Location, Location, Location

Do you read on the move? I never leave the house without a book. I know, I know, my previous post does suggest that I never leave the house full stop, but that's not true. It's only a Christmas spell of cabin fever. I thought it would be interesting to make a note of the most memorable places where I read my last book - Great House, Nicole Krauss (psst, amazing by the way).


1. Purchase Point: Dublin Airport
2. First page opened: On the plane, pre-take-off
3. Plane ride Dublin to London
4. Train ride London Gatwick to London Victoria
5. Tube ride London Victoria to Aldgate East
6. In bed with tea & pb on toast
7. Train ride two days later
8. At my parents house on the big couch with a satsuma mountain
9. In bed
10. In the bath
11. In bed
12. On the couch
13. In the bath
14. On (but not in) bed


As you can see the repetition between points 8-14 indicate the recent house incubation period. Where is your best spot for book reading? I couldn't go on a plane ride without a book, I'm a bit of a nervous flier. Books keep my mind off engines, wings and speeding down runways, urgh.

Festive Greetings

I've dragged myself out of a reading hole to bring you my festive greetings. I haven't left the house or my pajamas for three days, I have watched snow melt from behind the windows, I have forgotten what fresh air feels like, I have eaten a lot of German Christmas biscuits, I have heard tales of friends who have gone out for a slippery-slidey jog, I have felt guilty, then I have returned to my books. Reading is the safest option in these icy conditions. In the new year I will go running again, but for the rest of 2010 it's just gonna be me and the paperbacks. Do you like the stack I got for Christmas? I'm already three-elevenths of the way through. That's what happens when you neglect outside life for books. Hope you all had/are having a very happy holiday!

Christmas Comes Early

I did something while I was whiling away some airport time. I bought myself a Christmas present, an early one. It was Great House by Nicole Krauss, the one that was on my Christmas list (fingers crossed no one bought it me) and so far I am very much enjoying it. I just couldn't resist it sitting there on the book-table, looking all inviting and paper-backy. There's something refreshing for me about reading a brand, sparkling new piece of literature by an author who is still alive. I like her style, and I can't put it down right now. So sorry, I have to go. I have reading to be doing.


The picture is from an NY Times article on Reading Women, if you're interested.

100

It's here, my 100th post. I've been waiting for a while to write because I wanted it to be a special one, one worthy of triple figures. So, in an attempt to make this space slightly more personal, I decided to introduce myself. Here are some of my most interesting facts...

I live: In Dublin's fair city. Slap bang in the middle. My view looks like this, I'm a lucky lady. But I'm not an Irish lady.

When I'm not reading books: I'm probably reading books. I'm in the thick of a PhD on nineteenth-century Christmas literature.


Do I get sick of Christmas? Certainly not. I spent this summer in Brooklyn, and I have to admit that sitting outside and melting in the hottest temperature I've ever experienced with a trusty Christmas book in hand was peculiar, but I'll always love Christmas sun, rain, snow or shine.


My most recent excursion: was to Berlin. In fact I only got back a couple of days ago. I went to visit to German friends who tried to get me to converse with locals in German for their personal amusement. My mouth really can't do the sounds, the only word I can say convincingly is 'lecker' after an afternoon sipping coffee and munching lebkuchen. 

Some of my favourite bookshops: would have to include The Gutter bookshop in Dublin's Temple Bar; Waterstones - the London Piccadilly branch where you can get lost among books; Magma in Manchester, purely for cover design; and in New York I spent a thrilling afternoon in McNally Jackson Books and fell in love with Spoonbill and Sugartown Booksellers in Brooklyn, they also have a black and white resident cat who lounges around on the book tables.

I have no pets: because I don't know how long I'll be in one place for, but I do have a plastic fish called Father Christmas who I keep in a glass of water on my shelf, and share an imaginary puppy called Big Ted with my boyfriend.

This is Father Christmas, I think he's sleeping.

Other than reading and tending to the needs of my fake pets: I like photography, design, travelling, avocados with fresh lemon juice, yoga, ballet, and making lists. I also play the ukulele, am addicted to sticky text markers and enjoy films, lots and lots of films. I'm interested in integrating great design into academia, because critical analysis should be nice to look at. 

The last film I saw at the cinema was: Chico and Rita. Tonight I will go to watch a festive screening of It's a Wonderful Life - ho, ho, ho.

I'm passionate about: kindness, keeping things simple and smiling. 

One of the first books I loved was: I Capture the Castle by Dodi Smith.

Once: I spent three hours in the bath reading The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. My skin was so wrinkled afterwards but I smelt amazing and my mind was enriched.

My favourite word in English is: bespoke.

I look like this (the bag fits everything in, even if it is almost as big as me)

And I'm thankful for the internet because of these inspiring people/places

sandra juto

even cleveland

hearblack

my funny eye

my new roots

le project d'amour

for me for you

So there it is, post 100, and what a pleasure it was.

Kait