Non-fiction must reads

Not sure if I've really communicated on here how much of a fan of reading I am. But I most definitely am. Reading is, in my opinion, one of the best and most worthwhile pursuits on earth. Though I do admit I haven't done much of it (for leisure anyway) in the last few years whilst I've been at uni, I'm getting back into it again now and have re-discovered why I love it so much. I grew up with a love for reading and books, to which my lovely mother can attest. I was a complete and utter bookworm. I would read over 100 books a year, easy. I want to be like that again. Because, while I did entertain the notion that being a bookworm was 'geeky' and 'uncool' for a while there, I now have completely changed and think that people who read are far more attractive than people who don't. To be able to have a decent conversation with someone about books is a rare gem these days, and when it happens, it's like an instant attraction.

Anyway....I tend to read fiction, just because that's what I've always enjoyed. But I want to get into reading more non-fiction. Not only is it informative (therefore making you smarter), but it can be super interesting!!  Here are my favourite non-fiction books to date:

In Cold Blood - Truman Capote
An absolutely brilliant read that details the 1959 homicide of a family in Kansas. Capote actually befriended the killers and we get an interesting insight into their minds and how they cope in prison awaiting death. This book is excellent, highly recommended.

The Innocent Man - John Gisham
Another tragic but brilliant book. I read this when I was 14 and it has stuck with me ever since. It's a poignant tale of gross misjustice, written by an excellent author. Grisham doesn't usually write non-fiction, but he proves in this book that his talent for writing is not limited to fiction. Read it.

The Sweet Poison Quit Plan - David Gillespie
I read this book recently because I saw it at my sister's flat one day and was intrigued. I never read self-help/diet books so this was different for me. I found it really interesting though, and it shocked me a bit (in a good way). It's pretty much is about how bad sugar is for you, and why we need to cut it out of our diets. Oh and the author lost 40kg just from cutting out sugar. Wow. A book I needed to read.

Kitchen Confidential - Anthony Bourdain
I've always been interested in cheffing (ask anyone who grew up with me) so this book appealed. I also enjoy watching Anthony Bourdain's shows on TV so it doubly appealed. It's written exactly the way that Bourdain speaks, and gives a raw insight into the hard life of a chef. It's a fascinating read about the underbelly of the kitchen industry, and all of it's horrors.

Open - Andre Agassi
Also am a fan of tennis, and this guy. This book was well written and made me feel quite sorry for Andre. His father was a pushy parent who pressured him into going far with Tennis. Yet while I felt sympathy for Andre, I also got slightly annoyed at his selfishness. I find it interesting to read about well-known people and get to know a bit of what they're really like. Enjoyed this read.

Can you recommend me any other great non-fiction reads?
On a side note, just received my copy of The Great Gatsby from The Book Depository! Yuss! When I finish the book I'm currently reading, that's me.

xx

Gatsby

So I went and saw The Great Gatsby last week. I don't even know which word would accurately describe it. Perhaps something like sensational, epic, amazing, fantastic, brilliant, visionary, dazzling, magnificent, majestic. Yet these words still don't grasp just how great it was. The cinematography was beyong brilliant, the casting perfect and acting exceptional. The costumes were gorgeous and the music contemporary yet somehow still of the time (1920s). Argh. I don't think I have ever been so in awe of a movie, and still so in awe of it a week on. And here I was thinking Leonardo DiCaprio was past his best. Oh no, my love for him is completely reaffirmed. I wrote a review for it which featured in the Guardian on Thursday the 13th June. If you're interested, read it here (page 20).

This movie was just delicious. Definitely go and see it on the big screen. It needs to be done.

xx

Yay & Nay

Yay - It is almost Friday!!
Nay - I just watched the season 3 finale of Game of Thrones. Waiting for season 4 is going to be tough.
Yay - Got to see my best friend a couple of weekends back, and had such an amazing time with her.
Nay - Realised how much I miss her and now crave her company even more.
Yay - Have been to the gym 3 times already this week, on track for 6 times this week!
Nay - Made a delicious (and semi fancy) meal for the flat tonight and there ended up only being 2 of us there to eat it (out of 5 of us).
Yay - The All Blacks have started up their season again, Saturday night rugby = good times.
Nay - Was fully keen to do the Tough guy and gal challenge with the flatties but then realised I have work on that day. Lame!
Yay - Only one month before I can get my hair done again, hopefully for the last time!!
Nay - A whole month before I can get my hair done again. waaaaa.
Yay - Getting back into reading again, and it is good. So good.
Nay - The weather here lately has meant that I pretty much permanently have my clothes horse up in my room. This means frequently walking into it = bruises = not ideal.
Yay - Have been able to save money again. This is excellent and alleviates a bit of stress from my life.
Nay - Have to pay my car rego tomorrow :(
Yay - Am going overseas at the end of this year! wooop!
Nay - Keep seeing so many lovely things I want to buy. Sometimes I wish I was a millionaire. Then I realise that material things are pretty worthless in the grand scheme of things.
Yay - Get free movies at both Downtown Cinema and Cinema Gold here in Palmy, so I can write reviews for the paper. Ideal for the movie lover that I am.
Nay - I was fully going to write like three posts tonight, then somehow managed to waste time doing nothing at all. As I do. Seriously so bad at that!

And now it is late, and I must rest my tired eyes. I leave you with this:

Stay Rad readers

xx

Hair update

So I have mentioned before that I've begun the long, arduous journey towards being blonde again. After spending far too much on foils, I am now only one full head away from the blonde I want, YAY!! I have to wait about 4 more weeks (minimum) before I can get my hair done again though, due to the damage, but so so so excited that I'll be a legit blondie again by July! I am currently sporting a ginger-ish shade (timed well to coincide with 'Hug a Ginger' day, I might add) which isn't too bad, but not great. But the end is near, and this makes me very happy.

Here's what it looks like at the moment (though of course cameroid quality is fairly terrible):

Please also note my cool nails. They are semi inspired by pokemon :)

Have a sweet long weekend, readers!

xx

How we should look at our bodies...

xx

20 something angst

Apologies for not blogging in so long, working 9-4 and then catering at nights plus hitting the gym is keeping me pretty darn busy at the mo. But do not worry, I always return :)

So I'm helping a friend out with her 4th year uni project. She's a graphic design student and is re-designing a book called "20 Something, 20 Everything" by Christine Hassler. She asked me to re-write the content which I have gladly agreed to do. So far I've only re-written the introduction (which is rather lengthy) but gosh this book is relatable! It's actually quite ridiculous. Basically, the book's about the common belief amongst women in their 20s that everything must be achieved in this decade of their lives: successful grounding in a career, deciding where to live, whether you want to settle down and who with, whether you want kids or not etc etc. It's described in the book as a "quarter-life crisis" and is very common when you finish your education and being to experience feelings of anxiety around these issues.

Having recently graduated, I feel as though I can completely relate to what's raised in the book. Though I do have a job now, it's not what I want to be doing for the rest of my life, nor where I want to be living for too much longer. I'm single, while a lot of my friends have steady, serious boyfriends. I do want kids at some point but I also want to be a career woman. Because fertility drops significantly when you reach 30, I pretty much have to meet my potential husband now (considering dating them, marriage, enjoying married life sans kids etc). ARGH!

"With thoughts such as these going through most twenty-somethings' minds, clearly we need to discuss and be conscious of what happens in our twenties - and we need some guidance on how to deal with it all. Our twenties are a turning point in our lives when we feel the pressure to do, well, everything. As the security blankets of college and parents are peeled away, we are faced with finishing jobs, building careers, perhaps moving to new cities, separating from our old support systems, taking care of our own finances, dating, marriage, thinking about children, starting families making our first large investments, creating new social lives, watching our parents age, and shaping an identity to last the rest of our adulthood. Whew! That is more responsibility that we've ever been faced with."

And it's funny cause we're never really warned about all this pressure that will come after you finish your education. I find this book really interesting thus far, and am intrigued to see how it deals with getting past a "quarter-life crisis". Can you relate?
 xx

Graduation

Officially a graduate. Was fun feeling like a Hogwarts student for the day.

xx