Book Review: The Night Circus

I'm going to be honest: I probably would never have read The Night Circus if people at university hadn't talked about it so much. I'd looked at it a few times in Waterstones, but the blurb on the back didn't convince me this was the kind of book I'd want to read. In fact, I was convinced it would be some high-brow tale about circus life. However, several of my classmates said they had really enjoyed it and ever a sucker for a beautiful book cover, I decided to give it a go.

Best. Decision. Ever.

The Night Circus is mesmerising. I honestly didn't know what to expect, but I certainly wasn't prepared to be swept up in the book quite as much as I was. Erin Morgenstern is a wonderful writer. Her words take you to the world she has created. The way she describes the sights and sounds of the circus make you feel as if you are actually there. It was evocative and awe-inspiring. This is not just any old circus; this is a magical circus.

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover

But let's be honest, you do it anyway.

This is my idea of a beautiful cover design

Book covers fascinate me. I love how simple some can be, how colourful others may be and how beautiful they can look when placed side by side. It's not the first time that I have bought a book purely because I liked the cover (sometimes I don't even read the blurb on the back!).

It was only natural, then, that when it came to choosing a dissertation topic that I would plump for something to do with book covers. You have to enjoy researching and writing something that is between 15,000 and 20,000 words in length, and I thought my fetish for all things cover design would fit the bill perfectly.

Napier Degree Show 2013

Last night saw the launch of Napier Degree Show 2013. As members of the School of the Arts and CreativeBuzz magazine and our book project were on display, as well as a sneak-peek of the forthcoming Publishers Inc. For Buzz we had a giant poster of the cover on display, as well as the contents page and the Independence spread which gained national media attention a few weeks ago (http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/scotland/article3742505.ece).There are also copies of the magazine to pick up and take away.

I'm a (not-so) Secret Fangirl

Are you ever too old to be a fangirl?

I ask because of something I read today while researching for my dissertation. A group of people were asked for their responses to Harry Potter and this particular person said they would never read the books because there is too much hype around them. That, however, was not what irked me most, it was a comment they made about a twenty-something girl they saw wearing a Harry Potter shirt. "What is wrong with these people?" they exclaimed.

My favourite books in the entire universe plus matching bookmarks

No, HP hater, what is wrong with you? Okay, so I might be a tad (fine, a lot) biased, being a certified fangirl myself, but what is wrong in an adult being a fan of something? Sure, Harry Potter began life as a book for children, but adults soon discovered they loved it every bit as much. There are many other books and even films that have a cross-generational appeal. How many adults enjoy Disney films?

I am in my twenties and I still read young adult books. In fact, I read them more than 'adult' books. They might not be aimed at me, but I find more to identify with in them than I do in other books. The self-doubt, worries about the future and relationships that the characters go through are all things I can relate to. My opinion is, if you enjoy something you should read/watch it, regardless of your age.

Which brings me back to merchandise. Admittedly, I am a marketer's dream. I love buying merchandise. It's a way to show you're passionate about something, and I firmly believe a life without passion is not a life at all. So, yes, I will buy t-shirts, and posters and all manner of other things. I don't care if I'm 'too old'. It makes me happy. To suggest there is something wrong with people who are openly showing their affection for a book/film/band is narrow minded. How is it any different from football fans spending a fortune on strips and season tickets and crying their eyes out when their team loses the match?

So, I will continue to be a fangirl, despite my advanced years. And I say to you all, find something you're passionate about and don't be ashamed of it because the joy of life is in pursuing the things we love.

Fun Run?

One of my goals for this year was to exercise more. To be honest, I've not been doing much toward meeting this goal. Just the mere thought of exercise usually leaves me tired and reaching for the chocolate. I've been making all the work I had to do for uni an excuse, but with classes officially over, I decided to buck myself up and get my bum up off the couch.

Raring to go

Many of my friends run and you know what they say: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. I figured it would be a good way of getting in shape, plus it's free, so today I boldly ventured out on my first run jog.
In my head I had ambitiously planned out my route - up my road, along the dog-walking path, then round two blocks before coming back. It would be easy, I thought.

I was wrong.

I live on a hill (okay, a slope, but you try running up it of a morning) so by the time I got to the top  of the road I was already out of breath. Determined not to give in, I powered on, managing to do half the original circuit I'd planned. Technically I ran about two blocks, which was an achievement in my eyes. By the time I got home my legs were seriously hurting and I was on the verge of having an asthma attack, but I did feel vindicated.

I'm not quite sure a 10 minute run jog burns off any calories, but considering I haven't ran anywhere (save for buses) since school, I was quite proud of myself. I plan to make Tuesday my weekly run day, and hopefully increase the distance each time. I doubt I'll ever make a marathon runner, but hopefully I can get in shape. Now, where did I put that chocolate bar?

A Walk Down Memory Lane

Time to be all sentimental...

Today was the last day of trimester two. I can't believe how quickly it's come round. It feels like just yesterday I was starting this course back in September with no idea what to expect. Now, techincally, there are no more classes. Trimester three is all about the dissertation.

It's been a rollercoaster ride. I never imagined back at the beginning how stressful the experience was going to be. Undergrad had a few hairy moments, especially around exam time, but this course has taken me to a whole other level. At times it felt like each week a new problem emerged to add to all the others we were trying to juggle. Producing the book and two magazines has been more of an exercise of what not to do than what to do. It's shown me that working in a team is vital. It's also extremely difficult.

Has it been a worthwhile experience? Yes, it has. I have gained knowledge of producing books and magazines and I feel more confident when applying for publishing jobs. I know I can handle high pressure situations now. While I didn't enjoy the set backs and the stress, it has made me stronger.

But the best thing to come out of the course is the wonderful people I have met. I could never have foreseen
that I would make so many close friends. I've never been part of such a wide circle of friends before, but we really do all get on so well. We've bonded and had many good times over the last few months. These are the people that have kept me going in week on week, even when all I wanted to do was throw a tantrum and tell the university I was quitting.




So this post is dedicated to them. Thanks for making the past nine months so memorable. Here's to writing our dissertations! And hopefully there are many more memories still to make.

Buzz on the Streets

Wednesday (1st May) saw the launch of Buzz magazine 2013. After 12 long weeks of blood, sweat and tears (literally) the publishing and journalist students of Napier were able to say the job was done. It was a lovely, sunny night and we all had a good time, celebrating all our hard work.

To be honest, I don't think any of us ever thought we would reach this point. We faced so many problems in producing this magazine; at times it felt as if we were cursed! Buzz was a joint project between the journalist and publishing students and we didn't always see eye-to-eye. Not to mention there were a lot of last minute changes to be made that resulted in a considerable amount of stress and frayed tempers on all sides.

But I think it was all worth it in the end. I'm really happy with how the magazine looks overall. The cover is bright and colourful and as good as any professional magazine cover. The contents page is cool and the cover story looks amazing. I designed two spreads for the magazine - the Brew Lab one and the picnic one. Considering that before October I had never touched InDesign, they're not too shabby. The picnic hamper spread was a particularly hard one to bring to life, but it's good to be tested creatively.

Enjoying the launch

The whole project has taught me a lot - from design skills, to working with others, and, most importantly, how to stay calm under extreme pressure. It was at times frustrating and at times fun, and it's definitely an experience I'm glad to have had. I've never done anything like this before and I didn't expect to enjoy it so much. I would seriously consider working in magazine design in the future.

Those of you who live in Edinburgh, look out for Buzz in cafes, bars, hotels and select shops all over the city. And don't forget to check out www.buzzmag.org/ for more stories and reviews of the latest films and gigs.