Callum McLaughlin's Blog, page 60

2016 Bookish Goals

Oh, books!

2015 has been and gone but there’s still time for one last brief wrap up before we look to the year ahead. So, throughout December I read 11 books in all (3 novels, 2 short story collections, 2 poetry collections, 2 graphic novels, an illustrated novelette and one of the Penguin Little Black Classics), my favourite being The Sleeper and the Spindle by Neil Gaiman, a beautifully illustrated fairy tale retelling.

I’ve had the pleasure of reading some truly great books throughout this year and I’ve already posted my Top Reads of 2015, in case you missed it and fancy checking it out.

Altogether, I finished the year having read a total of 125 books. Being the first year I’ve ever monitored how much I actually read, I set my original target on Goodreads at 40 before doubling it to 80; so whichever way you look at it, I’ve well surpassed my own expectations, which is a nice feeling.

I’m already excited to see what 2016 has in store for me in terms of books. If my TBR is anything to go by, I’m in for a good time! With that in mind, though I’m not normally one for New Year’s resolutions per se, I did have a few bookish goals in mind and I thought that getting them down on paper (or a blog post) might be the motivation I need and the handy reminder throughout the year that will keep me on track to meet them. So, without further ado, here are my 2016 goals.

Read 100 books in total – I managed 125 last year, so this should hopefully be doable yet realistic.
Read more non-fiction – It’s currently a major hole in my reading and I’d like to address that.
Read more classics – It’s another area I’m intrigued to explore more of. I’m thinking I’ll achieve this mostly through Penguin’s Little Black Classics series, which are much smaller, easily digestible little books, and children’s classics, which I enjoy collecting nice editions of anyway.
Read diversely – This is something I always like to be conscious of in my reading, in terms of form, themes and authorship. I read a good mix of novels, short stories, poetry, indie books and graphic novels last year, which I want to continue, but I also want to make sure I read translated works, non-white/straight/male authors and a wide variety of genres.

There we have it; some simple but hopefully achievable targets to keep me busy in 2016. Happy reading!

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Did you achieve your bookish goals for 2015? Do you have any for this year?

Top Reads of 2015

2015 has been quite the year for books, but which one has taken my top spot?

Yes, it’s the exciting (and slightly daunting) time in which I compile a countdown of my favourite reads from 2015. Considering I have read 125 books in total between January and December, choosing a top 10 has not been easy – there’s been a lot of chopping and changing, and I’m sure if you ask me again tomorrow, some of my answers will have changed, but as it stands the following are my favourite reads.

For those who like rules, it’s books I read for the first time this year that are eligible, not just those that were published in 2015, and multiple books in one series can be allocated to a single slot if I read them all this year. But with that disclaimer out the way, let’s get started.

Alice and the Fly – James Rice

Taking on mental illness in a realistic yet sensitive way, Alice and the Fly follows Greg, a troubled young man, and explores the idea of acceptance, both within ourselves and of others, as well as the divides within society and the fact that hardships can befall us no matter our background. Dark, unsettling and yet beautiful, Greg’s story is an important one.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry – Rachel Joyce

This bittersweet and charming book follows an elderly man named Harold who, upon receiving a letter from an old friend who is now on her deathbed, sets out to post a reply but decides to just keep walking instead, gripped by the belief that as long as his friend is awaiting his arrival, she has a reason to keep living. Upon his travels, he meets many people who, inspired by his cause, open up to him about their troubles, causing him to reflect on his own life. It’s poignant, moving and beautifully written.

The Sleeper and the Spindle – Neil Gaiman

Gaiman nails the idea of a fairy tale retelling with the perfect balance between familiar and original content, with a portrayal of Sleeping Beauty and Snow White as you’ve never seen them before. There’s a strong feminist stance (these Princesses don’t need any Princes to save them) and a subtle yet well-handled LGBT undertone, whilst the gorgeous illustrations courtesy of Chris Riddell and the short, snapshot like feel of the world keep the whimsical, classic fairy tale feel intact.

Saga, Volumes 1-4 – Brian K. Vaughan & Fiona Staples

If you’re a graphic novel fan, you’ve probably heard of this series. It’s action-packed, funny, heart-felt and just a total blast to read, not to mention that it features some of the best artwork around thanks to Staples. Taking place within a multi-world fantasy setting, the story follows a couple from warring factions who against all the odds have a child together, leading to a bounty being placed on their heads, and so begins a bonkers chase across the universe full of brilliant, eclectic characters and plenty of twists and turns. I love it so much I’ve deliberately put off reading volume 5 because I hate the idea of being caught up and having to wait for the next release.

A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness

Considering that this was the very first book I read in 2015 and yet it still lingers in my mind all these months later, it had to be in my list of favourites. We follow a young boy who is visited at night by a dark and alluring monster as he deals with the increasingly serious illness of his mother. As Ness himself has said, if you’re going to read this book, please try and get the edition with Jim Kay’s stunning artwork if you can; it adds a whole other layer of beauty, atmosphere and immersion that really enhanced the experience.

Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden

Few books have made me feel as immersed in a specific time and place as this one did. The narrative voice was captivating, and though perhaps slower in pace than the kind of book that usually grips me, something about this wonderful, fascinating story just swept me up and carried me away.

All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr

Part coming of age story, part wartime epic, All the Light We Cannot See follows the dual perspectives of a blind French girl forced to flee her home with her father, and a German boy pushed into Nazi service. The imagery is vivid and the prose haunting in this subtle, harrowing tale about the human spirit and its willingness to do good, even in the face of true adversity.

The Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender – Leslye Walton

Strange and beautiful indeed, this book is a family saga plagued by pain and loss yet tinged with just the right amount of hope. Ava Lavender is an otherwise normal girl who is both blessed and cursed to be born with wings. Her story is weaved together with those of the previous two generations of her family by Walton’s lyrical prose.

The Gracekeepers – Kirsty Logan

Fantastic characters, a highly original setting, beautiful writing and a whimsically melancholic story, The Gracekeepers stole a piece of my heart. We follow North, a girl living aboard a circus ship in a flooded world who performs with her beloved bear but is hiding a dangerous secret, as well as Callanish, an eponymous Gracekeeper whose job is to bury the dead at sea. It’s part fantasy, part fairy tale, and wholly enchanting.

The Chaos Walking trilogy – Patrick Ness

I couldn’t possibly single out one of this trio, and so all three proudly take the top spot in my favourite reads of 2015. Throughout the entire series, the pacing is ferocious, the action breathless, the story heart-wrenching, and the underlying message always important. In the first book, The Knife of Never Letting Go, we are introduced to a world in which everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts in a constant, chaotic mass known as Noise, until one day our protagonist stumbles upon an area of complete silence, triggering events that lead him to realise why much of what he thought he knew is a lie, setting off an epic adventure.

At its heart, it’s about the ugliness of war, how quickly the line between good and evil blurs in times of conflict, and how difficult it is to hold onto your sense of self when faced with impossible decisions.

Our male and female protagonists, Todd and Viola, are equally strong and captivating in their own ways, which I found so refreshing. I also loved that some themes and ideas were tackled boldly, like the danger of power and greed, whilst others are addressed in such an understated, intelligent way – like how Todd has been raised by two men and not once does he or anyone else refer to his family dynamic as being in any way different or less valid than anyone else’s. It’s small details like this in which Ness makes wonderful commentary on our own world and shows the power of the unsaid, alongside the daring.

My heart just feels all warm and fuzzy whenever I think of this series. I adore it, and that’s why it’s my number one read of 2015.

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What were your favourite reads this year?

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Just a brief haiku

to send Christmas love and cheer

from my heart to yours.

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Whether you’re celebrating Christmas or not, I hope you all have a lovely day tomorrow and I’ll be back soon, most likely with my ‘Top Reads of 2015’ post.

Thanks for another wonderful year, blog chums!

All the best,

Callum

Top Albums of 2015

Can you guess who’ll take the top spot? I’ll bet some of you can ;)

I will of course be posting a countdown of my favourite reads of the year but music is also a huge part of my life and I thought it would be fun to look back on what have become some of my top albums for 2015. I’ve included one of my favourite tracks from each album in case you would like a taster and so, without further ado, let’s just get started.

Beneath the Skin – Of Monsters and Men

The first of three Icelandic offerings on my list (seriously though, Iceland’s music scene is on point), Of Monsters and Men are one of the top folk-pop acts around and Beneath the Skin is another showcase of them doing what they do best.

(Just in case anyone is wondering, the guy in this lyric video is an actor, not part of the actual band. They released a whole series of these videos using a different actor for each song.)

Honeymoon – Lana Del Rey

Months later, I still find myself humming Salvatore and The Blackest Day on a regular basis. Honeymoon had to be in my favourites list for those two tracks alone, and indeed because sometimes, ‘all I hear is Billie Holiday’ too.

Unguarded – Rae Morris

A distinct voice, beautiful piano melodies and incredibly catchy hooks, I first heard Rae’s track, Skin, and instantly knew she was a potential favourite new artist. Her full album didn’t disappoint.

Delirium – Ellie Goulding

This is definitely the most dance-pop heavy album from Ellie so far and though ‘chart friendly’ stuff doesn’t tend to grab me very often, this album instantly got stuck in my head, and Goulding’s unique vocals always keep her work feeling fresh. The singer said she wanted to go all out to make an album that would get people dancing, and that she did.

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful – Florence + the Machine

HBHBHB saw a new sound and musical style for Florence and crew but it was another set of instantly catchy songs that are at once as beautifully written as they are powerfully delivered.

25 – Adele

Needless to say, she did it again. Another album of fantastically relatable and powerful songs. I think it speaks for itself that it’s only been out for a few weeks and already I could sing along to every track word for word (though I wouldn’t inflict that upon the world).

Ask the Deep – Sóley

Dark, ethereal and immersive, Sóley’s second album is like tumbling into the singer’s dream-world, floating around for a while and emerging all the better for it.

Vulnicura – Björk

True pain in sonic form, Vulnicura chronicles Björk’s heartbreak and eventual healing following the end of her long-term relationship. The lyrics are her most honest, her string arrangements enchanting and the beats as charismatic as we’ve come to expect from her. If Björk’s previous few albums were explorations of the outer world – the people, politics, nature, science and technology of our times – then this is a bold quest of the self, baring her battered but defiant heart for all to see and hear.

The following clip is an official promo piece that uses a segment of the song, Family, and features gorgeous visuals that perfectly encapsulate the album’s primary themes of both despair and healing.

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What were some of your favourite albums this year?

Blissful Departure

This book might hold the answer,

who cares about the question?

I’m quite content to drown myself in words;

to let their gentle touch and tender voice

take me in their warm embrace

and carry me away,

for what a blissful departure it would be

upon the wings of a good story.

In the Absence of Crow

The biggest revelation was to learn that roots are frail,

that I exist within a history that reads like fairy tale.

You could be lying dead somewhere, yet how am I to know?

I ain’t no Ted Hughes scholar and I can’t rely on Crow.

Instead I’ll search for messages, perhaps upon the sea,

ones that herald tidings that I have been, at last, set free.

Free that is from expectations, memories and fear,

free to be my own true self, to walk a path that’s clear.

For far too long I’ve lived a life shackled by old chains,

the captive of a living ghost that’s haunted my poor veins.

So does it make me cruel to say I’d cry, that much is true,

when the reason for my tears would be myself and never you?

3 Days – 3 Quotes Challenge (Day Three)

I’m going to finish the challenge with a quote I’m pretty sure I’ve shared on my blog a couple of times before (so apologies to those of you who are sick of me banging on about how much I love it) but it sums up perfectly what I think is so beautifully magical about the power of books and storytelling.

Björk

Thanks again to Lisa for inviting me to take part in the challenge, and have fun those of you who decide to do it yourselves.

3 Days – 3 Quotes Challenge (Day Two)

The Bookshop Book

For day two I’m going to share a quote from author and poet (and fantastic booktuber), Jen Campbell. It’s from the dedication in her book, The Bookshop Book, and I think it’s pretty darn perfect.

“Bookshops are

time machines

spaceships

story-makers

secret-keepers

dragon-tamers

dream-catchers

fact-finders

& safe places.

(This book is for those who know this to be true).”

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As before, anyone who wants to do the challenge is welcome to do so. I’m leaving the tag open to you all :)

3 Days – 3 Quotes Challenge (Day One)

I was tagged a little while ago by the wonderful Lisa over at Underground Energy to do the 3 Days – 3 Quotes Challenge (sorry it’s taken me so long to get started, Lisa!). I did this a while ago but thought it would be fun to get involved again, and this time around I thought I’d use it to share a few of my favourite bookish quotes. Anyone who wants to take up the challenge is more than welcome to do so; simply share a quote each day for three consecutive days.

But without further ado, here’s the first quote:

“Some like to believe it’s the book that chooses the person.” – Carlos Ruiz Zafón

Firstly: Cute.

Secondly: Is that a Harry Potter reference? I feel like it is.

Seriously though, I like this because it’s a reminder that we all have different tastes when it comes to reading and we can’t help what books we fall for; that’s the beauty of it. You just never know if the next book that comes into your hands may well change your life.

Bookish Christmas | Original Book Tag

The Bookish Christmas Tag – Feel free to use this little logo I made if you decide to do the tag yourself.

The festive season is without doubt my favourite time of year and though there are a few Christmas themed book tags out there, I thought it would be fun to create my own one for the first time. I came up with some questions associated with a few of our favourite Christmas staples and thought it would be really fun to see lots of others getting involved, but of course I have to kick things off by answering them myself. So, let’s get right into the questions!

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Father Christmas: Name a book you received as a child that you treasure to this day.

I was given a book called Woozle the Wizard and Other Scary Stories by my grandparents one year. It’s a beautifully illustrated collection of fun, magical kids’ stories that I have a flick through every now and then when I’m feeling particularly nostalgic.

The ghost of Christmas past: Is there a book or series you like to revisit each year at Christmas time?

I’m not a massive re-reader simply because my TBR is always stuffed full of new books but I have revisited Harry Potter a couple of times during the festive season. There’s something about fantasy – particularly when it’s very whimsical – that I think is perfect for this time of year, and Hogwarts is like a big comfort blanket on a cold winter’s night.

Christmas tree: Name a series that reaches new heights with every entry.

The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness builds in tension and excitement from chapter to chapter let alone book to book. It has brilliant characters, very relevant themes and a pulse-pounding plot.

Friends and family: Name a book with fantastic characters.

There’s lots I could pick for this but I’m going to go with a recent read and say Northern Lights from the His Dark Materials series by Philip Pullman. Lyra is a great young protagonist – smart, brave and resourceful – and there is an eclectic cast of weird and wonderful characters and creatures, not least of all Iorek, the talking, armoured polar bear.

Decorations: Name a book with a gorgeous cover you would proudly display on your shelves.

I’m definitely a sucker for a beautiful cover and this is another one I could pick lots of books for. Here are a few of my current favourites:

The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan, Vixen by Rosie Garland & The Raven King by Maggie Stiefvater

Christmas cards: Name a book that carries a great message.

My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher follows the perspective of a young boy following his sister’s death in a terrorist attack. It chronicles the breakdown of his family dynamic, particularly his mother’s abandonment and his father’s new-found racism towards all Muslims. There are messages about tolerance, dealing with grief, friendship and love, so despite its darker moments, there’s a lot of light at the end of the tunnel.

Ice and snow: Name a book that you were hoping to love but which ultimately left you feeling cold.

I’ve got a controversial answer coming here, but I wasn’t overly enamoured by Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. My issue was more with the publisher than the book itself, as it was wrongly marketed as a sequel for To Kill a Mockingbird when it was in fact an early draft which later developed into Mockingbird. It therefore contradicts major plot points, and that’s not to mention the controversy over whether or not a now elderly Lee even wanted it to be released. Interesting perhaps for study purposes but far less impactful than its predecessor in my opinion.

Christmas lunch: Name a book that was big and intimidating but oh so worth it in the end.

Both A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings (the first two books in the Song of Ice and Fire series) by George R. R. Martin are pretty beastly but have a rich fantasy setting, interesting characters and an intricate plot that I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m still working up the momentum to read the rest of the series though; I think it’s definitely one I’ll be spacing out so as not to feel too overwhelmed by the mammoth size of each book.

Mince pies: Name a book you found sweet and satisfying.

There’s a graphic novel series by Kazu Kibuishi called Amulet. It’s a fantastical, ridiculous, action-packed thrill ride with absolutely beautiful, vibrant artwork and a story suitable for all ages that’s just tons of fun. I’ve read the first three books and can’t wait to carry on with the series.

Presents: What book do you wish you could give everyone to read?

B is a poem written and performed by Sarah Kay in a wonderful TED Talk that led to it being released as a little illustrated book. It’s about the timeless, unbreakable bond between parent and child, and since everyone has experienced being at least one half of that relationship, I think it’s pretty much universally relatable. Its simple yet beautiful language makes it easily accessible no matter how new or well versed you may be when it comes to poetry.

Spreading the festive cheer: Tag some friends to help spread the festive bookish love.

Since this is an original tag, it would be so exciting to see as many people as possible getting involved, so please feel free to do it – and let me know if you do so I can check out your answers. I’ll get the ball rolling (if they wish to take part) by tagging Melissa Barker-Simpson, S.R. Carrillo, driftinglexi, The Bookie Monsters, Vivliohora and Dreamer Documents.

Happy reading and Merry Christmas!