#lettie hempstock

[thinkanamelater]

I did not know where we were, but I could not believe we were still on the Hempstocks' land, no more than I believed we were in the world I had grown up in

I'm re-reading The Ocean at the End of the Lane and oh boy it hurts so good, so here's something from one of my favorite scenes, under the orange sky

[thelastofthebookworms]

Other polls

[xsilversugar]

All I want in life is to see Ocean at the End of The Lane adapted by Studio Ghibli to make my relationship with animation, art, and storytelling come full circle. Obviously unlikely but it honestly surprises me that Mr. Gaiman's work hasn't hit anime yet? I'm not a style mimicker but I wanted to try my hand at more digital background painting as well as creature design and this was really fun. I've wanted to see manta-wolves for ages and while I know I went at it very literally, I hope it still fits. This book means so much to me. I hope I did it some small justice.

[book--brackets]

The Mistborn Saga by Brandon Sanderson (2006-2022)

For a thousand years the ash fell and no flowers bloomed. For a thousand years the Skaa slaved in misery and lived in fear. For a thousand years the Lord Ruler, the "Sliver of Infinity," reigned with absolute power and ultimate terror, divinely invincible. Then, when hope was so long lost that not even its memory remained, a terribly scarred, heart-broken half-Skaa rediscovered it in the depths of the Lord Ruler's most hellish prison. Kelsier "snapped" and found in himself the powers of a Mistborn. A brilliant thief and natural leader, he turned his talents to the ultimate caper, with the Lord Ruler himself as the mark. Kelsier recruited the underworld's elite, the smartest and most trustworthy allomancers, each of whom shares one of his many powers, and all of whom relish a high-stakes challenge. Only then does he reveal his ultimate dream, not just the greatest heist in history, but the downfall of the divine despot. But even with the best criminal crew ever assembled, Kel's plan looks more like the ultimate long shot, until luck brings a ragged girl named Vin into his life. Like him, she's a half-Skaa orphan, but she's lived a much harsher life. Vin has learned to expect betrayal from everyone she meets, and gotten it. She will have to learn to trust, if Kel is to help her master powers of which she never dreamed.

This saga dares to ask a simple question: What if the hero of prophecy fails?

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (2013)

A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse where she once lived, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire (1995-2011)

When Dorothy triumphed over the Wicked Witch of the West in L. Frank Baum’s classic tale, we heard only her side of the story. But what about her arch-nemesis, the mysterious Witch? Where did she come from? How did she become so wicked?

Gregory Maguire has created a fantasy world so rich and vivid that we will never look at Oz the same way again.

Wicked is about a land where animals talk and strive to be treated like first-class citizens, Munchkinlanders seek the comfort of middle-class stability, and the Tin Man becomes a victim of domestic violence. And then there is the little green-skinned girl named Elphaba, who will grow up to become the infamous Wicked Witch of the West—a smart, prickly, and misunderstood creature who challenges all our preconceived notions about the nature of good and evil.

The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice (1976-2018)

This is the story of Louis, as told in his own words, of his journey through mortal and immortal life. Louis recounts how he became a vampire at the hands of the radiant and sinister Lestat and how he became indoctrinated, unwillingly, into the vampire way of life. His story ebbs and flows through the streets of New Orleans, defining crucial moments such as his discovery of the exquisite lost young child Claudia, wanting not to hurt but to comfort her with the last breaths of humanity he has inside. Yet, he makes Claudia a vampire, trapping her womanly passion, will, and intelligence inside the body of a small child. Louis and Claudia form a seemingly unbreakable alliance and even "settle down" for a while in the opulent French Quarter. Louis remembers Claudia's struggle to understand herself and the hatred they both have for Lestat that sends them halfway across the world to seek others of their kind. Louis and Claudia are desperate to find somewhere they belong, to find others who understand, and someone who knows what and why they are.

Louis and Claudia travel Europe, eventually coming to Paris and the ragingly successful Theatre des Vampires--a theatre of vampires pretending to be mortals pretending to be vampires. Here they meet the magnetic and ethereal Armand, who brings them into a whole society of vampires. But Louis and Claudia find that finding others like themselves provides no easy answers and in fact presents dangers they scarcely imagined.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865-1876)

After a tumble down the rabbit hole, Alice finds herself far away from home in the absurd world of Wonderland. As mind-bending as it is delightful, Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel is pure magic for young and old alike.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (2001-2012)

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories—they're dangerous! Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl is a riveting, magical adventure.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman (2008)

Bod is an unusual boy who inhabits an unusual place--he's the only living resident of a graveyard. Raised from infancy by the ghosts, werewolves, and other cemetery denizens, Bod has learned the antiquated customs of his guardians' time as well as their ghostly teachings--such as the ability to Fade so mere mortals cannot see him.

Can a boy raised by ghosts face the wonders and terrors of the worlds of both the living and the dead?

The Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan (1990-2013)

The Wheel of Time turns and Ages come and go, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth returns again. In the Third Age, an Age of Prophecy, the World and Time themselves hang in the balance. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.

When The Two Rivers is attacked by Trollocs—a savage tribe of half-men, half-beasts— five villagers flee that night into a world they barely imagined, with new dangers waiting in the shadows and in the light.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (1996)

Under the streets of London there's a place most people could never even dream of. A city of monsters and saints, murderers and angels, knights in armour and pale girls in black velvet. This is the city of the people who have fallen between the cracks.

Richard Mayhew, a young businessman, is going to find out more than enough about this other London. A single act of kindness catapults him out of his workday existence and into a world that is at once eerily familiar and utterly bizarre. And a strange destiny awaits him down here, beneath his native city: Neverwhere.

The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson (2010-present)

Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter. 

It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor that transform ordinary men into near-invincible warriors. Men trade kingdoms for Shardblades. Wars were fought for them, and won by them. 

One such war rages on a ruined landscape called the Shattered Plains. There, Kaladin, who traded his medical apprenticeship for a spear to protect his little brother, has been reduced to slavery. In a war that makes no sense, where ten armies fight separately against a single foe, he struggles to save his men and to fathom the leaders who consider them expendable. 

Brightlord Dalinar Kholin commands one of those other armies. Like his brother, the late king, he is fascinated by an ancient text called The Way of Kings. Troubled by over-powering visions of ancient times and the Knights Radiant, he has begun to doubt his own sanity. 

Across the ocean, an untried young woman named Shallan seeks to train under an eminent scholar and notorious heretic, Dalinar's niece, Jasnah. Though she genuinely loves learning, Shallan's motives are less than pure. As she plans a daring theft, her research for Jasnah hints at secrets of the Knights Radiant and the true cause of the war.

[lets-go-steal-a-hitter]

kinda obsessed with the view from my desk

art includes several commissions from my friend max (most notably the lady on the grey in the center there, but also bod and of course lettie hempstock from @neil-gaiman 's incredible stories; plus, two pieces inspired by poe's annabel lee; and one very nifty raven), some prints from other artists i've found online AND to top it all off one brilliantly fitting print from @theshitpostcalligrapher

the desk is an antique, too. oh and of course i made all the paper butterflies

[just0nemorepage]

The Ocean at the End of the Lane || Neil Gaiman || 195 pages Top 3 Genres: Fantasy / Magical Realism / Horror

Synopsis: A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

Started: May 9th, 2024.

[witchlingcirce]

Okay so I’m real bored and I just want to give out some book recommendations by MWAH !!!!!!!

Howls moving castle

Synopsis: Sophie has the great misfortune of being the eldest of three daughters, destined to fail miserably should she ever leave home to seek her fate. But when she unwittingly attracts the ire of the Witch of the Waste, Sophie finds herself under a horrid spell that transforms her into an old lady. Her only chance at breaking it lies in the ever-moving castle in the hills: the Wizard Howl's castle. To untangle the enchantment, Sophie must handle the heartless Howl, strike a bargain with a fire demon, and meet the Witch of the Waste head-on. Along the way, she discovers that there's far more to Howl-and herself-than first meets the eye.

Okay so now obviously everyone knows Howl’s moving castle from the movie (10/10 movie please watch). But honestly the book is so different!! I really feel like the book shines in a different way that the movies does. If you’ve seen the movie than the book is like if the movie versions of these characters do crack. This book was so light and easy, and if your able to get your hands on the audiobook I legit can’t recommend it enough. Howl is such a fun a character, and Sophie is just so silly. This book just remains so consistent and honestly I feel like the writing style almost makes these characters feel alive!!

The ocean at the end of the lane

Synopsis: A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

This book genuinely is not what I was expecting it to be but nonetheless was so exceptional. If you’re not familiar with Gaimens work, just know that’s a line. He wrote the novels for Good Omens and Coraline, which are both very famous movie/TV shows! The best way I can describe Gaimens work is literally that it’s so British. This book for me was consistently unexpected, in my mind I was like “this is going to happen!” And it didn’t! Not in like a plot-twisty way, in a “I was nottt expecting that”. This book takes an interesting approach on the concept of lost childhood memories. I think it’s a concept you don’t usually see but I feel like the way Gaimen handled it just made it so interesting. I truly felt for the narrator throughout this novel, this poor boy!

This is Amiko, do you copy?

Synopsis: Other people don't seem to understand Amiko. Whether eating curry rice with her hands at school or peeking through the sliding doors at her mother's calligraphy class, her curious, exuberant nature mostly meets with confusion. When her mother falls into a depression and her brother begins spending all his time with a motorcycle gang, Amiko is left increasingly alone to navigate a world where she doesn't quite fit.

AH!! This book was honestly so interesting to read and I highly recommend to anyone who is fond of Fujimoto's 'Goodbye Eri' and 'Look back'. The writing in this book was honestly top TIER. I think writing this book's perspective from a neurodivergent girl's POV in a society that doesn't really accept that is so interesting. Throw it into the context of her dysfunctional family who after a major event kind of fall part and no one is there to help her in some many different aspects of life is really interesting. I think this and the ocean at the end of the lane are the shortest here on this list but I really do recommend. Out of all the books I’ve recommended I will say this is the most depressing, but something about this book is soooo I don’t know how to put it. It’s definitely one of those books that will leave you thinking awhile after you’ve read it. I can stress enough how much of this book is worth to read!! It’s so tragic.

The space between here and now

Synopsis: Perfect for fans of They Both Die at the End and You've Reached Sam, this gripping, atmospheric YA novel follows a teen with a mysterious condition that transports her to the past when she smells certain scents linked to specific memories. Seventeen-year-old Aimee Roh has Sensory Time Warp Syndrome, a rare condition that causes her to time travel to a moment in her life when she smells something linked to that memory. Her dad is convinced she'll simply grow out of it if she tries hard enough, but Aimee's fear of vanishing at random has kept her from living a normal life. When Aimee disappears for nine hours into a memory of her estranged mom--a moment Aimee has never remembered before--she becomes distraught. Not only was this her longest disappearance yet, but the memory doesn't match up with the story of how her mom left--at least, not the version she's always heard from her dad. Desperate for answers, Aimee travels to Korea, where she unravels the mystery of her memories, the truth about her mother, and the reason she keeps returning to certain moments in her life. Along the way, she realizes she'll need to reconcile her past in order to save her present.

The concept of this book is really interesting and is executed in a really fun and new way. I feel like in a lot of 'time travel' books it gets too complicated or it just ends up lacking any sense and at some point stops making sense. This book didn't have that problem; having her 'time travel' be her going back to her memories was such a cool concept, and she executed it so well. I really enjoyed her descriptions of what it feels like to travel, and I'm glad she went into depth with it instead of leaving it up to the imagination. This book also did really well in showing that our main character was a teenager. Something about the way she wrote really made us feel like we were in a teenage girl's head-not in a choppy or bad way where it made you roll your eyes, but in a way that made you able to relate to the character. I also really liked how likable our main character was; it added to the reading experience! Also, I really liked how the main mystery of the plot was resolved; it was really interesting, and honestly, it wasn't expected! And to add onto what I said before, the time travel powers almost feel like they could be the powers of a life is strange protagonist if that makes any sense to anyone.

Immortal longings

Synopsis: Every year, thousands in the kingdom of Talin will flock to its capital twin cities, San-Er, where the palace hosts a set of games. For those confident enough in their ability to jump between bodies, competitors across San-Er fight to the death to win unimaginable riches. Princess Calla Tuoleimi lurks in hiding. Five years ago, a massacre killed her parents and left the palace of Er empty...and she was the one who did it. Before King Kasa's forces in San can catch her, she plans to finish the job and bring down the monarchy. Her reclusive uncle always greets the victor of the games, so if she wins, she gets her opportunity at last to kill him. Enter Anton Makusa, an exiled aristocrat. His childhood love has lain in a coma since they were both ousted from the palace, and he's deep in debt trying to keep her alive. Thankfully, he's one of the best jumpers in the kingdom, flitting from body to body at will. His last chance at saving her is entering the games and winning. Calla finds both an unexpected alliance with Anton and help from King Kasa's adopted son, August, who wants to mend Talin's ills. But the three of them have very different goals, even as Calla and Anton's partnership spirals into something all-consuming. Before the games close, Calla must decide what she's playing for-her lover or her kingdom.

I remember I read this for the book club I was in last year and I am forever grateful. I was a little hesitant going into this book because I genuinely did not really like either these violent delight books. However this book is actually so good. If you’re in a reading slump I highly recommend this novel to get you out. This plot follows genuinely a really interesting concept, and I liked the way body hopping was kind of represented. I also do feel like it’s an interesting play on this kind of hunger games concept. However I will warn you the body hopping powers are confusing but just go along with it. The actual world of this is inspired by an old city in China (which name I have forgotten) but if you compare to what that city looked like and to what’s described in the book Chloe gets it down to a T. The plot twists of these books are genuinely just so much fun. There’s so many little hints scattered around it makes you want you get a bulletin board and put the little lines up. Not to mention the ENDINGG, I was gagged. The sequel is this novel is also coming out later this year as well!

Uhm anyways guys I love reading so much my Spotify told me to stop listening to audiobooks and get a life 😭😭😭 who wants to be my goodreads friend

[haveyoureadthishorrorbookpoll]

Have you read...

A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past comes flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.

submit a horror book!

[inkpot-winters]

marauders as muggle books on my bookshelf, part 1

james potter: the toymakers by robert dinsdale in 1917, young cathy wray escapes to london to save her unborn child, finding a home within a peculiar toy emporium; patchwork dogs and bears that seem alive, toy boxes bigger on the inside than out, tin soldiers that can fight battles on their own. an underrated debut, one that i firmly believe james would enjoy. this story weaves in and out of the fantastical magical elements of the toy store with the grounded realism of corresponding historical events like the second world war. the characters almost parallel the marauders this way; young people surrounded by magic, fighting a war they shouldn't have to.

remus lupin: the goldfinch by donna tartt theo decker loses his mother in a terrorist attack when he is thirteen years old. in the haunting aftermath, he clings to every trace of her he has, including a certain painting salvaged from the incident. i think remus would connect instantly with theo, seeing himself within the love theo held for his mother. he'd be gripped by the story of this young man navigating love and loss and living regardless. perhaps the boris elements reminds me of wolfstar the goldfinch is a master study in grief. remus would be found only in the corner of the common room for days until he completes the novel.

sirius black: the picture of do- the ocean at the end of the lane by neil gaiman a man returns home to attend a funeral, and as he sits by the pond behind the old farmhouse, lost memories resurface of a girl named lettie hempstock, who had claimed this pond to be an ocean. it was highly tempting to assign sirius a fast-paced action filled novel, but i believe he'd enjoy neil gaiman the most out of any marauder. the ocean at the end of the lane is a whimsical yet severely introspective story, with horror elements that would have him on the edge of his seat. he'd read this in one sitting.

peter pettigrew: crime and punishment by fyodor dostoevsky raskolnikov, an impoverished former student, commits an impersonal murder. he finds himself entangled in a game of cat and mouse with a suspicious police investigator, as well as his growing conscience. i admit, this is extremely on the nose. however, i can vividly picture peter, on the verge of his betrayal, devouring this book in the hopes that it will lead in the direction of the best decision for him. or reassure him of whether he'll ever have a chance of redemption if he goes ahead with the dark lord's orders.

regulus black: the starless sea by erin morgenstern zachary ezra rawlins discovers a mysterious book, one with tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes. however, his life spirals when he reads something strange; a story from his own childhood. honorary mentions to the secret history (regulus black is made for dark academia), and hamlet (he's a sad poetry boy, he'd adore hamlet's monologues). the starless sea wins out due to its theme; a deep love of stories and storytelling. i believe regulus does little but read in grimmauld place, as his only form of escapism. he'd be fascinated by each story-within-the-story, the peculiar rituals, and lose himself for hours to the wonder of it all.

[thelastofthebookworms]

Please reblog if you want others to vote. I'll make polls with other female characters (co)-written by Neil Gaiman, don't hesitate to mention your favorites if you don't find them here.

[semper-legens]

162. The Ocean at the End of the Lane, by Neil Gaiman

Owned: Yes Page count: 235 My summary: A man returns to his childhood home for reasons he can’t understand, and ends up remembering more than he thought was possible. A girl who might be older than the world. A grandmother who was there when the moon was made. A dead man in his father’s car. A woman tearing his family apart at the seams. And a dark force, lurking at the edge of reality, ready to destroy all. My rating: 3.5/5 My commentary:

Readers of this blog might be aware of my longstanding Thing with Neil Gaiman. I generally tend not to get on with his adult prose fiction - I like The Sandman, Coraline, The Graveyard Book, one comic series and two works for children, but I wasn’t fussed about his adult prose that I have read. This is a book for kids. Therefore, by my own logic, I should at least like it. And I did, but not without reservations. It’s not going to occupy the same place in my heart that The Graveyard Book does, but I still had a good time reading it.

The narrator of this book is an unnamed man who was once an unnamed boy - the framing device is that he’s returned to this place where he grew up for reasons he doesn’t quite understand, and is remembering the events of the narrative. The point of view is definitely that of a child, however. The boy himself is very much an everyman, and subtextually a standin for Neil Gaiman’s younger self. This book is actually (loosely) based on Gaiman’s childhood experiences. With that in mind...I mean, the fact that the Hempstocks, these cool, interesting women, all seem to love and include the boy in everything despite him just being Some Kid felt a bit self-inserty, but not really in a bad way or anything. Every protagonist is the most important person in their universe, really. That said, I didn’t feel that the boy had much of an arc in the book? Still, he was an engaging narrator, and I liked how Gaiman included some of the more awkward parts of being a kid in his narrative.

So the boy comes across a kid called Lettie Hempstock, and is introduced to her family, her mother Ginny and her grandmother Old Mrs Hempstock. They’re some kind of ambiguous magical people - Lettie is far older than her years, as are her mother and grandmother. They banish and bind malicious magical creatures like it’s no big deal. I liked them a lot, but something kept me from being completely invested in them. I think because they didn’t have a lot of character outside of being Mysterious Magic Ladies? Or outside of their place in the maiden/mother/crone dynamic. Which is one, incidentally, that Gaiman seems to like in his work.

The magic is cool, though, obviously inspired by English folklore and folk stories, with a bit of extra stuff in for flavour. I like how weird the descriptions of the being calling herself Ursula are, and that the ‘fleas’ and ‘hunger birds’ are never really explained, they just...are. I like magic stuff that doesn’t have an explanation! Plus, I can’t fault the imagery. I love the idea of an ocean in a duckpond that is also all of reality at once. That’s such a neat concept.

Next up, a man fishes a mermaid from the ocean, and the curse that follows her.

[girlzoot]

I do not miss my childhood, but I miss the way I took pleasure in small things, even as greater things crumbled. I could not control the world I was in, could not walk away from things or people or moments that hurt, but I found joy in the things that made me happy. The custard was sweet and creamy in my mouth, the dark swollen currants in the spotted dick were tangy in the cake-thick chewy blandness of the pudding, and perhaps I was going to die that night and perhaps I would never go home again, but it was a good dinner, and I had faith in Lettie Hempstock. --Neil Gaiman/The Ocean At The End Of The Lane

[lets-go-steal-a-hitter]

you guys really liked my desk wall last time but it's had a lot of changes since then

here's the old shot if you didn't see it before:

and here's the new one

i just really enjoy the vibe.

i cut out the butterflies on my cricut machine.

art credits:

@theshitpostcalligrapher did the Keep Writing print up top. it continues to inspire me to write alarming amounts of poetry.

travesuras did the lovely corpse bride butterfly prints.

Iren Horrors (formerly Evara Hargreaves, of Pride Bats fame) did the Lenore print off to the left by the corpse bride pints.

my friend max (fLghtforpeace on instagram) did all the watercolors - the lady on the grey from the graveyard book by @neil-gaiman, the raven and the two annabel lee pieces with the purple backgrounds - and the two pantone cards - nobody owens from the graveyard book and lettie hempstock from the ocean at the end of the lane.

oddities in jars from Bone and Bloom on ig, bugs are from a local oddity shop. coffin shelf and the big hand on my desk are from Michael's halloween collection last year. if there's anything else you guys wanna know just ask

[survey--s]

631.

What was the name of the main character in the last book you read? "Boy" and Lettie Hempstock.

Do you own a pair of Disney pajamas? No, not anymore.

What are three of your favorite toppings for salads? The only salad I eat is Caprese - I can't stand lettuce or anything leafy like that - it makes me gag lol.

What was the last place you went out to eat? It was the local pub with my mum.

Do you have a lot of clutter in your home? I don't, but Michael has tons of clutter everywhere and it drives me insane. I honestly don't know how he copes.

What was the last pill you took? 💊 Ibuprofen, I think.

Are you happy with your current doctor? 👩‍⚕️ I don’t have a regular doctor.

Is there a bottle of Benadryl in your medicine cabinet? Nope. Do you take vitamins? When I remember.

Does your hair need to be washed right now? No, I had a bath a couple of hours ago.

What was the last thing you ate? I had a pizza and a cornetto last night. I haven't had anything to eat today.

Do you prefer pizza or hot dogs? 🌭 🍕 Pizza.

What is your favorite pizza topping? 🍕 Either a classic margerita with proper mozzarella, or a BBQ meat feast style pizza (as long as it's not spicy).

Is your dad a jerk? No, but he can be very blunt and straightforward which means he can be difficult to get along with. He's autistic like me and I think that means we clash sometimes as we're both very stubborn and neither of us like to admit when we're wrong.

What color are your fingernails painted? They’re not.

Is anyone in your family currently in the military? No.

What was the last thing you bought at the dollar store? I have no idea, I haven't been to one for about two years. Are prices of things going up where you live? Yeah, most definitely, especially food and utilities. Luckily we can afford things okay but we are having to cut back on stuff like meals out and takeaways as the prices are just ridiculous.

What color was the last carpet you sat on? Grey.

What is your favorite dog breed? Beagles, cocker spaniels.

When was the last time you wore make-up? 💄 Right now, but only a little bit.

What was the last thing you ordered at the last restaurant you went to? Fish and chips.

What was the last thing you wore that was pink? I'm currently wearing a pink t-shirt.

Name three people you know, if any, that currently live in another country. Brandi, Sarah, Hannah.

Name three people you know who are from another country (and what countries?) My parents are from Australia and the Seychelles and I'm currently cat-sitting for a couple who are from Kansas in the US.

What are your grandmas’ names? I'm not putting that on here.

If applicable, who lives across the hall from you? ...

Have you ever heard of “fairy hair”? (It’s tinsel in the hair that gets put in permanently…it’s like tinsel highlights.) No.

Have you found any gray hairs on your head? No. Neither of my parents went grey until their forties - in fact, my dad is nearly seventy and still has mostly black hair.

If applicable, how old were you when you found your first gray hair? ...

Do you think you will dye your hair when it’s gone gray? I don't know, my opinion on this changes every week lol.

Do you have a sister-in-law? Yeah, four of them.

Do you have a brother-in-law? Yeah, two of those.

When was the last time you went swimming? 👙 ☀️ About five years ago.

Do you own a bikini? No.

What color is your bike, if you own one? Pink and white, but I haven't ridden it for years and I'm actually planning to sell it sometime soon.

If you were a rockstar, what color guitar would you have? 🎸 Purple glitter.

What are three places you’ve been on vacation that you’ve enjoyed? Lake Louise in Canada, Sardinia in Italy and Zermatt in Switzerland.

Does your home have carpeted floors? Yeah, it's carpeted everywhere except the kitchen and bathroom.

What color was the last scarf you wore? I don’t wear scarves.

What was the last spicy thing you ate? I don't eat spicy food either.

Do you like sushi? 🍣 Meh, it's okay. I'll eat it but it's not my favourite.

When was the last time you had sushi? 🍱 Several years ago.

Can you see a box from where you are sitting right now? Yeah, there's a kitten sat in it lol.

Would you rather sing or dance? 🎤 💃 Sing, even though I'm not very good at either.

What color was the last sports bra you wore, if applicable? Black.

What is your nicest neighbor’s name? Tina, Chris or Dot. They're all nice enough, though.

Would you rather have a personal chef or personal house cleaner? Chef, for sure.

Do you have any zits on your face right now? Yeah, on my right jaw. I'm due my period so I guess that explains it but it bloody hurts.

Do you wear glasses or contacts? Glasses.

How many Britney Spears albums have you owned? Zero. I preferred Christina.

What was the first concert you went to? Spice Girls.

Do you like cheese? 🧀 I love cheese, haha.

What are three of your favorite things to sprinkle cheese on top of? Pizza, spaghetti and couscous.

What are three of your favorite bakery items? Croissants, doughnuts, chocolate chip cookies.

When was the last time you went to a bakery? 🧁 Thursday.

Do you prefer coffee or chai? ☕️ Coffee.

Do you know what “chai” means? Yeah.

What are three other names you like that start with the same letter as your name? Natalie, Naomi, Nicole.

What are three creative hobbies you enjoy? I'm really not a very creative person.

Is there a bag or basket of yarn somewhere in your home? 🧶 No. Do you ever wear skirts? No. I've always found them really uncomfortable - I prefer dresses. Do you ever find it hard to live in a world where nobody cares? No, generally I find it easier, to be honest. Would you rather have a tattoo of a skull or a flower? Flower. Have you ever had to take steroids? 💊 No. I've had to give them to the dog though.

What are three of the worst withdrawal effects or side effects you have experienced from a medication? 💊 Nausea, vomiting and dizziness.

What are three things you like about church? Nothing.

What are three things you dislike about church? Everything, really. Does your town have a horse and carriage company? Hahah no.

Who are three of the biggest jerks you know? Yeah, I don't really keep notes of things like that.

Have you ever met a Jason that you didn’t like? Yeah.

Have you ever had a friend named Sarah? Yes.

Did you go to school with a Suzy? No, but I know two of them now.

What was the name of the person who bullied you the most in high school Laura. Do you know someone named Matthew? No.

…Mark? Yes.

….Luke? No.

….John? No.

Have you ever been friends with an Ashley? Yes. A male Ashley, though. ….an Emily? Yeah - there were about five girls called Emily in my year at school.

….a Jessica? Yeah, in primary school.

….a David? Yeah, my ex was a David.

Have you ever dated a Matthew? No.

Who was the last person you remember hanging up on you? My mum, but not like, in a bad way.

How’s your heart? Are you wounded? 💔 She’s doing fantastic.

What was the last type of pie you ate? Banoffee.

Are you happy today? Sure, I'm happy enough. I'm tired/cold though.

What time did you wake up this morning? Just before 8am as I had cats to go and feed.

And last but not least, did you enjoy this survey? Sure!

[anartisticexpression]

I just saw the touring production of The Ocean at the End of the Lane!

What an intense experience and surprisingly faithful to the original book (with tiny edits here and there) which, you know, considering it's a Neil Gaiman story means that things get a little... twisty and mind-breaking! It was certainly a good decision to reread the book just before heading out to see the play; it made following the Hempstocks' conversations a lot easier!

I was especially impressed by how they achieved the scene of Lettie and the Boy stepping into the Ocean as well as the effect of Ursula Monkton teleporting through multiple doors. It's so simple yet so effective! Real theatrical magic live on stage!

A high recommendation for this one!

[readbooksandfallinlove]

[ BEST OF BOOKSTAGRAM DEZEMBER ] 💭 Wer ist alles mit dabei? Hinterlasst mir gerne einen Kommentar und ich schaue bei euch vorbei! Ich suche übrigens am Ende der Bilderaufgabe immer ein paar eurer Bilder aus und stelle diese in meine Story! 4.12. bis 6.12.22 📚 Bester Buchprotagonist #bestofbookstagram Ich habe mich für #derOzeanamEndederStrasse entschieden! 💭Würdet ihr das Buch lesen wollen? Welches Buch ist es bei euch geworden? Klappentext Es war nur ein Ententeich, ein Stück weit unterhalb des Bauernhofs. Und er war nicht besonders groß. Lettie Hempstock behauptete, es sei ein Ozean, aber ich wusste, das war Quatsch. Sie behauptete, man könne durch ihn in eine andere Welt gelangen. Und was dann geschah, hätte sich eigentlich niemals ereignen dürfen. #readbooksandfallinlove #igreads #bookblogger #bookstagramfeature #reading #lesen #bookish #bookshelf #bookstagram #booklover #instabookstagram #bookquotes #lovebooks #bookstagramgermany #bookroom #leseliebe #shelfie #bookiesupport #bookoftheday #bücher #bookblogging #bookishfeed #whatiread #bookphotographie #readersofinstagram (hier: Bookstagram) https://www.instagram.com/p/ClvNxbUKIs8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=