tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47498581702809120502024-03-13T07:24:47.119-05:00The Nerdy BookcaseYou're Never Too Old to FangirlAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749858170280912050.post-5616379867762189522018-04-30T01:08:00.000-05:002018-04-30T01:08:07.940-05:00Blog Tour Review + Giveaway: I'm Not Okay by Renee Antonia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oB-rSO06goE/WuaxuO6uV6I/AAAAAAAAEm8/oKoUYzb-uT4BKeD088KEhCvZWWIpgWAqwCLcBGAs/s1600/34949897%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oB-rSO06goE/WuaxuO6uV6I/AAAAAAAAEm8/oKoUYzb-uT4BKeD088KEhCvZWWIpgWAqwCLcBGAs/s200/34949897%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I'm Not Okay</b> by Renee Antonia</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Published</b>: 06/24/17</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Publisher</b>: BookBaby </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Genre</b>: Young Adult Fiction </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Source</b>: Blog Tour</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/im-not-okay-renee-antonia/1126273108;jsessionid=2F958520E6125BB0BFB2127ECA3F439B.prodny_store02-atgap10?ean=9781483598062&amp;st=AFF&amp;2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&amp;sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20Inc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071H7N81X/?tag=wowwomenonwri-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When she wakes up in the morning, the first thing that goes through Alejandra's head is whether or not she will be forced into another anxiety inducing situation. The struggles of being a young adult living with an anxiety ridden brain become too much for Alejandra to deal with. So, with the help of her friends, she forces herself our of the bubble her anxiety has placed her in. She learns to conquer the fears she once thought would destroy her and learns to rely on herself more than she ever has. </span><br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-89fwF0Wcw0g/WuaxVXmKC7I/AAAAAAAAEm0/bCXlbw9cDUQJWT6mTyYWA5Wq_qAIKuwNQCLcBGAs/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>About the Author</u></b><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-89fwF0Wcw0g/WuaxVXmKC7I/AAAAAAAAEm0/bCXlbw9cDUQJWT6mTyYWA5Wq_qAIKuwNQCLcBGAs/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 16px; margin-left: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="212" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-89fwF0Wcw0g/WuaxVXmKC7I/AAAAAAAAEm0/bCXlbw9cDUQJWT6mTyYWA5Wq_qAIKuwNQCLcBGAs/s200/unnamed.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="132" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Renee Antonia grew up in the Los Angeles area with four siblings and two wonderful parents. Having such a strong support system enabled her to decide who and what she wanted to be. However, this question haunted her for years, because she couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly she saw herself doing for the rest of her life. She began to read a lot, hoping to find inspiration between the pages of a book. It was at this time that she realized one thing. She loved sharing, reading, and writing. Renee decided that she wanted to be a writer, and since that day, she has taken any steps necessary to achieve that goal. </span><br />
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-89fwF0Wcw0g/WuaxVXmKC7I/AAAAAAAAEm0/bCXlbw9cDUQJWT6mTyYWA5Wq_qAIKuwNQCLcBGAs/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: right; color: #0066cc; float: right; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">You can find Renee on her <a href="https://www.writingsbyrenee.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a> and <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16771475.Renee_Antonia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>, as well as on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/renee_antonia_/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a> and <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/writingsbyrenee/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>! </span><br />
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Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post!!<br />
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One of my favorite things about reading is that it can be an incredibly intimate act. I'm not talking<i> 50 Shades</i> intimate here. You're becoming part of the lives of the characters and being given a glimpse into their innermost thoughts and feelings. You learn about who they are at their core. Sometime those characters are extension of the author or based on the author's experiences, and as such give you an intimate glimpse into the author's core as well.<i> I'm Not Okay</i> gives you that intimate feeling.<br />
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Mental health is one of those things you don't talk about much. Unless they're a really close friend, most people don't know I've been on antidepressants for 17 years. (I wrote "15 year" at first and then had one of those "you're older than you think" moments.) It's not that I try to hide it. Obviously not since I just shared it with all of you, dear readers. It's just not a part of my personal introduction script. Depression is, however, a part of my everyday life that I treat and cope with accordingly. It informs how I approach certain situations and how I assess my well-being. It's what I call an invisible illness. I happen to have two invisible illnesses, the other being Crohn's Disease.<br />
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I related to Alex from the first pages of<i> I'm Not Okay</i>. The book begins with a moving description of what it's like to look in the mirror and not totally understand the person looking back. It's a description that anyone with mental illness, or even a chronic illness, would understand. You feel like something has been stolen and you have to figure out how to take it back. This is where we join Alex on her journey. Alex's relationships with her family are strained because anxiety and the need she felt to hide it from the world. She watches her siblings leading their lives and wonders why she struggles to make it through the school day.<br />
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<i>I'm Not Okay</i> attacks the taboos surrounding mental illness head on. It shows that while you may not feel okay yourself, acknowledging and talking about it<i> is</i> okay. More than okay, it's important. Renee Antonia brings a story about a young woman as she finds her own strength and begins to blossom into her own person as she deals with her anxiety. It shows that what has felt crippling can make you stronger, and with the help of the people who love you life can turn around. It's a story of hope. Not only did Renee Antonia write this brave story, she self-published it as well! Kudos for extra courage!<br />
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I definitely recommend<i> I'm Not Okay</i>, especially if you or someone you know struggles with anxiety or other mental illnesses. It's an empowering read and an all around great book.<br />
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Check out the blog tour launch post on the WOW - Women On Writing blog, The Muffin, for the full list of blog tour stops! There are posts for the next couple of weeks including reviews and gust posts from Renee Antonia!<br />
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I'm also hosting a GIVEAWAY! Enter below for a chance to win a copy of<i> I'm Not Okay</i>. The winner's name and email will be given to Ms. Antonia so that she can send out your copy! The giveaway will be open until May 7th at 12AM CST.<br />
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<i><br /></i><iframe frameborder="0" height="520" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLGPHNPfLthzLwndJyicjhDY0JWRAsZgbAt6vDX7tVUmCUTg/viewform?embedded=true" width="700">Loading...</iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749858170280912050.post-65136706036096661152018-03-27T10:00:00.000-05:002018-03-27T10:00:13.473-05:00Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-45TDHsTCm0I/V4V7Bj4FrrI/AAAAAAAAAPI/lENCRW6D-xoskFfqevahzBTGlalsiN1wwCLcB/s1600/The%2BOcean%2Bat%2Bthe%2BEnd%2Bof%2Bthe%2BLane%2Bby%2BNeil%2BGaiman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman" border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-45TDHsTCm0I/V4V7Bj4FrrI/AAAAAAAAAPI/lENCRW6D-xoskFfqevahzBTGlalsiN1wwCLcB/s200/The%2BOcean%2Bat%2Bthe%2BEnd%2Bof%2Bthe%2BLane%2Bby%2BNeil%2BGaiman.jpg" title="The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman is both beautiful and eerie, and an excellent example of a modern fairy-tale. " width="132" /></a></div>
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<b>The Ocean at the End of the Lane</b> by Neil Gaiman<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>William Morrow Books<br />
<b>Publication Date:</b> 06-18-2013<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Fantasy<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15783514-the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>~ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ocean-End-Lane-Novel/dp/0062459368/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468367748&sr=1-1&keywords=the+ocean+at+the+end+of+the+lane" target="_blank">Amazon </a>~ <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ocean-at-the-end-of-the-lane-neil-gaiman/1113200718?ean=9780062255662" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a><br />
Sussex, England. A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house he lived in is long gone, he is drawn to the farm at the end of the road, where, when he was seven, he encountered a most remarkable girl, Lettie Hempstock, and her mother and grandmother. He hasn't thought of Lettie in decades, and yet as he sits by the pond (a pond that she'd claimed was an ocean) behind the ramshackle old farmhouse, the unremembered past come flooding back. And it is a past too strange, too frightening, too dangerous to have happened to anyone, let alone a small boy.<br />
Forty years earlier, a man committed suicide in a stolen car at this farm at the end of the road. Like a fuse on a firework, his death lit a touchpaper and resonated in unimaginable ways. The darkness was unleashed, something scary and thoroughly incomprehensible to a little boy. And Lettie - magical, comforting, wise beyond her years - promised to protect him, no matter what. {Goodreads}</blockquote>
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I've been working on putting this review together for the better part of a month. Possibly because the book is just that good and anything I saw would be inadequate. It's possible I could just put NEIL GAIMAN and be done. However, I feel I should at least make some effort at telling you <i>why</i> it's awesome. So today's post will be a bullet review. I can get my thoughts out without the added pressure of complete paragraphs.<br />
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<li>Definitely a modern fairy tale a la the Brothers Grimm. Fantastical and out there and not at all sunshine and rainbows. With no guarantee that everything will turn out okay in the end. </li>
<li>Excellent suspense - I was actually holding my breath at one point. I found it was more intense than <i>The Graveyard Book</i> and absolutely aimed at an older crowd. </li>
<li>Neil Gaiman write the most beautiful prose and this as some of the best I've read. </li>
<li>I didn't realize this until the end but the main character telling the story is never named, nor are any of his family members. They aren't given much physical description, either. I found this lets you become more involved in other details and even with the characters, because they could truly be anyone existing in any time. </li>
<li>The story-line is one that leaves you marveling at the author's creativity. Gaiman states that this is a story that has been brewing in his mind for years, which I find amazing. It's unique in its concepts and plays with how we remember events and the role it plays in our future. The act of remembering can be just as powerful, if not more so, than the experience itself, but do we always need to hang on to them all? Are we still changed by it in the end, regardless? </li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749858170280912050.post-53445356745358345472018-03-13T22:39:00.000-05:002018-03-13T22:40:51.904-05:00Review: Fatherland by Robert Harris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2BSt421osrk/WqiYalnb9bI/AAAAAAAAEj4/xsGxqKe8NY0UY62C1fnrj6PHERwc08acQCLcBGAs/s1600/cover-art-fatherland-robert-harris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cover art fatherland by robert harris" border="0" data-original-height="297" data-original-width="197" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2BSt421osrk/WqiYalnb9bI/AAAAAAAAEj4/xsGxqKe8NY0UY62C1fnrj6PHERwc08acQCLcBGAs/s200/cover-art-fatherland-robert-harris.jpg" title="Cover art for Fatherland by Robert Harris" width="132" /></a></div>
<b>Fatherland by Robert Harris</b><br />
<b>Published</b>: 05/26/1992<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Hartorch<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Historical Fiction, Thriller<br />
<b>Source</b>: Personal Library<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56842.Fatherland?from_search=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>~ <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fatherland-robert-harris/1102932746?ean=9780812977219" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fatherland-Novel-Robert-Harris/dp/0812977211/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1520998636&sr=8-2&keywords=fatherland+robert+harris" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
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What would the world look like if the victors of history were different? For instance, what would the world be like if Germany had won World War II? If all the revelations that took place after Russia and the US liberated the concentration and extermination camps had never come to light? This is the question Robert Harris posits in <i>Fatherland, </i>and the answer is spine-chilling.<br />
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I love a good historical fiction novel, especially one about World War II and/or post-war Nazism. Probably because the mindset is so bizarre and foreign from my own. <i>Fatherland</i> dives head-first into the Nazi mindset to create a world where Adolf Hitler never died and Germany won WWII over other world powers.<br />
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Set in 1964, Berlin is preparing to celebrate Hitler's 75th birthday, a time of revelry and celebration that goes on for days. In addition, President Joseph Kennedy has decided to come to Germany following the celebrations on a peacemaking visit. Berlin Detective Xavier March is called out in the early morning hours to investigate the drowning of a former Nazi leader. Within hours the Gestapo declares they have taken over the investigation and orders March off the case. Detective March doesn't listen very well, though, and continues to investigate not only the drowning, but other deaths that took place in the days leading up to the celebrations. Teaming up with an American journalist Charlie Macguire, March risks his own life to finally ask the hard questions and uncover the truth behind the Nazi regime.<br />
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Most of the characters in Harris' book are real historical figures - party leaders and high-level Nazi - who either died in the war, were executed after the Nuremburg trials, or escaped capture. The research undertaken to write the novel is unbelievable. Harris uses journals, correspondence, and official documents to create his story. The most chilling part of the book is the realization that these were the actual thoughts and beliefs of the Nazi regime. The Gestapo and police structure of Nazism remains in place. Laws regarding ethnicity are still in place. People can be arrested if a Gestapo member thinks they might one day turn against the regime. It's really quite horrifying.<br />
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This was a fantastic and gripping read. It puts you in the mind of a German citizen realizing the atrocities committed by their government for the first time. It's emotional and heavy, but brilliantly written. I'm looking forward to exploring more of Robert Harris's writing.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749858170280912050.post-20800826946179938852018-03-10T10:00:00.000-06:002018-03-10T10:00:42.808-06:00Literary VowsWhen it comes to books and movies, I'm something of a purist. For example, I pretend the third <i>Anne of Green Gables</i> movie doesn't exist and am positive L. M. Montgomery rolled over in her grave the moment it hit the airwaves. Jar Jar Binks was a <i>Stars Wars</i> travesty. I'm always traumatized by a Doctor regeneration. And who on earth came up with the idea to set the Burrow on fire when it did not happen that way in the book?!<br />
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One of my biggest oppositions has always been the myriad of books that continue the story of the main Jane Austen characters. Why would you mess with perfection?! Sure, I'm curious as to what family life would have been like in the Knightly household, but if Jane Austen had wanted us to have that information she would have written it.<br />
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You guys...I strayed. I broke my long-standing literary vows.<br />
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I read <i>Death Comes to Pemberley</i> by P. D. James...and liked it.<br />
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Maybe it was because P. D. James is such an acclaimed mystery writer. Maybe my curiosity got the better of me. I'm still not sure what exactly made me decide to give the booka try, but I'm quite glad I did. James did such a good job of mimicking the style of Jane Austen. The characters felt like coming home again and it was delightful. I also disliked Lydia just as much as I did in <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>.<br />
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<i>Death Comes to Pemberley (</i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12875355-death-comes-to-pemberley?ac=1&from_search=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Death-Comes-Pemberley-P-James/dp/0307950654/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1518753940&sr=8-3&keywords=death+comes+to+pemberley" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon </a>~ <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/death-comes-to-pemberley-pd-james/1106578168?ean=9780307950659#/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a>) revisits the Darcys, Bennetts, and Bingleys several years after the end of <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>. The normal family life at Pemberley is interrupted by the arrival of a wildly driven carriage and a hysterical Lydia Wickham, screaming that her husband has been shot in the Pemberley woods. The book then begins to investigate the murder of George Wickham. The unfolding mystery shows the skill of P. D. James's long career and has a very satisfying ending.<br />
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I'm not sure I'll completely take leave of my senses and dive headfirst into the wide array of books continuing the stories of Jane Austen, but I'm glad I gave this one a shot. It definitely made me want to check out more of P. D. James's writing! Her virtues are repeatedly extolled by my beloved Jessica Fletcher on <i>Murder, She Wrote</i>, which is really all the recommendation one needs. Having now read some of her writing, I can say Jessica is right - P. D. James is wonderful.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749858170280912050.post-41625259505835584042018-03-08T10:00:00.000-06:002018-03-08T10:00:23.739-06:00Review: The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AmpwHBMufdU/Wp2Rl6HeP6I/AAAAAAAAEis/6F2jwgXSTq05Z3l1UzkxwrhhbQAZP_vlgCLcBGAs/s1600/cover-art-the-haunting-of-maddy-clare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover art for The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James" border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AmpwHBMufdU/Wp2Rl6HeP6I/AAAAAAAAEis/6F2jwgXSTq05Z3l1UzkxwrhhbQAZP_vlgCLcBGAs/s200/cover-art-the-haunting-of-maddy-clare.jpg" title="Cover art for The Haunting of Maddy Clare by Simone St. James" width="133" /></a></div>
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<b>The Haunting of Maddy Clare </b>by Simone St. James<br />Published: 03/06/2012<br />Publisher: New American Library<br />Genre: Mystery / Romance<br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11832043-the-haunting-of-maddy-clare?from_search=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>~ <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/haunting-of-maddy-clare-simone-st-james/1103274429?ean=9780451235688#/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-Maddy-Clare-Simone-James-ebook/dp/B006LU1MGO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520275699&sr=8-1&keywords=the+haunting+of+maddy+clare" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a></blockquote>
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Sarah Piper is a young woman living in in post-World War I London. Outside of the jobs she gets through a temp agency, Sarah doesn't get out much. When a job offer appears, she heads out to the interview oblivious to the life-changing experience that awaits her. Sarah accepts a job as an assistant for Alistair Gellis, a ghost hunter heading out to investigate reports of a rather disruptive ghost in the British countryside. They are later joined by his usual (and quite moody) assistant Matthew Ryder. The three must figure out what is holding the spirit of Maddy Clare to the barn where she took her own life in an effort to stop the torment of Maddy's former employer. Things turn dangerous as the investigation proceeds and it is eventually up to Sarah and Matthew to bring about resolution to the mystery and haunting of Maddy Clare.<br />
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After finishing <i><a href="http://thenerdybookcase.blogspot.com/2018/02/review-broken-girls-by-simone-st-james.html" target="_blank">The Broken Girls</a></i>, I launched into a week-long Simone St. James reading binge. It made for a really fun week, I highly recommend it.<br />
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The atmosphere of the story was incredibly creepy. I will probably think twice before walking into a barn for awhile. Ms. St. James knows how to integrate the paranormal into the story line while making it believable and giving the reader chills. The story of Maddy Clare was intriguing and tragic, and the reader is able to find empathy with the character even though she's doing her best to torment others.<br />
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Even though I'm not generally drawn to romance novels, <i>The Haunting of Maddy Clare</i> was pretty good. I didn't find myself getting overly frustrated with the progress of the romance. It helped that the characters were very well developed independently of the love story.<br />
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For more about Simone St. James, check out her <a href="http://www.simonestjames.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749858170280912050.post-42352959992748758632018-03-06T00:00:00.000-06:002018-03-06T00:00:39.785-06:00Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Book Quotes<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
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Top Ten Tuesday was created by <a href="http://www.brokeandbookish.com/p/top-ten-tuesday-other-features.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Broke and The Bookish </a>in June of 2010 and was moved to <a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Artsy Reader Girl</a> in January 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.</blockquote>
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I was so excited to see this week's topic! I love collecting quotes and started when I was in high school. I have them written everywhere - in notebooks or on post-its and napkins. The challenge comes in just picking ten! I could probably go on and on all day with quotes, but I decided to choose some from some of my favorite authors and books. So, here they are. My Top Ten Favorite Book Quotes.<br />
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"'One must always be careful of books,' said Tessa, 'and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.'" ~ <i>Clockwork Angel</i> by Cassandra Clare<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnQYaKPk_P4/Wp3d13rEDxI/AAAAAAAAEi8/znyYP4oq9WcqJ1GgU18I2X7O74J36WZ3QCLcBGAs/s1600/Dumbledore%2Bin%2BHarry%2BPotter%2Band%2Bthe%2BDeathly%2BHallows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="149" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnQYaKPk_P4/Wp3d13rEDxI/AAAAAAAAEi8/znyYP4oq9WcqJ1GgU18I2X7O74J36WZ3QCLcBGAs/s200/Dumbledore%2Bin%2BHarry%2BPotter%2Band%2Bthe%2BDeathly%2BHallows.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Of course it is happening in your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?" ~ Dumbledore, <i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</i> by J. K. Rowling</blockquote>
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"Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic." ~ Dumbledore, <i>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</i> by J. K. Rowling<br />
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"There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature." ~<i>Northanger Abbey</i> by Jane Austen<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkZWhLWFOH0/Wp3fKl76lLI/AAAAAAAAEjI/t0z76lwuQrcif8Da3oanh_bCvN3IRHRYACLcBGAs/s1600/Anne%2BShirley%2Band%2BGilbert%2BBlythe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="260" height="149" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QkZWhLWFOH0/Wp3fKl76lLI/AAAAAAAAEjI/t0z76lwuQrcif8Da3oanh_bCvN3IRHRYACLcBGAs/s200/Anne%2BShirley%2Band%2BGilbert%2BBlythe.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reading or watching, this part makes me happy</td></tr>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I don't want sunbursts or marble halls, I just want you." ~ Anne Shirley, <i>Anne of the Island </i>by L. M. Montgomery</blockquote>
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"Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can't see where it keeps its brain!" ~ Arthur Weasley, <i>Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets</i> by J. K. Rowling<br />
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"My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes." ~ Anne Shirley, <i>Anne of Green Gables</i> by L. M. Montgomery (This quote perfectly captures the drama of Anne Shirley - it's one of my favorites. I say it over in times of trial to comfort myself. See what I did there?)<br />
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"Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure." ~ Dumbledore, <i>Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince</i> by J. K. Rowling<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZX_PB9Gydz0/Wp3fJfbXsxI/AAAAAAAAEjM/WEjqzGFdor8V6WgTXoWLRzAjLzZ7iuyTQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Elizabeth%2BBennett%2Band%2BMr.%2BDarcy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="276" height="132" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZX_PB9Gydz0/Wp3fJfbXsxI/AAAAAAAAEjM/WEjqzGFdor8V6WgTXoWLRzAjLzZ7iuyTQCEwYBhgL/s200/Elizabeth%2BBennett%2Band%2BMr.%2BDarcy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feeling will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you." ~ Fitzwilliam Darcy, <i>Pride and Prejudice </i>by Jane Austen</blockquote>
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"'After all,' Anne had said to Marilla once, 'I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens but just those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string.'" ~ <i>Anne of Avonlea </i>by L. M. Montgomery<br />
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And now for a bonus quote! It's not from a book per se, but from Jane Austen's letters:<br />
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"I do not want people to be very agreeable, as it saves me the trouble of liking them a great deal."<br />
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Jane Austen is my spirit animal. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749858170280912050.post-55571634167740478822018-02-20T09:35:00.000-06:002018-02-20T09:35:43.553-06:00Review: The Broken Girls by Simone St. James<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fsjMqeGl7q8/WoZlm1PvOcI/AAAAAAAAEh0/serEiBSq0Y4ux0rbwXjRBknPePvRAmu1gCLcBGAs/s1600/cover-art-the-broken-girls.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="cover art the broken girls by simone st. james" border="0" data-original-height="755" data-original-width="501" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fsjMqeGl7q8/WoZlm1PvOcI/AAAAAAAAEh0/serEiBSq0Y4ux0rbwXjRBknPePvRAmu1gCLcBGAs/s200/cover-art-the-broken-girls.png" title="Cover art for the novel The Broken Girls by Simone St. James." width="131" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>The Broken Girls </b>by <a href="http://www.simonestjames.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Simone St. James</a>Published: 03/20/2018<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Penguin Publishing Group<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Literary Fiction / Mystery<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35533431-the-broken-girls?ac=1&from_search=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>~ <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-broken-girls-simone-st-james/1126643573?ean=9780451476203#/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Broken-Girls-Simone-St-James/dp/0451476204/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1518754721&sr=1-1&keywords=the+broken+girls" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a></blockquote>
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As mentioned in my review of <a href="http://thenerdybookcase.blogspot.com/2018/02/review-lake-house-by-kate-morton.html" target="_blank"><i>The Lake House</i> by Kate Morton</a>, I love a book that alternates between the past and the present. When it's done well, the stories will seamlessly fuse together at the end, bridging the gap between the generations in unexpected ways. <i>The Broken Girls</i> by Simone St. James follows this pattern and is a wonderful mystery told between 1950 and 2014.<br />
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Idlewild is an all-girls school for the girls that no one wants. In 1950, four friends are doing the best they can to make it day to day, each dealing with their own private tragedy and horror. But the students and teachers aren't the only ones at the school - rumor has it that Idlewild is haunted.<br />
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Fast-forward to 2014, where Fiona is still trying to cope with the murder of her older sister twenty years before. Fiona is connected to Idlewild because her sister's body was dumped on the sports field at the school. Fiona learns that the property has been purchased by an elderly widow with no obvious connection to the school and plans have been put in place for the restoration of the school. Finding new purpose, Fiona decides to write a journal article on the history of the school and the restoration.<br />
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The title <i>The Broken Girls</i> couldn't be more perfect for this novel because all of the women in the story are broken in some way. They don't have to stay that way, though. Woven through the story is the hope that what is broken can be put back together, the breaks healing over time. The friendship of the girls in 1950 gives them new strength and healing occurs as they share their individual stories and take their power back. Fiona hopes to find healing as she confronts the past and finds new connections with her father in the present.<br />
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The spooky tale of the haunted Idlewild campus stays in the background of the events, present in both the present and the past. The ghost known as Mary Hand is just one element driving the storyline and connecting the characters. Simone St. James does an amazing job of creating connections over the generations and moving the story forward. She does a masterful job of giving the reader just enough information to answer the present question while posing five more. I ended up reading late into the night, promising myself it was "just one more chapter" until I finished the book.<br />
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The mysteries of <i>The Broken Girls</i> will grab you from the very beginning. The prologue is one of the best I've ever read - it starts things off with a bang and forges an instant investment in the outcome of the lives of the characters. I've read a LOT of mysteries in my life and this quickly became one of my very favorites. I had NO IDEA how the book would end or how the past and present would be connected, and I was very pleased with the outcome. Truly, I had no idea how Simone St. James would tie things together.<br />
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I enjoyed this book so much that I immediately bought another...and another...and another. As of the writing of this post, I just finished a fifth book by St. James, which only leaves one other that I haven't read. I'll need to savor it. I can't wait to see what else Simone St. James comes up with. She's a talented author with a gift for telling a story that the reader cannot help but become invested in the characters. The characters themselves are flawed and beautiful with their own vivid personalities.<br />
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I hope you enjoy <i>The Broken Girls </i>by Simone St. James as much as I did! For more on the author, check out her <a href="http://www.simonestjames.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749858170280912050.post-28583517653703926152018-02-16T10:00:00.000-06:002018-02-16T10:00:39.015-06:00Review: The Lake House by Kate Morton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_I4VPM7m4q4/WoZWk2K-1CI/AAAAAAAAEhk/ey09l4yrzQUajc9vQIqrdOmMdPcyVpTAQCLcBGAs/s1600/Cover-art-the-lake-house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cover art the lake house" border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_I4VPM7m4q4/WoZWk2K-1CI/AAAAAAAAEhk/ey09l4yrzQUajc9vQIqrdOmMdPcyVpTAQCLcBGAs/s200/Cover-art-the-lake-house.jpg" title="Cover art for The Lake House by Kate Morton." width="131" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>The Lake House</b> by Kate Morton<br /><b>Publisher: </b>Atria Books<br /><b>Publication Date:</b>10/20/2015<br /><b>
Genre: </b>Literary Fiction / Mystery<br /><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21104828-the-lake-house?from_search=true" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>~ <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-lake-house-kate-morton/1121147518?ean=9781451649352#/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lake-House-Novel-Kate-Morton/dp/1451649355/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518752984&sr=8-2&keywords=the+lake+house" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />Living on her family's idyllic lakeside estate in Cornwall, England, Alice Edevane is a bright, inquisitive, innocent, and precociously talented sixteen-year-old who loves to write stories. But the mysteries she pens are no match for the one her family is about to endure...<br />One midsummer's eve, after a beautiful party drawing hundreds of guests to the estate has ended, the Edevanes discover that their youngest child, eleven-month-old Theo, has vanished without a trace. What follows is a tragedy that tears the family apart in ways they never imagined.<br />Decades later, Alice is living in London, having enjoyed a long successful career as an author. Theo's case has never been solved. though Alice still harbors suspicion as to the culprit. Miles away, Sadie Sparrow, a young detective in the London police force, is staying at her grandfather's house in Cornwall. While out walking one day, she stumbles upon the old estate - now crumbling and covered with vines, clearly abandoned long ago. Her curiosity is sparked, setting off a series of events that will bring her and Alice together and reveal shocking truths about a past long gone...yet more present than ever.<br />A lush, atmospheric tale of intertwined destinies, this latest novel from a masterful storyteller is an enthralling, thoroughly satisfying read. {Goodreads}</blockquote>
I dearly love a book that alternates between the past and present, and Kate Morton is the master. She gives you just enough information to keep to story moving forward and keep you wanting more. Just when you think you are about to get the clue that will break the case, you are sent back in time or flung into the future and hanging on for more! The past and present story lines are seamlessly blended together at the end to give you the answers you've been looking for with a lovely twist thrown in for fun.<br />
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<i>The Lake House</i> brings together the past of a mystery writer protecting a secret and the present of a detective constable trying to salvage her career and future. Both women are trying to reconcile with the consequences of their actions and assumptions. They have many similarities and yet are so different. Both of the women have stories that tug at your heartstrings and help you understand why they won't give up - in the tenacity to solve a mystery and determination to keep their secrets close.<br />
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It took me awhile to warm up to Sadie. She seems to think she's above certain consequences and has to come to terms with a broken past. her personality is such that you have the urge to reach through the pages to give her a good shake. As she gains some distance from her actions in another case that resulted in her suspension, Sadie is able to get her feet back under her and move forward as she comes to terms with her past.<br />
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I want to be like Alice when I'm elderly. She's a spit-fire woman who has high expectations of herself and everyone around her. Like Sadie, she is wrestling with a painful past and is carrying a burden than what one person can manage. As Alice and Sadie develop a relationship, they help each other come to terms with the skeletons in their closets and move into bright futures.<br />
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I had several moments while I was reading when I paused to take in Morton's writing. Her style is amazing and so enjoyable - it's a perfect example of why I love to read so much.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749858170280912050.post-83419810410294981142016-08-30T10:30:00.000-05:002018-02-15T23:14:54.845-06:00Review: The Martian by Andy Weir<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jW60gH04wKg/V8O0Rz8gbnI/AAAAAAAAAqs/naDwALdNTmc7YVvaxHakuyN-pOs8LG_4QCLcB/s1600/The%2BMartian%2Bby%2BAndy%2BWeir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Martian by Andy Weir" border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jW60gH04wKg/V8O0Rz8gbnI/AAAAAAAAAqs/naDwALdNTmc7YVvaxHakuyN-pOs8LG_4QCLcB/s200/The%2BMartian%2Bby%2BAndy%2BWeir.jpg" title="Cover art of The Martian by Andy Weir" width="131" /></a></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b>The Martian</b> by <a href="http://www.andyweirauthor.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Andy Weir</a><br />
<b>Publisher: </b>Crown<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>02-11-2014 (First Published 2011)<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Science Fiction<br />
<b>Source:</b> Personal Library<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18007564-the-martian?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>~ <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-martian-andy-weir/1114993828?ean=9780553418026#/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518757996&sr=8-1&keywords=the+martian" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
Six days ago, Astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars. Now he's sure he'll be the first person to die there.<br />
After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate the planet while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded on Mars' surface, completely alone, with no way to signal Earth that he's alive. And even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone years before a rescue could arrive. Chances are, though, Mark won't have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment or plain-old "human error" are much more likely to kill him first.<br />
But Mark's not ready to quit. Armed with nothing but his ingenuity and his engineering skills - and a gallows sense of humor that proves to be his greatest source of strength - he embarks on a dogged quest to stay alive, using his botany enterprise to grow food and even hatching a mad plan to contact NASA back on Earth. As he overcomes one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next, Mark begins to let himself believe he might make it off the planet alive.<br />
But Mars has plenty of surprises in store for him yet. {<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18007564-the-martian?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>}</blockquote>
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You know what is the most amazing thing about this book? That it came about because Andy Weir was trying to think through what it would take to carry out a Mars mission FOR FUN. You know what I do for fun? I crochet and watch Netflix. Actually, lately I've been watching <i>The Martian</i> over and over and over. But that's for another blog post. Today we're talking about the book.<br />
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Mark Watney is one of the best characters I've read in a long time. He has intelligence and confidence in his intelligence, which allows to to survive alone on a desolate planet. He's cynical and sarcastic and has a fantastic sense of humor. Watney uses ingenuity to push through in the face of unbelievable odds. This is true science fiction. Watney uses science to work through each obstacle systematically. He work one problem and then moves on to the next. It's both how he works and thinks on a any given day and how he manages to stay sane.<br />
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Andy Weir has a great writing style and has created fantastic characters. What I love about <i>The Martian</i> is that it's a smart book. The science and space travel is explained in a way that is not dumbed down, but the reader doesn't need an engineering degree to understand it, either. Weir doesn't bog you down with the details. In addition to the science and survival, the book has incredible depth of emotion. Weir is able to portray the emotional impact the situation has on people on Earth, on Watney, and on the crew that left him behind. This is a huge credit to Weir's writing talent.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vsFx4Ondd20/V8Oy0GO_RZI/AAAAAAAAAqk/n_6GHCmBcM0YohrTmI8hiA-QG8zI874jQCLcB/s1600/Jupiter%2Bseen%2Bfrom%2BJuno%2BAugust%2B27%2B2016.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Jupiter from Juno August 27, 2016" border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vsFx4Ondd20/V8Oy0GO_RZI/AAAAAAAAAqk/n_6GHCmBcM0YohrTmI8hiA-QG8zI874jQCLcB/s200/Jupiter%2Bseen%2Bfrom%2BJuno%2BAugust%2B27%2B2016.png" title="Jupiter as seen from NASA's Juno spacecraft on August 27, 2016 from NASA's Juno Image Gallery" width="187" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jupiter seen from NASA's Juno spacecraft on 08-27-16</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I enjoyed reading it and felt like I learned something while I was having fun. I'm fascinate by Andy Weir's brain and can't wait to read more of his writing.<br />
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Oh, I'm also fangirling NASA now. Seriously, how amazing is this picture of Jupiter?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749858170280912050.post-6560006110183942572016-07-24T10:00:00.000-05:002018-02-15T22:02:21.609-06:00Review: Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CT0Eqme0CAU/V5PIssIACZI/AAAAAAAAAjo/_LhEH886lzYE9-vVYU6FEM-QuzyGi0CPwCLcB/s1600/Chocolate%2BChip%2BCookie%2BMurder%2Bby%2BJoanne%2BFluke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke" border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CT0Eqme0CAU/V5PIssIACZI/AAAAAAAAAjo/_LhEH886lzYE9-vVYU6FEM-QuzyGi0CPwCLcB/s200/Chocolate%2BChip%2BCookie%2BMurder%2Bby%2BJoanne%2BFluke.jpg" title="Cover art for Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder by Joanne Fluke" width="129" /></a><b></b><br />
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<b>Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #1)</b> by Joanne Fluke<br />
<b>Publisher</b>: Kensington<br />
<b>Publication Date</b>: 09-01-2006<br />
<b>Genre</b>: Cozy Mystery<br />
<b>Source</b>: Personal Collection<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33443.Chocolate_Chip_Cookie_Murder" target="_blank">Goodreads </a>~ <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chocolate-chip-cookie-murder-joanne-fluke/1100178383?ean=9781496701862#productInfoTabs" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Cookie-Murder-Swensen-Mysteries/dp/0758269323/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1469302229&sr=1-1&keywords=chocolate+chip+cookie+murder" target="_blank">Amazon</a><br />
Hannah already has her hands full trying to dodge her mother's attempts to marry her off while running The Cookie Jar, Lake Eden's most popular bakery. But once Ron LaSalle, the beloved delivery man from the Cozy Cow Dairy, is found murdered in her bakery with Hannah's famous Chocolate Chip Crunchies scattered around him, her life jut can't get any worse. Determined not to let her cookies get a bad reputation, she sets out to track down a killer. But if she doesn't watch her back, Hannah's sweet life may get burned to a crisp. {<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Cookie-Murder-Swensen-Mysteries/dp/0758269323/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1469302229&sr=1-1&keywords=chocolate+chip+cookie+murder" target="_blank">Amazon</a>}</blockquote>
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I think we all have books that we turn to when life is hectic and we just need a little break. They aren't overly violent or sexual, they're just fun to read. <i>Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder</i> is one of those books. It's what I would have called "comfort reading" until I discovered the name for its genre: cozy mystery!<br />
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Cozy mysteries recall the likes of Agatha Christie and show a gentler side of crime fighting. They are the ones you see that involve a group of quilters, or even a cat, solving crimes. In <i>Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder</i>, the main sleuth, Hannah Swensen, is a baker. The book even includes cookie recipes! I'll let you know how they are when I try some out. :)<br />
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Hannah Swensen is a wonderfully relate-able character for me. She's in her early 30's, single, takes great pride in her role as Aunt Hannah, and talks to her cat, Moishe, as though he's human. There's some dating (which can be brutal, as any single thirty-something knows) but it isn't the main focus of her life. Hannah's main focus is her business, her family, and solving whatever murder has fallen into her lap.<br />
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I love a good mystery. I flew through the Rizzoli and Isles series by Tess Gerrtisen, but more than one of the books had me going to bed with the hall light on. Not so with Joanne Fluke's writing. There was suspense, but nothing that kept me up late at night. The relationships were realistic, the characters were delightful, and the writing was good. The book was absolutely delightful and I can't wait to read the rest of them! I feel like these will be perfect books to read when I'm back in school in the fall. I nice dose of brain candy - something that keeps my interest, has a little intrigue, and gives me a break from the reading I have for class. Perfect!<br />
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If you have ever spent any time watching a movie or show on Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel, then this sounds awfully familiar. It should. The Hannah Swensen book series has also become a move series on Hallmark: <a href="http://www.hallmarkmoviesandmysteries.com/murder-she-baked-a-chocolate-chip-murder-mystery" target="_blank">the Murder She Baked series</a>. The cozy mystery books are also cozy mystery movies! They are equally delightful and I highly recommend them.<br />
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Have you read any cozy mysteries? What are your favorites?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749858170280912050.post-69179604934770063322016-07-16T08:51:00.001-05:002018-02-15T23:04:28.974-06:00You're Never Too Old to Fangirl<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3ctmofddFM/V4o7GKMDSqI/AAAAAAAAAeE/qBvftBM2aCY9KTq3tITSg7JaHC9s1zu1ACLcB/s1600/20160715_103727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Doctor Who Lego TARDIS" border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D3ctmofddFM/V4o7GKMDSqI/AAAAAAAAAeE/qBvftBM2aCY9KTq3tITSg7JaHC9s1zu1ACLcB/s200/20160715_103727.jpg" title="Why I'm crazy about this wee Lego TARDIS" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wee TARDIS</td></tr>
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I feel like I should give a little imformation about this new blog of mine and why I started it. I'm a self-proclaimed fangirl about many things. I have more copies of <em>Anne of Green Gables</em> than I can count, all things Harry Potter have a prominent place in my home, and you should see my <em>Doctor Who</em> Lego TARDIS. It's magnificent. I've been known to flail and squee on a regular basis, and even occasionally in public. So when I started a blog where I would review the books I read and post about all these things that I love so dearly, the tagline "You're Never Too Old to Fangirl" was perfect! As I thought about it more, I decided to see what the internet has to say about fangirls these days. <br />
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<a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fangirl" target="_blank">Urban Dictionary</a> is not at all complimentary of the modern fangirl. The most popular definition says a fangirl is "a rabid creed of human female who is obsessed with either a fictional character or an actor." I'm sorry, internet, but my fangirling extends far beyond a single character or actor. A less extreme definition is "a female fan who can laugh at their own passion for their particular interest (or even obsession)." While I'm not overly thrilled with either option, the 2nd is far better than the first. <br />
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A fangirl is much more than a "rabid" screaming teenage female (or male - there are fanboys, too). To me a fangirl is a female with varying, albeit at times intense, interests who is confident enough to share that enthusiasm with abandon. Although perceived as ridiculous most of the time, any person whose life has been significantly impacted by a book series, anime, movie, etc, will tell you the importance of that life-changing interest. The result can be anything from sparking creativity and passion to helping someone deal with mental or physical illness. Maureen Johnson didn't start #YASaves for nothing! (<a href="http://www.kieracass.com/journal/2011/6/5/ya-saves.html" target="_blank">Here is a blog post by Kiera Cass</a> that gives some background on how YA Saves got started.)<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_127tshEedc/V4o7GGYTK-I/AAAAAAAAAeA/SY87VEDoiUoE2gZyX4O-r9gAiUxHdq6xgCLcB/s1600/20160715_104256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Harry Potter Wizards Collection and a pigmy puff." border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_127tshEedc/V4o7GGYTK-I/AAAAAAAAAeA/SY87VEDoiUoE2gZyX4O-r9gAiUxHdq6xgCLcB/s200/20160715_104256.jpg" title="My pigmy puff and Harry Potter Wizards collection. Because every house needs some epic Harry Potter. " width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this one is self-explanatory. </td></tr>
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John Green (Nerdfighters FTW)<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMweXVWB918" target="_blank"> responded beautifully to the use of "nerd" as an insult in one of his Vlogbrothers videos</a>, and I think it applies here as well. <br />
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Nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff...Nerds are allowed to love stuff, like jump-up-and-down-in-the-chair-can't-control-yourself love it. People who call people 'nerds,' mostly what they're saying is "You like stuff," which is not a good insult at all. Like, "You are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness." </blockquote>
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So, let's be fangirls, fanboys, and nerds, and be excited about life! <br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4749858170280912050.post-294208752122193902016-07-09T10:12:00.000-05:002018-02-15T22:03:11.000-06:00Review: My Lady Jane<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TECJc8OR0h8/V4ES14qGLpI/AAAAAAAAAOo/EjsQGzpOjvUQcgtT7O9SodJVoXgaIAnzQCLcB/s1600/My%2BLady%2BJane%2Bby%2BHand%252C%2BAston%252C%2Band%2BMeadows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows" border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TECJc8OR0h8/V4ES14qGLpI/AAAAAAAAAOo/EjsQGzpOjvUQcgtT7O9SodJVoXgaIAnzQCLcB/s200/My%2BLady%2BJane%2Bby%2BHand%252C%2BAston%252C%2Band%2BMeadows.jpg" title="Book review of My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadoews. A fun and fabulous read! " width="131" /></a></div>
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<b>My Lady Jane</b> by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows<br />
<b>Published: </b>06-07-2019<br />
<b>Publisher: </b>HarperCollins Publishers<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Young Adult Historical Fiction (emphasis on fiction)<br />
<b>Source: </b>Personal Library<br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30657275-my-lady-jane" target="_blank">Goodreads</a> ~ <a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Lady-Jane-Cynthia-Hand/dp/0062391747/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468076831&sr=1-1&keywords=my+lady+jane" target="_blank">Amazon </a>~ <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-lady-jane-cynthia-hand/1122650880?ean=9780062391742#productInfoTabs" target="_blank">Barnes and Noble</a><br />
The comical, fantastical, romantical, (not) entirely true story of Lady Jane Grey. In <i>My Lady Jane</i>, coauthors Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have created a one-of-a-kind fantasy in the tradition of <i>The Princess Bride</i>, featuring a reluctant king, an even more reluctant queen, a noble steed, and only a passing resemblance to actual history - because sometimes history needs a little help.<br />
At sixteen, Lady Jane Grey is about to be married off to a stranger and caught up in a conspiracy to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But those trifling problems aren't for Jane to worry about. Jane gets to be Queen of England.<br />
Like that could go wrong.<br />
{Synopsis from Barnes and Noble website}</blockquote>
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<i>My Lady Jane</i> was such a joy to read! The writing is clever and smart, the story is playful, and the characters have amazing personality. Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows have done an amazing job of making sure the writing flows through all the chapters and the reader forgets that the book has multiple authors. Interjections from the authors throughout the book add its laugh out loud humor and the banter between the characters is just fabulous.<br />
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The story takes place during the reign of King Edward Tudor, prior to the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and sexism in society abounds. Jane values her independence and commands respect from others as she works to have her voice heard. To say the forced marriage between Jane and G (please, for the sake of all things holy, don't call him Gifford) was strained would be putting it mildly. Before the relationship can develop beyond irritation and potential loathing, respect for one another must emerge. A prominent theme in the book is this shift in the views of male characters as they realize that women have just as much ability to rule and lead as men - some of them being much better suited to the leadership role.<br />
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In the past, I've noticed that while I'm completely wrapped up in the romance happening in what I'm reading, when I put the book down I realize it was actually quite nauseating. Not so in <i>My Lady Jane</i>. I think this says a lot about the views of the authors and their desire to give Jane Grey more power and a better ending than the history books report. She is not a wilting flower but any means. Jane has earned a place as a favorite literary character.<br />
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I'm definitely going to be fangirling over <i>My Lady Jane</i> for quite some time. The retelling of the reign of Jane Grey introduces humor into what was originally a very sad tale and even includes a little fantasy. It's going to be very difficult for me to restrain myself from running up to all of my friends and yelling, "OMG <i>MY LADY JANE</i> is AMAZING, go read it RIGHT NOW." I visited <b><a href="http://www.ladyjanies.com/" target="_blank">the website for the book</a></b> and discovered that today, July 9, marks the beginning of Jane Grey's 9 day reign as queen. Each day will have new content on the website and online events to celebrate Jane Grey. Make sure you visit the site to join in on the fun!<br />
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Have you read <i>My Lady Jane </i>yet? What were your favorite parts? If you haven't read it, what one earth are you waiting for?! (It's been out a whole month! What have you been doing with your time?)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13926543548212311260noreply@blogger.com0