World Book Day 2015: My top picks

World Book Day has come around again which means an entire day of people talking about books which is just the best; I wish people spoke about books more frequently!

So, I was trying to decide what books to write about and what angle to choose for my post and I decided on some of my favourite reads from the past couple of years.

My top picks are quite varied so hopefully there is something that could appeal to everyone.
1. The Electric Michelangelo by Sarah Hall

This book instantly came to mind when I was thinking about books for this post. My dad actually recommended this book to me after he read it and really enjoyed it. The Electric Michelangelo is such a unique book and is unlike anything I have ever read. The story is about a young boy, Cy Parks, who lives in a seaside town and becomes a tattoo apprentice. It follows Cy's life and journey, when he meets the mysterious Grace who sets out a challenge for him. There is so much emotion in the story and its truly imaginative and fascinating. I read this book in a couple of weeks and it became one of my favourites; I would definitely read it again.



2. Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice

I have always been a vampire girl so-to-speak (Team Edward! Oh wait wrong book), and like a lot of people, I watched the film of Interview with the Vampire before I read the book. Although watching a film adaptation beforehand can often remove the imagination from a story, I am not 'snobbish' about it as I know that if it was not for films then a lot of books would not have been brought into the spotlight for more people to discover. For those of you that don't know the storyline, Interview with the Vampire is a modern day classic which begins with a reporter sat in a room with a Vampire, which we learn is Louis. Louis tells the story of how he was turned and takes us through the gripping story of his life living alongside the Vampire Lestat. Louis and Lestat have an almost love-hate relationship and this creates so many twists and turns. The book is written in a very dark and gothic way which certainly suits the nature of the story. If you like vampires, horror or just a classic then give it a try and if it's not your cup of tea then just watch the film as it's just as good!


3. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse

This book is a very short one therefore is easy to read and is 100% worth it. I wont give too much away but this book follows the life of Siddhartha who is the son of a Brahmin. Siddhartha finds the Buddha however, Siddhartha is not satisfied to just serve as a disciple and goes on a journey to work out his own destiny for himself. I already strive to take on a lot of the Buddhist teachings within my own life and I feel that this book reinforced some of those teachings and taught me more. It is such a beautifully written book and has encouraged me to read more wonderful books based around Buddhism.


4. Touching from a Distance - Ian Curtis & Joy Division by Deborah Curtis

I am a huge Joy Division fan and have always been intrigued by Ian Curtis' story & what made him tick, therefore it was only right that I read this book. Touching from a Distance is written by Ian's wife Deborah who was obviously there in the thick of it and her book is probably the closest you will get to the actual story. This book is certainly a dark one and travels to all different corners of Ian's life including details about his illness and his rapid decline. When hearing Ian's story it is easy to feel sympathetic towards him but it isn't until you truly dig deep into this story that you realise how intense the situation was everyone involved. If you are a fan of Joy Division or are just curious about Ian's story then I highly recommend this book.


5. Black Cats & Evil Eyes - A book of old fashioned superstitions by Chloe Rhodes

Okay, so this is a bit of a silly one but I love this book! I saw it online one day and was so intrigued so picked up a copy. This book takes you through superstitions and old wives tales such as; placing shoes on a table means bad luck or why people say 'bless you' after someone sneezes. It's such a fun little book and is a good conversation point.



6. Daivd Bowie Is

This is my favourite 'coffee table book'. This was gifted to me as a Christmas present after I visited the David Bowie exhibition at the V&A (which I loved!). The book is such a high quality book and the colour and layout is so eye catching. The way the book is put together is just perfect for reading little bits here and there. I idolise David Bowie so much and his life amazes me, so to have the important bits laid out in this fantastic book is ideal. The book is almost a paper version of the exhibition and is such a lovely thing to be able to keep.


So those were my top picks for this World Book Day and the next book I plan to read is Stevie Nicks: Visions, Dreams and Rumors by Zoe Howe which I was given at Christmas as I am a huge Stevie Nicks fan!

What are your favourites or what are you currently reading?

 BB

For The Oceans

I was nominated...

...on Facebook, by a very good friend of mine, to list ten albums that shaped me. It was difficult and after some intense decisions, I managed to narrow it down to twenty. I thought it would be interesting to explain why and how these albums shaped me. Here is five of the twenty albums:

1. Bring Me The Horizon - Suicide Season
This decision was the easiest and the first album that sprung to mind. I first discovered Bring Me The Horizon in 2005 (roughly) and I can honestly say that they have been the most influential band in my life so far. This album was my favourite but also it is the one album that holds the most memories for me. Embarrassing as it is, when I first saw this band, they played the song Suicide Season from this album and I cried uncontrollably. I still truly feel that this is an excellent album with so much emotion. Bring Me The Horizon were everything to me, without even knowing they dictated how I dressed, what other music I listened to, how I acted and how I lived my life. 

2. More Than Life - Love Let Me Go Whilst on the note of emotions....This album is really close to home. It is one of those albums that I purposely listen to when I am feeling low because it suits my mood. Daisy Hill was the first track I heard and it then led me to play this album over and over and it even became my 'lullaby' for a long period of time. How many times have you closed your eyes and listened to the rain beating on your window, falling in to a deep sleep, I never wanted to wake up to reality, with a blank expression on every face.

3. Joy Divison - Substance
Love Will Tear Us Apart is a brilliant song...Too many music critics slate it because it's commercial, but it is commercial because it is good! Joy Division loved to release different versions of their tunes and this album includes some of the best. I watched Control, I read Touching From a Distance, and I am a sucker for a tragedy however, it was not the film or book that hit me the hardest, it was listening to this album after truly learning about Ian's struggle. You can feel his pain and the lyrics speak so openly of Ian's gloomy life. This album screams out the pain of Ian's existence....and love really did tear him apart. 

4. Pearl Jam - Ten
Eddie Vedder. Do I need to go on?.....On a serious note, Pearl Jam have been part of my life before I can even remember. My Ma's all time favourite band and a band that I could have never escaped even if I wanted to. My Mum is such a strong, incredible woman and I strive to be like her, every time I listen to Pearl Jam I am reminded of her and what a cool lady she really is, that is why Pearl Jam will ALWAYS be in my top ten.

5. Avril Lavigne - Let Go
Some may cringe at this but, all I can say is that if it was not for this tame 'rock chick' I would have never listened to some of the incredible bands that I have discovered over the years so, Avril, I thank you for showing me that there is better music out there than yours!