This is the moment I understand Holden. This book knocked me out and I wish terribly that I could call Salinger up and talk to him about it. Bananafish, Esme, Teddy. This was a glorious, heart-breaking, question everything read. I really dig cynical, depressing reads, I guess...😂😂😂📚

This was a fascinating read. We only looked at 4 of her stories for my Non-Western Lit class, but they were otherworldly. We‘ve been reading books that seem to have a old world clashing with new world theme. They were brilliant, poignant, moving, and painful. I‘ll be returning to this again once the semester‘s over. “Between memory and reality, there are awkward discrepancies.”

Okay. The only time Arthur is interesting in this work is in the chapter on his death, BUT wowzers is this the best or what!? Beautiful language! This works gives us The Holy Grail (not just the grail but the Holy Grail!), Sir Galahad, and King Arthur becomes a mythic figure. Definitely worth the read. I have the Oxford World Classics edition with more modern spelling. Go for that. 😊

*Re-Read*
This book is absolutely one of the most powerful, moving, agonizing reads and it affects me EVERY time I read it. It is one of my most recommended books. 163/1,001 #1001Books

This was so good. The alliteration was fun. The plot was a ride. Before this Arthurian Legends class, I *thought* I knew Arthur. I was Jon Snow. I knew nothing. I‘m keeping this forever and always & I will read it to my students!

I am SO pissed that it took this Non-Western Civ Lit class to find Tagore. I love, love, LOVE this book! I can‘t even describe it, but it‘s made me gobble up the short story genre!

Ya‘ll...Arthurian Romances are structured SO differently that what we are used to but dang it if they‘re not fun. Episodic, atemporal, ahistorical, random af (that‘s a technical term that I made up) Glorious. 😄#ArthurianLegendsCourse Also, can we talk about Arthur‘s lazy ass? 😂😂

How bomb is this book!? Why am I all alone in the review section!? The short stories collected in this book are magic! Such a powerful command of imagery!

In case you needed any ideas for Banned Books week! I found this in The Joy of Children‘s Literature by Denise Johnson! 😊📚

I‘m procrastinating on homework, so I decided to clean out my bookmark drawers (yes, plural...😂) and I think I have a problem...this isn‘t counting my magnetic bookmarks and the random pictures and drawings my kids have given me that I use as well...😂🙄🤷🏻‍♀️

Guys. Maury, nay, Jerry Springer couldn‘t have come up with a better show! Are we really supposed to only hate Iago when Othello was carried away THAT far, THAT quickly with SO little provocation!? What fools these mortals be...

I read this a while ago and forgot to review it...🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️ Anyway, I‘m only picking so-so because I wasn‘t emotionally invested in the characters. I‘m not sure if it was just me or the book, honestly... I really enjoyed the fairy world and really wanted to know more but was left a bit let down by the end. I love Maguire‘s work usually. This was just a miss this time, for me.

Starting Monday, my reading time will no longer be my own yet again! Associate of Arts ✅ English Major and 7-12 Language Arts teaching degree: in progress!! If you‘ve ever told yourself it‘s too late, knock it off. You wouldn‘t tell a friend that. Why are you talking to yourself that way!?

I keep starting and stopping books. When that happens, I turn to the TBR Bowl of Destiny. I re-organized it, and typed up the titles because reasons. This is the first book I pulled out...Okay, Universe. Have it your way. #1001Books

This earned a place among my favorites. I loved this book. A modern take on the love story. Maybe our first love should be ourselves? It was a ride, being on each character‘s journey of self-discovery. Leonard‘s depression was uncomfortably realistic. Leonard, Madeleine, Mitchell, even Alton and Phyllida...such wonderfully drawn, fleshed out, relatable characters. 162/1,001 #1001Books

This was a tough one. I both liked it & was let down a little. The characters felt younger than they were supposed to be (I kept picturing 13/14-year-olds) Just when I started to get sucked in...meh... Maybe I need to read the rest of the books for it all to come together. I am aware this is YA, so that‘s why I‘m not being harsh. I REALLY dig the premise and I was just hoping for more a little more oomph. Dame Agatha has spoiled me...

I wasn‘t as emotionally invested in the main characters as I would have liked, but I WAS invested in whodunit. The villain was sufficiently creepy to keep me reading. Honestly, the first book in a series can sometimes be problematic. The author hasn‘t quite gained their sea legs. I will definitely be giving the rest of the series a go. If anything, it‘s helping me get out of this Book Distraction Syndrome/slump BS. 😂🤣

I ADORE Welcome to Nightvale, so I was sure this would be up my alley and I was right. Keisha‘s wife, Alice, is presumed dead but Keisha sees her popping up in the background on the news all over the country. She becomes a long-distance truck driver to seek out her wife and the truth...which is so SO much stranger and more complicated than she was prepared for. I love Fink‘s wit, dark humor, and realistic characters. (Image from tumblr)

Say what you will, but this series flipped the script on anti-hero/serial killer narratives. Are we really rooting for him!? Are we really annoyed with Sgt. Doakes for being the only instinctually accurate detective!? Are we clapping our hands gleefully along with the Dark Passenger!? Yes. Yes, we are. I enjoyed this book‘s dark humor and sharp wit. While it‘s different from the show, I ain‘t bovvered.

I personally loved this one. Near-absent father, overbearing mother, a small community...and poor can‘t-fit-in-anywhere Jeanette. This book has wit and a heroine who doesn‘t change who she is just to make others comfortable. 161/1,001 #1001Books #ReadingRainbow

I was fairly interested in the first part of this book, about the Crown Princess and the Crown Prince Sado‘s tragic tale, especially since the majority of it is true. But it never really has that punch. And it didn‘t interweave with the second part, which I waffled about the entire time I was reading it. This one fell short, for me. I didn‘t HATE it, but I coulda died without reading it... 😊😊😊 160/1,001 #1001Books #ReadingRainbow

Instead of making an individual post for all of these, I‘ll just sum up: the majority of these were so great! I wasn‘t too sure about Curious George and Babar...I‘m not sure the originals (while totally beloved characters now) stand the test of time! 😊🤷🏻‍♀️ But Madeline, Mike Mulligan, Little Toot, and the tagged book (among the others): OUTSTANDING! 😊❤️📚 23-35/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks

The tale of poor Jemima is more cautionary tale than anything. It reminded me of Grimm‘s fairy tales and the like. Get out of your comfort zone, learn a little of the world, so you don‘t end up trusting foxes. Not everyone who says they‘re helping you is actually doing so. 22/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks

I liked this one! It reminded me of Frog and Toad. I‘ve already said I‘m a sucker for anthropomorphism, so it isn‘t a surprise I liked this. The names are preposterous, they go about their lives in such an ordinary way. Up until the fish tried to eat him, this could have been about an eccentric man! 😂🤣 Just a fun little story with beautiful illustrations. 21/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks

This is a nursery rhyme turned book. (Right?) Its a cute board book and it‘s nice to sing with tiny munchkins. But it‘s definitely for a certain age group and not one you would read past that. 😊😊😊 Side note: the illustrations are super adorable! 20/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks

I have three kids...and dang this is relatable. I really feel children‘s books are written for the parents reading them as much as they are for children. That Bill is just like my Middle. “Hey, Dad. Where‘s Mom?” 😄😄😄 This was cute. Not a lot happening, but these babies aren‘t ready to leave the nest yet. And really, who doesn‘t love some owl babies!? 19/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks (Picture represents my face with my needy-AF kids...😂🤣)

I‘m not 100% sure the tagged book and the book on the list (pictured) are the same, but the Maisy stories are all fairly similar in style, if not content. This would work as an excellent social story. There is clear narration. Bright, primary colors are used. And I always dig anthropomorphic characters! 😄😄👍🏻 18/1,001 #1001Books

This book is STILL fun to do with all the motions and sounds! Here‘s a video of Michael Rosen performing this gem for you! https://youtu.be/0gyI6ykDwds
17/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks

This one was a bit of nothing for me. I realize that it‘s for kids around 2-4 years old, but I wasn‘t digging it and I don‘t think my kids would have at that age either...sorry!!! 😕🤷🏻‍♀️ There‘s nothing to be learned, it‘s aimless, and nothing comes of the obvious shenanigans all those animals are going to cause... 16/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks

I mean, come on...It‘s Eric Carle! He can‘t put a foot wrong, in my opinion! This book is bright, educational, and downright adorable! 15/1,001 #1001Books

I loved reading this to my kids when they were tiny! My middle, Dane, would giggle every time the fox got into a mess! This book encourages parents and kids to talk about the action of the story beyond what the narration is giving you! ❤️❤️❤️ 14/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks

I cannot tell you how relatable this is as a parent. I have made this exact face so many times during my kids‘ bedtime shenanigans. Frances is so cute and her parents are so good. Eventually she learns to self-soothe, a valuable skill my night-owl self never learned...😂😂😂 13/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks

This book is so smart. The cadence one reads eventually gets slower and more hushed and the color drawings get darker until Bunny is finally asleep. You don‘t even realize you‘re doing it! This is a staple on so many bookshelves for a reason. 12/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks

My Grams, when telling me stories about my Mom and her siblings, always says “My babies...” This just proves that no matter what age you are or where you go in life, good Moms will always be there for their babies and their children will always be their babies. My three kids are tween to teen age and I know this feeling. I loved this one! 11/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks

This book is awesome on many levels. It explores Boston, it makes you long for a world where the biggest concern for policemen is escorting a family of ducks to the park... The illustrations are fantastic and I exclaimed more than once, to my 10-year-old‘s annoyance, “”LOOK AT THEIR LITTLE DUCK BUTTS!” 😂🤷🏻‍♀️😂 10/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks

I‘m not sure, but I think this was one of the first interactive children‘s books. I bought a copy for all of my kids because each one loved it so much, they wore it out. The page pictured was their favorite because my husband has a goatee and he used to tickle our babies‘ noses with it. 😊😊😊 9/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks (I had to Google a picture of it because they seriously all wore their copies out...)

It would be hard to find someone who didn‘t know the mantra: I think I can! This is a timeless story of perseverance and kindness. I can‘t tell you how many times I‘ve said this mantra to myself, even as an adult. 😊😊😊 8/1,001 #1001ChildrensBooks

So...we made a library trip...the library is going to be closed (rightfully so) on Monday, so we stocked up for the holiday weekend. These are the books my library had from the 0-3 section of the tagged book and some titles from the 3+! As if the adult 1,001 list wasn‘t enough of a challenge. I clearly have no restraint...🙄🙄😂🤣

Brace yourselves. Book reviews are coming...
#1001Books

Well, that was...something...I both liked this and felt it missed the mark. Parodies are difficult because they become dated. Hemingway wanted out of a contract, so he wrote this in 10 days, taking shots at the literary greats of the time, including his mentor Sherwood Anderson. But there are sparks of the beauty that is Hemingway yet-to-be, so...there‘s that...(picture is of Hemingway a little before he wrote this.)

What a poignant little novel! It tells the story of Harriet Frean from birth to death. What‘s interesting (and sad) is Harriet‘s insistence on “behaving beautifully” and self-sacrificing, to please her parents. Our behavior and decisions don‘t just affect ourselves. 159/1,001 #1001Books

This is amazing. I don‘t even know how to explain it. A man who has never contemplated his certain mortality, suddenly must face it head-on. Maybe it‘s my depression/anxiety talking but it was so relatable and thought-provoking. 158/1,001 #1001Books

This is a slim novel but I was genuinely invested in what was going to happen! I dang near finished this in one sitting. Chris comes home from the war (WWI), but he is shell-shocked and has no memory of the last 15 years. He thinks he is still 20 and still in love with Margaret. Margaret, along with Chris‘ wife, Kitty, and his cousin, Jenny, must try and cure him...right?... 157/1,001 #1001Books

Okay. Here‘s what I have to say about Bradley being misidentified. It was the second flag-raising, he definitely scaled that mountain with the first group and raised the first flag. He ABSOLUTELY earned his Navy Cross many times over by ignoring his own personal safety to help others. He wasn‘t a braggart. As far as I‘m concerned, any American with boots on that island was a hero. This book is well-researched and a worthy read.

First of all: can we talk about grumpy, old, pony-tailed Kal-El?
Second of all: can we talk about this gorgeous, multi-layered piece of awesome!? I wasn‘t expecting this to hit me in the feels in so many different ways, but here we are...absolutely worth the read.

The Bats. He‘s “old”. He‘s hung up his cape. But the vigilante still burns inside Bruce Wayne. When he comes out of retirement, what will be the outcome? This isn‘t my favorite but I loved the new Robin!

The Joker has gone sane!? Is it real? Is it just a trick? Is Batman the TRUE menace to Gotham!? Man, I enjoyed this fresh take on the Batman-Joker dynamic! Also, can we take a second to appreciate Bruce Wayne having to pretend to be pathetic and that he has NO CLUE who the villains in his house are!? Hooligans...😂😂😂

This was good. I haven‘t read past volume one yet, simply because my library didn‘t have them...normally I get annoyed by Superman, but his part in this was just right. And I‘m a sucker for Poison Ivy, of course. Someday, cosplay. Someday... Oh, and I‘m always here for Catwoman‘s snark!

Oh my gosh. Grab a copy of this and get reading. This is one of those graphic novels that justifies the genre. This book is so quotable and so poignant.

This book doesn‘t just tell you about Reagan, it tells you about America too. It makes you understand why Reagan changed from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party. You understand the Cold War, even from Gorbachev‘s POV. Brands draws parallels between Reagan and FDR. Everything is laid out in solid, readable, detail. Excellent biography! I‘ve already stacked H.W. Brands‘ other works. 4/44 #PresidentialBiographies

Can we talk about the awesomeness of this!? The Sound of Her Wings alone is worth the read. Funny, dark, and exciting! I can‘t wait to get my hands on other volumes. And the artwork!? 🤤 🤤🤤😍