The Sunday Read: Through the Lens

My book choice this week is actually more of a "look" rather than a "read" ;) There's not much to say, apart from what a beautiful book this is. The photographs are amazing; some of the best photography I've ever seen. Don't miss this book, it's a must-have.

: exhale

These photos are like a dream, aren't they? Such a feeling of exhaling, of rest and relaxation - exactly what I'm needing right now!

I feel bad that I haven't updated in so long and I hope none of you think I've abandoned my blog. That would never happen! ;) The truth is that I've been overwhelmingly busy this past week; as well as getting back into the swing of my last term of my degree, I had 5,000 words due in last Thursday and had to give an assessed presentation last Friday. All in all, a lot of work, and I've felt too exhausted to really do anything since!

adage

This shoot from American Elle (February 2010) is beautiful; glamorous and soft, with gorgeous black and white and sepia tones. It also features ballet, which is why I posted it. I'm not predictable at all ;)

a splash of colour

When I stumbled across this gorgeous, colourful house, it really brightened up my day. I love the bright contrasts of colours, the floaty feminine dresses hanging up and, of course, the florals in the wallpaper designs. Could I live in a house like this, permanently? Probably not - I prefer things a little more serene. But, in the middle of winter, with more snow falling outside and a pile of essays and presentations to do, I could really do with a few days in this house; I doubt that anyone could fail to smile at its quaint, vivid charm.

The Sunday Read: The History of Love

The best single line of this book is undoubtedly the last - "He fell in love. It was his life". And, I suppose, that sums up the novel far better than I ever can in the following words here.
"The History of Love", as you might imagine, deals with love. Love between parent and child, brother and sister, friends and lovers. It was knowing this that made me pick up the book (what can I say, I'm an old romantic!), but what I wasn't prepared for was how wonderfully it was written. A really engrossing read, it's one of those books that you don't dare read on the train to work because you'll miss your stop, one of those books that once you've started, you just can't put down.
The novel centres around two characters, at either end of life and society; the first, Leo Gurksy, an old man with a weak heart who spent his youth growing up in Nazi-occupied Poland, and the second, Alma Singer, a fifteen year old girl searching for a book called that meant something very special to her now widowed mother. We follow Leo Gurksy as he dwells still on the love of his life, an adolescent affair which ended when his childhood sweetheart thought him to have died in Poland. After giving birth to their son, we learn that she married an American man and emigrated to New York, leaving Leo with an all-encompassing, never diminishing void in his life; leaving him such a desperate and lonely character that he often publicly draws attention to himself in order to assure himself that he still exists. And we follow Alma Singer, the teenager who scours the world to find a special book telling a story that she knows meant so much to her parents; after all, she is named after the lead character. Although desperate to comfort her newly widowed mother by finding the book, Alma continuously comes up against brick walls: no one knows where the novel is now. As the girl follows numerous leads, she eventually converses with the author himself, in a last-ditch attempt to find the lost book: and then comes a lovely scene, whereby Leo Gurksy and Alma meet, to discuss the book that he wrote for his love all those years ago.
Beautifully written, mesmerising and one of those stories you could read over and over again and take something new away every time, The History of Love is not one to miss. The characters are so real and vivid that you almost miss them after the end of the book, and the author, while often injecting some humour into the plot, offers the reader a poignant, inspiring text, telling of endurance, loneliness, emptines, passion, romance, and a timeless true love in all its forms.


Apologies for this being late this week - I've just got back to university, my courses are starting again, and life is hectic!

dream versus reality

These gorgeous, whimsical photos are from Vogue Germany's January 2010 shoot, "Holiday".

The photos are lovely, but I have to admit that it was the title of the shoot that made me choose to post it today. Taking a holiday somewhere warm (especially with the current weather situation in the UK!) is a bit like a dream to me at the moment. I've been working pretty much flat out over the entire christmas period on a stream of essays and readings and dissertation research, and, with lectures due to start again on Monday, I must admit I'm hardly feeling rested. Such is the life of a final year student, I suppose, but a huge wave of lethargy has suddenly hit me over the past couple of days. The thing I dislike most about being so exhausted is that I have no energy to be inspired by anything - do you ever find that, too? Hence the quietness over the past couple of days on the blog front. I need to find some inspiration again - although clearly the thought of a holiday did it! ;)

a lookbook of love

Chris Craymer is my new favourite photographer. He's done some absolutely stunning fashion, lifestyle and beauty shots, but this collection of exquisite photos - aptly named "Romance" - is, in my opinion, by far the best of all his work.
The London-based photographer, who recently launched his new lookbook, said he wanted his shots to be "essentially emotional rather than intellectual or fashion led", and used real-life couples in each of his shots to add real authenticity and feeling.
Visit his website to view more of his work, and for details of how to order prints.

this is what the snow made me do

I'll be honest, I was feeling a little sorry for myself this evening. My plans to go for drinks in town had to be cancelled because we're currently getting the worst snow here for thirty years, and my friend and I rationalised that even if we managed to meet up, we might not get back home again too easily. Hence, I find myself at home with no plans, and a little bored... so, hello cupcakes! Red and bright pink and pale pink icing, sprinkles and flowers - the perfect pick-me-up. And they taste really good too, even if I do say so myself ;)

Ten Things that made me smile this week

1. Rose bath bombs from The Lavender Room.

2. A cupcake diary.
3. This placemat.
4. A new bracelet.
5. Watching New Year's fireworks over the London Eye and Big Ben.
6. Strong cups of tea to help me through horrible essay-writing.

7. Little floral boxes.

8. Waking up to snow three days running.

9. The thought of Brighton in less than a week.

10. Another old film camera coming into my possession.

What's made you smile this week?

On seeing the world through rose-tinted glasses..

I am absolutely, completely, unequivocably in love with this house. So soft and romantic, I have been daydreaming of living there all morning... I've been picturing lazy Sundays, waking up early and sitting on that window seat in the first picture, reading books and country living magazines, then cooking a roast dinner, spending the afternoon walking in no doubt nearby woods, coming back to bake cakes in the early evening and take a long, relaxing, candle-lit bath, and then spending the evening sitting by the fire, reading, listening to my boyfriend playing guitar. Heaven.