"Waterstone's" Has Ruined Me

My Addiction

It should be known that I am not a social person by any means. 

That's not to say that I don't enjoy interacting with people - I do - but the life of a reader/writer requires extended lengths of solitude, and my problem lies in that I am constantly reading or writing. Therefore, a social life has to be pushed to the side in order for me to pursue my hobbies. And honestly? I'm okay with that.

But my passion comes with a price, and that isn't the opportunity to fulfil my long-anticipated 'Rebellious Teen' phase. I'm talking about a literal price; you see, I am addicted to buying books.

Alongside my studies, I have a part time job. Whilst I'm on minimum wage, I still earn enough that I can treat myself from time to time. And, when I do go shopping, all my time is spent in a book store. More precisely, Waterstone's. 

Yes, I know that it's expensive! Yes, I can probably find the same book cheaper online or in another store! I know, I know, but I just love it there! Maybe it's the peace when you first step through the door. It could be the attractive clerk who smiles knowingly at you when you purchase yet another Kerouac novella. Perhaps its the organisation of the books, or the sheer number of books, or the fact that practically every one has a Costa in the back (Chai Latte is yet another vice).

So, whilst I will buy books from other stores if needs be, I will always end up in a Waterstone's. I physically cannot avoid them; it's like they have their own orbit, drawing me in and forcing me to explore. I must have an inbuilt sensor that tells me which way to go to reach the nearest one (no matter where I am or how few times I've visited a city, I will know exactly where to find the store). 

I estimate that over the course of a year I must spend at least £150+ in Waterstone's.

Oh well. If I end up bankrupt, I can build a hovel out of novels. 

The Beauty of Bukowski

An Ode to Charles Bukowski

A self-indulgent post about my favourite poet

 I find it somewhat difficult to put it into words just how much love I have for the writings of Charles Bukowski. However, with this post I aim to try. Hopefully, I may persuade some of you to read some of his works in the meantime. 

When I first discovered Bukowski, I was on my work experience placement at a local newspaper. I had an hour to kill before I had to go back so I mooched around Waterstones, debating whether or not to spend my lunch money on a copy of 'Slaughterhouse-Five' (a habit of mine that I need to try and keep in check; I spend about £200+ on books every year). I meandered into the poetry section and that's when I saw It. 

Spellbound, I staggered over to the bookshelf and wonderingly ran a finger along the spine. With trembling hands I removed it and weighed the tome; it was quite heavy, as though the content within was so hard-hitting that the paper could barely contain it. The book in question was 'The Pleasures of the Damned', a collection of poems by a man named Bukowski. I can't say what it was about the book that drew me in... there was something about it, a gravity that clutched onto me and sucked me into its orbit. You'd think that in that moment I would have forsaken my BLT and splurged out on the anthology there and then. 

But you would be wrong.

I left the bookstore with empty hands, heavy purse and a firm idea in my head that, when the time came, I would make that book mine. 

The time in question came almost three months later whilst I was on holiday. As per the norm, I entered the bookstore and there it sat, the centre piece of an otherwise bland display. I didn't hesitate; I grabbed it, paid for it and hid it in my bag so that my Dad wouldn't see it and tell me off for buying 'another damn book'! But that night, as I sat on the edge of my bed and I opened to the first page, I felt an overwhelming feeling of excitement. I knew that it was my calling to read this book. I jumped into his grimy underworld and I have yet to pull myself back. 

The underlying theme of all of Bukowski's works is his gritty, dirty take on everyday life. He doesn't give a damn about censorship, about the taboo; he tells it like it is. One of my favourite poems (and the namesake of this blog) An Empire of Coins is a perfect example of his brutal commentary on the drudgery of every day life. One particular quote that always stands out for me is: 

"is there anything less abstract
than dying everyday and
on the last day?"

But there are moments where his words aren't revolutionary, but rather are gentle and wrap themselves around you like an old blanket. The last verse of Verdi is one of the most beautiful I have ever read. Bluebird is Bukowski's soul-destroying admission of just how lonely he really feels and how the barriers he's built have caged him. But I would testify to the fact that Mind and Heart is perhaps his greatest poem, simply because of the honesty and the open way in which it is written. It never fails to bring me to tears.

I have bought several of his works since that point, but I will never forget my first time really discovering Charles Bukowski. To quote Leonard Cohen:

"He brought everybody down to earth, even the angels."

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Review

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

By Mark Haddon

I attend a monthly book club and the novel we were set for March was 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'. I had read it once before, but that had been about two years ago and so I decided to reread it so as to refresh my memory. 

'The Curious Incident' is a first person narrative from the perspective of Christopher Boone, a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome. In it, he describes his quest to discover who killed his neighbour's dog and, subsequently, how that affects his own life. 

The character of Christopher Boone is remarkable. Haddon presents the character in such a way that we truly have to marvel at how utterly brilliant his mind is. His logic behind certain things (such as his take on constellations) is intriguing and the way he solves maths equations with ease makes me look at my C grade GCSE in shame. He is at times funny, although he doesn't recognise it. His observations on human nature are on-point and make you question how you yourself act when you think no one is watching. 

However, I find that the most endearing thing about Haddon's character is his outlook on life. Christopher will occasionally say something so complex but in such a simple way that it will floor you. For example, whilst explaining why his chapters are all prime numbers, he says:

"I think prime numbers are like life. They are very logical but you could never work out the rules, even if you spent all your time thinking about them." 

 At that point I had to put the book down, stare up at the sky and take a moment to contemplate my existence; and that was just page 15. 

Whilst someone who does not have Asperger's Syndrome cannot even begin to comprehend the intricate way in which their minds' work, Haddon does an exceedingly good job at giving us a brief insight. His use of pictures, diagrams and formulae really helps us see and appreciate what Christopher sees, even if we don't necessarily understand it.

The very first sentence of Chapter 7 says:

"This is a murder mystery novel."

This, to some degree, is true. To begin with, the novel focuses on Christopher's hunt for the murderer of his neighbour's dog. However, very soon his father calls a stop to this and from this point on the book begins to centre around the relationship between father and son. Their interactions act as a catalyst for the novel, with Christopher's father's secrecy spurring our protagonist on in his actions. The tensions between them become increasingly strained until one revelation brings the entire novel to a head. 

The plot, I found, wasn't overly exciting. Whilst there are a few twists to the tale, it doesn't have you on the edge of your seat. However (and never in my life did I think I'd ever say this) the plot is not important. This is a novel that depends entirely on its characters to coax it along, and luckily for Haddon his cast is phenomenal. This is a prime example of what happens when an author well and truly cares about his characters. In a workshop with author William Hussey, he told me that "The character is your god... you do what they tell you." Haddon took this advice to heart and came out victorious. 

'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time' is, in short, phenomenal. It is witty, deep and occasionally life changing. Whilst I wouldn't recommend it to those who like non-stop action or Sherlock Holmes-esque mysteries, it really would be a shame to deny yourself the opportunity to give this book a chance as it truly is a gem.