Wishing You a Happy New Year

Good Afternoon Bookworms,

I hope you had a very happy holiday season so far!

(c) OnceUponABookBlog(ger) 2020

How did you do with Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge for 2020? I can tell you that I should have read harder, as I read only 7 out of the 24 categories this year. This year was hard for me to read actual books. Audiobooks were fun, as well as comics and graphic novels. What time I usually spent in transit reading was not there this year. I also started reading then stopped reading a few books. There were many other things going on that made it harder to read, but I hope with the new year, I can get back into the swing of things and buckle down and just read! Here are my final categories, with the categories read in bold:

1. Read a YA nonfiction book
2. Read a retelling of a classic of the canon, fairytale, or myth by an author of color
1. Snow White, an Islamic Tale by Fawzia Gilani-Williams 
   
3. Read a mystery where the victim(s) is not a woman
1. Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
4. Read a graphic memoir
1. Almost American Girl by Robin Ha
2. They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, and Harmony Becker 
3. Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh
5. Read a book about a natural disaster
6. Read a play by an author of color and/or queer author
7. Read a historical fiction novel not set in WWII
8. Read an audiobook of poetry
9. Read the LAST book in a series
1. The Fiercest Joy by Shana Abé 
2. Imagine Me by Tahereh Mafi
10. Read a book that takes place in a rural setting
11. Read a debut novel by a queer author
12. Read a memoir by someone from a religious tradition (or lack of religious tradition) that is not your own
13. Read a food book about a cuisine you’ve never tried before
14. Read a romance starring a single parent
15. Read a book about climate change
16. Read a doorstopper (over 500 pages) published after 1950, written by a woman
17. Read a sci-fi/fantasy novella (under 120 pages)
18. Read a picture book with a human main character from a marginalized community 
1. Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Peña
19. Read a book by or about a refugee
20. Read a middle grade book that doesn’t take place in the U.S. or the UK 
1. Melody Finch by Ian Boyd and Gary Luck
21. Read a book with a main character or protagonist with a disability (fiction or non)
1. The Aosawa Murders by Riku Onda  
2. Almond by Won-Pyung Song
22. Read a horror book published by an indie press
23. Read an edition of a literary magazine (digital or physical)
24. Read a book in any genre by a Native, First Nations, or Indigenous author

If you tried reading harder this year, let me know what your favorite book was this year! If not, let me know anyway! If you want to try Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge for 2021, you can do so by clicking the link. If you happen to finish the entire list, you can receive 30% off of an order at Out of Print!

Happy last day of 2020! This year has been one wild ride. There is much to look forward to this upcoming year. I hope that by this time next year, we may be able to see each other in person once more. May you fill the new year with new adventures, books, accomplishments, and learning!

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

Until next year! :)

Happy Holidays!

Hello fellow bookworms!

The holiday season is upon us! Between binge-watching Sugar Rush: Christmas, trying out new recipes, and beginning my holiday cards this year, I have been trying to catch up on my reading. I have a fun paranormal book to share with you in my next post! It is called Fingerprints and Phantoms: True Tales of Law Enforcement Encounters with the Paranormal and the Strange, by Paul Rimmasch (in case you want to read ahead, I've linked the Amazon page).

Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels

In the meantime, since it is the holiday season, I thought I would share with you some book-related gift ideas:

• Litographs has a collection of shirts, bags, scarfs, and more consisting of a variety of much-loved books from over the years. If you don't see your favorite book, you can always request it! They have added quite a few books over time, as well as a variety of designs per book. 

• If someone you know likes to collect signed books, Barnes & Noble has released a collection of books that you can pick-up at your local bookstore, you can check out the options here.
  

• FlyPaperProduct's candle, called The Library, has been quite popular for bookworms. It smells like old books, lavender, and eucalyptus. For only $20.00 from the Etsy shop, your home can smell like it, too! 
  

• Speaking of candles, another popular Etsy favorite is Frostbeard's Bookstore. For only $5.67 for a wax melt, your home can smell like mahogany, leather, and coffee.
  

• Miniature chocolate books, anyone? Another Etsy product, by ChoconCho this time, features a selection of mini books made out of white and milk chocolate that will be temptation to eat, yet not want to, because they're so cute!
  

• What would a book lover's gift list be without a mention of Out of Print? My favorite area to shop from the company is their library collection, one I was introduced to by the New York Public Library gift shop. It was the first time visiting a gift shop in a library and the first time I was able to buy a lovely book-themed bag from the brand! 
  

• Speaking of the New York Public Library, if you would like to buy something from their gift shop, but cannot due to travel restrictions or do not live close enough to stop over, you can buy gifts online! Check out the gift shop here, which has puzzles, apparel, jewelry, and more.
  

• If you are particularly crafty, you can create a book necklace or bracelet using a necklace chain and book charms, such as the ones at Hobby Lobby. They even have a fairy tale section, so you could make a fairy tale book necklace! If you are not crafty, that's okay! There are a variety of options on Etsy and eBay that you can choose from!
  

• Speaking of necklaces, Sullivan Entertainment has the nicest present for fans of Anne of Green Gables: Anne Shirley's pearl necklace! Similar to the one Matthew gave Anne, the necklace even has Anne's initials inscribed on the clasp. There are also other gift ideas in their shop, if you are not looking for jewelry, such as dolls and tea.
  

• How about pins? I love them! If you do, too, or know someone who does, check out Ideal Bookshelf's collection of book pins, $11.00 each, which range from children's literature to adult literature. 
  

• Are you more of a tea or coffee person? I love both! However, if you are more into tea, Noveltea sells book-shaped tins of tea based on books! Delicious and thoughtful!

Do you have a suggestion you would like to share? Please let me know in the comments - I would love to hear from you! 

As always, stay safe and healthy. Happy reading! Until next time!