tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62440407865448273782024-02-07T01:17:28.149-05:00Top Shelf TextMadeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.comBlogger313125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-18985669244355637562018-01-01T08:03:00.000-05:002018-01-01T08:03:56.655-05:00TST Has a New Home!<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy New Year, Readers!</div>
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Today I'm excited to announce that Top Shelf Text has a brand-new home.</div>
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You can now find the blog over at <a href="https://topshelftext.org/">https://topshelftext.org/</a>.</div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-76782636689113493002017-11-17T14:00:00.000-05:002017-11-17T14:00:43.529-05:00A Very Bookish Holiday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMW2OqDugQ1tNfQdh-0JCqd6KY5God6lKc2a2RflSqhClC2jIlYgP6FT4PKlrIav5zUkNRUUhteXTKhQhr0jk87ftYCWSPv2pHLvJBW10UziIifSS_tJBy0rdTN9sNmmydjUIdBRwew_I6/s1600/Top+Shelf+Text.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMW2OqDugQ1tNfQdh-0JCqd6KY5God6lKc2a2RflSqhClC2jIlYgP6FT4PKlrIav5zUkNRUUhteXTKhQhr0jk87ftYCWSPv2pHLvJBW10UziIifSS_tJBy0rdTN9sNmmydjUIdBRwew_I6/s640/Top+Shelf+Text.png" width="640" /></a></h2>
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With the arrival of the holiday season comes the pressure to pick the perfect gifts for your loved ones. I know I struggle to find gifts that are meaningful and that serve a real purpose, so this year I put together a list of books that I'd recommend to give to the bookworms in your life.<br />
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You can access my 2017 Holiday Gift Guide by clicking <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jnCB_pkCKdsTcEcaE8U9o0gL8FVvcpmK/view?usp=sharing">here</a>.</h3>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-4438231097024087342017-11-10T10:51:00.005-05:002017-11-10T10:53:23.092-05:00Birthday Q & A<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey, Readers!</div>
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Today I turn 25 and to celebrate, I asked readers to submit their questions to me via Instagram. (You can find that post <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BaeAl3jFFoI/?taken-by=topshelftext">here</a>.) As I type this, I'm already receiving birthday wishes from bookish friends all over the world. So <i>thank you.</i> I am incredibly grateful for my bookish community and feel so lucky to have made real friends who love books and reading just as much as I do.<br />
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Questions about Reading Habits & Preferences</h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>As a teacher I have to ask, HOW do you read all the books you do? I have read 50 this year so far, but I don’t know how you do it. Do you have a reading schedule?</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The short answer is that my reading fluctuates based on what's happening in my personal life. In years past, I've averaged between 50 and 70 books (during my college and graduate school years), but this year has been an outlier. I've read over 100 books already and it's mostly due to the fact that I've prioritized reading and made more room for it in the margins of my life. (I've also read books averaging less pages than in previous years.) I set a Goodreads goal each year but it's a flexible goal - I don't feel the need to read a certain number of books each month. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I've talked about this recently on my Instagram, but I make it a priority to stick to my bedtime routine, which includes at least an hour of reading each night before I go to sleep. That's when I get the majority of my reading done. But I also sometimes get to read for a few minutes before leaving for work in the morning, and I do put aside time on weekends to read as well. So I guess you could consider that as somewhat of a reading schedule, but the truth is that I just love reading and that's what motivates me to pick up books so often.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">My fellow teachers out there know that often our work follows us home, and I'll admit here that during progress report season, my reading definitely declines. Other than that, I try to be as efficient as possible during my prep time at school and after school to get things done so that I can bring less home with me. Keep in mind too that in this season of my life I don't have children, so when I come home I have space and time to do what <i>I </i>want to do.</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><b>I’m curious how many books you read a week during the school year vs the summer — it seems like a lot!</b></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">This past summer, I read probably 3ish books a week. I wasn't working, we were moving, I was transitioning to a new job, so I had more free time on my hands and could spend more time reading during the day. During the school year, I generally read 1-2 books a week.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>What makes the perfect reading spot for you? Does it change with the seasons?</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My hometown is right on the water and there's a little beach that's generally unknown by tourists, so I like to take my book there and sit by the waves. That beach is one of my favorite spots in the entire world, and I can spend a whole day reading in the sand, only taking breaks to float in the ocean and comb the beach for sea glass.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the fall and spring, I like to bundle up and take my book to a park in my hometown that overlooks the open ocean. The water is really important to me, so when I can be in that setting, I feel most content.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the winter, my favorite spot is curled up on the couch with a big cup of tea, a soft blanket, and my kitty. (And preferably a Christmas tree twinkling in the background.)</span></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><b>Does your boyfriend like to read as much as you? </b></i></div>
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I don't think he'd describe himself as a bookworm, but he does enjoy reading. He's pretty particular about the books he picks so I like the challenge of finding something that peaks his interest. I asked for your recommendations for him <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BY-uJpeFIBX/?taken-by=topshelftext">here</a> and it was <i>so </i>helpful, so thank you! I would say he does most of his reading as it relates to the news -- he's extremely well-versed in politics so he does a lot of informational reading on that subject.</div>
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<i style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><b>Do you purchase the books you read or borrow them from the library? Do you have to stop yourself from purchasing books like many of us here do?</b></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">I do both! I love using the local library, but I'm also a pretty sentimental reader, so I love keeping books on my shelves. There's a Japanese term to describe a person who hoards books, <i>tsunkdoku</i>, and I think it can be accurately applied to me. Specifically, it describes someone who buys books but doesn't read them and let's them grow in various piles. It can take years for me to actually read a book after I buy it. In growing my personal library, I do a lot of library sale shopping and I rarely buy brand-new hardcovers, unless it's for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club or the Diverse Books Club. When I use the public library, I tend to put things on hold that I know I want to read. I also like to wander the stacks and pick at random.</span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><b>How do you prioritize your TBR? I'm sure a lot has to do with DBC these days but do you ever feel overwhelmed?</b></i></div>
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My TBR is definitely primarily influenced by the DBC since our launch in September. This month, I'm reading our November picks alongside members and previewing a few titles for early 2018. From there, I prioritize books I'm working on for partnerships with publishers. My main publishing partnerships are Random House and Simon & Schuster, so my followers see a lot of their new releases on my feed. Next, I add in <a href="https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/">Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club </a>picks. I've also just recently joined the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/blackheartreads/">Black Heart Reads</a> Book Club on Instagram, and occasionally I'll jump in on the picks for Emma Watson's book club, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/179584-our-shared-shelf">Our Shared Shelf</a>. I don't go into each month with a set TBR, because I like the flexibility of picking books based on my mood. So if I stop by the library and pick a few random titles or get something new from the bookstore, I don't feel bad about shifting my pile to make room for those. Case in point, this week I read <i>El Deafo </i>for the DBC, <i>Murder on the Orient Express</i> to prepare for the movie, I'm currently reading <i>Braving the Wilderness</i> in partnership with Random House, and I picked up <i>A Death in the Small Hours</i> last night because I borrowed it from the library. So my reading has been all over the place just in the last week.</div>
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To answer your second question, yes. Since I founded the DBC, I've felt overwhelmed a number of times by the combined demand of the club and my own blogging life. We're still working on streamlining our processes within the DBC, so it's taking more time behind the scenes. Eventually, I'd like to redirect that energy to actually interacting more with our members. And in the meantime, I'm putting less effort into blogging. But I'm giving myself grace, too.</div>
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<i style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><b> Do you ever DNF books you aren't loving?</b></i></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Absolutely! I abandon books all the time. Just recently, I abandoned <i>Hunger </i>by Roxanne Gay, because I couldn't handle the intensity of the content. I'll also abandon a book if it's just not holding my interest. I'm a firm believer in the right book at the right time, so if something isn't working for me I'll try it again at another time.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>I'd love to know your favorite podcasts and favorite audiobooks. I'm trying to get into audiobooks but having a hard time!</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">In my experience, becoming an audiobook listener takes practice! I don't listen to audiobooks or podcasts in the car because my attention wanders too much. I listen while I get ready in the mornings, walking on the treadmill, or while cooking and cleaning. You can find a whole list of recommended audiobooks <a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/p/are-you-fan-of-audiobooks-if-you-had.html">here</a>. My favorites have been: <i>A Wrinkle in Time (</i>read by Madeleine L'Engle)<i>, The Tale of Despereaux, A Quiet Life in the Country, Anne of Green Gables </i>(read by Rachel McAdams)<i>, </i>and <i>A Man Called Ove. </i>My favorite podcasts are: <i>What Should I Read Next? </i>(I'm on Episode 72!), <i>Overdue,</i> <i>Sorta Awesome</i>, and most recently, <i>Ear Hustle.</i> I also find that during busier seasons, I prefer podcasts over audiobooks because my attention can't be sustained for quite as long.</span></div>
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Questions about Blogging & Instagram</h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>How do you make time for blog posts and Instagram? Do you set time aside on the weekend? And how much time do you devote to those things?</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As you may have noticed, I've been on somewhat of a hiatus from writing blog content. Right now I'm focusing on growing the DBC, so blogging is my last priority. It used to take a lot of time out of my week (somewhere around 20 hours), so I took some steps this fall to reduce that demand. At the moment, I spend probably a half hour each weekend taking snaps for Instagram (which is only necessary because we don't have daylight anymore during the week), and I write up the posts just before I share them. I spend quite a bit more time on DBC-related tasks right now, and I'm okay with that. When I'm on Instagram, the majority of my time is spent responding to direct messages. I'd say that probably takes me a half hour each day total to make sure I can get back to everyone, plus another half hour or so sending encouragement to all my fellow bookworms! At this point, I don't always have time to respond to every single message which is unfortunately one of the downsides of a growing account, but the interaction is what's most important to me.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Do you ever think about leaving teaching and doing something with your blog, books, etc as a full time job?</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The short answer is yes and no. I've wanted to be a teacher since I was little, but it can be incredibly hard and frustrating to be in the field of public education. The best thing about teaching is the children, and the worst is that unfortunately, it's not always <i>about </i>the children. So sometimes I daydream about turning my career path towards something to do more with literature. But then I think about the kids that I work with, and I know that I would miss them too much. On hard days, I think that maybe life would be <i>easier</i> if I did something different. But on hard days, I also wonder if anything else would feel quite as fulfilling as the work I do now. I'll also say that I didn't intend to become a special education teacher (I have licenses to teach both in the classroom and as a special educator), but my crew of kids has my whole heart. I know that I'm good at what I do and I'm a fierce advocate for the needs of my kids, so there's also a part of me that believes I was meant to land in a special education role all along.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>How do you, or do you, separate your Instagram life from your personal life? Do you keep a separate personal Instagram account or just use this one for everything? (I tried keeping 2 separate accounts for a while but it became too much so just wondering how other people do it!) Do you ever worry about getting judged for your reading choices or for what you share on Instagram?</b></i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I do have a separate account on Instagram for my personal life. And even though I've received follow requests from bookstagram followers there, I don't generally accept them. That account is how I keep up with family members, friends from high school and college, and the families I used to babysit for. I don't post on it often, and occasionally I'll post something similar on both my accounts (such as with our Halloween costumes this year), but it's important to me to have that separate. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a reader, I like what I like and I'm not apologetic about it, but I do recognize that my opinions aren't going to be shared by <i>all </i>readers. If I was <i>that</i> worried about what others thought, I wouldn't continue with the blog or the DBC. I try to stay pretty true to myself, and so far the feedback from my readers has been that being myself is entertaining enough. (My boyfriend likes to say I'm genuinely <i>quirky</i> and that's why people think I'm interesting.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I started TST on New Year's Day in 2014. It was a creative outlet for me while I was an undergrad, because I didn't have a reading community at school and felt like I wanted to talk about my love of literature with others. It was actually my boyfriend who suggested that I start blogging. At the time, I remember saying to him, <i>"Wouldn't it be cool if I could get free books?"</i> I laugh at that now because four years later, my shelves are overflowing with the generosity of publishers, but the free books aren't the best part of TST. It's the reading community, and having a space where I can talk endlessly about books with readers who are just as excited as I am. TST grew pretty organically -- I don't even have a business account on Instagram, and it's really just for fun. I don't make money (besides Amazon affiliate commissions, which are practically negligible), and I genuinely enjoy it as an extension of my reading life. TST experienced the most growth after I appeared as a guest on <i>What Should I Read Next?</i> and from there I've had a pretty steady increase of readers joining in on the conversation, which just makes my heart happy. I honestly don't know what direction TST is going to take in the future, and right now it's a question that I'm not feeling pressured to address, so thanks for following along with me as I figure things out on the fly!</span></span></div>
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Miscellaneous Questions</h3>
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<i style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">You seem like a very organized person. </span></b></i><br />
<i style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">How do you organize your day and your time and all you do?</span></b></i><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is probably my number one most-asked question, so I'll address it in another post. The short answer is that organization is something that comes naturally to me, and I enjoy being and staying organized. I get anxious pretty easily when things are out of order and being organized is one way I deal with unexpected changes in life, which are always inevitable. As a special education teacher, much of my teaching style is based in establishing and maintaining routines for the benefit of my kids. Similar to my students, I thrive in routine and structure, so I put it in place for myself in every possible area. Because I've received so many requests, I'll share more about precisely what I do to keep organized in a future post.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> <b>Do you struggle to make time for other hobbies?</b></i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Reading is really my only hobby during the school year. Being a teacher means that I'm up at 5am to exercise before work (because I'm too worn out by the end of the day) and that my nights are often spent planning lessons, writing reports, or debriefing with my colleagues over the phone. I also keep a pretty early bedtime so I'm at my best for my kids, so there's just not whole lot of <i>time</i> for other hobbies. Generally, that doesn't bother me, because I find reading to be very fulfilling as a hobby. In the summers, I like to practice my sewing skills and cook. If organizing counts as a hobby, then you can add that to my list too.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? (</i>Another reader asked a similar question: </span></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Do you have any dreams of living elsewhere in the world or are you content in Massachusetts?</i>)</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I would love to live in a cottage overlooking the ocean, with a wildflower garden and a sunny reading room. Wherever that exists, that's my dream. In reality, I love our hometown of Marblehead, Massachusetts and want to eventually move back to raise a family there. What's important to me is community, and Marblehead has a wonderful spirit that I haven't seen replicated in the other places I've lived so far. There are town traditions that really mean a lot to me, and being near the ocean is good for my soul. So I guess you could say that my dream would be to move back home. If we ever got the chance to move abroad, my first choice would be Denmark. I love their culture and I wholeheartedly agree with their approach to education, so I think I could be very happy there as well.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><b>Where's the coolest place you've traveled?</b></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">In high school, my parents gave me the opportunity to travel abroad with a community service organization called ARCC. My first summer with them, I traveled out of the country for the very first time on a 30-day trip to Thailand. There, I explored almost the entire country, visited temples, rode an elephant, attempted to speak Thai, and learned how to scuba dive off the coast of Koh Tao. It was the most incredible experience of my life. The second summer, we traveled on another month-long trip to Spain and Morocco. I stayed with a host family, tried my hand at Spanish and Arabic, learned to surf on the coast of Morocco, rode a camel through the Sahara desert, and hiked through the Atlas Mountains. Throughout those trips, we volunteered in schools and orphanages, and I gained a new understanding of connection and community. I'm grateful for those two months because I think they shaped me in a lot of ways.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That's all I can answer for today, but thank you to everyone who submitted questions! More importantly, thanks for being a reader of TST. This community is so wonderful and I'm grateful that you're here.</span></div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-36542818258276261182017-10-16T00:00:00.000-04:002017-10-16T00:00:24.101-04:00New in Children's Lit: The Kid Lit Exchange Network<h2 style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 14pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Read Review and Share with Kid Lit Exchange</span></span></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ36B7ZXw5pxwT2SwqAtgf20ZO0WhVasp8lnPdDY2AoSisAw95AHdFH_QNj-J4oFILA63cPOJlBXFBaZQxR4tN3fp8zeR1Shfkhq0X7O-Phj9uC8q4J5JJ01QVu5-80NWdghYs-TlU31fc/s1600/LOGO+GRAPHIC+KLE.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="389" data-original-width="571" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ36B7ZXw5pxwT2SwqAtgf20ZO0WhVasp8lnPdDY2AoSisAw95AHdFH_QNj-J4oFILA63cPOJlBXFBaZQxR4tN3fp8zeR1Shfkhq0X7O-Phj9uC8q4J5JJ01QVu5-80NWdghYs-TlU31fc/s640/LOGO+GRAPHIC+KLE.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Readers, today I want to introduce you to a network of readers that I am so </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>proud</i> to be a part of. Kid Lit Exchange launched over the summer and when I read about Kate's mission to put more children's lit into the hands of reviewers I was instantly on board. Members of the KLE network work to spread the love of kid lit by reviewing upcoming & recently released titles and the readers who are part of the network are so enthusiastic about children's literature that it makes my heart happy. Kate works so, so hard to make this network run smoothly (and simultaneously is a devoted mother, caretaker, wife, dog mom, and enthusiastic librarian) and I am so grateful for her brilliant ideas. When I launched the DBC, Kate and I had some long talks about how to integrate these new ventures into our already-busy lives, and she has been a wonderful source of wisdom and sanity for me throughout the process of building the DBC. I am so excited to have her and Laura here today to give you the full overview of the KLE!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">• • •</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With over 140 members and growing, </span><a href="http://kidlitexchange.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kid Lit Exchange</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> is a powerful network of librarians, teachers and parents getting the word out about great books for kids of all ages. The idea is simple: educators and parents share books with each other and give honest reviews on social media to help promote a love of reading. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Join us in a conversation with Kid Lit Exchange founder </span><a href="http://theloudlibrarylady.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kate Olson</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and Kid Lit Exchange Leadership Team member </span><a href="http://instagram.com/librarianmsg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laura Gardner</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> - both school librarians and avid readers of kid lit!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura: Let’s start simple: How does Kid Lit Exchange work?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kate: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Okay! Here is the simplified version of the process: a book is shared with me from an author, publisher or another reviewer. I post it on our </span><a href="http://instagram.com/kidlitexchange" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram account (@kidlitexchange)</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> showing the book cover and summary and sharing the genre. Reviewers in our network then request it on that post, and then the magic begins! The book is added to our gigantic Google Sheets database by our wonderful database team, and the book is then shipped to the first reviewer. The reviewer reads it, writes an honest and constructive review of at least 100 words and posts that review on Instagram and Goodreads (and maybe also their blog, Facebook, Amazon, etc). Then they look in the database for the next reviewer and mail it on. And repeat! This has gotten a LOT bigger now, with 5 additional book shippers added! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura: How did you come up with the idea for Kid Lit Exchange?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kate:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Honestly, this was one of those “pondering while making a snack for my daughter” ideas that was brought about after I requested to join a middle grade book/ARC sharing group on Twitter and was told there was no room available…….I had no idea what to do next, and was a little let down since I had so many ARCs of my own to share, so I decided to start my own that had no member limits! I also wanted it to include ALL of KidLit, since I am PK-12 school librarian and read widely in all of these age groups and genres. In addition, I wanted to help reviewers and readers who don’t have access on their own to galleys. (</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ARC stands for</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Advanced Reading Copy, or galley - a version of a book that is provided to reviewers prior to publication date. These copies can not be sold or added to library collections, so are perfect for sharing with additional reviewers to get more coverage for a book.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura: I love how Kid Lit Exchange reviewers aren’t just librarians and classroom teachers. Can you share more about why you decided to open this up to parents, as well?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kate:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> If you think about who has purchasing power for children’s book, I would rank them from librarian with MOST, and then parents! Teachers definitely have power, but not necessarily funds. Parents are the ones who actually buy books for their homes and are the gatekeepers for home libraries. What better profile, then, for book reviewers of this genre? In addition, some of our reviewers aren’t even parents, but are adults who are avid readers of YA titles. So many adults read and buy YA! Their voices matter too.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura: What are your goals with Kid Lit Exchange?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kate:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> That’s a big question! And a question that I’m honestly still trying to answer myself. My original goal was to get ARCs into the hands of readers who normally aren’t able to get access to them AND get more reviews for kidlit titles. However, the goal is definitely expanding now! I would love for Kid Lit Exchange to become a go-to source for publishers and authors as they seek to gain honest and constructive reviews for their forthcoming titles as well as a platform for reviewers to share their reviews. We plan to feature a review for each title on our website to help reviewers gain exposure as well. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura: Kid Lit Exchange has only existed since early July 2017 and it’s already grown so rapidly with over 130 reviewers and 200+ reviews (and growing by the minute) ; what’s that been like? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kate:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It has been CRAZY! Crazy good, but pretty overwhelming! It started as a casual little thing and then totally blew up. I have definitely learned a lot of lessons about working with a force of volunteers (people are VERY quick to sign up, but not always very excited about follow-through) and that delegation is imperative for growth. Thanks to </span><a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Madeleine from Top Shelf Text</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> for reminding me of that! If I let it, running KLE could quickly become a full-time job…..but of course it can’t be since I already have one of those! Oh, and KLE is an unpaid hobby that actually COSTS me a ton of money. I do it because I am passionate about the project, but can not let it overwhelm my life. That’s where the leadership team comes in to help!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Laura: Well I for one love reviewing for Kid Lit Exchange; it’s a fun way to get early access to new books, meet fabulous IG reading friends and spread the word about awesome books for kids! Thank you so much for starting it! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kate Olson is a PK-12 librarian in a small rural school district in Wisconsin, as well as a reviewer for School Library Journal and founder of </span><a href="http://kidlitexchange.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kid Lit Exchange</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. She lives on the top of a giant hill in the middle of nowhere with her husband, 3 feisty children, and dogs named Max and Booker. She can be found on her blog </span><a href="http://theloudlibrarylady.com/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Loud Library Lady</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and on Instagram as </span><a href="http://instagram.com/theloudlibrarylady" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@theloudlibrarylady</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and Twitter as </span><a href="http://twitter.com/theloud_library" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">@theloud_library</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Laura Gardner, a National Board Certified Teacher in Library Media, is Teacher Librarian at a large middle school in Massachusetts and reviews books for School Library Journal and Kid Lit Exchange. She lives near the coast of Massachusetts with her husband and two kids. Laura was awarded the School Library Journal (SLJ) School Librarian of the Year Co-finalist Award in 2016. She is on </span><a href="http://twitter.com/librarianmsg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Twitter</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><a href="http://instagram.com/librarianmsg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instagram</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> as @LibrarianMsG. </span></span></div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-26406055794560224212017-10-12T00:00:00.000-04:002017-10-12T00:00:22.685-04:00Reader Recommendations with Lisa Snead<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hey, readers!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today I have </span><i style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">another</i><span style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;"> round of Reader Recommendations for you from a fellow bookworm. Lisa also inhabits the bookstagram world as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/imlisaann/">@imlisaann</a></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> and blogs over at <a href="http://lisaannreads.wpengine.com/">Lisa Ann Reads</a>. I'm really excited about her picks today because I </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">haven't read a single one of them yet!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lisa, tell us a little about yourself!</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm an Austin, Texas transplant from the East Coast, Red Sox fan, disability rights attorney, wannabe yogi, and enthusiastic dog mom. I can almost always be found with a book in my hand. My go-to books are usually LitFic, WWII fiction, or narrative non-fiction, though I'll read almost anything. Bonus points for well-done magical realism.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Our bookish tastes totally align. Tell us some of your favorites!</b></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRO1-fNDlLGO8kGM5mOC9fcx94-pSTGDgqwFaOiBlhV5EdNaZGz9dlX8Qa0oscoatD0RBimnzI5V3bNWKfoRuisOC7IjsrQiq9I4xvDdElIp4ob3bnYTmAVBomoS6gM3yLBTmxyNnAyuY/s1600/8045789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="305" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRO1-fNDlLGO8kGM5mOC9fcx94-pSTGDgqwFaOiBlhV5EdNaZGz9dlX8Qa0oscoatD0RBimnzI5V3bNWKfoRuisOC7IjsrQiq9I4xvDdElIp4ob3bnYTmAVBomoS6gM3yLBTmxyNnAyuY/s640/8045789.jpg" width="419" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.870588); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2yeuOFt"><b><i>Ender's Game</i> by Orson Scott Card</b></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I love this book because every time I read it I find something new. There's the obvious appeal for sci-fi fans since the book follows children training for a galactic battle against an alien species coming to take over earth. Even outside of this, however, the book raises important questions of what it means to harm one person to save the many, the necessity (or not) of telling the truth to those impacted by it, and even what it means to be a child growing up in a time of war. I love that this book is being taught in the local high school curriculum here. While Ender's Game is full of buggers and blasters, don't let the word "aliens" turn you off. I'm not usually an alien fan and very picky about sci-fi, but Ender's Game is a book with cross-genre and cross-gender appeal--the aliens are just the tool to set the stage for the larger questions Card is raising. (If you absolutely love sci-fi, the rest of the series is worth a read, particularly Xenocide and Speaker for the Dead, but otherwise, I'd just stick to Ender's Game).</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.870588); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2yX0v3H"><b><i>The March Trilogy</i> by John Lewis</b></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.870588235294118);"> </span>Before you judge me, this trilogy is literally the only graphic novels I can remember reading since the days of reading Archie and Jughead while waiting for my mom to finish paying for groceries. Representative John Lewis is perhaps best known for his leadership during the Civil Rights Movement, including marching with Dr. King in Selma, Alabama. March is the story of his early life and his life in the movement, culminating in that march. Interspersed within the flashback of his life are scenes from the inauguration of President Obama. Y'all--I never thought a comic book could make me cry, but here we are. I'm tearing up again just thinking about it. The novels are inspiring and more easily accessible than his actual autobiography--Walking With the Wind (which I also recommend). They're also sobering to read as current events seem more and more to remind me that this work isn't done. These are best savored--it would be easy to speed through them, but I found I got the most out of them when I made a point to read them slowly over several days.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.870588); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2yX0v3H"><b><i>You Don't Have to Say You Love Me</i> by Sherman Alexie</b></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This recently-published memoir recounts Alexie's memories of his mother and the larger impact she had on him, his family, and the reservation where Alexie grew up. The memoir is told as an amalgam of essays and poems, with parts of the poems sung as First Nation chants. I highly recommend the audiobook--there are times Alexie is chuckling while reading, others where he can barely speak through tears. He also sings the chants he's interwoven into the poetry. This book made me laugh, tear up, and get angry at the treatment of First Nation peoples in this country. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.870588); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2yDNQGT"><b><i>The Double Bind </i>by Chris Bohjalian</b></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.870588235294118);"> </span>Not to brag too much but I have a pretty uncanny ability to predict twists in TV shows and books--it kind of annoys my boyfriend. With that said, I completely missed the twist in this book the first time I read it. The story follows a social worker as she recovers from an assault and becomes entangled with trying to discover how one of her clients became homeless, all within a world where The Great Gatsby is not a work of fiction, but rather historical fact. I couldn't put this book down and still pick it up at least once a year for a re-read. (Significant trigger warning for sexual assault.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you Lisa for sharing these great reads with us! I've bumped at least one of these titles onto my must-read-soon list!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>See any favorites above? Have a recommendation for Lisa based on these picks? Let us know!</b></span></div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-84218196838662844412017-10-10T00:00:00.000-04:002017-10-13T19:14:54.462-04:00Review: Rules of Magic (& Giveaway!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Note: Top Shelf Text received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!</i></div>
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I get so excited for the fall reading season each year that I tend to start my fall reads pretty early. As soon as we had our first signs of fall in September, I picked up <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2xLHTV5">The Rules of Magic</a></i>, which I'd been looking forward to since reading <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2x8tpBt">Practical Magic</a> </i>earlier in the month. Both of these titles were on my Spooktober Reads list last week, but I want to talk a little bit more about <i>why </i>this series has quickly become my number one recommendation for fall.</div>
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<i>Practical Magic </i>and <i>Rules of Magic</i> both tell the story of the Owens family, whose ancestry dates back to one of the original Salem witches. The story is more magical realism than fantasy -- everything about our current world remains the same, but with an added touch of magic and mystery.</div>
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In <i>The Rules of Magic,</i> we get the story of The Aunts, the two women who raised Sally and Gillian in <i>Practical Magic.</i> We learn about their childhoods, more about the origins of the Owens' curse, and about the tragic times when the two women dared to fall in love. </div>
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I love to read books about witches, and I have a feeling that my preference for this type of story is based in where I was raised -- in a small town right next to Salem, Massachusetts. We have great history in our town -- both related to the Salem Witch Trials and related to the colonial era in general -- but I've always loved the culture related to being a witch. </div>
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One of my favorite spots in town is a little pond named Redd's pond, named after Wilmot Redd, one of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmot_Redd">convicted Salem Witches</a>. She died by hanging in 1692 at the height of the hysteria, and her memorial marker is located in this very graveyard where I went to snap some photos of this book.</div>
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I love being immersed in the world of the Owens family, with all of its eccentricity and ethereal boundaries between our world and the supernatural. <i>The Rules of Magic </i>is, in my opinion, even better than <i>Practical Magic,</i> but I do recommend reading it only after you've read the first. It may be a prequel, but the story in <i>Practical Magic</i> lays the groundwork for this newest release. I can only hope that we'll see another book featuring the Owens sometime in the future!</div>
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<b><i>Bottom-Line Rating: 5/5</i></b></div>
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Title: The Rules of Magic</div>
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Author: Alice Hoffman</div>
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Publisher: Simon & Schuster</div>
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Price: <a href="http://amzn.to/2xLHTV5">$16 on Amazon</a></div>
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ISBN: <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1501137476</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Format: Hardcover</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Source: Simon & Schuster</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Giveaway with Simon & Schuster</span></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Giveaway CLOSED!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Congratulations to Amy Collins, Tricia, Chelsea Diane, Pam, and Christine Wells!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please get in touch with me at topshelftext@gmail.com with your full name and mailing address!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">• • •</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are some lovely, fabulous people working behind the scenes at Simon & Schuster, and they've generously partnered with me to give away FIVE copies of this book to TST readers!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Rules of Entry</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">In the spirit of Autumnal celebration, leave a comment below telling me the best Halloween costume you've ever worn!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Mine had to have been the year my grandmother made me a beautiful pink silk princess gown, complete with a fur hemline. I <i>adored </i>it. (I have always been princess-obsessed.)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Shoutout to my Nonna for her awesome sewing skills & creativity!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">U.S. Entries Only, Valid through Friday, October 13th at 7pm EST.</span></div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com98tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-61266494527706201032017-10-06T00:00:00.000-04:002017-10-06T00:00:20.421-04:00How to Read More in Your Busiest Seasons with Kate Lane<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
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Today I'm introducing you to one of my favorite new bookstagram friends. Kate makes me laugh daily in her Instagram stories, has great reading taste, and is an overall cheery and wonderful human. I'm so glad to have her here to talk about how to read <i>more</i> in busy seasons of life.<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hi, book friends! My name is Kate, and I’m the reader behind <a href="https://www.instagram.com/katereadsbooks_/">@katereadsbooks_!</a> I’m a graduate student pursuing my Masters in Counseling in my hometown of Birmingham, AL! Oh, and I am also a TOTAL bookworm! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since staring my bookstagram account, I have received endless questions on how I find the time to fit reading into my already busy schedule (commuting back and forth to grad school, running around like a crazy person at my internship, studying for qualifying exams, etc). BUT, obviously, I’m not the only book addict who is busy! Life can be crazy and sometimes finding time to read is difficult, and may even feel impossible during some seasons of life. Today, I wanted to share a few tips that I've picked up along the way that I hope will help and encourage you to read more in spite of your already full schedule. (Also, pre-apologies for my excessive use of words in caps, but I NEED you to feel my emphasis.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Always have a book with you. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We’ve already established that life is crazy, but you NEVER know when some downtime may present itself. Be ready by always carrying a book with you! I know that I’m definitely more inclined to waste time on social media during those free minutes, but I ALWAYS feel more productive when I spend that time reading rather than scrolling! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. Audiobooks, audiobooks, audiobooks. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You may not have endless time to sit down and read, so wouldn't it be nice to be able to read WHILE doing other tasks?! HELLO, AUDIOBOOKS! You know what you can do while you listen to an audiobook? Pretty much anything: drive, do laundry, cook, go for a run, go for a walk (more my style), get your nails done, clean your house, etc. Look at all this available reading time I just found for you!!! Audiobooks are the perfect way to find time to fit more books into your busy schedule. (Ps use your local library card to download audiobooks on apps like Hoopla and Overdrive!)</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. Put your phone up while reading. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If my phone is anywhere near me when I’m reading, I WILL get distracted, I have a feeling that I’m not the only one who’s like this… So getting rid of that distraction will open up more focused reading time! I have started to leave my phone in another room when I’m reading. This tip doesn't really create MORE time to read, but it does help you to better devote the little time you do have to actually reading! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. Read books you LOVE. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m a firm believer that we find time for the things we love. If you’re super engrossed in a book, and can't wait to find out what happens next, you’ll have no problem watching less TV to finish it! Reading books you love, and putting down books you don't enjoy will help keep you far away from a reading slump that could SERIOUSLY kill your reading life! When people tell me they don't like reading, I tell them that they’re just not reading the right books for them! Find books you truly love, even if it’s in a genre you wouldn't have expected, and you will read more than you think possible. Promise. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And now for my last and absolute favorite tip…</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 700; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. Completely ignore all your work, and spend most of your time reading. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, this tip is one that I’m pretty fond of, and utilize often. I only WISH I were kidding!! This was meant to be funny, and make you laugh, but honestly, sometimes this is how I get reading done! I completely ignore everything and choose to read a book instead. Sometimes it’s needed (#selfcare), and sometimes it’s a total avoidance method. BUT, it is a real way that I find time to read in my busy life. </span></span></div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-79781272214248812752017-10-04T00:00:00.000-04:002017-10-04T00:00:03.364-04:00Bookish Buys: Capsule Books Subscription (with Coupon!)<div style="text-align: center;">
Bookworms, I want to introduce you to the <i>one</i> subscription box that I'm actually loving this season. <a href="https://capsulebooks.com/">Capsule Books</a> just launched over the summer and I connected instantly with the idea behind it. Capsule Books launched this subscription with an intense focus on the <i>feelings </i>that books evoke as we read them. Each season, readers can select a box featuring one of three emotions. Inside each box are three books meant to stir that very emotion within the reader, along with a handwritten letter, blank stationary card for sending snail mail and sharing a love of books, and a fun bookish item.</div>
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When Capsule Books first started their rep search over the summer, I knew that I wanted to be a part of the promotion for the box. There are a <i>lot</i> of bookish subscription boxes out there, but I had never felt compelled to try one because I wasn't interested in acquiring more <i>stuff.</i> Since we've moved, I've been really conscious of bringing new items into our new space -- asking myself if the item has a long term purpose or serves us in making our little apartment feel like home. Ordering a box that comes with a lot of things that will sit unused didn't appeal to me. Obviously, though, books are exempt from that line of questioning, so a box that offered only <i>books</i> was right up my alley.</div>
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As a rep for the company, I had the opportunity to pick out a box that resonated with me. In the fall season, there are three different feelings to choose from:</div>
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Mono No Aware</h4>
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From the Capsule Books website:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222223; font-family: hk_groteskregular; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><i>Mono no aware translates literally to “the pathos of things” or “a sensitivity to ephemera.” It is a Japanese term for the wistfulness felt because of the passing of time. There is no word like this in English. It’s melancholy tinged with beauty, especially aesthetics in nature: the passing of time marked by seasons, the changing of the leaves, the melting of snow.</i></span></div>
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Each of the books in this box take place in Japan.</div>
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Flâner</h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222223; font-family: hk_groteskregular; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><i>Flâner literally means “to stroll idly,” without any goal or destination in mind. While the word itself is a verb and not so much a feeling, there’s a certain beauty in strolling along the streets leisurely. It is this feeling we feel when we decide one day to just walk around, and look at the people and the buildings and find the beauty in details we so often miss. It is this feeling Francophiles spend their whole lives chasing.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222223; font-family: hk_groteskregular; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;"><i>Nabokov can describe it better than we ever could. “No single word in English renders all the shades of toska. At its deepest and most painful, it is a sensation of great spiritual anguish, often without any specific cause. At less morbid levels it is a dull ache of the soul, a longing with nothing to long for, a sick pining, a vague restlessness, mental throes, yearning. In particular cases it may be the desire for somebody of something specific, nostalgia, love-sickness. At the lowest level it grades into ennui, boredom.”</i></span></div>
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Each of the books in this box were written by Russian authors.</div>
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I debated between the Mono No Aware and Flâner capsules, but ultimately decided to go with the Flâner because although I spoke French for many years (I'm now incredibly rusty), I've never actually been to the country and haven't read many novels that take place there. When the little blue box arrived I was curious to see whether I would recognize any of the titles. Though one of the books is by Earnest Hemingway and therefore one that I had heard of (but not yet read!), the other two hadn't been on my radar at all. I loved the handwritten note that accompanied them, which recommended reading the novels in chronological order. I also loved that it came with a cute <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/thepenguinco">Penguin Co.</a> corner bookmark, which I put to use right away and have been transferring from book to book as I read.</div>
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The box is relatively expensive at $50 for one season, but if you calculate the price of buying three paperback novels, it actually comes quite close. Plus, you get the added bonus of a fun surprise and (what feels like) a personalized service. When you buy more than one season at a time, you save a little on the cost overall.</div>
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I think the box would make a great gift for a bookish friend, and if you're a first time customer, <b>you can use the code TST15 for 15% off from now through November 30th</b>.</h3>
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Capsule Books expanded my reading life this fall and prompted me to read some more classic and "high literature" -- in other words, those fancy literary fiction books that don't usually pique my interest.</div>
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Have you tried a subscription book box? Which one of the Capsule Books emotions most resonates with you?</h4>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-74212250084908434972017-10-02T00:00:00.000-04:002017-10-13T19:23:44.723-04:00Spooktober Reads<h3 style="text-align: center;">
Happy Spooktober, Readers!</h3>
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October is one of the best months of the year for readers who, like me, enjoy books with a haunting, gothic tone. In previous years, I've published booklists featuring great October reads. You can see those <a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2014/10/10-great-october-reads.html">here</a> and <a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2016/09/6-more-great-october-reads.html">here</a>. This year, I decided to put together <i>another </i>list of books that embody that Autumnal chill.<br />
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* indicates that Top Shelf Text received a physical title from the publisher. All opinions are my own!<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2wUE6Tg"><i>See What I Have Done</i> by Sarah Schmidt</a>* // A fictional account of the Lizzie Borden murders and one that will definitely give you chills. I knew nothing about this infamous case before reading. This novel tells what happened <i>after</i> the bodies were discovered. Warning: it's a little bit gruesome and not for squeamish readers.</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2k2Ekqo"><i>Are You Sleeping</i> by Kathleen Barber</a>* // If you're a fan of true crime podcasts like <i>Serial</i>, you'll want to add this to your list. A podcast features a closed case, questioning whether the verdict actually reflected the truth, but this time the story is told from the perspective of the family at the center of the crime. In addition to being a suspenseful story, this one also gave me pause and prompted me to wonder how the people on the other side of true crime podcasts feel about the sensationalized attention.</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2y6F5VA"><i>The Lying Game</i> by Ruth Ware</a>* // This is one that I haven't picked up yet, but when I read <i>The Woman in Cabin 10,</i> I was totally sucked in to the twists and turns and I'm expecting the same from this one.</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2wUKNoh"><i>The River at Night</i> by Erica Ferencik</a>* // Another one that I'll be reading this season. This one follows a group of friends trying to survive the Maine wilderness after a whitewater rafting accident. Fun fact: when we were seniors in high school, I coordinated a trip to the Penobscot River in Maine for whitewater rafting. The water levels were unusually high that season, every single one of our boats flipped, and I vowed it would be my last time rafting. I'm expecting this one to bring back some memories!</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2x3dqjq"><i>Reincarnation Blues</i> by Michael Poore</a>* // From Goodreads: "A magically inspiring tale of a man who is reincarnated through many lifetimes so that he can be with his one true love: Death herself." I just recently received this one in the mail and I'm really looking forward to diving in. (Plus, <i>that cover.</i>)</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2xP8e6g"><i>Midnight at the Bright Ideas Bookstore</i> by Matthew Sullivan</a>* // This was one of my favorite thriller reads over the summer. It's intense, literary, and totally twisty. You can read my review <a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2017/07/review-midnight-at-bright-ideas.html">here</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2xLOLBY"><i>The Fifth Doll</i> by Charlie N. Holmberg</a> // This is a good pick if you're not into gruesome stories. You can read my review of it <a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2017/09/review-fifth-doll.html">here</a>, but I'll say it's just <i>slightly</i> creepy, but also so imaginative.</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2x6IbE7"><i>A Study in Scarlet Women</i> by Sherry Thomas</a> // Earlier this year I recommended <a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2017/07/if-you-liked-that-read-this.html">this series</a> if you're a fan of Deanna Raybourn. I love the fall feel of this novel -- and the second one (just recently released) is even better than the first! (And yes, you do need to read them in order.)</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2xM8Wj6"><i>Practical Magic</i> by Alice Hoffman</a> // I don't know how I had never even <i>heard </i>of this novel until this year. It may be 20+ years old, but I <i>loved </i>the story of the Owens family. Highly recommended if you like tales of witches -- this one is more magical realism than fantasy, but so, <i>so, </i>good.</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2fAM4KY"><i>The Rules of Magic</i> by Alice Hoffman</a>* // And if you loved <i>Practical Magic,</i> you'll love this prequel, which is coming out next week. (Stay tuned for a giveaway here!) I thought this one was even better than its predecessor, but both are 100% worth reading.</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2yPhE0a"><i>Caraval</i> by Stephanie Garber</a> // If you liked <i>The Night Circus</i>, I'd recommend this one. It's young adult and not the most sophisticated, but I loved the magical elements, the world building, and I'm already impatient for the second in the series.</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2kbJCzI"><i>In the Shadow of Blackbirds</i> by Cat Winters</a> // I read this one a few years ago, but it's perfect for this time of year. If you like stories about the spirit realm, you'll enjoy this one. It takes place in 1918, when America has fallen to its knees in the heat of the Spanish Influenza and a raging war. </div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2xKm3B7"><i>The Ocean at the End of the Lane</i> by Neil Gaiman </a>// This is another one that's good if you're not a fan of gruesome tales. It's hard to describe the story itself, but if you like Neil Gaiman or are wanting to read his work for the first time, I'd recommend this one.</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2xQO0ZV"><i>The Fortune Teller</i> by Gwendolyn Womack</a>* // I just finished this one last week and it was a great escapist read for me. It follows a woman named Semele who's called to evaluate a rare collection of antique artifacts. Within the collection, she finds an incredibly rare manuscript written by a fortune teller in the time of Cleopatra. The fortune teller's writing is inexplicably tied to Semele, and soon Semele finds herself in danger. If you're a fan of past/present narratives and books like <i>The DaVinci Code</i>, I think you'll like this one.</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2x8BVvp"><i>Whispers Beyond the Veil</i> by Jessica Estevao</a> // I read this over the summer and just picked up the second in the series (just released last month). It has elements of mystery, the supernatural, and a Victorian setting that I just love.</div>
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What are you reading (or recommending) this month?</h3>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-74336641560960330602017-09-27T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-27T07:59:38.560-04:00Newbery Project Update<div>
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Today I'm giving you a quick update on the Newbery Award & Honoree titles I've read and listened to recently!</div>
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If you're new to TST and don't yet know about my Newbery Project, you can read about it <a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2017/04/my-newbery-project.html">here</a>. My goal is to read all of the Newbery books -- including both award-winners and honorees, and to check them off the list as I go. You can see the list at any time by clicking the <a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/p/newbery-award-booklist.html">My Newbery Project</a> tab on the TST homepage.</div>
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I had every intention of making great headway with these books over the summer but I ended up only reading four titles since my last update! In October, I'm hoping to pick out a few that fit my fall reading mood, such as Neil Gaiman's <a href="http://amzn.to/2xBgY08"><i>Coraline</i></a>. If you head over to my Instagram page today, you can help me decide which Newbery book to read next! I've selected four titles for readers to choose from -- I would love to hear your vote!</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2wP2d5W"><i>Savvy</i> by Ingrid Law</a> // I read this early in the summer and loved it. It wasn't necessarily a unique premise -- a child waiting to reach the age when she'd inherit her own magical power -- but the cast of characters was so fun and the adventure kept me turning pages. I love the quirky world that Law has built, and I'm hoping to read the next two in the series soon!</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2yzEgle"><i>Three Times Lucky</i> by Sheila Turnage</a> // Again, this cast of characters totally captured my heart. I absolutely <i>loved </i>this story. It features characters with real social issues such as abandonment, domestic abuse, etc. but doesn't make them <i>the </i>central issue in the book. In it, our main character is an amateur detective for her tiny hometown, the setting of which had me totally charmed. I would definitely recommend this to middle grade readers. My friend Sara, who writes about books over at <a href="http://www.meaningfulmadness.com/">Meaningful Madness</a>, kindly sent me the next two in the series, so I can't wait to continue the adventures with this crew!</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2jVnqdj"><i>The Graveyard Book</i> by Neil Gaiman</a> // If you're looking for a fun, spooky story to listen to with your kids this fall (or to listen to for yourself), I would highly recommend the audiobook version of <i>The Graveyard Book</i>. It's read by Gaiman himself and <i>wonderfully</i> done. One of the best audiobooks I've listened to, in fact. The story features a human boy who lives in a graveyard among the spirits who took him in as an infant. There are nefarious villains, themes of identity, and Gaiman does an excellent job of voicing the different characters.</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2xsTus7"><i>Princess Academy</i> by Shannon Hale</a> // This was my least favorite book that I've read for my Newbery Project so far, which is disappointing because I had especially high hopes for it. I listened to it on audiobook and though it started off on an interesting note, the majority of it felt like the plot was dragging, the characters weren't very interesting, and the overall impression I got from it was that it felt a little desperate. More than once, I questioned <i>how </i>this book even ended up on the Newbery List. I've had a few readers tell me that Hale's other books are worth checking out, so I'll pick up another one eventually, but I'm not feeling too motivated after this experience.</div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-22136842985917226542017-09-25T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-25T00:00:21.570-04:00Reader Recommendations with Amy Powers<div style="text-align: center;">
Readers, today we have another round of recommendations from a fellow bookworm! Amy Powers is here to tell us about five of her very favorite books. Amy is one of my lovely, in-real-life friends, a fellow educator, and the only person I know who can finish a book in two hours. (Seriously, she <i>devours</i> books.) Amy and I worked together last year, and while I'm now in a new district and missing her everyday, we love staying connected through our shared love of books!</div>
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Amy, tell us a little about yourself!</h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I teach fourth and fifth grade in an urban district north of Boston, MA. I'm voracious in my reading life and could literally read ten books a week, given the free time! I love the outdoors and history. I'm completely unorganized but in a lovable way. (Madeleine can attest to this, having been my co-worker last year.) I love books from every genre except self help because I'm still in denial about all my faults (just kidding, I'm fully aware of my faults). Other than that, I'm a divorced mom of two who is currently trying to navigate the tsunami-like waters of teenagedom. Oh, and I love all things bookish and literary.</span></span></div>
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Share with us some of your favorite titles!</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2y1weEL"><i>Under the Lilacs</i> by Louisa May Alcott</a></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">First up, when I was a little girl growing up in Middleton, Ma, we had the luxury of having a big, beautiful mischief- enticing lilac bush in our front yard. I spent a couple of years playing hide and seek and having mud-pie parties with my twin sister under its perfectly purple boughs. So when I was a teenager and I encountered Louisa May Alcott's <i>Under the Lilacs </i>one day in my father's old book collection, I was taken by the fact that someone else must've loved lilacs and found them as nostalgic as I did and still do. Ms. Alcott didn't let me down. <i>Under the Lilacs</i> is a charming novel of two circus runaways, Ben and Sancho, that one day cause mischief during a tea party that two sisters are having under the lilacs in their garden. (Can you see the parallel here for me?) The characters include Ben, Sancho, Bab, Betty, Miss Celia and Thorny as well as a few other memorable souls. In essence, Ben discovers that families/important relationships can form from the simplest of occurrences. Sweet Serendipity! I love everything about this novel. The characters, the settings, the proper language from generations ago... It makes my mind go straight back to the sweet scent of lilacs and mud-pies lingering in the air. This is a great book for readers that love old-fashioned stories, nostalgia and underdogs. I've seen it categorized as both a young adult novel and adult fiction. I think it bridges the gap for both. It's proven elusive to purchase in book form, which I still am attempting to do. I was able to download it digitally, however, and I continue to go back to it when I need comfort or a walk down memory lane.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2wPFkz2"><i>Kaffir Boy </i>by Mark Mathabane</a></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Shifting gears completely, my second recommendation is a novel by Mark Mathabane entitled, <i>Kaffir Boy</i>. I'm not sure any other novel that I've ever read moved me the way this one did. I first read this in high school 20 some odd years ago. The feelings that this book wrenched from my very soul have stayed with me all these years. This is the devastatingly hopeful true story of a black youth's struggle to find his way in South Africa during the age of Apartheid. It's Mr. Mathabane's autobiographical account of his pursuit of life. Although I can't remember on which page my tears started to flow, I know that they continued throughout the book and well after. This is an intense read that evokes powerful feelings my friends. It also provided an education regarding the horrific regime that dominated South Africa. I will forever be moved by Mr. Mathabane's tenacity in finding hope, happiness and courage in such despair. (Yes. I'm actually tearing up while writing this.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2wPKWJN"><i>The Story of Edgar Sawtelle</i> by David Wroblewski</a></span></span></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); font-family: "roboto" , "robotodraft" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I</span><span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">'ve got another tear-inducing treat that honestly made me jump out of bed in the middle of the night and yell, "WHHHAAATT????!!!!" <i>The Story of Edgar Sawtelle</i> by David Wroblewski, shocked me a little bit. This fictional account of a dog breeding family is so moving and left me with a bit of a hole to fill in my soul. It may have affected me so much because I am always rooting for the unsung heroes, the underdog, the characters that get treated as subhuman by those that feel they are superior... I'm not sure, but I was rooting so much for the main character, Edgar, that I actually got a lump in my throat. I also didn't realize, until the twisty end, that I had subtly gotten so absorbed by the masterful storytelling and characters. It's a novel sure to get you trying to think of a way to save the underdog!</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2xyAsSR"><i>Salt to the Sea</i> by Ruta Sepetys</a></h4>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-size: 16px; text-align: start; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of my favorite novels in the history of history is Ruta Sepetys' <i>Salt to the Sea</i>. This story is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I have no idea how Ruta Sepetys does this, but she's a master at it. The story of WWII refugees finding one another and trying to survive the Russian advance is mind- bogglingly fascinating. Not only does this book grip you with it's characters, it pushes you right into the fold of one of the most unknown human tragedies of the war. I had never even heard of the sinking of the German ship, the Wilhelm Gustloff, when I began reading. Since I love history, the magnitude of this event should have been at least a blip on my historical radar and yet I knew nothing. I love the fact that four characters' stories came together in such a beautiful way. Ruta Sepetys took me on a roller coaster of emotions with this one! And I thank her for enlightening me on the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff, while telling such a compelling story. This book is categorized as a young adult novel, however, I really feel that it will appeal to all adult, historical non-fiction audiences as well. You HAVE to read this book!!! I know you'll love it and then you will want to call everyone you know and tell them to read it too! (I did! )</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.87); font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; text-align: start;">M</span><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.87); text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">y next recommendation is a little less emotional but just as gripping to my historical self. <i>Manhunt </i>by James Swanson is one of my must reads if you love all things history and Abraham Lincoln. This is the story of the hunt for John Wilkes Booth after he shot President Lincoln. It follows the trail of Booth as he escapes from the Ford Theatre and makes his way south. This novel read like a movie and shines a light on the fascinating details that unfolded in the 12 day hunt for Lincoln's killer. It was mind-blowing to learn new information about both Lincoln's assassination and his assassin. I was taken aback by how many people were actually involved and Booth's network of political sympathizers. I couldn't put this book down. This novel of the background of one of the most important events in Americas' history was riveting! It was so well written that I went and further researched different people mentioned in the book. (I know, I'm a nerd) But this novel seriously had it all. </span></span></span></span><br />
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-72576229599324127172017-09-24T08:07:00.000-04:002017-09-24T09:05:44.670-04:00Diverse Books Club: October 2017 Selections<div style="text-align: center;">
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Today's post is for those TST readers who are <i>also </i>members of the <a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2017/08/introducing-diverse-books-club-our.html">Diverse Books Club</a>. We, the <a href="https://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2017/08/meet-diverse-books-club-team.html">DBC Team</a>, have had so much fun launching this book club with you all. Later this week, we'll wrap up September and feature some highlights from the month, but today we're looking ahead to October.</div>
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You can expect an announcement in the last week of each month with the next month's picks. This will (hopefully) give you time to request these titles from your local library, shop for them at your local bookstore, or place an order from your favorite online bookseller. We understand that many of you have asked to be notified of the picks earlier in the month. At this time, we need that extra time to preview and select the books, as we are previewing quite a few books in order to make these selections!</div>
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<b>This month, we'll read books about immigrant and refugee experiences</b>. We had a large number of titles to consider for this theme, and in selecting these stories we wanted to represent the experiences of people from all different areas of the world. In the current political climate, immigration is a topic that has people divided. Here in the DBC, we believe that <b>no human is illegal</b>, and we want to honor not only the experiences of immigrants and refugees, but also provide opportunities for understanding and empathy from those of us who haven't had experiences that relate to this topic.</div>
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In the month of October, you'll once again have THREE books to choose from.<br />
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Reminder: You do not <i>need</i> to read all three books!</h3>
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Choose the book (or books) that most interest you and follow along with those discussions, but don't feel obligated to read every title on our list.</div>
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Diverse Books Club October 2017 Selections</h2>
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Book #1: (Adult Fiction) <a href="http://amzn.to/2wyVHjo"><i>Music of the Ghosts </i>by Vaddey Ratner</a></h3>
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Thank you to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/touchstonebooks/">Touchstone Books</a> for partnering with the DBC this month and providing copies of this novel to our adult fiction moderators. <i>Music of the Ghosts</i> is powerful -- it haunted me as I read and lingered with me well after finishing. The story follows Teera, a young woman who, in childhood, fled from her home in Cambodia during the violent reign of the Khmer Rouge. In <i>Music of the Ghosts</i>, Teera returns to Cambodia for the first time since fleeing, and there confronts the history of her country and family. Ratner's prose is lyrical -- her writing had me so completely immersed in the story that I could <i>feel </i>the sensory aspects of Teera's surroundings. This story is heavy, and full of terror and loss, but it's also a story of healing and love. Ratner herself was a refugee from the Khmer Rouge, and we on the DBC Team strongly believe this book deserves to be in the hands of more readers. Our Twitter moderator, Gina, will be reading this selection alongside members this month.</div>
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Book #2: (YA / Mature Middle Grade) <a href="http://amzn.to/2fcRq2r"><i>Refugee </i>by Alan Gratz</a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzA2DeKCwho6p-S9EeKMSKoLfWzSZy4A5mDmABAoeBJbLfvqiQb6ufX9IJXnLRnNzSPyM44Gxhv5vhzQq_s0_8_XpAe9h2VnwLsxZzI3Uoe3w2YrrIvH9DxbFve2NqIRPUqD5wOnapf9d/s1600/33118312-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWzA2DeKCwho6p-S9EeKMSKoLfWzSZy4A5mDmABAoeBJbLfvqiQb6ufX9IJXnLRnNzSPyM44Gxhv5vhzQq_s0_8_XpAe9h2VnwLsxZzI3Uoe3w2YrrIvH9DxbFve2NqIRPUqD5wOnapf9d/s640/33118312-1.jpg" width="420" /></a></div>
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Every person that I know who has picked up this title since it was published in July of this year has <i>raved</i> about it. This is the one that I'll be reading alongside members this month, but when I brought it up in a DBC Team meeting, one moderator who had already read it insisted that it be on our list. In her words, "This should be required reading for children <i>and </i>adults." <i>Refugee</i> is told in three narratives: Josef, a Jewish boy living in 1930s Nazi Germany, who must flee from the threat of concentration camps; Isabel, a Cuban girl in 1994 who boards a raft bound for America with her terrified family, and Mahmoud, a Syrian boy in 2015 who flees to Europe with his family as the Syrian war threatens their safety. I can tell it's going to be an emotional read for me, as I interact with Syrian refugee children on a daily basis at work and my heart breaks at the idea of what they've experienced. </div>
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Book #3: (Middle Grade) <a href="http://amzn.to/2hb9iHV"><i>Inside Out and Back Again </i>by Thanhha Lai</a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMO5mbDYh_evbpfG7LjsGR7mb3dLdLxqUm3jdoeVI4I7tnee6e-xUueHuVy4x-ogAwEpGD_mQomoennoer4kJJxNtG0b9rXy8iXEFAicuwove652oXpjkM13eHkTeZi-pGpKyxhMUu4Tf/s1600/8537327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMO5mbDYh_evbpfG7LjsGR7mb3dLdLxqUm3jdoeVI4I7tnee6e-xUueHuVy4x-ogAwEpGD_mQomoennoer4kJJxNtG0b9rXy8iXEFAicuwove652oXpjkM13eHkTeZi-pGpKyxhMUu4Tf/s640/8537327.jpg" width="422" /></a></div>
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I read this novel for a children's literature course back in graduate school and it blew me away, so as soon as we decided on this theme I knew it had to be on our list. <i>Inside Out and Back Again</i> is a novel in verse, so for adult readers it'll be a quick read. (It's also on the Newbery list, for those of you who are doing your own Newbery projects, you'll be able to check it off your list!) The story follows Hà, a ten year old girl who must flee when the Vietnam War threatens her home in Saigon. Her family settles in Alabama, and Hà finds herself missing her homeland and the vividness of her culture. I loved reading the perspective of a young child in this novel, and it certainly changed the way I interact with immigrant and refugee students at our school. This story is largely based on Thanhha Lai's own experiences, as she herself fled Saigon at the end of the Vietnam War and relocated to Alabama. Teachers, parents, and librarians: I hope this earns a spot on your shelves.</div>
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Now, let me explain why we have two middle grade picks for October, as <i>Refugee </i>does technically fall into the middle grade category. Kate Olson, of <a href="https://kidlitexchange.com/">Kid Lit Exchange</a>, recommends it for grades 5-8 and we agree with that recommendation. It's a heavy read and not appropriate for younger audiences. <i>Inside Out and Back Again</i>, however, is perfectly appropriate for middle grade readers of all ages. So if you've been using DBC picks with your children, we recommend <i>Refugee </i>for 5th grade and up, and <i>Inside Out and Back Again</i> for all other young readers. If you're not using these titles with the littles in your life, we'd definitely recommend reading both -- and because <i>Inside Out and Back Again </i>is so short, we think it will be relatively easy to manage both picks this month.</div>
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Picture Book Selections</h3>
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Picture book selections will be revealed on <a href="http://www.thenovelendeavor.com/">The Novel Endeavor</a> tomorrow, September 25th so make sure to keep an eye out for that post too!</div>
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Let us know what you think of the October selections below!</h3>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-71712663119617044002017-09-22T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-22T17:07:50.606-04:00Series Spotlight: The Lady Hardcastle Mysteries<div style="text-align: center;">
Today's post is for my mystery-loving friends. I know that many of you have already seen me rave about this series on Instagram this year, but I'm here to tell you that I just <i>love</i> the <a href="http://amzn.to/2sPVIgX">Lady Hardcastle Mysteries</a> by T. E. Kinsey and implore you to add them to your library.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuwVFLAf5psd-EKrLTyj3hdUK5T8YebLzZzGF0louulK2OkgiSRVY0BXOLQV4Bwm3aiJa2yfYLaS4NSZ8Wl-i1p_I6PHB1QFUDhqaMpEq-9MWznm0wORjbeVWZVUvxbGSvkMMkN1HODzj/s1600/lady+hardcastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVuwVFLAf5psd-EKrLTyj3hdUK5T8YebLzZzGF0louulK2OkgiSRVY0BXOLQV4Bwm3aiJa2yfYLaS4NSZ8Wl-i1p_I6PHB1QFUDhqaMpEq-9MWznm0wORjbeVWZVUvxbGSvkMMkN1HODzj/s640/lady+hardcastle.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This mystery series begins with <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2stxtpq">A Quiet Life in the Country</a>, </i>which introduces us to Lady Emily Hardcastle and her lady's maid, Florence Armstrong. Lady Hardcastle is a wealthy widow, who moves to Gloucestershire with Flo to enjoy a quiet life in the rural countryside. Rather than the stuffy, boring types that you might expect of a Lady and her maid in 1908, the two women come with an unusual past. After the murder of Lady Hardcastle's husband, she was recruited by The Crown to work as a spy, and she and Flo led a rather exciting life in various places around the globe. When they come to settle in the country, they expect that they've left all that excitement behind. That is, until a man is seemingly poisoned and the two are recruited by the local constable to help solve the mystery of his death. The series continues with<i> <a href="http://amzn.to/2tUN31V">In the Market for Murder</a> </i>and <a href="http://amzn.to/2ttlJEV" style="font-style: italic;">Death Around the Bend</a> and all three books contain both these lovable quirky characters and interesting mysteries to be solved.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRufJNKfRIGvlL-rChGwH2b9K5SyEWLMkitXMu8gDbHPQ6Zp0hbtWXWi3ndWYa-2B5KPRiULBz8RLCAk8LjBnfgsKRofxE4A1TLU4aPedFyvNfrfbp9dHuKNeAtowTGoF52gRaCfnJeah/s1600/Lady+Hardcastle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="744" data-original-width="741" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRufJNKfRIGvlL-rChGwH2b9K5SyEWLMkitXMu8gDbHPQ6Zp0hbtWXWi3ndWYa-2B5KPRiULBz8RLCAk8LjBnfgsKRofxE4A1TLU4aPedFyvNfrfbp9dHuKNeAtowTGoF52gRaCfnJeah/s640/Lady+Hardcastle.jpg" width="636" /></a></div>
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I first experienced this series as an audiobook, and fell in love with it almost instantly. I believe I have <a href="http://www.audible.com/search/ref=a_series_c2_3_1_saNarr?searchNarrator=Elizabeth+Knowelden&ie=UTF8&pf_rd_r=0N4VK2X9QFGK9NRX9CMC&pf_rd_m=A2ZO8JX97D5MN9&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_i=series-detail&pf_rd_p=1374482202&pf_rd_s=center-2">Elizabeth Knowelden</a> to thank for that, as her voice combined with the cheeky banter of our two protagonists had me smiling for the duration of these books. More than once, I decided I needed to go for a walk so that I could listen to just a few more chapters before turning in for the night.</div>
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I think the mark of a good book is when you consider the characters to be like friends, and I am completely serious when I say that the personalities of Kinsey's characters are so charming, bold, and unique that I may just have to re-listen or re-read these books while I await the next in the series -- no word on that yet, but I'm feeling impatient.</div>
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I own these books in all three forms: hard copies, e-books, and audiobooks and can tell you that I wholeheartedly recommend them in whatever form you prefer most. <i>However,</i> if you are an audiobook listener, you won't regret listening to the audible versions. You can find them <a href="http://www.audible.com/series?ref_=a_lib_c3D__vsml_1_1&asin=B01MYMU48E">here</a>.</div>
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Have you read any of these mysteries? </h4>
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Comment below and tell me about your reading or listening experience!</div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-1867967576526381572017-09-20T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-22T17:11:23.923-04:00Podcast Recommendations with Hollie Lawder<div style="text-align: center;">
Today, readers, I am <i>so </i>happy to have one of my dearest friends from bookstagram here to guest post on Top Shelf Text! I mention Hollie on Instagram pretty often because we are actual <i>twins</i>. All of our tastes/habits/preferences align and we came to the conclusion a long time ago that we are the same person. Except for the fact that she lives in Canada, which automatically makes her cooler than me.</div>
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If you follow Hollie on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/readingontherun/">@readingontherun</a>, you may have noticed that she listens to tons of podcasts. After I kept seeing her mention them in her stories, I asked if she would consider doing a guest post for us here with recommendations for podcasts. I am so happy she agreed, and you can bet I've already downloaded a whole bunch of these to listen to this week while I'm at the gym!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hIupmvVwDT8_qIs-ZRurTFXc71psLbBM2g_RMgfEnOBjdtIHYGeTalwDGRprGgfI4nHqjDSIOM_TrZLjBw68LQVkvHUCKlEFe_1kIWKa6F11R01YENyX2HRb2ytsjm9y68S6OHNmsdCT/s1600/hollie.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="711" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hIupmvVwDT8_qIs-ZRurTFXc71psLbBM2g_RMgfEnOBjdtIHYGeTalwDGRprGgfI4nHqjDSIOM_TrZLjBw68LQVkvHUCKlEFe_1kIWKa6F11R01YENyX2HRb2ytsjm9y68S6OHNmsdCT/s400/hollie.JPG" width="330" /></a></div>
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Hey there, bookish friends! My name is Hollie, and I am a total book worm. But another thing that I’m completely obsessed with is Podcasts. I love being able to learn something new, or topics that I am interested in. Being at home with my two kiddos right now, I have found that podcasts keep my mind stimulated, and make the mundane tasks of daily life fly by. If you have no idea where to get started, I did a blog post awhile ago on <a href="https://readingontherunblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/15/how-to-start-listening-to-podcasts/">How to Start Listening to Podcasts</a>.</div>
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Here is my list of favourite podcasts at the moment. Please feel free to reach out to me, I’d love to hear what you listen to as well!</div>
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Bookish Podcasts</h3>
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<b><a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/what-should-i-read-next/">What Should I Read Next?: </a></b></div>
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Anne Bogel gets to know one lucky reader, who will share their three</div>
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favourite books, one they didn’t like so much, and what they would like to change in their reading life. From there Anne does some literary matchmaking and recommends three new books to the reader. It’s great! Every episode is worth listening to, but check out Ep. 72 which features Madeleine, and Ep. 1 with Jamie Golden.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.literarydisco.com/">Literary Disco: </a></b></div>
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I just discovered this podcast, and have deep-dived the back catalogue! It’s smart, and so</div>
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entertaining. You hear Rider Strong (from Boy Meets World), Tod Goldberg (bestselling author), and</div>
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Julia Pistell talk books and bookish topics!</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.bookshelfthomasville.com/frontporch/">From the Front Porch: </a></b></div>
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Meet the Bookshelf Thomasville staff, and owner Annie! They put out this</div>
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podcast on a weekly basis, and there is so much good about it. First off, Anne and Chris always have a hilarious intro, which is usually nothing to do with books. But one feature that they do on this podcast that I love is they always go over the books they read for the month. Get your TBR list ready!</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.nypl.org/voices/blogs/blog-channels/librarian-is-in">The Librarian Is In: </a></b></div>
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This is the New York Public Library’s podcast, and your hosts are Gwen and Frank. These two are super witty, and have a fun banter back and forth between them. They discuss what they have recently read, and different bookish topics each episode. Check out their latest Ep. The Right Book at The Right Time, on Roxane Gay’s memoir Hunger.</div>
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<b><a href="https://overdrive.libsyn.com/">Professional Book Nerds: </a></b></div>
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Like the title of this podcast says, these hosts are professional book nerds…who work at OverDrive. They chat to current authors, and discuss books that they have read recently. What I love about this podcast is that they ask the authors great questions, and a listener gets to hear the story behind the book. Check out Ep. 105 with George Saunders on Lincoln in the Bardo. It’s AMAZING!!!</div>
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Health Podcasts</h3>
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<b><a href="http://www.therunninglifestyle.com/the-podcast/">The Runner’s Lifestyle Show: </a></b></div>
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Whether you like to run or not, this podcast gives a listener amind/body/soul connection point. Kari interviews people from all walks of life, who can give you tips on how to live your best life. What I love about this podcast especially is the last segment, Serena a Registered Dietician, answers questions, and gives great tips!</div>
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<b><a href="https://blog.bulletproof.com/bulletproof-radio-episodes-directory/">Bulletproof Radio: </a></b></div>
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Join Dave Asprey as he interviews professionals in their fields on what they know</div>
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best, and how it contributes and enhances your health. Super interesting, and very fact heavy, you will</div>
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walk away feeling educated and in control of the information that will benefit your life. Seriously, every person, male or female can find something that will interest them on this podcast. ! One episode that interested me a lot was Ep. 415: On Women’s Health, Post-Birth Control Syndrome, and Brain Injuries.</div>
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<b><a href="https://www.theskinnyconfidential.com/podcast/">The Skinny Confidential Him and Her: </a></b></div>
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Just a warning, this podcast has information that may not be appropriate to listen to with kiddos! The popular blogger Lauryn Evarts, and her husband Michael chat about health, relationships, blogging, and always has great tips to live a healthier life.</div>
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Lifestyle Podcasts</h3>
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<b><a href="http://www.sortaawesomeshow.com/">Sorta Awesome: </a></b></div>
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This podcast is not just sorta awesome, it’s completely awesome!! Meg, and her</div>
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rotating co-hosts chat about everything from motherhood, books, to depression. I always end these</div>
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episodes feeling like I just had a great chat with my girlfriends. </div>
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Every episode is awesome… pardon the pun!</div>
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<b><a href="http://theartofsimple.net/podcast/">The Simple Show: </a></b></div>
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world with kids, and written several books. The episodes flip flop back and forth between all these</div>
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topics with different co-hosts. Two episodes that I enjoyed are Ep. 33 Starting a Book Club, and Ep. 58 The World’s Most/Best cities.</div>
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wonderful. Her soothing voice will lull you into living your best life. Because it’s recently released… start from the beginning and subscribe to hear weekly episodes.</div>
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Okay, this podcast is sooooooo great! Jamie and Knox tackle everything pop culture in the most hilarious way. It’s not uncommon for me to be laughing out loud the whole time. Also, for all you bookworms…. They do a great segment at the end called Red Light/Green Light, which is where they hate on something they didn’t like, and recommend something they did, which a lot of times include books!</div>
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<b><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/podcasts/">Happier with Gretchen Rubin: </a></b></div>
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Bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, and her sister, Liz Craft provide practical, and manageable advice to live your life happier. What is so great about this podcast is that the advice that’s given simple tasks, and so easy to work into your life that you actually can apply it! One episode that was very insightful was Ep. 103: Pick your Moment.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.npr.org/podcasts/510307/invisibilia">Invisibilia: </a></b></div>
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This podcast is all about the invisible forces that control human behavior, on a simplistic level, then diving into a whole new level of deep. It’s incredible, and will leave you wanting to tell everyone about what you just learned! My favourite episodes are: The Secret History of Thoughts, and The Personality Myth.</div>
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<b><a href="https://stownpodcast.org/">S-Town:</a></b></div>
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So friends… free your calendar and start from Ep. 1, and be prepared to hear a weird, beautiful,</div>
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and deeply thought provoking true story. From the producers of Serial, Brian Reed is contacted by John who hates his hometown in Alabama, and decides to do something about it. I was stripping wallpaper in my house while I binge listened to this podcast, and am still so moved by it.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.radiolab.org/">RadioLab: </a></b></div>
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This podcast takes a big idea or situation, and tells its story. It starts with the smallest details,</div>
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and ends up showing you the big picture. The production is amazing, with sounds, music, science, and a ton of research! Check out this fascinating story on the episode titled: Birthstory.</div>
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Thanks Hollie, for putting this amazing, <i>gigantic</i> list together for us! No matter your preferences, readers, I bet you can find something to listen to from the list above. I'll also chime in here to say that I <i>love </i>What Should I Read Next? and S-Town, but I'll add one to the Bookish Podcast section: <a href="http://overduepodcast.com/">Overdue</a> -- which I <a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2015/04/overdue-podcast.html">wrote about on the blog waaay back in 2015</a> and still listen to regularly!</div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-87393569225696058312017-09-19T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-19T06:59:24.020-04:00DBC Member Survey (& Mark Your Calendars!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjfA6TRBf8vk5SJKTc1BPnCVyvZgxqTjraxEA5VwldD1G96Cf3yzTKpUjcwPFOjqIoUS-JsIE7G_SMurPa4LsirV4Zg02D_lh2P4D-87CU5-K92NZuPkSDhoW0ISF8CIvP2kWNV5F-p6M/s1600/Member+Survey.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjfA6TRBf8vk5SJKTc1BPnCVyvZgxqTjraxEA5VwldD1G96Cf3yzTKpUjcwPFOjqIoUS-JsIE7G_SMurPa4LsirV4Zg02D_lh2P4D-87CU5-K92NZuPkSDhoW0ISF8CIvP2kWNV5F-p6M/s640/Member+Survey.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hello DBC Members!</h3>
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Today I'm you to please fill out our member survey, which will help to give us information about the demographics of our membership, as well as information on how you like to keep up with DBC news, what parts of the club you're enjoying so far, and what you'd like to see change in the future. You'll also have an opportunity to provide general feedback here, in case you have something on your mind that you'd like to share with the team!</div>
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We'll be taking your feedback into account throughout the month of October and adjusting our practices as necessary.</div>
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Thanks for joining us in spreading the love for diverse literature, and thank you in advanced for your feedback!</div>
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You can fill out the survey <a href="https://goo.gl/forms/0uzB9jTuM0hKw30i2">here</a>.</div>
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& Mark Your Calendars!</h3>
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We'll be announcing the October selections here on Top Shelf Text on Sunday, September 24th.</div>
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Our October picture book selections will go live on Lori's blog, <a href="http://www.thenovelendeavor.com/">The Novel Endeavor</a>, on Monday, September 25th.</div>
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On Friday, September 29th, we'll share some fun statistics, quotes, and member photos from September in our September Wrap-Up here on Top Shelf Text!</div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-67820860615037340112017-09-18T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-18T00:00:04.231-04:00On Self-Care (& ACK! - A New Picture Book for Grown-Ups)<div style="text-align: center;">
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Let's talk about self-care, shall we?</h3>
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Over the summer a lot of readers requested that I share more on the behind the scenes of TST, and on the balancing act that is having a real life and running a blog. I started writing that behind the scenes post several times over, but realized I didn't have much to say on balancing these two aspects of my life because...well, I wasn't really doing a good job of keeping that balance.</div>
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Long story short: TST has grown by leaps and bounds this summer, which is amazing and wonderful and <i>totally overwhelming</i>. I have more books on my to-read shelf than ever before, and <i>real </i>deadlines. In past years, the blog could slow down when I needed it to because it was a more of a hobby and less of an endeavor. But social media and working with publishers equals more stress, and while I'm grateful for every single opportunity that's come my way this year, I flew by my breaking point and only realized it when I contemplated quitting Instagram and the blog all together because it felt like too much of my life was being spent worrying about the thing that makes me most happy: books.</div>
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After a few weeks of intentional time unplugged, some calming and kind words from a fellow reader and blogger that I greatly admire, and a mention on my Instagram that my priorities needed to shift, I've reached a transition period.<br />
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One of the things that compelled me to take a look at the causes of my increased anxiousness and make some changes was the book <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2wj137a">ACK! One Simple Secret on How to Beat Bad Days, and Live a Happy, Joy-Filled Life</a>. </i>This book was sent to me by the author, Cory Sanchez, and pitched as a picture book for grown-ups who have too many things on their to-do list and are feeling overwhelmed and drained. The book features a character named Jennifer, which also happens to be my mother's name! Jennifer is ordinary -- she's a mom, wife, yoga lover, and chocolate fanatic, but on most days, she wakes up feeling like a zombie. (We've all been there, right?) Feeling tired and stressed led Jennifer to a negative cycle of actions and words, so she set an intention to change the way she thinks about her day.<br />
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This is the important part, friends, and it's the part that I'm working to implement in my own days. The idea is to take the negative thoughts in your head and reframe them in a positive way. To take that little voice in your head that says, "Ugh! I hate having to vacuum the house!" and replace that thought with, "After I vacuum, the house will feel clean and that will make me happy!" (This may be a bad example, as we all know I find vacuuming to be extremely satisfying. A more apt example from my own life would be taking "Ugh! I don't want to go to the gym after work." and replacing it with "When I go to the gym, I'm taking care of myself. Afterwards, I'll feel much better!")<br />
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It sounds a little silly, to basically talk to yourself in your own head, but I swear it's been making a difference in my days, especially when I wake up feeling groggy or a little more stressed than usual. Having this book on my bookshelf is serving as a physical reminder that I set an intention to take better care of myself, so that I can take better care of the other people in my life, too. (And if you have someone in your life who is moving into a new season and may need a reminder of this, I think <i>ACK!</i> would make a great gift for a close friend.)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GAr71wtGMJyolwCXXSBssq5FUwO1qouZAa1Nu4vnqZ1SlXJHxYnZpJjRX9rBpOFY6YAxhO-bHoakuFfDKOm0n5zQdegZB2Z4j8IqKJs-5_wjr9wqxHOTsBirm6P4DDB1hkOQOWCvrXK0/s1600/ack+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GAr71wtGMJyolwCXXSBssq5FUwO1qouZAa1Nu4vnqZ1SlXJHxYnZpJjRX9rBpOFY6YAxhO-bHoakuFfDKOm0n5zQdegZB2Z4j8IqKJs-5_wjr9wqxHOTsBirm6P4DDB1hkOQOWCvrXK0/s640/ack+2.jpg" width="638" /></a></div>
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Self-Care + Top Shelf Text</h3>
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Here are the three steps I'm taking with TST as I transition to a phase of new ground rules and as one bookish friend put it, a "return to the roots of TST":</div>
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<b>One</b></div>
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Giving myself permission to unplug from social media as often as I need it. (This is not to say that I hate social media. I, in fact, love bookstagram so much that I have trouble pulling away from it. But I feel better when I set boundaries, so this practice stands.)</div>
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<b>Two</b></div>
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Learning to say, "No thank you," to review requests that come my way. I spent the summer saying "YES!" to every opportunity and ended up with too many deadlines and not enough room to choose for myself. So I'll be setting a limit for how many advanced copies I'll request or receive each month, to make room for Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club picks, the Diverse Books Club picks, and books with older publishing dates that have been patiently waiting on my shelves. (Many of you requested older books when I asked for feedback -- I loved hearing that!)</div>
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<b>Three</b></div>
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Working on my Newbery Project, since I've made little headway on it this summer. I do tend to pick Newbery Books for my audiobooks, but I have a whole shelf of these waiting to be read! I was glad to hear this was a project that many of you are eager to follow along with more. Keep an eye out for an update on this soon!</div>
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Self-Care in My Real Life</h3>
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To follow through with my intention for more self-care, I'm also taking some steps in my life outside the blog. Here are my big three:<br />
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<b>One</b><br />
It took a month, but I finally got myself signed up for a gym in our new city. I've set a goal to get there every day after school, and I'm finding the break so beneficial to relieving stress before I get home. I may not have the same beautiful views that I had before we moved (I miss my walking route every day!), but moving my body (for the purpose of health, not weight loss) is what's most important.<br />
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<b>Two</b><br />
I'm making plans for our weekends. We're in a new place and we have a lot of exploring to do, so we sat down to make a list of Autumn activities to schedule on our weekends! Some weekends will be busier than others, but I'm looking to find a good balance between getting out of the house and taking time for rest. Weekends well spent truly make a difference in feeling rested for the work week. Some activities on our Autumn list include apple picking, decorating for Halloween, carving Jack-O-Lanterns, going for a hike, and finding a new date-night spot. We also have a trip coming up for a friend's wedding, which serve as a fun mini-vacation!<br />
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<b>Three</b><br />
I'm getting back into my bedtime routine. I talked about this on my stories over the summer, but I keep to a pretty strict bedtime during the school year. I do this because the littles in my life are truly impacted by the mood that I'm in when we work together, and they don't deserve the version of me that's present when I haven't had enough sleep. (Plus, whether or not you get enough sleep impacts all of the other choices in your day -- what you choose to eat, how much energy you have to put into exercise, the way you speak to others -- it's all part of overall health!) My routine gets skewed in the summertime, and I'm okay with that, but it's important to stick to it during the year. Here's what it looks like: at 7pm, an alarm goes off on my phone. That's my signal to put it away (I charge it in our dining room, so it's not available to me when I'm in bed) and also my signal to start getting ready for bed. I make a cup of calming tea and pack my bags (school, gym, and purse) for the next day. Most days, I also pick out my outfit for the next day. As soon as all that is done and I've taken a few minutes to tidy the apartment in general, I hop into bed with my book. I generally can get about an hour or more of reading in, and it helps to prep my brain for sleep and allows me to wake up at 5am without a problem (most days). On the nights when I come home and ignore my alarm because I'm working on the blog, a school task, or on DBC things, I feel the impact of it the next day, so I'm working to follow it faithfully this season.<br />
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All of these steps are helping me to feel much better these past few weeks. I'm happier overall, and finding that when I'm vocal about needing to take care of myself, other people in my life start to express that they've been thinking about how to do that too. No matter who you are or what you do for a job, we all have busy seasons, and it's so important to take care during those seasons so that we don't burn out or drop into a negative cycle. Here, I want to say thank you to Cory, for putting <i>ACK! </i>into my hands and for giving me the push to talk about these things with all of you!<br />
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Tell me, how are you practicing self-care in your life?</h3>
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P.S. If you're looking for strategies to help you follow the advice in <i>ACK!, </i>then I suggest you join us for <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/ackthechallenge/">#ackthechallenge</a>, for which Cory will post seven days of prompts to help you boost your mood and overall well-being. The challenge starts <i>today</i>, so hop on over to Instagram and make sure you follow <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ackthebook/">@ackthebook</a>! </div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-82161222617434486222017-09-15T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-15T00:00:02.447-04:00Reader Recommendations with Katharine Scrivener<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hey, readers!</span></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today I'm excited to welcome one of my friends from the bookstagram world here for a Reader Recommendations post! Katharine Scrivener is the beautiful, kind, hilarious human behind <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kathareads/">@kathareads</a> and <a href="https://fromatopink.wordpress.com/">From A to Pink</a>. (Also, she has great style. Just saying.) I'm so glad to have her here today!</span></span><br />
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<b>Katharine, tell us a little about yourself first!</b></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An avid reader, I live in Baltimore, MD with my husband, our miniature schnauzer Gus, and more books than I care to admit (but I'm sure y'all are with me on that). By day I do communications at a local university, and by night and I read and write as much as possible. When I'm not reading or writing, I help to raise awareness for cystic fibrosis, a disease I was diagnosed with at 16. Connecting with others, on many different things, is what fuels me and I love that this book community has allowed me to do just that.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-line;">P.S. You can also find Katharine on her personal Instagram account <a href="https://www.instagram.com/katharinescriv/">@katharinescriv</a> and on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/katharinescriv">@katharinescriv</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-line;">Now, tell us about some of your favorite books!</span></h3>
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<b><a href="http://amzn.to/2h5cg0R"><i>Caleb and Kit</i> by Beth Vrabel</a> </b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-line;">This will be one of my favorite reads of the year, by far, and it was brought to my attention by none other than your favorite blogger: Madeleine! Caleb and Kit tells the story of a 12-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis (CF). But it's so much more than that -- it's a story of friendship, growing up, figuring out who you are, and overcoming life's challenges, both big and small. It's also an incredibly accurate (in my opinion) portrayal about what life with this somewhat unknown and often misunderstood disease is like. As someone with CF, this hit me in the feels for obvious reasons, but I think it's a book that anyone would enjoy.</span></div>
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<b><a href="http://amzn.to/2wdmTcq"><i>Exit West</i> by Mohsin Hamid</a> </b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I honestly think it was the cover that first made me pick this one up (Riverhead has some of the BEST covers), and I’m so glad I did. Another favorite of 2017, Exist West is told from the perspective of refugees trying to escape an unnamed war-torn country. I was lucky enough to see Hamid when he came to Baltimore. Listening to him read passages made his already lyrical writing even more powerful. While the subject matter resonates with our current political climate, this is a book that will withstand time.</span></span></div>
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<b><a href="http://amzn.to/2f9MX0B"><i>Commonwealth</i> by Ann Patchett</a> </b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-line;">As a huge fan of Patchett’s, I picked up </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-line;">Commonwealth</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-line;"> as soon as it was released. This is definitely a character-driven novel, more than a plot-driven one, which was just fine because I LOVED these characters. I read this book in two sittings -- a rarity for me -- because I didn’t want to leave Franny and her siblings. This family has stuck with me long after I read the last page; Patchett has a way of sucking you in and making you fully invested in their lives. She’s truly talented and I can’t wait to see what she writes next. (If you haven’t picked up </span></span><a href="http://amzn.to/2x5ML8L" style="font-family: inherit; white-space: pre-line;"><i>This is a Story of a Happy Marriage</i></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-line;">, her collection of personal essays, I highly recommend you do.)</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2wd0vQ5"><i>Becoming Wise</i> by Krista Tippett</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: start; white-space: pre-line;">I would read almost anything Tippett writes. My adoration of her started with her podcast, On Being, where she tackles some of life’s biggest questions alongside some pretty important and accomplished people. All of whom have plenty of wisdom to share. In Becoming Wise she examines what she’s learned over the years and through these conversations. What results is a wonderfully hopeful vision for our future, full of her unending wisdom and empathy, as well as timeless advice for all of us.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/2f91N7M"><i>Fates and Furies </i>by Lauren Groff</a> </b></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This might be a somewhat controversial choice -- it seems people either love this book or hate it. After my initial reading, I fell somewhere in the middle: I enjoyed the second half far more than the first, but appreciated both her writing style and the format the book takes. But when I attended a seminar she did at Washington & Lee University, I realized just how much depth the book has that I missed. There are certain books, at least for me, that mean much more after discussing it, whether that’s with the author or others. Hearing Groff talk about her inspiration for the story, the various texts that influenced her telling of it, and analyzing both both the literary and psychological themes, this book became one that I can’t wait to reread, and with an entirely different lens. Groff is certainly a gifted writer, with an impressive knowledge of a plethora of literary works, and who is dedicated to her craft.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks, Katharine, for sharing those five recommendations with us! Readers, here are a few quick thoughts on Katharine's list from my perspective: I <i>adored </i>Caleb and Kit (you can read my review <a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2017/09/childrens-review-caleb-and-kit.html">here</a>), abandoned <i>Commonwealth </i>because dysfunctional families are not my cup of tea, and have the other three still on my list! I can't tell you the number of times I passed over <i>Fates and Furies </i>on the book sale shelf at my local library -- now I wish I had snagged it while it was there!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> I love having guests here on TST to shake up our recommendations pool, so you can expect to see these posts twice per month in the future!</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; text-align: start; white-space: pre-line;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Let us know in the comments if you've read and loved these titles, or if you'll be adding them to your TBR!</b></span></span><br />
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-79359512782444466022017-09-12T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-12T00:00:20.331-04:00On Reading People & Personalities <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Note: Top Shelf Text received a copy of this text as a member of the Reading People Launch Team. All opinions are my own!</i></div>
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I recently wrote a little about this book in a post featuring the <a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2017/09/my-reading-personality-or-treatise-on.html">amazing bonuses</a> that you'll receive when you <a href="http://amzn.to/2xoV5ld">pre-order <i>Reading People: How Seeing the World Through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything</i></a> before its release on September 19th (that's next week!) and spoke about how it's been helping me to get to know myself a little better. I want to tell you a little more about how I've been thinking about and using this book to make small, beneficial changes in my life!</div>
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The work behind <i>Reading People </i>actually started long before the actual drafting of this book. Anne Bogel (of <a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a> and the <a href="https://modernmrsdarcy.com/what-should-i-read-next/">What Should I Read Next? Podcast</a>) started exploring personality frameworks as a personal project many years ago. She was fascinated by the ways in which we can categorize different aspects of our personalities, and used her growing knowledge about personality to make her life happier and to better understand the people she loves. In <i>Reading People,</i> Anne introduces readers to the major frameworks used to describe personality. For each framework, she gives an overview, some basics, and points to resources to use in figuring out how you can both figure out where you fit into the framework. She then takes it one step further by offering some advice for using your results to understand your needs and the needs of others in your life. </div>
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This isn't a book that you sit down and read cover-to-cover. It took me about a month total to read the whole book, because it's the type of book you want to pick up, read a chapter or two, and then take some time to digest the information and make some observations about how it applies to you. Reading this in one sitting might give you information overload and scare you away from personality frameworks, so I highly suggest keeping it on your nightstand (or on your coffee table) to peruse <i>slowly</i>. </div>
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The book covers topics such as introversion vs. extroversion, highly-sensitive people (HSPs), the Five Love Languages, Kiersey's Temperaments, the MBTI and the MBTI cognitive functions, the Clifton StrengthsFinder, and the Enneagram. Anne points out that having an understanding of your personality is certainly helpful, but it's also <i>not</i> your destiny, and that the purpose of this book is to help you get to know yourself and others better so that you can not only be empathetic, but also play to yours and others' strengths. </div>
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Here's what I've gleaned from it so far:</div>
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I am a definite HSP. Knowing this has helped me make sense of the situations in my life where I've felt most over-stimulated and uncomfortable, and is keeping me aware of the types of environments that I place myself in. This is also becoming increasingly clear as I dive into heavier reads for the Diverse Books Club. I've never needed my escapist reads so much as I do now, to help me balance out digging into hard topics. I'm also pretty aware of this when selecting TV shows and movies. (For example, going to see Dunkirk in theaters this summer was a <i>huge </i>mistake for me. I was rattled for hours afterwards.)</div>
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I am a strong introvert -- I knew this already, but in chatting with friends about this book I realized that some of my friends <i>didn't </i>know this about me. For those new to personality typing, this may be the most confusing part. I've had several people comment that I can't possibly be an introvert because I'm <i>friendly </i>and <i>peppy.</i> Being friendly doesn't mean I'm an extrovert -- it just means I have good manners! (Credit to my parents for that.) I would happily pick spending my Saturday night on my couch with a book over going anywhere with others -- just one example of needing to draw my energy from solitude rather than from the company of others. Letting people know that I need time by myself (or with a book) to recharge is one step I'm taking now, especially as we head into the holiday season. Thankfully, I have a partner who already understood this about me and happily leaves me alone for long stretches of time so I can reorient myself. If you're a teacher <i>and </i>an introvert -- you know the struggle is <i>real </i>every day of the week. Hence why my after school me-time, and time spent unplugged on the weekends is precious to feeling balanced!</div>
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My MBTI personality type is an INFJ, and for now, that's the only "type" that I have figured out. I'm not rushing to type myself under every framework -- as Anne stresses throughout the book, this isn't a matter of just taking a simple quiz, but of making observations about yourself over time and across situations. Right now, I'm spending a lot of time pondering the love language for myself and my partner, and trying out different ways to implement the five love languages and see what works best for us.</div>
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The thing I like most about <i>Reading People</i> is that reading it feels like an ongoing experience. It's more of a reference guide than a strict how-to, so I can pick it up whenever it suits my needs. Plus, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the gorgeous cover. I highly recommend this title if you're at all interest in personality frameworks (this is the perfect place to start) and think it would make a really interesting non-fiction pick for a book club -- it would be fun to see if you could guess the types of your fellow members! I should mention here too that it's <i>really really </i>difficult for me to get into non-fiction books, so the fact that I've picked this one up multiple times speaks to the accessibility of it.</div>
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Although I received a copy from the publishing team, I have another copy on order to gift to my mother -- because some books you just <i>have </i>to share with others but don't want to give up your own copy! (Bookworm problems, right?)</div>
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<i>This title will be released on September 19, 2017</i></div>
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<b><i>Bottom-Line Rating: 5/5</i></b></div>
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Title:<i> </i><i style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2xoV5ld" style="text-align: center;">Reading People: How Seeing the World Through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything</a></i></div>
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Author: Anne Bogel</div>
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Publisher: Baker Books, 2017</div>
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Price: <a href="http://amzn.to/2xoUi3U">$9 on Amazon</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ISBN: 0801072913</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Format: Paperback</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Source: Baker Books / Reading People Launch Team</span></span></div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-81404673995182845272017-09-11T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-11T00:00:05.373-04:00Review: A Conspiracy in Belgravia (Lady Sherlock #2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Note: Top Shelf Text was provided with a copy of this text by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!</i></div>
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If you could only read one genre for the rest of your life, what would it be? Mine would, without a doubt, be mystery. I love reading mysteries set in all different places and time periods, but Victorian England is high on my list for favorite settings. Some behind the scenes secrets about how I get my advanced copies: sometimes, publishers offer a book to you and you get to accept or decline. Other times...you stalk the publisher until they agree to send you a book that is already on your wish list. With <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2gVKiEO">A Conspiracy in Belgravia</a>, </i>I practically begged the team at Berkley to send me the book, and was over the moon when it arrived on my doorstep! I read the first book in this series, <a href="http://amzn.to/2eY1TPr"><i>A Study in Scarlet Women</i></a>, earlier this summer and absolutely loved it. (<a href="http://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2017/07/if-you-liked-that-read-this.html">In this post</a>, I compared it to another popular mystery series.) I got a lot of feedback from readers who said they also loved the first in this series, so I couldn't wait to share more about this one with you. As with the first, the thing that I loved most about this book was how it pulled me in. By the end of the first chapter, I was fully immersed in Victorian London and steeped in the drama of Charlotte's exile from proper society and the suspense of her newest mystery to solve. With so many of my recent reads falling into heavier categories, this was the perfect escapist book for me!</div>
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In <a href="http://amzn.to/2gVKiEO"><i>A Conspiracy in Belgravia</i></a>, Charlotte Holmes is still living in London and running her consulting detective business -- though she's still working behind the curtain with her ailing brother as a cover. Things get complicated, though, when she receives a client request from a lady in her former social circle -- and who wouldn't be pleased to find out that Sherlock is really Charlotte. For fear of spoiling one or more of the wonderfully plotted twists in this story, I can't say more here. I <i>can </i>tell you, however, that the ending of this novel left me stunned. After reading the first book, I raved a lot about my love for the characters and the way that Sherry Thomas plays with the Holmes canon, and while those opinions still stand (and are even strengthened) with this second installment, I loved this one even more for the plot. And as in the first book, the tensions between Charlotte and her dashing, devoted but complicated love interest only grow. I cannot <i>wait </i>to follow this series in the future.</div>
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<b><i>Bottom-Line Rating: 5/5</i></b></div>
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Title: <i>A Conspiracy in Belgravia (Lady Sherlock #2)</i></div>
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Author: Sherry Thomas</div>
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Publisher: Berkley Books</div>
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Price: <a href="http://amzn.to/2gVKiEO">$9 on Amazon</a></div>
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ISBN: <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">0425281418</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Source: Berkley Books</span></span></div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-75369046679650133942017-09-08T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-08T00:00:18.243-04:00Review: Me & Milo the Great<div style="text-align: center;">
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<i>Note: Top Shelf Text received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!</i><br />
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<i>Me & Milo the Great </i>is one story I've read this year that was totally outside of my comfort zone, but it's also one that made me glad I pushed my boundaries. Before I launch into my review, I want to share with you the description for this book:</div>
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"My name is Holiday Sanchez. I carry a heavy burden. But I'm not the only one. There are others who know what it feels like to remember. Maybe they are the answer. Maybe we can help each other. Maybe I'll finally get past it. Maybe it just takes time -- and a little bit of magic." </blockquote>
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Not much to go on, right? So when the author of <i>Me & Milo the Great</i>, Michelle Schlicher, sent me a copy to read in anticipation of the release, I was intrigued but a little hesitant -- it's hard to know what to expect when the description for a book is so mysterious.<br />
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I can't tell you my feelings on this contemporary novel without telling you more about the plot, though, so I'm going to give you a few more details here. This novel follows Holiday Sanchez, a young woman who was just one victim in a terrible act of domestic terrorism. Years later, she lives with the burden of crippling anxiety.<br />
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Most days, Holiday prefers not to leave the safety and comfort of her apartment. But each year, on the anniversary of the event that changed her life, she ventures out for an annual pilgrimage to the site of the crime. Except that on this particular year, something is different. In this place where Holiday feels so much sorrow, she meets a new friend named Milo the Great.<br />
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Here's what I appreciate about this book: it's a genuine portrayal of anxiety and depression as a result of a trauma. Holiday struggles with daily life and finds comfort in her routines and boundaries that she's set. When Milo comes along, Holiday finds herself shifting her perspective on the outside world and wanting to sustain a friendship. I liked watching Holiday's progress in opening up to the outside world and I felt deep empathy for her character.<br />
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What I didn't love was that this book turned out to be about such an intense topic -- and that there was no way for me to know about that just from reading the blurb. It was hard for me to read about the suffering in this book and I could see the novel being a trigger for people who have experienced trauma in their own lives. I'm not saying that this book isn't worth reading -- it prompted me to think deeply about how people (and society) deal with trauma, but I think readers deserve to know a little bit more about it before diving in. If you're an HSP, this might be a book that you want to think carefully about before picking it up. Otherwise, I would recommend this to readers of contemporary fiction who are looking for genuine, flawed characters and plots centered on personal growth.<br />
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<i>This title will be released on September 14, 2017.</i><br />
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<b><i>Bottom-Line Rating: 3/5</i></b><br />
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Title: <i>Me & Milo the Great</i></div>
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Author: Michelle Schlicher</div>
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Publisher: Michelle Schlicher, 2017</div>
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Price: <a href="http://amzn.to/2hrS4cH">$3.99 on Amazon Kindle</a></div>
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ASIN:<span style="font-family: inherit;"> <span style="background-color: white;">B072RVDJ4W</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Format: Paperback</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Source: Author Submission</span></span></div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-60742730348544083922017-09-06T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-06T00:00:11.037-04:00Review: The Fifth Doll<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you've been a reader of Top Shelf Text for a long time, you might already know that Charlie Holmberg is the author of one of my favorite fantasy series -- <a href="https://topshelftext.blogspot.com/2014/09/review-paper-magician.html"><i>The Paper Magician</i> <i>Trilogy</i></a>. (For those of you unfamiliar, it's a fantasy series that's gentle and charming and one that I wouldn't hesitate to re-read.) So when I saw that Holmberg had a new book coming out this summer, I didn't hesitate to pre-order myself a copy. (Can I just digress here for a moment? Pre-ordering is great but it makes waiting feel <i>so hard</i>! Especially when you pre-order a June release in April.) <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2wFPR02">The Fifth Doll</a> </i>is a total departure from <i>The Paper Magician</i>, and I loved how Holmberg immersed her readers in Russian culture with this new fantasy tale.<br />
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The story follows Matrona, a young woman living with her parents in a small village. When we first meet Matrona, she seems to have the same cares as any other twenty-six year old village girl -- she and her closest friend Roksana are busy daydreaming and preparing for Matrona's upcoming wedding. Matrona isn't <i>happy</i> exactly -- she could more aptly be described as content, but she's hoping that eventually she'll find love and happiness in her new union. Matrona's seemingly unremarkable future is ruined, however, when she ventures into the home of the local tradesman to return a lost object and finds a room containing peculiar dolls. The tradesman has row upon row of Russian nesting dolls, all painted to the exact likeness of the villagers. Matrona stumbles out of his cottage, confused and alarmed. When she later returns to the cottage, the tradesman forces her into an apprenticeship that becomes her nightmare.<br />
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I <i>loved</i> the premise of this book. It was unique, slightly creepy, and so interesting. I don't usually read novels featuring Russian culture, so I learned a lot too. (And if you have any to recommend to me, please leave a comment below!) I don't want to reveal too much about the plot because the element of surprise and suspense was my favorite part of reading, but I do want to say that this is a <i>perfect</i> fall read for fans of the fantasy genre. (You can definitely expect to see it on my October Reads list this year.) And while the story had its fair share of chilling moments, it wasn't gruesome -- the villainy was more of the psychological type.<br />
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<b><i>Bottom-Line Rating: 4/5</i></b><br />
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Title: <i>The Fifth Doll</i></div>
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Author: Charlie N. Holmberg</div>
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Publisher: 47North, 2017</div>
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Price: <a href="http://amzn.to/2wFPR02">$10.28 on Amazon</a></div>
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ISBN: 1477806105</div>
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Format: Paperback</div>
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Source: Amazon</div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-53365844190459353622017-09-04T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-04T00:00:02.569-04:00Children's Review: Caleb and Kit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Note: Top Shelf Text received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!</i></div>
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It's no secret that middle grade is my favorite subset within children's literature. I <i>love</i> middle grade as a whole, but recently I've found myself feeling uninspired by the titles I've picked up. <a href="http://amzn.to/2xoDJ4R"><i>Caleb and Kit</i></a>, however, left my love for middle grade reinvigorated, and I can't wait to recommend this title to students, colleagues, and friends this year.<br />
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<i>Caleb and Kit </i>is a story told from the first person perspective of Caleb, a twelve year-old boy who lives in the suburbs with his mother and older brother. Throughout the course of the novel, Caleb experiences many challenges that come with being twelve. He has his first crush (and subsequently makes various silly decisions because of it), has to face an unkind peer at school, and has his first experience with lying to his parents.<br />
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More challenging, though, is Caleb's unique circumstance: he has cystic fibrosis. As a person with CF, Caleb lives with a strict routine, and he struggles to come to terms with the impact that his needs have on his family and friends. On top of that, Caleb's family dynamic is changing, with his father's engagement to a girlfriend who doesn't seem interested in Caleb at all. All of this feels a bit overwhelming to Caleb, but he finds relief in a new friendship with a very odd girl named Kit. They meet in the forest between their houses, and there Caleb can forget all about the various hard things going on in his life. Except that Kit is running away from something too, and soon the outside world creeps into their magical haven. This story gave me <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2xF8Ysx">Bridge to Terabithia</a> </i>vibes, what with the forest setting and strong, imaginative friendship between these two characters.<br />
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In addition to feeling emotionally invested in these characters and their lives, I also learned a lot through reading this book. Cystic fibrosis is a chronic illness that I knew <i>of </i>but wasn't familiar with, and because the story was told from the perspective of Caleb, I was able to learn a lot about the daily life of someone with CF. My friend Katharine, (who you may know from Instagram as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kathareads/">@kathareads</a> and who blogs over at <a href="https://fromatopink.wordpress.com/">From A to Pink</a>) also has cystic fibrosis and recently read this novel too. I was waiting for her opinion on the portrayal of CF, and after reading she commented that this was one of the most authentic portrayals she's read. I really hope to see this title gain more attention this year, and you can bet it'll be on my list for a certain book club (hint, hint) in the future.<br />
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<i>This title will be released on September 12, 2017.</i><br />
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<b><i>Bottom-Line Rating: 5/5</i></b><br />
(Wholeheartedly endorsed for readers of all ages.)<br />
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Title: <i>Caleb and Kit</i></div>
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Author: Beth Vrabel</div>
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Publisher: Running Press Books</div>
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Price: <a href="http://amzn.to/2iSCJ62">Pre-order for $10 on Amazon</a></div>
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ISBN: 076246223</div>
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Format: Hardcover</div>
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Source: Running Press Books</div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-64910057482546627452017-09-01T00:00:00.000-04:002017-09-01T00:00:01.074-04:00My Reading Personality (Or, A Treatise on My Love for Anne Bogel)<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRBJoLr-IgHz7NNNqOdVSeto92Lw-MzfjcUiCGkaa-f_06bEAmHaL3rNDlBXTcDFIIosfK7xqtyN5ukfBHKc4af20UtxZ-4KTqQhV8YGfUJsuPNbfhghpKf0tm-98mJa5bEZUNXUKi2zk/s1600/reading+people.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRBJoLr-IgHz7NNNqOdVSeto92Lw-MzfjcUiCGkaa-f_06bEAmHaL3rNDlBXTcDFIIosfK7xqtyN5ukfBHKc4af20UtxZ-4KTqQhV8YGfUJsuPNbfhghpKf0tm-98mJa5bEZUNXUKi2zk/s640/reading+people.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>I received a copy of <a href="http://amzn.to/2wzXXeh">Reading People</a> from the publishing team as a member of the Reading People Launch Team. I had already pre-ordered the book before I was chosen for the team, so you can trust me when I say I'm very excited about this new release!</i></div>
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By now, you know that I'm a huge fan of Anne Bogel, aka <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/">Modern Mrs. Darcy</a>. When I discovered her blog a few years ago, I noticed that she wrote a lot about personality and how knowing herself well helped her to live her best life. So when I saw that Anne had a new book coming out this year, I immediately put it on my wish list. </div>
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It's called <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2wRqOs0">Reading People: How Seeing the World Through the Lens of Personality Changes Everything.</a></i></div>
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Funny story: a few months before the announcement I had asked Anne for recommendations on where to get started in reading about personality frameworks. Little did I know that Anne was releasing a book, and that it would be the perfect place to start! And here's the thing about this book: it has <i>already</i> changed the way that I go about my daily life, and the way that I encourage my significant other. We've both learned more about ourselves and each other from reading this book, and we agree that we're better off because of it.</div>
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As part of the Reading People Launch Team, I had the chance to read an early copy of the book. Next week I'll share my full review as part of the blog tour, but today I want to tell you about some of the great bonuses you'll receive when you pre-order <i>Reading People </i>before its release on September 19th.</div>
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First things first, you can get in the mood for learning about personality by taking the <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/reading-personality/">What's Your Reading Personality</a>? quiz on Modern Mrs. Darcy.</div>
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There are nine reading personalities, and when you take the quiz, Anne not only tells you what your type means, but also gives you some recommendations based on your reading personality.</div>
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My reading personality is the <b>escapist.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEVjIukMZqKBDkisa7_dEFhEjxpFMT2JVxfocMFzNXYN4bQ6qugoixF719-bRFI89M7eUfvx66Ac-ToilQvvROWM1LLtuvgygjMxLj2hzxvptyyTtsGQ2Xd8brg9tf9GjpO7SUCsO_Y6s/s1600/Screenshot+2017-08-16+19.40.34.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="698" height="550" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEVjIukMZqKBDkisa7_dEFhEjxpFMT2JVxfocMFzNXYN4bQ6qugoixF719-bRFI89M7eUfvx66Ac-ToilQvvROWM1LLtuvgygjMxLj2hzxvptyyTtsGQ2Xd8brg9tf9GjpO7SUCsO_Y6s/s640/Screenshot+2017-08-16+19.40.34.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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So what did I think about the recommendations? Well, I <i>loved <a href="http://amzn.to/2vEU32K">Outlander</a> </i>and <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2fMc8q0">The Night Circus</a> </i>and the rest are still on my to-read list! The one title I was hesitant to add to my list was <a href="http://amzn.to/2fMvhrK"><i>The Royal We</i></a>, but after chatting with a few other escapist readers (who assured me that it wasn't cheesy or silly but actually really good!) I'm looking forward to reading it.</div>
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I agree with Anne's assessment that I primarily read to escape. I think that's why I love fantasy (new worlds), historical fiction (new time periods), and mysteries (plots that keep me occupied) and generally have a harder time getting into non-fiction (too much of the real world).</div>
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If you enjoyed taking this quiz, then you'll definitely enjoy the book, which delves deeper into the elements of personality and how to make changes in your life that work best for you!</div>
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Now, let's talk about those <a href="http://amzn.to/2wRqOs0">pre-order</a> bonuses!</h3>
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When you pre-order a copy of the book (you can order through any retailer), you get access to:</div>
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Anne's <a href="https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/product/whats-your-reading-personality-class/"><b>"What's Your Reading Personality?" Class</b></a>, in which she goes into more detail about the reading personality types. (This class is available in her shop for $15, but when you pre-order you get it for free!)</div>
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A FREE download of the <i>Reading People </i>audiobook! (P.S. Anne recorded the audiobook herself, so if you're a fan of <a href="http://modernmrsdarcy.com/what-should-i-read-next/">What Should I Read Next?</a>, you know listening to Anne is so much fun!)</div>
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To redeem both of these pre-order bonuses, just have your invoice number on hand and <a href="https://www.readingpeoplebook.com/">fill out this form</a>. </div>
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You can also explore the <a href="https://www.readingpeoplebook.com/">Reading People website</a> and follow along with the excitement on social media via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/readingpeoplebook/">#readingpeoplebook</a>.</div>
Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-42811944449320890462017-08-30T00:00:00.000-04:002017-08-30T00:00:16.366-04:00The Best Books of Summer 2017<div style="text-align: center;">
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I have not one, not two, but <i>twenty-one</i> bloggers here today who are just dying to share their summer favorites with you. Many of these books you'll recognize from all of the buzz this summer, but these bloggers want you to know that <i>these</i> are the books that you'll want in your reading stack.<br />
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And what I love about this list? It represents a range of genres and publishing dates, so not everything is new and there's something for every type of reader.</div>
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Let's get started, shall we?<br />
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Christine of <a href="https://bucklingbookshelves.blogspot.com/">Buckling Bookshelves</a> Recommends: </h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2fZ8Z6q"><span style="color: black;"><i>A Northern Light</i> by Jennifer Donnelly</span></a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMJhGIPmytb5M-huHDNMPB87aOKVMJHDdhqaU9NU2rQn_1VyxKo32OrohIS_iww1rlWwBG-czYPIpOJr0VpGkrrhMTVnl0MhBq0jqP83UIQdj-RUDeXrzjvZ36-L5Ru5F2zQW0wdOdfKr/s1600/64481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZMJhGIPmytb5M-huHDNMPB87aOKVMJHDdhqaU9NU2rQn_1VyxKo32OrohIS_iww1rlWwBG-czYPIpOJr0VpGkrrhMTVnl0MhBq0jqP83UIQdj-RUDeXrzjvZ36-L5Ru5F2zQW0wdOdfKr/s640/64481.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This was my pick for my August YA-for-Grownups book club meeting. Whenever it’s my turn, I choose an unread book from my shelves, so I never know for sure if I’ll like it, let alone the rest of book club! This turned out to be a new favorite of mine and I now want to dive into Donnelly’s entire backlist. I tend to appreciate characters in books more than plot and I think this is a perfect example of that. There are plenty of plot threads happening, but the people are just so real – flawed, struggling, conflicted, and there are no easy answers. Whether or not you usually read YA, if you like historical fiction, I highly recommend this book – the writing is excellent and it deserves all the awards and accolades it has received!</span></span></div>
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Hollie of <a href="https://readingontherunblog.wordpress.com/">Reading on the Run</a> Recommends:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2fYBpgP"><i>Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body</i> by Roxane Gay</a></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To even begin to tell you how important this book is feels overwhelming. Roxane Gay has written one of the most powerful memoirs I’ve ever read. Her honest, and raw perspective of her body and the world that she lives in with it can be difficult to read, but it SHOULD be read by everyone. As a woman, and a mother, this book felt so important for me. Being inside a woman's head is sometimes full of negative thoughts, and Roxane's perspective is encouraging that we as women are not alone. Then, being a mother... this is where it really taught me to stop that negative "body" talk, and just embrace who and what our body is... exactly what we want our children to do. Please do me a favour (I'm Canadian), and read this book, then pass it on to a friend!!</span></span></div>
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You can also find Hollie on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/readingontherun/?hl=en">@readingontherun</a>.</div>
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Lori of <a href="http://www.thenovelendeavor.com/">The Novel Endeavor</a> Recommends: </h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2xkWVQf"><span style="color: black;"><i>The Hate U Give </i>by Angie Thomas</span></a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BNss7dNb5hR_r4Fb3z8plQFt7M3S1EelQWFzKaCC9g8HZHCrFCq5OiGrlo5XZFUpuZ-16ql-8AO-9KgZp49Fu41TAqvFhKTU_sZMHQLA9uv_z1KLgYn3UsibmFxs0nuAldyBmuOTn91j/s1600/32075671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BNss7dNb5hR_r4Fb3z8plQFt7M3S1EelQWFzKaCC9g8HZHCrFCq5OiGrlo5XZFUpuZ-16ql-8AO-9KgZp49Fu41TAqvFhKTU_sZMHQLA9uv_z1KLgYn3UsibmFxs0nuAldyBmuOTn91j/s640/32075671.jpg" width="420" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Hate U Give</i> is the fictional account of Starr, a teenage girl who witnesses the murder of her best friend at the hands of a police officer. I read this earlier this summer and it still lingers in my mind. I enjoyed it because it tells the story from a perspective that many of those in the majority white culture never get to hear. Not only was it helpful from an ideological stand point, but I also loved it for the writing and the story itself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also find Lori on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thenovelendeavorlori/?hl=en">@thenovelendeavor</a></span></span></div>
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Carla from <a href="https://happiestwhenreadingblog.wordpress.com/">Happiest When Reading</a> Recommends: </h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2wgy14T"><span style="color: black;"><i>The Bright Hour: A Memoir of Living and Dying</i> by Nina Riggs</span></a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71mmQDxTOqVP-Ui3cTIHbfpTvQIYlaLSZG5kqdxw2jx3t9h6O6aBsHHg24xRnzw3FmkBAaMNleycUUBnzZQ1Cun0542MBDQW7w_9Zq5DKB6oz9sZH7eIV3VFeo6uuj7en5xWsMQmVze-J/s1600/34104392.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71mmQDxTOqVP-Ui3cTIHbfpTvQIYlaLSZG5kqdxw2jx3t9h6O6aBsHHg24xRnzw3FmkBAaMNleycUUBnzZQ1Cun0542MBDQW7w_9Zq5DKB6oz9sZH7eIV3VFeo6uuj7en5xWsMQmVze-J/s640/34104392.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Literally the only thing we are guaranteed in this life – is death. Through my mama’s passing, I have learned to cherish the time I have…now. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring – I could get a terminal diagnosis, I could die in a car accident, I could have a heart attack – but I do have right now. I am breathing – in and out, in and out – and I will honor that miracle for what it is by appreciating this moment. This book provided the perfect comfort to my heart that is endlessly searching for pieces of my mama while I navigate this world without her physical presence. Our loved ones may be gone physically, but through our love and memories, we keep them alive and present in our hearts.</span></span></div>
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You can also find Carla on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/happiestwhenreading/">@happiestwhenreading</a></div>
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Jackie of <a href="http://jackiereadsbooks.blogspot.com/">Jackie Reads Books</a> Recommends:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2ikTtT2"><span style="color: black;"><i>The Good Daughter</i> by Karin Slaughter</span></a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2eNe3IcRAH0RI_5vr1q4pfNYAr-YZGG-ZP80FpB8oAAe399HefDWy9ROVXUkgmLh-Ge3vd1Ry8gKjAxKh8peHh3aBOgiLx3lurKlaDjnCYkiKUmePgqciccUrlqy_5ggeXaPsOTbZQ4L/s1600/33230889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_2eNe3IcRAH0RI_5vr1q4pfNYAr-YZGG-ZP80FpB8oAAe399HefDWy9ROVXUkgmLh-Ge3vd1Ry8gKjAxKh8peHh3aBOgiLx3lurKlaDjnCYkiKUmePgqciccUrlqy_5ggeXaPsOTbZQ4L/s640/33230889.jpg" width="422" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I read a ton of books this summer, but <i>The Good Daughter</i> was the novel that really caught my attention. <i> The Good Daughter</i> is a thriller and it doesn't take that description lightly. This is gritty and will have you cringing. I don't recommend it for sensitive readers or people who may have triggers, but if you can read through some pretty terrible and graphic scenes (and if you're reading thrillers, I think you can!), then you will love this one! I have yet to hear a negative review from any reader. I recommend that you read this and get as obsessed as I still am! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also find Jackie on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jackiereadsbooks/?hl=en">@jackiereadsbooks</a></span></span></div>
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Gabriella of <a href="http://www.thenovelnook.org/">The Novel Nook</a> Recommends:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2whlkt3"><span style="color: black;"><i>Fierce Kingdom </i>by Gin Phillips</span></a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9prm6626pGSyZyk7dP2H6B-49Ll3MuDiSh6xNIjIVRQk7fwfufDxs83PxNF-9XJgLPqHHOVOb4N7NbNQiLezIe3nktk8eGFL3d4sYBX8jrlMhDsMh2TNwoa30nHLDXVdCusKhkUQ8xcJv/s1600/33155777.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9prm6626pGSyZyk7dP2H6B-49Ll3MuDiSh6xNIjIVRQk7fwfufDxs83PxNF-9XJgLPqHHOVOb4N7NbNQiLezIe3nktk8eGFL3d4sYBX8jrlMhDsMh2TNwoa30nHLDXVdCusKhkUQ8xcJv/s640/33155777.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I read SO many amazing books this summer, and one of the thrillers I absolutely loved was <i>Fierce Kingdom</i>. The story focuses on a mother and son who get trapped in a zoo during a mass shooting, and once I started reading, I couldn't stop! The mother/child relationship was a central part of the story, and it reminded me of the close bond my mom and I share, so that's one of the reasons I loved this book so much. Also, I got to meet Gin Phillips during her book tour, which was a highlight of my summer! Witnessing her passion for books and hearing her talk about this incredible story reminded me how special and life-changing literature is and how lucky we are to live in a world where amazing storytellers exist. <i>Fierce Kingdom</i> was beautiful, tense, and thrilling, making it the perfect summer read!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also find Gabriella on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thenovelnook/?hl=en">@thenovelnook</a>.</span></span></div>
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<h3>
Rachael of <a href="http://readingbringsjoy.blogspot.com/">Reading Brings Joy</a> Recommends: </h3>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span style="color: black;"><span id="goog_262754973"></span><i>The Stars are Fire</i> by Anita Shreve</span></a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3fdQ65MzDPn122PErPVffuzo9zUPvbzHFP_Vz2ulwji16FLxOlg1DSmiuAAt8qPZRMm7h-VeQHSEbHZVEt4voQrAPP7FD4c7OZe6evauD5xDYfPS91IdYSlgo2DC-rcZBA_14MscPSpS/s1600/32324273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="318" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV3fdQ65MzDPn122PErPVffuzo9zUPvbzHFP_Vz2ulwji16FLxOlg1DSmiuAAt8qPZRMm7h-VeQHSEbHZVEt4voQrAPP7FD4c7OZe6evauD5xDYfPS91IdYSlgo2DC-rcZBA_14MscPSpS/s640/32324273.jpg" width="428" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I loved this book. The writing pulled me in instantly and the story was so readable. The main character Grace Holland is a wife, mother, friend, and daughter. I related to all of her roles because I fill each one of those roles too. She is something to everyone but does not realize her own strength until a fire that burns her coastal town tests her resolve and ability to survive. I read this book in two days time because I could not put it down. Every time I picked up the story I got so lost in Shreve’s writing. This is not a happy go lucky book, and to be perfectly honest it is a very depressing read but it done so well and the writing is very strong that you want to keep reading.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also find Rachael on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/readingbringsjoy/">@readingbringsjoy</a></span></span><br />
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Lindsay of <a href="https://bibbidibobbidibookworm.com/">Bibbidi Bobbidi Bookworm</a> Recommends:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2vimMeS"><span style="color: black;"><i>The Book of Polly</i> by Kathy Hepinstall</span></a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp15Q5UBaZCGQYZTWLlFOg-tYMaDTS5Yqi8YHTUTUc8ErPBGCa1iYqI0Wbq8WQ6xYr_NWoLDIcyJ08nJLH1lmxQ-2p68OOkF71twZs9wW-5ZvUuiVI41bsnic62dPv5Hr06TyVFLSBOipG/s1600/30763908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp15Q5UBaZCGQYZTWLlFOg-tYMaDTS5Yqi8YHTUTUc8ErPBGCa1iYqI0Wbq8WQ6xYr_NWoLDIcyJ08nJLH1lmxQ-2p68OOkF71twZs9wW-5ZvUuiVI41bsnic62dPv5Hr06TyVFLSBOipG/s640/30763908.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I fell completely in love with Willow Havens, her mother Polly, and all the other characters in the eclectic mix provided by Kathy Hepinstall in <i>The Book of Polly</i>. From the very first chapter, we learn that Polly is not the average mother. Along with being very much older than her daughter’s classmates’ mothers, she has all the spunk and sass a reader could possibly hope for. From her feuds with the neighbors to her battle with the Bear (her term for cancer), it’s absolutely impossible not to be drawn completely into her story through Willow’s search for answers to the secrets her mother has kept locked away from her. When I read this book, I found myself clutching my side from laughter, gasping in surprise at some of Polly's actions, and wiping away the tears brought on by the pure heart of this book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also find Lindsay on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bibbidibobbidibookworm/">@bibbidibobbidibookworm</a>.</span></span></div>
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<h3>
Alexandra of <a href="http://bookedupblog.weebly.com/">Booked Up Blog</a> Recommends:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2gh2kEQ"><span style="color: black;"><i>If We Were Villains</i> by M.L. Rio</span></a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlhqOFT7gka7KHM79QSFCHrPi7V03-bRu1wHNdzU-mmbqpYPGQz210Gg44ZFsCc4mQN8iKvsFvcEiI1GlaeZPMM7i9aL9xiWiv0MT4wEYfXUyjkFsZHWI0tkgrL3o9Xr2uu7YLDTwK-eW/s1600/30319086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJlhqOFT7gka7KHM79QSFCHrPi7V03-bRu1wHNdzU-mmbqpYPGQz210Gg44ZFsCc4mQN8iKvsFvcEiI1GlaeZPMM7i9aL9xiWiv0MT4wEYfXUyjkFsZHWI0tkgrL3o9Xr2uu7YLDTwK-eW/s640/30319086.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>If We Were Villains</i> is one of those books that will make you want to stay up past your bedtime so you can finish reading it. (I know because I speak from experience.) This twisty and intriguing tale of loyalty, betrayal, friendship, and personality centers around Shakespeare and will leave you just as obsessed with his plays as his characters are. It is part homage to Shakespeare’s brilliance, part murder mystery, part coming of age, part confession. M. L. Rio uses Shakespeare’s plays as the basis of her novel, using their plots and character dynamics to build this tangled, yet intriguing tale of identity and belonging. It is one of those rare novels that made it to the "Page-Turners Club" and five star read status for me. Don't let the Bard scare you away from this one-I promise it's one that you can enjoy even if you aren't familiar (or even if you didn't enjoy) his works. I honestly could not stop talking about this book from the moment I picked it up until well after my book club discussion ended.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also find Alexandra on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bookedupblog/">@bookedupblog</a>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Amber of <a href="http://teachers%20who%20read/">Teachers Who Read</a> Recommends:</span></span></h2>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i> </i></span></span><a href="http://amzn.to/2gfFQnt" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Three Pennies</i> by Melanie Crowder</a></h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV983fAOYUhJS11FMcquwc8UKh2_uUttFS6JzC1IGQzeMBGfzHODFyYPFy3S5oUzbgXSc-fYCnKaifKQhw4d4xwZJnvWgnfxhEqzhYZUebW1JRU7KP_fNgY_xG4aazlhTRw3-NbQ-1rXry/s1600/26146355.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV983fAOYUhJS11FMcquwc8UKh2_uUttFS6JzC1IGQzeMBGfzHODFyYPFy3S5oUzbgXSc-fYCnKaifKQhw4d4xwZJnvWgnfxhEqzhYZUebW1JRU7KP_fNgY_xG4aazlhTRw3-NbQ-1rXry/s640/26146355.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I loved how deep this book was without being beyond the grasp of my ten-year-old fourth graders. Told from three perspectives: the main character named Marin, her adoptive mother and an owl, this book keeps the reader wondering, "Will Marin find her biological mothers? If she does find her, what will happen?" I cannot wait to use this book in my classroom this year!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also find Amber on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/iowaamber/">@iowaamber</a>.</span></span></div>
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<h3>
Carol of <a href="https://readingladies.com/">Reading Ladies</a> </h3>
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<i>AND </i>Lindsay of <a href="http://literaturewithlindsay.blogspot.com/">Literature with Lindsay</a> Recommend:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2wA4CFp"><span style="color: black;"><i>Dreamland Burning</i> by Jennifer Latham</span></a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mMunV4DD5NaWOFS0XQYBsDx4jQkpxKEXyYgPVkl-SgItEqYix6IBTcJ1NJfK7M7Bw7P-cC_TIpxrrXsrq_QrRR07tH8QYgAz7aq3ChhBmkJCBkzYnVK5GvoX74f6ffrOiR3kz2Xx9lDc/s1600/24382227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mMunV4DD5NaWOFS0XQYBsDx4jQkpxKEXyYgPVkl-SgItEqYix6IBTcJ1NJfK7M7Bw7P-cC_TIpxrrXsrq_QrRR07tH8QYgAz7aq3ChhBmkJCBkzYnVK5GvoX74f6ffrOiR3kz2Xx9lDc/s640/24382227.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Carol: <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">This summer, my favorite read was <i>Dreamland Burning</i> for multiple reasons. If you love historical fiction, this is a great read for you. Given recent racial tensions in the news, <i>Dreamland Burning </i>is a timely read. In fact, <i>Dreamland Burning</i> would be a perfect companion read or flight pick to read alongside Jodi Picoult’s “Small Great Things.” In addition, <i>Dreamland Burning</i> is categorized as YA and lends itself to engaging and involving young people in important discussions about race. One of the most important reasons I loved <i>Dreamland Burning</i> is that Jennifer Latham’s transitions between two timelines and main characters is seamless. It flowed as one story in that I wasn’t distracted or disoriented by the changing perspectives or points of view. Throughout the story, I greatly admired and appreciated the author’s skill in creating smooth transitions. I must note that of the two story lines, I was more engaged with the past than the present. Once in a while a book (such as this one) will give me a book “hangover,” and readers who’ve experienced it will know what I mean! <i>Dreamland Burning</i> has everything I love about a 5 star read: captivating characters, unputdownable engagement, important and timely themes, substantial content, and beautiful writing. I highly recommend this for men and women, for older teens, and especially for thoughtful book club discussions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can find Carol on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/readingladies_book_club/">@readingladies_book_club</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lindsay: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">I loved the two perspectives of the main characters in this story. Since they were from different time periods it was exciting to see connections in their storylines. The ending had me on edge! Plus, I learned something new about an event in history that often gets overlooked.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can find Lindsay on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/litwithlindsay/">@litwithlindsay</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kayla of <a href="https://wearevoracious.wordpress.com/">Read Voraciously</a> Recommends:</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2iATDWi"><i>The Bedlam Stacks</i> by Natasha Pulley</a></span></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcq5J70zgzCVy7PvG80UhMZMeMinVavYFDjnyOwf83g01aifD2C8aTF4v08dGpH7lgUGonC7Pk1B6TWKq6u1c4sZsDG9GZWYrat7zzoaYHQiELBImueyTiHEVC9pZmyuJBwTAan75MiBP/s1600/31450615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcq5J70zgzCVy7PvG80UhMZMeMinVavYFDjnyOwf83g01aifD2C8aTF4v08dGpH7lgUGonC7Pk1B6TWKq6u1c4sZsDG9GZWYrat7zzoaYHQiELBImueyTiHEVC9pZmyuJBwTAan75MiBP/s640/31450615.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Bedlam Stacks</i> is the perfect combination of adventure and folklore. Pulley writes with an impressive imagination and produces a tale brimming with heart, excitement and dedication that challenges our ideas of what is real.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also find Kayla on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/readvoraciously/">@readvoraciously</a>.</span></span></div>
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Chelsea of <a href="http://www.mamaandlittlebookworm.com/">Mama and Little Bookworm</a> Recommends:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2xDU70O"><span style="color: black;"><i>The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo</i> by Taylor Jenkins Reid</span></a></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo</i> is what summer reads are meant to be (at least for me)! It was a fun story that kept me interested, made me want to stay up late to keep reading and had me wondering about so many hollywood marriages (does this really happen!?). </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also find Chelsea on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mamaandlittlebookworm/">@mamaandlittlebookworm</a>.</span></span></div>
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Jamie of <a href="http://jamiesfashionandfiction.blogspot.com/">Fashion & Fiction</a> Recommends:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2iz0oIn"><span style="color: black;">Caraval by Stephanie Garber</span></a></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Packed with magic, illusion and danger, (and a little bit of love) this whimsical, fairytale-like YA novel was one I could not put down this summer. Though completely outside of my usual wheelhouse, I was quickly caught up in the world of Caraval and had to keep reminding myself, "Remember, it's only a game..." Now I'm patiently (or not so patiently) waiting for its sequel. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can find Jamie on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jamiesfashionandfiction/">@jamiesfashionandfiction</a></span></span></div>
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Kirsten of <a href="http://www.beyondthebookends.com/">Beyond the Bookends</a> Recommends:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2vAI0jE"><span style="color: black;"><i>Castle of Water </i>by Dane Huckelbridge</span></a></h3>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPPx3knp4eLWCAU4fsuMb3v2Ee85t-cAvY8Wb1EEdYiqoCQxxMdnJ98ky9BsLU8BzByUZx_6uiZihyC-yq56evfmMh61g2hUq06hl1pUCqEUeFj3bgp7SkrA9skJHPvZNix0SjDDDD2Im/s1600/29939086.jpg" imageanchor="1"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXPPx3knp4eLWCAU4fsuMb3v2Ee85t-cAvY8Wb1EEdYiqoCQxxMdnJ98ky9BsLU8BzByUZx_6uiZihyC-yq56evfmMh61g2hUq06hl1pUCqEUeFj3bgp7SkrA9skJHPvZNix0SjDDDD2Im/s640/29939086.jpg" width="424" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Castle of Water</i> is a story about hope, loss, survival and love. Two strangers are stranded on a deserted island without any chance of rescue. They must work together to survive and overcome obstacles thrown their way. The writing is mesmerizing, the story captivates the imagination, and the characters became friends. I laughed, I cried, I could not put it down.</span></span></div>
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Jackie of <a href="http://www.beyondthebookends.com/">Beyond the Bookends</a> Recommends:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2wgrk2V"><span style="color: black;">Hum if You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais</span></a></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Hum if You Don't Know the Words</i> is a brutally honest and emotionally compelling story, unlike anything I have ever read. This book is set in apartheid South Africa and features the 1976 Soweto uprising in which thousands of black students marched in protest of the apartheid government. The themes in the story are so relevant in today's world and sadly showcases how history repeats itself.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can find Kirsten & Jackie on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/beyondthebookends/">@beyondthebookends</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://bookclubsunday.wordpress.com/">Book Club Sunday</a> Recommends:</span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2wgxwrx"><i>The Dry</i> by Jane Harper</a></span></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Dry</i> was our book club's unofficial selection for the summer because we could not stop talking about it! In addition to being a thoroughly engrossing, page-turning mystery (though more of a character-driven slow burn than a thrill ride), it also had such a clear and transporting sense of place. We could literally feel the hot misery of the Australian drought as though we were there ourselves! We can't wait for the next book in the series and might have to make it an official book club selection this time!</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bookclubsunday/">@bookclubsunday</a></span></span></div>
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Marwa of <a href="https://wordsfallhere.wordpress.com/">Unapologetic Writer</a> Recommends:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2vAJlqG"><span style="color: black;">The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton</span></a></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was a completely special novel. Nothing like I've ever read before. The writing style was so compelling and as a historical fiction novel, I never felt like the story was dragging. There was always something new happening, and the characters were extremely exquisite and constantly developing and unfolding before my eyes. 5/5! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also find Marwa on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/seeminglymarwa/">@seeminglymarwa</a></span></span></div>
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Andrea of <a href="http://www.bornandreadinchicago.com/">Born and Read in Chicago</a> Recommends:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2viMiRu"><span style="color: black;"><i>Garden Spells</i> by Sarah Addison Allen</span></a></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I loved several new releases (that have received a lot of buzz) this summer. But, I thought it would be worthwhile to share my praise for this backlist gem. I have heard about this 'southern fiction' writer several times over the last year or so, but never picked up Sarah Addison Allen's books. I am far from Southern, and the covers didn't GRAB me. I finally gave <i>Garden Spells</i> a try for a light summer read and found it DELIGHTFUL. It's full of vivid and lovable characters - including a magical apple tree. Magic does play a part, but in a smart and engaging way. There are intense and provocative scenes that kept me turning the pages, as well as great humorous and romantic ones that made me laugh and smile wide. This would be a great pick for fans of <i>Practical Magic</i> or <i>The Language of Flowers</i>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also find Andrea on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bornreadchicago/">@bornreadchicago</a>.</span></span></div>
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<h3>
Sara of <a href="http://www.meaningfulmadness.com/">Meaningful Madness</a> Recommends:</h3>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/2xEtIQw"><span style="color: black;"><i>I See You</i> by Clare Mackintosh</span></a></h3>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This suspenseful thriller is centered around crime against women in the London subway. The book follows Zoe, the protagonist, after she sees a photograph of herself attached to a personals website called FindTheOne.com. In her quest to uncover why her photo appears in this ad, she realizes that other women are victims of a similar fate, and that several of the women are the victims of assault. I loved this book for a summer read, because it was a suspenseful, page turner. The multiple perspectives with short interludes by the mastermind behind FindTheOne.com add to the anticipation of the resolution of Zoe's story. The audio version of this book is fantastic.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can also find Sara on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/meaningfulmadness/">@meaningfulmadness</a></span></span></div>
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What was your favorite read from this summer?</h3>
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(P.S. You can find all of these wonderful bookworms and their blogs over on the blogroll on the right hand column of Top Shelf Text. I highly suggest browsing their sites when you have some time to spare!)</div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6244040786544827378.post-31414567894535959632017-08-28T00:00:00.000-04:002017-08-28T00:00:15.576-04:00Review: The Other Girl (Plus, Q&A with Erica Spindler!)<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUU1CHNmxwH_L1K-lL_FkQdr6Keq1qUVKMZWrC2HTZGCMVAEopFT488Vhkc3vu9Letg1qO91EqMnHsr0XJfUHYVZDNto-9wPYYzQB3_gECSVLlIeDXdzpJRAWzS9EgBnjrVipXMgJ0CJwN/s1600/the+other+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUU1CHNmxwH_L1K-lL_FkQdr6Keq1qUVKMZWrC2HTZGCMVAEopFT488Vhkc3vu9Letg1qO91EqMnHsr0XJfUHYVZDNto-9wPYYzQB3_gECSVLlIeDXdzpJRAWzS9EgBnjrVipXMgJ0CJwN/s640/the+other+girl.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Note: Top Shelf Text received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!</i></div>
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It appears that this has been the summer of really good thrillers <i>and </i>really good mysteries. The two often go hand in hand, but sometimes a new book comes along that's a perfect combination of both genres -- and Erica Spindler's <i><a href="http://amzn.to/2vgTuvz">The Other Girl</a> </i>is one of them. I read this book in a day and it was successful in keeping me up <i>way </i>past my bedtime <i>and </i>in giving me a good scare.</div>
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<i>The Other Girl </i>follows Officer Miranda Rader -- a veteran of a small-town Louisiana police force and former juvenile delinquent. Miranda has built a career as a trustworthy, intelligent police officer and excellent investigator. No one on the force, with the exception of the chief himself, knows of her less-than-perfect past, and that's the way the well-respected officer wants to keep it. But of course, when you're a character in a thriller, your secrets are bound to unravel. When Miranda and her partner are called to the scene of a grisly crime -- a local university professor murdered by an apparently vengeful lover -- Miranda finds herself with a chilling link to the victim. </div>
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Like I said, I read this in a day because I just <i>had</i> to find out who the killer was -- as soon as Miranda discovered a piece of evidence linking herself to the crime, I was hooked. At under 300 pages, the investigation moves quickly (and so does the romantic element) so it was a perfect read for me to take along to the pool. While the characters weren't necessarily deep, they were well-crafted enough that I had empathy for some and disdain for others. The plot was enough for me to keep turning the pages, and I was so surprised by how the events of Miranda's past linked to the crime. </div>
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I also liked that this was a book with a female detective -- I read a lot of mysteries and thrillers, but very few of the contemporary ones feature female detectives. While Miranda definitely wasn't a role model in her teens, her transformation into a professional made for a good redemption story and by the end of the story, I admired both her values and her actions. I'd recommend this to any fans of the genre, and in particular to those looking for a book that will have you tuned out to the world until turning the last page.</div>
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<i><b>Bottom-Line Rating: 3/5</b></i><br />
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Title: <i>The Other Girl</i></div>
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Author: Erica Spindler</div>
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Publisher: St. Martin's Press</div>
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Price: <a href="http://amzn.to/2vgTuvz">$18.35 on Amazon</a></div>
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ISBN: 1250083656</div>
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Format: Hardcover</div>
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Source: St. Martin's Press<br />
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***</div>
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<b>Q & A with Erica Spindler, Author of <i>The Other Girl</i></b></h2>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Start by telling us a little about <i>The Other Girl</i> and what inspired the story?</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">In <i>The Other Girl</i>, the grisly murder of a popular college professor, forces Detective Miranda Rader to face the traumatic past she thought she’d buried. It leads her on a quest for justice that may cost her everything—even her life.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s2">A real life event close to home inspired <i>The Other Girl</i>. </span><span class="s1">I live in a family-oriented, bedroom community of New Orleans. One afternoon the news exploded with the account of an attempted abduction of a young girl walking home from her bus stop. The girl managed to escape and the perp got away. As you can imagine, the story was everywhere and on everyone’s lips for days. She’s interviewed, her parents are on TV.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>But no arrests are made, and the case goes silent.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Until—the sheriff appears on TV and announces the girl made up the whole thing. <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I was shocked.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The girl’s identity is known—so now everyone thinks she’s a liar. All her friends, teachers, family, neighbors.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Everybody. What if she really was telling the truth?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How would that impact her life now—and in the future? Would she bury the past?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Would she long for justice?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And what if she wasn’t the only girl? What about justice for them?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>These questions are at the heart of both this story and my main character, Miranda.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Can you give us a look into the character development process, more specifically how you developed protagonist Miranda Rader?</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I started with the “What if no one believed you question” and built my character from there, by asking more questions, defining who she is at the time of the incident—and how do I make it believable no one backs her up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Then I tackled all the ways that might have changed her life.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For example, I decided she would have felt powerless against the system, so she would choose to become part of it as an adult—and what’s more empowering than a badge and a gun?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This really is a psychologically driven thriller, and my end goal was justice and healing, so every decision I made had to pass the test: Will this take me a step closer to that goal.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>How would you describe your writing process, including getting started, conducting research, and knowing when a work is complete?</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Beginning always starts with what I call my “Dark Gift” moment. It a goosebumps reaction to something that happens to me personally, or in my personal sphere.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>And it starts the worst-case-scenario, what-if snowball rolling. I usually brainstorm on paper a lot.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Jotting ideas, plot points, bits of dialogue, character characteristics, or whatever.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The good stuff keeps coming back, the other just falls away.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I do whatever research I need to start the book, then research as I go.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(I don’t love research.) I’ve recently discovered a screenwriting book titled Save The Cat by Blake Snyder and have started incorporating his notecard, three act process and have found it very helpful.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">When I think I have enough of a direction, I open a document on the computer and begin.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There are days writing is the hardest job ever, and other days when it’s heaven on earth—and lots of days in between.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For me, I know it’s done when all the threads are tied up and I get this euphoric feeling of satisfaction—not for having finished, but for my characters. It their happy ending, after all.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> <b>Tell us about your influences, from all-time favorite authors to most inspirational works. Additionally, are there any recent titles you’d recommend?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> Down here in south Louisiana, we’re known for our gumbo.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It started with the cajuns, who would throw whatever they had in an abundance into the pot to make a rich, flavorful stew.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That’s the way I think of my influences—horror like Stephen King and Peter Straub; Glitz and Glamour like Judith Krantz and Sidney Sheldon; childhood influences like the Trixie Beldon and Nancy Drew mysteries; the Gothic Suspense from my teens years, like Phyllis Whitney and Mary Stewart; and the Contemporary Romance like Nora Roberts and Sandra Brown—they all come together in my stories to create this complex and, hopefully, tasty mix.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>What would you say is the greatest writing tip you have for aspiring writers?</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> How about three instead? Believe in yourself, learn from your mistakes, and keep your butt in the chair!</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(35, 35, 35); color: #232323;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> When did you know being a writer was what you wanted to do? What was the moment like when you realized it was becoming a reality? Was the path to publication a linear one?</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I always thought I wanted to be a visual artist, which is what I’m trained for.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I’d completed my MFA and lined up a University teaching job for the fall.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Then I caught the writing bug.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>A cashier dropped a free Nora Roberts novel into my shopping bag; I read it and was hooked.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Although a big reader all my life, I’d<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>never read romance. After a months-long reading frenzy, I decided I had to try to write one.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The minute I put pen to paper, I knew I had found my true calling. I never looked back.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As for a linear path to publication—if that includes rejections, rewrites, rejections, rewrites, yes it was linear.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>My very first novel, rewritten several times, is still in a drawer. I’ve nicknamed it Fatally Flawed, because I made every mistake a beginning writer can make.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s my learning curve, I’m proud of that fact, and it will never to see the light of publication.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Promise!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>What would you say makes <i>The Other Girl</i> stand out amongst other popular thrillers from the last few years?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There have been so many awesome thrillers published in the last few years!<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>What I hope stands out about <i>The Other Girl</i> is it’s main character’s authentic journey as she relives past trauma and fights for justice.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I think readers will really like her and be rooting for her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> <b>Do you have any creative rituals for when you sit down to write?</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> Coffee.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>More coffee. And chocolate.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Seriously dark chocolate.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b> When you're writing a suspense novel such as <i>The Other Girl</i>, how do you go about mapping out the plot? Did you know the ending ahead of time, or did you let the story unfold as you wrote?</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">In writing circles, you’re either a plotter or a pantser (as in the seat of your pants). I’m actually a bit of both.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Some things I know.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>How it begins, who the hero is—and who the villain is.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I also start out knowing what the hero desires—or thinks she desires.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1">I know the crime, or crimes, that make the plot move, and also what the hero has to learn from this journey.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Everything else is the magic that happens as I’m writing—the story and characters take on a life of their own and things happen that I never could have planned beforehand. </span><span class="s3"><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> <b>Are there any pieces of you in any characters in <i>The Other Girl</i>?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"> Yes, definitely.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>In all my books, there’re are bits and pieces of me scattered about.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>(Sounds like crime scene!) And my heroic characters are always colored with my world view.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>What’s your favorite psychological thriller?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">One of my all time favorite novels is <a href="http://amzn.to/2xoeIqs"><i>Ghost Story</i> by Peter Straub</a>. Another is <a href="http://amzn.to/2wg3JiS"><i>Along Came a Spider </i>by James Patterson</a>, and <a href="http://amzn.to/2wfNK4j"><i>The Shining</i> by Stephen King</a>. The list goes on!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my copy of this thriller and for allowing me to contribute questions to their Q&A! As a reminder, all opinions are my own.</span></span></div>
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Madeleinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017921401547881608noreply@blogger.com0