Late Christmas Gift Guide

So it’s Christmas and that means only one thing: celebrating the birth of the baby Jesus by giving the people you love presents. 😀 Now, I know some people are really organised when it comes to present buying but some people are also really last minute so here are some bookish and non-bookish gift ideas for those last minute people!

1) A Personalised Decoration!

I got a couple of people these for Christmas. They’re just cute little stocking stuffers and they make great momentos and they will last forever. There available in most shopping centres (at least they are in Ireland) are pretty cheap and take only a few minutes to personalise.

2) Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

This is the perfect book to get anyone who is looking to start reading fantasy. It’s a fantastic read with an incredible female protagonist and the series just keeps getting better and better.

3) A Pop Vinyl Figure

I love Pop Vinyl Figures. They are tiny and cute and make excellent stocking stuffers! And since there are so many now it’s almost impossible not to find your favourite character whether it be Dany from Game of Thrones, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz or the Supreme herself Cordelia Foxx from American Horror Story.

4) The Time Turner

I recently picked up this little beauty for myself in Hamleys and I am beyond in love with it! It comes with the really nifty (yes, I said nifty) display case so it can either be ornamental and really liven up your bookcase or you can wear it as jewellery. The time turner itself is beautiful and while it may not be the cheapest of gifts it would definitely bring a smile to a Harry Potter fan’s face.

5) Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anne and the French Kiss and rest of the series is cute, fluffy and infinitely adorable and is the perfect gift for any contemporary reader or your friend who is a big romantic comedy buff. If they’re not a big reader this book is sure to convert them!

6) A Mug

I am a huge tea drinker so I love getting cute and funky mugs for presents. Right now Urban Outfitters have a really great selection including this Game of Thrones inspired mug! Stuff it with some sweets, some satchels of hot chocolate maybe a baby Baileys, wrap a bow around it and you are good to go!

7) All the Movies!

2014 was a great year for book to film adaptions we had everything from The Imitation Game (which you should definitely check out) to Mockingjay to Wild. So why not pick up a DVD, grab some popcorn and sweet treats and have a Christmas movie night with your best book buddy?

8) Christmas Jammies

My favourite thing about Christmas is receiving or buying Christmas Jammies! They are always so fluffy and so cute and I love opening mine every Christmas Morning!

9) My True Love Gave To Me edited by Stephanie Perkins

This is a great festive book buy. Not only is full of adorable Christmas stories it is one of the most beautiful books to be released this year! Guaranteed to make your friend/family member a happy reader this Christmas!

10) Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

This was one of the best books I read this year and I would definitely recommend it to all my book friends, especially those who love fantasy! It is a fantastic read and a perfect Christmas present.

11) Yes Please by Amy Poehler/ Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham/Everyday Sexism by Laura Bates

For the Feminist in your life I would definitely recommend one, or all if you’re feeling generous, of these three books! They are all written by incredible women and all discuss things that I think are important for young women to read and learn. I would love to have gotten any of these books for Christmas so I think a lot of others will too.

12) The Cuckoos Calling by Robert Galbraith

For all those crime lovers out there the Comoran Strike series by Robert Galbraith is amazing and definitely worth a read. The Cuckoo’s Calling is great and The Silkworm is even better!

13) The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

The Shadow of the Wind has always been and will always be one of my favourite books. The story follows Daniel, a young boy who becomes obsessed with solving the mystery of the disappearance of his favourite author and the systematic burning of all his books. It is a sensational novel and would make a fantastic Christmas gift.

14) A Charm Necklace

You can’t really go wrong with jewellery when your buying for that special someone and right now Pandora have some really adorable book charms. So I’d buy a little chain and pop on a charm and you have an adorable and very bookish necklace.

15) Boxsets

Everyone loves a good boxset because everyone loves binge watching especially at Christmas! At the moment HMV have some great deals on some fantastic box sets. Homeland season 1 is only 12.99 and the entire Harry Potter series is only 19.99. Let’s be real kids thats a pretty good deal!

And that kids is the end of my Christmas Gift Guide. If you are a last minute shopper I hope you got some good ideas and I hope you all get some fantastic presents this year and have a wonderful, happy Christmas!

Everyday Sexism: Review

Author: Laura Bates

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Genre: Feminism

Summary: Women are standing up and #shoutingback. In a culture that’s driven by social media, for the first time women are using this online space (@EverydaySexism www.everydaysexism.com) to come together, share their stories and encourage a new generation to recognise the problems that women face. This book is a call to arms in a new wave of feminism and it proves sexism is endemic – socially, politically and economically. But women won’t stand for it. The Everyday Sexism Project is grounded in reality; packed with substance, validity and integrity it shows that women will no longer tolerate a society that ignores the dangers and endless effects of sexism.

In 2012 after being sexually harassed on London public transport Laura Bates, a young journalist, started a project called Everyday Sexism to collect stories for a piece she was writing on the issue. Astounded by the response she received and the wide range of stories that came pouring in from all over the world, she quickly realised that the situation was far worse than she’d initially thought. Enough was enough. From being leered at and wolf-whistled on the street, to aggravation in the work place and serious sexual assault, it was clear that sexism had been normalised. Bates decided it was time for change.

This bold, jaunty and ultimately intelligent book is the first to give a collective online voice to the protest against sexism. This game changing book is a juggernaut of stories, often shocking, sometimes amusing and always poignant – it is a must read for every inquisitive, no-nonsense modern woman.

Review:

Read this – end of review.

No, it’s not I’m just kidding but seriously read this. Everyday Sexism is definitely one of the best books I have read this year. It is a very compelling and very powerful read and it is definitely a book that should be read by everyone and their pet goldfish.

The book is Laura Bates commentary on sexism in a world where men and women are equal – more or less. The book is broken up into sections and covers everything from sexism in childhood, college, work, sexism aimed at men, people of colour and members of the LGBTA community. Each section is then punctuated with the real life tweets and blog posts of men and women you have been faced with sexism. It is poignant, it is horrible and it is impossible to stop reading.

This book really does open your eyes to the type of society that we live in. I started reading sections of this book to a male friend of mine and he was absolutely horrified and actually changed some of his behaviour and the behaviour of his friends as a result. So, yeah, this book gets a glowing endorsement from me.

Powerful. Compelling. Wonderful

5 Stars.

 

 

Top Ten Books I Want To Reread

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Broke and the Bookish. Each week they post a new top ten list and invite bloggers to participate. This weeks is Top Ten Books I Want To Reread. Without Further ado here are my picks:

1) Harry Potter by JK Rowling – I actually reread this series during the summer and I really want to read it again! I just love the world so much and there was so much that I had forgotten and ugh it’s just amazing!

2) The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon – Such an incredible book. I adored this when I first read it. It made me laugh, made me cry and scared the absolute crap out of me. It is definitely a book I would recommend to everyone and a definite on the To Be Reread List.

3) Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas – One of my favourite series of all time. I am currently having Celaena Sardothien withdrawals so I think a reread is definitely in order. This series is incredible and it just keeps getting better and better. Love me some Sarah J. Maas.

4) The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare – I have been dying to read this series again but I loaned out the first three books to a friend and I still haven’t gotten them back…so I shall wait and probably keep waiting for a long, long time.

5) The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – Such a beautifully written book. It may have taken me some time to appreciate it the writing style the first time around but boy did I appreciate it by the end…cue memories of me sobbing on a train…

6) The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky – I did not like this book the first time I read it but I think I may have been too young to appreciate it what it was I was reading so in a perfect rereading world I would give this book a second chance.

7) Everday Sexism by Laura Bates – I just finished this book and I want to read it again. It was stunning. So powerful and a book that should be read numerous times by everyone.

8) Only Ever Yours by Louise O’Neill – A sensational novel. A very powerful commentary on societies treatment and expectations of young women. A must read for feminists (so everyone, really.) and a definite reread for me.

9) The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot – This series brought me such joy. I would love to sit down and read them all again!

10) The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare – I really miss William Herondale.

Weekend Reads

So, I have just finished my (last) first week at university, I’ve settled into my new apartment (with wonderfully shitty internet) and I have started reading once again. So, I figured while my internet is connected I might as well write a little post and tell you all what I am reading this weekend.

I am currently reading two books and they are:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I am currently on page 154 of Everyday Sexism and it is incredible! Without even finishing it I know it’s a book that I will be recommending to everyone – men and women alike.

I have yet to start Cinder but I will definitely be cracking it open today and I am really, really looking forward to it as I’ve only ever heard good things!

So, what about the rest of you? What are you all reading this weekend?