Spring TBR List 2016

Spring reading - something about those two words that conjures up lovely feelings of new-ness and relaxing. It feels like no time ago when I put up my winter reading list! I have been looking forward to spring and without further ado, let's see what I have lined up for next season's reading.

Spring TBR

1. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
The thriller everyone has been talking about! I am looking forward to reading this and seeing what the fuss is about. I really enjoyed Gone Girl, which I imagine will be similar in vein to this novel. I understand filming has begun for the October release, which I believe stars Emily Blunt. Just one of my idols, no biggie. *faints*

2. 1914-1918: The History of the First World War by David Stevenson
I have actually started this book a long time ago, and it is DENSE. I really wanted to get more knowledgeable about both World Wars, and really knew nothing about the first. So it is fascinating learning all about it. I wanted to make some space in my reading calendar to really get my teeth into it instead of getting only about five pages read in bed at night.

3. Fallen by Lia Mills
Part of getting to know WW1 (and 2 when it comes) is bringing it alive through fiction and film. I have a good few historical fiction books I want to get through, and this one is set in Dublin - merging Irish history of the time with the war-time drama. (In the post)

4. A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Part of my 2016 resolutions was to pick up this series and also start watching the TV show - so this will begin in earnest in the Spring with the first installment - A Game of Thrones.

5. The Life and Loves of a He-Devil by Graham Norton
A little light comic relief following the epic Game of Thrones in the form of Graham Norton's memoir. I picked this up in the Kindle store in the January sale for either £0.99 or £1.99 - pennies! So I thought it would be a good fit at this point in Spring. (Kindle read)

6. Little White Lies and Butterflies by Suzie Tullett
Even lighter relief to ease me into the summer months - some relaxing chick-lit. People often look down on chick-lit (even the name of it as a genre has that effect) but when it is written well, there is nothing more relaxing than a nice story, told well. It goes well with a bath, with a glass of wine, or as I am hoping with the creeping temperatures of a lazy summer garden. (Kindle read)

So a mix of chick-lit, non-fiction, historical fiction, memoir, thriller and epic fantasy. A well-balanced season I think! What have you got up your reading sleeve for spring? Do you like to plan your reading? Tell me in the comments below, I would love to know.

Dream Destination: Northern and Eastern China

My heart and head lies in travelling. There are so few places under this big blue sky that I would not go. I wanted to start a new series on the blog, looking at bucket list trips - where is on my radar, and where D and I might look to go for that next big escape.

We have pretty much been putting our lives on hold for the last couple of years, trying to get our house building project underway. Every time we think of going somewhere or spending any money, we feel really guilty, knowing we should be putting away for our house. We are really hopeful that the build will start this year, and I really look forward to sharing that with you all! And, providing everything goes well with the build, we can look forward to getting back to planning lots of trips! I thought it would be good to start this series to explore potential locations we might go, and also to look at the fanciful locations we would love to go, but our budget probably won't allow.

The first place I wanted to explore in the Dream Destination series was China. I have never been to Asia before, and it is definitely going to be explored in the next couple of years, as a matter of urgency! China is such a huge place, I want my first trip to focus on the north and east of the country, so we can take in cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

The Great Wall of China

Why China?
China's ancient history is a massive draw for me. Marry that with the world's largest population, where east is starting to meet west in many ways, and where large modern glass skyscrapers are nestled in cities alongside ancient architecture, and you have yourself a very interesting trip indeed. Aside from that, the more I look into this fascinating country, the more enamoured I become with its practices and its countryside. I simply need to visit.

Tiananmen Square

Major cities/attractions?

• Beijing, China's capital, is a definite must. The Great Wall of China is very easily accessible from this sprawling mega-city. The Forbidden City, featuring palaces of ancient dynasties, are a major tourist draw. Temples, palaces and pagodas beckon, while Tiananmen Square offers a glimpse of history in a more modern China.
• Shanghai This big, bad, bold, modern city is enticing and exciting. I would love to spend one say looking up at the vast skyscrapers, and the next exploring old town and the Old French Concession in the city. 
• Xi'an Home of the Terracotta Warriors, discovered in 1970s, The city's Muslim Quarter has a vast array of street market stalls to explore. 

Getting there?
Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Dublin, and all involve a stop. However, flying Dublin-Beijing and Shanghai-Dublin, you can expect to pay just under £500 per person return.

Getting around?
Public transport in China is plentiful and cheap. Metro systems are available in cities, and overnight trains and long distance buses can take passengers between locations. I am looking into the possiblity of a guided tour, as when visiting several locations, it will make it easier getting around, knowing the worry is on someone else!

Hard sleeper - night train

How long do you need?
A trip like this would need a minimum of 10 days, and preferably two weeks.

When to visit?
The weather is most favourable in spring or autumn, and I think we would look to go in October, when most people say that it is comfortable in Beijing and Shanghai.

Non-negotiables?
Beijing, Great Wall and Xi'an.

Terracotta Army at Xi'an

Book review - The Invention of Wings

**This review may contain spoliers**

This book had been on my radar for a long time, following the novel making the Oprah 2.0 Book Club list. I don't tend to read along with book clubs like this, but I certainly pay attention to the titles that make the lists and add them to my excessive TBR pile on Goodreads, which is a site that if you aren't aware of - please, please go right now and make an account. (You can thank me later.) I was aware of Sue Monk Kidd, having read her Secret Life of Bees a few years ago. I really enjoyed SLOB, so knowing the author, the premise of the novel and the fact that Oprah said it was good, I was expecting really good things.

Besties

And, my oh my, was I delighted I picked this up.

The Invention of Wings follows the paths of two main characters - Sarah Grimké, a girl born into a wealthy family in Charleston, South Carolina; and her slave, Handful. Sarah (along with her sister Nina) were powerful figures in the early abolitionist movements, and did a lot for the rights of women in America. I learned after reading that Handful was also a real character, gifted to Sarah at a young age. She died soon after, though. Sue Monk Kidd gave an interview where she described Handful as "but a footnote in history" and this novel was a telling of what might have been. We meet the girls at quite a young age as the novel opens, when Handful is gifted to Sarah. Sarah knows from a very early age that she does not want to be part of a society than can tolerate, much less exploit, slavery and persecution. The novel then follows both Sarah and Handful through their lives, as they are parted and ultimately find one another again.

The character of Sarah's mother ('Missus' as she's known to the slaves) is a powerful figure in the novel. She is the overseer of the prisons in which both Handful and Sarah find themselves. She is the master of Handful, and Handful's mother, Charlotte, whom she treats deplorably. Sarah, as would be typical of girls from well-heeled families of the time, was expected to be seen and not heard. Opinions, hopes, dreams and aspirations were all discouraged in favour of obedience, religion, looks and behaviour. Sarah knows that there is more to her character and should be more to her life than that which is offered to her in Charleston society. Sarah's desire was to follow her father's footsteps in the field of law, however she is reminded that women don't have those kinds of choices.

"Your father believes you are an anomalous girl with your craving for books and your aspirations, but he's wrong. Every girl comes into the world with varying degrees of ambition, even if it's only the hope of not belonging body and soul to her husband. I was a girl once, believe it or not. The truth is that every girl must have ambition knocked out of her for her own good."

This was one of the most desperate sentences I have ever read. There is a constant comparison throughout the novel of the struggle for women and the struggle for freedom for slaves. Handful describes Sarah's prison as of her mind, and her own prison as of her body. Both are in prison, though. Handful's treatment, and that of the other slaves in the household, was upsetting and unrelenting. The story of slavery as a wider narrative will never be anything other than shameful and upsetting, and this novel was no different. Charlotte and Handful are, like all slave women, unable to read and are uneducated (though Sarah tries to give Handful a taste of freedom by teaching her to read, for which she is severely punished). Charlotte's rebellious character allows her to tell stories she would otherwise not be able to, as she tells her stories through her quilts. Her rebellion served to shame Mary (Sarah's sister) when she comes back to the house later in the novel, shame her with the facts of her story and shame her that this is how it is communicated. 

The novel is a glorious passage of time, and does an exceptionally good job of switching between narratives flawlessly and convincingly. We see a slow progress and development of the abolitionist movement, as passing from Charlotte to Handful, generation to generation, when little freedoms and victories are won to ultimately lead us where we are today.

Absolutely recommended. 

Overall score - 5/5 

SunnyDays Now on Instagram

Instagram has only been in my life for, like, a year, max. I was properly late to that party. But I have fallen hard, guys. It's so interesting to see what everyone you follow gets up to, and I find it really motivational seeing how other people organise their lives, lose all the weight, wear all the nice clothes, you get me.

So come join me over on Instagram and let's nosey at each other's lives! :)

sunnydayswithc - Instagram

I'm also on Twitter - @sunnydayswithc - so you can have a nosey at my ramblings and thoughts. 

Tips for getting back on track

1. List anything you feel went out of control. 
Seeing it on paper will help, and will allow you to look at this and take each hurdle individually, giving your mind clear space to start making solutions. List beside each 'problem' what actions you can take to make that 'problem' disappear.

2. Take 30 minutes to meal plan your next week.
This step is crucial if your diet is what's been let go. Take a look, with your planner, at any social commitments you have coming up in the next week and how this will affect your meals, and plan accordingly. This might mean batch cooking and timing things to be taken out of the freezer, or it might mean having to rejig your cooking time to make sure you have dinner ready earlier than you usually would. Whatever system you use, make sure you face the next week with a meal plan for each day (including snacks) and a grocery shop done to make sure you have what you need to get back on track.

3. Plan, plan, plan. 
Make your to-do list for the week, and slot these tasks into your planner, so you know what needs to be done each day. You will feel much better when you are on top of your to-do list.

4. Get back into a routine.
Your body works best when it's in a routine, so try to keep to the same bedtime and same getting up time as far as possible. It takes 21 days to make a habit, so let this be the month you get your body clock regulated.

5. Schedule in me-time.
This is so, so important. It is easy to get overwhelmed and to burn the candle at both ends. It is so important to schedule in time to look after yourself, mentally and physically. Take a look at your planner for the next week and make sure to schedule in physical and mental me-time. On a weekly basis, I block out certain time spots when I turn my phone on to airplane mode and make sure I cannot be disturbed. I will block off time to read, to have a bath, to do a face mask and a bit of meditation, to take my dog for a walk. Anything that relaxes you, keeps your interests up, and gives you time to reset. Also important is to schedule exercise, at which I am getting better. Block off an appointment with yourself, and show up.

6. Inspire yourself.
Google inspirational quotes. Pinterest some pictures of your goals, create a vision board. Every day, remember where you want to be and remember what you need to do to get there. Nothing is more important than making yourself happy and proud. Grow continually. Time is something you cannot save and cannot get back, so use it wisely to be the best you can be.

Spring wish wear list

Spring, please hurry. I've had enough of the cold, wet, dark days, and I yearn for brighter mornings, chirpier moods, lambs and daffodils! I have trawled some of the high street websites, to find some bright spring pieces I would love this season.

For work

Next - Print Fluted Sleeve Textured Dress - £28
Tesco F&F - Checked Slim Leg Trousers - £18

For chill

Next denim dress - £30

Tesco F&F - Striped wool jumper - £16

For play

River Island Green wrap front blouse - £36

Accessories

Asda - Faux leather jacket in brown - £30

Topshop - Glitter Eye Brooch - £6.50