anaalgesico: literate and stylish

Showing posts with label literate and stylish. Show all posts

Literate & Stylish: Liz from SRSLYLIZ

The premise of Literate & Stylish is simple, and the post is short but sweet- every Thursday I'll be showcasing a lovely lady and her favorite book. She'll share a few pretty photos showing off her personal style, along with her book of choice, and tell us why she loves it.

from Liz of SRSLYLIZ

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.by Judy Blume

Growing up as the oldest of all my sisters has been a rewarding experience over the years. It's been both heartbreaking and awesome seeing them grow up and come of age and witness all of their failures and achievements alike. I often wonder what it would have been like for me to have an older sister to look to for advice and guidance. Luckily for me, I have an amazing mother and I've always had books to turn to and identify with, growing up. Some favorites included The Babysitters Little Sister series and the Beezus and Ramona books. However, the story that resonated with me the most was Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. I swear I must have read it a dozen times when I was 13. It talked about all the stuff I was curious of, but too embarrassed to ask anyone about--boys and starting your period. It wasn't a "how-to" guide by any means, but it was relatable and most importantly, reassured me that what I was going through & feeling at that age was normal--something every pre-teen desperately craves. I'll always be fond of this book & hopefully if I have a daughter someday, will encourage her to read it, too.

see previous Literate & Stylish posts here.

Literate & Stylish: Kacie from A Collection of Passions

from Kacie, of A Collection of Passions

A Prayer for Owen Meany: A Novelby John Irving

My sister is really the literate one, and every amazing book I've ever read has been because of her recommendation. She gave me a used copy of A Prayer for Owen Meany when I was twenty and I fell completely in love with it. That particular copy stayed with me, in my purse, for years until it finally fell apart while traveling in Europe. Since then I have gone through several more copies. I always find myself giving it away.

A Prayer for Owen Meany is essentially the story of two boys, John and Owen, who are bonded together by accidents and fate. As their journey progresses through the years, they form a brotherly love that is absolutely heartbreaking. This is my favorite book because it's the most extraordinary, hilarious, touching, unique book I've ever read. It is full of hilarious absurdities, and incredible wisdom. For those of you who have read it, I only need to TYPE IN ALL CAPITALS to get you giggling. For those of you who haven't yet had the joy of reading this novel, I highly recommend it.

see previous Literate & Stylish posts here.

Literate & Stylish: Missi from Messy Missi

from Missi, of Messy Missi

The Contortionist's Handbookby Craig Clevenger

When asked to do this I got very excited. Then I got to doing it and it was harder than I thought! First, as an avid reader, I had to pick a favorite book which is like asking me to pick a favorite child. Second, I am about the most awkward person ever in front of the camera. Trying to take a picture of myself where I did not look like a wooden nutcracker soldier was a challenge. And finally, since I have purchased my kindle and had a baby, many of the hard copies of my books have been donated. I wanted to do a book that I actually had.

I ended up picking The Contortionist's Handbook.There are many things that make a book fantastic for me and this book has many of them. It is set in Los Angeles, includes a medical aspect, and is a bit dirty. The Contortionist's Handbook has a deceiving title but is still a great read. Johnny or Paul or Daniel or whatever identity the protagonist has decided to take on to avoid being placed into a mental health facility after accidental overdoses, is a closet genius with a talent for forgery. Much of the story is set during an interview with an evaluator in a hospital after another one of his overdoses. As he carefully feeds his evaluator the correct answers to keep him from being held for additional time, you are invited into his lonely world of drugs and lies. While keeping who he truly is a secret from the world, Johnny only chooses a select few to open up to about his past life. This book caught me from the first page and I read it quickly. It is not an emotional or dramatic novel. It is just a good book. It sucks you in, spits you out and you feel better for doing so. I hope you enjoy it!

see previous Literate & Stylish posts here.

Literate & Stylish: Katie from House of Humble

from Katie of House of Humble

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre had been on my “to read” list for a very long time, before I finally picked it up last year. It always takes me a little while to adjust to the language in old literature, but the prose in Jane Eyre is so beautiful, I quickly found myself sinking into the lovely rhythm of the words. To summarise the plot very briefly, Jane Eyre is the biographical tale of Jane, from her childhood living with her wealthy aunt and cousins, to her education at Lowood School, to her time as the governess of Thornfield Hall (where she falls in love with her employer Mr Rochester) and beyond. The story is full of tragedy, suspense and creepy gothic imagery, and the romance between Jane and Mr Rochester is so captivating, it's almost impossible not to be drawn into Jane's world.

I think the reason this story resonated so strongly with me, was the strength of the main character. Jane Eyre makes a wonderful heroine. She is smart, strong, sassy and a little bit strange. Her life is full of abuse and hardship but instead of falling in a heap, she bravely marches on. She's intelligent and determined, with strong opinions, values and principals. She refuses to compromise on her convictions, and despite the influence and pressures of the patriarchal society around her, remains fiercely independent. Jane was a woman long ahead of her time.

The tale of Jane Eyre combines adventure, tragedy, romance and happy tears, with an intriguing leading lady at the helm. There is a very good reason this story has become a classic… If you haven't already read Jane Eyre, I urge you, go now!

see previous Literate & Stylish posts here.

Literate & Stylish: Lauren from Busy Bee Lauren

from Lauren of Busy Bee Lauren

The Great Gatsbyby F. Scott Fitzgerald

I had the hardest time choosing which book to highlight as my favorite book, because in all honesty, I have three books that hold "favorite book of all time" in my heart. While I love The Hunger Games, and Jane Eyre equally, I decided upon The Great Gatsby. I remember choosing to read this book back in my junior year of high school for my AP English class. I didn't know anything about it, other than the title sounding familiar. Once I began reading, I was immediately transformed to a completely different time. The roaring 20's seemed so glamorous and beautiful, and I was captivated by it. I was enchanted by Fitzgerald's prose and imagery he created. I knew at the age of 16 that The Great Gatsby had easily filled the "perfect book" spot in my brain. Yes, I have a spot like that. So whenever I feel the need to escape to a different time and place, The Great Gatsby is my go-to read.

see previous Literate & Stylish posts here.

Literate & Stylish: Abi from Vanilla and Lace

from Abi of Vanilla and Lace

Wasted: A Memoir of Anorexia and Bulimia by Marya Hornbacher

Wasted is a raw and compelling memoir written by Marya, about her life-threatening struggle with anorexia and bulimia. She talks honestly about her love affair with hunger, drugs, sex and death. She recreates her experiences and illuminates the tangle of personal, family, and cultural causes underlying eating disorders. As you would probably guess about a book on this subject, it is heavy and heart wrenching at times.. as she describes her hell on earth and ultimately ends up hospitalized at 52 pounds. It does, however, end well and positive. In my opinion it is a must-read for everyone, whether you can relate a little or a lot. It is beautifully written and brutally honest.. and it quite literally changed my life!

see previous Literate & Stylish posts here.

Literate & Stylish: Amber from I Love You to the Moon

from Amber, of I Love You to the Moon

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close: A Novelby Jonathan Safran Foer

Jonathan Safran Foer, just yes. He has such a fresh voice, playful style, and a way about him that you can't help but love. He weaves stories like no other. Let me be honest for one sec. I really wanted to show you guys Everything is Illuminated but I can't find my copy anywhere! I re-read it last month and must have left it behind after I finished it. Go read that book. Then! read this one. You'll love both. (I do, anyway) That book is genius. It's beautiful, its witty, it's funny, It's real. You won't be able to put it down. This book? It's great too. You also won't want to quit until you're finished. Life can be incredibly tough. This book shows there is beauty in sadness though. You go on an adventure with 9 year old Oskar as he is determined to make sense of his father's death after 9/11. I love books that make you feel. This one makes me feel so much. The hustle and bustle of New York City, the heartbreak, the adventure, self destruction and preservation - all of it. Every page, you feel.

see previous Literate & Stylish posts here.

Literate & Stylish: Emily from Ruffling Feathers

from Emily Frame, of Ruffling Feathers

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Picking a favorite book is exceptionally hard for me, as I can pinpoint certain books that altered my way of thinking at several stages of my life. Books have always been catalysts for personal growth, so much so that I declared Literary Studies as my major in college. Matilda when I was 8, The Perks of Being a Wallflower when I was 16, Streetcar Named Desire when I was 20. They all instantly transport me back to that time in my life, and a specific enlightening moment about life and love. So you see why it's hard to choose. For me in this particular moment of my life, I had to pick Bossypants by Tina Fey. It's beautiful and hilarious and speaks to me on so many levels. As a mother, as someone trying to make their mark on the world, as a business owner, as a wife and friend. I laughed until I cried, and when I read the line about problem solving, "Is this person in between me and what I want to do? If the answer is no, ignore it and move on." So simple, and yet so powerful. It has become a sort of mantra for me navigating my way through a see of naysayers and copy-cats. If you're not a big reader, you can download the audio version narrated by Ms. Fey herself, which makes it even better!

see previous Literate & Stylish posts here.

Literate & Stylish: Ashley from That Is All

from Ashley, of That Is All

The Fault in Our Starsby John Green

A quick glance at these pictures might lead you to believe this post is about The Great Gatsby. It’s actually just my Kindle cover, but while we’re on the subject, if you haven’t read The Great Gatsby, you definitely should. I plan on re-reading it before the movie comes out.

While there are dozens of classic books I hold close to my heart, the book I want to share with you today is one I recently read. The Fault in Our Starsby John Green is technically Young Adult Fiction, but there is something in this book for you no matter your age.

It is in one of the most unromantic settings, a cancer support group, that this love story begins. Hazel is sixteen and has lungs ridden with cancer. A “magic,” experimental pill is prolonging her life, but she’s not naive. She understands that one day she will die from this disease, and therefore is living her life so that her death will affect as few people as possible. Enter gorgeous, magnetic Augustus, who has had to have a leg amputated, but is now in remission. He is immediately drawn to Hazel, but she keeps things at a friends-only status because of her life’s expiration date.

As these two go off on some crazy adventures, we get to watch the love story unfold. You will laugh. You will cry. Your life will be better for having this book in it. (Oh my, I’m being dramatic, but it’s only because I really want you to read it!)