I
was devastated when I heard the news the other week that one of my favourite
author's, Louise Rennison, had sadly passed away. I spent my early teen's
completely obsessed with the Georgia Nicholson based books which were written
amazingly well to display the REAL teenage girls issues which we all face at
some point. Not only did I find them all hysterically funny, they helped me
realise that I wasn't actually a weirdo, I was just being a normal teenage
girl! At school when you're 12, it's easy to think that you're a complete
nutter compared to the 'popular girls', but these books made me realise that
all the girls around me were fighting in the same battle.
After hearing about Louise Rennison, it got me thinking
about all the books I've read over the years and the ones which have had some
sort of affect on me; the ones which I will always treasure, the ones that had
an impact on my writing style and the ones that made me look at life in a
different way. Being the very nosey person I am, I love hearing about books
which people have enjoyed, so I thought I would share with you my favourite
ones...
These two books are the ones that have had the biggest
affect on my writing style. I read 'Rubbish Boyfriends' written by Jessie Jones
when I was 16 and just fell in love with it. In a way, it is written in the
same humour as the Georgia Nicholson series, which is probably why I enjoyed it
so much. It is a similar story with 'Confessions of a Tinderella' written by
the brilliant Rosy Edwards; just wow! Not only was this genuinely hilarious and
very, very relatable, it was also really gripping and I struggled to put the
book down. I have always enjoyed writing about relationships and I love
bringing a sense of humour to the situation when I tell my experiences, a lot
like these books. When I think about the books which have had the biggest
impact on the way I write, it is definitely these and I would thoroughly
recommend them!
There have been a range of memoir's I have enjoyed over the
years from some of my favourite women in the entertainment industry, but these
are the ones which not only I enjoyed the most, but the ones that made me look
at life just a little differently. Sex and the City's Samantha Jones will
always be one of my hero's, but 'Being a Girl' written by the actress Kim
Cattrall, is simply amazing. I read the book when I was 13 and the advice given
in the book has stayed with me since. Although it is written to a teen
audience, it is easy to apply the tips given to a woman in any stage of life.
Being a Girl was the perfect thing to read when I was an early teen desperate
to please friends and school friends and being so very confused about boys! The
other books are ones that I have enjoyed in recent years, like 'How to be
Lovely' written by Melissa Hellstern. As a huge admirer of Audrey Hepburn, the
little tales of the woman herself and how you can apply them to your own life,
make it such a lovely little read. Mindy Kaling is one of my favourite women of
all time and her book 'Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other
Concerns)' is fantastic! Although it is essentially an autobiography, it is
genuinely interesting and gives a huge amount of advice on making it in the
entertainment industry. 'Not That Kind Of Girl' by Lena Dunham has come under a
huge amount of controversy for certain things, but the book as a whole is a
really interesting read and again, gives advice on life, love and friendships
which therefore made me think about the way that I approach mine.
I couldn't write about my favourite books and not mention
possibly my favourite author of all time, Roald Dahl! There are probably only a
small handful of his books and tales that I didn't read when I was younger, but I think
the most wonderful thing about his books are that they are really not just for
children, I still find myself reading them even now and I can't wait to pass
them onto my niece and one day my own children. 'Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory', 'Matilda' and 'The BFG' are my personal favourites and will treasure
for the rest of my days, but I would never pass up the opportunity for another
read of 'James and the Giant Peach', 'Fantastic Mr Fox' and of course, 'The
Twits’.
Of course, not every book I have ever read has had some kind
of effect on me, but certain story lines and characters will stay with me
forever and many books I can easily read again and again, like F. Scott
Fitzgerald's heart-breaking romance novel 'The Great Gatsby' and the
mind-blowing masterpiece '1984' by George Orwell. I first read Anne Frank's
diary when I was 8 or 9, but you can never outgrow a diary which still shocks
and breaks my heart every time I read it. In terms of motivational books, which
are surprisingly worthwhile (I promise!), I would definitely recommend Jordan
Ellenberg's 'How Not To Be Wrong: The Hidden Maths Of Everyday Life' and of
course, my current read which helped my land my new job, 'Leave Your Mark' by
Aliza Light, a fantastic read for not only people who are after a job in media,
events or PR, but also for people who are after a career change and need a kick
up the backside!
I think the true beauty of reading a book; whether it be a fiction novel where you can jump into another world, a true story or autobiography, it gives us time away from our every day lives, which we all need sometimes just to keep ourselves normal! Books have given me a huge amount of joy and a book shop or a library are places that you will never find me bored. They have given me inspiration, made me think about myself and those around me and have essentially had a part in the person I am.
I think the true beauty of reading a book; whether it be a fiction novel where you can jump into another world, a true story or autobiography, it gives us time away from our every day lives, which we all need sometimes just to keep ourselves normal! Books have given me a huge amount of joy and a book shop or a library are places that you will never find me bored. They have given me inspiration, made me think about myself and those around me and have essentially had a part in the person I am.
What are your favourite books and what would you recommend
to me? I would love to know so get in touch!
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