My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki

On a quest to meet a generally interesting man, my sister and I decided to join a few book clubs (to be honest The Girly Book Club was probably not the best place to start, even though I highly recommend it!) Whilst the man front is still a pipe dream, I absolutely love the fact these book clubs have introduced me to books I would never normally have chosen. One such one being thanks to The Islington Book Club (this one comes with men), whose choice this month is My Year of Meats by Ruth Ozeki, an author who I have to admit I'd never heard of.

Two extraordinary women. One all-American TV cooking show. An unforgettable novel of love, friendship, culture and food.My Year of Meats is told in two voices, Jane Tagaki-Little, half American half Japanese, living in America, and Akiko who is Japanese and living in Japan. In a single eye-opening year, two women, worlds apart, experience parallel awakenings. In New York, Jane Takagi-Little has landed a job producing Japanese docu-soap My American Wife! But as she researches the consumption of meat in the American home, she begins to realize that her ruthless search for a story is deeply compromising her morals. Meanwhile, in Tokyo, housewife Akiko Ueno diligently prepares the recipes from Jane's programme. Struggling to please her husband, she increasingly doubts her commitment to the life she has fallen into. As Jane and Akiko both battle to assert their individuality on opposite sides of the globe, they are drawn together in a startling story of strength, courage, love. It is a truly fascinating story with some rather shocking facts about the meat industry in America thrown in. Ozeki takes advantage of the differences between Japanese and American culture in order to artfully comment on both.

When I first read the books description I really did not expect to enjoy it at all, but I fell in love with Ozeki's intelligent, witty and passionate prose. I will definitely be delving into her over titles.

So, whilst I remain unsuccessful on the man front (sorry Mum!), at least I have been introduced to some thoroughly fantastic books!

P.S. Anyone read this year's Man Booker Prize winner The Luminaries, thoughts?

Another Must Read

Bone River by Megan Chance

I just finished this stunning novel by author Megan Chance. I have never read any of her work before, but after finishing this gripping and haunting tale of passion and identity I will definitely be reading her others. I couldn't put the book down and whilst I was expecting a historical romance, I couldn't have been more wrong and (this being something I never admit) happy to have been so. Instead I was surprised by a complex, meaty plot; a tightly woven mystery based around secrets and lies, both past and present. Chance's ability to mix the inner turmoil of her characters with the battering winds, intense dark and rain adds much to the atmosphere, and brings the stunning but treacherous landscape to life. Whilst her confidence in writing about this period in history, adds a sense of reality that's not easy to accomplish.
I could not recommend this novel enough, there's enough history, mystery, romance, hardship and heartache in this novel to suit almost anyone who enjoys beautiful prose, believable characters and an intelligent, imaginative story. So don't thank me now, instead get reading immediately, I insist!

Thought of the week

As a massive F.Scott Fitzgerald fan I have just started to read Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda - The Love Letters of F.Scott Fitzgerald & Zelda Fitzgerald. It chronicles one of the 20th century's most passionate and iconic romances in such a way that the reader, for the first time, gets to compare both of the relationship between F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda Fitzgerald. It also got me thinking, what ever happened to writing letters?! In the days where we can connect to one and another instantly no one (and I include myself) seems to write letters anymore and after reading this book I have decided, if anyone wooed me with letters like Fitzgerald, it would totally work!

To all you Fitzgerald fans out there, it really is a must read as it is an amazing insight into such a devoted relationship that helped encourage him to write such incredible novels but was in the end, due to his alcoholism and her mental illness, a troubled and turbulent marriage.
Therefore, instead of a picture to inspire you this week, I have chosen a book for you to read, so curl up out of the snow, in front of the fire and enjoy. Although much has been be said about them as a couple, the best and most accurate road to gaining a real insight regarding them individually and their marriage, is to read what they themselves said to and about each other.

But of course the real reason... is that I love her and that's the beginning and end of everything - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Readers Updated

As friends and family know, I am an avid reader who loves nothing more than curling up with a good cup of tea and a great book I can loose myself in.
As our ever increasingly hectic schedules leave us with very little time to sit and relax I aim to document the ways in which we manage to fit in a few moments of peace and quiet with a good book. Whether on our everyday commute, at a restaurant or coffee shop or just curled up on the sofa the solitary act of reading is enjoyed by all. As technology expands reading is still very much present, which the invention of kindles, smartphones and increasingly smaller laptops has reading become even more popular? This is something I am exploring everyday with my photography, as some of you may know from earlier blogs.
It has been a while since I updated you all on the project, so here are a few of my most recent photographs. To see the whole project visit my website

Happy Reading!

A Must Read

I just finished reading The Whisperer, Donato Carrisi's debut book and for all of you out there like me, who love a good psychological thriller, this is the book for you! I couldn't put it down, which unfortunately meant neglecting my essay whilst I took long baths, didn't get out of bed and generally just read it whenever and wherever I could. It is multi-layered, full of twists and turns and you will never guess the ending. So grab a cup of tea (and a night light) and snuggle away from the cold weather with this fantastic book. I definitely hung up my heels this weekend just so I could finish it!

Readers

Ever since I got to see Andre Kertesz's series 'On Reading' at the Photographer's Gallery I have been inspired to do my own project about reading.

I love nothing better than a good book and just getting totally absorbed in it's world and therefore whenever I am out and about I photograph someone else who is absorbed in the wonderful world of literature. Nowadays, compared to when Kertesz embarked upon the project, there are so many different ways and materials for reading such as laptops, i-Pad's and phones, alongside the usual books, magazines and newspapers we are so used to, so it has been a really interesting project to embark upon, capturing the various methods and situations that people read in.

So far I have a collection of strangers, family and friends who I have photographed reading. Mostly done so on film camera as I normally have one of my film cameras along with me. So here are a few of my favourites that I have captured so far. Let me know what you think, and as my collection grows expect more blog updates on it!

Click on image to enlarge