book review

Words in Deep Blue- A Review

ROLLY Mag, Wordy Wednesday
@cathcrowleybooks @reading.after.midnight

A few years ago, I went to the Williamstown Literary Festival- which solidified my absolute LOVE for reading and writing. There I met a few Aussie authors (such as Andy Griffiths and Markus Zusak *fangirl*) including Cath Crowley. ‘Graffiti Moon’ was the first book of hers that I’d read. I loved it.

But, admittedly, I forgot about reading her others. Until I saw ‘Words in Deep Blue’ on my local library shelves. It’s been patiently waiting in the TBR pile since late January…

I am so happy I finally picked dit up. I started reading it late Saturday night, but had to stop because I was, ahem, crying so much. I picked it up again on Sunday morning and finished it.

I do want to add, as a disclaimer, I was full to the brim with uni-related stress and frustration, and so my tears mayyyyy have been due to some suppressed emotions that were entirely seperate to the book itself hahah. Nonetheless, it was a great emotional outlet.

I sobbed my way through the last 50 pages- and this I know was because of the book.

The expression of grief and it’s complexity was so raw, that you couldn’t help but imagine it for yourself.

And the process of loss and grief… how we try to make sense of it- was beautiful. The characters were so emotive and thoughtful.

Henry and Rachel felt just like myself. A combination of them created me. But I think every reader would feel like this. Maybe you gravitate to one more so than the other.

I thought that one sub plot was predictable. But that didn’t make it hurt any less. And I didn’t mind.

Perhaps my favourite nuance of the novel was Henry’s broad vocabulary, but he replied heavily upon the word “shit”.

It made me laugh a lot.

It felt real.

I think I related particularly to the characters because of them being in a post- Year 12 stage of life, and being set in Melbourne. It felt like they could’ve been my peers, friends even.

I, as a teenager myself, can be particularly critical of ‘old people’s’ attempts at recreating adolescents. Take, To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before… would Peter Kavinsky reallllly have been waiting in the hot tub for Lara Jean? Teenages everywhere: heck no.

But, Crowley’s depiction of young adulthood was SPOT ON. She even made a dusty book store cupboard feel romantic. (Book stores are romantic, full stop, in my opinion).

And so for that, added an atmosphere to the novel that felt especially true- to me.

Similarly, sometimes, I am frustrated by happy endings in books. It’s all too cliche.

But I am so grateful that Rachel and Henry got their happy ending. Happy is not particularly exact- but they got they’re neatly tied with a bow, perfect in the present ending. Which they deserve.

PS. When I write a book review, I don’t want to critique the author. I just want to share my thoughts and feelings.

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Get Your Sh!t Together- A Review

ROLLY Mag

Image via ASOS as I couldn’t get a nice pic of my version without the library sticker gahhh!!

Happy #WordyWednesday everyone! On Monday night, I sped-read Sarah Knight’s second book “Get Your Sh!t Together”… it had been in my holiday TBR pile, but I had neglected reading over the festive season- so the night before it was due back at the library- I read it!! Albeit, I did skim-read the final chapter which detailed fear of failure and self perception- something I would have liked to read with more focus. So, in a slight spoiler into what I thought of the book, I will be purchasing my own copy so I can

1. re read it! And

2. Write notes in the margin… I’m not one to do this often (In year 12 it was a begrudging necessity but I’d never in my own book!) but I feel like it would be useful for marking the points that apply most to me and my life. To narrow down the advice, somewhat.

With that said… here’s my review!

Like many readers, I went straight to Good Reads when I first heard about this book. The reviews are so mixed!! Most of the criticism centres on Knight’s “try hard” humour and useless advice. I disagree. Although I would warn that if you’re easily offended, this is not the book for you. Not only does Knight insult you (or the Chipmunk version of you #IfYouKnowYouKnow) she also calls you out and forces you to asses yourself. I can imagine a lot of people won’t be comfortable with this- but I think that is why the book works so well. How can you help yourself- or anyone- if you don’t know, first, what needs helping? Knight wrote this book after her own life overhaul- she’s been there, done that. Personally, I respect life experience as more-than-good-enough validity to write a self help book. And, again, in regards to the humour in the book- I wouldn’t say it’s necessarily my type of funny, yet, I did enjoy the sarcasm and the IBS joke was particularly good. (As were both the vegan and Jonas brothers references 😂)

My Year 12 life (2018) was riddled with procrastination that stemmed from the fear of failure (as Sam from The Perfectionism Project taught me). Whilst this realisation from Sam helped me identify and understand my procrastination, for the first time ever (in a way that I foresee will work for me), Knight presented a method for combatting procrastination. It was, frankly, a good slap in the face to my serial-procrastination ways. This may have been too harsh to read for others who were not ready to accept and change their behaviour (hence some of the savage GR reviews).

However, GR also had a lot of love for Knight. Namely, her practical advice. She detailed goal setting in a way that was useful but also different to the drudgery that old men- “study gurus”, who had been out of the school system for approximately 628 years- presented to me and my cohort time after time during “the most stressful year of our life”. I tell you what, I would have like to have read GYST last year- it would have made organising my life a whole lot simpler and more effective. I also would have like to have had a copy on hand to slap those old men with. (Whilst screaming “GYST!!!” Obviously.) Goal setting- according to Knight- is SO simple. But we tend to over-complicate it. That’s why I loved the message of this book. It took the unnecessary sh!t out of life, and replaced it with succinct and adaptable strategies- not rules!

Some of my favourite advice:

⁃ Switch your focus from The Thing That’s Causing Your Anxiety To A Thing That Makes You Happy

⁃ When in doubt: don’t think, DO

And my absolute favourite!

⁃ GYST BINGO!

I am going to create this for myself, by choosing three things I’d like to accomplish everyday. If I achieve two of them, I am winning at life! If I achieve less than two, not winning! If I achieve all three of things in one day, I kinda expect Knight to write me a personal congratulatory email.

I think it’s such a good idea for optimising your productivity- aka GETTING SH!T DONE! If this was a competition against others, it would have very little effect on me. I’m hardly competitive (except at Uno). However a challenge for myself is something that does motivate me! (Ps. My end of year goal in 2018 was to “win at English”… spoiler: I did not. And it hurt. But that was then and this is now 😅)

I would like to add, also, that I did not “love” this book as a whole. But I really liked it. I’m sorry for my lack of distinguishable adjectives. Some parts were not applicable to me at this stage of life. But the three most valuable pieces of advice that I mentioned above made this book so great (for me!). I look forward to re reading it- as I think that is when I will truly grasp the concepts. Furthermore, (sorry, year 12 English is still in my blood), when I do re-read this, I won’t read it it one big chunk like I did in my jam-session upon my first read. I think in short chapters would most benefit me, so I can reflect after each one and plan to integrate that chapter specifically into my life.

Overall: I do recommend this book. But be open minded and take your time with it to get maximum results.

Ps. I wrote this whilst listening to P!ATD “Pray For the Wicked” and I think “(F!ck a) Silver Lining” makes the perfect background noise to reading any of Knight’s work 😂👌

Follow along on IG @rolly.mag >>> https://www.instagram.com/rolly.mag/

And say hello via email >>>

hellorollymag@gmail.com