April Book Challenge Review: Everyman's Poetry by William Wordsworth and #BEDM!

Everyman's Poetry - William Wordsworth

Last month I completed the April book challenge by reading a collection of poems by William Wordsworth. 
I must admit, I struggled slightly with this month's challenging as I haven't read much poetry since leaving college. I love poetry, but I think it's better celebrated with other people. One of the things I loved most about A Level English Literature was the fact that after reading poetry we'd all discuss the different meanings and perceptions. 
The fact that I read this book alone, like I would a fiction book, made me enjoy it slightly less. However, this isn't a critic against the poetry because as expected it was beautifully written. 
William Wordsworth writes a lot about the beauty of nature, so it was perfect reading this during the springtime when most trees are starting to blossom. 
Overall, I enjoyed it and I've decided that I want to read more poetry and make myself find the joys in reading it alone. 
May's book challenge is slightly delayed this month (I've been rushed off my feet this week) but all will be revealed tomorrow so keep your eyes out for that! 

And on a completely unrelated note, I've decided to participate in this: 

LETS DO THIS! 

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April Book Challenge: William Wordsworth - Everyman's Poetry

We're officially a quarter of the way through 2014. This year is going far too quickly for my liking, although it's been a good one so far! 
Hands up if you've been tricked by an April fool today. Both of my hands are proudly raised in the air. I was silly enough to believe that there had been a sunflower invented with a USB port inside the stem. Not my finest moment...
It's also that time of the month when I pick out a new book to read. As a part of the 2014 book challenge, I'll be reading a book from the writer displayed on my Waterstones Literary Quote calendar.
I really like the design of this month's quote. I'm really looking forward to seeing flowers start to spring up all over the place. There is something magical about the spring time.
I'll be reading a collection of poems by William Wordsworth this month. I've not come across many of his poems before. As far as I'm aware, he wrote a lot about nature and the changing seasons, which is perfect for this time of year.

It'll be nice to get some poetry back in my life. I'll be sharing out some of my favourites on the blog as I'm reading through the collection.
What are you planning on reading this month? Alongside this, I want to finish Precious Thing by Colette McBeth and Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson, that was given to me today by a friend of mine. 

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March Book Challenge: As You Like It by William Shakespeare

I know what you're thinking! All of the negative connotations of secondary school Shakespeare studies are flooding back to you. You're probably questioning why anyone would want to read a Shakespearian play post-school. 
I'm the exception to this rule, during college I was an English literature and drama student, and I fell in love with Shakespeare use of language, his humour and how his complex plots unraveled. I was looking forward to reading As You Like It for this month's calendar challenge as I hadn't read any Shakespeare since I studied A Midsummer Night's Dream five years ago. 
However, I must admit, this play fell short of my expectations. The story followed Rosalind who flees to The Forest of Arden to be close to her banished father. She dresses as a man whilst in exile in order to live freely they way a man does.
Rosalind is a brilliant character, she's headstrong, witty and has the most lines of any of Shakespeare's female characters. She's a very developed character and which is a huge step forward considering that this was written during a time when women weren't allowed to even appear in plays. (All of Shakespeare's female characters would have been played by teenage boys.) 
Despite my love of Rosalind, this play didn't really seem like Shakespeare. The plot tied itself up too quickly, it felt rushed in parts and it didn't spark my imagination the same way his other plays have. However it includes one of the most famous Shakespeare quotes: "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." 
I think that my opinion might change slightly if I saw this preformed live, however it doesn't jump off the page in the same way his other stories have. I'll be reading Shakespeare again in May for the calendar challenge, and I'm hoping that my faith in Shakespeare will be restored. 

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Showcase Sunday #3: March's book - As You Like It by William Shakespeare

As a part of the 2014 book challenge that I have set myself, each month I shall be reading a different book from the writer displayed on my Waterstones Literary Quote calendar. This month I'm going to be taken straight back to GCSE English with a play from the most famous playwright in the world, William Shakespeare! 
I've always been a fan of his stories and consider A Midsummer Night's Dream as one of my favourite plays. I absolutely love this quote, it's making me very excited for spring. I don't know about you, but I'm fed up of winter now. Bring on the pastel colours, the blossom and the bright green grass! 
After discovering which play this quote was taken from, I knew that As You Like It had to be the book I read this month. Another reason I picked this book up today was that it's a Shakespeare play that I have not read before.I know absolutely nothing about it other than the fact that it's a comedy. I'm really looking forward to reading this for March as it seems light-hearted, funny and should encompass that springtime feeling!

There's a lot of fresh green colours in this post. It must mean that springs close!! 

I'd love to see what books everybody else has brought or received this week. Let me know or leave your Showcase Sunday links in the comments below.

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February's book | Light (The Night Has a Thousand Eyes) by Francis William Bourdillon

As a part of my 2014 Book Challenge, I am going to be reading a different book each month from a writer that is displayed on my Waterstones Literary Quote calendar. This months writer is Francis William Bourdillon, who was a British poet and translator. I absolutely love the design of this months quote, the beautiful mint greens and pinks sum up valentines day perfectly to me. (And it's colour coordinated with my room, which makes me very happy!)

The quote on the calendar is taken from Bourdillon's most popular poem, Light, although is often referred to as The Night Has a Thousand Eyes. The book challenge was slightly different this month, as rather than reading a whole book by the writer, I just read the poem that the quote was from. I tried to find an anthology of Francis William Bourdillon, however, had no luck, so had to make do with reading his poems online, instead. 

I've always loved poetry, and have quite a few different collections lying around that I dip in and out of. So this was a good opportunity for me to kickstart February by reading a poem: 

"The night has a thousand eyes, 

And the Day but one;

Yet the light of the bright world dies 

With the dying sun.

The mind has a thousand eyes, 

And the heart but one;

Yet the light of a whole life dies

When love is done." 

- Light by Francis William Bourdillon 

I really enjoyed this poem, and think it's so appropriate for this time of year. To me, the last stanza is about how your brain can jump from thought to thought with ease, however your heart, has only one true feeling, and that's love. And without love you are not living, you are merely existing. (It might sound very cheesy, but I believe it's true.) 

February is such an important time for me, as my moms birthday is actually on Valentines day itself. (I've actually just finished wrapping her presents!) And this also gives my boyfriend and I an excuse to celebrate Valentines in our special special way on a different day to most people. But regardless of if your single or taken, I think February is all about showing the people you love just how much they mean to you.

I'm also thinking of indulging in a love story this month due to it being the loved-up month. I have already read quite a few Nicholas Sparks novels and The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (OMG. Has everybody seen the trailer yet????) So if anybody has any similar suggestions for books that could warm the cockles of my heart this February, let me know by either commenting or tweeting me @amandajtweets. 

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January's book | Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

I've officially finished reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which means I've completed this months book for my 2014 book challenge! (If you are unaware of my challenge, and one of the main reasons I started this blog, you can find out more here.) I really enjoyed revisiting Alice and reliving her many adventures and all of the nonsensical characters she encounters along the way.

It was really interesting to reread this book, as I haven't picked it up since reading it as a child. And I must say, I was surprised by how quickly it transported me back to that time in my life. I was suddenly back in my childhood home, and I was reminded of the thoughts and feelings I experience when I first read it. 

I adore Alice as a character, and even as a 23 year old tall child adult, I couldn't believe how much I related to her. Her thoughts are constantly bouncing back and forth, and she constantly strives for perfection, and puts more pressure on her image than any child should. This is a very adult quality for a child to possess and perhaps this is why this book was so popular with both children and adults. 

Most of us are more familiar with the Disney version of this tale, myself included, and it was really fun to revisit all of the characters and scenes that the films dismissed. There is a lovely scene, in particular, where Alice, a gryphon and a turtle exchange stories, songs and poems (muddled up and nonsensical ones, of course!) The imagery was beautiful, and I found myself completely immersed in it. 

One of the things I love about this book is that it promotes imagination and creativity. Theres a beautiful scene right at the very end where Alice's sister closes her eyes and images that all of the everyday noises such as the rustling of the grass, and the tinkling sheep-bells are the noises of the white rabbit scuffling about and the sounds of the teacups at the Mad Hatters tea party. She is reluctant to open her eyes, because she knows that everything will turn back to normal, and be ordinary again. 

It's very symbolic of the transitioning from childhood to adulthood. And this book, not only promotes that grand imagination present in most children, but begs adults not to lose sight of the nonsensical and the whimsical. (Maybe this is why I love Wes Anderson movies so much...) 

I'm very happy that January's book challenge is completed, and I loved the fact that it forced me to revisit this childhood classic. I look forward to now rereading Through the Looking-Glass and what Alice found there.


Favourite quotes: 

"It's no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then."

"We're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad."

"She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very seldom followed it.)"

The 2014 Book Challenge: Januarys book

Hello,

Thanks for stopping by. Adventures from the Bookshelf is a new literature and lifestyle blog. I was inspired to create this blog as I have ran blogs before, but I never had the motivation to post regularly enough, despite really enjoying blogging and the community that goes along with it. 

But this year to help myself maintain my blog, I've set myself a challenge! Every year I buy the Waterstones Literary Quotes wall calendar, for each month there is a different quote from a famous writer. So, what better way to widen my reading than to have a monthly author picked for me by the Waterstones calendar? Each month I plan on reading a book from that months author, and then write a full review on this blog. The full list can be found here, and if you want to join me or get involved with the blog, let me know. 

Januarys Book

This months author is Lewis Carroll, so it makes sense for me to read his most famous book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. (What a coincidence that the first book on the list co-incicides with my blog name!) I am really looking forward to reading this book, as I have not read it since I was a child, so it will be interesting to see if I gain a different perspective rereading it as an adult. 

Let me know in the comments section if you're setting yourself a reading challenge this year too. (And if you're going to join me with my challenge!)