Welcome to the second instalment of Ramblings from my pages… – a new weekly feature here on Keeper of Pages. This post was inspired by It’s Book Talk’s “5 on Friday: Things I’m Loving Lately” – it differs slightly, similar in that it will feature bookish and non-bookish topics, but different in that I will ramble about things I’m loving, hating, wishing for, links I’ve enjoyed, life updates – you name it, I may just ramble about it. The only staple feature of this post will be concluding it with a cool link I found around the web.
In this week’s ramblings, I’m talking about Penguin Ink Editions, spooky October reads, black history month, and Bull. Whether you read the entire post or jump to the section(s) you’re interested in, I hope you enjoy my ramblings. Note: if it’s green, it’s a link, click it!
PENGUIN INK EDITIONS
I was talking, on Instagram, yesterday about different editions I’m collecting, saying that Penguin tend to have the best collections. And Amalia – @MaliReads commented on my post informing me about an awesome collection of books I had no idea about – Penguin Ink Editions! I haven’t even heard of some of the books in this collection, but feast your eyes on these beauties!
You can find the complete collection on Goodreads – Listopia: Penguin Ink Editions (20 books – Hell’s Angels may look like a good fit but it isn’t part of the collection).
SPOOKY OCTOBER READS
Who’s got some spooky October reads planned? I won’t read a full month of spooky books, but I definitely want to fit in a couple. In particular, I’m rereading ‘The Shining‘ by Stephen King, so I can refresh my memory before I read the sequel, ‘Doctor Sleep‘. I’ve also realised that, while I know the story of ‘Dracula‘ by Bram Stoker well, I have never actually read the book! I’m finding that with a lot of classics, I either haven’t read the book or I think I’ve read the book because I know the story so well, but I think I’m confusing them with their films. So, while I’m at it, I plan to read ‘Frankenstein‘ by Mary Shelley. I’m also taking part in a readalong for ‘A Discovery of Witches‘ – I know the movie tie-cover is horrible but it’s the current kindle cover, and I’m also recording the TV series to watch afterwards, so I stuck with it! The September book haul I posted the other day should make a bit more sense now!
BLACK HISTORY MONTH
October is Black History Month in the UK, personally, I pay it little attention because there are 12 months in a year, and you’re giving us one! During October everyone wants to be little more inclusive, and the remaining 11 months, no acknowledgment, I don’t buy into that, it’s black history month every month in my world! This is one of those sensitive topics, that I’m sure everyone has an opinion on, but, what do you do during black history month – take some time out and think about/reflect/learn about black history, those who have fought and done a lot for us as a people – Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks seem to become favourites this time of year – did you know Rosa Parks wasn’t even the first woman to refuse to give up her seat on a city bus, ask about Claudette Colvin. What else should you do during black history month – try some black food, watch a black film, read a black book? I don’t know, that sounds like a lot like my daily life, who is black history month for?
I like the origins of black history month – it originated in the United States to improve race relations and inspire young people to celebrate the contributions of their ancestors, in 1926, this was much needed, it was a grassroots initiative. However, today, I feel like it has become commercialised and no longer the thought-provoking experience it should be! Like most great grassroots ideas, I think this one has moved away from it’s original purpose, and it’s now all for show! If you live somewhere, or got to school/work somewhere where they celebrate Black History Month and you feel it’s genuine and you learn etc etc, then that really is brilliant!
I remember at school, one year, during October we had a lesson or two on ‘the big three’ (King Jr, X and Parks), and then we had homework to do a project on one of them, I think it was minimum 5 pages, I chose Malcom X, and you best believe my project was about 50 pages, my teacher was gone learn that day, haha! The point is, my school felt that was enough, like, hey, we’ve done our duty, we’ve acknowledged black history! (Could that be because I went to a predominantly white school?) We’re in 2018, do we really need to wait for October to come around to educate ourselves, to appreciate and remember.
My words might ruffle a few feathers, but it is what is it, my experience with, and thoughts on, the matter!
TV SERIES: BULL
I’m currently loving Bull, it’s my Tuesday night program. In the words of cbs.com, “Bull stars Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jason Bull in a drama inspired by the early career of Dr. Phil McGraw, the founder of one of the most prolific trial consulting firms of all time. Brilliant, brash and charming, Dr. Bull is the ultimate puppet master as he combines psychology, human intuition, and high tech data to learn what makes jurors, attorney, witnesses and the accused tick.” Before I discovered this show, I never even knew trial science was a thing, I find it so interesting. I’m watching season three at the moment, so I need to find a way to binge-watch the previous seasons.
LINK AROUND THE WEB
Sexist Trope: Fridging
Prior to this article on theguardian.com, I’d never heard about ‘fridging’, but after reading this article, I realised it’s a trope I recognise in both TV and books. The term originated from a ‘Green Lantern’ comic; it deals with the idea that women are often sacrificed to give male characters a purpose, making females passive, while men are active. Have a read, it’s really interesting – From Bond to ITV’s Strangers: why is everyone ‘fridging’?
I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it, and you’ll join me next Sunday for some more ramblings.
If you missed last week’s rambling you can find it here – topics: Ameriie, Shots Fired, a potential book swap, and a life update with a blog tour focus.
Keeper of Pages 
Brilliant post Janel.
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Thanks, Kerri 😊
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Really enjoyed reading this 🙂 definitely going to check out those Penguin Ink Editions!
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Thank, Cathy 😊
Those Inked editions are gorgeous, Im tempted by The Accidental and White Teeth 😍
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Fab ramblings!
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Thanks, Nicki 😊
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I’m reviewing Frankenstein and Dracula this month too!! I’m really excited to see your opinions on them when you’re done 🙂
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Yay to some spooky Halloween reads, I hope we both enjoy them! 🧟♂️🧛🏻♂️
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Fun new feature to your already fabulous blog!
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Thanks Tina, I really enjoy writing these posts, makes a nice change 🙂
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Loved the post, Janel, and those ink editions!!!!
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Thank you! And yes, I’m so tempted to treat myself to one!
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Great post Janel, love the Inked covers x
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Thank you! And I’m so tempted to treat myself to an inked edition but I’m trying to be good!
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But they are pretty 😁
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The penguin ink collection… ah! So gorgeous!
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Right, I’m so tempted to treat myself!
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Yet again, a great post. I’d like to try something similar so maybe next weekend! Its a good way to catch up on the stuff we don’t put anywhere else.
And I love those Penguin Ink editions – I may have to treat myself to one (or two)!
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Yes, I’d love to see you do a smilier post, I had so much fun putting this one together! I’m trying hard to resist those ink editions, but it’s so hard 🤣
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Really enjoyed reading your take on Black History Month. I agree that it’s great to have an acknowledgment, but as is it’s insufficient. The US experience sounds quite similar to how your school took part. We only studied a few bigger figures and very little to nothing about a topic that’s far more vast and complicated! This was also at a predominantly white school. You can clearly see the end product of this insufficiency in that our current president didn’t even know who Frederick Douglass was (eye roll to infinity.)
And a great point you made, who exactly is this month for? Inclusivity, awareness and education should be everyday matters and shuffling it all to one month doesn’t exactly benefit anyone.
Love reading your ramblings!!
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I’m so glad you enjoyed this weeks instalment, I was a little hesitant to write about BHM, because I thought some people might get all emotional about it, haha, but it has been really well received! I think the fact that your president actually became president shows just how insufficient BHM has been 🙈 I just find all events surrounding BHM really cringy, so I focus on this month being soley about Halloween!
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Really loving these posts Janel, it’s obvious how much thought and effort you put into them. LOVE those Penguin Inks, was really interested in your thoughts on Black History Month (I don’t remember doing much at all at school and it’s shameful!! 😠) and hope you enjoy your spooky reads. Especially the King’s. 😉
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Thanks, Beth! They’re so much fun to put together, so much so, I scraped my September wrap up and posted this instead 🤣 And yes, Black History month definitely needs a rethink/rework!! I’m starting my reread of The Shining tonight! 😆
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Excellent post! I always learn something from you.
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Thank you 🙂
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Frankenstein is definitely on my list for this month but I said that last year and that didn’t happen!
I was interested to read your thoughts about Black History Month. My school was pretty terrible with BHM and it was only after I left that I realised how narrow a view we were given on history. I understand your criticisms of BHM but I use the month of October to refocus on areas of history I’m ignorant about (plus get some great book recs from other bloggers) and put some books on my everlasting TBR to the forefront. But yeah, there’s always the view that ‘we’ve acknowledged it for this month so we can ignore it for the other 11’ which I’m always working to make sure I don’t do.
Very interesting post and I hope Bull continues to delight ☺️
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Thank you for such a thoughtful comment. It sounds like you are active in getting the most out of BHM, which is great. Many passively go through the month, and count that as ‘doing their bit’, which isn’t much at all as schools/[some] communities offer so little.
I hope you manage to read Frankenstein this month, I plan to start it on Monday!
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Oh, those Penguin covers look gorgeous!
I think i will try and read spooky books in October. For now reading In Her Shadow by Mark Edwards, which is unnerving enough and The Outsider by Stephen King, which is positively spooky. The Shining is a great choice! I should read it again 😀
Bull is on my watchlist too 🙂
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I think a lot of thrillers count as spooky books so you’re all set. I’m half way through The Shining and really enjoying it, the first time I read it (at a much younger age) I was really unsettled, but now I’m picked up on how emotionally heavy it is, the things Danny (and his parents) have to deal with (outside of the shining). I’m, starting Frankenstein tomorrow, which I’m looking forward too!
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