Outfit #3: Start wearing purple

Dia dhuit! (I'm running out of languages to introduce myself in)

"Start wearing purple, wearing purple,

nananana,

start wearing purple for me nooooow,

all your sanity and wits they will all vanish,

I promise,

it's just a matter of time!"

Any Gogol Bordello fans out there? I suggest start wearing purple as excellent background music for this post :)

I don't look too happy here because every picture kept looking horrible (more so than this one haha) so I was a little annoyed by the time this one was taken.

Top   -   H&M

   Skirt   -   Monsoon

                Shoes   -   Penney's (Primark)

Bag   -   Parfois

                   Necklace   -   Bought at a local market 

I love this skirt so much - I found it on sale for 7€ (!!!) instead of 70€. In my size. Clearly, it was meant to be! I wear this outfit combination a lot, especially when it's a little colder, with a nice heavy cardigan, boots and tights. So you'll be seeing this one again :) 

(NB. I didn't quite realise how dirty my shoes looked in this picture until now. Oops.)

This handbag has two straps so you can wear it as a shoulder bag, or a cross-body bag. This was the first item I ever bought at Parfois and after a year of very frequent use it's held up great for the most part. I had to get one of the side zips (see in the first picture) replaced, but other than that, there are no signs of wear and tear. Not bad for 17€!

Here's a close up:

I know the lighting for my outfit pics is quite bad, but here you can see that the bag is in fact a beautiful navy colour, with golden zips.

I apologize for the atrocious picture quality, but today was not my day in the photography department. At least you can see my necklace properly :) I wanted to list a few similar options online, but I've found it difficult to find anything, so here are a few general suggestions for nice, geometric-style necklaces instead:

https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/181085211/double-chevron-necklace?ref=listing-shop-header-0

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https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/246995101/long-geometric-necklace-triangles?ref=market

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https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/234931018/small-semicircle-scalloped-necklace-gold?ref=market

And for the last horrible picture of the day: A close-up of my beloved 9€ Penney's shoes. I have worn them (nearly) to death, and really wish I had bought two pairs. Those tiny pink hearts ;)

And to end: A collage of Marie's (Breaking Bad) love for one specific colour... 

(NB. I didn't make this collage, I just googled 'Breaking Bad Marie purple')

Thanks for reading and wear some purple ;)

Kat

Book Spotlight: "The Kept Woman" by Karin Slaughter

Morning y'all!

That is how I imagine Southerners speak, but I really have no idea. I'm just trying to set the scene for this book review, because Karin Slaughter means Georgia. She has been one of my favourite crime authors since I started reading (and loving) this genre! Her books centre around a number of familiar characters, so if you've read them all you'll know more about the individual backstories. You can still enjoy the book if haven't read the other ones though, as Slaughter always outlines the most important details about the characters' pasts.

I have the edition on the left, but I prefer the American cover (right).


The Plot:

When ex-cop Dale Harding is found murdered, Detective Will Trent and his partner Faith Mitchell are called to the scene. They soon discover that Marcus Rippy, a famous football star accused of a brutal rape, could be involved in their case. Even worse, a large amount of blood found at the scene turns out to be that of Will's estranged, ruthless wife Angie Polaski... and she likely doesn't have much time left. Trying to navigate his deeply conflicted feelings about his wife, and his love for new girlfriend Dr. Sara Linton (the medical examiner), Will sets out to find Angie...


*stop reading here to avoid spoilers*



This book is told not only from Will's, Faith's and Sara's perspectives, but a large part is narrated from Angie's point of view. Sara isn't really involved in the action much in this book, but her storyline mainly focuses on her romantic involvement with Will.

While Faith is busy pursuing leads regarding the victim's life, Will is trying his best to get information from Marcus Rippy's management. However, the core of the story is told through Angie's eyes: She took a job at a sports management agency to be closer to the daughter (Jo) she gave up for adoption 27 years earlier, who is now married to Reuben Figaroa, one of Marcus Rippy's teammates. While trying to better understand her daughter's life, she discovers that Jo is being abused by her husband, and decides to help her escape. We also learn that Dale Harding had involved Angie in some of his own endeavours designed to leave a huge sum of money to his daughter before his death (by taking himself of dialysis).

However, Angie's plan to help Jo escape goes terribly wrong and Jo winds up murdered by Dale Harding's drug addict daughter Delilah, and Jo's son Anthony is taken by someone from Angie's past. It all ends with a shoot-out at a local mall, when Reuben Figaroa tries to pay the blackmailers to get his son back without involving the police. In the end, Reuben kills himself, leaving Jo and Anthony to finally live in peace. Angie manages to escape unscathed, and while she never reveals her true identity (as her mother) to Jo, she makes sure that her daughter and grandson now live safely.


What I liked:

I think this is one of Slaughter's best books yet. I always enjoy reading from Will's point of view, but I especially enjoyed the parts where you can see things from Angie's perspective (I'm not completely sure, but I think this is the first time that her point-of-view was included - if anyone can remember this better than me, then please let me know!). Not only does Angie's narrative open up a completely unexpected storyline (her daughter) but it also lets you understand why she makes certain choices - for me, that allowed me to emphasise with her, even when I didn't agree with what she was doing, which provided a nice contrast to the negative way the other characters view her. I also thought the storyline regarding the rape accusation was well-written and (sadly) topical.

What I disliked:

I was a little bit disappointed that Sara wasn't involved in the story a bit more - her main function in this book seems to be as Will's love interest.  I'm also not a huge fan of the relationship conversations/ thoughts surrounding Sara and Will. I do think they should be a couple and that their dynamic is interesting, but I'm personally just not a big fan of romance-focused writing. That's just personal preference though, and it mostly features at the end of the book, so don't let me spoil this for you! I feel that we could have heard a bit more about (Dale Harding's daughter) Delilah. We know that she struggles with addiction and has endured abuse all her life, but I still found it a bit difficult to understand why she would kill Jo in cold blood.


If I had a book club, these would be my questions:

• Do you think Sara is overreacting at Will's laissez-faire attitude towards Angie's trespassing or not? (Nope).

• Do you share the other characters' thoroughly negative view of Angie? Has reading from her point of view changed that? (I definitely liked her better after reading this, despite all the horrible things she has done and continues to do throughout the book).

• Could Angie have helped her daughter in a different way? (I'm not too sure about this, but I keep thinking - bring her to a woman's shelter, drive her out of town yourself, ... but nothing seems perfect given the money and power Jo's husband possesses. What do you guys think?).

• Should Angie have told Jo that she is her biological mother? (I was a little disappointed that she didn't, but Jo had already been through a lot without a revelation like that on top of it.)

Should you read this book? 

For a thriller it's not too gory, and the focus lies mostly on the (great!) story, so I think it's a great and fast-paced read.

Thanks for reading!

Kat

Book Spotlight: "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Salve amici (as Henry says),

Has anyone read this book? I came across it through a recommendation on instagram, and I'm so glad I picked it up. I always like to see some of the different covers the same book has been published with, so before we start here's some eye candy:

                              

I like the one on the left, and my edition (below) the best :) 

This is the first time I'm trying to write a (sort of) book review, so let me know if you liked (or disliked) the format. 

The Plot:

The book centres around Richard Papen who feels he has escaped his unsatisfying life in California by coming to Hampden college in Vermont. Even better, he manages to become accepted into a tight-knit, elitist group of students taking lessons in ancient Greek from charismatic professor Julian Morrow.  However, he soon finds that his new friends seem to be keeping things from him...

*stop reading here to avoid spoilers*



He finally discovers that the group (accidentally) killed a man while trying to perform an ancient ritual to transcend conscious experience. Unfortunately for them, their friend Bunny (who wasn't part of the ritual) figured out what happened and starts acting in a blackmail-ish manner towards the rest of the group: With more and more money being spent on him, and everyone devoted to keeping him happy, Henry comes up with a plan to murder Bunny before he exposes their secret. In the end, they go ahead. However, the investigation into Bunny's death, Charles' increasing alcoholism and Camilla's relationship with Henry (against her brother's wishes) begin a downward spiral, which leads not only to Henry's suicide but also to the end of the close friendships that had once held the group together. Overall, Richard seems to fare best out of all, but remains in unrequited love with Camilla.


What I liked:

I loved the writing style and the overall gloominess of the story, and the hostile role Vermont's elements sometimes take on (after all, Richard nearly dies of cold, and the snow inconveniently draws out the search for Bunny's body). I also found it easy to identify with Richard most of the time, and I felt a bit sorry for him throughout. I really wanted them all to get away with the murders, which (to my mind) just shows how well an excellent storyteller can manipulate you. I also love the very detailed endings the author provides for every character at the end (even for the stray cat!), because I always find open endings kind of unsatisfying.


What I disliked:

I can't really think of much here. I was a bit surprised that Julian didn't have a larger role to play throughout the book to be honest, but I liked the ending Donna Tartt picked for him. I found it difficult to fully understand how Richard could become involved in Bunny's murder, but I guess that  being part of the group is such a strong (and desirable) break from his unhappy family life in California, that he is willing to go to great lengths for his friends.


If I had a book club, these would be my questions:

• The novel was first published in 1992, which got my thinking - would events have taken a different turn if they were taking place now? If Bunny had emailed his suspicions to Julian (or left a voicemail) instead of writing a letter, then the message would have likely been received sooner, and perhaps Julian could have intervened?  Or, given the fact that Julian chooses to disappear at the end of the book, maybe he wouldn't have? (I'd think the latter, Julian doesn't seem to have it in him to make difficult decisions).

• Was Henry really out to kill Charles at the end by giving him those pills, or is Charles becoming paranoid? (I'd say he did try to kill him as a noble act to 'save' Camilla).

• What would have been a good alternative to Bunny's murder? Turning themselves in for murder #1? Saving up to flee to Argentina at a later date and keeping Bunny satisfied until then? Just hoping it will blow over? (I honestly have no idea).

• Francis and the twins seem to self-destruct after Henry's death - is that because their 'leader' is now gone, or was it inevitable after everything that happened? (Given the rift between Charles and Henry, and the love triangle (or quadrangle if you include Richard's unrequited love?!) I think things would have gone downhill either way. Except maybe for Camilla).

Should you read this book?  

Yes! It's well-written, and the story is unlike anything else I've read. You know about Bunny's murder from the very beginning of the book, so it's an interesting read to figure out why they decided to do it.

If there's anyone here who has read 'The Secret History'? What did you think about it? I'd love to hear your thoughts :)

Thanks for reading,

Kat

Outfit #2: What not to wear on a windy day

Buongiorno ragazze (e ragazzi?),


Open hair (also called non-existent-hairstyle in my world) and a short circle skirt are probably the worst things to wear when the weather gods have decided that ye shall be punished by wind. You'd think I would have gotten the message by now but that skirt has become one of my most frequently worn items over the years, and 99.9% of the time this is how I wear my hair.

                       Top   -   Vero Moda (thrifted)

              Skirt   -   Miss Selfridges

Shoes and Tights   -   Penney's (Primark)

Handbag   -   New Look

Necklace  -   Accessorize

(here's a few similar ones - in mint, black or in gold & silver)

And here's a pic where you can actually see my handbag :)

I wore this with a jumper (Vero Moda) when I left the house. It looks black here, but I think it's more of a very dark navy.

These booties are nearly the only pair of heels I ever wear and I usually find them quite comfortable (at least for the first few hours!). Here's a close up:

I got these more than a year ago, so I'm a bit surprised how well they've lasted me. I had never bought any heeled shoes from Penney's before, so I think I was expecting the heel to fall off within a few months or something like that haha (*touches wood*).

There's so many beautiful boots out there, I wish I could justify a second pair - like those below :)

ASOS Elle Leather Sock Boots 

(they also come in a beautiful brown colour)

ALDO's Janella

(also available in camel, but that blue is so beautiful!)

Timberland's Glancy 6 Inch Heel Boots

Heels or no heels, here's what I look like every time I cross one of Limerick's bridges ;)

 One last picture for the road...

Thanks for reading!

Kat 

Outfit #1: I like grey, and I don't care who knows it

Bonjour mes amis,

Here comes - in all its glory - my very first outfit post. Taken in my bedroom with my phone's self timer, because taking a bunch of pictures of me before going to work has apparently not been my bf's life-long dream (shocked to learn this).

It may be July, but this is Ireland - I can wear my tights almost year round.

               Cardigan   -   New Look

        Tank Top   -   H&M

 Denim Shorts   -   Oasis

           Shoes   -   Bhs 

                                                                           Tights   -   Penney's (Primark)  
                                                                      Necklace   -    Ojalá (Munich, Germany)

                                                          Bag   -   TK Maxx (no label name on it)

Just to let ye know: There are no affiliate links here (meaning I don't get a commission or anything like that if you click one of my links). I've just inserted a link when I was able to find the exact item online, so it's just for your convenience :) Oh, and there's a few links to other nice handbags further down, just for fun, if anyone is looking for one! 

Showing off MA BAG! (but not very well, so there's a close-up coming)

Looking good from the back... yes/ no/ maybe?

Close-up of the bag.

 I've been trying to figure out what the label is but my googling efforts have been in vain. If you happen to know, let me know in the comments please :)

A few other (somewhat similar) bags for your viewing pleasure...

Fiorelli's Nina Hobo Bag 

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Steve Madden's Bkoltt Shoulder Hobo Bag

(also comes in turquoise!)

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Pull & Bear's Zip Side Leather Look Shopper Bag

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Dune's Donnelly Slouch Leather Shoulder Bag

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Diophy's Chain Shoulder Strap Hobo Style Handbag

... and that's it for handbags on this lovely Thursday!

Close up of my necklace (found some similar ones on etsy).

Lipstick is Astor's Perfect Stay 16h Transfer Proof Lip Colour in 210 Rosy All Day.

(I swear, I have two normal-size arms, it's just an over-exposed picture).

And that's it! Let me know how you liked this post :)

Thanks for reading,

Kat

Greetings Earthlings!

Hello stranger(s),

Nice to meet you! This is my blog, where I'll be rambling on about the books I liked (or didn't like) and share some outfit pictures as a venture into personal style blogging.

Why on earth would I do that?

Good question. I've enjoyed reading blogs (mainly fashion-related) for years, and I want to give it a try myself as I love the idea of having an outlet for sharing some of my thoughts, both on style (keeping it nice and shallow) and on what I've read (diving into the deeper end... maybe!). Even better, I'd love to hear your thoughts, comments and recommendations, to keep it interesting! I've also found that over the last few years, my reading habit has declined more and more, so I hope that having this blog will exert some gentle pressure on me to keep at it ;)

A few things about me: I'm in my early twenties, a psychology student, wear a lot of skirts,  love trashy thrillers, dessert, Netflix binges, and have never met a dog I didn't like. Now you know.

Here's a beautiful picture of me gazing at the sky while internally cursing the wind:

Stay tuned for the first book review, and some outfit photos coming soon!



Thanks for reading,

Kat



I'll be keeping busy...