Tag: Guest Post

  • Guest Post | The Classics | Anjali

    Guest Post | The Classics | Anjali

    bibliophile (ˈbɪbliəˌfaɪl ; bibˈlēəfīlˌ)

    noun

    1. a person who loves or admires books, esp. for their style of binding, printing, etc.

    2. a collector of books

    With that definition in mind, it only makes sense that lovers of books should read the great books of the world. I’m talking the classics, those books that are wonderfully written, or perhaps ahead of their time, or so well known that you know the story even if you haven’t physically read the book.

    Being a bibliophile myself, it stands to reason that I, too, should be reading the classics. Alas, I am not. But when I checked out Goodreads list called “Must Read Classics”, I surprised myself. I have, per that list, read quite a few.

    Today I thought I’d share with you 5 of the classics from the top 20 in this list that I have read, and 5 that I need to read.

    Read

    The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald

    I quite enjoyed this incredibly short book. At less than 200 pages, it’s a classic that has been studied in schools and universities for decades, and even been made into an Oscar winning movie.

    The Hobbit, by J.R.R.Tolkien

    Perhaps not your typical classic, but a classic fantasy I would say. Unlike Lord of the Rings which I have only read once, I have read this multiple times. I remember reading it with my dad when I was a kid, and then again in school, and a time or two after that. I love this book a lot.

    Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott

    My first encounter with the March sisters was in movie form, specifically the 1994 adaptation with Winona Ryder, Susan Sarandon, and a host of others. But the book is just as wonderful and it’s a story that I will always love.

    The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde

    Controversial at the time, The Picture of Dorian Gray is one of those books that pulls you in with its Victorian Gothic settings, and its mad characters. I feel like is a prime example of a classic which most people know of and know the story behind, even if they haven’t read it.

    Lord of the Flies, by William Golding

    My friend’s English class in high school read this book, but I was in a different class so never read it growing up. It was only a few years back now that I read it for the first time, and by golly it’s disturbing. Definitely a classic, and one that screams at you through the pages.

    Honourable mentions: Animal Farm, by George Orwell; Emma, by Jane Austen; Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, by Lewis Carroll; Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare; The Odyssey, by Homer; The Little Prince, by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry; Anne of Green Gables, by L.M. Montgomery.

    To Read

    To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

    I could tell you the main ideas from the book, but not the plot line or the characters. Unlike some of the classics that I haven’t read, I haven’t seen any film adaptations of this book, nor did I have to study it at school.

    Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

    This book I could probably pick out a few quotes from, but wouldn’t be able to you what the main story line is. I know that the main character is Caulfield, but I don’t know who is he is or what he does (or doesn’t) do. *shurgs* Need to read this book, clearly.

    Wuthering Heights, by Emily Bronte

    Oh Heathcliff and Kathy. So Wuthering Heights is an interesting one of me. When I was young I actually started reading it, and got so confused because I thought it was going to be from the perspective of Heathcliff or Kathy – characters I already knew about – but it wasn’t! Somehow I never made it past the first chapter, but I really must pick it up again.

    Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

    I’ve listened to the audio book of Something Wicked This Way Some, by Bradbury, but haven’t read anything else by him. The idea of the book and the description has always intrigued me and I would really like to read it.

    1984, by George Orwell

    Similarity to Fahrenheit 451, 1984 is definitely Classic classic, if you know what I mean. Also like Bradbury’s book, the idea and the negative uptoia sort of concept intrigues me.

    Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley

    Just before we get down to book 20 on the Goodreads list, there sits Frankenstien. It’s another book that I could tell you all about without every having read it. This needs to be remedied. I have a beautiful copy of this book, actually, just waiting to be picked up.

    Honourable mentions: Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte; Crime and Punishment, by Fyodor Dostoyevsky; Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy; Dracula, by Bram Stoker; Great Expectations by Charles Dickens; Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck; Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley.

    What about you? Have you read many classics? Is there any that you really want to read but haven’t quite around to it?

    — — —

    What a wonderful post from the lovely Anjali of This Splendid Shambles! I always forget how much I actually adore some of the ‘classics’. Also I can’t get over how gorgeous the covers for these editions are either – so pretty!

    Ria Xx

  • Guest Post | How Living Abroad Changed My Life | Michelle

    Guest Post | How Living Abroad Changed My Life | Michelle

    Sometime in September of 2014, I made an impulse decision fuelled by jet lag to apply for one job in Hong Kong. And by some miracle, I was interviewed for it and 4 minutes 29 seconds later, I’d been offered a dreamy job on the other side of the world.

    I’ll be honest with you: moving and living abroad is one of those pipe dreams you have when you’re just starting out in The Real World. There’s an undeniable societal norm that tells us to go away to University, spend a helluva lot of money on a degree that you decided on a whim over the Summer of Being 18 you’d undertake, graduate and then slip into a degree-related job. That’s it. The requirements of being an adult, right? It’s a funny thing because I did all of the above and then suddenly wondered if there might be more for me out there than my job as a fashion writer in the smokey city of London.

    And then, I moved. I packed one suitcase and a handbag and hopped, quite tearfully, onboard my one-way flight to Hong Kong. It was easily the best decision of my life thus far.

    Living abroad changed my life in so many ways and as cliche as it may sound, I feel like my life wouldn’t be nearly as enriched without those two years spent abroad. Being forced to fend for myself and attempt to deal with an 8-hour time difference was eye-opening to say the least. It forced me to manage my time better and make time for my loved ones. How easy is it to put off calling your parents ‘until the weekend’ and then again? With an 8-hour time difference in hand, I’d be home by 9pm on a Sunday to make sure I could call my Mama and Skype my tortoises. It made me woman up and grab life by the balls, no waiting around for somebody to help me do this or see that. I’d do it myself.

    I may have grown up in England, raised by relatively traditional Chinese parents, but learning the Hong Kong way made me toughen up – quick. Hong Kong living is like London life – or any city life, I suppose – on crack. It’s a true 24-hour city and it’s home to city life, countryside, beaches and more. I absolutely adore Hong Kong. It’s a cut-throat city and everybody is determined, ambitious, driven and hard-working. Oh so very hard-working. But it isn’t ever intimidating and, in fact, you’d never find a safer city in my opinion. However the everyday buzz, the hustle and bustle, made me miss my beautiful England and adopted hometown of London and all of its calm, quirky, uber-polite ways. I’d find myself missing the English countryside and clean, fresh air. The way you can always see the sky and watch on colours hazily blend and melt together. The sheer greenness of England. I learned to appreciate both cities for their respective unique quirks.

    I find such value in being able to draw from my experiences living abroad to my present-day lifestyle. Immersing yourself in a wholly new and different culture truly opens your mind as well as your senses and it grounds you with a sense of yearning to share that passion and the qualities from your new city. All of those good vibes you feel lazing around on holiday? Try that a thousands times over.

    Living abroad completely changed my life.

    — — —

    Thanks to Michelle for this amazing post. I’ve always admired her decision to take the leap and move so far away from home. It’s definitely a dream I hope to mimic one day and I can only hope I do it as fabulously as she did! You can catch more of Michelle’s writing (and dreamy snaps – I adore her photography!) at DaisyButter.

    Ria Xx

  • Top 5 Reads Of 2014… so far! | Guest Post by Erin

    Aloha Wishing For Chanel readers! I’m Erin, also known as Ria’s partner in crime over at Blogger’s Bookshelf. Knowing that it should come as no surprise that for today’s guest post I’ve chosen to showcase books! When I’m not talking books with Ria and the rest of team BB I’m also a DIY & craft blogger, writing solo at e-elise etc as well as for new collaborative project Eight & Sixteen.

    Over at Blogger’s Bookshelf we like to put together a post at the end of each year where we all share our top 5 reads of the last twelve months. As we’re now around halfway through 2014 (already?!), today I thought I would share my top 5 reads of the year so far, hopefully introducing you to some new titles for your own TBR lists!

    ria guest post

    *Book cover images via Goodreads 

    Yes Man, Danny Wallace (2005) – this title follows Danny’s journey as he says yes to everything, finding himself in many strange situations along the way. For fans of comedy books and non-fiction.

    Sidekick, Auralee Wallace (2014) – a quirky & fun new release about a girl who ends up becoming a superhero’s sidekick. For fans of all things superheroes!

    Ten, Gretchen McNeil (2012) – this quick and exciting read is pretty much a teen slasher movie in book form! For fans of contemporary teen horror such as James Dawson’s Cruel Summer.

    Genesis, Bernard Beckett (2005) – an underrated and thought-provoking title that explores topics such as artificial intelligence. For fans of dystopian and post-apocalyptic tales.

    UnSouled, Neal Shusterman (2013) – the third instalment in the Unwind series with rich world-building and an interesting premise. For fans of other popular YA dystopian series.

    Thank you to Ria for having me as a guest blogger today, I hope you’ve all enjoyed the post.
    Happy reading!

    Erin – @eeliseetc