'Taller than a house the Iron Man stood at the top of the cliff, at the very brink, in the darkness.'

This year is Faber and Faber's 80th year. Book publishers are getting more and more like record labels being eaten away by capitalism but Faber and Faber have a history and ethos with independence at its heart.

Finding the Faber and Faber photostream has made my day:

Hughes, Auden, Elliot

There's nothing like a Faber bookcover:

1968

Favourite.

1956

This makes me think of Rosie's work and Wollaton Hall:

The Great Oak, 1970

John Betjeman 80th anniversary special endpapers

'poor rowan'

I'm coming to the end of my first stint in school as a (trainee) teacher...it's been emotional! But I can safely say I love it, and no matter how old you are 'hip-hip-hooray' makes you feel like the most special person in the world at that moment ^_^

My world is filled with poetry right now, and I love Tim Key:

'Do not flinch in your idealism'

I haven't written in too long... I've written countless lesson plans and assignments (both which haven't been too bad!) but I haven't written for myself and to be honest, haven't really read or listened to anything with any real importance to myself personally as well as professionally.

Though Reclaim the Night 2009 changed that.

All about Reclaim the Night 2009

Me, Rosie and our friend Isabel (who's gran hates Turks but is not racist!) took part in this amazing march through London, in the rain and whilst being very very tired. That didn't matter though because during those few hours we were surrounded by women on the march and also cheering from the streets and making a stand against violence to women in all its forms. Women and children continue to be at the forefront as victims of war, rape and domestic violence whilst being blamed for being too provocative. The imagery of women in the public eye continues to be demeaned by media publications trying to claim that they are giving women a sense of empowerment about their bodies. Gok Wan is just as bad as Peter Stringfellow, there simply is no need to represent women in that way whilst crimes against them all over the world are still being committed.

OBJECT 

Rant over, it was truly inspiring, especially the speeches at the end of the night. My favourite probably being Shamsun's from Million Women Rise. The title of this entry is from Finn Mackay's speech (creator of the London feminist network).

I truly believe that it is our duty as women to think about our position within society. I know I can be selfish and material, and I will ache at the thought of not yet meeting the right man sometimes and that's okay, we're only human. But if you can spend a few minutes to pick up the paper or browse a website to find out more about what's affecting your sisters then you will be helping those super, super women who have been, and continue to, go above and beyond for our cause.

And there are of course super, super men:

I haven't declared anybody as a 'super woman' for a while...I couldn't help thinking how super those men who walked alongside us all were :)

Million Women Rise

White Ribbon Campaign

Feminists will never be like you imagine. 

"welcome back milk toof!"

My housemate Rosie and I are big My Milk Toof fans and i've been holding off putting it on here until the book came out... and it has now!

My Milk Toof is the place to go when you need a smile, I don't think there's a blog I love more.

'people need people to watch'

"paperbacks and postcards"

I've not been working enough but I have renewed my love for what I do and growing up:

It is brilliant coming of age story that hasn't tried hard to be quirky, indie or twee, it just is. I don't think enough stories are left alone to just tell its tale without intense marketing towards a specific audience. It also touches on issues such as race in the 60's, post-war Britain and the birth of modern feminism and presents France just like it is in my own mind: all existentialism, beautiful scenery and brooding husky voices. (Audrey Hepburn's character in Funny Face has that view too-such a cliche!)

The movie's based on the journalist Lynn Barber's memoir, this is pretty much her story. Lynn Barber is fierce and you can see exactly why this is the case (a click on this sentence will take you to the extract the film's based on). She was a teenage girl, disenchanted and trying to balance studying and living, something that'll probably never go away.

Though books brought about their own adventure in the end, and there's a super teacher ^_^