I worked as a bookseller for more than decade, and I’ve been book blogging for longer than that. In that time, I’ve recommended countless books, and I would guess that the majority of them were books I have not read. I’m not alone, either. If you go into a bookstore and ask for a recommendation, especially on a specific topic/in a certain genre, there’s a good chance that pitch is coming from someone who’s never read it....
— Rebecca Renner 🌈 (@RebeccaRennerFL) November 15, 2018 I have tried using all-digital calendars. For my work as a freelance writer, I keep tabs on my due dates in Asana. My personal life resides in iCloud, and my cousin, knowing how forgetful I am, creates a Google appointment the very moment we agree on future plans. In other words, my life is a hot mess. I have read all kinds of self-help and productivity books, but nothing seems to help....
Note on spoilers: As many of the most badass moments of these women happen at the novels’ climaxes, you may be met with spoilers. Jane Austen Heroines Ranked by Badassery 7. Elinor Dashwood from Sense & Sensibility Part of Elinor’s whole shtick is that she is constantly putting others before herself. On the surface, this might seem like a pretty pathetic thing to do, but I think it’s actually pretty badass....
Guess who’s back in town? Why, it’s everyone’s least favorite uninvited house guest, Mercury Retrograde! Mercury enters retrograde June 18 and will continue to ruin plans and cause confusion through July 12. I tried telling Mercury to cancel its retrograde plans considering we’re battling a global pandemic over here, but unfortunately, the planets don’t often take advice from book bloggers. As I always say, your best bet to avoid Mercury Retrograde disaster is to stay inside with a nice book....
You have the tools at hand to make a difference. This anti-censorship toolkit is perfect for those who work in schools and libraries, as well as those who support schools, libraries, and intellectual freedom. There’s also an outstanding resource in the CRT Toolkit, put together by Tasslyn Magnusson, a parent and historian passionate about supporting educators. Judd Legum, a journalist, also highlighted the need for everyone to stay informed of the battles happening on the local level, especially around topics in schools and libraries — these will continue to drive dis- and misinformation campaigns and fuel further political polarization in the coming years....
Oh, okay, maybe you don’t say you like watching drama series. But when you’re home sick for the day, or having a quiet night in, or in the bathroom with your phone…these things happen. And it’s fine. Really. Just relax and let yourself enjoy these bookish Korean dramas about reading, writing, publishing…all that good stuff. And if you like romance, you’re especially in for a treat, because all of these shows are about just that....
Library Director Danny Gillane stated the action was taken to protect the libraries’ collection, saying “I’m doing this because everything’s a fight, and if I put these books out right now, I feel like I am inviting people to challenge these books.” This decision, which some have regarded as self-censorship, comes amidst a myriad of book bans and censorship. Lafayette county patrons even challenged two books in late 2021. Still, there are some who call the decision of these libraries to block displays as discrimination....
Happily ever afters, happy for now, and hopeful endings (even if the couples aren’t together at the end in a few of these) abound! Love might not conquer all in every book…but it certainly conquers the page and readers’ imaginations in these 20 captivatingly romantic love stories. Classic YA Romance Books Contemporary Romance Books for Teens Fantasy & Paranormal Teen Romance Books New 2022 YA Romance Books Happy reading, lovebirds!...
“The official description reads: Becoming is an intimate look into the life of former First Lady Michelle Obama during a moment of profound change, not only for her personally but for the country she and her husband served over eight impactful years in the White House. The film offers a rare and up-close look at her life, taking viewers behind the scenes as she embarks on a 34-city tour that highlights the power of community to bridge our divides and the spirit of connection that comes when we openly and honestly share our stories....
In elementary school, I switched from radio dramas to audiobooks. I had always struggled to read, but in middle school, a doctor explained to my parents I had chronic daily headaches and migraines. I wasn’t a slow reader; reading was difficult for me because it made my migraines worse. Since I couldn’t read all the books I wanted to in print, my mom upgraded my tape deck to include a CD player and took me to the audiobook section of our local library....
Hello mystery fans! I am here to tell you that the ratings number on Goodreads and/or a book’s popularity is not indicative of the quality of the book. Especially this year, when we are inundated in so much terrible news, information, and have now spent two years in an ongoing apocalypse pandemic. So many great books just don’t get the marketing money, or selection by a celebrity book club, or a chance to break through all the noise....
HOLIDAYS ARE HAPPIER WITH AUDIOBOOKS. Make your holiday travels, errands, cooking sessions, and all the rest more enjoyable by listening to an audiobook. From bestsellers, to thrillers, to self-care, you can find the perfect listen for any moment. Give yourself the gift of audio this holiday season. I’ve never been much for reading resolutions. I read voraciously, always have, and I never wanted to turn something I do for fun into an obligation....
Log in at 8 pm Eastern to hear from an array of advocates for the right to read. Among the lineup are Stella Parton, who recently highlighted attacks against her sister Dolly’s Imagination Library; Brad Meltzer, author of I Am Rosa Parks and I Am Martin Luther King, Jr.; Leslea Newman, author of Heather Has Two Mommies; Megan Madison and Jessica Ralli, authors of Our Skin; I.W. Gregorio, author of None of the Above; and Nikki Grimes, author of Ordinary Hazards....
This week, I hope you’re ready for fall, because these thrillers and horror novels are perfect to read on a blustery Autumn day. And if you don’t like horror, thrillers, or witches, I’ve got one bonus pick for you. Other Book Riot New Releases Resources This is only scratching the surface of the books out this week! If you want to keep up with all the latest new releases, check out: Yet, even as Jade drags us into her dark fever dream, a surprising and intimate portrait emerges…a portrait of the scared and traumatized little girl beneath the Jason Voorhees mask: angry, yes, but also a girl who easily cries, fiercely loves, and desperately wants a home....
Niles is a diverse suburb, where roughly 72% of the community is white, with about 20% Asian, 9% Latinx, 3% Black, and about 4.5% of more than one race. Over 55% of those over the age of 5 speak a language other than English in the household, with Indo-European and Asian among the most common and ranking higher than other communities in Cook County. The Niles-Maine Public Library is a well-regarded and award-winning community library, consistently rated among the best in the country....
After all, many of us who’ve moved beyond childhood still love the thrills and chills of the spookiest season of the year. To be fair, many an indie bookseller has arranged a table of autumnal delights for their adult (if not entirely “grown up”) readers. However, it may not be surprising that horror fiction often dominates these displays. It makes sense — I mean, I can’t be the only one who has friends who consider September and October “horror season” for their bookshelves!...
Believe it or not, I’m fairly restrained when I buy books (in person…online is a different story). I generally have a plan and a budget that I actually stick to. But this isn’t about my trips to indie bookstores. No. Instead, I’m going to talk about bookstores in airports. Yes. I’m looking at you, Hudson News. Going to airports as a traveler is like going to Walmart on Black Friday....
I discovered Adrienne Rich, embarrassingly, toward the end of college. I had vaguely heard her name, but did not yet know the significance her work would have for me. I first read Rich’s work after I read Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed, the Oprah book pick that spawned a million hikers, sometime in 2013. On Strayed’s now famous hike across the Pacific Crest Trail, the only book she didn’t tear up to save room on her journey was Adrienne Rich’s Dream of a Common Language....
One of my big problems with Shakespeare’s plays is how women can be treated, a weird feeling since many of his plays have such strong female characters. In his tragedies, however, all women are usually killed, including in Hamlet. Spoiler alert: Ophelia drowns in Act IV after descending into madness, and we only learn about it through Gertrude. Ophelia only appears in five scenes (and is mentioned in a sixth when Gertrude announces her death)....
While literature is replete with authors taking the traditional route and pitting their women characters against one another, or making them mere props to the adventures of their male protagonists, we also have books that center female friendships. There are many books, from diverse genres, that show how wholesome female friendships can thrive, not just as awesome twosomes, but also as boisterous groups. As a young reader, I loved these girl gang stories for their relatively accommodating attitude towards misfits....
