
#bookbloggers: 7-8pm; hosted by @bookblogchat
For all you bookworms out there! A chat that revolves around authors, books and book blogging.
#mybchat: 7-8pm; hosted by @MarketYrBlogCht
A chat aimed specifically at discussing ways to market your blog.
#fblchat: 8-9pm; hosted by @fashbeautylife
Another more general chat for fashion, beauty and lifestyle bloggers alike.
#bloghour: 9-10pm; hosted by @UKblogawards
Normally quite a general chat to give you the opportunity to network with other bloggers.

Wednesday
#lbloggers: 7-8pm; hosted by @lbloggerschat
A chat for lifestyle bloggers on a whole host of blogging-related topics. There's normally a guest host each week which is announded on the @lbloggerschat twitter page.
#bbloggers: 8-9pm; hosted by @bbloggerschat
A general chat for beauty bloggers.

Thursday
#crazybloggers: 7-8pm; hosted by @HollyCassell
A newish general blog chat hosted by the lovely Holly.
#fbloggers: 8-9pm; hosted by @BeckyBedbug
The second fashion blogging chat of the week- not to be confused with #fdbloggers (food bloggers!)
#fdbloggers: 8-9pm; hosted by @fdbloggers
A chat for any bloggers with an interest in food
#tbloggers: 9-10pm; hosted by @teenbloggerchat
A general chat session for all teenage bloggers.

Friday
#bdib: 8-9pm; hosted by @blogsdoitbetter (@touchofbelle)
The second #bdib chat of the week.

Saturday
#socialbloggers: 6-7pm; hosted by @Noor_Unnahar and @Skinnedcartree
A fab general blog chat for all bloggers.
#tbloggers: 8-9pm; hosted by @teenbloggerchat
A topic-specific blog chat for teen bloggers.

Sunday
#lbloggers:  7-8pm; hosted by @lbloggerschat
The second #lbloggers chat of the week for lifestyle bloggers.
#bbloggers: 8-9pm; hosted by @bbloggerschat
The second beauty blogger chat of the week.

I'm sure there are a few more niche chats that I've missed here so let me know if there's any I could add! I hope there's at least a few people out there who might find this post helpful! :)

Do you take part in blogger Twitter chats? What do you think of them?