12 Books for 2017

How are your new year's resolutions going? I have to admit, mine have largely been ignored for the first two weeks of 2017. January always hits me hard, it seems more so each year, but I'm slowly coming out of the fog and reigniting my determination to make some positive changes in my life.

One of my resolutions for 2017 (and for 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013...) is to read more. I feel like I have been making this resolution my whole life, but that's fine – I can never read enough. Twelve books for the year may not sound like much, but when you work a full time job and fit in a social life too (not optional) there isn't much time left for reading.

My bedroom is small, and I've got stacks of books waiting for me. Having recently watched a documentary on minimalism (check it out on Netflix, and thanks to Tania for recommending!) I feel like now is the time to get some things in order. I want to love these books. They will be read.

January

We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves – Karen Joy Fowler

I began reading this in December but didn't get to the end, even over the Christmas period when I had heaps of free time. This book is not what I was expecting but I love the style of writing and its slow pace.

February

Reasons to Stay Alive – Matt Haig

Another half-read book from 2016, Reasons to Stay Alive is one that resonates with so many, I must finish it. Matt Haig writes in such a way that makes me feel like my depression/anxiety is the most normal thing in the world. It's a great eye-opener for anyone who has or hasn't been affected by mental illness.

March

A History of Britain in 21 Women – Jenni Murray

I spotted this at the Cheltenham Literature Festival back in October, and made a note to order it for my best friend, Bethan's, Christmas present. It turns out my mum had the same idea for me and I was so excited to find this in my stocking on Christmas Day.

April

Swing Time – Zadie Smith 

Another Christmas gift (if you're ever gonna buy me a present, a book is always a winner), this time from my best uni pal Chloe. We both adore Zadie Smith, and it's been a good few years since I read anything of hers so I cannot wait to get stuck into Swing Time.

May

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius – Dave Eggers

Ahh, Eggers, my old friend. It's been a while. Four years, in fact. I'm a huge fan of Eggers' work, so to think I've had this book on my shelf since my uni days and not finished it is abominable. I will read this work of fiction/non-fiction (who really knows) from start to finish in May – my birthday month!

June

Yes Please – Amy Poehler 

I still don't really know who Amy Poehler is, or what she stands for, but I have seen numerous recommendation for Yes Please pop up all over the internet, and I found this book in Rise for £3(!) so obviously I bought it. I feel like this will probably be quite an easy, holiday read – perfect for June.

July

NW – Zadie Smith

When I saw this had been made into a TV adaptation I knew I had to read NW (anyone else feel like they have to do it in that order?) 

August

Quiet Power – Susan Cain

Fellow introverts, take note. If you're a long-time reader of my blog you'll know I am a huge fan of Susan Cain and her book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking. It's not just for us quiet ones, either, but a breath of fresh air in this overcrowded world, and I have high hopes for her follow-up, Quiet Power.

September

Thank God it's Monday – Mark Greene

Our viewpoint on work is quite narrow. You're either expected love your job or you hate it, and that's the end of it. Mark Greene explores faith in the workplace in a series of books I have been meaning to read for a good three years (are you beginning to see a pattern here?) and at a time in my life when I'm beginning to wonder exactly what direction I want to take my career in, Thank God it's Monday seems like a good place to start.

October, November & December

The Lord of the Rings trilogy – J R R Tolkien 

A 23rd birthday gift from an old flame, and such a beautiful edition, too, I am saving this trilogy for my favourite time of year. As the days get shorter I'll be more inclined to spend evenings at home, and when it's dark I need escapism – something I am sure LOTR will provide.

As much as being around people is good for my mental wellbeing, so is switching off and fully falling into a book. The effect a good book can have on me is so wonderfully relaxing I don't know why I don't force myself to do it more. I'm all about that instant gratification and it can be so hard to ignore the buzz we get from interactive technology, of always being connected to something. I'm afraid to be alone, but maybe this year I should learn to love what's good for me.

What are your books for 2017? Have you read any of the above titles? My aim is to read all 12 of these before the year is out but if you have any recommendations for extra reading please send them my way!

5 Blogs You Should Be Reading

Source

Since What Naomi Wrote turned one a few weeks ago, I've been thinking about all the blogs I have discovered in the past year. Just a quick scroll through some of these blogs is enough to lift me out of a bad day. Everyone has their way of relaxing and taking themselves out of a bad mindset, mine happens to be reading blogs. Here are my five favourites (in no particular order) which you should be reading too.

1. Essiebutton

Hilarious, gorgeous and trustworthy. Although more present on YouTube, her blog is just as excellent. Her older posts incorporate more purse friendly beauty products, but she uploads some really entertaining vlogs and when I'm in need of some escapism I just watch Essiebuttonvlogs and everything's OK.

2. Flora E May

I wish I could write like Flora. In fact, when writing my blog posts I imagine her as my proof reader – does anyone else do that? Reading her blog is like getting a new issue of my favourite magazine in through the post. Her content is like gold dust, and her spontaneous posts make them all the more exciting for me to read. I feel like going for long walks and camping and buying all the white cotton pyjamas because of Flora – appreciating the 'less is more' kind of outlook on life, and how beautiful the little things are.

3. The Pains of an Overactive Mind
If you like to read, but don't want to read an essay, or a long-winded argument stuffed full of loads of needlessly 'sophisticated' words, head over to Jessica's blog where you will be reassured that being you is absolutely OK – it's great, in fact. Each post tells a story, and I love every one of them.

4. Wander to Wonder
If you're looking for somewhere to eat, follow Miho's blog, Wander to Wonder. She posts mouthwatering photos of the most gorgeous restaurants in London (and other places) and I have a long list of places I need to visit when I'm next in the city. Miho is so lovely, too. I feel like she has become one of my good friends in the past year – she is such a loyal reader of my blog and I appreciate every comment she leaves on my posts.

5. Gingerly Pale
Can you believe that Jess is just seventeen? She writes with such clarity and a gentle maturity, it makes me wish I could go back in time and re-live the past five years. Her posts on Gingerly Pale are positive and comforting – Jess is going to go far, I am sure. Reading this post has inspired me to properly sort out my bedroom and make a creative space where I can blog from – my living room sofa just isn't going to cut it anymore.

Each one of these bloggers has their own voice and style and there's just something about them all that I love, so go and check them out – I'm sure you'll enjoy them just as much as I do. Have you got any recommendations of blogs that I should be reading? There were others I wanted to include in this post but I'd have been going on forever. You can check out all the blogs I follow here for more blog-reading inspiration : )

You Should Read: Quiet – Susan Cain

Ever meet someone who just... gets you?

There are so many people you talk to every day, without realising it, passing them off as not good enough – I mean, they're just not compatible with you. They don't get you. And you wouldn't get them either.

But sometimes, you meet someone who gets you, and it feels as if everything stops, and all the bad stuff gets a bit lighter. All the stuff that worried you before, the stuff that kept you from being your best, it all fizzles away and stops mattering. Because someone gets you, things feel a little bit better, and you wonder if that was the root of the problem all along.

Ever felt that way about a book? I hadn't, until I read Quiet. I feel as if it was written specifically for me, to me, like a personal letter straight from the author. Her name is Susan Cain, and this is the book that helped me realise that being quiet is OK – that being myself is OK.

"We like to think we value individuality, but all too often we admire one type of individual – the kind who's comfortable 'putting himself out there'."

Cain describes quiet people as 'thinkers' and that's a term I can happily adopt to describe myself.

The book isn't a dig at extroverts, neither is it praising introverts – it's a discussion about what both types of people are, but not in the most black and white sense. You can be an ambivert, too, you know. And we can be an introvert in some situations, and extroverts in others. It's different for everyone.

The science behind our sensitive nature is explored, too. That's what I found really interesting, and created a good balance of theory, opinion and fact in this thought provoking book that formed the basis of my dissertation in my final year of university.

"Our culture made a virtue of living only as extroverts. We discouraged the inner journey, the quiet for a center. So we lost our center and have to find it again." Anaïs Nin

I do feel as if this is a topic dismissed in society today. Almost everyone I have spoken to about it has brushed it off as some nonsensical theory that doesn't matter. But it does matter. Understanding personality types might be a step towards living in a more harmonised society, where quiet people aren't seen as strange or abnormal, and personal specifications in jobs don't require outgoing personalities.

I can't recommend this book enough. If you're not sure about reading non-fiction, Quiet is a great place to start. With anecdotes from Cain's life interspersed throughout the book, it's as enjoyable as reading a work of fiction. You can find out more about Quiet here, and here.

The Best Journals & Notebooks

Of course I have lots of notebooks. In my parents' attic there is a box crammed with my childhood and teen diaries. The number lies somewhere in the 30s, and, despite them being filled with cringey garbage about boys and how hard my life was, I sort of love how well documented my life has been. Since the internet came along (...and full time work, and an adult social life), I find it harder and harder to find the time to sit down and write, but my collection of notebooks and journals continues to grow. 

The truth is, even though it's unlikely I'll ever fill these books like I did when I was younger, the possibility is always there. It's a source of comfort, knowing I always have paper to turn to. 

My favourite notebooks range from prayer diaries, 'blog-spiration', to creative writing ideas and a journal I have kept for more than two years. 

My mum gave me this book for Christmas. I use it to write notes on sermons at church. I'm not sure where she got it from, but the pattern and colours are brilliant.

I was given this journal by a lovely family from church for my 21st Birthday. The quality of the paper is excellent and the journal itself is beautiful, even just to hold. I use it as my prayer diary and it's my favourite of the favourites. I'm sure this can be found online, but this was bought from a shop in town called Fortysix. It opened last spring and it sells all sorts of things from stationery and clothes to jewellery and interior decorations and furniture. I love it.

My 'diary' since 2012. I'm not sure how I should feel about the fact that in 2005 I could fill two or three diaries, but I haven't finished this in more than two years. Life is busy. There's less time to dwell on it, but I still manage to stuff cinema tickets from dates in the past years, reminding me of the people who made me happy and gave me memories to keep. Available to buy here. 

My mum got me this journal from Italy about two years ago. The colours are some of my favourites, and, again, the quality is impeccable. I use this book to write in when I am feeling anxious or down. I turned to this book when I felt the first pangs of depression. The pattern on the cover seems fitting to how I feel when going through a bout of depression. Strange, unrecognisable, stretched, swirly, unusual, new, unique...

Battered and stained by hot chocolate from three years spent writing in bed, this Krispy Kreme notebook was a gift from my brother-in-law which I used for all my creative writing notes throughout uni. I love krispy kreme doughnuts and this was my favourite notebook throughout uni – it is a little bit past it's best now, though.

This soft black book is from Paperchase. I got it in the sale and what I love about it is it has three sections of paper – plain, grid and lined. I knew straight away it would be used for What Naomi Wrote, and when I go out to review somewhere, I take this with me so I can make those all important notes. The bunny rabbit postcard is from Le Pain Quotidien.

And this is one of the latest additions to my collection, which has a number of fantastic quotes inside:

This book is great for when I need to rant (which is a lot of the time), and can be bought here. There are lots of 'trigger' journals out there which I love – one of which was featured on Emma's blog, Reverie Lane, yesterday, and is now on my Amazon wishlist.

Do you love journals and notebooks as much as I do? What are your recommendations? Come September I know I'll be shopping for stationery... I may have finished education but I just can't get over that back to school feeling, and new notebooks are a must. A writer can never have too many.

Word of the Week

I've been getting back into words this week. It feels like I've had a bit of a break from them, even though that's silly, because every day I read and write them. 

I haven't posted a word of the week in three weeks but this week I have made a conscious effort to engage with them once again, hence my post last Sunday about rekindling my love for reading!

I also dug out one of my many empty journals and have started a prayer diary. I used to write one when I was little, and I absolutely love looking back through them and seeing what has changed and if my prayers have been answered in the way that I imagined. 

Here's a little snippet of what I wrote in my childhood prayer diary - a prayer about two of my friends moving to Peru - which I still find the most embarrassingly cute extract ever:

Dated 29.4.00 - I was seven.

 

Anyway, aside from spending more time with words in journals and books, and being away from the computer screen, I discovered something new to share with you this week.

Frenetic - adjective

frantic; frenzied.

I love how the words used to describe frenetic also begin with 'fr' - is there a reason for this, does anyone know? Another word frenetic reminds me of is energetic - I wonder if the 'etic' on the end of both words has some other meaning?

Rekindling My Love For Reading

What happened to my love for reading? It never really went away. I read for a living, actually. I read blogs and newspapers and magazines in my free time, too. But reading books – whole books – seems to have taken a back seat in recent years, which is funny, considering I studied creative writing at university. 

 

I remember when I was about eight or nine, spending a Sunday afternoon sorting out my bookshelf in the sunny corner of my bedroom. I had a straw-like chair, and after all my Jacqueline Wilson and Babysitters' Club books had been alphabetised, I sat down and read for hours, so content. Nothing could distract me. I just had to wait for the sun to set and the call for tea time.

I have been thinking about the joy that reading a good book brings, recently, and I miss it. I don't want reading to become a chore, which it sometimes felt like at school and university.

I want that feeling of shutting out the world for a few hours to fall into a story. It must be a form of therapy – stress relief, without any strain on your eyes I get when I use my laptop or mobile phone, and I want to get away sometimes.

It goes without saying that technology has taken over all of our lives, but books were my first love, and I am making a conscious effort to rekindle that love. I think about how content I used to feel when lost in a good book and I want that back. It's something with which, unfortunately, the internet cannot compete. So, from now on, reading in bed in the evenings and mornings will take priority over watching episodes of Grey's Anatomy or Luther.

Pictured above are the books I am currently reading. I have been reading Caitlin Moran's How to be a Woman for a few months now, and even though I am a bit of a slow reader, this one's taking a bit longer to get through – but a review on that will reveal all when I finally finish it. 

I have had the Neal's Yard Remedy Healing Foods book for almost a year now, but it's one that I like to flick through when I'm feeling motivated to sort out my bad eating habits (which is quite often, ha).

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey has been on my reading list for years. I finally started reading it yesterday and after two chapters I knew I was going to love it, and it was that excitement of a new story that prompted me to write this post.

Are you reading any books at the moment? Do you still make time outside of work and TV/internet browsing to read?

Word of the Week

I often forget where I see these words that I love so much. I almost always have my phone to hand, and can make a note on my phone, and instantly forget where it came from. It usually happens at work, where I learn new words almost every day. 

Sometimes I wish I didn't have such easy access to technology, and could spent a little longer writing with a pen and paper, ingraining into my mind what a word means. But we live in an increasingly hasty world where everything must always be done with speed and precision. 

Still, I enjoy writing these posts on a Sunday afternoon, spending the time trying to remember where I first saw the word I am writing about. There's nothing interrupting me now.

Exponent – noun 

A person or thing that expounds, explains, or interprets: an exponent of modern theory in the arts.

I don't think I have ever heard this word used in spoken language. It sounds like a verb more than a noun, but to be an exponent sounds very important. I think I'll be waiting a few more years 'til I could ever call myself one.

What do you think of the word exponent? Have you got a word of the week? Hope you are all having a chocolate filled Easter Sunday!

That Published Feeling

Writing presents itself with some amazing opportunities, the most obvious being that it gives you the chance to get what is on your heart out into the world. Even if no one reads what you have written, it is there – in print, and someday, someone might just read it. There is always the chance that your reader will take something from your work – whether it be in the form of entertainment, education, enlightenment or empathy – writing and reading offer endless interpretations, and that is something I will never cease to find incredibly liberating as a lover of both things myself.

While studying for my degree in creative writing, I had some amazing writing experiences and opportunities. One of these was getting published in the University's anthology of creative writing, Fire. In February the launch of the book of new writing finally came around and when I got my copy I was so excited. My story, Crohnicle, was in print forever, for anyone willing to read it.

For years I had wanted to write about having Crohn's disease, and in an autobiography module, I finally got the chance to have a go at it. With the help of my fantastic tutor, Tyler Keevil (check out some of his work here) some friends and family I wrote what had been on my heart, properly, for the first time in six years.

I think it's important that I make it clear that without my degree, my writing would never have developed enough to achieve this, and I have the amazing lecturers on the course to thank for that. You can read more about them here :)

Any writers reading this will know the feeling of seeing your name, and work, in print. It's the biggest sense of achievement imaginable. You really feel like you've made it, even if it's just for a few days, when the buzz begins to fade. But it never really goes away, when you look back and remember what you have done, it comes back.

I was working so I couldn't go to the launch but I was sent a copy of the book and have passed it around members of the family to read. Fire is full of interesting and unique stories and poems – and my story, a true story, one that was just waiting to be told.

Writing an autobiographical short story is terrifying. But in some respects, all fictions derives from experiences and is reflected in the writer. Anyone could be reading this. But for me, that's what writing is about. I like to think I write for a universal audience. Crohnicle is a story that I want everyone to read, yet no one, at the same time. It's a story about when I got diagnoed with Crohn's disease, something I think about every day. It's like a diary entry – I wrote it with a reader in mind, but didn't think anyone would actually read it. But they did, and it's OK. It's good, actually. It was published.  

 

Sometimes, it's the pleasing your loved ones that's the most rewarding when it come to publications, and I think I did just that when Fire got passed around the family to read Crohnicle. You know when you think you're not that good at what you do, and then you see that your work has made someone cry? That's a powerfully rare feeling.

Thankful Thursday

Happy World Book Day! I miss the fun of dressing up for school, and wondering why some kids were dressed as things from films and not books...

...Like me and my friend Jessica here. She was Jessie from Toy Story 2 and I was a dalmation (101 Dalmations) that resembled a cow. Not my finest hour.

There was a time, however, when I dressed in some pretty impressive attire as a ladybird from The Bad-tempered Ladybird and the one every nineties kid did at some point – Hermoine Granger.

Today, as a 21-year-old adult no longer in school, I wore a jumper and leggings, standard day-wear for me, but I enjoyed working through some World Book Day themed stories at work and taking a look at the website (which is just brilliant). And, I thought about how thankful I am for books. 

I have loved books since before I can remember. I would love them still as much as I used to had I not succumbed to peer pressure in believing MSN and Myspace were more interesting and important. But I'm getting there. I still love books. Here are a few of my favourites...

When I was little

Lola Rose by Jacqueline Wilson. Mainly because of the title, but I remember enjoying this book so much I read it more than twice, at least.

When I was a teenager

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. My friend lent this to me in the summer of 2008 when we had finished our GCSEs and had that long, long summer of relaxation and zero responsibility. I had a mattress for a bed and a stack of books to read next to it. This was one that stayed with me.

When I was at university

Quiet: The power of introverts in a world that can't stop talking by Susan Cain.  I had to get this one in somewhere. Not fiction, but still fantastic and one that I recommend to all of you. This book should be read by everyone everywhere. It was a true eye opener for me as well as a great comfort. It was the basis for my dissertation, and the inspiration I drew from this book is unparalleled. 

Recently

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.  A beautifully written book with an incredible story, matched with an equally fantastic film.

What I'm reading now

How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran. I am about a quarter of the way through this book (it's very easy reading so I should finish it soon) and although I am a little late to the party, I am enjoying the rare paragraphs of knowledge Moran writes – I'm not keen on her anecdotal autobiographical style of writing, but her views on how to be a woman are interesting so far.

These are just a few of the many books I am fortunate enough to have read. I think I take the fact that I can read for granted all too often. So, today I am thankful for that, and thankful for the books, the writers and the people who bring it all together to give me the pleasure of reading, and getting lost in, a story. What are you thankful for?

The Food Hospital

I never watched the TV programme of The Food Hospital on Channel 4, but I love to flick through the book every now and again. There's something therapeutic about that – food and reading combined. It's evokes a wonderful 'can-do' feeling inside.

I bought The Food Hospital two years ago after a particularly insufferable Christmas period. My body decided to behave in the most irrational way. I felt sick, had headaches and stomach cramps. I just felt awful. It upset me because I knew it was down to my diet, but I didn't have a clue where to start with specific go-to foods for my condition (which is Crohn's disease, in case you were wondering). 

My sister recommended this book because she had seen the TV show, and I found it in my local Waterstone's for just under £10. It's a fantastic book filled with information and recipe ideas catered to particular conditions you might not even think diet is related to.

The contents page clearly lays out what's in the book in appropriate categories. Gut Feeling covers topics such as IBS, Crohn's disease and constipation. On The Outside looks at issues like cellulite, acne and nail problems, Mind Matters covers all things brain, from stress and insomnia to anxiety and depression. Just For The Girls offers tips on how to deal with horribly heavy periods, the hellish sting of cystitis and the dreaded thrush. The Food Hospital goes right into the nitty-gritty stuff that everyone needs to know about but is too scared to ask, and was never taught about in school.

After a short but sweet introduction, there is a well being quiz which gives you a rough idea of where you are health-wise and what you should be aiming for with your diet and lifestyle. I find things like this motivating. I have always loved quizzes and surveys. When I was little they were my favourite part of a magazine. I loved answering questions to find out which celebrity I was like the most. There's something about being likened to something, and slotted into a category which is comforting and makes you feel OK. I don't know why people oppose it so much in other contexts.

Each condition has a list of foods to eat and foods to avoid, as well as a case study and a recipe of a dish or snack designed to help ease symptoms of the illness. The recipe linked with Crohn's disease is one of my all time favourite dishes – Pad Thai!

When I was suffering with depression I learnt a lot about how oily fish, dark chocolate and certain types of nuts helped – and they really do help. Having a recipe like the one pictured above is a lifeline if I am ever having a particularly bad day and need a boost. It may sound silly but if you have ever experienced it you will know just how much diet can affect the way you feel. Medication and talking have their parts to play, but diet is another important factor.

Flush out that pesky UTI with a glass of homemade cranberry juice. Tart, but effective, and it's much better for you than the stuff you get from the supermarket.

Kedgeree! Another dish I love, and one that's good for asthma – who knew?

There is such a vast range of recipes listed in the book, and they all look fantastic. There's something about the layout of everything as well – the font, the colours and the columns – it all looks so neat and nice and trustworthy.

Fortunately, if you're like me and don't know what a lot of words mean (and my job is all to do with words... yeah), there is a handy glossary of terms at the back of the book so you can refer to it whenever you come across something foreign looking, like, phytonutrient (which is, apparently, a nutrient found in a plant, like beta-carotene).

You can buy The Food Hospital here for £10 (and free P&P). I would highly recommend the book if you are looking for something specific or if you just want to improve your diet. It's not a heavy read, and you can easily leave it and come back to it just like any other recipe book. Also, it's a nice book just to have. Like I said, reading and food are two of my favourite things and the two combined make for a perfect half hour snuggled up on the sofa.