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My Currently Reading List

Today I thought I would share with you what I'm currently reading. I can never just read one book at a time, I usually have multiple on the go. Usually, I have a fiction book to read for pleasure and a non-fiction book for studying. I like to learn things beyond my current knowledge. For example, last year I was reading How Parliament Works by Robert Rogers, which explains the basics of how the English parliament works. 
 
At the moment, I am reading three very different books: a romance, a classic and non-fiction. All three of them are fantastic for different reasons, and I'm excited to share them with you. So, let's get on with it, shall we? Keeping the introduction short and sweet today. 
 
The Romance: Meet Me in London
 
The first book I am currently reading is Meet Me in London by Georgia Toffolo. This is the book I am reading for pleasure. I love a good romance novel, but I used to be ashamed to say that. However, there's nothing like getting lost in a beautiful love story and a calm, loving world. It's nice to escape reality for a bit. 

Although, this book has been a slight disappointment compared to the last three books I read. I wasn't able to put them down and finished them in a matter of two to three days. This, I've been reading for eight days and only just over halfway through. However, I am actually enjoying it, I think perhaps the chapters are too long for me. 

So far I adore the characters, especially Victoria, mainly because that's one of my favourite names. But she has a lot of depth to her, I feel a lot of sympathy for her and only wish her the best. I just wish she could open herself up to love again. 

It's just a shame that it's broken my flow of reading, but that could also be because of my deadlines that have all of a sudden hit me at once, so I can't put the blame solely on the book.

I am rooting for the main characters, Victoria and Oliver, to get together. It is a romance novel, so they probably will but you never know what surprises are around the corner. There's a lot of tension being built up, Victoria won't admit her true feelings. I'm excited to see where their relationship goes.

The Classic: The Well of Loneliness 
 
An absolute classic: The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall. This is a book I'm mostly reading for research... I can't say that it's going well.

There's not much to say about this book because I'm not very far through it, and I've been reading it for months. I can't lie, I struggle reading classics. And I own quite a few of them. 

First published in 1928, The Well of Loneliness focuses on the life of Stephen Gordon, an upper-class woman who has to battle with her homosexuality which is apparent from an early age. 

It was seen as 'overly sexual' even though apparently it only shows a scene of two women kissing and the phrase "and that night, they were not divided". Of course, because it explores lesbianism and bisexuality, it was seen as extremely taboo. There was a Sunday Express campaign against it and a British court judge even called it "obscene". 

Of course, for me, that's more reason to love it, to be excited about it. The history behind it, the confidence to explore and express a woman's sexuality is empowering. Definitely a classic that's worth a read and that I'm going to persevere with.

The Non-Fiction: Merchants of Culture
 
Lastly, we have the Merchants of Culture by John B. Thompson. I recently bought and started reading this. It's an important read for anyone who wants to go into the publishing industry. The book is full of praises, and it's not hard to see why. 

Parts of it I have already read in my undergraduate degree, it now acts as some sort of holy bible for me. I'm using it for my postgraduate dissertation as well as just general research into the publishing industry. 

Merchants of Culture gives detailed insights into the changes in the publishing industry, including the introduction of the digital age. The author dissects the roles of publishers, editors, agents and booksellers and how their dynamics have changed.

He also looks into the history of the publishing business in the United Kingdom and the United States. According to Goodreads, it's the first major study into trade publishing for more than 30 years. This, of course, doesn't make my study of publishing for my dissertation particularly easy, but I'm willing to take the challenge... I think.


Lately, I have fallen back in love with books again. I feel the passion for them burning deep in my heart. It's funny how falling into a depression hole can bring about such love. A romance, a classic and a non-fiction book all at once. The perfect currently reading list.

Until the next time,
 
Char.

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