It’s not often I buy magazines these days. When I was a teenager, every month I would look forward to each new issue of my favourites. It’s been a long time since I have read a magazine that I have adored from cover to cover and that isn’t just pretty photos of expensive interiors. I haven’t read a Cosmopolitan or similar since I was desperate in a waiting room earlier this year, and it took me all of a minute to give up because being told that I need to spice up my sex life with something-or-other because they have unlocked the ‘mystery of men’, or that my eyelashes are not long enough, just does not fly with me.

There are those mags like Mindfood, which I can enjoy. They generally contain interesting, intelligent articles, but I’m not 35 or older. I cannot relate to the audience in which those magazines are primarily targeted. I do not have a family, I do not have my own home, I do not have a need for anti-ageing serums. I need to read something that is designed for and written by people of my generation. I especially want women writers who do not come across as ditzy fools, slaves to unrealistic female ideals. I need intelligence, wit, creativity, decent taste, and something that, when I open it up to flick through I think “Oooh, these are my people!” A moment in which I feel like I’ve found a bit of home between the pages.

Last week I had some down-time from exam study. After treating myself to my first ever spa pedicure (man, I wanted to fall asleep so badly during it), I went to the book store. And I found It. The one.

I found frankie, in all its pale gray, non-gloss, thick paged glory. I picked it up and read the subtitle “Do. Make. Look. Listen. Say. Think”, a little rush went through my body. Carefully I opened the front cover and peeked inside. I looked further, skimmed a couple of articles, glanced at beautiful photography. These are my people. This is my magazine. Finally, I have found a magazine that I know will be amazing every issue, that will be relevant to my life. I didn’t put frankie back.

I spent the next three days slowly savouring every little detail. I learned new things, felt engaged with all the content, died many times over stunning pictures and cute things, and laughed a lot.

I cannot wait for the next issue.

As I mentioned in this post, I was going to let you know what I thought of some books on my list. I’ve finished two since that post. It’s still novel (pardon the pun) for me to read for pleasure as much as I have been; usually it’s textbooks and they are often not that pleasurable!

Anyway, onto the books…

Chocolate Girls by Annie Murray turned out to have a pleasing ending and, therefore, I liked it. The annoyance I experience earlier in the book regarding WWII descriptions was short-lived and I found the rest of the book much better in that aspect. What I really loved was how well-developed the characters were, and how wonderfully Murray wrote each voice.

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I loathe to admit that I enjoyed reading this. I don’t know why I loathe to admit it; probably because I don’t want to be seen as a ‘Twihard’ or something (but why should I care?!?). So much is said about this series, the popularity, whether or not the story is any good, etc. but, for me, taken just as a book, a story, it sucked me in. I’ll admit I’m a sucker for a decent love story and there is something so endearing and delicious about Edward and Bella. There, I said. I like Twilight. And I even enjoyed Meyer’s writing style, too.

But I still want shove Jacob’s head into a wall.

Today I started New Moon, which I am kind of dreading because of stupid Jacob but whatever. We’ll see how it goes!

Life’s Too F***ing Short by Janet Street-Porter. An amusing a decent read full of great advice for women, written by one hell-of-a woman!

The Tea House on Mulberry Street by Sharon Owens. This was a very light read, absolutely chic lit. I wasn’t smitten with it and found it pretty predictable and sometimes irritating. It did have its moments of being witty, hilarious and sweet though.

The Grace Girls by Geraldine O’Niell. I really liked this book, partly for being set in the 1950s, and partly because it was so well-written and the story was filled with all the great things: youth, troubles, tragedy, love, and happy endings! Also, it had a good dose of humour.

Chocolate Girls by Annie Murray. I’m still reading this, so I can’t say whether I love it since I have yet to know the ending (and I can never decide for sure until I know the ending). It’s a mid-century saga so spans many years. The story is good, but sometimes the writing annoys me: I think it needs more padding in some areas and, because I am so used to reading WWII I like the descriptions of war to be super-realistic. My pet-peeve is that some of the descriptions of WWII Birmingham are a bit dull and don’t really paint what it was like. But anyway, a part from that niggling annoyance, I’m enjoying it. Will let you know my thoughts at the end.

Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer. I am unsure why I want to read these… I’ve heard they’re rubbish, that they’re worse than the movies, that they’re better than the movies. I think its my interest in pop culture and wanting to laugh at/secretly enjoy the love between Bella and Edward (Jacob is annoying since becoming a warewolf). We shall see how I like them!

The Pillars of The Earth and Fall of Giants by Ken Follett. The former is the first book of two, the second of which I have read. Sometimes I do things backwards like that. The latter is Follett’s new book. I really like his writing, so hopefully I’ll enjoy both books as much as I enjoyed the other one I read.

Today I finished reading The Scandal of the Season by Sophie Gee. A light read, juicy in parts, that I wished was a little juicier still. You can’t just leave an intimate scene and then go on to say “Afterwards blah, blah, blah.” What happened?

The next book on my list is Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller. I spotted it at the library because the cover has a vintage sepia photograph of a naked woman looking into a mirror. Her lips are painted red. I had heard of the book before, but didn’t realise it was considered so inappropriate when it was published that it was subsequently banned for thirty years. This sort of thing appeals greatly to me, so of course, I thought, I must read it! Adventure, sex and dirty tales of Paris during the Great Depression. Perfect!

Dinner on Thursday night was lovely. I had spoken to the restaurant ahead of time to let them know I’m vegan and to check if they had any options for me. They were wonderful and I ended up ordering mushrooms (I’m not sure of the variety, but they were large) stuffed with a mix of couscous, red capsicum, cashews and pineapple. On the side were two roasted tomato halves and under the mushrooms was a lovely roasted red capsicum. The mushrooms also came with crispy julienne potato stack on top.

It was the best meal I’ve had out in a very long time, with wonderful service from the staff. I don’t like being a nuisance to people because of my personal ethical, and thus dietary, choices* and sometimes it can still be a bit daunting to go and say “Ok, I don’t eat this, this, this, this or this, or anything container those things. But make me something divine, ‘k?” Some restaurants are not at all accommodating and don’t even want to try. I’ve even been somewhere where I felt like I was being grilled about these choices, which was rude and totally uncalled for. Serve me my food, shut the hell up and go away!

In other news, yesterday I finally managed to create a new design for Bubblegum Fangirl and get that up and running. I spent the first half of today trying to finish The Bridge To Holy Cross by Paullina Simons as it’s due back at the library, but my eyes are having trouble seeing clearly, so I’m on a “break”. Because reading on the computer is oh so much easier and better for my sight, obviously…

It’s raining and seems so dreary, but it’s nice to look out my window and see the cars go by, the rain fall through the leaves and hear the distant rumbling of thunder. A hot chocolate may me necessary soon.

Now I’m about to attempt upgrading WordPress, so I hope that goes well…

*Even though I shouldn’t feel that way. It’s none of their business a part of whether or not they are able to serve me anything I consider edible. If not, I take my money elsewhere.