A secret indulgence

No one else knows this. I own quite a few, and every 10 days or so, or every time the stress is too much, I indulge in one. No, I'm not talking about that shot or snort, or even chocolate. I'm talking about Chick-lit.

Meg Cabot's Princess Diaries - 1 is the book that made me a fan. I read it when I was a young teen and couldn't wait for the next book. The first book remains my firm favourite in the series. I read upto Book 6 and gave up, until I chanced upon the last book recently. Feeling nostalgic, I bought books 7 to 10. I think that 10 is the second-best book. I love reading anything by Meg Cabot. Guaranteed stress busters, and great fun. I'm just going to begin Insatiable.

After my fill of Cabot, I soon moved on to Sue Townsend, M.C. Beaton (Marion Chesney), Melissa Bank, Lauren Weisberger, Zoey Dean, Sophie Kinsella, Helen Fielding, Jennifer Weiner and Candace Bushnell.
Chick-lit is different from Feminist fiction (another favourite genre of mine). It is written by women for women, and the plot revolves around everyday life and issues such as career, relationships, friendship, love (these are different from romances - here it could be love of mother and child, for instance), obesity, illness, addiction and de-addiction, studies and so on. The writing style is usually personal, even confiding, and very, very humourous. The protagonists are usually intelligent women, but never boring. Even in the midst of the huge crisis, the character's tone is always humourous and the characters laugh at themselves. Serious issues are treated in a lighter vein, and the plot is most often realistic.

Don't get me wrong - when I said "no one else knows this", I did NOT mean to imply that I was or am in any way, ashamed of reading them. Were it so, I would not have revealed it here. It's just that for some unkown reason, Chick-lit novels have never come up in any of my lists or discussions of favourite books and authors, and therefore, no one I know knows this about me until now. As a matter of fact, my recent manuscript, Chief, has some "Chick-litty" elements amid all that war and adventure.

I have no idea why there are so many brickbats hurled at Chick-lit novels and their authors. These are definitely NOT trashy and some of the plots, writing styles and characters could put to shame any of the self-proclaimed "serious writers". So go read them. You can never have too much humour and laughter in life, especially during these troubled times. Which is where Chick-lit novels are extremely valuable. Here's a hint - pick up one when you're upset about something, grab a bar of your favourite chocolate, and I dare you to tell me you didn't feel better after reading the book.

 This is a vintage desktop pen box. It can store about 5 pens and has a secure lid with inlay (hard to see) and carving. No damage. 8'' long, 2cm deep. And any idea how much I paid for it? £0.99. Someone said something about recession?

To the right is the World War One Memorial Plaque. It was awarded to the next of kin of all those soldiers (from the British Empire) who were killed in action and was known as 'Dead Man's Penny'. Over a million were issued. The writing on the plaque reads: "He died for freedom and honour" and has the recepient's name engraved. This was awarded to the family of Alfred Thrussell, private. He "died of wounds" on September 13, 1916, and had served in the 6th Battalion of the York and Lancaster Regiment. He was born in Great Driffield. I paid £51 for this magnificent piece of history.

Along with these plaques came a letter from Buckingham Palace: "I join with my grateful peoplein sending you this memorial of a brave life given for others in the Great War" -- George R.I. I've framed this letter along with the plaque.

There. Does that make you feel choky? No? Along with the letter informing the demise of the soldier and the posting of the medal came this scroll: "He whom this scroll commemorates was numbered among those who, at the call of King and Country, left all that was dear to them, endured hardness, faced danger and finally passed out of the sight of men by the path of duty and self-sacrifice, giving up their own lives that others might live in freedom. Let others who come after see to it that his name be not forgotten."

I don't have the original scroll and hope to find one soon.

Pens have not been neglected. Here are three Waterman lever-fillers.  These three cost me £20.86. Quite the bargain, I call it. And anyway, I took a dekko at the pen boxes the other day and found my collection quite lacking in the vintage Waterman department. So here's an attempt at remedying that.