The Book Nook by CC-Liz

I just realized we're 3/4 of the way through June and I haven't done a single update! I've read a few books, but none have been truly review worthy. Instead, I'm going to share a fun little resource with you! While scrolling through Pinterest today I came across this pin: I'm sure many of you have faced this problem before. There was a book from my childhood that all I could remember was a name a few small plot points, but I used this resource and figured it out right away! EBSCO Host has a database called NoveList Plus. I have free access through my library and I know a lot of schools used to give access to EBSCO as well. Using the website you can type in a few words and it will bring up any book that could fit your description. For an example I'll use a well-known book. "Harry," "Hogwarts," and "Moody." If those were the only names you could remember this lovely resource would still locate the books and give the list of ...

May 2020 Books Read May total = 10 “Letters to a Young Feminist” - Phyllis Chesler "City of Girls” - Elizabeth Gilbert “The Dragon Reborn” - Robert Jordan (audiobook) “The Alice Network” - Kate Quinn “The Shadow Rising” - Robert Jordan (audiobook) “Hexed” - Kevin Hearne “Hammered” - Kevin Hearne "Navigate Your Stars” - Jesmyn Ward “The Ballad of Songbird and Snakes” - Suzanne Collins “Weather: A Novel” - Jenny Offill Total Books 2020 = 67 Total Bonus Points = 19 Overall Total = 86

The May Reading Roulette Category is:  Read a book with a weather-related word in the title.  "Example book titles should contain words like: storm, wind, rain, sun, flood, blizzard, heat, air, breeze, chill, dry, drizzle, drought, cyclone, tornado, hurricane, freeze, frost, gale, weather, humid, ice, lightning, polar, rainbow, depression, hail, steam, shower, snow, burst, smoke, smog, thunder, tropical, typhoon, vortex, warm, warning, wave. Of course, you can use all versions of these words, like icy, rainy, snowy, etc. You can also use any other words that you feel fit the category." via GIPHY This month I decided to take the roulette challenge a little literally. I chose a book that is called "Weather: A Novel." I figured since it' weather-related, what better word to use than weather?!?! "Weather" is written by Jenny Offill and is an interesting read to say the least, but please do NOT read if you having questionable mental health. ...

Sorry for the delay my lovely readers! I planned to read the entire book in one or two readings, but life had other plans for me this last week. Between yesterday and today I did read about 6 hours worth (with distractions) while playing catch up! As promised though I have provided a lovely, fairly short review. The backstory of Coriolanuns Snow was intriguing. I think everyone that loved "The Hunger Games" will enjoy reading "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." There are a lot of Easter eggs for the later books that were super fun to look for. My favorite part was spotting all the different surnames that come up later in the series. Suzanne Collins does a wonderful job of building upon the character of Snow that we all love and hate. Without giving details or large spoilers I'll share a few more minor things we learn. We learn how the Hunger Games actually started then evolved and where Snow's affinity for using poison comes from. I'm afraid ther...

Amazon brought me a present a day early! Tonight I will be returning to the world of Panem. I already forewarned my co-worker there is a 50/50 chance I'll be dead tired tomorrow. I intend to read straight through! If I'm unable to, it will be done tomorrow night and a review will be posted shortly after. Let the read-athon begin and may the odds be ever in your favor! via GIPHY

"The Alive Network: A Novel." This title deserves to end with a period. The title doesn't say much about this amazing piece of literature, but it is a sobering read that is well-written. "The Alice Network" is a work of historical fiction which jumps between World War I in 1915 and post-war 1947. It follows Eve Gardiner's story of being a wartime spy and how she copes with life afterwards, but Eve isn't the first character you meet. Charlie is the other main narrator and she's on a desperate search for her cousin that disappeared during the war. Charlie and Eve end up on a cross country mission together with Eve's driver Finn. Too often, I found myself having to Google different parts of the story. Things were so descriptive at times you would believe Kate Quinn was actually there to write about these historical events. The more I read these styles of books, the more I see how much the American education system is lacking in history. I can...

Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home. For years, I have used the Harry Potter series as an escape from reality. I have read them in every possible medium I can understand, seen all the movies, gone to conventions, and been to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Florida. Thanks to COVID-19 JK Rowling released "The Philosopher's Stone," narrated by Stephen Fry. I've been meaning to listen to it, but I have been 'too busy.' Now, I'm wondering if the world just knew I would need something new (to me) related to Harry Potter now. I re-entered the magical world last night to help me escape and cope with reality. This photo is my friend Dan. He's been missing since October 21, 2019. There have been multiple searches and locating him has been a community wide effort. I was highly involved, joining searches, hanging flyers, and reaching out to any possible business to share his poster. This last Saturday May, 16, 2020...