Category Archives: books

#WritetoaRebel

05th September 2018
Last month I was contacted about a very exciting campaign called #WritetoaRebel with Particular Books, whilst I’ll be making my main contribution via social media over the coming days, I always wanted to write a quick blog post as well to show case the beautiful postcard set I was sent in exchange for taking part.
A year after the hugely successful launch of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, Particular Books have launched a stunning collection of 50 post cards, each one celebrating an inspirational Rebel Girl from across the globe.

The postcards document everyone from Pioneers to Artists who have all shaped the world today as we know it. You’ll be familiar with many of the faces featured, and others will be new and inspiring additions. Each card shares a short bio of the Rebel Girl it celebrates, as well as inspiring quotes to help feed your own journey.

This is one of the most beautiful literary gifts I have received and it’s made me wonder how on earth I haven’t read the book yet- a copy is going straight on my wish list.

Keep an eye out on my instagram for my #WritetoaRebel post, coming later this week and in the mean time use the comment box below to share which Rebel Girls provide you with the most inspiration in life.

Posted in books, inspiration

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Father’s Day Inspiration- Folio Society

08th June 2018
There’s nothing I love more than settling down with a good book and that’s definitely a trait I picked up from my Dad (and Grandad) so I was instantly drawn to The Folio Society when it came to browsing for an inspired gift.

Even if your Dad has already read the title you choose you can guarantee it will still be a well received and much appreciated gift. The Folio Society, founded in 1947, specialises in exquisitely crafted editions of some of the world’s finest literature; from cult classics to gripping non-fiction.

There’s a whole section of their website dedicated to Father’s Day, although that really is only a drop in the ocean of the titles they have available.

Prices of the books vary greatly, but you can pick up a beautifully bound of “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking for under £30, or for the James Bond fan, “GoldFinger” by Ian Fleming for £34.95

As an example of what you can expect, I was very kindly sent a copy of “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. It really is the most beautiful edition of the book with incredible illustrations and and wonderful lay-out. I’m in two minds over whether to share this with my Dad or keep it for myself, I haven’t yet read the book but it’s been on my list for some time.

I do wish I hadn’t sorted out my Dad’s gift prior to discovering The Folio Society as there are so many books I know he’d love on there…and as for me, well, I’m in literary heaven! I know exactly where I’m heading next time I need to buy a gift; not just for my father but for all of the other book lovers in my life, and my new personal ambition is a book shelf stacked full of books that are as compelling to the eye as they are to the imagination.

What’s your all time favourite book?

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Book sent to me for blog post consideration, all opinions on the brand are entirely my own.

Posted in books, brands I love, gifts, inspiration

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David Bowie Newspaper Book

17th February 2017
It was inevitable that I would end up a David Bowie fan- he’s my Dad’s favourite musical artist and I grew up with his songs as a soundtrack to my childhood. In fact my introduction to Mr Bowie started in the womb when my parents went along to one of his concerts and whilst he remains the one singer I would have loved to see live I suppose I can sort of say that I did.

I recently came across a post on the (frankly incredible) Josie’s blog which featured the David Bowie Newspaper Book from I Just Love It and immediately fell in love. Having declared my love on twitter I thought no more of it until I Just Love It got in touch and offered to send me a copy as well. To say I was excited would be an understatement!

This is one hefty book that would sit proudly on any coffee table- it’s more than just a pretty face though, inside you’ll find images and newspaper articles that cover Bowie’s musical career from the very beginning right up until his death in 2016.

What I really loved about Bowie was not only was he a bloody legend musically but he also pushed social boundaries too- his fashion influence is still very much in evidence today and he was also a trailblazer when it came to challenging the social norms of gender and being unapologetically yourself. These days everything we see in the media has been carefully curated by PR teams but in Bowie’s hey-day social media was still decades away and there was very little by way of filter. It’s no wonder he became such an icon and this book captures beautifully how he made his impact on the world.

I Just Love It also offer a personalisation service for the book, and as much as I wanted to keep this for myself I knew that really it had to be presented to my Dad who’s collection of Bowie memorabilia is growing almost by the week it seems. He was absolutely made up to receive this, and for me it provided a unique way to say thank you for all of the support and encouragement he has given me over the last 30 years (I think we might have agreed on joint custody though, I can easily lose hours at a time to poring over the pages of this book).

At £69.99 this isn’t a cheap gift but for a true Bowie fan it’s a worthy investment- be it for yourself or someone you love. With both substance and style this is a book that truly pays homage to the late and great David Bowie and it’s something we will still be going back to and enjoying for years ahead.

Fellow Bowie fans do you think you’d love it? And I must ask- what’s your favourite track of his? For me, if I absolutely had to pick just one it would be “Rebel Rebel” but in reality my favourites could probably cover a side of A4 paper and then some!

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Disclaimer- book was gifted to me by I Just Love It in exchange to a blog post. My thoughts on the product are entirely my own.

Posted in books, gifts, music, review

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Self.Styled- the book that dares to be different

08th November 2016
I’ve been really lucky lately when it comes to books and have been sent some rather excellent ones to review. The one I am featuring on the blog today is no exception, as soon as the email about “Self.Styled” landed in my inbox I was intrigued and eagerly anticipating the arrival of a copy through my letterbox.

The book is a celebration of freedom of expression, diversity and individuality shown through personal style. Each person featured in the book was asked to select two outfits- one to represent their take on day wear and the other for night wear and this is shown by author Anthony Lycett through dual portrait photographs and well written content that makes for a thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring read. I really liked how all of the photographs have been taken against a neutral background so the individual style does all of the talking.

I didn’t want to give too much away by photographing the book, it’s one of those that you really can’t fully appreciate unless you read it yourself. I highly recommend getting hold of a copy for yourself if you enjoy fashion and expressing yourself through how you dress. It’s the culmination of a project that started back in 2008 and features people from all backgrounds and walks of life- it covers such a wide range of themes such as gender and body shape as well as personal taste and it really does have to be seen to believed.

Self.Styled will be on sale from November the 17th with an RRP of £20. Let me know if you get hold of a copy and what you think!

Posted in books, inspiration, review

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New in Books

21st October 2016
Growing up there was a huge emphasis on books in my life. From endless bed time stories from well loved classics to my Sunday afternoon ritual of browsing through anything factual that caught my eye. That’s never left me, to this day there is still something utterly irresistible about a brand new book so when the postman delivered a couple of new releases from Penguin Books a great deal of excitement ensued.
The first book to arrive was the V&A Fashion Mash Up, a A Penguin Random House X V&A Collaboration. This is the perfect book for fashion fans of all ages and features stickers, pop out outfits and 6 press out models so you can create and combine outfits from designers including Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood and Chanel (to name just a few). Tapping in to current trends the book also contains 5 instagram backgrounds so you can snap and share your creations. This book launches on the 27th October and in the run up to Christmas I predict a sell out! I’ve been loving this on a rainy day, the perfect distraction from every day life and the chance to relive a few childhood memories.

The second book is equally as exciting. I think everyone I know has a soft spot for The Nightmare Before Christmas and this commemorative edition (celebrating the twentieth anniversary of it’s release) is truly spectacular (spooktacular?!) Written and illustrated by the iconic Tim Burton this is one beautiful book that will appeal to adults and little people alike. I’m not ashamed to say that I’m hanging on to my copy tight, ready for when I have a little person of my own to read to just as I once was. This book is available now from all good book retailers- Amazon, Foyles, WH Smiths and Waterstones etc.

Do you have happy memories and associations with any particular books? I would love to hear about them in the comments.

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Posted in books, fashion, gifts, inspiration, review

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