Days in the Sun

Hello my fellow bookworms!

The summer is starting to wind down, but there are so many book releases and book-to-film/TV show releases! Have you seen Where the Crawdads Sing in theaters yet? The book by Delia Owens was one I could not put down, and the movie did not disappoint the adaption! Also in terms of film/TV show releases, Jenna Evan Welch's Love & Gelato is now playing on Netflix. Neil Gailman's The Sandman comes to Netflix this Friday, August 5th. Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty is now a series streaming on Amazon Prime Video. There is news of Paramount+ developing Becca Fitzpatrick's series Hush Hush into a movie, which was one of my favorite series growing up! I still have the books and the first graphic novel that was created for the series. Enola Holmes has a confirmed second season on Netflix, set for release later this year. Vampire Academy based on the series by Richelle Mead, has a series coming out on Peacock on September 15th.

This week I am finishing up my summer course and have quite a bit of reading to catch up on. I cannot wait to have a break for non-school reading! In the meantime, I have some book news for you:

• In honor of Disability Pride Month, Book Riot has released a book lover's guide to disability pride month.

• Want a free book? For yourself or for your kids, friends, family, and/or siblings? Kellogg's has a promotion where you can buy a box of cereal and get a free book! Check out the Kellogg's Feeding Reading program here. If you don't want the book, you can opt to donate it, too! 
  

• Need a quick break and want to look at art? The Smithsonian has a collection for you! Are you a cat person or a dog person? I like both, so viewing both collections is a relaxing break during my homework.

• The Austin Public Library in Texas is standing up against book bans with a series of free events that focus on the books being banned. A joint effort with BookPeople, the events focus on issues with race, LGTBQ+, and sexuality. Texas has the most book bans in state across the U.S., which makes this effort all the more important.

• If you liked the book Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, you can now take a themed cruise from Avalon Waterways. Buy your tickets now, as the ship is set to sail this September 15th!
  

• If you are looking for a dream job, why not be a "barefoot bookseller"? A year position, you can be a bookseller in the Maldives managing a small bookstore, writing book reviews, and more. Applications are due August 13th!
  

• For those of you who like comics, DC is going to release a new Spotify Series staring Christina Ricci as Harley Quinn in Harley Quinn & The Joker: Sound Mind. This is the second audio series in a podcast agreement with Warner Bros. and DC.
  

• The Brooklyn Public Library in New York is offering free library cards to anyone in the U.S. who is between the ages of 13 and 21 as part of their initiative called "Books UnBanned." The library card would allow users to check out books digitally, aimed to overcome any banned book restrictions that may be in place in the user's home area. 
  

• Walmart is releasing a set of live events online, including a book club! You can see the most recent live event discussing the book I Kissed Shara Wheeler with author Casey McQuiston here.
  

• If you are looking for something fun to do and want to travel on Labor Day weekend, you should attend Books Gowns & Crowns' 2022 Ball in Portland, Oregon! You can find details on ticket information, venue, etc. here. 
  

One last news story I would like to bring up, as I believe it is important to share, is that there is a new help line for those who need mental health help: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you need to reach anyone, feel helpless and/or hopeless, 24/7, please call 9-8-8. There will be no busy signal or hold. This new number, which is the new National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, will connect you to a network of trained counselors. If you don't feel like talking, there is also a chat option available. It is never a sign of weakness, but strength, to reach out and ask for help.  

Photo by Guillaume Hankenne from Pexels

What new books, movies, show, podcasts, music, etc. are you into lately? Please share in the comments below!

Until next time - happy reading! :)

Dog Days of Summer

Hello Bookworms!

The dog days of summer are here! The weather is starting to cool down, new books are starting to be sold, and what is a better way to escape the pandemic than getting lost in a good book?

I am behind on my book reviews (nothing new there), which my flickering internet has not helped with! Here is a quick post on some fun links and contests that I think you may enjoy:

• HerInteractive has a Nancy Drew themed contest in where you have to recreate a food item from one of the Nancy Drew games. See here for more information, rules, and prizes. What a delicious contest!

• Princess Mia has been updating her Corona Princess Diaries, keeping in time with the pandemic , which you can read for free here, courtesy of Meg Cabot. 

• Kellogg's is giving away books to those who buy participating products (i.e. eat cereal and get a free book). You can also choose to donate your book, if you do not want it. For more information, check out Kellogg's Feeding Reading program details here. 

• If you need help figuring out books for a child in your life, check out Brightly's Summer Reading Book Lists for ages 3 - 19.

• Want to help out with a library project? The Boston Public Library needs your help transcribing anti-slavery documents from the 19th century! This volunteer position will help the library digitize their archives line by line. The platform is not available on phones or tables, but if you can spare a moment, sit down by a computer and learn something new by archiving!

• If you are missing out on conventions, DC is hosting FanDome: A Global Experience on August 22nd. It is a 24-hour FREE immersive virtual fan experience, where you can show off your cosplay from the comfort of your home to going behind the scenes of the comics, movies, shows, and games with artists, authors, producers, and more. 

Photo from Pixabay

Also, how are you guys doing with Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge 2020? Here is a sneak peek into my list (which needs to be filled out a bit more - I have some books I am in between, so hopefully I can update it soon!):

• Read a YA nonfiction book
• Read a retelling of a classic of the canon, fairytale, or myth by an author of color
• Snow White, an Islamic Tale by Fawzia Gilani-Williams  
• Read a mystery where the victim(s) is not a woman
• Read a graphic memoir
• Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
• They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker
• Read a book about a natural disaster
• Read a play by an author of color and/or queer author
• Read a historical fiction novel not set in WWII
• Read an audiobook of poetry
• Read the LAST book in a series
•  The Fiercest Joy by Shana Abé
• Read a book that takes place in a rural setting
• Read a debut novel by a queer author
• Read a memoir by someone from a religious tradition (or lack of religious tradition) that is not your own
• Read a food book about a cuisine you’ve never tried before
• Read a romance starring a single parent
• Read a book about climate change
• Read a doorstopper (over 500 pages) published after 1950, written by a woman
• Read a sci-fi/fantasy novella (under 120 pages)
• Read a picture book with a human main character from a marginalized community
• Read a book by or about a refugee
• Read a middle grade book that doesn’t take place in the U.S. or the UK
• Read a book with a main character or protagonist with a disability (fiction or non)
• The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda 
• Read a horror book published by an indie press
• Read an edition of a literary magazine (digital or physical)
• Read a book in any genre by a Native, First Nations, or Indigenous author

Photo by Erik Scheel from Pexels

I am going to try and catch up on all my work (now that I have a new router) and enjoy some more regular books, audiobooks, and walks in this beautiful weather.

What are you reading this summer? Do you have any requests that you would like to see more content of? Let me know in the comments!

I hope you are having a healthy and happy summer!