A shorter blog today! Firstly, I want to give two shout outs.
1) To the book SteamPotVille, by Steve Ouch. I met Steve on Twitter, and I saw the link to his book. It's aimed at children, and it's amazing, really lovely and all done by Steve himself, which to be honest makes it all even more incredible. As soon as I get some money, it's first on my list of books to buy, and as soon as I do, I'll review it. Check it out here.
2) This guy, WedgeMania has set himself a New Years resolution similar to me. He intends to read 52 books (that's one book a week for all you maths buffs!) this year, and to step things up a bit, he's sharing it with you all on YouTube! He has a great taste in books, gives you handy hints on Beadle-y deals, and is already on his second book (he's beating me, and he's got exams to do!). So go check him out, and give him all the views he deserves!
Finally, this may, at the moment, anyway, be a bit impractical, but I'm thinking of doing a series of reading challenges next month, and it's entirely up to you what I read. If I get one or two books suggested, I'll just do them both, if I get a fair few, then I'll get some sort of a poll up and I'll decide which ones to do, but yeah - Suggest those challenges!
Rate, comment, and follow me, and go check out Steve's book and WedgeMania's project!
xo
gb
Tuesday 13 January 2009
Thursday 8 January 2009
Short Book Recommendations
So when I spread the good news of Project Read 2009, most of the responses I get concern a lack of time for reading, and little inclination to read long books, with profound meanings hidden by cunning metaphors. So in answer to this, I thought I'd list a few short, easy books in my library, that I've always enjoyed.
I've already mentioned The Last Polar Bears, by Harry Horse, part of a series of books about an old, unnamed Grandfather, and his dog, Roo. Together they go on a series of adventures, all of which end in near-disaster. I've only got two of the four books, the aforementioned Polar Bears, and The Last Gold Diggers. Apparently they were made into a cartoon at some point, but I've always preferred the witty illustrations (self-penned, I believe) in the books themselves. Short, funny, and easy to read.
Secondly, to all you Harry Potter fans, I recommend Rowling's original companions to the series, Quidditch: Through the Ages, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I haven't read Tales of Beadle the Bard yet, as I haven't had enough money to buy it, but I imagine it to be fairly similar to these two gems. Written in a beautifully tongue-in-cheek style, these two books (originally released for Comic Relief) provide a backdrop to all that happens in the series. Again - Short, humorous and easy reading.
My final offering isn't quite as easy to read, but it's short enough. Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton, will always be one of my favourite novels, even if it's just for the quote "Happy the eyes that can close.", which I had daubed on my wall for most of last year. Concerning the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, it's hardly light reading, but I'd say it's essential reading.
So there you go! Hopefully there's something for everyone there, and if you prefer longer, more thematic books, I'll be back with some reviews soonish, I hope. As a parting note, I will soon be taking up Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, as an overdue promise to a friend. I'm hoping to finish them this time, so you should join in, and read them with me! Comment below, and let me know if you're up for it.. If not, I'll read them by myself! :P
Don't forget to be awesome, and rate, comment, and follow.
:]
xo
gb
I've already mentioned The Last Polar Bears, by Harry Horse, part of a series of books about an old, unnamed Grandfather, and his dog, Roo. Together they go on a series of adventures, all of which end in near-disaster. I've only got two of the four books, the aforementioned Polar Bears, and The Last Gold Diggers. Apparently they were made into a cartoon at some point, but I've always preferred the witty illustrations (self-penned, I believe) in the books themselves. Short, funny, and easy to read.
Secondly, to all you Harry Potter fans, I recommend Rowling's original companions to the series, Quidditch: Through the Ages, and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I haven't read Tales of Beadle the Bard yet, as I haven't had enough money to buy it, but I imagine it to be fairly similar to these two gems. Written in a beautifully tongue-in-cheek style, these two books (originally released for Comic Relief) provide a backdrop to all that happens in the series. Again - Short, humorous and easy reading.
My final offering isn't quite as easy to read, but it's short enough. Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton, will always be one of my favourite novels, even if it's just for the quote "Happy the eyes that can close.", which I had daubed on my wall for most of last year. Concerning the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, it's hardly light reading, but I'd say it's essential reading.
So there you go! Hopefully there's something for everyone there, and if you prefer longer, more thematic books, I'll be back with some reviews soonish, I hope. As a parting note, I will soon be taking up Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia, as an overdue promise to a friend. I'm hoping to finish them this time, so you should join in, and read them with me! Comment below, and let me know if you're up for it.. If not, I'll read them by myself! :P
Don't forget to be awesome, and rate, comment, and follow.
:]
xo
gb
Tuesday 6 January 2009
Loo Literature and The Problems with Prizes
This blog comes in three parts.
Part One:
You will already know if you frequent my other blog ThisModernLove. As part of Project Read 2009, I will be taking a book into the toilet with me, everytime I need the loo. That will then be my 'ToiletBook' until I finish it, when I will review it, and designate another book.
My first ToiletBook is The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger, after John Green's enthusiastic teaching inspired me to reread it.
Part Two:
As Head of Choir for my last year at Clayesmore School, I was entitled to a prize at the end of term. I chose the Kings Singers' Greatest Hits, and This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel Levitin. The school label your prize with a large sticky label saying "Choir Prize 2008 - Giles Baggott". The only problem with this is that they've stuck it on the inside front cover of my book, which makes reading difficult, and means I've had to bend the front cover about to be able to hold the book. This, in my book at least, is a travesty and for someone as obsessive about the quality of their books as me, is made of suck.
(Methinks many books will get ruined over the course of this project, so I better get used to it...)
Part Three
Suggestions. So already I've been reccomended some books by a friend (Thanks, Tom!), and so I'd like to open things up. If you know a book you think I should read or reread, let me know! I am thinking about re-doing the entire Harry Potter series in time for the next film, but I also want to discover at least one new and fantastic author before the end of this project.
So there we go. Rate, comment, and follow, don't forget to be awesome, but most of all, join in! I read The Last Polar Bears by Harry Horse last night. The book(s) you read don't have to be heavyweight intellectuality that spawned a genre, as long as they get you reading!
xo
gb
Part One:
You will already know if you frequent my other blog ThisModernLove. As part of Project Read 2009, I will be taking a book into the toilet with me, everytime I need the loo. That will then be my 'ToiletBook' until I finish it, when I will review it, and designate another book.
My first ToiletBook is The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger, after John Green's enthusiastic teaching inspired me to reread it.
Part Two:
As Head of Choir for my last year at Clayesmore School, I was entitled to a prize at the end of term. I chose the Kings Singers' Greatest Hits, and This is Your Brain on Music by Daniel Levitin. The school label your prize with a large sticky label saying "Choir Prize 2008 - Giles Baggott". The only problem with this is that they've stuck it on the inside front cover of my book, which makes reading difficult, and means I've had to bend the front cover about to be able to hold the book. This, in my book at least, is a travesty and for someone as obsessive about the quality of their books as me, is made of suck.
(Methinks many books will get ruined over the course of this project, so I better get used to it...)
Part Three
Suggestions. So already I've been reccomended some books by a friend (Thanks, Tom!), and so I'd like to open things up. If you know a book you think I should read or reread, let me know! I am thinking about re-doing the entire Harry Potter series in time for the next film, but I also want to discover at least one new and fantastic author before the end of this project.
So there we go. Rate, comment, and follow, don't forget to be awesome, but most of all, join in! I read The Last Polar Bears by Harry Horse last night. The book(s) you read don't have to be heavyweight intellectuality that spawned a genre, as long as they get you reading!
xo
gb
Post the First
Hi!
My name is Giles Baggott, for those of you that don't know me, and I do nothing. I have a part time job, and I'm applying for uni, but I spend most of my time in bed watching films. I have 75 films, and 4 sitcoms. I also have over 300 books, yet I never read any of them, despite describing myself as 'an avid reader' on both my CV and Personal Statement.
So I figured that as 2009 seems to be the year of change, I decided that this year was the year to watch less, and read more.
Over the coming year, I will endeavour to read with increasing regularity, and I will try to continue to come up with new ways to do this, and challenge myself along the way. At some point I'm planning to go at least one month without any televised media, and I'm hoping to find someway to help reduce WorldSuck through reading.
However, this shouldn't just be about me.. Join in! Some of you I'm sure are already going through books at a ridiculous pace, but if you feel you could read more, read along with me! I'll be keeping you updated with which books I'm reading, and if you email me at g-baggott@hotmail.com, I'll be sure to give you a mention!
Please follow, comment, and rate. I'm not sure if it helps my popularity, but it can't hurt. Please also feel free to pass on to your friends.
Hope to hear from a few of you soon!
xo
gb
My name is Giles Baggott, for those of you that don't know me, and I do nothing. I have a part time job, and I'm applying for uni, but I spend most of my time in bed watching films. I have 75 films, and 4 sitcoms. I also have over 300 books, yet I never read any of them, despite describing myself as 'an avid reader' on both my CV and Personal Statement.
So I figured that as 2009 seems to be the year of change, I decided that this year was the year to watch less, and read more.
Over the coming year, I will endeavour to read with increasing regularity, and I will try to continue to come up with new ways to do this, and challenge myself along the way. At some point I'm planning to go at least one month without any televised media, and I'm hoping to find someway to help reduce WorldSuck through reading.
However, this shouldn't just be about me.. Join in! Some of you I'm sure are already going through books at a ridiculous pace, but if you feel you could read more, read along with me! I'll be keeping you updated with which books I'm reading, and if you email me at g-baggott@hotmail.com, I'll be sure to give you a mention!
Please follow, comment, and rate. I'm not sure if it helps my popularity, but it can't hurt. Please also feel free to pass on to your friends.
Hope to hear from a few of you soon!
xo
gb
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
