Reading Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel Homegoing was really the inspiration for this edition of literary tourism because the book helped me return to an amazing country and learn a bit more about it along the way. If you are not familiar with Homegoing, it tells the story of two sisters and follows their stories and the stories of their children and subsequent descendents. Gyasi weaves a powerful story that should be part of every book lover’s reading list....
Today I’m going to take you on a literary tour of the eastern part of our state and highlight the best spots for readers and book lovers along the way. Cedar Rapids, Iowa Cedar Rapids Public Library: In 2008, the city of Cedar Rapids suffered a terrible flood that found most of downtown underwater. The downtown public library completely flooded, but the city used the opportunity to rebuild to create an exceptional new library....
This BB-8 silicone tray is perfect for making ice, chocolates, or other lovely things. It’s both oven and freezer safe, so it’s super useful. These character aprons crack me up, and it’s almost summer, so grilling season is upon us! Enjoy the nice weather and also show off some new kitchen duds. It’s also Tiki cup season! Make believe you’re out on some tropical planet somewhere, catching some rays, whiling away your summer in a galaxy far, far away…...
After Marya makes a terrible mistake, she receives a letter from Dragomir Academy—a mysterious school for wayward young girls. Soon she is a hundred miles from home, surrounded by girls she’s never met.Dragomir Academy promises Marya and her classmates a chance to make something of themselves in service to one of the country’s powerful sorcerers. But as they learn how to fit into a world with no place for them, they begin to discover things about the magic the men of their country wield, as well as the things that threaten the precarious balance of their society....
“Do you go on holiday with a full suitcase of books (or at least a jam-packed ebook reader)? Is the best part of any vacation the delicious downtime to work your way through the to-read pile? If so, it may be time to reserve a stay in one of these book-themed hotels for a reading holiday to remember.” Portugal is calling, yo! “The list of 125 books takes into account titles (12 forms and genre) the library has had in its stacks from the very beginning (since May 23, 1895)....
With all of that time spent in the quiet of a library or lost in the shelves on a darkening afternoon, I realize just how quickly that setting can turn sinister. A scream in the silence, eyes peering from the other side of the spines. The quiet is only comforting until you want — no, need — someone around to help you. And some authors have tapped into that fear, turning the places we love so dearly into an accomplice to a crime....
“When people told themselves their past with stories, explained their present with stories, foretold the future with stories…the best place by the fire was kept for The Storyteller.” If you are like me, you read those words with John Hurt’s voice in your head. They are the opening words of The Storyteller, and although the series switched to Storyteller Michael Gambon for a second/spinoff season focused on Greek mythology, Hurt is and will forever be The Storyteller in my heart....
That all said, I know so many readers love being more organized and intentional in their reading than me, and one way to do just that is through the use of fun reading tracker bookmarks. The beauty of a reading tracker bookmark is that you’ll always know where it is and because it’s so portable, if you finish a book while on the go, you don’t have to remember to input it when you return....
Are you looking for more great new romance books and new releases? Sign up for TBR: Tailored Book Recommendations! TBR is a personalized book recommendation service that takes into account what you want to read more of. Simply fill out our reader survey, indicate what you want to read more of (such as new romance novels!), and you’ll be matched with an expert Bibliologist who will recommend books just for you....
So when Andrew Davies, who wrote the Pride and Prejudice that gave us wet Colin Firth, announced he was making a series based on Austen’s unfinished novel Sanditon, I was thrilled. Finally, a new Austen story! And Austen addict that I am, I actually read Sanditon years ago and always thought the premise was intriguing. The 11-chapter scrap of a novel is set in Sanditon, a seaside town being developed into a fashionable health resort by the enthusiastic Mr....
How Does Blinkist Work? So the first thing to note is that Blinkist comes with a rather hefty price tag. You can try it for free for 7 days, and after that, you are automatically charged $99 for the annual subscription. Sure, $99 is nothing compared to the cost of purchasing 3000 books, but it’s also not free like the library, and still has a far more limited selection. Once you sign up, you have instant access to the entire range of titles, and you can choose to read or listen to the “blinks....
“Don’t get me wrong—many of these events have been truly excellent. But the internet, which can be thrilling and inspiring and creative, rarely mimics the conventions of the physical world. So why are we still circumscribing book events according to the limits of what is possible in person?”Something to think about as more and more book events shift online. (Side note: most of my Zoom calls these days qualify as “wildly unprofessional powerpoints....
I was especially excited to learn that the theme of this young readers’ anthology is joy. Although I’m still buzzing off the high of Eid gifts and hugging family friends and their cute kids, there is still a sad weight hanging over because of the oppressed people around the world. Learning that this book will be filled with Muslims sharing and celebrating joy filled me with hope. The Muslim creatives in this anthology are serious legends....
So far, both Bloodshot (literal) and Doom Patrol (spirit) have passed. How will Titans fair? Let’s get started. The Titans are a superhero team featuring ex-members of the Teen Titans who have “aged out” (so to speak), so let’s actually backtrack a bit. The Teen Titans first appeared in The Brave and the Bold #54 (July 1964). Created by Bob Haney and Bruno Premiani, the original team consisted of Wally West (Kid Flash), Dick Grayson (Robin), and Aqualad (Garth), though by issue #60, Donna Troy (Wonder Girl) had been added....
There’s also a difference between what’s technically in the curriculum and what is actually being taught — and how. Whether you are a parent or a teacher, teaching children in your care about this history is essential, because you can’t assume someone else already has or will in the future sufficiently. The repercussions of residential schools are being deeply felt by generations today, and education is one small piece of how we can grapple with this....
SHOUT is Laurie’s story about being a survivor, about being a woman, about being an advocate who is passionate about young people, about intellectual freedom, and about being the best people we can all possibly be. It’s angry and it’s hopeful. It’s sad and it’s powerful. It’s real and raw. The verse is flawless. It adds movement and clarity. It is exactly what it wants to be: a shout, not a whisper....
Who gets the ARCs of own voices books? The publisher’s job is to do whatever it takes to get the right book into the hands of the right readers. However, black book reviewers are struggling to be taken seriously by publishers in their requests for ARCs of the books they can relate to the most. Seji @theartisangeek – the coiner of #OwnVoicesReviews – even created a (very impressive if I might add) music video to get the publisher of Kingdom of Souls by Rena Barron to take note of her ARC request....
Because of supply chain issues — a refrain we’ll keep singing for a long time to come — it’s actually quite challenging right now to find or produce decorative hats, especially of the baseball variety. All of the ones below come from small creators, meaning they have both the stock and supplies on hand. There are a number of fun bookish hats for every kind of reader. Whether you want to be more minimalist in your apparel or are itching to be bold, there’s a perfect cap for you....
Historical fiction can provide so much entertainment and enrichment. Personally, I am a fan of fictional characters in real settings because I like to travel back in time and imagine that I am watching them live their life. It’s almost like having a front-row ticket to a special show ( and depending on the year you enjoy, movies may or may not have been invented yet!). Don’t worry if you don’t know what decade you actually love....
