Rambling on about books, baking and beauty…
I love pens, pencils, notebooks, post-its, those little flakes of rubber, the perfect curl of a pencil sharpening, the crisp snap of a staple going in, the building of paper clip chains and the joy of stabbing a corkboard with a drawing pin.
It’s National Stationery Week and if you need me I’ll be in the post-it aisle (a whole aisle!) of Staples or possibly getting chucked out of Paperchase for stroking the notebooks.
It’s 1am, I have to be up in a few hours, I can’t sleep. Anxiety is having a field day in my tired but still switched on brain.
Anxiety says, what about those debts you can’t pay, or those job interviews you’ll probably screw up, or the flat you haven’t cleaned, hmmm, let’s dig up several years of stuff that you still don’t know how to resolve, let’s go over all of those things till you want to scream.
The Millennium trilogy was the publishing sensation of the early twenty first century, Steig Larsson’s three novel story featuring antisocial hacker Lisbeth Salander and noble journalist Mikael Blomkvist sold in their millions, translated from the original Swedish, made into films (including a not very good Hollywood remake – seriously, stop it!).
But then Larsson died. With rumours of a projected further seven novels and a legal battle over his drafted fourth book, it looked like that was it for Salander and Blomkvist.
But here we are, legal wrangles over (however you feel about it), and a fourth book. Written by fellow Swedish novelist David Lagercrantz, from Larsson’s notes, The Girl in the Spider’s Web.
Larsson’s books were noticeable not only because they were hefty tomes, but also because of their often extremely violent and graphic content. The planned title for the first book was “Men Who Hate Women”, but The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was easier to sell to a public who might have felt uncomfortable with such a clear misogynistic theme.
Larsson, like his hero Blomkvist, was a journalist who believed in the socialist ideals the Nordic region is famed for, he wrote campaigning political pieces, espoused feminism, fought corporations he saw as exploitative in his writings and his novels, to some extent, are a continuation of his beliefs and ideals.
Lagercrantz, isn’t quite as heavy hitting. Spider’s Web has less explicit violence, fewer political rants, and seems a little gentler on the reader.
That’s not to say it isn’t good, it is. Well written and paced, with a story that suits a world post Edward Snowden and the Panama Papers, a world that knows the governments of most nations are spying on their citizens, a world that has heard about the NSA’s counter intelligence game, a cynical world that knows criminals are more tech savvy than law enforcement and manage to get away with their crimes because of it.
Blomkvist is older, battle weary and close to giving up, it’s been some time since he last saw Salander, and his magazine is in trouble.
When a tech genius calls him in the middle of the night claiming his life is in danger, little does Blomkvist realise he’s about to he thrust into international conspiracy, tech fraud and meet a young boy who sees the world very differently. This case will bring him into contact once again with volatile Salander, who has her own reasons for getting involved.
I really enjoyed this, it was different in tone to the original trilogy, but I don’t think it suffers for it, personally I can do without extreme sexual violence, and I thought this was well executed.
Have you read Girl in the Spider’s Web? Were you a fan of the original trilogy? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
April’s Paper Haul box has arrived full of bright Indian inspired patterns from the designer of Pattern Lounge, Bindya.
In the box – washi tape, bright gift tags, selection of note cards and postcards, a little notebook. All in distinctive bright colours.
As always every box gives a donation to Post Pals – a charity that sends post to sick children.
This month’s My Little Box has winged its way across the Channel in the guise of a book of flowers, or at least a box pretending to be one.
The box would make a great storage place for keepsakes or make up.
The floral theme continues inside. MLB have collaborated with French fashion house Balzac for this box and included a cute floral print lingerie bag – perfect for your smalls when you travel, or even at home.
Also in the box is a tiny pop up garden, perfect for a windowsill or perhaps your desk. Seeds included, a simple, clever way to bring some greenery inside.
Onto the beauty bag with three items designed to make you look and smell lovely.
L’Occitane Pivoine Flora Shower Gel – I love L’Occitane, and this peony scented gel smells delicious.
Nails Inc polish – there’s no name on this bottle, usually named for London streets, but it’s a purple-grey colour which looks better on nails than it does in the bottle.
My Little Beauty Rosy Mornings Detoxifying Mask – another yummy smelling product from the in-house beauty brand. Packed with vitamin C and designed to brighten complexions, I’m looking forward to treating my face to this colour changing mask.
There’s also the My Little World magazine, with interviews, beauty tips and themed articles to enjoy while the weather makes its mind up.
Happy Birthday William Shakespeare!
As well as 400 years since the Bard’s birth today is World Book Night – an event now in it’s sixth year, that celebrates reading and a love of books.
I have been involved in my own small way every year – mostly as a giver of books.
This year I am giving away copies of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Barduco. The first in the Grisha Trilogy, a fast paced, fabulous slice of fantasy, a world I fell in love with and want to share with others.
I will be handing out copies to people I meet, strangers and friends. I have handed out poetry in Soho, left comic fantasy on the underground and with the bus driver, I have posted books to people who were working and couldn’t meet me, piled books up in staff rooms, cafes and the English department notice table at uni over the years.
Keep your eyes open while you’re out and about as a whole army of book loving of volunteers will be handing out books all over the place. There are events going on and online parties – check out the hashtag #wbn2016 for events and readings near you.
#fashionfriday is an occasional series where I talk fashion.
Today I thought I’d share some of my favourite jewellery sites, with an emphasis on indie companies.
I am a total magpie, if I see something shiny, I have to have it, and I do love a bit o’ bling to make an outfit pop. Some of the best places to buy fun, purse friendly costume jewellery are online.
Punky Pins has a big social media presence but is a small UK based company making fun acrylic and enamel accessories. Like these pins
And my favourite flamingo necklace.
Love Layyanah is a brand I only recently discovered via Instagram. The quirky gold and silver necklaces, bracelets and rings are affordable and fun. Plus the customer service is excellent.
Blackheart Creatives I discovered through twitter. Based in Bristol, these fiends with a laser cutter, their acrylic bling is fun and a little bit trashy (which is a good thing). I want these awesome earrings.
They do a DIY jewellery subscription box, which is great fun and allows you to get creative and make something bespoke in front of Netflix (Kimmy Schmidt binge anyone?)
Where do you like to get your jewellery from?
Love Me Beauty has decided to do away with boxes in favour of a make up pouch. This means all their products have shrunk to fit. Previous boutique edits featured lots of full size products, now it’s all mini options. Which is disappointing as they still cost as many points as before. Less bang for your buck.
I picked up a whole bundle of bits, some of which will probably wind up in my mum’s hands when she pops round.
🌸Renu Skin Flash Relax Mask for Mature Skin
🌸Melvita Eau de fleurs d’Oranger Bigarade
🌸Monu Skin Skin Perfector for Combination Skin
🌸Melvita Repairing Argan Oil
🌸Make Up For Ever Step 1 Skin Equaliser Smoothing Primer
🌸Nails Inc in Lancaster Grove
🌸Renu Extra Firming Lip and Eye Active Lift for Mature Skin
🌸Rodial Bee Venom Cleansing Balm
🌸Nails Inc in Belsize Lane
🌸Make Up For Ever High Definition Powder
The April Look Fantastic box has arrived, and I’ll tell you now, I’m going to be squeaky clean.
Rituals Miracle Hand Scrub – with Ginseng and Gingko Biloba, this scrub moisturises and conditions dry and damaged hands. As someone with soft hands from regular moisturising this won’t be used much but I know someone else in my house with hands like sandpaper…
Bloom and Blossom Bath and Shower Gel – this paraben, sulphate and synthetic fragrance free shower gel leaves you clean and soft. I’ve had this before but it’s a nice shower gel so I don’t really mind.
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask – argan, avocado, rosehip, sweet almond oils with vitamins this hair mask leaves you with shiny, happy hair. Cruelty free and no nasty chemicals. I’d not heard of this brand before, but I love a hair mask so will be soaking my hair in this come the weekend.
Tanworx Tan Maintainer – use as a base for fake tan, with natural ingredients for soft and smooth skin. Now, I am super pale and fake tan looks terrible on me so this will be passed on.
Balance Me Super Toning Body Polish – ground walnut spheres help exfoliate away dead skin cells to help skin glow.
Myvitamins Blackcurrant Flavour Performance Effervescent – 20 effervescent vitamin pills, one a day. We don’t get enough vitamins most of the time and this contains a mix of B vitamins to boost your daily intake.
There’s a discount voucher for the Look Fantastic website on the brand Living Nature.
The regular Beauty Box magazine has lots of new products and tips, as well as a breakfast granola recipe. As well as a copy of the latest edition of Elle magazine.
This sci fi romp on a budget, a UK/Canada production is an absolute hoot.
Killjoys are state sanctioned bounty hunts for whom “the warrant is all”, except when it’s not.
We follow a team of Killjoys on their adventures through the quad, four moons that belong to a mining corporation that pretty much everyone works for. There are a few exceptions, the bartender and his backroom addict doctor, the scarback monks for whom pain is holy, and the killjoys.
Dutch is the captain of this crew, a tough level 5 with a complicated history and demons of her own, Jonny and his brother D’avin make up the team and there’s not a lot of blood lost there.
With a sarcastic ship called Sally, people on their tail and bad guys to round up, it’s all go for our heroes as they try to piece together D’avin’s missing memories, find out why Dutch is seeing a ghost and avoid toxic black rain and other problems.
Personally I loved this, and hope not quite Firefly, it will definitely appeal to fans of the cancelled too soon Joss Whedon show. Season one has just ended on Syfy in the UK and season two is on the way. Catch up on demand or through your favourite internet loophole now.
