Happy Halloween!

(c) Ylanite Koppens, Pexels

Happy Halloween! Are you in an area where you have snow today? So cold and such odd weather! I remember Halloween always being cold, but I don't ever remember snow! One good thing is the fact that it is weather you can settle down with, read a good book, and drink a good cup of coffee (or tea). :)




I have a few more random book updates for you, which may be of interested if you like to travel:

• There is a Free Little Library in Mize, Mississippi is designed to look like Doctor Who's TARDIS. (How cute!)
• The Book Fairies strike again, this time in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, leaving free books for Banned Books Week - including copies of Harry Potter!
• The New York Public Library has again found an innovative way to have more people read. They have posted classic novels on Instagram for you to read for free. FULL novels. The project is called Insta Novels, makes it super easy to read on the run. You can read to your hearts content, but make sure you have a good internet source - no one likes unnecessary cliffhangers.
• Speaking of New York, although this is part of a fictional universe, if you are a fan of Marvel / Spiderman, take a moment to read The Daily Bugle, now online!
• Flotsam, California has a book vending machine for an elementary school. Students who show acts of kindness and are "caught in the act" are rewarded with special tokens to use for the book vending machine to buy a new book for themselves. We could use more of these around!
• Mark Twain's original signature was found in a cave in Hannibal, Missouri. You can visit the cave made popular by The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and see if you can spot where Sam Clemens signed his name, too.
• For those who love romance, but do not know what to read next, try this Book Finder book search by Smart Bitches. I have to say, it is pretty fun to see what comes up and what you have not read yet. ;) 
• For those who love those online book scavenger hunts, the New Adult Winter Scavenger Hunt will be here soon enough! The game will start again towards the end of December. What is "new adult"? It is the genre of books for the (rough) ages of 18-25, with topics that touch upon more mature topics than your typical young adult books and may contain sex scenes. Think books from authors such as Sarah J. Maas (i.e. A Court of Thorns and Roses).

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I also wanted to share some bonus photos from the graphic novel The Last Amazon, because so much work went into the project, I just want to share it with you, fellow readers! Just as a refresher from my last post, The Last Amazon is an indie graphic novel from Apotheosis Studios by author Jamison Stone, illustrator David Granjo, and supporting artist Carlos Cardona. You can buy a copy on their website here (it's currently on sale!).

The Last Amazon (c) Apotheosis Studios

The Last Amazon (c) Apotheosis Studios

The Last Amazon (c) Apotheosis Studios

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(c) Valeriia Miller, Pexels

I have a couple new books for children to review that look to be great presents for the holiday season. Keep a lookout for more to come!

Stay warm and stay safe today, whether it is trick or treating, going to a party, or just relaxing and watching a scary movie. Until next time!

New York, New York!

This week I would like to feature the lovely New York Public Library (a.k.a. the NYPL), as featured in many movies and TV shows, such as Ghostbusters and Once Upon A Time. Of course, there are many libraries in New York (92 to be exact, located in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island - per the NYPL's website), but this is the BIG one! I love visiting here, as it has such beautiful architecture, history, and personality. It was also declared a national historical landmark and also a New York City landmark.

Original Winnie the Pooh set! (So cute!)

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. These collections include an original copy of the Declaration of Independence handwritten by Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Woolf's walking stick, and Maya Angelou's archives! (www.nypl.org, At A Glance fact sheet)

New York Public Library - Front View

The front of the main branch is impressive. It beckons you to come in and wander around, get lost in a book. Two lions guard the northern and southern entrances. Their names have changed over the years, but as of the 1930's, they are known as Patience and Fortitude, for "the qualities [Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia] felt New Yorkers would need to survive the economic depression." (www.nypl.org) These figures have been implemented as the library's mascots, as shown in the library's logo.

New York Public Library - Fifth Avenue Fountain

Here is fountain that is in front of the main entrance on Fifth Avenue. This fountain and its partner are the work of Frederick MacMonnies. Fun Fact: He created a piece titled American Monument that was a commissioned gift to the people of France in exchange for the Statue of Liberty! (www.nypl.org) The fountain was not on at the present, as it is currently undergoing restorations. It is a lot smaller than Once Upon A Time leads you to believe, but nonetheless, beautiful!

Rose Main Reading Room famed ceiling mural

Rose Main Reading Room (shhh, people at work)

The Rose Main Reading Room reopened in the Fall of 2016, so I was able to capture a few shoots of the beautiful restorations! The ceiling mural, bookshelves, and sitting room is a real life version of Belle's library from Beauty and the Beast! You are not allowed to take photos of the entire space, as people are actually studying, reading, and doing work, but there are sections allotted for tourists and library enthusiasts to take photos and marvel at the intricacy of the design.

Bookshelves to envy! So many books to discover!

What is your favorite library to explore or that you have visited? Let me know in the comments, or feel free to send me an email! 

As Taylor Swift sang, "Welcome to New York, it's been waiting for you!"

Current # of books read: 34
Currently reading: Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo