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Showing posts from May, 2021

Monthly Summary; May 2021

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It's the end of yet another month, so it's time for a summary of what I've read this month as well as this month's book haul. Books I've read The Vegetarian by Han Kang Mother's Beloved - Stories from Laos by Outshine Bounyavong The Blue Sky by Galsan Tschinag Jamilia by Chingiz Aitmatov Catherine House by Elisabeth Thomas A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers by Xiaolu Guo Plikt by Marianne Clementine Håheim Book haul Thazarens makt: Herskeren av Marianne Nelvik (press copy) The Story So Far by Jane Eklund The Animals at Lockwood Manor by Jane Healey Tethered by Bryce Gibson The Resort by Bryce Gibson Perennials by Bryce Gibson The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab Hunden fra Baskerville by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sendebudet by Yoko Tawada I to tusen år by Mihail Sebastian Jeg har fotografert deg mens du sover by Alicia Thi Nguyen Ryberg Fuglepust by Klaus Böldl Barkefjører by Frank Eriksen Jenta som skrev i

Omtale; Sanka ull av Patti Smith

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For en stund siden leste jeg samlinga Sanka ull av Patti Smith og i dag kommer omtalen. Beskrivelse fra forlaget Sanka ull er ei intens lita perle av ei minnebok. Med glimt attende til barndommens mystiske og magiske verd - og til den tidlege ungdommens uskyld og usikkerheit. Boka rommar essensen av det Patti Smith kan som poet og skribent: gi ord til det for lengst gløymte, fange det flyktigaste tankespinn og mane fram hjartegripande scener. Ei lita bok, men berre av format og omfang. For den strevar høgt og veks i fylde for lesaren, som får sine eigne minnebilde oppvekt og fletta inn. Gjendikta av Ingrid Z. Aanestad. Mine tanker om boka Selv om tekstene var litterært velskrevne og interessante, var det ett eller annet som gjorde at jeg slet med å lese meg gjennom boka. Er usikker på hva det var, men det er nok sikkert en bok som andre vil like bedre enn meg.

Omtale; Pictures of Dorianna by Catherine Stine

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Last year I recieved a press copy of the novel Pictures of Dorianna by Catherine Stine through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Internet followers, beauty, power. It all sounded good. Until it transformed into a terrifying reality she couldn’t stop When her father is jailed, her mother ships lonely, plain Dorianna to her aunt’s in Brooklyn, NY. There, Dorianna yearns to build a new identity, but the popular Lacey bullies her—mostly for getting attention from her ex, Ander. Ander takes Dorianna to Coney Island where Wilson, a videographer, creates a stunning compilation of her. She dreams of being an online sensation, as she’s never even had a birthday party, and vows she’d give anything to go viral. Wilson claims he’s the Prince of Darkness and offers her the beauty and fame, even love she’s dreamed of—warning her that a pledge has its downsides. Dorianna has no idea of how dire those consequences might be. She’s

Omtale; Kunsten å være kreativ av Neil Gaiman og Chris Riddell

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I fjor var jeg såpass heldig at jeg fikk tilsendt et leseeksemplar av boka Kunsten å være kreativ av Neil Gaiman og Chris Riddell fra forlaget. Nå har jeg lest boka og i dag kommer omtalen. Beskrivelse fra forlaget En unik inspirasjonsbok fra mesterfortelleren og kultforfatteren Neil Gaiman. Neil Gaiman sa en gang at verden alltid synes lysere når du nettopp har skapt noe som ikke var der tidligere. Denne lille boka er født av den visjonen. Kunsten å være kreativ er en samling av taler, dikt og kreative manifester og utforsker hvordan det å lese, fantasere og skape kan endre verden. «Det ene som du har som ingen andre har, er DEG. Din stemme, ditt hode, din historie, din visjon. Så skriv og tegn og bygg og spill og dans og lev slik som bare DU kan.» Mine tanker om boka Kunsten å være kreativ var en bok jeg definitivt hadde sansen for. En hyllest til bøker, biblioteker og det viktige arbeidet bibliotekarer gjør, er noe av innholdet i boka. I tillegg var det noen fantastiske illustrasjo

Review; Winter of Summers by Michael Faudet

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I recently read the poetry collection Winter of Summers by Michael Faudet and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Winter of Summers is the fourth book of internationally bestselling poet Michael Faudet, author of Smoke & Mirrors, Bitter Sweet Love, and Dirty Pretty Things—a finalist in the Goodreads Readers Choice awards. His whimsical and sometimes erotic writing has captured the hearts and minds of thousands of people from around the world. Michael Faudet’s latest book explores the fine line between love and loss, the fragility of relationships, self-empowerment, and social commentary. Every page taking the reader to a world of conflicting emotions, where nothing is what it seems and beautiful dreams come to life. All exquisitely captured in a thought-provoking collection of poetry, prose, and short stories. My Thoughts on the Book Winter of Summers just shows why I've fallen in love with Michael Faudet's writing. It's beautifully written with a

Review; Texas Q: 100 Recipes for the Very Best Barbecue from the Lone Star State, All Smoke-Cooked to Perfection by Cheryl Jamison

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the cookbook Texas Q: 100 Recipes for the Very Best Barbecue from the Lone Star State, All Smoke-Cooked to Perfection by Cheryl Jamison through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads For bodacious, bragging-rights barbecue that's easy to master in your backyard smoker, look to Texas! Among the proud barbecue traditions in the United States, from the Carolinas to Memphis to Kansas City—whether spelled barbecue, barbeque, bar-b-q, BBQ, or just Q—none is prouder, more deeply flavored, or rich in tradition than Texas Q. Texas barbecue is best known for beef; and beef brisket in particular, the signature dish that has been celebrated over the years by such legends as Taylor's Louie Mueller and Houston's Jim Goode, as well as by modern-day wunderkind Aaron Franklin in Austin. Cheryl Alters Jamison, co-author with her late husband Bill of the definitive Texas

Top Ten Tuesday; Book Quotes About Books and/or Reading

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It's Tuesday and time for a new Top Ten Tuesday post, courtesy of  That Artsy Reader Girl . The theme of the week was books quotes that fit x theme, so I decided to find 10 book quotes about books and/or reading. Book lovers love bookish quotes, right? “For as long as she could remember, she had thought that autumn air went well with books, that the two both somehow belonged with blankets, comfortable armchairs, and big cups of coffee or tea.” (Katarina Bivald - The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend) “People were strange like that. They could be completely uninterested in you, but the moment you picked up a book, you were the one being rude.” (Katarina Bivald - The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend) “There's always a person for every book. And a book for every person.” (Katarina Bivald - The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend) “Can you smell it? The scent of new books. Unread adventures. Friends you haven’t met yet, hours of magical escapism awaiting you.” (Katarina Bivald - The

Review; The Smoke Shop's Backyard BBQ: Eat, Drink, and Party Like a Pitmaster by Andy Husbands and William Salazar

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Ages ago I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the cookbook The Smoke Shop's Backyard BBQ: Eat, Drink, and Party Like a Pitmaster by Andy Husbands and William Salazar through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Every meal is better with BBQ! Impress your friends, family, and co-workers with recipes from Boston's popular Smoke Shop restaurant. Join Andy Husbands and Will Salazar as they share their secrets in The Smoke Shop's Backyard BBQ. Start off with a classic Backyard Barbecue featuring pulled pork, Twice-Smoked Pulled Chicken, deliciously simple brisket, and New Memphis Ribs. With a selection of the Smoke Shop’s favorite sides, drinks, and desserts, it might seem like all you ever needed. Then they go further afield, as the following chapters bring smokehouse flavor to every occasion: Make Taco Tuesday special with Brisket Ropa Vieja Tacos, Pulled Pork Quesadillas, BBQ Empanadas, Street Cor

Smakebit på Søndag; The Book Collectors: A Band of Syrian Rebels and the Stories That Carried Them Through a War av Delphine Minoui

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Det er på tide med en ny Smakebit på Søndag, som Betraktninger og Flukten fra virkeligheten har ansvaret for. Boka jeg vil ta for meg i dag er den faglitterære The Book Collectors: A Band of Syrian Rebels and the Stories That Carried Them Through a War av Delphine Minoui. Boka omhandler en gruppe mennesker som samler sammen en mengde bøker fra forlatte hus i Daraya og lager et undergrunnsbibliotek midt under den syriske krigen. Ikke bare forteller boka om selve biblioteket og hvilken betydning bøker kan ha, men en får også et inntrykk av menneskene og den syriske krigen. Boka kan i hvert fall definitivt anbefales. Det er to smakebiter jeg vil dele og her er den første. He spends hours explaining this project to save their cultural heritage, born from the ashes of a town that won’t yield. He tells me about the incessant bombing. The empty stomachs. The soups made of leaves to stave off starvation. The voracious reading to nourish the mind. The library is their hidden fortress against

Review; If You Take Away the Otter by Susannah Buhrman-Deever and Matthew Trueman

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book If You Take Away the Otter by Susannah Buhrman-Deever and Matthew Trueman through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads When the sea otters disappear, why does their kelp forest habitat disappear, too? On the Pacific Coast of North America, sea otters play, dive, and hunt for sea urchins, crabs, abalone, and fish in the lush kelp forests beneath the waves. But there was a time when people hunted the otters almost to extinction. Without sea otters to eat them, an army of hungry sea urchins grew and destroyed entire kelp forests. Fish and other animals that depended on the kelp were lost, too. But when people protected the sea otters with new laws, their numbers began to recover, and so did the kelp forests. Susannah Buhrman-Deever offers a beautifully written account of a trophic cascade, which happens when the removal of a single element affects

Let's Talk Bookish; How Do You Create Bookish Content?

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It's Friday and time for another Let's Talk Bookish post, courtesy of  Eternity Books and Literary Lion . The question of the week was "How do you create bookish content?". As I post a blog post once a day, it means I need to create lots of content throughout the year and I've written and scheduled posts often WAY in advance (often months) and I have four "main categories" of blog posts, in which I will list below. Weekly or monthly features/meme, such as Mailbox Monday, Top Ten Tuesday, Let's Talk Bookish and #SixForSunday, in which I write and schedule as soon as there's new prompts and I see the prompts I want to participate in. Random themed lists/posts that I post when it's appropriate, such as a book recommendation post on books to buy at the "Mammutsalg" in Norway (the big annual book sale), books to read during Black History Month and so on as it would be odd posting any of it "out of season". Book reviews - I po

Review; Murder Most Southern (A Ditie Brown Mystery #3) by Sarah Osborne

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC for the cosy mystery Murder Most Southern (A Ditie Brown Mystery #3) by Sarah Osborne through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Mabel Aphrodite Brown unpacks her knives—and her detective skills—when she joins a cooking competition that someone would kill to win . . . Somehow, Ditie’s best friend, Lurleen, has sweet-talked Ditie into a spot on the next edition of The Great Southern Baking Contest. It’ll mean leaving her almost-adopted kids for a little while, but they love spending time with their uncle. And she can’t turn down the chance to bake at celebrity chef Savanah Evans’s antebellum estate in Beaufort, South Carolina . . . Even when Savanah’s husband dies suspiciously at the welcome party, the show doesn’t stop. As technical problems plague filming and the body count rises faster than a soufflé, it becomes clear that everyone is hiding more than just bi

Omtale; De døde av Christian Kracht

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Av og til blir jeg dratt mot litt mer intellektuelle romaner. De døde av sveitsiske Christian Kracht er en sånn roman og i dag kommer omtalen. Beskrivelse fra forlaget De døde tar oss med rett inn i de feberhete hektiske tidlige 1930-årene, da Det Moderne, og da spesielt den nye filmkulturen, opplevde sin første store blomstringstid. I Berlin, "Spleenen i denne usikre, krampaktige, labile nasjonen", prøver en ung Sveitsisk filmregissør, euforisk ansporet av en viss Siegfried Kracauer og en viss dame ved navn Lotte Eisner, å overbevise filmmogulen Alfred Hugenberg om å finansiere en film, en skrekkfilm, eller rettere, en japansk skrekkfilm. Og der, på den andre siden av globusen, forbereder samtidig den ytterst hemmelighetsfulle japaneren Masahiko Amakasu et storstilt komplott mot herredømmet til den internasjonalt mektige filmindustrien i Hollywood. Mine tanker om boka De døde er en fascinerende roman som til en viss grad bruker den litterære moderne som effek

Review, Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café (Honey Creek #1) by Jodi Thomas

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the romance novel Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café (Honey Creek #1) by Jodi Thomas through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads From Jodi Thomas, New York Times bestselling author of Mornings on Main and Indigo Lake, comes this heartwarming new novel set in Honey Creek, Texas—a small town where family bonds and legends run deep, and friendship and love are always close at hand . . . Piper Jane Mackenzie, mayor of Honey Creek, won’t let a major scandal rip her quirky hometown apart, or jeopardize her dream of one day running for higher office. So she’s willing to welcome undercover detective Colby McBride, hired to help solve the mystery behind her wannabe fiancé’s disappearance. Colby’s cover? That he is an old boyfriend now begging Piper for a second chance—always when there are plenty of townsfolk around to witness his shenanigans. Piper hardly knows whethe

Announcing a Pride-inspired Bookstagram Photo Challenge For June 2021

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Happy International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. Considering what day it is, as well as it's Pride month next month, I figured out I could announce the LGBT+ Bookstagram photo challenge I'm hosting next month. If you want to participate, it's not like you need to post specific photos for specific days, as long as you post them all during June. Though, if you want to use some of the prompts for specific weekday hashtags, such as #fantasyfriday, #sapphicsaturday, #bookstacksaturday or #mysterymonday (or other Bookstagram challenges for that matter), I'm not going to stop you. I also tried to keep the prompts somewhat open/flexible, so you all had some wiggle-room in terms of what books you wanted/could use. All I ask is for you to have fun and be creative, as well as using the hashtag #TrykksvertePride2021 and use LGBT+ books (or authors) for the challenge.  I'll also post the illustration with prompts on my own  Instagram profile  some time toda

#SixForSunday; Covers With Plants

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It's Sunday and time for a new #SixForSunday post, courtesy of A Little But A Lot . The theme of the week was book covers with plants. Here's my picks. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Evening Primrose by Kopano Matlwa It Grows in Wnter & Other Poems by Chinyere Grace Okafor The Dog Who Dared To Dream by Sun-Mi Hwang In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner Evening is the Whole Day by Preeta Samarsan

Review; A Deadly Edition (Blue Ridge Library Mysteries #5) by Victoria Gilbert

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the cosy mystery A Deadly Edition (Blue Ridge Library Mysteries #5) by Victoria Gilbert through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads "Til death do us part" could be closer than the bride realizes in Victoria Gilbert's tantalizing fifth Blue Ridge Library mystery. The pursuit to acquire a rare illustrated book turns deadly, and on the eve of her upcoming wedding, library director Amy Webber is drawn into a web of treachery and betrayal that could derail her happy day—and maybe just claim her life. Planning a wedding can be murder—sometimes literally. At a party celebrating their upcoming nuptials, Taylorsford, Virginia library director Amy Webber and her fiancé Richard Muir discover the body of art dealer Oscar Selvaggio—a bitter rival of their host, Kurt Kendrick. Both had been in a heated battle to purchase a rare illustrated volume created by William M

Review; I Flew for the Führer by Heinz Knoke

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Ages ago, I recieved a digital press copy of the book I Flew for the Führer by Heinz Knoke through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Heinz Knoke was one of Nazi Germany’s outstanding pilots, and this dramatic record of his experiences, illustrated with personal photos, has become a classic among aviation memoirs. He joined the Luftwaffe at the outbreak of the war, rose to the rank of commanding officer, and received the Knight’s Cross. Knoke’s account crackles with vivid accounts of air battles; and captures his utter desolation at Germany’s defeat. My Thoughts on the Book Although I am no fan of nazism to say it the least, I Flew for the Führer was still a fascinating read considering that it was informative about how it was to be a pilot on that side of the war. While reading, I also noticed a few familiar lines, so I suspect the documentary series Nazi Megastructures used this book as inspiration in one of their ep

Review; Bag of Bones - Book Three of Low Country Dog Walker Mystery series by Jackie Layton

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the cosy mystery novel Bag of Bones - Book Three of Low Country Dog Walker Mystery series by Jackie Layton through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads Does one good turn deserve a murder? Despite all her good intentions to focus on a healthy lifestyle and leave crime solving to the professionals, Andi Grace Scott has run right smack into another investigation--literally. Who'd have thought caring for stray cats and a healthy morning beach run could lead to murder? Andi Grace has found another body and a young woman who needs help. Solving this puzzle will come with a cost. This time, catching the killer will require Andi Grace to confront her past relationships and truths about her deceased mother. My Thoughts on the Book Bag of Bones is one of those books with likeable characters, fun character dynamics and a few cute dogs. It's a well crafted

Top Five Wednesday; Haunted House Horror Novels Written By Female Authors

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It's Wednesday and perhaps time for a new Top Five Wednesday post, courtesy of the Goodreads group with the same name. The theme of the week was favourite tropes, so I decided narrowing it down to the haunted house trope often found in horror novels, but focusing on books written by female authors. Here's my picks. The Woman in Black by Susan Hill Description from Goodreads Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor in London, is summoned to Crythin Gifford to attend the funeral of Mrs Alice Drablow, and to sort through her papers before returning to London. It is here that Kipps first sees the woman in black and begins to gain an impression of the mystery surrounding her. From the funeral he travels to Eel Marsh House and sees the woman again; he also hears the terrifying sounds on the marsh. Despite Kipps’s experiences he resolves to spend the night at the house and fulfil his professional duty. It is this night at Eel Marsh House that contains the greatest horror for Kipps. Kipps lat

Top Ten Tuesday; Crime, Mystery and Thriller Novels With Nature On Cover

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It's Tuesday and time for a new Top Ten Tuesday post, courtesy of That Artsy Reader Girl . The theme of the week was books with nature on cover and I decided narrowing it down by focusing on crime, mystery and thriller novels. Here's my picks. Why Did You Lie? by Yrsa Sigurdardottir The Boy in the Headlights by Samuel Bjørk I Will Miss You Tomorrow by Heine Bakkeid The Girl Without Skin by Mads Peder Nordbo Tracking Game by Margaret Mizushima The Body in the Mist by Nick Louth Coffin Road by Peter May The Nidderdale Murders by J. R. Ellis Dead Wicked by Helen H. Durrant The Marsh King's Daughter by Karen Dionne

Omtale; Den gylne tigeren by Hanne Eik

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I fjor var jeg såpass heldig at jeg mottok et leseeksemplar av romanen Den gylne tigeren by Hanne Eik fra forlaget. Nå har jeg lest boka og i dag kommer omtalen. Beskrivelse fra forlaget Eksotisk underholdningsroman om å møte det man frykter. Singapore, 2014. I lang tid har Julie strevd for å holde fasaden, men ryktene om ektemannens sidesprang sprer seg stadig i omgangskretsen, og til slutt klarer hun ikke finne mening i alt som skjer. Hun blir reddet – av den minst sannsynlige redningsmann – og havner så langt unna sin vante verden hun kunne komme. Hvordan skal hun klare å finne tilbake til den hun er, i en dampende jungel full av truende dyr og ukjente mennesker? Den gylne tigeren er en bok om å finne sin plass i en verden man ikke forstår. Om rikdommen i ulike kulturer og om magien i det mellommenneskelige. Det er en bok om kjærlighet. Og ikke minst: om en gyllen tiger. Mine tanker om boka Den gyldne tigeren er en hjertevarmende og tankevekkende bok om relasjoner, kul

#SixForSunday; Pastel Coloured Covers

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It's Sunday and time for a new #SixForSunday post, courtesy of  A Little But A Lot and the theme of the week was pastel coloured covers. Here's my picks. My Life in Transition: A Super Late Bloomer Collection by Julia Kaye The Saffron Trail by Rosanna Ley The Little Bookshop of Love Stories by Jaimie Admans A Pair of Silver Wings by James Holland Wed, Read & Dead by V. M. Burns Booked for Death by Victoria Gilbert

Review; Hope, Faith, and a Corpse: A Faith Chapel Mystery by Laura Jensen Walker

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the cosy mystery Hope, Faith, and a Corpse: A Faith Chapel Mystery by Laura Jensen Walker through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads In the tradition of M. C. Beaton, Hope Taylor, pastor of a small-town California church, tries to find out who sent a church elder to Heaven. Hope Taylor arrives in Apple Springs to start her new life as the first female pastor of Faith Chapel Episcopal Church. The northern California town's quaint cottages, bungalows, and shops promise a fresh start for the 42-year-old widow and Bogie, her scruffy black Labrador. But where is Father Christopher? The kindly old rector who hired Pastor Hope was supposed to meet her upon her arrival, but he's nowhere to be seen. Hope's faith springs eternal, so she explores the little white church hoping to find Father Christopher. But when she enters the columbarium, she instead finds church

Let's Talk Bookish; What Makes You Continue Picking Up YA/Middle Grade?

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It's Friday and time for a new Let's Talk Bookish, courtesy of  Eternity Books and Literary Lion . The theme/questions of the week was " What makes you countinue picking up YA/middle grade? Or why don't you? ". I'm not going to deny that I sometimes pick up YA and middle grade books from time to time. Some YA and middle grade books are actually very well written and they occasionally deal with various topics in a different manner than "regular adult" books, which makes it a bit more interesting. It's not like I want to limit myself to only read adult books just because I'm in my early thirties. Also, YA and middle grade books can be a bit refreshing after reading some really heavy books and I want something that's a bit lighter (although some YA and middle grade can be really dark too, don't get me wrong here). If I didn't read YA and middle grade books, I would have missed out on books such as Small Spaces by Katherine Arden, B

Book Tag; The Quarantine Book Tag

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I came across The Quarantine Book Tag over at  Sav's Review  and created by  Words About Words and I decided to play along. Rules: Pingback to, @ WordsAboutWords , so they can see all your answers. Tag the person you found this from. Don’t stress and have fun! (& also stay safe!) The Questions: 1. Favorite reading spot at home? My couch 2. An unread book in your physical TBR? Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara 3. A book you’ve actually read from your physical TBR pile? Bannockburn 1314 by Lynette Nusbacher 4. Next book release you’re hyped for? Brothers in Arms by James Holland 5. Favorite bookish world to escape to? Narnia 6. A bookish world you would NOT want to visit? Westeros 7. Favorite author to follow on Twitter? Bryce Gibson 8. A bookish craft you’d like to try? DIY Book Page Vintage Botanical Prints 9. Something you’d like to practice/get better at? I'd love to practice my flute more. 10. How many times has your reading been interrupted by a famil