Alright, I'm putting on the children's librarian hat and reviewing an upcoming picture book and middle grade nonfiction book. If kid's books aren't your cup of tea, keep scrolling! Thanks to NetGalley for free copies of the books for honest reviews. Title: Jean-Michel BasquiatAuthor: Maria Isabel Sanchez VegaraMy rating: 3 / 5TL;DR: A good addition to… Continue reading ARC Book Reviews: Jean-Michel Basquiat and Spies
Welcome to Afterword, my new series of short reviews and final thoughts on books I've read recently. As much as I love long, intricate reviews, they can be time consuming and intimidating to write. I honestly prefer the short, punchy nature of a listicle review. So that's what you can expect from my Afterword series:… Continue reading Afterword: The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware
I used to think that nonfiction was slow and boring. I was wrong. These books are a great place to start if you're new to nonfiction, but want the intrigue, storytelling, and thrills of fiction. The best part is that not only are these books a great story—they're also true! Read more about my reading… Continue reading 3 Nonfiction Books for Fiction Lovers
This has been an unusual reading year for me. It's been a weird year, period. I finally finished library school in August, and although my program was only two years, working full-time made it feel more like ten years. Then my husband and I moved across the country for my dream job, and while I… Continue reading 2019 Reflections: What Reading Taught Me This Year
Title: Where the Crawdads SingAuthor: Delia OwensMy rating: 2 / 5TL;DR: Expect long-winded meditations on nature, loneliness, and sexual awakening. The lengthy descriptions distracted me from the action of the book (there isn’t much action as it is). I didn't enjoy it. Full disclosure: I usually like the bestsellers. I'm a sucker for a conversation piece. I… Continue reading Book Review: Am I the Only One Who Didn’t Like Where The Crawdads Sing?
Title: Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success Author: Adam GrantMy rating: 5 / 5In a nutshell: You probably have to work with other people on a daily basis. Give and Take provides a new model for doing business that is based on the golden rule, and I found it compelling. Even if you don't regularly… Continue reading Book Review: Give and Take by Adam Grant
Title: The Pillars of the Earth Author: Ken Follett My rating: 4 / 5 Genre: Historical Fiction TL;DR: For more conservative readers, there will definitely be some sections to skip over (sex, rape, violence etc.). However, despite these flaws, Follett's world is so captivating and the drama of the cathedral's construction is so captivating, that if you love being sucked… Continue reading Old Book, New Review: The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Hello, fellow readers. It's been a while. Two months ago, I totally didn't mean to go on hiatus from blogging (and reading for that matter). But then, I totally didn't mean to move across the country either, and that happened, so here we are. A big life change has been on the horizon for a… Continue reading Accidental Hiatus: That Time I Moved Across the Country
Title: Blue Like Jazz Author: Donald Miller My rating: 3 / 5 Genre: Nonfiction, Memoir TL;DR: I didn't find the writing style sophisticated or completely enjoyable, but the perspective and ideas presented make this one worth the read. Expect to be challenged and prepare to ask yourself questions about your own version of faith. You get a strange mix… Continue reading Old Book, New Review: Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
I recently looked over my list of books that I read in 2016 (as book lovers do) and discovered that, unintentionally, I read several WWII-era books last year. I also happened to notice one overarching detail: Each book strongly featured the color blue in its cover artwork. Coincidence? Maybe. Or the smart marketing people at publishing houses… Continue reading Have You Noticed? WWII Books All Seem to have Blue Covers
