Confessions of Georgia Nicolson

When I saw that Louise Rennison was trending on Twitter, I first assumed that she'd done an interview or released another book. It broke my heart to learn that she had passed away. 

She was a brilliantly funny author, I have thoroughly enjoyed her books. A coworker recommended them to me and I devoured the audio books. When life gets a little too stressful or crazy, it's a relief to jump into the world of Georgia Nicolson. You can't take yourself too seriously when you're viewing life through the eyes of someone so delightedly self centered. 

Who else has read her books? If you haven't already, I highly recommend them. If you HAVE read them, give the audio books a try. They are a DELIGHT. 

Ten Books We Enjoyed Recently that Weren't Our Typical Genres

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

This week's topic...

Top Ten Books We Enjoyed Recently that Weren't Our Typical Genre or that Were Out of Our Comfort Zone

Julia's Picks

1 -- Every Day by David Levithan

This isn't too far out of my comfort zone, but recently I haven't been reading much YA, so it's not my typical genre anymore. I really enjoyed this one and all of the thoughts it raised for me.

2 -- The Lotus Palace by Jeannie Lin

While this is a historical romance, it is definitely not the normal historical romance as it is set in ancient China instead of recent history Europe. It was a good book, and I loved reading about a different part of history.

3 -- The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith

Mystery crime novels are not something I usually read but I have been really enjoying this series. I can't wait to read book three!

Lauren's Picks

4 -- F*ck Feelings: One Shrink's Practical Advice for Managing All Life's Impossible Problems by Michael I. Bennett & Sarah Bennett

If anyone knows me well, they know I am an advocate of therapy. I am still in the beginning stages of my own personal healing, but I know how much it has helped others and how it continues to be a source of comfort for me. I've never once picked up a self help book... maybe out of fear of becoming a stereotype, maybe because I didn't care. I came across this at my local bookstore, read a few random paragraphs, and bought it. The book is what it is titled. It an actual fun read, rather than how I imagine a typical self help book would read. It is completely practical and the authors are not pretentious, but would rather you look at every life situation and take what you can learn from it and move on. I even showed it to my therapist and he wrote the title and author's names down. Yes, it does have curse words, if you haven't already gathered. It is NOT a book just of f-bombs and the like. Sometimes humans need to express themselves, no matter what the emotion being. When anger hits its boiling point, doesn't a few well placed cuss words just make you feel a little better? YES. And that is how this book uses it allotment of curse words. They are meant to release tension and help you deal with the world around you. (Did this just become a book review?!?)

5 -- Landline by Rainbow Rowell

This book could fall into a few different genres. Romance, Contemporary, Chick Lit... all of which I don't typically read. But I friggin loved this book. It was cute, relatable, and yes... it had some mushy feels. That I actually enjoyed. Don't judge. 

6 -- Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

Now mythology (of any origin) is a favorite genre of mine. But this book was a humorous tale starring the Greek gods we know so well. I was apprehensive when I picked this up because I love the mystery and adventures of the Greek gods and I was worried this would be a book that went overboard. Well... it did go overboard... and I liked it. It's not a 5 star book for me, but definitely 4 stars. The author made me laugh with her unique way of making the gods and goddess's personalities shine. 

Daisy's Picks

7 -- Maid-Sama! Vol 1 &2 by Hiro Fujiwara

So this was the second (and third) manga I read and while it's getting there a bit more, it's still a bit out of my comfort zone and it definitely was when I read this. But it's fun and cute and I love the characters!

8 -- The Vanishing Throne by Elizabeth May

So this is YA fantasy which is obviously my comfort zone, but books about fae in particular are very much not and this is actually one of the few (along with A Court of Thorns and Roses) that I did enjoy!

9 -- The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

I read this with my book club, I'd had it on my shelf for AGES but I don't really read a lot of books that are considered literature. Because it's not really my thing usually. And this one is HUGE. But obviously I should have know to trust J.K. Rowling to bring the awesome, no matter what genre, and I really liked it! Took me some time to really get into it, but then this book and I got along very well.

10 -- The Lie by C.L. Taylor

I don't really read a lot of mysteries/thrillers, but this one was REALLY good! It's creepy and there's lots of crazy and a cult (which is a good recipe for creepy/crazy things going down). 

What books have you read that were out of your comfort zone recently?

Julia Reviews The Groom Wore Plaid by Gayle Callen + a GIVEAWAY

Title/Author: The Groom Wore Plaid by Gayle Callen

Publisher/Year Published: Feb 23, 2016 by Avon

How I got this book: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Why I read this book: I love historical romances and I haven't read one in Scotland in a while!

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary: 

Maggie McCallum’s dreams about her new fiancé aren’t the romantic sort. It’s not just that she was bartered to Owen Duff like a piece of property to end a clan feud. She’s also haunted by premonitions of his death on their upcoming wedding day. Yet the exasperating Highlander won’t let her call it off, even though his life and his clan are both in jeopardy. Owen has wanted Maggie in his bed since he first glimpsed her years ago. If their union restores peace between their clans, so much the better. But while lusting after another chief’s sister had its risks, growing to trust Maggie is far more dangerous. Owen is falling deeply in love with the one woman he cannot hope to claim…and survive.

Review:
It's been quite some time since I have had the chance to read a romance set in Scotland. Going into this book, I had no idea that it was the second in a series, but that didn't effect my enjoyment. We meet Maggie as she is arriving at her future husband's home for the first time. We follow Owen and Maggie through flashbacks of how they first met and their past together before this new development. And the new development is an old contract that is forcing their hand into marriage. Neither of them really mind, until Maggie has a dream that she is convinced is an omen and spends the rest of the book trying to break off the marriage lest what she dreams comes to pass.

My favorite part of this book are the characters, and it is primarily a character driven book. Maggie is trying to fit in a new family (who has hated her clan for years) and Owen is trying to step out of the shadow of his dead father, who was a horrible leader. Their romance is so cute and was my favorite thing to read. The sexytimes were also pretty nice to read, too. On a scale of bland to ghost pepper, the heat of the scenes was sort of in the middle.

I do think that the plot was the weakest part of this book. It focused too much on Maggie's dream to further the plot. I thought there could have been enough to focus on with the moving to a new place with a sort of Romeo and Juliet sort of family feud without adding the dreams into a mix. But even so I still enjoyed the book enough to glomp through it in one plane ride.

Giveaway!!
If you are interested in reading some historical romance set in Scotland I would definitely recommend you check this out and excitingly, Avon has given us a review copy as part of their book tour! Not only that but the first book in the series The Wrong Bride is included for the three lucky winners! The book officially comes out tomorrow but here is your chance to win your own copy!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks again to HarperCollins and Avon for the chance to read this one early and for the giveaway!! 

Why I've Embraced My eReader

Surprisingly, I was a fairly early adopter of the eReader concept.  I got my first one for my college graduation back in 2010.  I loved the idea of being able to carry hundreds of books with me at once because that meant carrying fewer books whenever I'd leave my apartment.  I loved having options.  Granted, I still packed physical books, but I had hundreds on reserve.  Despite this, I rarely used my eReader.  I'd bring it with me, but typically wind up reading one of the physical books I brought or nothing at all.

I bought a second generation eReader.

I bought an iPad and downloaded the reading apps--Kindle, Nook, Oyster (R.I.P).  Still--I rarely really used my eReader.

Until recently.

Now I can't seem to get enough of it.  My iPad is a constant companion whenever I leave the house.

Here are a few reasons why I've suddenly embraced my eReader...

1.  No one knows what I am reading.  I really like this aspect of it.  I have hardly read any books to completion since starting law school because I hardly have any time to read for fun.  I've been doing better about making time at night before bed.  But still, I can't really count on having the time to truly sink into a book, so I flit around quite a lot.  I used to agonize about this.  Now I'm totally cool with it because I'm reading what I need to read when I need to read it.  Anyway, the eReader allows me some anonymity so that people can't tell how many books I've started and abandoned in a given hour, day, or week.

2.  Takes up way less space in my bag.  I hate feeling like a bag lady.  I have always loved big purses.  But I really don't want back problems later on (and I refuse to get a wheely bag like some of my fellow classmates) so I limit myself to one bag for all of my stuff, which mostly consists of school stuff.  That little iPad mini takes up way less space than a paperback, let alone a massive hardcover tome.

3.  Allows me to do side research if I have any questions.  I am in full-on research mode.  Everything I see leads to questions, which leads to research.  I love being able to flip from my book to Wikipedia or the internet to find out a little bit more about what I'm reading.  Yes, I could flip from a physical book to my iPhone, but this is much easier and I won't lose my place.

4.  Greater variety.  Yes, this is still a factor for me.  I have a variety of novels, non-fiction, short stories, and essays on my eReader.  I can find something to fit my mood whenever I have time to read.  And I love that.  Plus I have synched my New Yorker, Atlantic, and New York Times accounts so I have even more variety available.  Further, I can buy something any time with just one click...which can also be dangerous, yes.

5.  I feel like I read faster on my screen.  I don't know why this is, but I feel like I read the pages much faster when it's from the screen.  Maybe it has something to do with the font size I use.  I don't know.  But I like feeling like I'm taking in more.

6.  No one knows what I am reading.  This is such an important factor that I'm listing it again.  Seriously!  No one know how many books I abandon!  I don't have to feel guilty.  I know I shouldn't feel guilty in the first place, but I do.  Or maybe it's that I feel awkward when someone asks whether I finished such and such book that I was reading last time they saw me and inevitably I have just stopped reading it.  NO QUESTIONS!  I love it!


Basically, my eReader has come to be a slice of freedom for me.  I can read what I want, when I want, with fewer questions.  And that is just what I need right now.

Lauren Reviews The Winter Girl by Matt Marinovich

The Winter Girl by Matt Marinovich 
Published: January 2016 by Doubleday
Source: eARC
Rating: 4 Stars

A scathing and exhilarating thriller that begins with a husband’s obsession with the seemingly vacant house next door.

It’s wintertime in the Hamptons, where Scott and his wife, Elise, have come to be with her terminally ill father, Victor, to await the inevitable. As weeks turn to months, their daily routine - Elise at the hospital with her father, Scott pretending to work and drinking Victor’s booze - only highlights their growing resentment and dissatisfaction with the usual litany of unhappy marriages: work, love, passion, each other. But then Scott notices something simple, even innocuous. Every night at precisely eleven, the lights in the neighbor’s bedroom turn off. It’s clearly a timer…but in the dead of winter with no one else around, there’s something about that light he can’t let go of. So one day while Elise is at the hospital, he breaks in. And he feels a jolt of excitement he hasn’t felt in a long time. Soon, it’s not hard to enlist his wife as a partner in crime and see if they can’t restart the passion.

Their one simple transgression quickly sends husband and wife down a deliriously wicked spiral of bad decisions, infidelities, escalating violence, and absolutely shocking revelations.

This was an amazingly mind-blowing slap to the face that left you wondering where you even where. You've read the summary... you think, "Ahh, another thriller with a little mystery." HA! Not a chance! This book has so many twists and turns that your head will spin - in a good way. 

So the bedroom light comes on every night at the same time in the house next door - who cares, right? Scott was bored enough to care and it's amazing how one little light can change so many lives. This may be one of my most vague book reviews yet, but I don't care. I'm not spoiling one single detail. I'm not even really into the mystery/thriller genre, but I tore through this book like a bull in a china shop. And yes... there are still broken pieces that need to be picked up.

Top Ten Tuesday - Books and Songs Edition

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We're all about books and music this week! 

Kimberly's Picks

1. Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin- We Are Young by FUN. Seriously. Just go listen to this song, it totally fits the book!
2. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson- Bad Blood by Bastille. This is for  Ballister Blackheart and Goldenloin, obviously. ;) 
3. The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss- She Lit A Fire by Lord Huron. Okay, I may not actually like Denna that much, but this song fits how Kvothe talks about her PERFECTLY. 
4. Magonia by Maria Dahvana Headley- Shatter Me by Lindsey Stirling.  I feel like this fits Aza really well. The things that hold her back and all the events that start her adventure.

Jana's Picks

Oh wow, so Kimberly is awesome and came up with songs that actually fit books! I seriously can't think of anything, so my picks will just be songs that I wish WERE books. Like, an awesome story in a song that I wish I could read more about. 

5. A Horse with No Name by America 
I really love this song, and the desert setting is described so perfectly. I love books that take place in the desert! 

6. I Only Know How to Love by The Tenors
A love story that fits these lyrics would be amazing.

7. The Great Escape by Boys Like Girls
This song is so road-trippy to me! It reminds me of a cute summer contemporary with young love and no worries.

8. Lights by Ellie Goulding
This song gives me a sci-fi feeling. It tells a very cool story.

9. Love Remains the Same by Gavin Rossdale
Again, I'm a fan of romance. This song is about a love that lasts and remains the same no matter what. If the world is ending, our love isn't. Love that! Maybe a time travel book?

10. Life is Getting Better by Javier Colon
This is a song for a character who is struggling. I see this working for a contemporary with a bit more depth for it.

What songs do you have theme songs for? Or... What songs do you wish were books?

Tahleen reviews audibook: "Career of Evil" by Robert Galbraith

Title: Career of Evil (Cormoran Strike #3)
Author: Robert Galbraith
Publisher: Hachette Audio, 2015
Narrator: Robert Glenister

Rating: 4.5 stars

This is the third book in Galbraith's (aka J.K. Rowling) Cormoran Strike series, and here, we have an extremely personal case for Strike and Robin.

The book starts off with the very disturbing delivery of a most unwanted package to Robin Ellacott, Strike's resourceful and determined secretary-turned-partner: the severed leg of a woman. What follows is a race against time to find this killer before he finds them, and Strike has not one, but three men in mind who have a grudge against him might have done this.

This book is just as complex and riveting as the first two in the series, but the notable thing about Career of Evil is how much more disturbing it is than the first two, which is saying something. Here, we are taken into the mind of a serial killer, and witness his sadistic and sociopathic need to kill and mutilate, all while Glenister dispassionately relates it all in his expert narration. Glenister is truly the perfect narrator; the amount of dialects and accents he uses in this book alone is worth listening to the whole thing, even if the book wasn't so darn good in the first place.

One other thing I loved about this book was how we learn more about Robin and her past. In addition, the relationship/friendship between Robin and Strike develops further, and I really enjoyed watching it progress.

I will warn you, this is not for the faint of heart; if you get squeamish easily you might want to skip this series. If not, you are definitely missing out on some top-notch mysteries and fabulous narration. If you're an audiobook listener, put these on your list.

Disclaimer: I got this audiobook from my local library, wahoo!

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child WILL BE RELEASED AS A BOOK. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

As I'm sure you all have seen by now about the interwebs, the new play premiering this summer detailing Harry's life as a middle-aged dude is officially going to be released in book form on July 31 (the play premiers on July 30 at the West End's Palace Theater in London).

The goddess Rowling has smiled down upon us!

#currentmood

For those of you who have been living under a rock, here's the synopsis:

It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. 

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places.

So, I honestly haven't been following this all that much because obviously I'm not going to go to London just to see this show, particularly because tickets will probably cost like a zillion dollars and also I hate crowds and I'm not a big fan of plays to be honest, so you can imagine how happy I am that I will actually be able to just read the book in my living room and NOT HAVE TO SEE IT ON STAGE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY. 

I do wish it was going to be in novel form, but I get that J. K. is super busy and like, doesn't exactly have the time to turn her book series-turned-play back into a novel just because I want her to. But, ya know. Dreams.

How PSYCHED are you for this??!?!?!? If you live in the UK, will you go see it on stage? How do you feel about reading the script versus reading it in novel form?? Let's discuss!!

P.S. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is available for preorder on Amazon!! I just ordered mine!!

Top Ten Tuesday - Valentine's Day Freebie

For future Top Ten Tuesday topics & info on how to participate, click here!

This weeks theme...

Valentine's Day is next week... so we're doing a Valentine's Day themed freebie! Top Ten Books That Would Make Great Valentine's Day Reads (or anti-Valentine's day reads), Top Ten OTPs, Top 10 fictional crushes, top ten great love declarations in fiction, swoony quotes from books, etc. Get creative!

And for our list...

Top Ten Swoony Quotes from Books

Daisy's Picks

"In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."  

- Mr Darcy. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

"I don't want those things from you. I love your faults and imperfections. Your kind heart. The scars that match mine, and the struggles to find ourselves. I want you humanness. Nothing else." 

- Morpheus. Ensnared by A.G. Howard

"I cannot make speeches, Emma. If I love you less, I might be able to talk about it more." 

- Mr. Knightley. Emma by Jane Austen

Julia's Picks

"I love you with everything I am, everything I've been, and everything I hope to be. I love you with my past, and I love you for my future. I love you for the children we'll have and for the years we'll have together. I love you for everyone of my smiles and even more, for every one of your smiles." 

- Colin Bridgerton. Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

"Love, real love, the kind that you fall in, isn't like Corinthians. The "suffereth long" and "is king" nonsense. It's  like the Song of Solomon. It's jealousy and fire and floods. It's everything that consumes."

- A Notorious Countess Confesses by Julie Anne Long

"Love's about finding the one person who makes your heart complete. Who makes you a better person than you ever dreamed you could be. It's about looking in the eyes of your wife and knowing all the way to your bones that she's simply the best person you've ever known"

- The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

"I no longer believed in the idea of soul mates, or love at first sight. But I was beginning to believe that a very few times in your life, if you were lucky, you might meet someone who was exactly right for you. Not because he was perfect, or because you were, but because your combined flaws were arranged in a way that allowed two separate being to hinge together"

- Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

Lauren's Picks

“Some people don't understand the promises they're making when they make them," I said. "Right, of course. But you keep the promise anyway. That's what love is. Love is keeping the promise anyway.” 

- The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

“The only thing worse than a boy who hates you: a boy that loves you.” 

- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

“So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.” 

- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

January Faves & February TBR List

January Faves

Jamie's Pick

The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner -- I had a GREAT reading month so it was hard to only mention one of the great books I read, but this one was definitely my favorite! It's incredible. I can't even describe it. You can check out my attempt to here.

Lauren's Pick

This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner -- I really enjoy the first book in this series and so I picked this one up to read. I only have one thing to say... this was the second book in a series, but it could also be read as a standalone novel. CAN I GET A HELL YEAH?!?!

Jana's Pick

Winter by Marissa Meyer -- What a wonderful ending to my favorite series! This book was everything I could have hoped for and more.

Tahleen's Pick

 Uprooted by Naomi Novik -- It has been a very, very long time since I've read a book that I feel excited to get back to, that I can't wait to pick back up, but that I never want to end. I loved everything about this book. It was surprising, and exciting, and romantic, and just wonderful. I actually want to buy this one and always have it on hand if I feel like rereading. I do not do this. So. This will be a go-to recommendation for me.


Julia's Pick

Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare -- Since Jana picked Winter (which I loved, too), I'll pick Romancing the Duke. I went on a cross country flight and read this in a day. It was sweet and unique and I fell in love with the leads.

Bridget's Pick

The Girl with All the Gifts by M.R. Carey -- This is definitely not your average post-pandemic science fiction story. It will definitely tug at your heart, and it will also surprise you in a few different ways. It's hard to explain without giving things away, but rest assured that the ending will make you rethink everything you knew about post-apocalyptic scenarios.

February TBR

 Jamie's Pick

The Love That Split The World by Emily Henry -- I can't get enough of time travel lately and this one was pitched as The Time Traveler's Wife meets Friday Night Lights --- which are two of my all time fave things.

Lauren's Pick

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys -- Everyone pretty much knows of my affection for historical fiction, so this one doesn't really need an explanation. Except I did read the author's other novel, Between Shades of Gray, and it is now on my favorites list. 

Jana's Pick

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson -- I'm so excited! I loved The Kiss of Deception, and can't wait to continue.

Julia's Pick

 Uprooted by Naomi Novik -- I am so excited to read this one, and seeing that Tahleen picked it as her best of for January makes me so excited!  I found it recently and checked it out as a book to read during my beach vacation next week. I am so excited to pick something up that is unique and different!

Bridget's Pick

Pioneer Girl: The Annotated Autobiography by Laura Ingalls Wilder and Pamela Smith Hill (Editor) -- I'm actually about halfway through this already and have been reading it on and off since before Christmas, but I want to get it done this month! It's very interesting, but it's also exhausting to flip back and forth between the footnotes and the story. For those who don't know, Pioneer Girl is what eventually became the seven Little House on the Prairie books, but it was originally written as an adult memoir, not as a children's series. It's been really fun to see where things were fictionalized or moved around to fit the narrative that Laura Ingalls Wilder wanted for her children's series!

A (Long Overdue) Cocktail & Conversation With TB&TB Crew

Every other Thursday here at the Broke & The Bookish is  A Cocktail Conversation time. One of the TB&TB members will pose a question to 2-3 of the other members of TB&TB crew about books, life, music, etc and then they'll answer and we can converse about it. So grab a cocktail & cozy up for some conversation. It's 5 o'clock somewhere, friends.

It's been a while since we've sat down for some cocktails and convo with y'all on a Thursday! Our apologies.

Here's this week's topic: 

 What is one book you recommend pretty much across the board -- regardless of genre or what the person normally reads?

 Julia Says...

One book that I usually recommend to people is The Time Travelers Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. It's a drama, I would say, but also includes hints of science fiction and romance. I adore this book and read it every few years. I'm actually do for a reread now. I love the questions that this book poses on the ramifications of time travel on not just the person time traveling but the people around them. The movie version of this was a disappointment, so if you didnt really like the movie, give this book a chance.

Tahleen Says... 

I recommend Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple to anyone at the library who is "looking for a good book" and gives me little to no extra information. It's funny, got a mystery, has broad appeal, plus it's written in emails and documents, as well as being narrated by Bernadette's 14-year-old daughter. Pretty much everyone who has read it that I've talked to has loved it. Bonus: If they liked Where'd You Go, Bernadette and are looking for something else to read, I'll recommend Bellweather Rhapsody by Kate Racculia — this one is also a quirky mystery, but set in an old hotel during a major snowstorm that traps the high school chorus and orchestra all-stars (and their teachers/chaperones) who are performing there that weekend.

 

Bridget Says...

There are a few books like this, but recently it's been Celeste Ng's Everything I Never Told You. I feel hypocritical because I always say "this book will make you ugly cry... in a GOOD way" but if someone told me that about a book I probably wouldn't read it, because I generally avoid books that make me cry. But this one was SO WORTH IT and you should read it.

Lauren Says...

I recommend Ready Player One by Ernest Cline for several reasons. It has that dystopian feel to it that most people are intrigued by these days, but it also tugs at those science fiction heart strings that you didn't even realize you had. The true front-runners of the science fiction genre have set the tone for our future. Just turn on the History Channel or TLC and you come across a documentary about today's society/culture and I can guarantee you someone at one time has written a science fiction novel about that very same topic. Take Arthur C. Clarke for example. He is best known for writing the screenplay for one of the most influential films of all time... 2001: A Space Odyssey. When Clarke was introduced to one of the first computers (which consisted of many gigantic electrical boxes that filled an entire room), Clarke legit predicts the internet and how one day everyone will own a computer that will be drastically smaller where they can look at their bank statements or work from home. SERIOUSLY? Yes, seriously. Look it up. Ernest Cline did not disappoint with this novel as he introduced a new possible future that truly meets the trends our society seems to be following. So just go pick it up. You won't be disappointed. 

Tell us, dear book pushers! Which books are ones that you will pretty much recommend universally?

Of Interest

Hey guys! Jamie here! Thought it would be fun to give you a quickie rundown of what's going on that may be of interest to you.

• Panels discusses how to read comics on a budget which is a topic I've been mulling over as I've just gotten into comics over the past couple months. For right now I'm just getting trades from the library but I know I'm going to want to purchase some single issues especially with some new comics I'm eye-ing up right now or ones I plan to catch up with.

• Amazon plans to open up brick and mortar shops. INNNNTERESTING. I mean, I shop all over the place -- indies, chains and online with Amazon -- but I just feel weird about this considering Amazon killed so many indies. How do youuuu feel about this

• 100 books to read before they are movies. Get crackin' on these!  

• I'm so impressed with this little girl and inspired by her honestly.  Love her #1000BlackGirlBooks project!!

• McDonalds is going to experiment with putting books as the happy meal prize? Not that my mom really took us there that much as kids but DAMN I would have loved this so much more than half the crap I got in Happy meals back in the 80's and early 90's. Not a big fast food fan but I'm interested to see how this will be received!

• There is a children's book about Donald Trump's hair. BAHAHAHAH. 

• Author Marissa Meyers (love her Lunar Chronicles series from the two books I've read thus far) is writing graphic novels set in the same world as The Lunar Chronicles!!! 

• Leonardo DiCaprio is set to produce an adaptation of a post-apocalyptic book I've never heard of....and that has zero info on Goodreads. Throw me a bone here.

• Interesting survey about publishing. And the results are in....publishing is very white. Surprising and shocking to probably not many people who are paying attention to the diversity in publishing convo happening online.

•  15 Life Lessons Anne of Green Gables Has Taught Us --- oh this list makes me want to revisit these books!!

• If the Hot Dudes Reading instagram makes you drool, prepare your fainting couch  because it's coming to you in coffee table book form. You think my husband would think it's weird if this ends up on our coffee table? Ehhh he probably wouldn't even notice it because he's numb to books laying around everywhere that he just ignores them.  

Let's discuss all the things. Also, am I missing anything of interest??

Top Ten Historical Settings We Love

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This week's prompt: Top Ten Historical Settings You Love / Top Ten Historical Settings You'd Love To See or Top Ten Futuristic Books You Love/Ten Futuristic Societies I'd Love To Read in Books --- basically this week is all about the past or the future....spin it however you choose!

Jamie's Picks

1 -- Old West: I have memories of watching Westerns with my grandfather as well as with my "Uncle" Bobby (RIP -- this man was the husband of my old babysitter/family friend and we adored him).  Such good memories. But out of all the historical stuff I read, I never read stuff set during this time. I've been loving the Wild West/American Frontier settings as of lately! Just gimme the Oregon Trail and Gold Rush stuff!

2 -- WWII France, Germany and England: I can't help it. I will never tired of this setting. I just won't... ever. They are often hard to read, but I've read some of my favorite historical books ever in this setting. I've always loved history and my stepdad and I would often watch lots of WWII docs on the History Channel (when it was, like, still the History Channel full of history stuff).

3 -- Tudor England: I just... can't get enough. Honestly. Esp Henry VIII court.

4 -- Civil Rights Era in U.S.: I think this period interests me because it's still so present in our society today. It's not that far removed... our parents and grandparents saw it. There's still generations who lived through it in our society. We can see the effects today and are largely still working on racial issues in today's society so I've just always been interested in it and inspired by people who sacrificed so much for rights I've just been born with and never had to fight for. I remember learning about this time in school and thinking, "Man, I can't believe this stuff happened not that long ago. Weren't we more evolved as a people than to treat people like that?" And while progress has been made because of this era, it's more evident than ever that this is still a dire issue in our country.

Lauren's Picks

5 -- When Egypt Ruled The World: I can't stop reading every single historical fiction book set during... well, any time in Egypt. Every single ruler or person of note has a rich background full of Egyptian culture that seizes my soul. Must Reads: Cleopatra's Daughter, The Heretic Queen, Nefertiti, Lily of the Nile, Cleopatra: A Life

6 -- India: This country's culture and society is so full of color and AMAZINGNESS that I am in awe every time I finish a book set in India. You will be too. Must Read: Rebel Queen, The God of Small Things, A Fine Balance, The White Tiger

7 -- Hawaii: This state has seen it's fair share of tragedy and loss, and sadly... many people don't realize it. When someone says, "Hawaii," people automatically think... vacation! I think of the suffering and obstacles so many had to overcome there in the past. It is truly an amazing and determined state that has now become one of the best places to vacation. Must Read: Moloka'i, Honolulu

8 -- Ancient Greece: Besides the obvious... GREEK MYTHOLOGY IS LIFE... other cultural aspects of this time period spark my imagination and I tend to pick up any book set in ancient Greece. Must Read: Sirena, The Iliad, Last of the Amazons, Gates of Fire, Helen of Sparta, Flow Down Like Silver

9 -- Medieval: Who doesn't want to know about those crazy ass torture devices and what was knocking around in these peoples' minds regarding well... just staying alive? Must Read: Pope Joan, The Midwife's Apprentice, Incarceren, A Game of Thrones

10 -- Italy/Renaissance: So much happened. So many beautiful things were created. How can you not want to know more? Must Read: The Birth of Venus, In the Company of the Courtesan, The City of Falling Angels, Juliet, The Monster of Florence