#teainthebluebox

[janethevirgins]

AAAAHHHH IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! I HOPE YOU HAVE A LOVELY DAY :)

YES IT’S MY BIRTHDAY WOOOOOOOOO THANK YOU BB I HOPE YOU HAVE A LOVELY DAY TOO!!!!

[mrsrowlings]

Rules: In a text post, list 10 books that have stayed with you in some way. Don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard—they don’t have to be the “right” or “great” works, just the ones that have touched you. 

Tag 10 friends,  (i am sorry i always  forget that shit, but feel free to do this and tag me), so I’ll see your list. Make sure you let your friends know you’ve tagged them! I've been tagged  by huzzahhphalanxifor and teainthebluebox

Harry Potter (and i can't choose a certain books because they all have stayed with me somehow)

Anne Franks dairy 

Inkheart

Twitches

Twilight (don't judge me omfg)

The fault in our stars

the book thief

cry baby

the perks of being a wallflower

me before you

[thebadddestwolf]

Rules: In a text post, list 10 books that have stayed with you in some way. Don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard—they don’t have to be the “right” or “great” works, just the ones that have touched you. 

Tag 10 friends, including me, so I’ll see your list. Make sure you let your friends know you’ve tagged them!

I was tagged by the lovely Beth. And I'm being a lameo and not tagging ppl but srsly if anyone wants to do it, pls do and tag me bc yay books all of the books forever. :D :D

Roll of Thunder Hear Our Cry by  Mildred D. Taylor - I loved this book as a child and it was the first to open my eyes to inequity and racism. I don't remember much of the plot, but the message really stuck with me.

Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project by Jack Mayer - This is a narrative non-fiction book about a woman in Poland who saved twice as many Jewish children from the ghetto (and from deportation to concentration camps) than Schindler a la Schindler's list. I can't tell you how moved I was by this story. It was told through the lens of three midwestern American high school girls doing a research project on her and wow I just got the chills writing about this. Please read it.

The Cider House Rules by John Irving - I read this while nannying in England and, since it's set in New England (where I'm from) so it gave me a sense of home when I was a bit homesick. Also hammered home the importance of abortion rights, which I obviously was well versed on at that point but it was a good refresher.

Harry Potter by JK Rowling - For all of the reasons. You know.

The Giver  and Number the Stars by Lowis Lowry - Beautiful 'children's' stories that never lose their beauty or meaning with age.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - PERSONAL LIBERTY IS SO IMPORTANT AND WE TAKE A LOT OF IT FOR GRANTED. This too was set in my hometown in a dystopian society where women are basically reproductive slaves without any rights and wowww it was just so beautifully written and poignant and, while I get so fed up with the US and the world and politics and everything in general, it made me feel uniquely grateful.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak - I think, above everything, this book highlighted the message of kindness and the often-beautiful power of  words, juxtaposed by being set in a time when words were largely used for evil.

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers - This really affected me because it highlighted that, when it comes down to it, you'll do anything for your siblings. I know that's not true for all families, but it is for me, and it was/is for Dave (who had to raise his younger brother after his parents died unexpectedly).

How to be a Woman by Caitlan Moran - FEMINISM! BRITISHNESS! BUT MOSTLY BAMF FEMINISM!

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan - I love this so much I can't even put into words why I love it. I should re-read it and try to come up with a more coherent review for this book. It was a wonderfully written novel about the ways we all touch other people's lives and how some people destroy their own lives. It won the Pulitzer in 2011.

[dreamsphoto]

Rules: In a text post, list 10 books that have stayed with you in some way. Don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard—they don’t have to be the “right” or “great” works, just the ones that have touched you. 

Tag 10 friends, including me, so I’ll see your list. Make sure you let your friends know you’ve tagged them!

I was tagged by Beth

1) The Salmon of Doubt by Douglas Adams... If you haven't read it, it is a collection of writings by douglas left on his computer when he passed.  some are speaches some are stories, but one in particular was very effective in changing my life 

2) The Fat Girls Guide To Life, by Wendy Shaker, it is kinda a self help book about getting over the negativity of being fat.  I read it once before my transformation into the glorious fat babe i am now, and after my confidence was soaring i tried rereading it, and found it all to be so obvious, but i was blinded before... 

3) The Princess Bride, William Goldman - just sooo good.  makes me wish the tree zoo was in the movie...

4) Is It Just Me, Miranda Hart - aside from being hysterical, the interplay between miranda and her 18yo self made me appreciate how much i have changed in my life, as well as how much i am exactly the same... and inspired my upcoming vacation, so there's that ;)

5) The Long Walk by Stephen King/Richard Bachman? - this was just a short story but it has stayed with me for 20 years now....just... eerie and spooky for a simple story....

6) Howls Moving Castle and Castle in the Air by Dianna Wynne Jones, Soooooooo goooooood.... so much better than the movie imho, and the follow up castle in the air is brilliant!!!

7) Harry Potter, need I say more? not to mention that the first time eddie said hi to me in his mommy's tummy was while watching the first movie :D

8) Good Omens - Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman - The only two people working together who almost match Douglas Adams' wit and absurdity... brilliant book

9) Hunger Games, Espcially Mockingjay... I'll never get over what they did to Peeta

10) the last book i'm not naming, but this book was lent to me by my bff and it showed me my career path in a way nothing else has.  I read the book and said "I can do better than this" and have proven it.  it's not a book worth reading for most and will give a little too much away for me to name... 

i tagged people but won't be sending notifications, hope you don't mind, and enjoy :D

[janethevirgins]

Rules: In a text post, list 10 books that have stayed with you in some way. Don’t take but a few minutes, and don’t think too hard—they don’t have to be the “right” or “great” works, just the ones that have touched you. 

Tag 10 friends, including me, so I’ll see your list. Make sure you let your friends know you’ve tagged them!

I was tagged by the lovely Maria!!

1) The Book Thief - Markus Zusak (same as you maria!!)

2) Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling (i just can't choose one okay)

3) It's Kind of A Funny Story - Ned Vizzini

4) Divergent trilogy - Suzanne Collins

5) The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger 

6) To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

7) A Song Of Ice and Fire series - George R.R. Martin 

8) Fangirl - Rainbow Rowell

9) The Lord of the Rings trilogy - Tolkien 

10) The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton

[dreamsphoto]

teainthebluebox replied to your post:teainthebluebox replied to your post:I’m starting...

I’m seeing miranda on the 6th I think! and the 11th is my birthday, but I don’t plan to do on anything, apart from lunch with my family. the nearest train station to me is new milton, and you’re welcome to stay with me (we have a guest room).

well, I think we're going to have to go out to celebrate your birthday! and I would love to stay with you! we'll have those pancakes for breakfast! :D

omg, i'm so excited, like.... wow.  stoked!

and enjoy Miranda!  tell her i'll be seeing her soon! :D

[dreamsphoto]

I’m miles away from Gatwick, look up Barton on Sea :P I’m happy to meet up anytime, anywhere :)

we'll have time to make plans :D i'm kinda thinking after amsterdam, on my way back to london before cardiff and scotland... probably tuesday or wednesday (11th or 12th)? the big question will be where i end up after returning from amsterdam... i'm likely taking a plane there as it looks cheaper than a train from gatwick, so i'll have one afternoon/night near the gatwick airport before heading off (march 6) if you wanna travel there? also, you're welcome to join for london meet ups or whatnot... is there a conveniant train station to look for near you?

wow rereading that paragraph is messy but i can't figure out how better... um...

so i land on the 6th in gatwick, around noon, and will fly out the 7th, so if you can travel to gatwick we can do something then... (but i will likely be very tired from jetlag/travel) (but also suuuuuuper excited to be there...) (really have no idea!!)

or 

after i return from amsterdam on the 11th, i'm not sure where i'll end up. if there is a handy train towards you i'd travel that way on the 11th and stay a night nearby before heading on, and we can do something then? 

or

if you want an excuse to go to london, i can meet up with you there between the 11th and the 14th(ish) (one of those days may include a daytrip to cardiff to the doctor who experience, which you're welcome to join me for)

basically since i'm so early in planning i'm pretty flexible... but i will say that if i head your way, and you haven't had them yet, i will happily make you chocolate chip pancakes if at all possible :D (and maybe if you come to london and there's a place available for me to cook, we'll make it happen!)

[dreamsphoto]

I'm starting to plan my trip now that i have my plane tickets!  I'm super psyched for the 2 miranda shows, as well as meeting some beautiful ladies along the way (and hopefully some beautiful men too ;))

ANY AND ALL HARTTHROBS IN THE UK OR AMSTERDAM WHO WISH TO MEET UP DURING THIS TIME I DEFINITELY WOULD LOVE TO GET A DRINK OR SUCH!  LET ME KNOW AND I'LL TRY TO WORK YOU IN!!!!  

Ok so here's some details about my planned trip...

I'll be landing in the gatwick airport on the 6th of march around noon.(thursday)  I will likely spend the night thereabouts before going to amsterdam on the 7th (friday).  I'm meeting a friend there and spending 4 days in amsterdam before returning to england on tuesday the 11th.  once i arrive in the uk i have 5 days of relative freedom of movement, but i need to be in glasgow on the 17th (monday) for the first miranda show so i'd like to be in scotland by saturday (15th) so i can do some sightseeing and whiskey tasting :D on the 18th i travel from glasgow to newcastle.  the 19th will be my birthday and the evening is my second miranda show.  I'll be in newcastle that night, then travel back to london on the 20th, or i might make a detour, but i have to be in london on the 21st for i fly out early on the 22nd.

so i have the 11th to the 15th fairly at the will of the winds, but am considering a trip to cardiff for the doctor who experience during that time. as well as visiting ashley before she leaves.  misha i will be in london twice at least so either or both of those times we can hang.  anyone wanna do cardiff with me?

beth, how far from gatwick are you?  maybe we can have dinner after i arrive?  or perhaps one of the freer travel days can be in your direction?

lindsey i'm really hoping to see you while i'm in scotland!

also, i really have no idea where i'll be staying yet, so any tips would be amazing! prefer hostel/b&b type places/prices ;)