Reading Recap

Hi Everyone! 

Happy End of 2020. Wanted to stop by with a couple of mini reviews to end the year. 

Hillbilly Elegy
This was quite the memoir. I am excited to check out the 'response' book to it and eventually the Netflix Show. 

Mooncakes
A graphic novel...about learning to be okay with you and about love :)

Finding Gobi
Who doesn't love an inspiring dog story? 

Among the Hidden
This one was one my niece recommended. It was about the shadow children that exist beyond the population limits. Interesting and I believe it is a series.

Faith Taking Flight
Finallllyyy... needed me some Julie Murphy in my life! (At least until Pumpkin gets here...)

The Garth Factor
Who doesn't love them some country music and further Garth Brooks?


What have you been reading?

Happy Reading!

TTT: Fave Books of 2020

Hi Everyone!

Happy TTT. This week's theme is my favorite books of 2020. Here are just a few :) 

What were your favorites?
 

Happy Reading!

Happy Holidays!!

Photo Credit

And for my Dad...

 

Happy Reading!

Book Tag: Holiday Drink Edition!

 

Ashley at Falling Down a Book Hole posted about a Holiday Drinks Book Tag that looked fun, so I thought I would get on board :) 

HOT CHOCOLATE – RECOMMEND A BOOK THAT’S SWEET THROUGH AND THROUGH

PEPPERMINT MOCHA – RECOMMEND A BOOK WITH A LOT OF STRONG EMOTIONS

APPLE CIDER – RECOMMEND A BOOK FULL OF CHARACTERS WITH QUESTIONABLE MORALS

EGGNOG – RECOMMEND A BOOK THAT’S MOSTLY FUN, WITH JUST A HINT OF DANGER

GINGERBREAD LATTE – RECOMMEND A BOOK WITH A LOT OF ACTION

Happy Reading!

Book Date: Hillbilly Elegy

Hi Everyone!

Happy Monday. Stopping by to share a book that I am reading for Book Date Monday.

Author: J.D. Vance
 
Summary from Amazon:

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, NAMED BY THE TIMES AS ONE OF "6 BOOKS TO HELP UNDERSTAND TRUMP'S WIN" AND SOON TO BE A MAJOR-MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY RON HOWARD

"You will not read a more important book about America this year."—The Economist

"A riveting book."—The Wall Street Journal

"Essential reading."—David Brooks, New York Times

Hillbilly Elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis—that of white working-class Americans. The disintegration of this group, a process that has been slowly occurring now for more than forty years, has been reported with growing frequency and alarm, but has never before been written about as searingly from the inside. J. D. Vance tells the true story of what a social, regional, and class decline feels like when you were born with it hung around your neck.

The Vance family story begins hopefully in postwar America. J. D.’s grandparents were “dirt poor and in love,” and moved north from Kentucky’s Appalachia region to Ohio in the hopes of escaping the dreadful poverty around them. They raised a middle-class family, and eventually one of their grandchildren would graduate from Yale Law School, a conventional marker of success in achieving generational upward mobility. But as the family saga of Hillbilly Elegy plays out, we learn that J.D.'s grandparents, aunt, uncle, sister, and, most of all, his mother struggled profoundly with the demands of their new middle-class life, never fully escaping the legacy of abuse, alcoholism, poverty, and trauma so characteristic of their part of America. With piercing honesty, Vance shows how he himself still carries around the demons of his chaotic family history.

A deeply moving memoir, with its share of humor and vividly colorful figures, Hillbilly Elegy is the story of how upward mobility really feels. And it is an urgent and troubling meditation on the loss of the American dream for a large segment of this country.

Have you read this one?
 

Happy Reading!

Bookopoly Readathon

Hi Everyone!

Check out this awesome event that will be happening in January! 

This looks like it could be really fun! :)

Happy Reading!

TTT: Books On My Winter 2020-2021 TBR

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are well. Stopping by with a TTT post. This week's theme is Books On My Winter 2020-2021 TBR. First, a few new ones that I am looking forward to...then a few that I need to get to, that I haven't had a chance yet...

Ones that are already out:
 

*Saving a few spots for anything that Santa decides to bring me :) 

Have you read any of these? What were your thoughts?

Happy Reading!

Christmas Song Book Tag

The Christmas Songs Book Tag hosted by Jana is alot of fun! Thought I would play along...

1. “All I Want for Christmas Is You”: Favorite bookish couple.
Has to be Dash and Lily :)

2. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”: Name a book where a character is away from home (school, vacation, etc.).
The first that came to mind was Lauren Atkins Live in Love, when she was in Africa away from Thomas Rhett. 

3. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”: Name your favorite “little” book (children’s book, short story, novella, etc.).
Chicken with Soup with Rice by Maurice Sendak

4. “Santa Claus is Coming to Town“: What book(s) do you hope Santa brings you this year?
I am really looking forward to the Where She Walks: Stories about Women on the AT.

5. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”: Which book turned your nose red (made you cry)?
It's been awhile...hmmmm...

6. “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”: Your favorite book/kind of book to read during the holidays.
I am not sure if I consistently read a book every year during the holidays. Maybe the new Elin book, which is usually out in October?

7. “We Three Kings”: Your favorite trilogy.
To all the boys I love before-and we are getting a new movie, so soon! 

8. “Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow”: A character you would love to be snowed in with.
Not a book-but definitely Rory from the Gilmore Girls. I think we would have a lot to talk about :)

9. “Last Christmas”: A book that seriously let you down.
I havent had enough books this year to have a strong opinion for this one. 

10. “White Christmas”: An upcoming release you’re dreaming about.
It was Ready Player Two and that did not disappoint! 

Happy Reading!

End of the Semester!

 

Happy Reading!

Book Date: Mooncakes

Hi Everyone,

Just wanting to stop by with a Monday Book Date. Here is the one I am currently reading.

Author: Suzanne Walker 
  
Summary from Amazon:
A story of love and demons, family and witchcraft. Nova Huang knows more about magic than your average teen witch. She works at her grandmothers’ bookshop, where she helps them loan out spell books and investigate any supernatural occurrences in their New England town. One fateful night, she follows reports of a white wolf into the woods, and she comes across the unexpected: her childhood crush, Tam Lang, battling a horse demon in the woods. As a werewolf, Tam has been wandering from place to place for years, unable to call any townhome. Pursued by dark forces eager to claim the magic of wolves and out of options, Tam turns to Nova for help. Their latent feelings are rekindled against the backdrop of witchcraft, untested magic, occult rituals, and family ties both new and old in this enchanting tale of self-discovery.
 
Have you read these ones?

Happy Reading!

 

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Ready Player Two

Author: Ernest Cline
 
Summary from Amazon:
AN UNEXPECTED QUEST. TWO WORLDS AT STAKE. ARE YOU READY?

Days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday’s contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything.

Hidden within Halliday’s vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous—and addictive—than even Wade dreamed possible.
 
With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest—a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize.
 
And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who’ll kill millions to get what he wants.
 
Wade’s life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.
 
Lovingly nostalgic and wildly original as only Ernest Cline could conceive it, Ready Player Two takes us on another imaginative, fun, action-packed adventure through his beloved virtual universe, and jolts us thrillingly into the future once again.

Personal Review:
As my regular readers know, Ready Player One is one of my favorite books. To that end, when I found out that there was to be a second one. I goobled this one up in a day. I enjoyed it very much. 

One of the elements that I appreciate about Ernest Cline is the way that he weaves in culture along with adventure. This one had me turning the pages as though I wanted to be sure that the adventure would deliver and that they would be able to solve it. That it certainly did.

I enjoyed this one! 

 

Happy Reading!

Reindeer Readathon

Hi Everyone! 

Stopping by to let you know about the Reindeer Readathon. It looks like a fun event! They have a very active Twitter...so feel free to check that out:

You can sign up here:

Happy Reading!

Reading Recap

Hi Everyone! 

It's been a little bit since I have done some mini-reviews...so here we go! 

Boy Crazy Stacey
The graphic novel from BSC. I love this series! (And Stacey is secretly my fave...shhhh).

The Fire Never Goes Out
Noelle Stevenson book about her life. It was a combo of journal meets comics and I really enjoyed it! 

Who Gets In and Why
This one has been on my NG list longer then it should have been. It was an insiders look at the College Admissions process. I really enjoyed the insights into this field and exploring with the author some of the secondary dynamics that lead to the ultimate decision about whether a person attends or not. 


Have you read any of these? What are you currently reading?

Happy Reading!

Happy Thanksgiving!

:) Hope you are all having a great holiday!

 

Happy Reading!

Thanksgiving Feast Book Tag

Hi Everyone! I am participating in the Thanksgiving Feast Book Tag. Here is how it works! 

*Mention the creator of the tag, Elley the Book Otter (Thanks Elley!)
*If you were tagged, mention who tagged you! (nope, just saw it and looked fun)

 Answer the prompts (and try not to get too hungry!)
 
Turkey: The centerpiece of any Thanksgiving Feast, but it’s always dry and actually isn’t that great… – A book that everyone likes, for some reason that completely escapes you.

Stuffing: Warm and filling, and best when smothered with gravy – A comfort read.

Potatoes: Boil ’em, mash ’em, stick ’em in a stew – A book that’s great in any format – hardcover, digital, audio…

Green bean casserole: the obligatory side dish that you have to have… whether you want it for not. – A book that you were obligated to read (for school, for a book club, because it was a gift…)

Not sure-I love Green Bean Casserole :) 

Cranberries: Do you serve real cranberries, or canned cranberry jelly? A book that is highly divisive – and you have strong opinions about it.

Pie: Whether it’s pumpkin, apple, pecan, or French silk, it’s not Thanksgiving without pie – A book you can’t live without.

Happy Reading! 

Ho-Ho-Ho Readathon

Hey Everyone! 

Letting you know about an awesome Readathon event happening by the Caffeinated Reviewer. Here are her details about: 

 It’s the most wonderful time of the year…  well, almost. But it is time to reserve your seat for the 2020 Ho-Ho-Ho Read-a-thon!! This year’s event takes place Thursday November 19th through Monday November 30th.

With travel limited, and stores closed for Thanksgiving, it’s the perfect time to dig out your holiday and winter settings books. As always, you can read/listen to holiday themed books or books with winter settings. Any genre, any format.

 Will you be participating?

Happy Reading!

Book Date: September Love

Hey Everyone! 

It's a Book Date Monday and just stopping by to let you know what I have been reading. 

Author: Lang Leav
 
Summary from Amazon:
A book that will change the way you think about love, relationships, heartbreak, and self-empowerment. Breaking the rules, challenging perceptions, and exploring the secret desires we keep hidden from the world. 

Beautifully composed and written by international bestselling author Lang Leav, this new collection of poetry and prose will positively influence your life.
 
September Love captures the magic of each passing season, a pearl of wisdom waiting to be discovered with every page turned. A book that will inspire you to reach for the stars. 
 

Happy Reading!

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 (with Instagram 56) @ Freda’s Voice. Grab a book, any book, and turn to page 56. Find a sentence that grabs you and post it either on your blog or on Instagram tagged with #Friday56.
 

"But the questions you need to ask yourself are the same, whether you're choosing to play tennis or quit your job." 

Happy Reading!

Veterans Day

 

Happy Reading!

Gilmore Girls Readathon-One Week!

Just stopping by to let you all know about an upcoming event. Will you be participating?
 

Happy Reading!

Read

 

Happy Reading!

Book review: Big Kibble

Author: Shawn Buckley and Oscar Chavez
 
Summary from Goodreads:

A big, inside look at the shocking lack of regulation within the pet food industry, and how readers can dramatically improve the quality of their dogs' lives through diet.

What's really going into commercial dog food? The answer is horrifying.

Big Kibble is big business: $75 billion globally. A handful of multi-national corporations dominate the industry and together own as many as 80% of all brands. This comes as a surprise to most people, but what's even more shocking is how lax the regulations and guidelines are around these products. The guidelines--or lack thereof--for pet food allow producers to include ever-cheaper ingredients, and create ever-larger earnings. For example, "legal" ingredients in kibble include poultry feces, saw dust, expired food, and diseased meat, among other horrors. Many vets still don't know that kibble is not the best food for dogs because Big Kibble funds the nutrition research. So far, these corporations have been able to cut corners and still market and promote feed-grade food as if it were healthful and beneficial--until now.

Just as you are what you eat, so is your dog. Once you stop feeding your dog the junk that's in kibble or cans, you have taken the first steps to improving your dog's health, behavior and happiness.

You know the unsavory side of Big Tobacco and Big Pharma. Now Shawn Buckley, Dr. Oscar Chavez, and Wendy Paris explain all you need to know about unsavory Big Kibble--and offer a brighter path forward for you and your pet. 

Personal Review:
I am not even sure how many times, I have tried to figure out what the best food is for my pets. I have tried to google and do my homework so to say about what different things are good for them. Everytime I hear a scary story on the news, it triggers another search. So when I was offered this book, I said yes I want to read it. 

I found the book informative and interesting. It is sad when something terrible happens to a pet, so trigger warning for that. But I think it is important information to get out there. Thanks for the opportunity to read. I appreciated all of the insights! 

Disclaimer: I was awarded this book as part of the publisher. Though I did not pay for the book, the opinions are strictly my own.
 

Happy Reading!

Book Date: The Road To Freedom

Hey Everyone! 

It's Monday...so time for another Book Date! What are you reading? Here is my current read:

Happy Reading!