BOOK CLUB - What I've Been Reading Lately

Following the example of a group of lovely ladies who happen to be successful novelists ;) (wordwenches.typepad.com),  I've decided to include a monthly post showing what I've been reading lately. Feel free to comment!

One of these ladies is Susanna Kearsley - you may remember I picked a fragment from one of her novels, Mariana, for reading comprehension last month. Well, I've read almost all her books (three to go) and I can say I love her style and that many of you could read them, too.

(Source: www.ariellawhon.com)

Another author I'd like to recommend is Lauren Willig. Lauren has a funny series about a group of self-appointed secret agents who call themselves 'the Pink Carnation', but also some 'independent' novels I absolutely love:

(Source: likesuccess.com)

(Source: www.goodreads.com)

For those who love crime novels, I highly recommend Victoria Thompson's Gaslight series: 

(Source: lesliedavisguccione.blogspot.com)

Other than these books I've read 'for fun', I'm also doing some research for a project. These are some of the books I'm using:

Ellen Terry - The Story of My Life (Recollections and Reflections)

(Source: blog.twmuseums.org.uk)

Ellen Terry - The Russian Ballet

(Source: www.goodreads.com)

T.Edgar Pemberton - Ellen Terry and Her Sisters

(Source: www.etsy.com)

and

Laura Beatty - Lillie Langtry (Manners, Masks and Morals)

(Source: www.goodreads.com)

Now: what have YOU been reading this summer? Who are your favourite books and authors (and why)? 

WRITING - Find Inspiration

From the kings and queens of England, I'm spanning up to our own. No, this is not a mistake, it's all about what inspires us to write. When you don't have to write an assignment for school, you're free to pick a topic you're comfortable with - that is... something close to you, something you love or at least something you know well enough. If you like something, but you don't know much about it, do some research first. Be careful: the internet is not a reliable source!

Let's see: what could I pick? As I leave home, what do I see?

(Courtesy of: Agerpres)

That's right, it's our dear Stephen the Great! :p Well, only the statue, unfortunately, but enough to give me an idea. What do we know about him? What we've learnt in school, mainly, and what is available at the District Museum. You may not know, though, that we have brilliant experts working for our local museum and on the 'resurrection' of the Royal Court of Vaslui. If you ask them, they'll tell you wonderful things about Stephen's reign and they can show you 3D battles and castles, fortresses, as thrilling as your favourite computer games!

(Source: www.istorie-pe-scurt.ro)

Have you visited the Royal Court? It's close to St John the Baptist Church. It's been rebuilt. It is not complete, in fact, so it may appear small, but it's a place worth treasuring. And the park surrounding it is just lovely. One can find inspiration there. (I do. ;)  )

(Courtesy of: Ms. Ana-Maria Chitic)

(Source: unahistoriacuriosa.wordpress.com)

(Source: istoriiregasite.wordpress.com)

(Source: reteaualiterara.ning.com)

    (Source: ro.wikipedia.org)

                            (Source: acasa-la-nevasta.blogspot.com)

(Source: sanuuitam.blogspot.com)

(Source: lataifas.ro)

(Source: descopera.org)

(Courtesy of: Ms. Ana-Maria Chitic)

This is just an example of how we can find inspiration around us. You are free to find lots of other sources... Just WRITE! :)