Here's something new for the blog - a book edit! I know this blog is mainly centred on all things beauty and fashion, but I do have that "lifestyle" tab up there that I thought this post would fit perfectly into. I am a massive bookworm and for me, books are like personal treasures that I don't always publicly share. However, I have realized that sharing what I love is precisely what this blog is all about, so I thought that I would sprinkle a bit of book content here and there as I would love to share with you some of my favourite reads. 

I don't know about you, but just like style and beauty, I also consider books to be seasonal. In the autumn and winter months (and especially Christmastime), I always prefer to read books that give me that cosy, heartfelt feel that I can curl up to with a cup of tea. So, here's a curated edit of novels that I love to read (and re-read) during this time of year. Consider this post as inspiration for your TBR list or even as a gift guide for the book lover in your life. Just click on the book names for a link to shop (links are affiliate links)! 

      

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. Above every other genre, I am a classic literature aficionado - especially Russian literature. As I type this post, I am actually about three-quarters of the way in this novel which is the second time I'm reading it. This classic narrates the lives of several families in the context of infidelity, love, marriage, and societal standards. It's an important book, but not a very heavy dark one, making it a lengthy read that'll keep you intrigued during the winter months. 

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Another piece of fine literature, this cosy read describes the life of a little orphan who is forced into a new lifestyle unlike what she's used to while discovering herself and maintaining a wholesome attitude and outlook on life despite the unfortunate circumstances and people who are thrown her way. 

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. You may already be familiar with this one, but if not, you're missing out! This modern classic centres on the lives of a collection of beautiful-hearted characters in the midst of the Holocaust. The story, the characters, and the wintry aesthetics invoked by the gorgeous writing (uniquely written in the perspective of none other than 'Death' itself) are mesmerizing and unforgettable. 

Persuasian by Jane Austen. You've heard of "Pride and Prejudice", but I give you "Persuasion". Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore the former, but "Persuasion" has topped the Jane Austen list for me. The epitome of a slow-burn romance, this novel illustrates not the formation of a new romantic relationship, but the reconciliation of two people who were together, then not, then... well, find out for yourself. 

Desirée by Annemarie Selinko. Oh, this one is very, very dear to my heart, perhaps because it is quite underrated like an undiscovered gem. This is a story about Napoleon Bonaparte's true first love, recounted from her at fourteen years old to adulthood. While the story itself is undoubtedly interesting, the aesthetics and descriptions of the dresses, ballrooms, desserts, etc. are what I savour the most and get excited to read about almost every single year.

Have any of these book recommendations piqued your interest? Let me know what cosy reads you love to read during this time of year!

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Indigo* is easily one of my favourite stores. I've featured it in many posts already and the interesting thing is that I always haul completely different things from there since Indigo sells almost literally everything you can think of. This time around, I bought a couple of "book-type" items, meaning not actual novels, but books nonetheless.

First off, I always mention that I'm practically a Parisienne at heart; I am obsessed with all things French and anyone who catches a glimpse of me and my belongings will easily understand that. That being said, it was a long time coming for me to finally get the world-wide coveted book:

How to be Parisian Wherever You Are: Love, Style, and Bad Habits*.

I'm not really one to buy these sorts of books as I tend to only read actual literature works and not these types of fun lazy reads, but for reasons I already mentioned, I just had to have it! I haven't gone through all of the the book yet, but it basically explains, in a rather tongue-in-cheek manner, how to direct your behaviour and attitudes to conform to the "Parisienne woman". It's definitely not something I agree with as I don't believe in labeling since all humans are much too unique and complex to be categorized, but of course, this book isn't a serious one, so it shouldn't be taken seriously. As soon as I finish this book, I will write a blog post reviewing it, so stay tuned!

I also got a notebook which I really needed. I feel that notebooks are those types of things that you always need and always forget to pick up. So, I finally got this pretty notebook* (currently sold out online, but also comes in hardcover* which is available online) which has gold spiral binding, a bright red cover with large gold font, 3 subject dividers, and lined sheets. It's way too pretty to use for school so I use this mostly for blogging purposes or other special things like for writing my bucketlist! I always feel that notebooks are the perfect opportunity to buy something pretty that suits your personality. You could get away with popping it in your handbag, but it's also one that definitely looks gorgeous on your desktop!

Also, Indigo is currently having a 15% sale! Just enter the promo code: PROMO15. Hurry though, last day is today (Sunday!) Click here*!

I really enjoy these purchases and I highly recommend them so far.
What do you think? Leave a comment below!

This post contains affiliate links, indicated by *.

On my recent Indigo haul, I picked up a couple of novels that were on my "to-read" list. One of these books was The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. Personally, I'm the classics reader meaning that I almost always stick to classic novels (aka, the oldies, but goodies). Yes, The Bell Jar is a classic, but compared to my favourite 19th century novels, this 20th century is among the youngest in my bookshelf. So, the reason why I was determined to buy this book was because of the premise: battling depression. Being a psychology major, the book really intrigued me and also because among all the strange and rare psychological disorders out there, depression seems to me the most mysterious disorder. A final reason for choosing this book was because of the plethora of praises Sylvia Plath's vivid writing has received. So, in about 1 week, I read the novel from cover to cover. Now, onto the review. 

To describe in 1 word my feeling and reaction to this novel, it would be: ambivalent. First thing's first, the novel was not quite as I expected, but on the other hand, what more could I have asked for? This is a novel written by someone who was also suffering from depression, so there really wasn't much room for error in writing about such a topic by such an author. I don't really know what I was actually expecting, so I'm kind of left with no other option but to say I enjoyed it, which I honestly really did. The book provides you a tour of the highlights of the protagonist Esther Greenwood's life and her thought processes. Esther's thinking supplies an enormous amount of metaphors and similes and details which characterizes what's going on in her mind. Indeed, Plath's writing is extremely vivid and goes straight to the heart; so much that after putting the book down, for a while you actually feel like her and can't sometimes help agreeing with her! I'm not sure if I would advise this novel for those with depression themselves, however, since the book is not much of a "self-help" book, rather it conveys what a depressed individual probably already knows and suffers from. 

I feel that this is the kind of novel that if you would want to really comprehend Esther Greenwood's downfall, then you would probably want to read it a second time; not because it's difficult to understand, but because depression and other psychological disorders are naturally unclear in terms of trying to pinpoint its triggers, if you would want to adopt a psychological view. 

Overall, I deeply value this novel in my collection and it really has opened my eyes to the nasty world of depression. Please, tet me know if you've read this or what you think about it.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5