Happy August!

Hello my fellow bookworms,

How have you been doing in terms of your reading goals this year? I have been attempting to keep up with my goals in Goodreads, but I know I can do better! Summer Reading prep at the library had taken over my work schedule and with the end of summer near, is at the end, but it was worth the smiles and fun patrons have shown throughout the summer! It was a little bittersweet this year, as I left the place I had called home for a few years, and miss my friends and the daily visitors. I have started a new journey, though, and am growing one day at a time. I am making new friends and am enjoying the visitors here, too! Summer is flying by, and I am making strides to keep moving forward. I hope you are, too!

For my own personal reading, I have been enjoying gardening and listening to audio books at the same time, and have lots on my TBR (to be read) pile. In case you were interested, here is my updated bingo card from earlier this year (I have some work to do, but at least I made a BINGO!) -->

Here is some fun bookish news for you:

• There's still some summer left! If you are looking for a fun summer read, Amazon has some original stories that are sure to make your summer day at the beach a fun one. Summer Lovin' is a series of six short stories from romance authors Tessa Bailey, Jessica Peterson, Falon Ballard, Rachel Lacey, Sarah Grunder Ruiz, and Rebecca Jenshak that is free if you subscribe to Prime. If you do not, each story is $2. 

• There's a new game you can buy as a book or play online for free called Murdoku. It is sudoku-meets-Clue and a fun way to pass the time online! Try your hand at it and let me know how far you go! (I'm still on the easy puzzles, but it is addicting!) 

• Fun fact: Americans are still opting for print books over digital or audio versions! Check out the statistics from Pew Research and read why even with the want and need for print materials, few of Americans are in book clubs. (Perhaps join a Silent Book Club, for those of us more introverted but want to be social? I am thinking of doing that!

• Have you ever wanted to see into how librarians order books? Booklist allows us to share the latest magazine online via the following link. Check it out for the latest August issue!

• Netflix has an option to watch your favorite books-to-screen.

• There has been a rise in book vacations, as in go retreat somewhere that you can read in peace and/or go visit somewhere you read about in a book. 
• Rest & Read gives women a weekend out in the Welsh countryside.
• Page Break is a New York City retreat, appealing to much of the younger crowd who wants to bond over reading.
• Forest & Fawn is a fantasy readers retreat (mostly for women and nonbinary readers) featured in different areas of the United States, and there is also a Found Family Club where you can meet like-minded individuals and have monthly book discussions, etc. I may or may not be signing up for this...
• Book Lovers' Binge Reading Retreat is for introverts who want to read in Southwest France.
• Ladies Who Lit is a luxury book-themed vacation in areas across Europe. It looks beautiful, if you can afford it!
• Silent Book Club also hosts retreats, so you can get a little solo time reading and some social connection while vacationing. The destinations are worldwide, so take a look and see what is close to you / where you want to go. 
• Travel Advisor also has a list of 6 Literary Trips Every Book Lover Should Take.

Photo by hello aesthe from Pexels

What have you been reading this summer? I have been trying to read the books that influenced Studio Ghibli movies. Spirited Away's book, The Village Beyond the Mist by Sachiko Kashiwaba was really good - though not the same at all what the movie was about. They are both light-hearted stories that will warm your heart, though! I'm currently in the middle of Kiki's Delivery Service by Eiko Kadono, which is actually the first book in the series. At the moment, it is very similar to the movie, and I am enjoying the adventures very much. I am also rereading Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, which is a story that is unlike the movie, but still good.

Hope your summer is fun and you get to finish all the items and books on your summer bucket list. 

Happy Reading! :)

“One step at a time is all it takes to get you there.” - Emily Dickinson

Hello my fellow bookworms,

Last year was a busy year for me! I apologize for not being as frequent of a poster as I normally am. I am in between a review to post at the present, and have 2 additional books to review, as well. 

As for my book goals, I read, but not as much as I wanted to. My goal for this year is to read at least 50 books. I even created a fun Book Bingo to encourage myself to detox from both my phone and computer. Try it for yourself and let me know how it goes for you. Here is to stopping the doomscrolling this year! :)

Some bookish things to look forward to this year:

• If you are a writer and are looking to publish a teen romance novel, The Little Press is now introducing Baci Books, a Teen Romance Imprint! They are accepting submissions of previously self-published teen romance novels, so review the submission guidelines here. Good luck!

• This year we are celebrating the United States of America's 250th birthday! If you are interested in learning and reviewing White House History, you can explore their digital archives here. Also, check out your local library (or libraries) for events closer to July! 

• Speaking of good things, Andrew Carnegie championed the free public library movement during late 19th century. He donated $5,000 to libraries around the country to help them get on their feet to provide information and services to the public. According to the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Andrew Carnegie described libraries as "cradles of democracy that strengthen the democratic idea, the equality of the citizen, and the royalty of man" (Oct 2025). Since this is a special historical anniversary year, the Carnegie Corporation of New York is going to donate $10,000 to ALL Carnegie libraries across the United States! With this special gift, libraries both small and large will be able to better support their communities, foster civic participation, and best of all, bring people together. For more information, check out the Corporation's Press Release here. 

• The board game (and movie and book series) Clue is supposed to become a reality show on Netflix! I cannot wait to see how it plays out. Check out the article here from Deadline.

• David Baldacci funding a new initiative to address toxic political discourse. More details here through The Washington Post. 

• If you have kids or work with them, and want to spend more time outside, children can now become Junior Rangers online through the National Park Foundation. While the initiative is tied to specific national park sites, this allows children to engage through the science and sounds of the parks, whether it be through fossils, stars, trains, or more! Check out the National Park Foundation release here for more information. 

What do you look forward to this year? I cannot wait until true spring sets in. The false spring weather is great and I have enjoyed sitting on my porch and reading, but the mix of snow in between changes how I like to read (print book versus audiobook). I hope to do more this year, so if you have any questions or suggestions for me, please let me know! 

Until next time - happy reading! :)