The Pen and Inkpot

When I was 10 years old, I developed a huge love for historical fiction novels. I adored reading about little girls who travelled back in time to live as orphans in London or in cotton factories during the Industrial Revolution. I have since grown out of that obsession, but I still appreciate a good historical fiction novel. That is why I picked up “The Librarian of Auschwitz”. This novel is gripping, gruesome, heart breaking and heart-warming all at once. It tells the story of one brave girl caught amidst the war who finds refuge in protecting a few surviving books for a secret school in the middle of the Auschwitz Birkenau family concentration camp. This was quite a heavy novel. As I read, I was faced with the alarming truths of the Holocaust and the real struggles of the prisoners of WWII. The main character, Dita Kraus is the perfect protagonist. She is vulnerable and scared, yet still manages to be brave and selfless. She is growing up in a world which has not been kind

I was enthralled by Leigh Bardugo’s “Six of Crows” and was left hanging at the ending. Luckily, I had anticipated this situation and had already purchased the sequel novel, “Crooked Kingdom”. I dived right back into it, and here’s what I thought…  Set in the dodgy alleys of Ketterdam in a fantasy world where Grisha are hunted for their powers, Kaz Brekker and his crew of talented misfits are on a mission to take back what is rightfully theirs… and a bit more. While their faces are plastered on Wanted posters on every street corner, they make desperate attempts to prevent the city from starting a war over the discovery of the most dangerous drug to ever exist. This is an action-packed story full of twists and turns. The character’s intricate escape plans keep the reader guessing and nothing is ever as it seems. The plot is never dull, when not breaking into mansions and sword fighting on tightropes, the characters are undergoing deep character development, the past about ea

It's a week before the big test. You have forgotten the topics you learnt earlier in the year and the teacher hasn't given you any revision. What do you do? In this post, I have gathered some of my most effective study tips to help you to ace your next test or exam. Keep in mind  the amount of time you have to revise and what sort of study works best for you. I find that the best results occur when I begin studying a week before the test and spread out my study throughout the week.  Tip 1: Don’t Freak Out When you have an important test or big exam coming up, the idea of remembering so much information can be very overwhelming. Try not to become stressed, instead plan out the ways in which you will revise for this test over the coming days to make sure that you don’t leave all your study until the last minute. Tip 2: Read over your notes Read through whatever you have used in class, including notes, textbooks, worksheets, PowerPoints and other resources s

A few weeks ago, I was craving a good fantasy novel. One set in a different world that I could get lost in. That is why I picked up “Six of Crows”. It had some really great reviews online and I was intrigued by the fantasy world and unique characters. So I read it. Imagine a Harry Potter world with Charles Dickens characters and a society like Red Queen. “Six of Crows” is set in a world where some people, named Grisha, are born with strong powers, but others are not. This leads to oppression and war between Grisha and humans. In “Six of Crows” the reader follows the story of six characters. Criminals, thieves, witches and orphans, they are a questionable crew, but their leader, Kaz Brekker, couldn’t have asked for more. As they embark on a mission to win the fortune of a lifetime, they face the challenge of a lifetime. Breaking into a high security prison wouldn’t be easy, but Kaz Brekker can do anything. Or can he?   Action packed and gripping the whole way through. Jus

In the final instalment of the "Introduction to Photoshop", I will be going through the basics of photo editing. There is so much that can be done when editing photos on Photoshop and I have listed here just the beginning to get you started. DISCLAIMER: I am not an expert and all shortcuts and tips are relevant for mac computers with Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 After opening a photo in photoshop (file, open), you can use the adjustments on in the sidebar on the right to adjust your image. Hover over each icon to see what they are.  IMPORTANT: Each adjustment is a separate layer. This means that you can delete, hide and change each adjustment individually. When you have made an adjustment, by clicking on the white square on that adjustment layer (called the layer mask) and selecting the brush tool, you are able to draw with black over parts of the image which you don't want to be affected by that adjustment. Select the wrong part? Just go over it in wh

I recently took another excursion into the CBD and went on a hunt for any bookshops which I had not yet discovered. I found many and now I will share with you those which I visited and a brief description of what to expect if you were to visit them yourself. The Little Library  Amongst the fancy shops inside Melbourne Central Station can be found a little nook for bookworms like you and me. A bookshelf filled with a variety of novels is there for anyone to bring in one of their old books and swap it for something different. Super cute with little benches perfect to sit and have a read if you happen to be there waiting for a train. Kay Craddock Antiquarian Bookshop If you are into old books, then this one is for you. Several rooms are lined with antique books of all shapes, sizes, types and ages. Even if you are not a collector of old books, it is fascinating to browse the extensive selection of books on topics ranging from Norwegian dancing to nose surgery. The S

In order to do anything with Photoshop, you need to know the basic tools and how to use them. In this post I will share with you, what tools I use the most and shortcuts which make them easier to use. Along the left side of the screen is a row of tiny icons part of what is known as the toolbar. There are many things here and I still don't know what a lot of them are, but I will run you through the basics. DISCLAIMER: I am not an expert and all shortcuts and tips are relevant for mac computers with Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 The move tool  looks like four arrows pointing in different directions. It is used to move elements around in your work. This is where making new layers is so important. When you move something, the whole layer moves with it. So if you want to be able to move a rectangle by itself without moving the rest of your project, then I would recommend putting it on a new layer. To quickly access this tool, press " V ". ("v" like in "m

I have never read a novel with such a bizarre name. I was drawn to it partially due to the title, but also because of the format it takes, with the entire story being told through a large collection of letters addressed to and written by a set of extremely interesting characters. All this made up for the promise of a quirky novel which I simply couldn't resist.  Juliet is a successful journalist, well known across London for her witty newspaper columns written during the dark days of the war. Now that the war is over and the world is trying to forget the previous years of hardship, Juliet is left with nothing to write. Hope is not lost when Juliet receives a letter from Dawsey, a man who found one of her books on the island of Guernsey. This sparks a unique correspondence between Juliet and various members of his literary society. Turning to them for her writing inspiration, Juliet finds herself with a fascinating story to tell. This novel displays a concept which I

As of a few months ago, I had never touched Photoshop in my life. Now, I use it for everything. At first, it seemed a little daunting and extremely frustrating (at times it still is) but I have come a long way since then. Once you have grasped the main concepts of the program and become familiar with the basic tools, you can do anything. I want to share with you, through a three part sequence, the fundamental knowledge for a beginner wanting to learn how to use Photoshop.  DISCLAIMER: I am not an expert and all shortcuts and tips are relevant for mac computers with Adobe Photoshop CC 2017 Photoshop works in layers. This is really important to keep in mind when using Photoshop.  For example, if you open a new document in Photoshop, the background will probably be white. That is one layer. If you draw a rectangle shape, that is on a separate layer, if you add text, that is on another layer.  This all means that it is easy to undo and remove elements of your

"The Shadow of the Wind" is an extremely unique novel, set in the crumbling streets of Barcelona during the 1940s. It is written in the style of a classic novel even though it was published in the early 2000s and it is historical fiction mingled with mystery and horror. The story is so complex, my mind is boggled by the author's ability to create such a masterpiece. It has everything that I love in a novel: books, mystery, a beautiful setting and amusing characters. Daniel is only ten years old when his father takes him to the Cemetery of Forgotten Books where he is drawn to one particular novel, "The Shadow of the Wind" by Julian Carax. The beauty of the story captivates the young boy and ignites in him a burning curiosity to unravel the dark mystery surrounding the author's past. Little does he know that this will lead him into a dangerous side of Barcelona which he never knew existed. I was pleasantly surprised by this novel's capacity to

Readers like to play it safe. Once they find a few genres they like, they refuse to read anything of a different style. Romance, crime, sci-fi and young adult fiction seem to be what’s popular at the moment, but there are so many other genres and sub-genres to explore, many of which you may never have heard of before. Picaresque This genre, originating from Spain, refers specifically to stories told about the travels and adventures of a rough but appealing hero told in a series of humourous episodes. Usually focusing on the everyday lives of ordinary people, picaresque novels take a satirical approach to storytelling. Steam Punk A blend of science fiction and historical fiction but also found in the fantasy genre, steampunk novels are based on 19 th century steam power machinery and set in a particular time period. The steampunk movement was inspired by the unique fashions that came with the dawn of the use of cogs, engines and steam power which is reflected in the w

Illuminae sucked me in through its unique story telling style which was quite unlike anything I have read before. The story of a girl ripped from her home on micro planet, "Kerenza" and thrust into a chase through outer space is told through a collection of interviews, reports, surveillance transcripts and text message conversations. I was at first skeptical about how well this would tell the story but it didn't end up disrupting the reading experience at all. Instead, it added interest and gave the reader insight into the characters in a different way. Illuminae is a sci-fi, dystopian romance featuring robots, zombies and space ships which is definitely not what I would usually read.  I would not pick Illuminae as the best bedtime read due to the large amount of death and tragedy experienced by the characters. I found myself quite connected to the main characters and this really made me feel for what they were going through. I was scared for them and grieved

I have recently been on some bookshop crawls around the centre and East side of Melbourne and wish to share with you my discoveries. Beneath the hustle and bustle of Melbourne, you can find cosy rooms filled with every book you can imagine and amazing prices on great books if only you know where to look. If you live in or are visiting Melbourne, here are the bookshops with the best atmosphere and the best prices. Looking for cosy, bookish vibes? These ones are for you: City Basement Books - 342 Flinders St If you're not paying attention, you could easily miss the little doorway between the busy shops on Flinders Street but once you find it, it will lead you down a flight of stairs and into book heaven. Book shelves filled and piles on the ground stacked high with second hand books on any topic you can think of. Good prices and an awesome shop. Paperback Bookshop - 60 Bourke Street This is a tiny shop crammed with books in shelves going up to the cei