Category: stacks

Posted in authors, book addiction, book series, books, commentary, currently reading, digital reads, ebooks, favorite authors, favorites, features, fiction, images, in progress, misc, Mount TBR, novels, opinion, reading challenge, reading goals, reading lists, recently read, Serial Sunday, series, stacks, summer reads, TBR, thoughts, updates

#SerialSunday: Updates

Posted on by bookgirl1987

#SerialSunday: a quick blog feature where I post Serial Reader progress updates and highlight a recently read selection. For more information about the Serial Reader app, click here: https://www.serialreader.org

CURRENTLY READING //

“The Five Orange Pips” (Sherlock Holmes) by Arthur Conan Doyle, 1891, Quick Bite: Sherlock Holmes investigates a series of sudden deaths connected with an apparently omnipotent secret society. PROGRESS: 35%

“The Five Orange Pips” (Sherlock Holmes) by Arthur Conan Doyle, 1891, Progress: 35%

IN THE QUEUE //

“Ten Days in a Mad-House” by Nellie Bly, 1887, Quick Bite: The result of an undercover investigation into the brutality and neglect at the Women’s Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell’s Island.

“Ten Days in a Mad-House” by Nellie Bly, 1887, Status: To Be Read

“Wired Love” by Ella Cheever Thayer, 1880, Quick Bite: Romance is sparked across telegraph lines between people who have not even seen one another. Can you imagine?

“Wired Love” by Ella Cheever Thayer, 1880, Status: To Be Read

“Why Is the Negro Lynched?” by Frederick Douglass, 1895, Quick Bite: Douglass attacks the concept of “the negro problem” in post-Civil War America, showing how it is instead “a great national problem” with racism entrenched in the systems of society.

“Why Is the Negro Lynched?” by Frederick Douglass, 1895, Status: To Be Read

RECENTLY READ //

Title: “Anne of Avonlea” (Anne of Green Gables #2)

Author: L.M. Montgomery

Year: 1909

Genre(s): Classics / Canadian Literature / Children’s / Young Adult / Romance

Format: novel

Read on the Serial Reader app

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Read: July 3, 2020

Notes: can’t put down, classics, novels, new-to-me author, ebook, digital reads, Serial Reader app

Quick Synopsis: The second chapter of Anne Shirley’s life, following her years teaching at Avonlea school. Includes everyone’s favorite foul-mouthed parrot!

Comments: I enjoyed the second book almost as much as the first. Great series; I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to get caught up in Anne Shirley’s world!

Posted in authors, book addiction, book covers, book review, book series, commentary, covers, digital reads, ebooks, fiction, four star reads, highly recommend, history, images, internet, military, Mount TBR, mystery, new discoveries, new releases, new stuff, novels, opinion, owned, politics, publishing, read and review, reading challenge, reading goals, reading life, reading lists, recently read, recommendations, Reedsy Discovery, relationships, series, stacks, summer reads, suspense, thoughts, thrillers, updates, writers

Book Review: “The Fourth Rising” (A Peter Brandt Thriller) by Martin Roy Hill (via Reedsy Discovery)

Posted on by bookgirl1987
Discovered Nazi gold and a dead man’s dirty secrets. A grotesque political machine running strong. A trip to Mexico to investigate missing pieces of history. Encounters with Evil. A romance simmering on the back-burner. A vigilante kitty purring on the couch. Martin Roy Hill’s “The Fourth Rising” has a little bit of everything. For more information about the book and author, click here.

NOTE: A DIGITAL COPY OF THIS BOOK WAS GENEROUSLY PROVIDED BY REEDSY DISCOVERY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

Discovered Nazi gold and a dead man’s dirty secrets. A grotesque political machine running strong. A trip to Mexico to investigate missing pieces of history. Encounters with Evil. A romance simmering on the back-burner. A vigilante kitty purring on the couch. Martin Roy Hill’s “The Fourth Rising” has a little bit of everything.

While reading this novel and getting acquainted with main character Peter Brandt, I became aware of a genre of novels known as “conspiracy thrillers.” While this book fits in perfectly with that genre, it is so much more than a “conspiracy thriller” and was a great introduction to Hill’s work. If you enjoy history (particularly World War II), military/war thrillers, and yes, conspiracy theories, you need to add this book to your list.

The writing is great, the pace is pitch-perfect, and the plot serves up plenty of action and adventure. There’s also a side dish of romance, and a cat named Jack who serves justice to one of the bad guys. Brandt’s encounters with the villains lurking throughout the novel (and there are plenty) are heart-pounding and intense.

It speaks to the quality of the novel when I say that I don’t usually read books like this but I dove right in to this one and couldn’t stop reading. “The Fourth Rising” is part of a series starring former war correspondent Peter Brandt, but also serves as a stand-alone. Although the book makes some references to events in the previous two Peter Brandt novels, not once did I feel lost with the narrative, characters, or plot. It wasn’t easy to put the book down, but it was easy to decide that I’d like to read the other books in the series.

There’s always something “they” don’t want us to see, and Peter Brandt is on the trail of a hidden agenda that will shock and enrage you. Highly recommended for lovers of history and those willing to entertain other versions of historical events. You won’t be disappointed.

NOTE: Logan and I have almost met our 2020 Goodreads Reading Challenge goal of 50 books! We are so proud of ourselves for reading so much this year 😉

Pressed Between Pages,

Allison xoxo

Posted in African-American, art, book covers, book review, books, children, commentary, digital reads, ebooks, entertainment, favorites, four-star reads, illustrated, images, importance of reading, internet, literacy, misc, new discoveries, opinion, pagetoscreen, parenting, parents, raising readers, reading, reading challenge, reading goals, reblogged, recommendations, relationships, society, spring reads, stacks, thoughts, updates, video

Mama’s Book Review: “Hair Love” by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison

Posted on by bookgirl1987

Mama’s Book Review: “Hair Love” by Matthew A. Cherry, illustrated by Vashti Harrison

https://babystolemybook.wordpress.com/2020/05/03/mamas-book-review-hair-love-by-matthew-a-cherry-illustrated-by-vashti-harrison/
— Read on babystolemybook.wordpress.com/2020/05/03/mamas-book-review-hair-love-by-matthew-a-cherry-illustrated-by-vashti-harrison/

Posted in authors, book addiction, book review, book reviews, book series, books, commentary, digital reads, ebooks, favorite authors, favorites, features, fiction, four star reads, highly recommend, importance of reading, mini-review, mystery, new discoveries, opinion, psychology, reading, reading challenge, reading goals, reading lists, recommendations, relationships, series, short stories, spring reads, stacks, suspense, thoughts, updates

#SerialSunday: Recently Read (Adventures of Sherlock Holmes)

Posted on by bookgirl1987

#SerialSunday: a quick new blog feature where I highlight a recently read selection from Serial Reader. For more information about the Serial Reader app, click here: https://www.serialreader.org

Title: “The Adventure of the Three Students” (Sherlock Holmes Chronicles #27)

Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Year: 1904

Genre: Classic British Literature

Format: short story

Read on the Serial Reader app

Rating: 4 / 5 ⭐️

Read: April 17, 2020

Notes: One-sitting reads, new-to-me author, classic literature, digital reads, ebooks

Quick Synopsis: Three students, about to undergo a rigorous exam for a scholarship, are suspected of cheating. Sherlock Holmes uncovers the unlikely culprit.

Comments: I’m pleased to discover how much I enjoy the adventures of Sherlock Holmes. I started reading these stories earlier this year and have now read 4 of them in the app.

I love the rhythm and routine of each story and the OCD-like attention to detail always paid by the sophisticated Sherlock. The narrator-sidekick Watson provides second-fiddle observations (often of Sherlock himself) and a muted humility to Sherlock’s exaggerated bravado. Perfectly exquisite British literature.

Looking forward to reading more Sherlock Holmes stories with an online book group next month!

Posted in African-American, authors, book covers, book review, book reviews, books, commentary, covers, fiction, four-star reads, highly recommend, images, life, mini-review, novels, opinion, owned, posts, reading, reading goals, reading life, reading lists, recommendations, relationships, stacks, summer reads, TBR, thoughts, updates, women writers, writers

2-minute Book Review of Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple”

Posted on by bookgirl1987

Hello, long-lost book friends! Long time since I updated 😏 Today felt like a good day to finish a book I’ve been working on forever, so I buckled down and read the last few chapters. It was such a fulfilling read, and a rather long time coming, I decided to hop on the much-neglected blog and do a very quick review.

TITLE: THE COLOR PURPLE // AUTHOR: ALICE WALKER // GENRE(S): CLASSICS, AFRICAN-AMERICAN LITERATURE, WOMEN’S FICTION, EPISTOLARY, etc.

4/5 ⭐️ for the following elements:

1. I feel it reaches beyond African-American literature; it felt “important” in the canon of Western/American literature

2. Despite the difficulty of reading aloud African-American vernacular, the language is downright beautiful

3. The characters of Celie, Nettie and Shug Avery are examples of strong and powerful women, some of the best in literature

4. Beautiful representation of two women characters falling in love and exploring the physicality of said relationship (Celie and Shug)

5. The perseverance of the human spirit is on full display in this novel, rendered convincingly but not without elements of despair and brokenness

6. The only reason I didn’t give it the full 5 ⭐️ is because this novel is told in the epistolary style and I’m just not a huge fan of that technique. That said, it does not detract from the novel in a major way for me. My first Alice Walker and I’m definitely interested in her backlist 😁 Highly recommend!!

BLOGGING & LIFE UPDATE: Finished this classic novel this afternoon. It’s only my 8th completed book of the year, so not very impressive, as far as my reading goals are concerned. My reading hours over the past few months are finally picking up after a VERY sluggish start this year. In addition to getting back into my reading groove, I’m trying to get back into blogging, even though my life will be kicking into SUPER-HIGH gear in the next few weeks. (I’m expecting my first child in September and am on my way to new motherhood!!) That said, I always miss blogging and am trying to come up with new ideas for the blog. I will TRY to be more active, even though life with baby will naturally mean less time for past pursuits. I’m so excited I’m reading regularly again, but of course I’m much more excited to start this new CHAPTER in my life!! Time to TURN THE PAGE 😌

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Posted in bookish, books, cool stuff, Dewey's, Dewey's 24-hour Read-a-thon, events, fellow bloggers, fellow readers, fiction, non-fiction, novels, read-a-thon, reading, reading life, social media, stacks, upcoming

Who’s ready for Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon 10-year anniversary?! ;-)

Posted on by bookgirl1987

Who’s ready for Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon on Saturday, October 21? I am! This year marks the 10-year anniversary of this wonderful event. Stay tuned for updates. I’ll be blogging and reviving the ol’ book blog (at least for the readathon).

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeN8G71FIgI3v8ds3T8IS3qr5PbtUn17ZSrB9gn7T743UtizQ/viewform?embedded=true

Ready for the biggest reading party of the DECADE? So are we! We’re celebrating 10 years of Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon, and if you’d like to READ during the event, sign up here! Do you have to read the whole 24 hours? NOOOO! Do what ya can. We’d love to have you! We will have…

via October 2017 READER Sign-Ups! — Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon

Posted in authors, book addiction, books, entertainment, fiction, goodreads, goodreads.com, memoir, movies, novels, pagetoscreen, reading, reading lists, stacks, TBR, tbr thursday, true story, writers

tbr thursday

Posted on by bookgirl1987

//TBR THURSDAY…where I highlight some titles related to 1 book I’m currently reading//

This week’s current read is: Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love.” Let’s explore some related titles I’ve got on my TBR list:

NOTE: “Eat, Pray, Love” is a completely original piece of writing and might differ in many ways from the mentioned titles. I’m aiming for titles already on my TBR with (arguably) similar concepts and themes.

See you next time!

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Posted in book addiction, book hoarding, books, currently reading, features, fiction, goodreads, goodreads.com, in progress, libraries, library lends, mailbox monday, new releases, new stuff, non-fiction, novels, public library, publishing, reading, reading challenge, reading goals, reading life, reading lists, stacks, TBR, upcoming, updates, winter reads

mailbox monday

Posted on by bookgirl1987

//MAILBOX MONDAY: new releases on my radar, incoming, outgoing, currently reading, read, up next…//

  • UP NEXT: books to pull off the shelf soon

That’s it for this week, friends! See you next time for another Mailbox Monday sampling! 😉

Your Friend in Books,

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Posted in blog followers, bloggers, blogging, blogs, book + recipe/drink, book addiction, books, commentary, cool stuff, Dewey's, Dewey's 24-hour Read-a-thon, events, fall reads, fellow bloggers, fellow readers, fiction, holidays, images, non-fiction, novels, read-a-thon, reading, reading and drinking, reading challenge, reading goals, reading life, stacks, thoughts

Hour 12-Coffee Is Your Best Friend

Posted on by bookgirl1987

HOUR 12 IS UPON US, MY FRIENDS! And if you’re looking at this post right now, you’re kick-butt because you’ve made it to the halfway point and you’re still here! YAY YOU!

I apologize to the non-coffee-drinkers amongst us, but right about now you’re needing something to keep you going! Since everything else is illegal, YAY FOR COFFEE!  Not hating on tea but coffee is just boss, and this post is to encourage coffee-lovers to pour another cup! There’s actually a lot of encouraging research pointing to the fact that coffee is pretty darn good for us–in moderation, of course.

If you’d like to take a break and read about coffee (it’s still reading and it counts!), feel free to check out the links below:

DISCLAIMER: Of course, friends, don’t drink more coffee than is right for you. And remember to rest and sleep up well when the ‘thon concludes! We don’t want anyone getting sick or having severe read-a-thon jetlag. This post does NOT in any way encourage the over-consumption of coffee or caffeine. Enjoy responsibly! 😉

Enjoy your cup and get back to kickin’ those pages! It’s been fun hosting Hours 11 & 12 but I’m signing off. Now I must get back to my own reading and my lovely java juice. Cheers!

Your Friend in Books & Coffee,

sig2

Posted in blog followers, bloggers, blogging, blogs, book addiction, book covers, books, commentary, covers, currently reading, Dewey's, Dewey's 24-hour Read-a-thon, events, fall reads, fellow bloggers, fellow readers, fiction, graphic novels, holidays, horror, illustrated, images, library lends, library loot, novels, owned, paranormal/fantasy, read-a-thon, reading, reading challenge, stacks, stephen king, stephen king project, TBR

Hour 11: Choose Your Own Nightmare

Posted on by bookgirl1987

Hey wonderful Read-a-thon people! Missed you guys so much. I’m so glad it’s that time of year again! I’ve lost count, but I think it’s my 3rd or 4th Dewey’s and this is my 2nd time co-hosting; I couldn’t be happier to do it!

Looks like you’ve made it to HOUR 11! Woo-hoo! Do you know how awesome that is?! Take a moment to pat yourself on the back and dust off those cookie or Doritos crumbs ;-). It’s time to celebrate with Hour 11’s mini-challenge: CHOOSE YOUR OWN NIGHTMARE.

 

Many of us are reading in various spooky genres (horror/suspense/mystery) because Halloween is just a week away. I have to say that I’m loving Dewey’s in October. This time of year is made for reading…and for scaring the pants off ourselves with horrific readage. I know some of us probably aren’t reading spooky books and that’s ok but I wanted to do a little Halloween challenge.

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Here’s what you do: Choose your own nightmare and leave one of the spookiest passages you’re reading or have read during the ‘thon in the comments! Please include title and author of book because we all want to know which book you’re reading. That’s it, my dears. Scare the pants off your fellow readers, take a quick breather, and get back to reading!

As for me, I’m really enjoying Stephen King’s “Insomnia,” am thinking about re-reading Mary Shelley’s classic “Frankenstein” and I want to read Emily Carroll’s creepy “Through the Woods.”

 

Ok, see you in a few for HOUR 12! You’re doing great!

Your Book Friend,

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