My Favourite Books of 2014

Admittedly, it's been a while. I've been brimming with ideas for this here blog but with the avalanche of commitments that rudely fell upon me at the beginning of September (e.g. big-scary-final-year-student-things-gross), The Old Curiosity Blog was set aside reluctantly. Determined to get back into the swing of things, I thought I'd write a little something about my favourite books of 2014 (with a particular focus on new books that have been published in 2013/14).

Consider this a shortlist of my favourites - the books that made me laugh, think, and admire the writers for their ability to create characters with voices that launch off the pages.

1. Mr. Loverman by Bernardine Evaristo

With her acting background and experience as a poet, Evaristo's mix of lively, vibrant dialogue and beautifully lyrical moments makes Mr. Loverman a striking read. This novel follows Barrington, an elderly member of the Caribbean community of Hackney, living with his religious wife of 50 plus years, who has kept a secret for most of his life. He is homosexual, and has been having an affair with his soulmate, Maurice, since childhood.

I fell in love with Barrington - for his wit, for his ability to shock, for his way of talking - and I read this novel with a pang of sadness in my stomach that I would eventually have to finish it and leave Barrington's colourful world behind. That said, there are moments in the book where Barrington can strain your willingness to love him - Evaristo does not create a victim of circumstance. She makes you question the impact of Barrington's double life on his wife, and her missed opportunities at receiving love.

2. Mrs Hemingway by Naomi Wood

Although I've never read Hemingway, my nosey nature drew me to this book. It cleverly traces the pattern of mistress to marriage to mistress to marriage throughout Ernest Hemingway's life, giving voice to the women who had all, at one point, become Mrs Hemingway. For Hadley Richardson, the first Mrs Hemingway, I felt a surge of sympathy; so much so that when I read about Fife (Pauline Pfeiffer, the soon-to-be Mrs), I wanted to protect Hadley from the oncoming heartbreak. It's a feeling that does not last; each woman that comes into Hemingway's life charms you and makes you want to guide them away from the inevitable damage their marriage will bring. Wood's novel made me question my loyalty to these characters; am I cheating on the current Mrs Hemingway by warming to the woman that will take her place?

3. Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham

This is a book that has received a huge amount of hype, and I'm glad to say it has not disappointed. It croons Dunham's voice, and her ability in the HBO series Girls to depict the unsettling to the hilarious comes through in this book. Not That Kind of Girl should spark questions in the reader and bring out conversations to share with others. What I have "learned" from the book is a whole other matter (and a whole other blog post, coming soon).

4. The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Speaking of books with a hype, The Miniaturist has dominated this year's bestseller lists and was recently announced as the Waterstones Book of the Year. Early on in the summer break from university, I was doing work experience placements in the publishing industry, and there seemed to be a buzz about this book in the various offices I worked at. Curious, I started reading the book on the commute to and from London. The Miniaturist transported me away from the those boring commutes.  It maintained mystery, and as a reader I felt the same sense of eagerness  to unlock the secrets of the Miniaturist as the protagonist, Nella. At times I felt the repairing of Nella and Johannes' relationship was rushed in the scheme of the novel, and I felt the reveal of the Miniaturist's circumstances could have gone further.

5. All the Days and Nights by Niven Govinden

Over the summer I was asked to review Govinden's latest novel for the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize, and you can read the article here. All the Days and Nights tells the story of a dying artist and her muse-and-husband in the final months of her life; we see their relationship strain under the pressures of illness and her obsession to make art, and his escape to track down the portraits he sat for over the course of their marriage. I have included it on this list because I happened to read this book at a difficult point in my year, and this novel guided me through the difficulties of grief. I guess it proved that sometimes it's the time in your life in which you read a book that makes it all the more special.

What does a tandoori lamb chop and a book have in common?

In an attempt to sell his latest novel, Meatspace, Nikesh Shukla decided to take things literally and send a lamb chop into space with a weather balloon, lots of helium and a Go-Pro camera. The stunt has caught the attention of many and was even featured as a question on Have I Got News For You. Time will tell if Shukla's sales will increase, though it seems the message to take from this random space mission is that authors have got to take it upon themselves to come up with creative marketing solutions for their books. 

Shukla, an 'ex-rapper' according to his website, also filmed a music video for Meatspace:

Who Needs A Holiday? 2014 Releases To Help You Escape

Are your social media feeds clogged with friends bragging about their holiday? There's nothing worse than switching on your Facebook/Twitter/Instagram to be met with tons of tanned-legs-on-the-beach shots and postcard perfect photos of foreign lands when you are stuck in the English summer rain. The constant bragging of your travelling mates is sure to send you into a spell of green-eyed envy. But why not escape to another country with some new fiction? Here is a selection of 2014 releases set in foreign locations to help you imagine you are somewhere else:

The Vacationers by Emma Straud

This May 2014 release seems a perfect holiday book - just look at that title! Even looking at the cover and imagining the heat of the sunshine warms me up a little. Straub's second novel focuses on the Mallorca holiday of New York family, the Posts, and examines each character's issues with precision. If you'd like to know more, take a look at this Huffington Post guide to the novel.

Lucky Us by Amy Bloom

Fancy an adverture across America...in the 1940s? Travel back in time with Amy Bloom's Lucky Us and follow two half-sisters' expedition across the US - including glitzy Hollywood and racuous Brooklyn. Read more about it at Bustle.

Nobody Is Ever Missing by Catherine Lacey

This new novel is about a woman's spontaneous escape from her stuffy life in America to New Zealand. Frequently described as 'accomplished' by reviewers, hopefully Lacey's debut will transport readers to their own escape. You can read more about this title on Slate.

The Sun and Other Stars by Brigid Pasulka

If you fancy a setting like the Italian Rivera, Pasulka's latest is the escapism novel for you. The book homes in on loss and the restoration of hope and love, and you can read more about it on the author's website.

A Poem For An Ending

The end of my second year at university is approaching (along with the looming dread of receiving exam results), and I thought this William Carlos Williams poem (which I read here) is apt for the occasion. The poem focuses on an issue many students have to deal with during their time at uni - the communal kitchen and the super awkward food theft situation. Whilst I've never had to deal with a kitchen thief (tips to my house mates), I have had to deal with some sticky situations when living with strangers in the past. 

I was tickled by the passive aggressive tone of 'In The Dorm's Communal Kitchen' ('hope you enjoyed them I guess') and the note-on-the-fridge-door format. Needless to say, hope they paid him back for the plums!

This is just to say
to whoever ate the plums
in the icebox
you could have just asked me if you could have one
my name was on the box
and i don’t have a meal plan
that was literally all i had to eat for the weekend and I was saving them for breakfast
so i hope you enjoyed them i guess
next time just ask

and honestly i would really
appreciate it if
you would apologize
like
so much depends upon an apology
slipped under a dorm room door
after lights out

This is just to say
that like im not MAD per se
i just wish that people would be honest
i wish people would be honest when they took my food
be responsible for yourself

This is just to say
i think its really WEIRD
that whoever took my plums
(and honestly I would have said yes if you had ASKED ME)
isnt coming forward?

Deny yourself all
half things. Have it
or leave it.
But it will keep—or
it is not worth
the having.
Never start
anything you can’t
finish—please dont TAKE A BITE
OUT OF MY PLUMS
AND THEN PUT THEM BACK IN THE FRIDGE
I HONESTLY FEEL LIKE THIS IS GETTING PERSONAL
WE’RE IN COLLEGE
LETS BE ADULTS PLEASE
I REALLY DONT WANT TO HAVE TO TALK TO KELSEY ABOUT THIS
BUT I WILL

okay and now we’re graduating to my ice cream
i can’t forgive this
it was so sweet
and so cold
the ice cream that had my name on it
real cool guys
honestly that ice cream was like six dollars
that’s really messed up

Rebranding Classic Novels as Chick Lit Produces Cringey and Condescending Results

Reading a recent article on Flavorwire on embarrassing book covers for classic literature, I noticed a bit of a recurring trend. Many classic books written by women/about women are repeatedly rebranded by publishers as 'chick lit' or plastered with mediocre model shots more suited to a trashy romance novel than a piece of high quality literary fiction.

I've selected a few of my favourites from the Flavorwire list (and one of my own finding I couldn't resist to include). Yes, they may make you cringe, but I think many show that many publishers take a design strategy that is both condescending towards the reader and distorting of the writers' original messages.

Firstly, there's the 50th Anniversary issue of Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar which caused a considerable internet storm for it's apparent 'chick lit' cover. You could argue that the largely pink design including a woman applying make up is whistling to the wrong tune - said tune being a startling novel about a woman experiencing mental illness in the 1950s/60s. It is a haunting book - but the chick lit-y appearance of this issues sells it as something it is not. Some people have defended the image - surely this semi-autobiographical novel is a reflective piece on the author's own life events, and this notion of reflection is modeled? Kirsty Grocott argued the cover is a fitting choice and illustrates the predicament the protagonist faces.

Is it a case of condescending 'chick lit treatment' or a seemingly well-intentioned cover? I have yet to make up my mind. 

Moving on swiftly - what about this cover of Wuthering Heights? Yep that's right - this is a Bronte novel and not an addition to the Twilight saga, though the design seriously echoes the series' characteristic artwork. The publisher even uses the vampiric 'Love Never Dies' motif seemingly to suck (pun intended) fans of Meyers' work into buying Wuthering Heights. 

This rebranding of a classic novel downgrades it to the same level as the vampire series and even pragmatically shifts its genre - does the popular mind project an expectation of fantasy onto this title? Does it damage the author's reputation? It's definitely an attempt to market Wuthering Heights for a younger audience, and attracting younger markets toward Victorian literature can only be positive. But through this extremely conscious case of rebranding, is the publisher actually condescending the audience?

Without seeing the author's name on the following copy, you would be forgiven for thinking the following title belonged to a writer like Candace Bushnell (Sex and the City). But wait - this is actually a genuine cover of Night and Day by Virginia Woolf. Yes, Woolf, who published this novel in 1919 (are you, like me, doubting the existence of halter necks in 1919? Just saying).

Night and Day is concerned with the plight of women's suffrage - and I'm not sure if the model pictured suits this theme. Sure, green was one of the suffragette colours ... but maybe she could have a purple sash? I'm just making suggestions *innocent face*.

I don't know why this is supposed to attract readers to Woolf but it seems condescending to make classic literature look like a magazine for the purpose of marketing.

Finally, here's a copy of Anne of Green Gables with a sultry country-bumpkin blonde. I would have LOVED to have been in the design consultation meeting for this one - 'Look, we know that sex sells. Agreed? Ok, can sex sell a beloved children's book about a young orphan girl? Absolutely!'. Grrrr.

Also, let's not forget that Anne is GINGER - a fact which a simple google image search could tell anyone. I despair.

Literary Tourism #2: 221b Baker Street

So, here is the second installment in my literary tourism series. Well, saying 'series' makes it sound as though I'm incredibly organised at planning my blog posts; actually, I just happened to stumble across Orwell's house on a trip to Portobello Road market back in September and yesterday I found myself in front of the house belonging to one of the most infamous detectives. Maybe we'll call this an accidental blog series, then.

221b Baker Street is of course the home of Arthur Conan Doyle's creation, Sherlock Holmes. The building is complete with a rather tongue-in-cheek blue plaque celebrating the Consulting Detective.

I wasn't the only one to take the opportunity for a photo opp - there was a huge queue of tourists down the street (in the pouring rain!!!) waiting to have their photo taken with a Victorian police officer and Holmes's notorious deer stalker hat.

Next door is the Sherlock Holmes Museum and Mrs Hudson's cafe - it seems Baker Street hosts quite an illustrious industry revolving around a fictional character. The Sherlock enterprise has no doubt been given a boost by the recent Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman adaptation. 

Wicked Women: The Mean Girls of Literature

Tina Fey's Mean Girls, starring the likes of Lindsay Lohan and Amanda Seyfried, is apparently 10 years old today. At my 10th birthday party a group of my friends and I watched the movie in awe, giddy at its rudeness and delighted that 'that girl from Parent Trap who played twins' was in another film. Today, the internet has consequently exploded with #fetch hashtags and reminiscent Regina George quotes/memes. In response, For Books Sake have published a guest post discussing their favourite mean girls of literature, including the likes of Blair of Gossip Girl to Mrs Danvers in Rebecca.

This article has got me thinking about my own favourite evil women in literature, the 'life ruiners' alike Regina George who may have been overseen. So, I present to you my own list of literary Mean Girls:

Victoria in Zofloya, or The Moor by Charlotte Dacre

The mere thought of the female protagonist in Charlotte Dacre's 1806 novel makes me shudder. Victoria becomes a life ruiner several times over under the control of the devilish Zofloya; she's jealous, a bit sex crazy (maybe even a rapist), torturer, and savage killer of innocent Lillia (cos she doesn't even go here! Meaning: she's stolen Victoria's Henriquez...I had to fit that quote in somewhere!?) Altogether a bit of a...you know...rhymes with hyco witch?

Miss Havisham in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Poor Pip is the target of Miss Havisham's plans for revenge on mankind, pursuing his broken heart through her adopted daughter, Estella. Havisham, however, is owed perhaps more sympathy - left at the altar, she is ultimately denied the Victorian right to fulfilled womanhood (children), and becomes a recluse living in the suspended moment of what was meant to be her wedding day. No pink Wednesdays for Havisham...just the discoloured white of her decaying wedding dress every single day of the week. Not so fetch.

Medea in Medea by Euripides

A couple of thousand years later, Medea still appears as evil as ever. Jealous of Jason and his new love, she kills their children and taunts him with their bloody bodies. As you do.

Tamora in Titus Andronicus by William Shakespeare

Tamora, Queen of the Goths, is out for vicious means of revenge in this bloody Bard play - and, considering the death of her eldest son in the play's early scenes, she does seem to have motive. Evil nonetheless.

Choc Lit: A selection of chocolate-themed reads for Easter

Easter, for me, is about chocolate (Lie - everyday is about chocolate isn't it?). Anyway, Easter Day is a remarkable day when I am presented with a range of chocolatey treats by family members which I must stare at, drool for, and dutifully decide what time it is appropriate to guiltily crack open the first egg (11am approx. by my standards). Chocolate is also linked to books - there are the book awards sponsored by Galaxy, and even a publisher I found online aiming to find books only suitable to be read with a side helping of chocolate treats (I know, genius marketing ploy, isn't it?)

Anywho, I thought I would write a (long-overdue) blog post especially for Easter about pieces of literature which fixate on chocolate almost as much as I do everyday.

Chocolat by Joanne Harris 

Let's start with the obvious - this 1999 novel is about Vianne Rocher, a woman who opens a chocolate shop in a grumpy French village. It seems a poignant choice for Easter reading too - as much of the plot's tension comes from the village Church's disapproval of the indulgence represented by the chocolate sold by Rocher during Lent.

Admittedly, I haven't actually read this novel although I thought it was a bit too obvious to leave out of the selection in this post. I have, however, watched the film version in the hope of seeing Johnny Depp - only to be very disappointed because he only turns up as a sort of folk-hero chocolate bandit towards the end.




Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl 

And how could I have forgotten this wonderful book? Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of my favourite children's books, along side the rest of Dahl's work. If you don't know the plot (how could you NOT?), it follows a young poor boy called Charlie who received a Golden Ticket to go to the elusive and exclusive Wonka Factory. Did anyone else feel extremely jealous when Augustus Gloop fell in that chocolate river? Nope? Just me then?

It's a tale that has been made into a feature film twice - the eccentric factory-owner Willy Wonka first played by Gene Wilder in 1971 and then Johnny Depp in 2005 (I am starting to develop a conspiracy theory that Depp likes to make films about cocoa treats...or is that just me?).











'Chocs' by Carol Ann Duffy

Let's not forget poetry either - I have found this great little poem by Duffy which describes the experience of tucking into a box of Terry's Moonlight - the excitement of the 'electrifying rustle' of wrappers, the 'dark and glamorous scent' of chocolate, the 'chomp[ing]' and gorg[ing] until disappointingly finding only the horrid Coffee Cream left. We all have those one in a chocolate box that we hate, after all.



'Harlem Sweeties' by Langston Hughes

This poem by Langston Hughes may initially seem like an account of a sweet shop in  Harlem, but you soon realise Hughes is writing about his admiration for women in the neighbourhood. Sweet treats, like chocolate, become representative of women of Hughes' admiration - it's a colourful and fast-paced poem (albeit, a little misogynistic). You can read it here.

Gendered Book Marketing - Is a Boycott Really Fair to the Author?

Recently, The Independent newspaper announced that they will no longer review gender-specific children's books, arguing that marketing books in this way gives  a child an impression of how their gender should be defined.

'Sugar and spice and all things nice, that’s what little girls are made of.' wrote Katy Guest, 'And boys? They’re made of trucks and trains and aeroplanes, building blocks, chemistry experiments, sword fights and guns [..] At least, that’s the impression that children are increasingly given by the very books that are supposed to broaden their horizons.'

Guest goes on to cite the Let Books Be Books campaign, which aims to discourage gender-specific book marketing in the children's book industry.

The Independent's decision has been met with a lot of response - both praise and skepticism has been thrown in its direction. When I first read of it, I was impressed and happy that a big voice in the media was targeting gendered books. I am fed up of gender specific book covers determining and restricting an author's work to a limited demographic. Equally, I began to wonder if The Independent's boycott was really fair to the authors of these texts.

Lilit Marcus has claimed that The Independent's straight refusal is 'counterproductive' - most author's do not get a say in how their creative work will be marketed and to whom it will be targeted. 

Marcus explains: 'Those decisions are made by highers-up at publishing companies, with the actual writer just hoping that their book will manage to somehow stand out from the pack of new releases. Choosing to boycott a book based on to whom it’s being marketed is kind of like boycotting a band based on who goes to their concerts – there is not much that the actual creator of the work can do'.

Of course, we must ask how we can judge a book (the actual texture of a piece of writing) as good if we do not even spare it a chance past its cover and poor choices made by a publishing company's publicity staff? By boycotting gendered children's books, The Independent is oversimplifying an industry-wide issue and ignoring (possibly forcefully shunning) the writer and their potential reputations.

New app will help you read a novel in under 90 minutes (a.k.a. the holy grail for English undergrads)

So, I think it's fair to say we can all admit to skimming through a book, racing through pages with only a glancing at words at the beginnings and ends of paragraphs (or chapters - I've tried this. Surprisingly not a great way to get to grips with Ulysses....). As an English undergraduate, with sometimes three or four books to read per week in preparation for lectures and seminars (I know, poor me), I am a bit guilty of speed reading (and then maybe looking up a book plot on the internet - shhhh don't tell!). Rest assured, I have definitely learnt some cruel lessons from reading fast and fleetingly - I have been that sole person in a seminar scratching my head when everyone else is discussing the BIGGEST plot twist that I, somehow, COMPLETELY missed.

Today, I have been reading about a new bit of technology that would help you read a novel in less than 90 minutes - perfect for the busy English or indeed any student! Spritz is a new app designed to help you read fast - because, let's face it, as much as I would love to spend hours reading for leisure, life gets really busy.

Developed through research into how we read and reading techniques, Spritzing means you will not have to move your eyes across a page, therefore seriously cutting down your reading time. It's been described as an 'extremely efficient, precise, convenient and comfortable' method.

Don't believe me? You can test Spritz on this website: http://www.spritzinc.com/the-science/

Although Spritz may not appeal to everyone (because what's better than taking your time with a really good book?) there's definitely a target audience out there for this app: the lazy, unorganised student with lots of reading but not enough time!

The Winter Olympics and Literature...An Unlikely Combination?

Today I have enjoyed reading an article by John Dugdale on the Guardian website about the seemingly surprising connections between winter sports and fiction. Dugdale's inventive feature comes in the wake of the opening of the Sochi Olympics and authors' protests over the creative 'choke hold' created by Putin's anti-gay and blasphemy lays. Though literary giants like Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood have spoken out against this controversial legislation, Dugdale's article takes a break from intense political debates about freedom of expression and attempts to enlighten us to the unexpected legacy of winter sports in fiction.

Firstly, there is of course the ice skating that takes place on frozen river in Louise May Alcott's Little Women. This is an episode which Dugdale interprets as speed skating since Laurie and Jo are racing and leave Amy behind when she falls through the ice. Don't forget that ice skating also features in The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, as Holden Caulfield agrees to take Sally to Radio City for a spot of skating.

Dugdale also identifies James Bond's potential Olympic prowess in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, as the spy executes slalom, biathlon and skeleton skilfully. The following cover demonstrates Bond's ability to ski and shoot a gun at the same time, which probably undermines the dangerous nature of the Olympic skiing events currently on show in Sochi.

Poetry, of course, has a fair share of winter sports as well. T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land features some bobsleigh action, as an Austrian countess recalls fun in the snow before the war: "... he took me out on a sled, / And I was frightened. He said, Marie,/ Marie, hold on tight. And down we/ went". Robert Burns' also explores the peculiar sport of curling in 'Tam Samson's Elegy'.

So, winter sports do have a legacy in literary history...who'd have thought it?

(A link to Dugdale's article can be found in the first paragraph).

Where are the Women? The Invisible Girls of Art.

In a slight divergence from the literary angle of my most recent blog posts, today I bring you Jemima Kirke (a.k.a Jessa in Lena Dunham's Girls) discussing gender inequality in the visual art world. In this Youtube video, which is part of the Tate's Unlock Art short film series, Kirke explores the continuing under representation and subordination of female artists throughout history. Written by Jessica Lack, the video focuses on the erasing of female artists from art history. I felt this post would flow on nicely from yesterday's discussion of the #readwomen2014 campaign, as it further proves the continuing disenfranchisement of female artists across different creative fields.

Take a look at the video below:

The video touches on the difficulty art historians face to represent female artists without having to rewrite the history of art and the problems with publishing books solely about female artists, which would further marginalise female artists from the wider historically contexts. A particular highlight of the short film is the segment about the ironic uproar that surrounded Margaret Harrison's feminist exhibition in the 1960s because of her manipulation of the male body in her art.

Give the video a watch - it's educational and will open your eyes to the pervasive subordination of female artists beyond literature.

#readwomen2014: Let's challenge our sexist reading habits

Joanna Walsh's recent article for the Guardian poses an interesting literary-themed New Years resolution. Reflecting on VIDA's annual calculation of the rates of male and female publication, in which their attractive pie charts show that female authors are considerably discriminated against in the publishing world, Walsh decided to start a new reading campaign. Walsh asks readers to think about the gender of the next author they are about to select from their bookshelves, and advises them to pick a female author as a way to combat pervasive sexist reading habits. The #readwomen2014 hashtag promotes Walsh's aims to challenge the inequality found in the book market, and she's even created some female author inspired bookmarks to further the cause.

Interestingly, Walsh also considers the way female writers are published as a detriment to gender equality in publishing. The flowery, girly covers used for female author's books take away their serious, weighty sentiments and create an impression that the title contains writing of 'delicacy' (bluergh). You may be baffled to learn that Lionel Shriver's 'nasty' novel Game Control was originally destined for an equally 'feminine' cover. It's a publishing approach that seems old fashioned, not to mention patronising, but Walsh points out that it is a trend still very much present in the publishing industry.

I definitely think this is an innovative and thought-provoking way to challenge sexism in reading, and the use of social media is certainly going to attract more public support. In my own experience, I have been witness to a reader's surprise that their 500-page WWI themed novel was, in fact, written by a female author (shock, horror).

It's true that male writers dominate the bestseller lists, book charts and English degree syllabuses. I am frequently asked to consider the topic of the literary 'canon' as a point of discussion in my university seminars, and so I am fully aware how male-dominated (and, more often than not, dead) the literature curriculum is. Perhaps universities are becoming more aware of this issue, as it was a surprise to me that the first author I was asked to read at university was Hilary Mantel.

The #readwomen2014 campaign is gaining attention. Glamour, Harpers Bazaar and LA Times are just a few publications to take notice and promote literary gender equality. So, why don't you join in! Who is your favourite female author? And, who is the next female author you will read?

Here is Joanna Walsh's article - read it for yourself!

Would you go on a blind date with a book?

'Don't judge a book by it's cover' - it seems book shops all around the world have started taking this famous idiom quite literally with the recent 'Blind date with a book' promotional trend. 

Book shops and libraries have attempted to challenge customers' preconceptions about books by wrapping titles in plain brown paper and only revealing the genre and key plot points.

This charming marketing idea even conceals the author's name and title - tempting the reader with only a few words that describe the book (e.g. 'empire', 'aliens', 'Victorian England' - a pretty random and vague collection of terms that could equal H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds?)

These cute promotions could definitely have their bonuses. First, could this imaginative idea maybe bring in some extra cash for bookshops during the Amazon Kindle generation? Not to mention, this 'blind date' could introduce a customer to an under-rated author they would never have picked off a shelf before. So, it's a win-win situation for author, book shop and reader!

So what do you think? Would you pick your next read blind?

'Shelf Help': Can literature be an alternative to the Self-Help book?

Today, Vintage have launched a campaign to promote fiction and non-fiction books as a source of inspiration for readers in 2014, rather than self-help books.

Asking readers to step away from the self-help category and towards some literary and serious non-fiction alternatives, Vintage have published a list of 12  titles that they hope will make people feel happier this year.

The list of 12 is said to include the 2013 publishing success Stoner by John Williams, Why be happy when you could be normal? by Jeanette Winterson, and Sebastian Faulks' Human Traces.

With a new book for every month, Vintage are hoping to make you feel better about your life with a little literary help throughout the year.

The curator of the list of 'Shelf Help' books, Alex Clark, has spoken about how 'books can improve our lives—not just as a sticking plaster to make us feel better, but as powerful spaces that can help us to expand the way we see and think about the world and ourselves.' (As quoted on The Bookseller - click here to read their article!)

This marketing campaign is definitely praise-worthy, in my opinion, as I believe we must promote literature and art as a learning platform from which we can learn how to reflect about our own life experiences.

But what do you think? Will you be seeking some Shelf Help this year?

Books set to dominate your shelves in 2014

A belated Happy New Year to my readers! Having recently read some exciting things about new book releases for this year, I thought that my first post of the year let you know what to look out for in bookshops this year!

So, without further rambling introductions, here are a few titles to add to your 'To Read' list of 2014:

1) The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Set to be published in July 2014 (just in time to pack for your summer holiday), this debut novel from Burton is set in 1686 Amsterdam and focuses on the stories of two women seeking 'freedom in a repressive, judemental society'. The Miniaturist also contains 'a trial, a hidden love, a miniaturist who predicts the fate of her customers, a parakeet called Peebo and a plan to escape to the sea', according to the author's website. Intriguing? Well, Harper's Bazaar, Stylist Magazine, ASOS and the Guardian seem to think so and have recommended Burton's debut. The Miniaturist is definitely one to look out for!

2) The Poets' Wives by David Park

If you're interested the lives of writers' behind their words on page, David Park's novel about three wives of important poets could be the right read for you. It's focus on three women who led their lives in the shadows of their husband's work is a compelling approach. Although the three women (Catherine Blake, Nadezhda Mandelstam, and a contemporary poet's wife) have their obvious differences - across the centuries and countries that separate them - Park finds a way to net their stories cleverly together. 

3) The Quick by Lauren Owen

Already recommended by Hilary Mantel and Kate Atkinson, The Quick is set in Victorian England and is a tribute to the traditional Gothic novel. Though set in a period we have all probably read a lot about, this debut promises to be a nuanced story of Victorian London.

4) We Are Not Ourselves by Matthew Thomas

This is another highly anticipated debut of 2014 and focuses on a heartbreaking story of an Irish-American woman, Eileen, 'raised in 1940s Queens by an alcoholic mother and a union-employed father, as she grows up, marries, and early-onset Alzheimer's affects her family'. There is much buzz surrounding this novel, as publishers on both sides of the Atlantic offered up six figure sums to land the title, according to the Guardian.

5) Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey

28-year-old debut novelist Healey has also received a lot of hype for Elizabeth is Missing, set to be published in June. It follows elderly Maud's attempts to find a lost friend whilst also coping with the on-set of dementia. Set to be simultaneously heartbreaking and comic, look out for Healey's novel soon!