Reading: the fault in our stars, John Green

There's something underwhelming about a bestseller. Oversold paperback holiday books with the front covers advertising their long anticipated film adaptations. There is often so much hype surrounding them that I get over excited and over expectant. Half the time leads to an early and utter disappointment.

It was a struggle not to read any reviews, eavesdrop on conversations or even pay close attention to the trailer for the film adaptation. I'd planned on reading this book for a while and I didn't want the characters to have actors faces, I wanted them to be romanticised blurs of imagination.

This book completely deserves all the attention it has been given. I picked it up in Tesco with my groceries, thought I'd read a little in the bath before bed and i ended up reading it straight through until three in the morning (work the next day was a struggle).

Do not get me wrong, I am no teenage swooner, I have read many a bad book in my time.

I am not easily forgiving and I went in with no mercy. When it comes to romance, I have no patience for cringey over the top drama.

Even I could not help but swoon, giggle and be charmed by Augustus and Hazel and their semi pretentious witty banter. It felt like such a solid, honest, real friendship.

It's easy to get lazy when writing about love tangled up with impending loss. your audience can fill in the gaps in your flawed writings with their own fears, tales of woe and failed relationships.

Not once was I given any gaps to fill, this book is solid genius brimming with characters you wish were real, or had a long enough life expectancy to warrant some sequels.

I was expecting a lustful teen tale of heartbreak and i was expecting to be disappointed.

What i ended up with was 'against all odds' optimism. A tale of love battling through with peeks at survival and then crushing all audience hopes with eventual emotional wipeout (sobbing my eyes out in the middle of the night).  I took a fault in our stars selfie, but it was way too embarrassing and unflattering to post...

Enjoy yourselves,

Eleanor

Wandering: Bentley Priory

On sunday I wandered off to Bentley Priory for a little exercise and adventure. I've been trying to get out of the house more and watch less Netflix. I thought it would be harder than it is, Apparently i forgot how much I love running around through the trees. Bentley Priory is a great place for me to go, its near my house and theres lots to see. They even have little maps that you can carry around with you (see below middle photo). Did I mention that there are COWS and DEER?!!

       

We used to come here reasonably often when we were kids but all we ever did was run in the woods and feed the deer. I literally had no idea that there was a lake. Considering what a bright day it was my photos aren't as good as they should have been.

If you were a lucky kid who grey up visiting this place you'll most likely recognise the log bench above, practically famous ;) There is also a lovely deer park where they all come up to the fence and you can feed them (deer friendly food obviously).

The priory is very kid friendly and theres endless places to hide and play, I brought my niece and nephew and they loved it!

Enjoy yourselves

Eleanor

ASOS Picks: Sport Casual

Heres a peek of my ASOS wishlist

I've been on a bit of a fitness binge recently, I bought a few pairs of nike trainers to try and encourage me to run around more (mainly from eBay because I'm poor). I have found that I'm scouring the internet looking for suitable clothes to wear with them that aren't too expensive.

But last time I scoured, I ended up with another pair of Nike trainers.

this might be becoming a problem... 

This is my first little outfit, I was too lazy to do any proper photoshopping so i just did screenshots of my saved items on ASOS. The whole colour theme is based around the trainers. Which i am in love with and cannot wait for them to go into the sale (fingers crossed).

I thought the shorts were cute, not sure how practical they would be but one can dream eh?

teamed with a plain cami and a classic American Apparel duffle bag you would be perfect for a day as the least practical woman at the gym :)

This second one is a lot more practical, and once again the entire colour scheme is based around the shoes, which I'm trying to hold off buying till payday. I've already bought the bargain shorts (£10 reduced from £30).

I don't know if they are any good as they wont arrive till tomorrow, but I'll add an update later.

this I've teamed with a grey jersey shirt and the best backpack I've seen in a while.

Enjoy yourselves,

Eleanor