Random Book Updates :)

Hello World!

There has been much news in the book world, and I am behind in telling you my favorite points! Here are a few things you may or may not have heard yet: there is going to be an Anne of Green Gables ballet tour (in Canada), someone released a treasure hunt of feminist poetry postcards in London for anyone to find and enjoy, and Archie Comics' Katy Keene is going to have her own musical series (!).

So what have I been up to? This past holiday season, I pre-ordered Stain by A.G. Howard, which came with a swag pack for the early order. The swag pack included a pretty purple pin, an autographed book plate, and a short novella to Ms. Howard's Splintered series titled Alice the Absent. This pre-order bonus arrived shortly after Valentine's Day, after which I immediately devoured the novella (which may or may not have led on the path to rereading Splintered. I am very much Team Morpheus). For those not familiar with the series, it is a punk/modern twist on Alice in Wonderland staring Alyssa, a girl who descends from Alice Liddell and is set on fighting and breaking Liddell curse of insanity. The series will pull you down the rabbit hole, where you will find it is very hard to leave without reading the entire series. If you are a fan of all things Alice-related, I definitely recommend giving this series a try. 

My Stain Swag Pack! (c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger) 2019

Have you ever visited Iceland before? I have not, but my friend, who I will refer to as AC, visited Iceland this past month! Both he and his girlfriend (AG) were nice enough to take lots of photos for me, including a few bookshop ones to share with you!

Bookstore Shopping (c) AC and AG 2019

How charming is this town? (c) AC and AG 2019

Iceland (c) AC and AG 2019

Twilight (c) AC and AG 2019

Thank you AC and AG! :)

How are you guys spending your winter? Let me know in the comments! Stay tuned for reviews!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate and a very Happy Holidays to those who celebrate otherwise! Best wishes for you and your family for a happy and healthy holiday season.

Alice in Wonderland Zoolights, (c) Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)

'Tis the season for grabbing your favorite coffee or tea and picking up a good book and just relaaaaaaax. The best part of the season is when all is said and done, and you have a few moments to yourself to just unwind.

The Last Bookstore, Photo by V.P.

That said, I hope to have one or two reviews done after the holidays are finished with this week. In the meantime, please enjoy the photos from a friend of mine who recently visited The Last Bookstore, a really cool book and record store out in Los Angeles!

Tunnel of Books, The Last Bookstore, Photo by V.P.

Home to the most artistic book displays, back-to-back events, and a great selection of books, The Last Bookstore is a must if you are ever in the LA area. They buy, sell, and trade, so you will always find something new in stock. They also have a yarn shop and art gallery above the store that will add to your visit experience. If you are interested in learning more, please visit this independent bookstore online at their website here.

Books and books, The Last Bookstore, Photo by V.P.

Happy reading! Let me know what's on your holiday reading list in the comments. :)

Dog Days of Summer (Road Trip Wishlist)

Hello fellow readers out there! What have YOU been reading this summer? Let me know with the #currentlyreadingblog to have your book featured on my blog widget!

I have been reading books that have been popular with YA, including The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken in anticipation for the movie that came out earlier this month. I have been wanting to read Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan - the movie was beautiful! I am #108 on the waiting list, down from around 250 earlier this summer. The bookstores have been popular with it, yet I have not seen it in stock at one of my favorite haunts!

Since it is the end of summer, I figured I would give you guys a taste of a road trip without being on one. Here is a list of bookstores and libraries around the world that I would LOVE to visit, in no particular order:

Library of Congress, Thomas Jefferson Building (c) Library of Congress, www.loc.gov

• Library of Congress, Washington D.C.
• A national monument that was established in 1800, when President John Adams signed a bill allowing for a library of books "for the use of Congress," the Library of Congress is a massive library that had to be replaced over the years due to fire and war. President Thomas Jefferson's offered his personal library (6,487 books!), which Congress purchased in 1815 to replace the previous collection. You can view President Jefferson's original library today, as it is on display as an exhibition. The Library is also home to the U.S. Copyright Office, an office that administers a national copyright system, the National Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, which offers the circulation of braille and audiobooks nationwide, and the Law Library of Congress, an international legal collection of law books. (www.loc.gov). If you are unable to visit the Library in person, I definitely recommend taking a tour online!

President John Adams' Stone Library (c) National Park Foundation, www.nationalparks.org

• The Stone Library at Adams National Historic Park, in Quincy, Massachusetts
• You can find this mini library in the middle of Adams National Historic Park! Built in 1870, the library was built to be fireproof, which is why it is also called The Stone Library. Approximately 10% of the volumes have originally belonged to the President, but the rest are a range of educational subjects you would find in libraries today. (www.nps.gov) If you cannot make it to this library location, the National Park Foundation offers an online tour of the property. 
 




Livraria Lello, (c) Ivo Rainha, Livraria Lello (https://www.livrarialello.pt)

• Livraria Lello Bookstore, Porto, Portugal
• Part of the intellectual upper-class of the society, brothers Jose and Antonio Lello opened the book establishment in 1881. It was later inaugurated as a bookstore in 1906, after the reconstruction by engineer Francisco Xavier Esteves. This bookstore is one of the oldest in the world, and features a mix of neo-gothic, art nouveau, and art deco design. From the outside, it looks like a medieval castle that was squashed into the business area! (www.livrarialello.pt) Fun fact: It believed by some to be an inspiration for J.K. Rowling to write Harry Potter (!). 

Rovaniemi City Library, (c) Alvar Aalto, Rovaniemi City Library (www.libraries.fi)

• Rovaniemi City Library, Rovaniemi, Finland
• Recommended by my architecture-genius friend (the same one who visited Seattle in a previous blog post), this library was constructed in 1965 by Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. A pioneer of modern architecture and design, Alvar treated each building he worked on as a work of art. (www.alvaraalto.fi) The design is similar to an open book and showcases the books beautifully. (www.libraries.fi) If you are interested in Alvar Aalto's work, please visit the Alvar Aalto Foundation website.

• Seattle Central Library, Seattle, Washington
• I really want to see this library, after all, one of my closest friends has and shared with me the beautiful and crazy architecture both on the outside and inside. Please read my previous blog post for more information. 
 


• New York Public Library, New York, New York
• I love this library! Located on Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, the main branch of the New York Public Library houses the famous Rose Main Reading Room, the original Winnie the Pooh stuffed animal set, and thousands of items to read, watch, or listen to, including research collections. Please read my previous blog post on it for more information. 

I have a few more bookstores and libraries that I want to visit and will share with you in the future! Do you have a bookstore or library that you want to visit that is not featured? If so, please share in the comments below!