The Rebel Poetess

Book Review: Sophie Kinsella, What Does it Feel Like? I first stumbled across Sophie Kinsella's books back in 2004, with one of the Shopaholic series, as part of a reading challenge. It's safe to say I fell in love with her books and have kept returning to them over the years. 'What Does it Feel Like' is her most personal novel(its a novella) yet, about her experience of being diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer with no known cure. The book begins before the main character Eve's diagnosis. Eve is a writer and is being interviewed about her writing and family. You get a real sense of someone who appreciates how lucky they are to be living the life they are.  Eve is out walking around the shops in a break from her writing when, reminiscent of a scene from one of her books, she falls in love with a dress in the window of a boutique, which sparks off a new book idea. Next, we see her hitting the ultimate high as her novel is turned into a fil...

 Greetings from South Somerset, not far from Glastonbury. It seems fitting as someone who has always loved singing and dancing that I should end up living so near to the home of music.   When I was a kid there was a time for about five years when we didn't have a TV. Growing up in the late 80s and early 90s, there was no social media, but I don't remember ever feeling left out from my friends, or bored. I think because my sister was a lot older than me, I was on my own a lot and this was vital in harnessing my creativity. So I made up stories. Now, aged 40, with a birthday coming up, I'm still making up stories-let's face it, the state of the world in 2023, a bit of escapism is something we could ALL benefit from... I've tried to curb my addiction to caffeine over the years but have come to the conclusion that I love it too much(strong, two brown sugars, oat milk if you're asking), I don't smoke, I hardly drink at the moment, I wouldn't call coffee a vic...

 A is for  Apple, Ariana Grande&Awesomeness A really should be for 'allo, because it feels like an aeon and a half since I last posted here. The world's on the brink of a humanitarian crisis, a global pandemic has been and gone(kind of), and I'm still over here writing. But enough about me. How have you been? I can't quite believe it's nearly three years since I posted here. It feels like a lifetime ago, I feel like a lucky cat with nine lives, a few have been used up and finally, after the most chaotic and yet at times calm and peaceful life, it's time for a new chapter. It seems fitting too that there are lots of departures and returns in the world of politics, music, and books. The UK has just welcomed a new Prime Minister-just when you thought it couldn't get any worse than Boris. The speech about Pork Markets alone shows a woman wildly out of touch with what is going on in the world. Which leads on nicely to new music, and as Lewis Capaldi has just ...

I first heard of 'break your glass slippers' by Amanda Lovelace on somebody's Instagram page -I seem to get most of my book recommendations from social media these days. I had seen some of her books in Waterstones before including 'the princess saves herself in this one', but had never had the pleasure of reading her work until now. Having loved fairytales ever since I can remember, I along with many others, am guilty of falling for the myth that you grow up, meet the handsome prince/princess and live happily ever after.   The End.   What Amanda Lovelace makes you think about is what if that isn't the end of the narrative?   What if the prince turns out to be saboteur not saviour? Coupled with beautiful illustrations by Janaina Medeiros, the simplicity of 'break your glass slippers' is powerful partly due to the purity of the words.   The old fashioned view that girls should be seen and not heard is shattered.   You don't have to look an...

Book Review -So Lucky, Dawn O'Porter, Harper Collins, 2019 After the rightful success of Dawn O'Porter's novel 'The Cows', I couldn't wait to read her new novel, and was lucky enough to receive it as a gift for Christmas.   The tag line (Don't judge a woman by her cover) was very apt. So Lucky focuses on three central characters.   On the surface, Beth has what many women dream of.   An attentive husband, a beautiful baby, and a successful career, running her own company.   Ruby is ballsy, funny, and doesn't let anyone tell her who's boss.   Lauren has the perfect body, is about to marry her dream man, and has an Instagram feed to showcase every downward dog, flawless selfie, and a fun, easy relationship with her Mother. But scratch beneath the surface, and things are very different.   Beth's husband refuses to touch her, trying to shame her for her pregnancy weight gain, and shunning any expression of desire, telling her she...

The Gift, Cecilia Ahern, Harper, 2010. With Christmas approaching faster than I can keep track of, I thought I would review a book which is especially poignant to read during the festive season.   Cecilia Ahern is a writer who can do no wrong – there’s not been a book of hers so far I haven’t enjoyed. The Gift features Lou Suffern, a man with plenty of money, but not enough of the greatest commodity which cannot be bought – time.   Gabe is a homeless man who needs warmth and shelter.   When fate throws them into each other’s paths, neither can guess the impact the other will have on their lives and those around them. Lou has a busy job, and an even busier family life, and he cannot give attention to one without affecting the other.   Gabe on the other hand is something of a mystery to him, especially as he seems to be able to be in two places at once. Once Lou finds out Gabe’s secret he takes advantage of it, but is this really the solution? ...

Diagnosed: My Autistic Author’s Life My name is Kristina, and I’ve always loved books. For as long as I can remember. Seriously, in my baby book, my mom recorded my first phrase as being “I want book.” I can’t remember learning how to read because I was always able to, as far as my memory can go back. And I’ve always loved writing. My first-grade teacher told me I was going to write books someday. Now, I’ve so far signed three contracts with the small Canadian publisher Sands Press for my books Slow Echoes, Gold Silence, and Sole Voices, the first three in the Post Worlds series, about an Egyptian-goddess descendant who falls in love with a boxer despite supernatural challenges prying them apart. But for a while, writing was very difficult. I’ve only recently started getting back into the habit again. Severe depression, anxiety, and OCD had been building over many years until one day I had a panic attack right in the middle of my shift as a jewelry salesperson that sent me...

The Children Act, Jonathan Cape, 2014 Fiona is a high court judge, dealing with matters of family law.  She is businesslike, brisk, yet compassionate.  Beyond the professional successes, Fiona is childless and her marriage is in crisis. Fiona is summoned in a pressing case, Adam a beautiful seventeen year old boy with leukemia is refusing medical treatment which could save his life, under grounds of religion – he is a Jehovah’s Witness.  In order to gain a better understanding of the case, Fiona goes to visit Adam in hospital, and their encounter touches both their lives in ways they could never have imagined. The main crux of the novel follows their encounter and how Fiona’s decision impacts on both of their lives.  Beautifully written and succinct, with not a word wasted, the reader can see why Ian McEwan is such a well-respected and revered writer.  Thought provoking and powerful.

Ketchup Clouds, Annabel Pitcher, Orion 2012 Teenager Zoe writes letters to a man on death row, a man who killed his wife, someone you would expect her to have little in common with.   The truth is, Zoe knows more about love, and death, than most people would give her credit for.   Ketchup Clouds is the outpouring of her deepest darkest secret. Zoe meets Aaron at a party and there is an instant connection but, blurred by alcohol and a mass of bodies surrounding them, they lose each other.   She finds herself with Max, the most popular boy at school.   Before she can realize the connection between Aaron and Max, she has become Max’s girlfriend. Although she has what every girl at school wants – to be the girlfriend of the coolest boy there, Zoe can’t help the tug of her heart strings pulling her away from Max and towards Aaron.   From what she has seen Aaron has a girlfriend too, and telling him how she feels isn’t an option. Throughout the boo...

Into the Darkest Corner, Elizabeth Haynes, Myriad Editions, 2011 Elizabeth Haynes is a police intelligence analyst and we can only imagine how much of the detail she has put into the novel that is based on fact.  The book was created as part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and is Haynes first novel.  It was featured on More4’s TV Book Club in 2012 where it sparked a lively debate. Into the Darkest Corner tells the tale of an abusive relationship.  Catherine has been enjoying single life as much as the next person, relishing the freedom being unattached brings her.  All of this changes when she meets Lee.  A chance encounter leads to something more, while at first she enjoys the highs such a passionate pairing can bring, it soon becomes clear that in this case such highs bring crippling lows.  For Lee is not the nice guy he charms Catherine’s friends into thinking he is.  By the time she finally realises the lengths he will go to kee...

One Day, David Nicholls, Hodder, 2010 At its heart One Day is a love story but there is so much more to it than that.   Emma and Dexter meet on St Swithin’s Day – 15th July- 1988 at University.   Full of hopes and dreams, with the rest of their lives ahead of them, they put the world to rights on the night they meet; their graduation.   Their paths in life could not be more different after this day, yet they always converge again on this one day of each year.    Dexter achieves a level of celebrity and all the clichés that come with it – sex, drugs and rock and roll.   Emma spends her first years after graduation making ends meet in jobs which pay the bills, her life could not be more different from Dexter’s and yet their worlds collide each year on this one day. I fell in love with both characters; Emma’s feistiness was a delight and I loved seeing her trajectory as she truly blossomed in life and shone as brightly as any star.   Althoug...

The Boy who Fell To Earth, Kathy Lette, Black Swan 2013. Lucy has a very important man in her life, her autistic son, Merlin.  Merlin’s Father Jeremy abandoned them when Merlin was very young, claiming he couldn’t handle Merlin’s condition.  After years on her own, and a series of dates which don’t go according to plan, the perfect man, Archie, lands on her doorstep.  Okay he swears, he makes constant innuendoes, but he has a huge heart.  And most importantly, he gets Merlin.  Just when life seems as though it couldn’t get any better, Jeremy makes an unexpected return, pleading forgiveness. Kathy Lette has explained she didn’t have to look far for her inspiration for The Boy Who Fell To Earth as her son has Asperger’s.  This is apparent in Merlin’s character and some of his utterings make for a hilarious yet touching read.  Jeremy claims to have had a change of heart, wanting to do everything he can to make hers and Merlin’s lives easier.  F...

I’m going to put my hands up and confess I didn’t read this book when it first came out, due to bad reviews.   Actually, I got it from my local library - definitely saves me £££ on my reading habit! – read a few pages, put it down and forgot about it for a while. Now I have to tell you the reason the reviews put me off.   Having read Moran’s iconic How to Be a Woman and discovering a book that was actually my bible.   Anyone who wants to understand me just has to read that book.   The reviews gave the impression that this was pretty much a fictional copy of How to Be a Woman, at first I didn’t see the point of reading what many critics had lambasted as a copy of a copy. Curiosity got the better of me though, and I am so glad it did!   Having grown up in West Somerset, always dreaming of escaping from a small town where everyone knows your name and your business – not always a good thing – I could totally relate to Caitlin Moran’s fictionalized version ...

So You’ve been Publicly Shamed, Jon Ronson, Picador 2015. Public shaming is not a new concept.   This is an act which has gone on for hundreds of years, but it is in recent years, partly due to social media, that it has brought increasing levels of vitriol.   For his research, Jon Ronson travelled the country for three years, meeting people who had been publicly shamed, and shows a great deal of sensitivity and understanding of his subjects.   This is hardly surprising, as Ronson has been publicly shamed too. When Ronson realized somebody was tweeting as him, he contacted them to ask them to take the Twitter account down.   At first, they refused to do so, eventually met up, and due to pressure from others, the page was eventually taken down.   A particularly interesting part of the book was when Ronson spoke to Max Mosley, who the News of the World suggested had been part of a Nazi themed sex party.   The facts emerged that although there was an ...

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Mike Garry, Live Rooms Chester, 13th October 2017 Astounded.   Stunned.   Invigorated.   Just some of the feelings I had afterwards.   Last night I went to see Mike Garry perform at The Speakeasy launch night at The Live Rooms in Chester.   I had never seen Mike read before and was completely blown away. The Speakeasy is a new night, which started off with comedian Natalie P-J who got the crowd going and sparked interest from locals.   She is definitely one to watch.   After this came the open mic, with the open mic policy being; the Speakeasy bell was on the stage at all times, if the stage was free, all you had to do was get up and ring the bell, the music would go quiet and the lights would go down, giving you the stage to perform.   I was unsure beforehand how this would work, but it actually worked really well.   After the first poet had the bottle to ring the bell, people didn’t stop.   From more comedy, to storytelling, a...

Greetings fellow creative types!  How are you? If you're reading this you either know me personally or are lucky enough to have stumbled across the best new blog ever by pure chance. Fate, destiny, whatever. You're here. So let's get to know each other. Does that mean we have to talk about our feelings? Really hope not. Recently I've been through some major personal trauma. Hands down the worst period of my life. I've always thought of myself as a positive person who can get through anything. I've been through a lot of shit in my life(not a huge fan of swearing but sometimes there's no substitute for it. Except the C word. Not a fan of that.) I'm going to be completely honest and open with you now. If you're reading this, you are already someone I know and trust, and one thing I have learnt from this whole experience, is that through my life I have always been someone who suffers with anxiety. I have always been a worrier. When I was five I used ...