The best part of my Saturday was relaxing with some tea, a good book, my favorite blanket, and my cat. How's your Saturday?

A wonderful historical romance! I also did a video review for my YouTube channel. Watch it here if you wish: youtu.be/etUmB6j16eM

How do you feel about people writing in books? 📖🖊 I personally love it. I feel like I'm experiencing the book with them.

While I am all for social distancing right now, I'm also all for supporting our local businesses. We ventured out into the stillness today to visit our favorite coffeehouse and book shop.

Even if you don't feel comfortable being out, ask your local businesses if you can order online or get gift certificates to use in the future!

#socialdistance #supportlocalbusinesses #bookhaul #tbr

I struggled to decide where this was a pick or so-so. I decided on pick because it is a very well done literary work with interesting characters and plot with insights on parenting and privilege. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I hoped.

An absolutely tragic review of the 1986 fire at the Los Angeles's Public Library mixed with a history of libraries and a look at their future.

This book was very disappointing. While the plot and style were interesting the characters were abysmal and there solutions felt way too simplistic.

Funny, poignant, and terribly tragic. I loved this book and totally read Peggy as Catherine Tate.

My last read of 2019. A powerful narrative about the complexities of mental illness and the dysfunction of mental institutions.

I was really disappointed in this book. I heard about it on my favorite podcast, but it the author picked and chose what to cover and his bias was very apparent.

My first read of 2020. I was recommended to read this book by someone who works with those struggling to get out of poverty. It is a truly fascinating book about how scarcity affects the way we think and act.

This was another I found I struggled through. It was interesting but slow.

This was one was for me to get through. It was an interesting premise, but the characters felt overdone and it felt slow to me.

I got this book straight off Penn State's press thanks to my step-mom. It is an absolutely beautiful, but heart-breaking graphic novel based on true stories of what it was like during the Sri Lankan conflict.

This was probably one of my favorite reads of 2019. It connected my interests of sci-fi, memory, time travel, and the inhumanity of lethal injection.

I read this one a while ago but want to get caught up with my reviews. As a lover of mythology, Circe was a fantastic read!

I haven't been on Litsy in a while but that doesn't mean I haven't been reading! I've actually decided to start a YouTube channel for reviews and book things called TomeFries. Check it out!

Youtube.com/channel/UCYWY2ksSVQOyEfqEIGRNGXQ

Have you ever struggled with a friend lending you books they love, but when they ask what you think you're like 😬😬😬 These were definitely not my style.
Vampirates was definitely a ⭐.
Shakespeare Undead gets ⭐⭐ only because the plot obscured under the vampire erotica would have been good.

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Finally finished this #botm pick. It was definitely unique! What did you think? Did you read it?

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WARNING: this book discusses sexual violence

A truly unique and inspiring story and one that much more fit my experiences than any other book on the topic. It takes a lot to forgive, & it's not for everyone, but for those who can find reconciliation, it can be transformative. The amount of self-awareness and accountability in this book is astounding. It is the first book on rape that has given me, a violence prevention educator, hope.

I know I've been a bit AWOL, but this got me super excited! Finally splurged on a copy of the first folio. It is absolutely stunning! ❤❤❤

#shakespeare #firstfolio #1623

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Definitely not a light read, but incredibly important. We live in a farce of a democracy, but is it possible to have a "true" democracy where the people do rule? Taylor looks at the contradictions and struggles of democracy.

What do you do when your to-read pile keeps growing and growing and growing but you're also super into Broadchurch?? 😫 I need a vacation just to read.

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Even though I couldn't stand the main character for the vast majority of it, it was still an excellent, intellectual Sci-Fi mystery with some social (media) commentary thrown in.

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Anya will do anything to make Sarah her best friend. Anything.

I thoroughly enjoyed this very fashionable thriller.

Setting & Keeping Your Reading Challenge Goal 📚📆

So I decided to write a blog on how to set and keep a Goodreads reading challenge goal, since I've killed it the last two years.

☢Warning: For those with the inability to understand satire or who have a disease where you die if you laugh, this article may be hazardous.☢

Tomefries.com

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As a terrible American, I admit I only really knew Matt Lucas from his appearances in Bridesmaids and Doctor Who. But after reading his autobiography (and YouTubing clips from Little Britain), I have a great appreciation for his comedy. This book was quirky and humorous throughout!

Thank goodness the holidays are almost over! I have had no time to read in weeks and I have all these to catch up on!

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These books took me way too long to get through. Honestly, I skimmed the last one just to finish. These were not my cup of tea. They were typical of dollar store romances. 🙄🤮🤭

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This graphic novel is absolutely beautiful. It's a great intro into the world of racism and the end of the apartheid in South Africa. It gives hope especially today. The world needs more men like Nelson Mandela.

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Historical murder mysteries are not usually my thing, but this one was fantastic! Loewenstein has a gift for writing. The scenes and characters practically blew off the page.

Get your copy starting October 2nd.

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Fame is such a desirable idea that so many of us crave, but is it really that great? Justine Bateman shares her experiences with gaining and losing fame.

Full review at www.tomefries.com

If you could have dinner with any 5 people, who would you pick? 👈
I'd choose John Stewart, Stephen Hawking, Carrie Fisher, Bill Nye, and Mahatma Gandhi. Just to hear them all talk about science, ethics, and all things nerd.

The Dinner List (🌟🌟🌟🌟) takes this question and turns it into a story about forgiveness and coming to terms with loss.

I plan to read more in September, I swear! 😂

#toberead #tbr #tbrlist #iswear

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Free book alert! Thanks #OneworldPublications for the #ARC

It took me longer than normal to get through this one... although back to school may have contributed ... but it definitely a good read. It's a great reminder that sometimes our good intentions can do more damage.

US release date is September 11 but it's now available in the UK!

Took just a small break from book reading for some comic book reading!

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Thanks to Amberjack Publishing and Brittany Terwilliger for this ARC! I absolutely loved it! It followed Halley Faust as she tries to move up the corporate ladder. But things don't exactly go the way she expected.
Release date is August 28th!

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Normally I love a good apocalypse, but my interest in this one died at about the same time as 99% of the population. The characters were different, but wishy-washy. And there was so much sudden animal death. It's definitely not one you want to read while eating... trust me.

Here's book mail
It never fails
It makes me want to wag my tail
When it comes I want to wail
Booookkk Maaiiiillll
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Went away for a week and came back to find this awesome stack of advanced reader and free copies to review. Looks like the rest of my August is set!

#bookmail #tbr #whateverhappenedtosteve

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This book was definitely interesting although it made me realize how my educational experience was sub par in the geography department. I had never even heard of the Azores before, but they sound incredible; full of rich culture and wonderful people.

⏭full review at tomefries.com⏮

Yesterday I turned 30 and it felt like an impending doomsday. 🎂 I always thought my life would be totally different by now. But, I'm trying a new way of looking at things, including reading.

Read more on my blog at www.tomefries.com

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I read this as part of my #dontjudgeabookbyitscoverchallenge in August and....unfortunately I was right in my judgement. It wasn't terrible, but not my style. The writing was very clipped and simplistic.
Hopefully my next book with a bad cover is better.

Do you prefer the crisp, white pages of a book fresh off the press or the ratty, yellowing pages of one that's had many previous owners?

I'm guilty of being a book snob sometimes so this August I'm doing a #DontJudgeABookByItsCoverChallenge where I read books I wouldn't normally pick up because of the cover.
I'm starting the month off with A Life Without Consequences.

Are you a cover snob too?

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I'm a little embarrassed that it took me this long to read The Hobbit. Especially because I was obsessed with LotR in high school (well....Legolas mostly).
This was such a fun, little (ha!) adventure. The resolution wasn't what I felt it built up to and it ended rather quickly, but otherwise I enjoyed it.

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David Sedaris is hilarious. After Calypso I had to get several more of his books. When having a bad week, this is the perfect book to make you feel better.

This has been sitting on my kindle for a while because I don't usually read ebooks (and my kindle was dead for months). But I finally read it. The story was okay, but not for me. It was your usual teen story. What I did like about it was learning about the struggles and discrimination Koreans living in (and even born in) Japan face. For that, it was worth the read.

Today was super rainy and ugly out, a perfect day to curl up and finish a book. I had a difficult time getting into this one, and the flow didn't quite suit me, but the story was good. It is a deep-thinking read with a hint of controversy.

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#BookHaul from Better World Books. I love this site although it keeps making my #TBR grow out of control. Where's your favorite place to get used books?

I'm not usually a romance person, but this one intrigued me because.... well... - total honesty moment here, you guys - I'VE GHOSTED! However usually after a first date that was awkward (and sometimes creepy) instead of "seven perfect days."

So, what did I think of Rosie's ?ed?......?????????

Totally ?????

#botm ⏭full review on tomefries.com⏮

I can't believe I never read this before. As someone who loves food and meditation, this was right up my alley. I would love to spend a month in an ashram to become connected with the universe. #bucketlist

Full review at www.tomefries.com 😉