The Wrong Time to Read

The title of this is somewhat misleading. For me, there is no wrong time to read, just perhaps a wrong headspace for reading, the wrong mood. But then, with so much choice on my bookshelves it's hard to know what I'm in the mood for.

Spring has sprung! All showers and blooms and sunshine and dodgy looking coloured skies.
And of course the fact that it's light until almost 7 o'clock makes it much easier to read in the evenings!
I spend most of my evenings sat in my Parker Knoll reading chair, which I inherited from my Great Gran, in the corner of my room, perhaps a couple of candles lit and something sweet and gentle playing on vinyl while reading. Perfection. Oh and a pot of tea. Probably Rooibos, or Lemon and Ginger or Raspberry and Hibiscus.
That's what I'm all about.

I read Pat Barker's Regeneration (book 22 so far this year) this week. I think I read it at the wrong time. That isn't to say that I didn't enjoy the book or appreciate what the book is trying to say. I just think that I wasn't in the right headspace for something so subtle and serious perhaps. I need face paced twist and turns at the moment to keep me involved. But I did enjoy the characterisation. Each man in the Craiglockhart War Hospital has wonderful depth of character and back story and I totally felt for each of them. The way the novel deals with the damages of war and the consequences and the human element, was wonderful. But I don't think I appreciated it as much as I could have, and that's simply down to timing. Things are a bit hectic for me right now so I didn't concentrate enough on the subtleties of the novel.
I'm aware this is the first in a trilogy. Hopefully when I continue the trilogy, which I am quite inclined to do, I shall be able to sit and fully appreciate the writing.

I also got a little nostalgic this week and bought Glamour magazine. When I was younger I used to run from my house and round the road to the corner shop and fetch my Beano and often whichever chocolate bar was the cheapest (remember when chocolate was only 10p?). When I became a teenager I had the same ritual for a chocolate bar and Glamour Magazine. I was an avid reader throughout my teenage years and even cut out my favourite articles and used to scrapbook them, which shall remain under my bed for the rest of time as there is quite a shrine to Orlando Bloom in the first half of one book and lots of hearts decorating the cover. I learnt so much about how to 'adult' and how to paint my face and how I should be healthy as a strong independent woman from their writing and kind guidance. Sadly as a skint student I had to forgo my Glamour habit. But to celebrate their 15th (crikey) Birthday I indulged. Thoughts:

1. If it began 15 years ago, I was 9 when Glamour began. wow.
2. Karlie Kloss is so successful so young. And of course beautiful. Can we be friends?
3. I want to code.

4. How come I've been reading this magazine for so many years and I still can't figure out my eyebrows?
5. I identify with everything on the 'it's ok if' page. Because I'm a fully fledged adult now. And because i am always thinking about lunch.

6. I love that Amanda Seyfried knits.

7. Dawn O'Porter speaks a whole lotta sense. 

oh nostalgia.
I'm off to the zoo with friends this weekend to visit my people, the giraffes.

I shall leave you with this gem from Half Moon Run: (look at their smiling faaaces) also,
I really want this on vinyl, oh so pretty.

Have a great weekend friends :)