"Leap, and the net will appear." - John Burroughs

Hello my fellow bookworms,

Photo by Tim Mossholder from Pexels

January has come and gone in a blink of an eye! This year, though, we celebrate February little longer, as it is a leap year. I thought John Burroughs' famous phrase was perfect to articulate some inspiration for this month, wherever you are. :)

What are some things to look forward to this month? There is so much! Here is a bit of it to get you started:

• February is Black History Month! The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has chosen the theme this year to celebrate African Americans and the Arts. There are many great books to read, music to listen to, and TV shows and movies to watch. The American Writers Museum shared a wonderful list of books to start you off! They also include podcasts and program videos from the featured authors, which makes for a fun, interactive read. Many libraries are hosting in-house Black History Month events to celebrate, so be sure to check out your local library!

• February 7th is World Read Aloud Day! You can celebrate by joining Cardinal Press' event online and listen to a select number of children's authors read their books over Zoom. You can sign up and find out more information here!

• Happy Year of the Dragon! Lunar New Year begins on February 10th. This year is to bring you much good fortune if you can harness the dragon's most important quality: compassion. If you would like to read more about what the year could bring, check out NBC's article here. If you would like to celebrate with books and live in New York, Hatchette Book Group and Kundiman is hosting a Lunar New Year party with readings from renowned authors, book signings, and more. If you are not, they have a fabulous list of books to check out and read!

• 

  Photo by Saliha Sevim from PexelsPhoto by Saliha Sevim: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-with-cat-book-and-headphones-sitting-in-park-7651066/

  Want to listen to more audiobooks? I have been in an audiobook mood lately (helps with cleaning and puzzles!), just in time for the Audio Publishers Association's 2024 Audie Award Finalists! The Audie Awards recognize distinction in audiobooks and spoken-word entertainment. If you would like to learn more, check out the Audio Publishers Association's website here. 
• The Audiobook of the Year Finalists are:
• All Sinners Bleed by S.A. Cosby 
• Narrated by Adam Lazarre-White
  
• Inside Voice: My Obsession with How We Sound by Lake Bell 
• Narrated by Lake Bell
  
• Sing a Black Girl's Song by Ntozake Shange, edited by Imani Perry, foreword by Tarana Burke 
• Narrated by Alfre Woodward, D. Woods, Regina Taylor, Lynn Whitfield, Okwui Okpokwasili, Ifa Bayeza, Imani Perry, Robin Miles, Tarana Burke, and Savannah Shange
  
• Surrender by Bono 
• Narrated by Bono
  
• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett 
• Narrated by Meryl Streep

One more quote from the naturalist and nature essayist before I leave you today:

“I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see.”
― John Burroughs

Even though it is still winter, just note that each day is a little longer than the last, the sun is coming out more, and you have one extra day this month to read and visit friends. Go take a walk, read, enjoy time with both yourself, books, and others. 

Until next time, Happy Reading! :)

Summer Vibes

Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels

Hello my fellow bookworms!

It's finally summer! Depending on where you live, that could mean you are able to go out and enjoy some sunshine, or it could mean that you may still have limited hours to be out. It is still a weird time for all of us, but at least we are a bit closer to all going outdoors and being social again.

I have some book news for you:

• Just in time for summer, the ice cream company Salt & Straw is hosting new flavors based on children's books. You can buy a pint for yourself (online) and enjoy reading the book it is based off at the same time! (Smile: Words & Pictures sounds like a delicious flavor to me!)
  

• If you feel up to it, Buzzfeed Books is hosting a Summer Reading Challenge. Read through six different categories and enter to win a tote bag, candle, and six books!
  

• The New Adult Scavenger Hunt is no more. I am sad to read this, but am glad that it was around for as long as it was (it was held annually since 2014). See the final post by Kelsey Ketch, the host of the hunt, here, before it is deleted, along with the website.
  

• Do you  have a Costco membership? If so, there is a "hidden benefit" where Costco hosts book signings and events! They also offer signed books to purchase at their store, as well. You can view the upcoming author events here. Though the events calendar is empty at the moment (at least, it is for my area of the world), I imagine it will fill out as places start reopening again. 
  

• Are you tired of reading the same old stories and need diversity, different points of view, and books of color, but do not know where to start? Try LibraryReads, a website that hosts the monthly nationwide library staff picks list for adult fiction and non-fiction that aims to be inclusive of all races, genders, viewpoints, etc. If you are a librarian, you can nominate a new and upcoming book to the monthly list, as well!
  

• The Smithsonian Magazine has a list of books to read in honor of Pride Month, showcasing overlooked stories and new books to dive into. 
  

• Book Riot has a list of free audiobooks for children to listen to. It may be of some fun to listen to this summer, whether you have children or are a child at heart!
  

• I know I mentioned it in my previous post, but the First Chapters Contest is live and up until July 18th! Try your hand at writing a compelling first chapter to win $3,000, publication, and a consultation with an agent!
  

• If you live in the UK or in France, there is a book titled Le Trésor de l'Entente Cordiale® that will lead you on a treasure hunt between the two lands. If you can solve all the clues and gather the key fragments, you will be led to an actual treasure: a golden casket! 

Photo by Taryn Elliott from Pexels

I hope you have a happy, healthy, and fun summer! What books are you looking forward to reading? Let me know! I have a stack of books that I am aiming to read, so I will update on that next time. :)

 Happy Reading!

Spring, hobbies, and things to look forward to :)

 Hello my fellow bookworms!

Spring is almost upon us! The birds are back singing, the sun is staying out longer, the days are sunnier, it is a nice time to start reading outside again (with a hot cup of coffee or tea, of course).

(c) Race Point Publishing, Kate Macdonald

It feels nice to not be stuck inside as much all day, though there are quite a few hobbies you can do if you are stuck inside. I have been quite fond of baking lately, especially tarts! There is a book based on the recipes from Anne of Green Gables that you can buy (or borrow from your local library), called The Anne of Green Gables Cookbook: Charming Recipes from Anne and Her Friends in Avonlea. Written by the granddaughter of L.M. Montgomery herself, Kate Macdonald shares with us the recipes that Anne created and also her own grandmother! I can't wait to try them!

You can also listen to free audiobooks from Amazon Prime for a new fairy tale collection called Faraway: Fairy tales for the here and now. These are quick, 35 - 50 minute reads, written by popular YA authors. The collection includes: The Prince and the Troll by Rainbow Rowell, Hazel and Gray by Nic Stone, The Princess Game by Soman Chainani, The Cleaners by Ken Liu, and The Wickeds by Gayle Forman. 

If you feel in the mood for writing, there are also a number of works from 1925 that are in the public domain, that you can adapt in a new way. As an article from NPR, by Neda Ulaby, states: each year on January 1st, a new list of published works with expired copyrights are released. Besides being the start of a new year, it is also Public Domain Day! The newly released from copyright novels include, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald,  The Trial (in German) by Franz Kafka, The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie, A Daughter of the Samurai by Etsu Inagaki Sugimoto, The Writing of Fiction by Edith Wharton, and more.

There are also quite a few virtual events to look forward to. On June 8th to 9th, Edelweiss BookFest will be hosted by Edelweiss Above the Treeline. They are still accepting applications for those interested in booth space or sponsorships, so more information will be released on the event closer to the days. 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Barnes and Noble has been great at keeping up author/reader events, catering to all ages. Many events are hosted by Zoom, and some are ticketed, which means you will have to purchase an entry into the Zoom chat. But, there are quite a few virtual events on B&N Facebook live, which means it is a live showing and free! 

If you are itching to get out of the house and outside, Litographs has a list of indie bookstores (some that even I did not know of yet!) that you can go visit. 

What have you guys been up to lately? Any good book recommendations? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time! :)