by Ted Kooser illustrated by Barry Root “It was a bag for carrying groceries, just the color of the skin of a yellow onion, and it had two holes for handles. It was a perfectly good bag, but someone had thrown it away.” In our modern-day, throwaway culture, consumers often give little thought to the […]

When Google Reader ended (R.I.P.), Bloglovin’ became the primary internet platform for following your favorite blogs and websites. In August, Bloglovin’ is hosting a follower challenge and the beginning user (like me) with the largest follower increase will be featured on their frontpage to receive greater exposure. Are you on Bloglovin’? If so, please follow […]

Without You, There Is No Us: My Time with the Sons of North Korea’s Elite by Suki Kim “Time there seemed to pass differently, when you are shut off from the world, every day is exactly the same as the one before. This sameness has a way of wearing down your soul until you become […]

by Khaled Hosseini Genres: Historical & Contemporary Fiction Publisher: Riverhead Length: 372 pages Published: May 22, 2007 Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Audible Note: Khaled Hosseini is also the best selling author of The Kite Runner, an equally amazing read. I have not yet read but look forward to reading his latest title, And […]

by Sophie Hannah If you’ve followed this book blog since it’s early days, you know I adore Agatha Christie, both her books and her biography. She’s simply fantastic–an interesting, intelligent, and independent woman whose detective stories transport readers into delicious tales of mystery and whodunnit. (You can read my review of Richard Hack’s Christie biography […]

Hi, everyone! Today I’m happy to introduce you to Literary Book Gifts, a great online store for all of you fellow book lovers. In so doing, I’m also featuring its owner, Melissa, in an interview and providing a special 20% discount code for my readers! The Moby Dick tote bag (available in small, medium, and […]

Young adult literature is not just for young adults. There are so many amazing writers publishing fantastic stories within this genre. If you’re at all intimidated about reading YA lit if you’re not in the typical age group, don’t be. You might notice that some of these books are later installments in series, which likely […]

by V. E. Schwab Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic Publisher: Tor Books Page Count: 400 pages Published: February 24, 2015 Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble Note: The first in a three-part YA series, followed by A Gathering of Shadows and A Conjuring of Light. V. E. Schwab also publishes as Victoria Schwab. My Goodreads […]

by Charles Dickens I am a complete Dickens nerd, a Dickensian through and through. In my opinion, he is without question one of the greatest authors of all time. If you have never a Dickens novel, please pick one up. While I have not yet read all of them (and how exciting to think I […]

by Shirley Jackson Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, Paranormal, Middle Grade Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers Length: 160 pages Published: First published in 1956, reprinted 1987 Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble My Goodreads Rating: 5 out of 5 stars Official Book Summary: “Stories of magic, superstition, and witchcraft were strictly forbidden in […]

by Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) “And Bombyx mori,” she finished up, “is the Latin name for a silkworm.” “A silkworm?” “Yeah, and you know what? I always thought they were like spiders spinning their webs, but you know how they get silk from the worms?” “Can’t say I do.” “They boil them,” said Robin. “Boil […]

Smile by Raina Telgemeier “My life didn’t magically turn perfect after that. I didn’t ‘get the guy,’ as they say…. Instead, I threw my passion into things I enjoyed, rather than feeling sorry for myself. I realized that I had been letting the way I looked on the outside affect how I felt on the […]

  by Dan Santat “His mind filled with thoughts of all of the amazing things that were keeping his friend from imagining him.” Beekle lives on an island with many other imaginary friends, waiting to be chosen by a child. When Beekle continues to wait without ever being chosen, he realizes that there are many […]

Sometimes I make nerdy things. I made most of this design while listening to audiobooks (I LOVE audiobooks). It is now framed and hanging near some of my bookcases. It’s a pattern from the Etsy store WeeLittleStitches that I only slightly modified: I added the quote “not all those who wander are lost,” stitched it […]