It’s October, Halloween is upon us, the weather is turning cold, and it’s the perfect time of year to pick up a Gothic or mystery novel. I love it when it’s dark and windy outside, you can hear the cold rain hitting against the window panes, and you’re wrapped up in your favorite blanket lost […]
by Caroline Tung Richmond Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction Publisher: Scholastic Press Publication Date: July 26, 2016 Length: 304 pages in hardcover Tagline: “Dressed to kill.” This is my friend, Caroline Tung Richmond. We met years ago when we were both undergraduates and had mutual friends who enjoyed mid-week breaks from homework to watch reality […]
by Anne Tyler “From time to time Kate entertained the notion of looking for work elsewhere, but it never came to anything. She didn’t interview well, to be honest. And anyhow, she couldn’t think what she might be qualified to do instead. In her coed dorm back in college she had once been drawn into […]
Last year I read 175 books, approximately 50,000 pages! Though many of the titles I read will be featured in more in-depth upcoming book reviews, I thought I’d break-down the list of everything I read this year in a series of posts over the course of January. Today’s post will highlight all 30 of the […]
Book mail! I’ve been missing in action because life has been crazy busy lately, but today I received book mail (the best kind of mail, except for cash mail if that exists) thanks to both St. Martin’s Press and Candlewick Press. Both are advanced copies I won through Goodreads giveaways. Below are details on each. […]
Sometimes I make nerdy things and sometimes I love it. I began cross-stitching this summer (something I hadn’t done since I was a young teenager), and it turns out I quite like it. While I usually flit from hobby to hobby and don’t know how long this one will last, I’ve managed to complete two […]
I would be entirely remiss if as a teacher, reader, and writer, I didn’t take a post to give a shout-out to the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week. During September 25th – October 1st, 2016 this annual event fights for and celebrates reading freedom. Someone once tried to make me feel bad about reading […]
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by Jem Friar N.C. Naturopathic Consultant Jem Friar presents a small 124-page booklet with information about the health benefits of juicing and dozens of fruit and vegetable juice recipes. Friar begins with a series of brief chapters addressing why he believes juicing is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. He covers issues including why […]
by Laura Vanderkam In 168 Hours, Vanderkam presents a proposal designed to help readers define their life’s “core competencies” and make better use of their time each week, all 168 hours of them. While there are many helpful and practical tips within the book’s pages, Vanderkam’s blinders to crucial considerations like economic class are surprising. […]
by Kevin Henkes “Home was the same as when Martha had left it, but because she had changed, her world seemed slightly different, as though she were seeing everything in sharper focus.” I started reading this book completely at random. I wanted something short and I will admit that the silver “Newberry Honor Book” medallion […]
by Harper Lee “Mr. Stone set a watchman in church yesterday. He should have provided me with one. I need a watchman to lead me around and declare what he seeth every hour on the hour. I need a watchman to tell me this is what a man says but this is what he means, […]
People, we have some serious reading to get through! Below are 100 books that are being adapted to film. Some are already in theaters, some are forthcoming with set release dates, and others are still in the works. Any way you look at it, we have some work to do! Which books will you be […]
Jactionary: Shakespeare
by Anne Tyler “From time to time Kate entertained the notion of looking for work elsewhere, but it never came to anything. She didn’t interview well, to be honest. And anyhow, she couldn’t think what she might be qualified to do instead. In her coed dorm back in college she had once been drawn into […]