Autumnal Little Pleasures

Hello my sweet ladies!!!I’m so glad to be back after such a long time!

During the past months life has been a rollercoaster, with many ups and downs, joys and tears, and I really needed to come back to this little safe corner, doing something that makes me happy.

So let’s skip to the beautiful things of the last few weeks, with a cup of tea and some chocolate biscuits to keep me company:

1. The little drop in the temperatures, which means many more cups of tea and nights spent curled up on the sofa, under my soft woolly blanket! Summer has been unbearably hot this year in Italy, a nightmare for an autumn lover like me, so I couldn’t be happier to start wearing scarves and colorful tights and enjoy the brisk air of the early morning walks to work.

2. Call The Midwife: one Saturday I was wandering around in a wonderful bookshop when a little book caught my attention : “ Call The Midwife” by Jennifer Worth, which is the autobiography of the author, who worked as a midwife in the East London in the 1950. I didn’t buy the book that day but, some days later, I mentioned it to my friends and I discovered that there was the series on Netflix! As you can guess I was thrilled about it, and I was right because I was completely hooked to the series since the first episode!!!

The main character is adorable, a strong woman, independent, self-confident, but also sweet and charming, and I love the setting, which is realistic and fascinating. I’m sure I’m going to finish it in a flash!

3. The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry, a wonderful work of historical fiction that explores the gap between science and superstition, friendship and romantic love. I had heard many positive comments about this book before reading it and they were absolutely true. However, I must confess, I couldn’t empathize so much with Cora Saeborne, the main character, even if she is an unforgettable heroine, witty, independent and fiercely intelligent.

4. Bristol! Sentimentally speaking the first weeks of September have been quite hard, so I thought the best solution was to take a break from the routine and go away for some days. My cousin was leaving for Bristol for her Erasmus and I decided to go with her, to spend some days in England together, as we used to do when we were kids and our families went on holidays together! We had an amazing time there, with sunny days, a lovely Victorian house to stay in, and many delicious meals. Oh..and I did some shopping too: candles, second-hand books, a new pair of comfy slippers and some delicious herbal teas! Bristol was a balm for my soul and it brought me luck because, once home, little by little, things started to get better!

5. An afternoon to the Botanic Garden. One Sunday I went with my girls on a daytrip to Padova, a city not so far from where I live, easily reached by train. After a morning of shopping, where I bought the most wonderful pair of embroidered jeans and the cutest dress, we decided to visit the Botanic Garden, which was founded in 1545 and it’s the world’s oldest academic botanical garden that is still in its original location.  We wandered around for hours, chatting, laughing and taking pictures…It was truly amazing to be surrounded by all those plants and gorgeous flowers from all around the world.

6. My new leather backpack. “Patience is a virtue” they say..and they are right! After months and months of wishing a backpack, looking for the right one and not finding it anywhere ( I wanted a Kanken at the beginning but it was pricey and I wasn’t fully convinced) last weekend I found THE ONE in Florence! It’s black leather with golden hinges and a big pocket on the front and, moreover, it’s the perfect size to be useful for work, but not too big to look like a schoolbag! I’m in love with it and I’m glad that I waited so long!

Seriously if anyone is still reading my blog after such a long time I thank you from the bottom of my heart..it means the world to me!!! Have a lovely weekend and see you soon!!!

Love

Martina

A Little Talk...

The last day in the library!

Wonderful Sunday my lovely folks!

I know that I owe you an explanation for having been so negligent so far, so here it is, plain and simple, the reason why I've been so silent in this little place of mine has been the terrible, stressful and feared national exam to be a professional social worker I've been preparing during the last six months.

Working full time, it hasn't been easy to focus on studying, so getting ready for this text has taken all of my free time, especially the weekends and the evenings after work, that are supposed to be used to chill out and regenerate.

But, you know what?!?! IT WAS WORTH IT, BECAUSE I PASSED IT, in spite of all my worries and insecurities!

When I saw the results on the net, I couldn't believe my eyes and I was, and I'm still, so proud, happy and relieved!

Pass this exam was extremely important for my career infact, not even a week after the results, I started a new job, which allows me to put into practice what I've studied and I'm passionate about and, despite the fears, I can only be in the seventh heaven!

To be forgiven for my long absence, here some of the lovely things that made me happy in the last couple of months:

1. Pancakes with strawberries and maple syrup. Also my last post on the blog started with something sweet that involved strawberries, but to be a greedy girl means exactly this: to be excited and delighted in front of a plate of freshly made pancakes, to be tasted on Saturday morning in a comfortable pajamas.
2. "Wild". I've been reading this story of adventure and rebirth, written by Cheryl Strayed, for a while and I've been totally captivated by it. In its pages you can feel the fire of the desert, the icy cold of the Sierra and the hypnotic power of a remarkable woman who, one step after the other, finds herself and her path
3. Sisterhood. I love spending quality time with my little sister Linda; She is my partener in crime and my midnight companion, the one I can sing out loud in the car with, the one that always motivate me to do my best, the one I can eat tons of icecream with, without feeling guilty because she always fights for the last spoon. Despite the difference of age, the relationship we have is special and she always knows how to cheer me up and make me smile! After being an only child for ten long years, she is definitely the best gift my parents could have given to me. 
4. Amsterdam. There's always something exciting about planning a trip in a city that you've never explored before. People say Amsterdam is the Venice of the north, so I couldn't think of a better place to spend a few days off next month! Moreover, it will be the first holiday together for me and Linda, so I really can't wait to start packing!

While I was studying I decided to write a list of things I would have done after the exam and, one of my resolutions, is to post more, at least once every couple of weeks! Having said that, I really hope that you will hear my news more often from now on...fingers crossed!!!

Love

Martina

Winters Were Made For Warm Blankets And Large Books...

It's snowing outside..a white blanket is covering fields, gardens, trees and the roofs of the houses.

I'm watching the snow falling down from the window of the living room, curled up in my woolly blanket, sipping an hot herbal tea with berries and reading the last two chapters of my book.

Unfortunately I've spent the last couple of days with fever and a bad cold, so I take the opportunity from this day indoors to think about next year, my resolutions, my dreams, my fears.

Having a good book in my hands I can't help but thinking about the books which will be on my reading list of 2015.

Some of them are already in my bookcase, waiting patiently for their turn, and I can't wait to get lost among the shelves of a huge bookshop to buy the ones that I miss!!!

1. The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

3. When God Was A Rabbit by Sarah Winman

4. Looking For Alaska by John Green

5. The Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins

6. Dusty Answers by Rosamond Lehmann

7. Into The Wild by Jon Krakauer

8. Twice Born by Margaret Mazzantini

9. Fall of Giants by Ken Follet

10. Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carrol

11. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

12. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

13. The Silkworn by Robert Galbraith

14. Us by david Nicholls

15. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Which books are on the top of your reading list for 2015?

Love

Martina

The A-Z Bookish Survey

Author you've read the most books from
I've read many books from J.K. Rowling and Tracy Chevalier.

Best sequel ever
I'm not fond of sequels, but my favourite one is "World without end" by Ken Follet.

Currently reading
I'm reading "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte. It was amazing to visit her beautiful house in Haworth last month and I think this is the perfect book to get into the winter's spirit!

Drink of choice whilst reading
When I'm reading, my favourite drink choice is an hot chocolate , a cup of tea or  an herbal tea.

E-reader or physical books
I have no doubts: physical books! I love to keep the books that have influenced my life in my bookcase and I like the simple fact of leafing through the pages.

Fictional character you probably would have actually dated in high school
The fictional character of my dreams would have been Noah from "The Notebook" by Nicholas Sparks...handsome, dreamer and madly in love!!!

Glad you gave this book a chance
Being a huge fan of J.K. Rowling I was so curious about her book " The casual vacancy", but the plot didn't arouse my curiosity at the first time. Fortunately last summer I gave this book a chance and I really devoured it!

Hidden gem of a book
"Oranges are not the only fruits". I discovered this book when I was on my first year of English Literature at the university and I love it so much! Jeanette Winterson is a fabulous writer and her style is funny but intense at the same time.

Important moment in your reading life
The first year of university has been an important moment in my reading life because I've had the chance to discover many hidden authors and to approach the classics in a passionate way.

Just finished
I've just finished " The fault in our stars" by John Green, a touching and moving story about the power of true love, that has warmed my heart.

Kinds of books you won't read
I usually don't read crime and thriller books, but I've loved "The cuckoo's calling" by Robert Galbraith (pseudonym of J.K. Rowling).

 Longest book you've ever read
The longest book I've ever read is "World without end" of 1367 pages.

Major book hangover because of
I've had the major book hangover because of "Memories of a geisha" by Arthur Golden, a wonderful story absolutely well written.

Number of bookcases you own
Two

One book you've read multiple times
"Falling angels" by Tracy Chevalier. I've read this book for the first time in italian, when I was eighteen , and for the second time last year, in english, loving it even more!!!

Preferred place to read
Curled up on the sofa, with my favourite blanket and my cat Minù sleeping at my feet.

Quote that you like from a book you've read
" On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur, l'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux." 
- Le Petit Prince - 

Reading regret
Unfortunately I'm not a big fan of classics, but I'm aware of the fact that I'm loosing many gems of literature, so I really want to try to go beyond this limit.

Series that you've started and need to finish
A series that I've started but I need to finish is " The Circle of Avalon" by Marion Zimmer Bradley.

Three of your all-time favourite books
Falling Angels
The Pillars of the Earth
Le Petit Prince

Unapologetic fangirl for
" The tales of Beatrix Potter"..I'm looking forward to read them to my future children.

Very excited for this release more than others
The new book of Ken Follet : " Edge of Eternity"

Worst bookish habits
The bad habit to buy new books before I've finished to read the ones I have at home.

X marks the spot - start at the top of your shelf and pick the 27th book
"The Last Runaway" by Tracy Chevalier

Your latest book purchase
"The Luminaries" by Eleanor Catton

Zzzz-snatcher book - last book that kept you up WAY too late
"The language of flowers" by Vanessa Diffenbaugh...I've read it in two days and I've stayed up late at night to discover the end!

Martina

Are you an authentic booklover?

1- You are reading something right now.

2- Even if you are reading a book, you can think about your next reading at the same time.

3- You often ask someone to lower his voice to read in peace. The chaos bothers you!

4- Sometimes reality seems so boring. Nothing can be remotely interesting as what happens in books.

5- You have cried, at least once, for the death of a character.

6- Many of the books you've read have marked you emotionally.

7- You are so keen on reading that you don't limit to the purchase of books, but you can buy all that is part of this world: cups, slippers, pillows, bookmarks ....even tattoos!

8- You often make 'bookish' jokes that others don't understand.

9- Despite the commitment, you've never been able to become friend with someone who doesn't like books or with someone that despises your absolute favorite author.

10- On the contrary, you jump for joy when you meet someone who has your same passions.

11- If you prefer one person to another, you can't do it with books. One favorite book? Difficult!

12- You always like to experiment with new genres!

13- It's raining and it's cold? What's the problem?! ... It 's the perfect atmosphere to start reading, or to tidy up your home library!

14- It is better for you  to go out and meet people in the library rather than in the bar.

15- You don't draw back when someone pulls out the great enigma: "Is it better the book or the movie?".

16- Despite the age, you have earnestly desired to receive a letter from Hogwarts!

17-You are always puzzled  when someone says that  he/ she doesn't  love reading!

Recently I've read this identikit about the perfect "booklover" and I've found it really funny and truthful!!!

What do you think? Do you identify in some of these points?
                                     
                                                          Love
                                                          xoxo
                                                        Martina

My Life in Books

Last night, while I was sitting lazily on the couch, I saw this cute tag on the youtube page of Jenny (Sunny Sweet Pea) and I wanted to try to answer her questions.
I'm fond of books since I was a child! There are photos
about me at two years old with books on my knees, all intent on turning the colorful pages.
Through books I could travel with the imagination, live fantastic adventures, identify myself in the different characters, and understand the value of friendship, loyalty, courage and kindness.
In the years that passion has never left me and, although the various daily tasks don't allow me to read a lot , I always keep a book on the bedside table to read a couple of pages before sleeping.

1. What is the first book you remember reading?

The story of Babar, the elephant, his wife Celeste and their children was one of my favourite when I was at nursery school and the first one I remember reading when I was six!
Their adventures were funny and, as an only child, I really wanted a big family like theirs!

2. What books make up your childhood?

How wonderful are the illustrations of this book?!! Even now, at 26 years old, I love flipping through it, becoming a little girl again for a while. It is one of those book I want to treasure for my future children, because I want them to know the fantasy world of mice that swarm the countryside and rejoice it with their squeaks.

And this is the second book I cherish with love from my childhood!!! I received it as a gift for Christmas when I was five years old and it suddenly became my favourite!!! Beatrix Potter was a brilliant writer and painter and last year I realized my dream and I went to see her house in the Lake District! It was fabulous to be there, walk through  the country roads that have inspired her stories and see a lot of rabbits in the fields, wondering which of them could have been Peter rabbit... 

3. What's the first series of books you devoured?

I've really grown up with Harry Potter!!!I received the first one when I was eleven and for years, until the last one, I've waited with anxiety the release of the new books!
The magic world, created by the writer, is incredible, the characters are full of personality and their adventures are amazing: I couldn't take my eyes from the book until the last page!!!

4. What books have you, or could you, read over and over again?

I've read "Little Women" at least three times and I could read it again!I also watched the movie adaptation and the cartoon when I was young and I liked both of them! Jo was absolutely my favourite character and some months ago I also read a book entitled "The Little Women letter", of Gabrielle Donnelly, which explores the imagined lives of Jo March's descendants, three sisters who are both thoroughly modern and thoroughly March. 

I read this book in italian last year and I lived every page!!! It is wise, funny, perceptive, compassionate, often unbearably sad, and the loveliest book I've read in ages! Now I want to reread it in english, because I think it's worth it.

" I want all of you, forever, you and me, everyday".. this book is a story about the enduring power of love, and about miracles that only this sentiment can do. I've read it many times and it is one of those books that make me feel full of hope and confidence in the future and in the happiness that only love can make you feel.

5. What books take you back to a certain point in your life and why?

This book by Astrid Lindgren brings me back to my childhood, particularly on summer evenings spent with my grandparents from Florence. Before I went to bed my grandfather used to read me this funny story of Martina, a Swedish girl with blond hair like mine, who lived in a beautiful wooden house by the river, used to have donuts with hot chocolate for breakfast, and often got into troubles. It was "our" book, and it will always have a special place in my library.

Bury me in my boots was published in 1968 when Sally Trench was only 21, and it tells about her four years on the streets of London, between drug addicts, vagrants, homeless and alcoholics. During these years she tried to take care of the marginalized and outcasts she met, bringing them food, aids, physical assistance and  emotional comfort.
This was my mom's book and I read it when I was seventeen, full of ideals and big projects, so it always reminds me this period of my life, which laid the basis for my future choices.

This was the first book I read for an exam when I was at the university in Venice. It reminds me the first months in this amazing city, the sense of freedom that I've felt, the long nights with my friends, chatting and laughing, the days passed in the library and the long strolls to explore all its beauties.

6. What book changed your life, or could at least change someone elses?

 
I think "The Language of flowers" could change someone else's life because it is a story that shows how you can find your way home even after all the bridges behind you have been cut...

7. If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, which book would it be? 

 
If I could only read one book for the rest of my life, I would choose: The Pilars of the Earth.
In my opinion this book is a work of art, and I've loved it from the first to the last page!The storyline is captivating, intricate, and exciting, and the characters are complex and interesting.
The building of the cathedral, with the almost eerie artistry of the unschooled stonemasons, is the center of the drama. Around the site of the construction, Follett weaves a story of betrayal, revenge, and love, which begins with the public hanging of an innocent man and ends with the humiliation of a king.

I would be really happy to know your answers to these questions!!! I'm sure the books we love can reveal a great deal about ourselves...

Love 

xoxo

Martina

The Language Of Flowers

 

Today I've finally found some time to write a new post after many busy days!!!
I received this book, " The Language of flowers",  from a friend as a gift for my birthday and I really devoured it!!!
It is a heartbreaking and redemptive novel about the meaning of flowers, the meaning of family, and the meaning of love.

 

The Victorian language of flowers was used to express emotions: honeysuckle for devotion, azaleas for passion, and red roses for love. But for Victoria Jones, it has been more useful in communicating feelings like grief, mistrust and solitude. After a childhood spent in the foster care system, she is unable to get close to anybody, and her only connection to the world is through flowers and their meanings. Now eighteen, Victoria has nowhere to go, and sleeps in a public park, where she plants a small garden of her own. When her talent is discovered by a local florist, she discovers her gift for helping others through the flowers she chooses for them. But it takes meeting a mysterious vendor at the flower market for her to realise what's been missing in her own life, and as she starts to fall for him, she's forced to confront a painful secret from her past, and decide whether it's worth risking everything for a second chance at happiness.

 

This amazing book is the first novel of Vanessa Diffenbaugh who, to write this story, has drawn inspiration from her own experience as a foster mother.

She is determined to take care of children without a family and, with her husband, she has created a non-profit association called " Camelia Network", an on-line community which harnesses the power of new technology to connect youth "aging out" of the foster care system with a community of resources, opportunities, encouragement and support.

As a woman and a social worker I really admire this writer and her strong determination. When I finished to read this book I felt full of hope in the possibility of people to find love and to learn how to give love to the others, despite their difficult past as neglected children.

 

I want to leave you with my favourite poem of William Wordsworth: " Daffodils", a flower that I love and that, in the victorian language of flowers, means " new beginnings".

 

"I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils. "    

Have you read this book? What do you think about the victorian language of flowers? Do you use it when you give flowers?
 

Love

xoxo

Martina

 

 

 



Birthday Parties and Gifts!!!

This weekend I've partied a lot because Friday it was my 26 birthday!!!:)

The night before I was in Venice and I went out for a delicious fish dinner with two of my closest friends! I ate pasta with scallops and rocket and peppered mussels with a glass of white wine..yummy!!!

 

 We laughed and chatted so much and it was a wonderful evening!!!

The day after it was sunny and warm and Venice was more beautiful than ever!!!I received some beautiful gifts from my friends:

a gorgeous leather wallet that I love!!!

a lovely necklace of sea glass 

some books that I really want to read as soon as possible! 

and this stunning outfit from my parents!!!

I wore it yesterday evening when I went out with my friends to celebrate my birthday and the International Women's Day!

I received the cutest complete underwear I've ever seen and I was sooo happy!

 It was so nice to celebrate with people that I love and I feel really really lucky to have such wonderful friends!
 

Love 

xoxo

Martina