This month was one of the most enjoyable reading adventures of this year. With all the horrible news and fear-mongering and violence in the world today, it can be hard to find spots of brightness and optimism, but my reading this month managed to inspire me and make the gaps between me and others seem … Continue reading Europe: Wrap-up!
Author: abbaxjane
North Africa: Wrap-up!
Apologies for the delay, dear reader! Life did what it does best -- got in the way. But here I am for yet another wrap-up of the Own Voices Global Reading Challenge! Every month and region has presented its own set of difficulties as we've progressed through the year, but North Africa introduced me to … Continue reading North Africa: Wrap-up!
Best Fiction Books of 2020 (So Far!): Part 1
Dear reader, can you believe that it will be August in less than two weeks? This strange, strange year has really flown by -- those early months of lockdown trickled right away and summer is at its height. To celebrate the downhill direction this year is (finally) taking, I’m wrapping up my top reads this … Continue reading Best Fiction Books of 2020 (So Far!): Part 1
Own Voices Global Reading Challenge: Mid-Point
We are officially a little over half-way through this year... and what a year it's been! I'm not sure about you but I can't wait for it to be over and take all the crazy it's been stirring away with it. There is one thing keeping me excited about the remainder of this year and … Continue reading Own Voices Global Reading Challenge: Mid-Point
Sub-Saharan Africa: Wrap-up!
My dear reader, long time, no see! There are a lot of things that prevented me from showing up to this space like I intended this month (and last month...) but this month, I can happily say that I was very, very busy reading. June was a record breaking month for me. I read 11 … Continue reading Sub-Saharan Africa: Wrap-up!
South America: Wrap-up!
Dear reader, it seems strange to write this today, with the world as it is. Reeling in the wake of another full month of social distancing and death from the coronavirus, we also this week were faced with another senseless death of an innocent Black man, George Floyd, at the hands of the police. This … Continue reading South America: Wrap-up!
The House of the Spirits: Review
For some writers, their stories are about helping the reader escape into a different world. Sometimes, they want to draw light to some social or political topic in the real world by illuminating it in the brilliance and strangeness of fantasy, and sometimes they just want to tell a story about a ghost. Some writers … Continue reading The House of the Spirits: Review
A Case of the Re-Reads: Get to Know Me Series
Welcome back to another episode of Get to Know Me, a series no one asked for but I provide with selfish glee each Tuesday. Come on in, dear reader, and let's talk books. Q: What was the last book you re-read? A: I'm currently re-reading the Hunger Games series! I finished the first book at … Continue reading A Case of the Re-Reads: Get to Know Me Series
Garden Spells: How the Garden Stirs the Soul
In honor of Gifts of the Garden Month, each week in May I will be highlighting the gifts of books and gardens. My two favorite worlds collide! Join me each Thursday to celebrate the wonders of pages and flowers. I grew up watching Practical Magic. I wanted to be Sally, to dress like her in … Continue reading Garden Spells: How the Garden Stirs the Soul
She Wrote: The Queen of Mystery
Welcome back, dear reader, to my newest series! SHE WROTE is a series about women writers that have influenced me with their lives and works. Each week, I'll profile a female author and share my personal experience with them, my favorite of their works, some links for further reading about them, and a checklist so … Continue reading She Wrote: The Queen of Mystery