Review: Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Such a beautiful book! It's a middle-grade memoir in verse and it's such a wonderful read! Lovely writing and I loved the freestyle way she told the bits and pieces of her childhood. HIghly recommend for anyone and everyone!

Review: I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara

I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This one is haunting! There were times when I had to turn the light on while I read at night … McNamara was able to put me in the homes and in the footsteps of the Golden State Killer to the point that I literally felt terror at the idea of it. I didn’t want to put this book down. It’s not a perfect book – but that appears to be in large part due to it being finished after her death by others. I suspect if she’d lived to complete the book as she’d planned, it would have been all the better for it. In terms of the book serving its purpose of outlining her very personal search for this rapist and killer, it is extremely successful.

This is true crime at its best … McNamara takes the facts of the case and builds a fantastic narrative about her search for him. Meticulous in her research, this book just blew me away. She’s honest in ways that astound me. When I was about 20 pages from the end, I heard that there was an arrest made in the case (https://www.thedailybeast.com/golden-...) and I would imagine that McNamara’s work on the case (and this book) must have contributed to the fact that authorities were able to make an arrest all these years later.

Highly recommend this one but know that it’s a book that will get into your head and keep you up at night. This man terrorized California for YEARS and this book puts you in that place and time in a way that I haven’t experienced many times before.

Review: Idaho by Emily Ruskovich

Idaho by Emily Ruskovich
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh, this book! It is not for everyone – if you need a book that is clear and easy to understand, that has no nuance and wraps everything up nicely, this one won't work for you. This is a complex narrative that shines a light on so many amazing things about identity, memory, and forgiveness. It’s a beautifully written novel that just blew me away … the prose is haunting and achingly beautiful. The story itself isn’t told in a linear fashion – it’s almost told in fragments of memory that the reader has to piece together for the narrative. The time frame is from the 1970s until 2025 and yet it’s told in bits and pieces. Pulling it all together is challenging but so worth it. The book answers very little. It asks question after question but gives no definitive answers. But, it’s so beautifully told and the voices are just haunting. It’s a book that I won’t soon forget. It’s stayed with me. The language, the characters, the story … all of it seems to almost be following me around!

Bookish Quote of the Week

Review: Beartown by Fredrik Backman

Beartown by Fredrik Backman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Although I liked A Man Called Ove, I didn’t love it. In fact, I wasn’t all that interested in reading more of his work based on that reading experience. But, I kept hearing about Beartown and how it was fantastic and nothing like Backman’s other novels. And so I finally picked it up and WOW. If you weren’t a fan of some of his other work, I definitely recommend that you give this one a chance. It truly is very different from his other work, in my opinion. This is much heavier than his ‘light and whimsical’ vibe in his other works. This is an exploration of hockey, small-town life, and community. It goes darker than I’d expected … but darker in the best way. Hockey is the town’s centerpiece … it’s something that means everything to the citizens. And hockey is used in this story to help the author weave a story of friendship, love and doing the right thing against all the odds. I’m not telling you much about it on purpose. I think the unfolding of the story is critical to the overall success of the novel. Just read it. Even if you hate sports, this is actually not a story about sports. It’s about hockey but not at all about hockey. Trust me … this one has it all – great characters, complex relationships, challenging events, sadness, hope, family drama and more. Don’t miss this one!

Review: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I have been meaning to read this one for ages … It’s a book that I’ve consistently heard great things about since it was published. I’ll admit that I was a bit intimidated by it … everyone seemed to love it so much that I was almost worried that I wouldn’t! Plus its almost 500 pages so I was worried it would be a potential slog. Well, my worries were unwarranted. This book is SO good. Engrossing and complex … it grabbed me and didn’t let go until the final words. It’s the story of four generations of a Korean family in Japan. I had no idea of the history of Korean’s in Japan so this was illuminating and gripping! Min Jin Lee is a marvelous writer – her attention to detail while also moving the story forward effectively was so well done here! I didn’t want to put this one down … the narrative is so well done! I couldn’t stop thinking about these characters and their journeys. Impactful, rich, and memorable. I enjoyed learning about the Korean culture and how different it is from my own. There is so much in this novel … I highly recommend it! One of my favorites of the year so far!

Bookish News: A Weekly Update

Finalists Named for this Year's Shirley Jackson Awards

Nominees have been named in six categories for this year's Shirley Jackson Awards, which recognize "outstanding achievement in the literature of psychological suspense, horror and the dark fantastic." The winners will be announced July 15, 2018.

The nominees for the Shirley Jackson Awards are:

NOVEL

Ill Will by Dan Chaon 
The Bone Mother by David Demchuk
The Changeling by Victor Lavalle
The Hole by Hye-young Pyun 
The Night Ocean by Paul La Farge 

SINGLE-AUTHOR COLLECTION

Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado
She Said Destroy by, Nadia Bulkin
The Dark Dark by Samantha Hunt
The Doll’s Alphabet by Camilla Grudova
Things to Do When You’re Goth in the Country by Chavisa Woods

Library Reads Selections Announced for June 2018

Bring Me Back: A Novel by B.A. Paris 

"Intensifying psychological suspense. Twelve years after Finn's girlfriend Layla disappeared, a discovery raises new questions." --Catherine Coyne, Mansfield Public Library, Mansfield, Mass.

There There by Tommy Orange

"A large cast of interwoven characters depicts the experience of Native Americans living in urban settings. Perfect for readers of character-driven fiction with a strong sense of place." --Abby Johnson, New Albany-Floyd County Public Library, New Albany, Ind. 

Us Against You: A Novel by Fredrik Backman 

"The citizens of Beartown are about to lose their beloved hockey team and their rivals could not be happier. The narrator has you wondering who is going to die and why events occur as they do." --Gail Christensen, Kitsap Regional Library, Bremerton, Wash.

The Word Is Murder: A Novel by Anthony Horowitz 

"A playful commentary on the mystery genre itself and the first in a promising new series. The author, Horowitz, plays the part of the narrator, and gets caught up in solving a murder with Daniel Hawthorne, an out-of-work detective." --Amy Whitfield, Wake County Public Libraries, Cary, N.C.

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier 

"A suspenseful thriller told from multiple perspectives. A Seattle detective must unravel a web of secrets dating back to his high school days." --Gail Roberts, Fairfax County Public Library, Fairfax, Va.

Dreams of Falling by Karen White 

"Set in the Lowcountry of South Carolina, this story does what Southern fiction does best: family, lies, and secrets. For fans of Patti Callahan Henry and Mary Alice Monroe." --Leanne Milliman, Charlevoix Public Library, Charlevoix, Mich.

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

"A wonderfully sweet and erotic romance featuring an autistic heroine who hires a hot male escort to teach her how to enjoy sex, but learns so much more." --Elizabeth Gabriel, Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee, Wis.

All We Ever Wanted: A Novel by Emily Giffin 

"Great storyline that is relevant to issues both facing young people today and the people raising them. The story keeps you guessing." --Sarah Trohoske, Erie County Public Library, Erie, Pa.

Little Big Love by Katy Regan 

"A portrait of a family and a boy's search for the father who left them, told from multiple perspectives with authentic, likeable characters."  --McGee, Lake Travis County Library, Austin, Tex. 

How Hard Can It Be?: A Novel by Allison Pearson 

"Kate is holding it all together, unemployed husband, kids, and parents. So, she reinvents herself as someone younger to secure a job with the hedge fund." --Toni Nako, The Public Library of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio

British Book Award Titles Announced

The British Book Award-winning titles are:  

Book of the Year and Fiction Debut Book: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Children's Book (joint winners): The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and The Lost Words by Jackie Morris & Robert Macfarlane

Crime & Thriller: The Dry by Jane Harper

Nonfiction Lifestyle: 5 Ingredients by Jamie Oliver

Nonfiction Narrative: Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge

Fiction: Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor

Audiobook: La Belle Sauvage by Philip Pullman, narrated by Michael Sheen

Upcoming Adaption of Lidia Yuknavitch's memoir, The Chronology of Water

Kristen Stewart plans to make her feature film directorial debut with an adaptation of Lidia Yuknavitch's 2011 memoir, The Chronology of Water. She will write and direct the project.

In an interview at this year's Cannes Film Festival, Stewart said, "Lidia Yuknavitch is from Portland. I love her novels but her memoirs... it's deeply personal to her. She's in my blood and I knew that before I met her. As soon as I met her it was like we started this race without any sense of competition. I'm making the movie this summer but other than that, my only goal is just to finish the screenplay and hire a really spectacular actor: I'm going to write the best f**king female role. I'm going to write a role that I want so badly but that I'm not going to play." (source: Shelf Awareness)

Review: This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America by Morgan Jerkins

This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America by Morgan Jerkins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve been so excited about Morgan Jerkins’ book that I bought it on pub day! I’ve been hearing amazing things about her and her work so this was a great way to engage with her and get a sense of why she’s getting so much praise. If you want to learn more about the challenges of being black and a woman in the world today … this is a great way to get a view into that. Her astute focus on the social, cultural and historical experience of black female oppression really gave me a new perspective. It challenged my assumptions and my patterns of thinking. Her ability to tell a story in a way that will give you nuance and context is incredible. I highly recommend this … I learned so much about my own biases and ways of thinking. I definitely think these essays can help you enhance your own growth as a person.

Review: Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery by Don Richard Riso

Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery by Don Richard Riso
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you want to know more about the Enneagram, this is an excellent overview of the framework. It really helped me to delve deeper into each type and better understand the core dynamics and levels of development for each. This is a great addition to my Enneagram library! Well organized and I was able to easily connect the information in it to my own life.

Review: Hurts to Love You by Alisha Rai

Hurts to Love You by Alisha Rai
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Yet another fantastic book in this series. Actually, this is the final book in the Forbidden Hearts series and it’s so fantastic! Alisha Rai just slays me! She’s such a brilliant writer … the characters are complex, the stories are luscious and smart, and the overall themes are thoughtful and hopeful. If you haven’t, just go read her … this series, in particular, has just blown me away. I’m sorry to see these families go but I’m so glad that I had these 3 novels to spend with them!

April 2018: Monthly Reading Review

I'm so late posting this ... I'm so sorry! May has been so crazy that I'm just catching up now! Here is my monthly reading review for April 2018! Here is the April Reads page from my reading journal ... I'm pretty pleased with how things worked out in April!

All in, I read 14 books in April. Six romance, four non-fiction and four literary fiction books. In terms of ratings - I had one 5 star, ten 4 stars, and three 3 stars. Eight of the 14 books were from the publisher. I'm still working on 5 books that I started in April that are carrying over into May. At the end of April, I'm at a total of 58 books for the year. Not bad at all! That means I'm tracking at finishing about 174 books in 2018. I'd like to increase that a bit so I'm hoping summer reading will push the total upward a bit!

In terms of my reading plans for May, I do have a few things I'm hoping to get read. I have two book club books that I want to try to finish in May - The Librarian of Auschwitz and The Forgotten Girls. The theme for May/June in that book club is Translated Fiction so each of these are translated works chosen by the group. There is another book but I may not get to that one until June. I also have a few ARCs to finish in May including Love and Ruin, The High Tide Club, A Shout in the Ruins and a couple of romances. And then I have a few sitting on my bedside table that I'm hoping to fit in - Out, Other People's Houses, A Court of Thorns and Roses, and The Bazaar of Bad Dreams. And then, of course, I always end up randomly picking things up based on my mood at the time. Looking forward to sharing with you in early June what I actually get to in May!

What did you read in April 2018? Help us add more books to our TBRs! 

Review: Wrong to Need You by Alisha Rai

Wrong to Need You by Alisha Rai
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Alisha Rai!! I just love her … and this series is just so fantastic. This is the 2nd in the series and it totally lives up to the first. I loved seeing Jackson and Sadia’s story come to life. The stories of the Oka-Kane and Chandler families are so well told in this series. I just can’t recommend them more! You can’t go wrong with her books. She’s an incredible writer and can craft a story – one full of emotional resonance and honest portrayals of complex people.

Review: Love and Ruin by Paula McLain

Love and Ruin by Paula McLain
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I ultimately liked this one but it took a lot to get there for me. Much of the book takes place in war zones and I didn’t find those pieces to be very enchanting. I’m just not that into war drama, perhaps? I liked the relationship parts of the book and the character study of this amazing woman in love with a challenging man. That is where this one really excelled for me. If you’re a Hemingway fan, you will definitely want to pick this one up. I’d give the reading experience as a whole a three but the book itself a four. It took a bit to really get into this one for me … it felt like the pacing didn’t pick up until about 100 pages in for me. I did enjoy what the book said about relationships and women’s roles in the various aspects of life (wife, mother, professional, friend, etc.). Their relationship felt very real to me during the reading of the book – there was obviously much love between them but there were other factors on the outside that ultimately impacted their relationship such as his success, her ambition, his lifestyle, her lifestyle, etc. I’m definitely glad that I read this one but I didn’t love it quite as much as her earlier book about Hadley and Ernest Hemingway.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: Oceanside by Michelle Mankin

Oceanside by Michelle Mankin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am struggling a bit with this review. I liked this one quite a bit but I just didn’t love it. I really liked the hero and heroine. I’m glad the story focused heavily on a health condition – and ultimately, it brought some attention to the reality of life with that particular condition. Yet, the story just didn’t connect with me in the way I’d hope. I liked the characters but their relationship never completely made sense to me. I just didn’t connect with them as a couple as much as I did with each of them as an individual character. The plotting also seemed rushed at times – the story came together but it didn’t feel as seamless as I’d have liked. I also wonder if my reaction was impacted on the fact that this is the third in a series – I wonder if I’d have connected with everything a bit more had I gotten to know the entire group from the earlier books. All to say that I liked this one quite a bit but it’s not a favorite. A solid story that offers something new – particularly as it relates to the health issue it portrays.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

Bookish Quote of the Week

I love this quote! And it's so true! It's one of the aspects of reading that I love the most - the ability to read about the experiences of fictional people who ultimately teach me about myself and the people around me!

What about you? Is this something you love about reading? Who is a character who taught you something about yourself?

Review: Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this in part because it was a book club book and several of my fellow book clubbers were saying how good it was. Once I read the fact that it’s the novelization of real events around the kidnapping and illegal adoptions of children in Tennessee, I was IN! And, boy, did this one deliver! This is historical fiction of the best kind – heartbreaking, important, educational, and important and all the other words like these! This story takes place between 1920 and 1960 when numerous children were stolen from their homes and families and subjected to adoptions by Georgia Tann and the Memphis branch of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. The author uses one family with five siblings to demonstrate the experiences of these children and their families. There are two storylines which weave together throughout – one in the present and another in the past. I think they were woven so effectively and interestingly. In the end, I found the entire novel to be so impactful and heartbreaking. The inhumanity experienced by the children in this novel is just devastating. I didn’t find the experiences of the novel to be in any way gratuitous but they are harrowing and heartbreaking for the reader. The abuse and neglect that is described is handled effectively by Lisa Wingate and shouldn’t disturb most readers. I highly recommend this one to any and all!

Review: The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin

The Queen of Hearts by Kimmery Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First of All … that cover is WOW! I’ll be honest, between the cover and the description I saw somewhere about it being like Grey’s Anatomy, it was inevitable that I’d pick this one up. Friendship, marriage, hospitals … yes, please! I will say that it took me a bit to connect with this one … it was looking like a 2 or 3 star until about 125-150 pages. And then … boom, it just took off for me. [I’m not sure what made it difficult for me in initially – from reading reviews, it appears that most others loved it from start to finish so … just thought I’d mention that my experience may be an anomaly]. And now I’m settling at a 4 star overall. I’d imagine it was difficult to find that delicate balance between the domestic drama pieces of the story and the medical pieces of the story … but it was done beautifully in this novel. The friendship in this novel felt very real and honest to me. There were imperfections and it felt very true to life for me, just as real-life friendships are. Complex, challenging and heartbreaking at times. This is a debut novel so I cannot wait to see what’s to come for Kimmery Martin! Definitely recommend.

Review: Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I anticipated that this might be a 5 star read for me but it didn’t quite make it there. I suspect some of that had to do with the number of interviews with the author I heard before picking up the book. In many ways, major components of the book were ‘spoiled’ in those interviews and therefore didn’t have the emotional resonance that they may have if I’d come into the book without the interviews. This is one that had a ton of buzz. I heard about it everywhere! That can sometimes impact my enjoyment of a book. Despite the preconceived notions that I may have had going in, this is a really good and interesting memoir. Tara’s story is powerful and disturbing and gut-wrenching. Try not to read a ton about this one before picking it up – just jump into this one with little information.

It’s a powerful story that really brings to life so many different things in an interesting and thought-provoking way – education, fundamentalism, health care, mental health, parenting, neglect and abuse, and ideas of family and home. I highly recommend this one. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before – Tara Westover is an amazing person and reading her story will give you a view of her troubled and fascinating family.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: Dirty Exes by Rachel Van Dyken

Dirty Exes by Rachel Van Dyken
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really quite liked this one. It was unique and interesting. The heroine is part owner of an investigation company that focuses on catching cheaters. As a result, there is a lot of focus on cheating. If that isn’t your thing, skip this one. The heroine is investigating a man who left her in the past for his career when his current wife hires her to expose him and his cheating. Add in his best friend who the heroine can’t seem to stop thinking about and you get some fascinating situations! As you can imagine, this set up brings a lot of ridiculous scenarios with it. It’s funny – like actually made me laugh several times. I didn’t think Blaire (the heroine) and Jessie (the one she knew in the past)’s relationship made all that much sense – she saw his as the one after a VERY small time together (not even a month). It just didn’t feel realistic to me. But, I got over that. It wasn’t a big issue but it did puzzle me. All in all, I enjoyed this one. Light, funny and witty!

NOTE: I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: Until There Was Us by Samantha Chase

Until There Was Us by Samantha Chase
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I just adored Megan and Alex (perhaps part of it is their names – my twins are Meighan and Alex lol)! Although the 7th in a series, I don’t feel like this one was confusing at all. It definitely read as a standalone. If you like stories about second chances and find out who you are … this is the book for you. I love that Megan was able to grow throughout the novel into the person she wanted to be instead of the person she thought she had to be. The power of the right relationship to get you where you really want and need to be as an individual and all of that! Alex was a dream hero … delectable, smart, funny, adorable, and more. There is plenty of humor as well as sexy bits in this one. Very good one. Looking forward to going back to read earlier books in the series!

NOTE: I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: Lost in the Beehive by Michele Young-Stone

Lost in the Beehive by Michele Young-Stone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was really taken with this novel – on the light side yet deals with very serious issues, sweet and emotional, smart and funny. I had no idea what this one was about … I just knew that I loved her last novel and HAD to get my hands on this one. I’m so glad that I did. It’s a fantastic little novel. Gloria is one of those characters that I think will stay with me for some time. She and Sheff … talk about a friendship unlike any other. This is an inspiring book about love and friendship as well as about staying true to who you are! Heartbreaking and heart lifting all at the same time. Highly recommend this one! [By the way, if you haven’t read Above Us Only Sky (her previous novel), RUN and read it!]

NOTE: I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

Review: The Hookup by Erin McCarthy

The Hookup by Erin McCarthy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Something about Sophie and Caine just grabbed me and didn’t let go. I love that whole 'opposites attract' trope and this is a particularly good one. Sophie is unique – smart, real and accepting. Exactly what Cain needs! And he is everything that she never knew she needed! I love that he’s a lobster fisherman. I love that she’s working on a PhD in math. This is the first in a series and I’m excited for what’s to come. Very hot, very interesting. Although I also wished there had been even more development in their relationship, I really enjoyed what I read. I’m eager to see what bits and pieces we will get in the next book which tells the story of her sister and his brother! It looks like Erin McCarthy has a number of other series so I plan to go check some of those out as well!

NOTE: I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.

Recent Releases

New Releases for May 1, 2018

Adjustment Day: A Novel by Chuck Palahniuk 

Love and Ruin: A Novel by Paula McLain 

Friend of a Friend...: Understanding the Hidden Networks That Can Transform Your Life and Your Career by David Burkus 

He by John Connolly

Limelight by Amy Poeppel

The Map of Salt and Stars by Jennifer Zeynab Joukhadar 

The Mars Room by Rachel Kushner

Mr. Flood's Last Resort by Jess Kidd 

The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy 

The Optimistic Decade by Heather Abel

The Seasons of My Mother: A Memoir of Love, Family, and Flowers by Marcia Gay Harden 

New Paperback Releases for May 1, 2018

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance 

Glass Houses: A Novel by Louise Penny 

Into the Water by Paula Hawkins

The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy

Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta 

Not That Bad: Dispatches from Rape Culture edited by Roxane Gay

Priestdaddy: A Memoir by Patricia Lockwood 

Rich People Problems by Kevin Kwan 

Since We Fell by Dennis Lehane 

Two Kinds of Truth: A Bosch Novel by Michael Connelly

Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin 

New Releases for May 8, 2018

Warlight: A Novel by Michael Ondaatje 

Paul Simon: The Life by Robert Hilburn 

The High Tide Club: A Novel by Mary Kay Andrews 

Our Kind of Cruelty: A Novel by Araminta Hall 

My Ex-Life by Stephen McCauley

Shadow Child by Rahna Reiko Rizzuto

That Kind of Mother by Rumaan Alam

The Destiny Thief: Essays on Writing, Writers and Life by Richard Russo 

New Paperback Releases for May 8, 2018

 

Sing, Unburied, Sing: A Novel by Jesmyn Ward

The Fact of a Body: A Murder and a Memoir by Alexandria Marzano-Lesnevich

Grief Cottage by Gail Godwin 

Isadora by Amelia Gray 

No One Can Pronounce My Name by Rakesh Satyal

The Ones We Choose by Julie Clark 

Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown 

The Windfall by Diksha Basu 

Independent Bookstore Day 2018

I'm a little late getting this posted but I did want to tell you about my Independent Bookstore Day experience as well as my book haul. This is an annual day that celebrates all things Indie Bookstores! I was able to visit all three of my local independent bookstores on Saturday, April 28th!

My first stop is the most recent addition to our local indie bookstores - The Little Bookshop in Midlothian, VA. It's a fantastic little bookstore that has a very curated offering of books. The owner, Mary, is so sweet as are the others working there. They are always available to help you find a specific title and they offer great suggestions.

For IBD, they were having a special story time that was fantastic! The woman doing the story time was so great with the kids and her performance was so well done! They also had a selection of Independent Bookstore Day 2018 items available for visitors to purchase. I purchased two of the items - a pencil pouch with a Colson Whitehead quote as well as the $6 Story which is a collection of flash fiction from great short story writers including A.M. Homes, Etgar Keret, and Amy Bloom.

After browsing the store, I finally narrowed books down to two titles that I've been meaning to pick up. One of my bookclubs may be doing an author meeting with Abbi Waxman so I want to be sure to read her newest novel, Other People's Houses!  Also, I keep picking up Word by Word everytime I see it. It sounds amazing ... it's all about dictionaries. That is so in my wheelhouse! It was time to actually buy it!

The next bookstore that I visited was Fountain Bookstore in downtown Richmond which is one of my favorite bookstores. It's in Shockoe Bottom and is so charming ... brick walls, amazing book curation, and a great staff! It's one of those bookstores that everyone should visit while in Richmond. I feel so lucky to have it so close to me!

I spent a long time walking around and trying to decide what to buy ... it took forever to narrow it down! I've been wanting to pick up Dread Nation after hearing so many rave reviews so this was the perfect opportunity. I remember hearing about Nabokov's Favorite Word Is Mauve on a podcast and it sounded fascinating! It combines big data and literature which sounds like an amazing combo! And last, but certainly not least, I found a pair of socks that are me in a pair of socks ... 'Fuck off. I'm reading!' LOVE them so much!

My final indie bookstore visit was at Chop Suey Books in theCarytown neighborhood of Richmond, VA. It's a fantastic new and used bookstore that I'd definitely describe as eclectic and original. I always find books about the things that I care about - feminism, social justice, and more. Books that you just don't see at most traditional bookstores. I love their commitment to literature and social justice! And they have a wonderful bookstore cat (Won Ton) who is always interesting to try to find! The staff is always friendly and make great recommendations!

Photo credit: https://travellinggeekshow.wordpress.com

After browsing for ages, I quickly found the books that I wanted - I've had The Body is Not An Apology on my TBR for awhile ... I love the radical self-love movement and really want to learn as much as I can about it (and try to incorporate the ideas into my own life). I've heard this one is a great book! And then I couldn't say no to Lost in the Beehive ... I've been waiting for it since I heard it was coming and since I loved her last book, it was a no-brainer to purchase this one (btw - I've already read it and it's fantastic - definitely recommend it). 

And so there it is ... my Independent Bookstore Day haul! If you're ever in the Richmond, VA area, I highly recommend all of these bookstores ... they are all amazing and unique in their own way!

What did you do for Independent Bookstore Day 2018? Did you haul any great books? Tell me all about YOUR local bookstores so I can add them to my Bookstore Bucket List!

Bookish Quote of the Week

Have you encountered someone in your life who makes comments like 'spending all this time reading means you're missing your life!" You know, those comments that imply that reading is not a good use of your time. It drives me CRAZY! Reading is a priority for me ... that is why I put aside time in my day to day life to read. If you don't prioritize reading, you probably prioritize other things that I don't prioritize because they aren't as important to me. And to me ... reading is a lifestyle and not a hobby! It's a critical part of my life that I will make sure to fit in at all times.

Do people in your life say things like this that belittle your love of books and reading? What do you say in response?

Bookish News: A Weekly Update

The Winners of the 2018 James Beard Foundation Book Awards

The winners of the 2018 James Beard Foundation Book Awards are:

Book of the Year: The Cooking Gene by Michael W. Twitty

Cookbook Hall of Fame: Betty Fussell

American: The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman with Beth Dooley

Baking and Desserts: BraveTart: Iconic American Desserts by Stella Parks

Beverage: Meehan's Bartender Manual by Jim Meehan

General: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat by Samin Nosrat

Health and Special Diets: Deepa's Secrets by Deepa Thomas

International: Nopalito by Gonzalo Guzman and Stacy Adimando

Reference, History, and Scholarship: Champagne by Peter Liem

Restaurant and Professional: Modernist Bread by Nathan Myhrvold and Francisco Migoya

Single Subject: The Pho Cookbook by Andrea Nguyen

Vegetable-Focused Cooking: Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables by Joshua McFadden with Martha Holmberg 

Writing: The Cooking Gene by Michael W. Twitty

The Shortlist has Been Announced for the Reading the West Book Awards

The shortlist has been announced for the Reading the West Book Awards, sponsored by the Mountains & Plains Independent Booksellers Association. Winners will be named May 31. This year's shortlisted titles are:

Adult fiction

The Widow Nash by Jamie Harrison
The Vengeance of Mothers: The Journals of Margaret Kelly & Molly McGill by Jim Fergus
Celine by Peter Heller
Days Without End by Sebastian Barry
The Underworld by Kevin Canty

Adult nonfiction

Transplants: Eclectic Floral Design by Antonio Bond
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
Texas Blood: Seven Generations Among the Outlaws, Ranchers, Indians, Missionaries, Soldiers, and Smugglers of the Borderlands by Roger D. Hodge
Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River by David Owen
Wild Horse Country: The History, Myth, and Future of the Mustang by David Philipps

Postponement of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature

"The Swedish Academy has decided to postpone the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature, with the intention of awarding it in 2019. In a statement, Carl-Henrik Heldin, the Nobel Foundation's chairman of the board, said that according to the Swedish Foundations Act, the Nobel Foundation "is ultimately responsible for fulfilling the intentions in the will of Alfred Nobel. During the past several weeks, we have pursued a continuous dialogue with the Swedish Academy, and we support Thursday's decision."

Although the Nobel Prize is, in principle, awarded annually, decisions on the award have been postponed on a number of occasions during its history. "One of the circumstances that may justify an exception is when a situation in a prize-awarding institution arises that is so serious that a prize decision will not be perceived as credible," Heldin noted.

This decision was prompted by a crisis involving accusations of assault by 18 women against French photographer Jean-Claude Arnault, who is married to an Academy member, Katarina Frostenson."

(source: Shelf Awareness)

Annie Proulx has won the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction

"Annie Proulx has won the 2018 Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction, which honors an American literary writer "whose body of work is distinguished not only for its mastery of the art but also for its originality of thought and imagination. The award seeks to commend strong, unique, enduring voices that--throughout long, consistently accomplished careers--have told us something new about the American experience."

The prize ceremony will take place September 1, during the National Book Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

Her books include The Shipping News, Postcards, Barkskins and Close Range: Wyoming Stories, which included the short story later adapted into the Oscar-winning film Brokeback Mountain."

(source: Shelf Awareness)

HBO Has Acquired the Rights to I'll Be Gone In the Dark by Michelle McNamara

HBO Documentary Films has acquired the rights to journalist Michelle McNamara's bestselling book I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, to develop as a docuseries. Deadline reported that McNamara, the late wife of Patton Oswalt, "was in the midst of writing the book when she unexpectedly died in her sleep in 2016. The book was completed by McNamara's lead researcher Paul Haynes and a close colleague, Billy Jensen, and framed by an introduction by Gillian Flynn and afterword by Oswalt, who also executive produces the docuseries."

"HBO taking on this story will advance the passionate pursuit that Michelle shared with dozens of men and women in law enforcement--to solve the mystery of one of California's most notorious serial killers," said Oswalt.

Last month, the Sacramento Sheriff's Office arrested former police officer Joseph James DeAngelo and charged him with a number of the crimes.

(source: Shelf Awareness)

Interesting Bookish Articles

62 of the World’s Best Independent Bookstores by Atlas Obscura

Meet The Black Women Upending The Romance Novel Industry by BuzzFeed

This Comic Artist Draws Amazing "Harry Potter" Scenes That Didn't Make The Movie

My Favorite Bookstagram Accounts: The Writer Edition

This may be hard to believe but Instagram is not just about cat photos, selfies, and photos of what people ate for dinner!  It’s essentially an interactive library of lots of different things - food, makeup, books & reading, art, photography, etc. And there quite a few talented writers who use Instagram as a way to express themselves and interact with their readers. You just need to know who to follow.

Here are a few of my favorites to help start your search ...

@roxanegay74 - Roxane Gay - LOVE her so much! Tons of book content - she's an avid reader and a consumer of pop culture with an interesting perspective on almost anything. LOVE her on twitter as well. You will find out about great books and get a taste of all things Roxane in her feed.

@cherylstrayed - Cheryl Strayed is one of my favorite writers of all time. She tells the truth, even when it hurts. She is so inspiring. Her feed is a great mix of her life as a writer, mom, and wife!

@angiethomas - Angie Thomas wrote The Hate U Give (have you read it? if not, GO READ IT!). and has such a fun Instagram account which shows lots of book love as well as just snippets of her day to day life!

@tayari - Tayari Jones - author of An American Marriage and Silver Sparrow. On book tour. Other bookish content. She is interesting and I love seeing her posts pop up in my feed

@_morganjerkins - Morgan Jerkins author of This will be my Undoing. Lots of book tour content at the moment. lots of 'living her best life' stuff. Smart, self-confident, interesting lady

@stephenking - He is Stephen King ... need I say more? I love the glimpses into his life

@lastnightsreading - Kate Gavino scours New York for book readings by visiting (or local) authors. Then, she cartoons the author picks one of her or his quotes, and posts it on what the cool kids call “Insta.” The result is a colorful and interesting feed that will help you get to know authors and provide regular doses of inspiration.

@hanyayanagihara - Hanya's IG is fantastic! There is lots of content around travel and art. The photography is fantastic! She is also at @alittlelifebook which is a fantastic IG account that focuses on scenes and moments inspired by her amazing novel, A Little Life.

@rupikaur_ - If you love her poetry,  you'll love her IG feed. Follow her travels and see glimpses into her life. Also shares a lot of her poems on the regular.

@tylerknott - Tyler Knott Gregson - writer of haiku, sharer of beautiful photos, you can't go wrong with his IG account!

For the Love of Books & Reading: Bookmark Edition

I'm so excited about this edition of For the Love of Books and Reading because we'll be exploring one of my all time favorite things - BOOKMARKS! Nothing makes me happier than having a great bookmark in a given book. I have a big pile in the drawer of my bedside table and I try to switch them around so they get equal book wear! If you also like bookmarks, this post is for you! Here are just a few that I've discovered and thought were fun and interesting ...

1. Some of my very favorite bookmarks are those I've purchased from LexyOlivia's etsy shop! They are hand painted, hand lettered and of great quality. You won't regret picking up a bookmark from her - she has general bookish bookmarks as well as book/genre specific bookmarks (Harry Potter, Outlander, etc).

2. These wooden bookmarks are beautiful and there are so many different options! 

3. This Lightmark Reading Lamp bookmark is so funny! I love clever little things like this one!  I think your book would look very cool with this one holding your spot!

4. I love these Silicone Pointer bookmarks - they are so fun and unique! They seem to come in a lot of different colors. I'm linking to a 6 pack that gives you a variety of colors! 

5. I think this elastic band bookmark is just beautiful! Who wouldn't love opening a book up to that!?!?

6. I am in love with this spoon bookmark and just may have to go purchase one for myself ... it's so adorable! And I love that quote ... 

7. This is another favorite that I'm considering buying for my collection! I love this Personalized Charm Bookmark!

8. This bookmark made me laugh out loud - here is a really unique Wizard of Oz bookmark! I think this would put me in a good mood every time I opened my book!

9. Sloths are everyone ... including on this cute magnetic bookmark! I love these magnetic bookmarks which add that something special to a book! There are a ton of designs out there but I thought this sloth was adorable! 

10. And I can't end this post without mentioning my favorite Harry Potter magnetic bookmarks! I have a few and I love them! If you're a Potter fan, you don't want to miss these!

OK, that's it for this edition of For the Love of Books and Reading! Have fun finding some amazing bookmarks ... 

Do you have others to share that you love? I'm always in the market for some amazing bookmarks!