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A Can’t Miss Author: Tamora Pierce
Hello everyone, In the past month, I have continued to dive deep into some rereads, especially as I use audiobooks to alleviate anxiety. There is something really calming about listening to books you know and love when your brain is going a million miles an hour, and for the past few weeks, Tamora Pierce has been that for me. So today, I want to take some time to explore the world(s) of Tamora Pierce, along with looking at what it is that makes her books SO great. These are absolutely my favorite middle grade/young adult books, and I especially love the way they encourage positive behaviors and normalize diverse identities…
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Weekend Joys in Books and More: March 26th
Hello everyone, I’m pretty late here, and honestly, it’s been a hard week. Between lack of sleep, a few things at work, and driving by a flag pole at half mast all week, I’m feeling slightly pretty spent, and I for one am looking forward to some fun this weekend, including hiking! The snow finally melted enough to make it possible, and outdoor adventures feed my soul. This week, I have all book related things for you, but I hope they are fun! 1.) This is an old but great TED Talk! 2.) I thought this was an incredibly cool idea! Read the whole thing to find out how they…
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Miss Marple: They Do It With Mirrors
“People will quite often do anything for money.” Good morning! Today, I have a fun Miss Marple book to share with you all in which we get a delightful image of Miss Marple as a young woman and see the lengths she goes to to keep those she loves safe. This is a cast of characters, “house party” type of mystery, and one that I quite enjoyed reading despite the fact that there are a LOT of characters for such a short book. The Book In They Do It With Mirrors, Miss Marple effects her first “disguise” of sorts when she reconnects with two old friends who she went to…
- Books, Children's Books, Interesting Things, Just Because, Movies and Television, Nature Notes, Podcasts
Weekend Joys in Books and More: March 19th
Hello everyone, In addition to what has simply been a tough week in a lot of ways, I had a weird Covid-anniversary this past week. Yesterday was both the day I was considered fully vaccinated, and the day that, a year ago, we closed my daycare due to concerns about the pandemic. Although we opened up 2 months later, it was a weird time, and reflecting on that this week put me in a contemplative mood. I have a weird assortment for you all this week as I’m hoping to change my energy a bit and go into the weekend feeling motivated. 1.) One of my primary needs in any…
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Irish Stories: Nonfiction, Mysteries, Cozy Books and More
Hello everyone, In honor of St Patrick’s Day (which I think is a much bigger holiday in the United States than it is in Ireland), I did want to share some wonderful Irish stories with you all. Ireland is a country that has a rich storytelling culture and nowhere is that more evident than in their literature! Below you will find great Irish suggestions of all kinds, from highbrow literary fiction to really fun television. I tried to find options from both Northern Ireland and the country of Ireland, and I hope you find something that works for you here! This is by no means comprehensive, so chime in if…
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Weekend Joys in Books and More: March 12th
Hello everyone, After a week of big news and revelations and what was honestly quite a long week for me (too many things to do and not enough hours), I have a quiet little list for you today as we go into the weekend. Don’t forget to set your clocks forward on Sunday, and have a lovely weekend. 1.) This is super interesting (and the opposite of quiet). On a related note, did you know how the story of Frankenstein and the island of Bali are connected? 2.) Some of these are really cool! I went to get the link, and ended up watching elephants for 10 minutes. 3.) This…
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Miss Marple: A Murder is Announced
“Really, I have no gifts – no gifts at all – except perhaps a certain knowledge of human nature. People, I find, are apt to be far too trustful. I’m afraid that I have a tendency always to believe the worst. Not a nice trait. But so often justified by subsequent events. ” p77 Hello everyone, I’m back this week with a lovely Miss Marple novel that really hit the sweet spot. I also have to say, I’m loving the Miss Marple attitude in general, and leaning into some of the qualities that I was thrown by at first. In the books Marple is completely non-judgmental, has a ton of…
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Weekend Joys in Books and More: March 5th
Hello everyone and happy weekend! I have a bit of a theme this week, and I hope you enjoy this *little* list as you go into your weekend. This post made me remember fun times spent visiting Victoria as a child (and an adult, being honest). It also reminded me of the time someone walked into the clinic I was working in with an inju 1.) I find these videos SO satisfying. I may have stopped to watch all 6 minutes of this while writing this post. 2.) These are equal parts creepy and compelling. The story behind them is pretty cool. 3.) Imagine making one of these every day…
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February 2021: Beautiful writing is its own kind of joy
Hello everyone, This month, I think I may have hit a saturation point for pure comfort reading, and I found myself reaching out for other books. What I discovered (remembered?, rediscovered?) is that while there is joy in simple, easy stories and mysteries, there is another level of joy to be found in beautifully written books. The three books/series that I want to highlight today share very little except for this fact: they are all exceptionally written and their language enchanted and delighted me. Non Fiction Essays – Small Wonder by Barbara Kingsolver Barbara Kingsolver is an wonderful novelist who has written some of the most haunting and beautiful books…
because stories are important
