Happy Wednesday!

Happy Wednesday my fellow bookworms!

 

Spring is in the air and new books are on their way! I have a fantastic book to review, but I am not done reading it yet, so please expect it soon. The book is called Hope City by Neil Perry Gordon, a historical fiction novel that has quite the adventure, including venturing into the goldfields of Alaska!

In the meantime, I have some fun book news for you:

• If you are an author, or aspiring author, of young adult works, you can pitch a book in the 2021 Book-Pitch Contest by Voyage, A Young Adult Literary Journal! You need a query letter, a synopsis of your story, a one-page sample, information about where you are in your story project to join, and a $20 (USD) reading fee per entry. A grand prize winner will win $2,000 (USD) plus a book mentorship with YA author Kylie Schachte (author of You're Next, mentorship is worth $2,500), and publication of your story 

• If  you are like me and miss traveling and visiting museums, the Louvre just released more than 480,000 works of art online to the public. You can search for specific art pieces, or just browse with some music in the background. You can always add sounds of people grumbling and taking photos if you really miss that museum experience!

• Has anyone been keeping up with all the new adaptions of books to movies/TV shows? I am excited for the new Netflix adaption of Shadow and Bone (releasing April 25th)! I did like the adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones' Earwig and the Witch, which is currently on HBO Max. I borrowed the audiobook from the library and am curious to see how close the adaptation is to the book. Being the last book Ms. Jones had written, I am a bit sad and hesitant to read it. But, I loved Howl's Moving Castle (another Studio Ghibli film!), so I cannot wait to dive in!
  

• Penguin Random House has a promotion right now, called Read to Sleep, that helps you find books to read yourself to sleep. The idea is to explore books that allow you to escape from the real world, to allow you to better relax and dose off to sleep. I have a hard time reading to sleep, since I usually just stay up til the early hours of the morning to finish the book at hand! They are also hosting a giveaway, so try your hand at winning a new mattress and 25 books of your choice!

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

I am sorry I don't have more to talk about this month! It has been a crazy time, as I have been trying to get vaccinated for COVID-19. I was lucky enough to receive my first of two doses this past week, which I am very happy and thankful for! I cannot wait until I can read in the forest, in a park, or on a beach again.

I hope you all stay safe. 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!