tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-912997649396142242024-02-22T07:50:22.738-05:00Bookend CrossingAlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.comBlogger443125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-42276878286128507532018-11-27T08:58:00.000-05:002018-11-27T08:59:59.036-05:00Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge 2018<center>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "nobile"; font-size: 20px;">I participate in this challenge every year. I'm a little late in signing up this year, but I still plan to read at least 4 or 5 Christmas-themed books before January 6th. I know it's sappy, but I enjoy it. </span></center>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "nobile"; font-size: 20px;">If you want to join the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge, get all the details <a href="https://truexmasspirit.blogspot.com/2018/11/2018-christmas-spirit-reading-challenge.html?showComment=1543324699045#c4066261100992657249">here</a> and sign up! </span></center>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "nobile"; font-size: 20px;">My first selection is </span></center>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "nobile"; font-size: 20px;">I love this Penguin Christmas Classics edition and I am collecting the other five books in the series. My Library Classics Club selected this for our December read. </span></center>
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AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-85213967975266144232018-02-13T10:49:00.001-05:002018-02-13T10:49:29.766-05:00Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Title: Killers of the Flower Moon<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Author: David Grann <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Published: April 18, 2017 by Doubleday <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Hardcover:
338 pages <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Awards: Edgar Award Nominee for Best Fact Crime
(2018); Andrew Carnegie Medal Nominee for Nonfiction (2018); National Book
Award Finalist for Nonfiction (2017); Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for
History & Biography (2017); Brooklyn Public Library Prize Nominee for
Nonfiction (2017) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474610956l/29496196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="29496196" border="0" height="320" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1474610956l/29496196.jpg" width="210" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Summary: <i>Killers
of the Flower Moon </i>by David Grann explores the deaths of an incredible
number of Osage Indians in the early 1900’s, specifically the family of Mollie
Burkhart. The Osage were moved from their lands to a reservation on land that
was later discovered to be on top of a rich oil field. The Osage had headrights
to these lands and some of the white men, who were appointed their guardians, worked
out ways to eliminate the Osage so they could have the money earned from them.
David Grann tells the story of Mollie Burkhart’s family and how they were
systematically killed so their headrights would be passed on. He also tells the
story of how the U. S. Government was involved and the men who started the Federal
Bureau of Investigation, some of whom worked on this Osage case. Who was behind
all these murders? Was there only one man or were there many white men taking
advantage of the Osage? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Overview: I probably would never have picked this
book up on my own, but it was our library book club’s February selection. I was
surprised to find that I was very interested in what happened to the Osage
Indians at this period in time and I was saddened by the way the white men treated
them – as though they were not intelligent enough to handle their own affairs
and that they weren’t fully “human.” It was racist and disgusting to me. Even
though there were some passages that were heavy on investigation issues that
didn’t work out, I didn’t feel that the book dragged. I was more and more interested in the eventual
outcome as I read along. If you like true crime stories, this is the book for
you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Until Tom White took
over, the investigation seemed to go several different ways. Mr. White too all
the possible leads and followed them to learn all he could and verify the facts
given. I don’t usually like crime novels, but this was true and I wanted to
find out if the criminals involved were brought to justice. There was nothing
offensive as far as sex or swearing involved, however, there was ample violence
due to the way several of the Osage were murdered. I am very interested in details and making
lists and checking off items when they are completed. This book was a great
demonstration of that being done. Tom White made a lists of all the evidence
that was gathered and set out to prove or disprove each item. He got
discouraged, but in the end his persistence paid off. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mr. Grann goes beyond
Tom White’s investigation and communicates with descendants of the Osage to
discover even more families who were victimized by their white guardians. As I
said previously, it was disgusting to think that a nation of people could be
taken advantage of in such a way. Although, if you think about it a bit, there
were other nations who leaders attempted to destroy because they were deemed “undesirable”.
This brings to mind the Nazis and the Jews. How can man be so cruel? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> I gave this selection 4 stars because it wasn't really a page-turner for me, although I did get more and more interested as i read on. </span></div>
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AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-77830165575473926142018-01-08T09:51:00.002-05:002018-01-08T09:51:54.995-05:00Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini<img alt="Christmas Bells by Jennifer Chiaverini" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1471277396l/28953550.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Title: Christmas Bells</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Author: Jennifer Chiaverini </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Published: October 27, 2015 by Dutton </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The copy I read was paperback and included 336 pages. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This book will appeal to many groups of people: those who enjoy history, literature buffs, music lovers, and those who enjoy romantic, perfect endings. I am all of those. I got a little bogged down with the historical sections. I felt the pace dragged a bit through there, but it was interesting in retrospect. This novel included so many things. The Civil War, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his family, the war in Aphganistan and families at home dealing with deployment of their loved ones, the priesthood and how it affects a family, a Senator's influence and his wife's responsibility serving alongside him. So much, yet it worked. I loved how Ms. Chiaverini wrapped everything up and tied it with a big bow! That's my kind of Christmas tale! I will never hear or sing or play "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" the same again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I gave it 5 stars - I thought about giving it 4 stars because the historical parts were kind of long, but in the end it was a wonderful Christmas story. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-58971896054037585072018-01-02T13:30:00.003-05:002018-01-02T13:30:37.107-05:00Family Tree Reading Challenge<img alt="Family Tree Reading Challenge" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3xXdYnQBLsUPzIFvQeddxYA0qa7_Dbzdwt_pOf3xjlk9u50OgFUyP9rdXE7u01QghMo9G_sErfR12-XXSD2jYVUJWaWXQA4Nt28-Jd4MZD1D1DGttXzUHrQjXmU3LVc1EpFAWwYBabeu/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-12-09+at+9.32.48+PM.png" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I came across this really interesting reading challenge: the Family Tree Reading Challenge hosted by Becky's Book Reviews. You choose members of your family and read a book that was published in the year of their birth. I am the youngest child in my family, so I chose my youngest daughter who was born in 1991, myself 1954, my father who was also the youngest in his family 1917, my great aunt who was the youngest in her family 1909, my grandfather also the youngest 1894, and the two youngest siblings - twins - of my great grandmother 1860. I looked up the bestsellers for those years and found some interesting choices: </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>1991 Loves Music, Loves to Dance by Mary Higgins Clark </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>1954 Mary Anne by Daphne du Maurier </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>1917 His Family by Ernest Poole </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>1909 The Trail of the Lonesome Pine by John Fox, Jr. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>1894 Trilby by George du Maurier </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>1860 The Mill on the Floss by George Eliot </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>That's my list! You can sign up <a href="https://blbooks.blogspot.com/2017/12/family-tree-reading-challenge.html">here</a>. </i></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-61837443486604677802018-01-02T12:51:00.002-05:002018-01-02T12:52:26.802-05:00Library Love Challenge<img height="320" src="https://i1.wp.com/angelsguiltypleasures.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2018LibraryLoveChallenge07-400x400-angelsgp.jpg?resize=400%2C400" width="320" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>If you love your library as I do, this challenge is right up your alley. The goal is to read at least 12 books from the library this year. Of course, you can read more if you want. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>I'm going to start with 12, but hopefully, I will read more. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>It's hosted by Angels Guilty Pleasures and you can sign up <a href="http://angelsguiltypleasures.com/2017/12/sign-up-open-2018-library-love-challenge/">here</a>. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>There's also a giveaway at the end that you can read about at the same link. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Good luck! </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-24901403177081145642018-01-02T12:41:00.002-05:002018-01-02T12:52:06.316-05:00Winter's Respite Readathon<img alt="Seasons of Reading" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEg9cpCaaKDDHOrZTs6hdvA0jtJa5TbAJ1CT9rUJYHn8jiqx97j1G06b0BL_qptZdSfofnYPOFHSA_WqgJusSDmUyoEFLo4lIOHmrJPKLYiQpxw_93vWrW9WSAAJ6UI0AhDbSRpbNTjotyfgb5NDZ2FOZVvLJQPp67zu8Q1AgjduHPTjEXZp5CI8HPzaHITToW2-fgWQ=s0-d" width="320" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>It's January - time to start the #Winter's Respite Readathon! I love an excuse to just read, read, read. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>If you want to join, just click on the picture at the top of this page and it will take you to the post. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>I'm starting out continuing one of my Christmas reads: "Christmas Bells" by Jennifer Chiaverini. It is part historical and part contemporary. I'm really enjoying it. I have a couple of other Christmas books that I need to finish as well. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Christmas Day brought me three new books - one is a children's book in Spanish, the others are "The Other Alcott" by Elise Hooper which I am reviewing for our book club this year, and "My Brilliant Friend" by Elena Ferrante. You may see those on my booklist, too. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>I also have some books on my Kindle that I could read: "Geekerella" by Ashley Poston which my daughter says is really good, and the next Poldark book! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>I'm so glad to have some time to just sit and read this January! Get a cup of tea and cozy up with your book! </i></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-35053432744899693572017-11-20T14:06:00.000-05:002017-11-20T14:06:02.318-05:002017 Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge<img alt="Seasons of Reading" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjeTv8lbjXg4rc8_4dByqRmOTnzNtoN6i4LrQYP4EosGZK_DZnIeeqKn3oozErAkTW92vJPZ2XE7TO7zGacKRJkzvYT2qFcik1XOI05YMWVzI0571OapSJaao0G_Zg70-DT2xaqmCiJY2x7xpepyVpkNjMgpzkkN12hr_mGzpbRhq-tYKlpF519YaN0CGpOVITbkgL7=s0-d" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It's time to start the 2017 Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge including the... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">2017 Christmas Spirit Christmas & Scary Readathon! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I have picked up a couple of audiobooks to get started: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson, narrated by C. J. Critt </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"Christmas at Little Beach Street Bakery" by Jenny Colgan, narrated by Anne-Marie Piazza </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">and </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">"The Christmas Room" by Catherine Anderson, narrated by Susan Bennett </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I'm going to listen to these while I am working around the house, writing Christmas cards (I have lots to write this year!) and working on the hand-crafted presents I am going to give this year. It should be fun! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-12766908575759723102017-09-05T20:36:00.001-04:002017-09-05T20:43:53.069-04:00ReWIRED by S. R. Johannes<div class="Body">
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">ReWired</span></strong></div>
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<strong>S.R.
Johannes</strong><br />
Publication date: August 27th
2017<br />
Genres: Thriller, Young
Adult<br />
<blockquote>
YA cyber thriller, ReWIRED, by Shelli
Johannes-Wells (writing as S.R. Johannes), which offers a fresh and exciting
new take on the genre, and could be described as Ally Carter’s HEIST SOCIETY
meets THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO for teens.</blockquote>
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Sixteen-year-old Ada Lovelace is never more alive and
sure of herself than when she’s hacking into a “secure” network as her alter
ego, the Dark Angel. In the real world, Ada is broken, reeling from her best
friend Simone’s recent suicide. But online, the reclusive daughter of Senator
Lovelace (champion of the new Online Privacy Bill) is a daring white hat hacker
and the only female member of the Orwellians, an elite group responsible for a string
of high-profile hacks against major corporations, with a mission to protect the
little guy. Ada is swiftly proving she’s a force to be reckoned with, when a
fellow Orwellian betrays her to the FBI. To protect her father’s career, Ada is
sent to ReBoot, a technology rehab facility for teens…the same rehab Simone
attended right before killing herself.</div>
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It’s bad enough that the ReBoot facility is creepy in an
Overlook-Hotel-meets-Winchester-Mansion way, but when Ada realizes Simone’s
suicide is just one in an increasingly suspicious string of “accidental” deaths
and “suicides” occurring just after kids leave ReBoot, Ada knows she can’t
leave without figuring out what really happened to her best friend. The massive
cyber conspiracy she uncovers will threaten everything she cares about–her
dad’s career, her new relationship with a wry, handsome, reformed hacker who
gets under her skin, and most of all–the version of herself Ada likes best–the
Dark Angel.</div>
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With a deliciously twisty plot, the topical bite of Cory
Doctorow’s LITTLE BROTHER, ReWIRED delves into technology addiction, internet
privacy, and corporate/government collection of data, as it vividly illuminates
the universally human questions about ethics, privacy, and self-definition that
both underpin these socio-political issues and dovetail with classic
coming-of-age themes. Ultimately, ReWIRED is about the daily choices we all
make about who we want to be, how much of ourselves we choose to share with
others, and the terrifying risks and exhilarating rewards of being ourselves,
online and off.</div>
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<strong>EXCERPT:</strong></div>
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Simone never did anything without a reason.</div>
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There’s only way to find out what that was. I need to
get on a computer. And I know just where to find one. In Ms. Matthews
office.</div>
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When Ms. Matthews pops in for room check, I pretend to
be deathly ill. Getting this lady to believe me isn’t as hard. My fake gagging
sounds cleared the room really fast.</div>
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After everyone heads to their first activity, I sneak
down to the lunchroom and snag the lunch lady’s security card from her
register. After some time observing, I know the center uses a standard swipe
system, so hopefully this card will gain me access.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Goodreads: </span></b><span style="font-size: 7.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36041820-rewired">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36041820-rewired</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>Purchase:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ReWired-S-R-Johannes-ebook/dp/B0752Z6V3W/">https://www.amazon.com/ReWired-S-R-Johannes-ebook/dp/B0752Z6V3W/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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AUTHOR
BIO:<o:p></o:p></div>
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S.R.
Johannes is the award-winning author of the Amazon bestselling Nature of Grace
thriller series (Untraceable, Uncontrollable, and Unstoppable). She is a winner
of the IndieReader Discovery Award in YA, an IPPY a Silver Medalist for YA
Fiction, a Finalist in The Kindle Book Review’s Best Young Adult Fiction, and a
Finalist in US Book News Best YA Book.<o:p></o:p></div>
Since leaving Corporate America, she has followed her passion for writing
and conservation by working with The Dolphin Project, the Atlanta Zoo, other
animal rescue organizations, and by weaving conservation themes into her books.<br />
Currently, she lives in Atlanta, GA with hEnglish-accented husband and the
huge imaginations of their prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will
change the world.<br />
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Author
links:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/srjohannesauthor?fref=ts">https://www.facebook.com/srjohannesauthor?fref=ts</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://twitter.com/srjohannes">https://twitter.com/srjohannes</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.srjohannes.com/">https://www.srjohannes.com/</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235537.S_R_Johannes">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5235537.S_R_Johannes</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-47630534807968376872017-09-01T15:55:00.002-04:002017-09-01T15:58:02.054-04:00All the Stars in the Heavens by Adriana Trigiani - review<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Title:
All the Stars in the Heavens <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Author:
Adriana Trigiani<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Published:
October 13, 2015 by Harper <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pages:
447 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
love this quote from “All the Stars in the Heavens.” Loretta Young was talking
about Edna Ferber, the novelist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“She
told me something that has stayed with me. Ferber said, ‘Beware the clowns. The
leaders who start out as jokes – people make fun of them, they’re caricatures,
cartoons in newspapers, and people decide they are harmless. These men are the
most dangerous. The day comes when thy use their power against their own
people.’” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
thought it was so insightful and applicable to our present day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Our
book club chose “All the Stars in the Heavens” by Adriana Trigiani as our
August selection. Most of us liked the view of Hollywood, some thought it was
too long, and one said she felt as though she was reading a soap opera.
Personally, I enjoyed it. My parents and I used to watch Loretta Young on
television and I remember her as a lovely woman. This book didn’t mar that
image for me. I admire the fact that she held on to her Catholic faith, prayed
the rosary, went to confession and attended Mass. She wasn’t what some think of
a typical “starlet.” She worked hard and cared about the people she loved. I
truly enjoyed this book and thought it ended rather abruptly. I could have read
more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvmJwqXF6FOqO9-izAyAJWOCuzAA0Ff8RZ8uA0ZAGkRmUfkUu2qT8E1YM7j6sI00rSZj0hLuG3FxvxB2lm42VSWNW8i3OCGVDPuSwvucdlwHxpPCmQhx8moxq-oLxo1UJQd85s_Am1ZM/s1600/4+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="900" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigvmJwqXF6FOqO9-izAyAJWOCuzAA0Ff8RZ8uA0ZAGkRmUfkUu2qT8E1YM7j6sI00rSZj0hLuG3FxvxB2lm42VSWNW8i3OCGVDPuSwvucdlwHxpPCmQhx8moxq-oLxo1UJQd85s_Am1ZM/s320/4+stars.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-59210081592821481262017-08-16T11:26:00.000-04:002017-08-16T11:26:02.902-04:00National Tell-A-Joke Day is August 16! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRS10W3o172YgG9xpabYfZmO5dRNqf8A0VZX4D6iEbdT6LR4XHBtxwwMlOqWZunsTIoSkwjmIRoxAb7PcxnT2W4ZtigP3JidZv8Q5sG3sTH-nw_tMphKMvf-wiudyDQc6aAR29xNx0zIM/s1600/Tell+A+Joke+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRS10W3o172YgG9xpabYfZmO5dRNqf8A0VZX4D6iEbdT6LR4XHBtxwwMlOqWZunsTIoSkwjmIRoxAb7PcxnT2W4ZtigP3JidZv8Q5sG3sTH-nw_tMphKMvf-wiudyDQc6aAR29xNx0zIM/s1600/Tell+A+Joke+Day.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTjTwO7eTbIAHasw7uOcifwOd2Gdokr7UHMrwnD2-DxvL9B9s-fDT9LAoSM0_QeYHHrDHiSVSRePvM_lMiuK0G2mjN1kzSd3lYVLEFo6fDgKaSe93wXNNFI4NyA-BbQnGglBlbFhTPeY/s1600/tell-an-old-joke-day-e1434619980963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="1600" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTjTwO7eTbIAHasw7uOcifwOd2Gdokr7UHMrwnD2-DxvL9B9s-fDT9LAoSM0_QeYHHrDHiSVSRePvM_lMiuK0G2mjN1kzSd3lYVLEFo6fDgKaSe93wXNNFI4NyA-BbQnGglBlbFhTPeY/s320/tell-an-old-joke-day-e1434619980963.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's National Tell-A-Joke Day - August 16! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I found some of these on the Internet: </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF49hfpiC_-yoCCOTgzUC6eCtiZjKKhq2AQguyoQ9JZlTILAqm1iy05U7ycJiZx6cEOCjSuGcKGe4pSjpam4OiE2g-DftZS0vfot-IhKDI2qjWpmRlx6dxmpPvqoyJnwgNvcqn59MgWHQ/s1600/alligator+joke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF49hfpiC_-yoCCOTgzUC6eCtiZjKKhq2AQguyoQ9JZlTILAqm1iy05U7ycJiZx6cEOCjSuGcKGe4pSjpam4OiE2g-DftZS0vfot-IhKDI2qjWpmRlx6dxmpPvqoyJnwgNvcqn59MgWHQ/s1600/alligator+joke.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here's a bookish one - just to make it worthy of a book blog! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSEbhiQAHEcTiji2TOXL5uSPkSZguajv4OEGvbHQ6J8bFYCZA93m6ZhB6f-7i-tOObSz5EpS8K3ZSNljE8Ho2y4w-R7S352yRvubXLTaZQW9LvOK7zrCV6doKfbZzxu7e7T5X2kHwLsc/s1600/appendix-removed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="371" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSEbhiQAHEcTiji2TOXL5uSPkSZguajv4OEGvbHQ6J8bFYCZA93m6ZhB6f-7i-tOObSz5EpS8K3ZSNljE8Ho2y4w-R7S352yRvubXLTaZQW9LvOK7zrCV6doKfbZzxu7e7T5X2kHwLsc/s320/appendix-removed.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Keep Calm graphics are always welcome!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUVmvs9fhTCFdhe37Pdcgp6VV_D5hhFaM403wclY7miDGfO7R7IkJKqf6qPrd5jYGt8y6G1kI0bkHaso-tbrAgVXx_Waflj30IghXZ9SgC933hZyqiCjXhKmCQ-BmGKu2An0tjv1SlRU/s1600/National+Tell+A+Joke+Day+-+Keep+Calm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHUVmvs9fhTCFdhe37Pdcgp6VV_D5hhFaM403wclY7miDGfO7R7IkJKqf6qPrd5jYGt8y6G1kI0bkHaso-tbrAgVXx_Waflj30IghXZ9SgC933hZyqiCjXhKmCQ-BmGKu2An0tjv1SlRU/s320/National+Tell+A+Joke+Day+-+Keep+Calm.png" width="274" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I asked Siri to tell me some jokes and here is what she said: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"Which baseball player has the shortest commute?" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"The Catcher - he only works from home." </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"What was the turkey grateful for on Thanksgiving?" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Vegetarians" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>and...</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">"I love math - although do you know what seems odd to me?" </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"numbers indivisible by two." <i>da dum dum</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RcNLY81Ib0F69wTh4Zal_4J8IQJHuEi-sLo776LQS6SoXmYUk_2g9hh04pooDUX_gsuoWPV9K4QJR8AFdOmNaUdjghxZRp_IRDOIDIE_C90ObTFQAt-ymmzZAO6WyxJNhJge465yxS8/s1600/Tell+Us+A+Joke+in+the+comments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RcNLY81Ib0F69wTh4Zal_4J8IQJHuEi-sLo776LQS6SoXmYUk_2g9hh04pooDUX_gsuoWPV9K4QJR8AFdOmNaUdjghxZRp_IRDOIDIE_C90ObTFQAt-ymmzZAO6WyxJNhJge465yxS8/s320/Tell+Us+A+Joke+in+the+comments.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">what's your favorite joke? </span></div>
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<br />AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-39360376639915607842017-08-04T21:15:00.003-04:002017-08-04T21:18:18.460-04:00Review of "Heartless" by Marissa Meyer<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Title:
Heartless <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Author:
Marissa Meyer <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Published:
November 8, 2016<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Publisher:
Feiwel & Friends <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Edition:
hardcover 453 pages <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Literary
Awards: Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee for Young </span><span style="font-family: "bookman old style", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction
(2016)</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">From Goodreads:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYDhkD-0c4jdD7_l-aBK0ehFMw9u3ocFpjCyTRLnwXkzg5yLWiDdXBek5MhR0L07HCylRFI_pCx_eWb8KGzxgHBhkko6me4rq_-99xzUaTOBKSC6oF812hXK1NV6kjgHLSm9puvwczXU/s1600/Heartless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYDhkD-0c4jdD7_l-aBK0ehFMw9u3ocFpjCyTRLnwXkzg5yLWiDdXBek5MhR0L07HCylRFI_pCx_eWb8KGzxgHBhkko6me4rq_-99xzUaTOBKSC6oF812hXK1NV6kjgHLSm9puvwczXU/s320/Heartless.jpg" width="204" /></a><i><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Catherine may
be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland and a favorite of the unmarried
King, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, she wants to open a
shop and create delectable pastries. But for her mother, such a goal is
unthinkable for a woman who could be a queen. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">At a royal
ball where Cath is expected to receive the King’s marriage proposal, she meets
handsome and mysterious Jest. For the first time, she feels the pull of true
attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she
and Jest enter into a secret courtship. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Cath is
determined to choose her own destiny. But in a land thriving with magic,
madness and monsters, fate has other plans. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 16.0pt;">Alleluia’s
Review: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
read Marissa Meyer’s series <i>The Lunar
Chronicles</i>, so I was anxious to read this book to see what she would do
with the origins of “the wicked queen.” I got attached to Catherine early on and
I kept anticipating what terrible thing was going to happen to her to make her
evil. In the end, one could almost commiserate with her, although one could
sense where it would lead. I was disappointed that the story stopped where it
did – perhaps there will be a sequel? There is a space of time between this
story and <i>The Lunar Chronicles </i>that
could be filled in nicely with another volume or two. I enjoyed this one. It
was quick-moving and interesting. If you are a fan of fairytale retellings,
this book is for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06LqWCniK1pjTTY0tqzsZda2ckLWNq8cJdIhktQlB9n2XFI-X4Jf35j6-JhJV0Axh76Rwm8nDTXP8OLhRjONCz762PHfWuj0Gz8Avxwof1RUFgzko7QhXl3_THXhpsWEp-WYCqFKRzfY/s1600/5_stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="500" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg06LqWCniK1pjTTY0tqzsZda2ckLWNq8cJdIhktQlB9n2XFI-X4Jf35j6-JhJV0Axh76Rwm8nDTXP8OLhRjONCz762PHfWuj0Gz8Avxwof1RUFgzko7QhXl3_THXhpsWEp-WYCqFKRzfY/s320/5_stars.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "bookman old style" , "serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I gave it 5
stars! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-77944706136849246992017-08-04T06:00:00.000-04:002017-08-04T06:00:28.929-04:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRESIDENT OBAMA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZ4cOgjYGuzu0CowTE4ESWTJ670_fOEVAPzazyDXSz6Uxmjg1mY5HwL0Luuwt5ThnTD9Gzi5XlvTPPP5TUCqr-138H4jSFnimvE1Fqzj1TPOePvwoexKZrCX310hs0aPujKIb2-ZNmbg/s1600/happy+birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZ4cOgjYGuzu0CowTE4ESWTJ670_fOEVAPzazyDXSz6Uxmjg1mY5HwL0Luuwt5ThnTD9Gzi5XlvTPPP5TUCqr-138H4jSFnimvE1Fqzj1TPOePvwoexKZrCX310hs0aPujKIb2-ZNmbg/s1600/happy+birthday.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">August 4 is the birthday of our </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">44th President Barack Obama! Here are just three of the books to consider reading to celebrate! They all are rated at least 4 stars on Goodreads. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2xTWnSDoHl5yWi-kAPmczTEbdh-Vwcgcpd6viZITTiqOKdszxbSz4_pshzESCMP83LFiPpHQ6eq1cPaHS4aKEqs1yZbodMvZJjtQ_9q_gDeGA_c3Nr3cIyPSZbjyTgpRz0SQ1jeKvYw/s1600/Barack+Obama+Audacity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxpygODw9ZitBA88ajpJvDVN-IM8t_cF9J4MdZspWZnOGHPdYgzUeggxo14vO9bJrwbMSTVBoqgkNa-_rL20h1_1aGi1r4CQVvTDHNe0jehmce1fgVoEIi1o2FziuONKzA1rBjvpoRzk/s1600/Barack+Obama+Audacity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhxpygODw9ZitBA88ajpJvDVN-IM8t_cF9J4MdZspWZnOGHPdYgzUeggxo14vO9bJrwbMSTVBoqgkNa-_rL20h1_1aGi1r4CQVvTDHNe0jehmce1fgVoEIi1o2FziuONKzA1rBjvpoRzk/s320/Barack+Obama+Audacity.jpg" width="210" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here is a quote from President Obama that I find very inspiring: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"Change will not come if we wait for some other person, or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek." - <i>Barack Obama </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and this one: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">"The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don't wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, and you will fill yourself with hope." - <i>Barack Obama </i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC3-mMOdMcJ-Zw2I1fUjm3sikInNN8toym4EJ70cFveHKfUrxkbaE4u8cCrQM_Fj-s6KkwITKF2KlO3tLeUoWDt-jqZb-GTlw7nKuZptkfST23sxSmY4Oor7x7EcfITIanUezNasz7c4/s1600/Barack+Obama+Sing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHC3-mMOdMcJ-Zw2I1fUjm3sikInNN8toym4EJ70cFveHKfUrxkbaE4u8cCrQM_Fj-s6KkwITKF2KlO3tLeUoWDt-jqZb-GTlw7nKuZptkfST23sxSmY4Oor7x7EcfITIanUezNasz7c4/s320/Barack+Obama+Sing.jpg" width="242" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHE1FJEaCuUnwZ4hMVIFjPfVg1E0ZsYJdGzUfRbxdryWObwJ1dF6uy7RsVjPnVYvRVkwBdaOIdsxzGDDnhf0pN08_XcG8pfl7e0JkqP0XeDHu0LyR6QSb1BhnAlfoeVl3L0kVZlLoGdd8/s1600/Barack+Obama+Dreams.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHE1FJEaCuUnwZ4hMVIFjPfVg1E0ZsYJdGzUfRbxdryWObwJ1dF6uy7RsVjPnVYvRVkwBdaOIdsxzGDDnhf0pN08_XcG8pfl7e0JkqP0XeDHu0LyR6QSb1BhnAlfoeVl3L0kVZlLoGdd8/s320/Barack+Obama+Dreams.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-57862620866210718502017-08-02T06:00:00.000-04:002017-08-02T06:00:05.015-04:00NATIONAL COLORING BOOK DAY - AUGUST 2<div align="center" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Yesterday,
I was looking for information about Coloring Books in anticipation of “National
Coloring Book Day” which is today, August 2. I found this article on the
Huffpost blog by Dr. Nikki Martinez, Psy.D., LCPC entitled, “7 Reasons Adult
Coloring Books Are Great for Your Mental, Emotional and Intellectual Health.” If
you want to read the entire piece with all its footnotes and related links, you
can read it <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-nikki-martinez-psyd-lcpc/7-reasons-adult-coloring-books-are-great-for-your-mental-emotional-and-intellectual-health_b_8626136.html">here</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.georgiaarttherapy.org/uploads/1/7/4/0/17402973/1360604134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for art therapy" border="0" height="133" src="http://www.georgiaarttherapy.org/uploads/1/7/4/0/17402973/1360604134.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr.
Martinez says coloring books are prescribed by many psychologists, therapists
and occupational therapists, including herself, for various reasons. She
actually prescribed coloring for herself after she had major surgery and was
laid-up in bed for eight weeks. Now she pulls out her coloring books when she needs
to shift her focus or practice her own stress reduction. Coloring books are
useful in so many ways. Dr. Martinez lists 7 of them: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">1.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Coloring can be used as
an alternative to meditation, as a means of relaxation, and as a calming tool.
It can help an individual focus on what they are doing vs. focusing on
intrusive and troubling thoughts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">2.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It can help with many
emotional and mental health issues such as boredom, lack of structure and
stress. Dr. Mendez says, “</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">The time and focus that adult coloring takes helps the individual
remove the focus from the negative issues and habits, and focus them in a safe
and productive way.</span>” <span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/dc/7f/0c/dc7f0c83a2ed956e9a7b32922139c015--colouring-pages-free-adult-coloring-pages-free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Image result for coloring books" border="0" height="200" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/dc/7f/0c/dc7f0c83a2ed956e9a7b32922139c015--colouring-pages-free-adult-coloring-pages-free.jpg" width="141" /></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">3.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They help patients with
PTSD, anxiety and stress issues by calming down the part of the brain that
controls the fight or flight response. Coloring helps turn down that response
to give a patient much-needed rest and relaxation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">4.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">It reminds us of a
simpler, easier and happier times of childhood. To tap into those times is
cathartic and enjoyable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">5.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Coloring has
intellectual benefits, too. It uses parts of our brains that enhance focus and
concentration. Deciding which colors to use to make the picture pretty
activates those parts of the brain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">6.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Coloring uses both sides
of our brain. Dr. Martinez says, “</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we are thinking about balance, color choices, applying
colored pencil to paper, we are working on problem solving and fine motor
skills.” </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Coloring
can be used to retrain individuals by occupational therapists by starting with
easier pictures and gradually advancing to more and more intricate designs. </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-fareast-font-family: Georgia;">7.<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Finally, Dr. Martinez gives 3
reference links for us to check out. Read her whole article <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-nikki-martinez-psyd-lcpc/7-reasons-adult-coloring-books-are-great-for-your-mental-emotional-and-intellectual-health_b_8626136.html">here</a>, then go get
yourself some colored pencils and a coloring book and get started! </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-72155034200535545162017-07-31T12:59:00.002-04:002017-07-31T12:59:35.622-04:00#High Summer Readathon and the Christmas in July Readathon Wrap-up Post - really!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I felt pretty silly last week when I thought the High Summer Readathon was over on Sunday, July 23! It felt like a real gift to get an extra week to continue reading. These are the books I read - reviews are in the works: </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>1. Heartless by Marissa Meyer</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQ35A75wl7KgL6_fBLnRzliNTr6ulDH6iANhc6jaL09wxot8eBUvfvpyIETqAtlwdGpruQDkOHisMmkEvg8jC4T8zTf6goTP2zlibUw5WV-bZhkNOu0qdZg9swjXLLMkzeK_cewbec80/s1600/5_stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="500" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQ35A75wl7KgL6_fBLnRzliNTr6ulDH6iANhc6jaL09wxot8eBUvfvpyIETqAtlwdGpruQDkOHisMmkEvg8jC4T8zTf6goTP2zlibUw5WV-bZhkNOu0qdZg9swjXLLMkzeK_cewbec80/s320/5_stars.gif" width="320" /></a><img alt="Heartless" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477740245l/18584855.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>2. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDg_9HBrLBo5svshnQTzrTTZ5XupNHgYP0ijzwayRFmURhjhQ9t3AOn3OoGoYQ_SYStENa-CUHWRqooz4pcGHuj1zzoBNKZJFBFIcbBCnlQ-jZQcF7lY6FVADtqc5oL-pRB8z8q9uPuc/s1600/5_stars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="110" data-original-width="500" height="70" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDg_9HBrLBo5svshnQTzrTTZ5XupNHgYP0ijzwayRFmURhjhQ9t3AOn3OoGoYQ_SYStENa-CUHWRqooz4pcGHuj1zzoBNKZJFBFIcbBCnlQ-jZQcF7lY6FVADtqc5oL-pRB8z8q9uPuc/s320/5_stars.gif" width="320" /></a><img alt="A Man Called Ove" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1430942546l/22948207.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>3. Stars in Your Eyes by Lynn Kurland </i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunJk4MBBBGskqMS114ol96ESjtPz8szolofcJyn3pz6KE5zJG_ocfpn8fwNHhPzBBYfoQ5EiYH5ut-ipHA-CjUdzr_lWY4Yi5tXeXmsrO4ZUIQRbKMgoLzEmy4nKlzgvzZLhLfeOqZGs/s1600/4+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="900" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunJk4MBBBGskqMS114ol96ESjtPz8szolofcJyn3pz6KE5zJG_ocfpn8fwNHhPzBBYfoQ5EiYH5ut-ipHA-CjUdzr_lWY4Yi5tXeXmsrO4ZUIQRbKMgoLzEmy4nKlzgvzZLhLfeOqZGs/s320/4+stars.jpg" width="320" /></a><img alt="Stars in Your Eyes (de Piaget, #14; de Piaget/MacLeod, #21)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1441725401l/25170770.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>For the Christmas in July Readathon, I read these two: </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>1. The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9jWIPv77P779RJM3R7ID2i-Ql1taR-ofgQ8ExLF_GSUwnNeI11zOkaL6DajizQkHDZQ_YBYGqtD-N8BNm6GqPocYoph5W6ym1x0504udD8ijWnSHph8Vq88Bb89dF5TXKILjnS6UW_Y/s1600/4+stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="900" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH9jWIPv77P779RJM3R7ID2i-Ql1taR-ofgQ8ExLF_GSUwnNeI11zOkaL6DajizQkHDZQ_YBYGqtD-N8BNm6GqPocYoph5W6ym1x0504udD8ijWnSHph8Vq88Bb89dF5TXKILjnS6UW_Y/s320/4+stars.jpg" width="320" /></a><img alt="The Christmas Pony" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1385887538l/19079599.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>2. Married by Midnight by Talli Roland </i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jTPwDC2gXnvYWZ9O86YQhzkV7MiL8OEgFac5zEhoobB01dDOjNipkPLiwXYBEBzxP4niMg3VpjFIstQDEfdY0lzeANFE3iAgcTFfwFYiaE6-J8IvPnXNpQF38S_NZJff95ov1W1Rz9Y/s1600/3starss+Good+if+you+have+time.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="100" data-original-width="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2jTPwDC2gXnvYWZ9O86YQhzkV7MiL8OEgFac5zEhoobB01dDOjNipkPLiwXYBEBzxP4niMg3VpjFIstQDEfdY0lzeANFE3iAgcTFfwFYiaE6-J8IvPnXNpQF38S_NZJff95ov1W1Rz9Y/s1600/3starss+Good+if+you+have+time.png" /></a><img alt="Married by Midnight" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1423754547l/23511012.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Not sure where my 3-stars pic went, but you get the idea. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>It was very nice to be able to devote my free time the past two weeks to reading. I am discovering more and more how much I truly love it! Thank you, Michelle, for hosting these two readathons and giving us a reason to read more, more, more! Also, I liked reading a little bit of Christmas in the summer. </i></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-47659543065279507422017-07-25T10:30:00.002-04:002017-07-25T10:44:33.160-04:00#HSReadathon Mid-Readathon Update Post<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>This is my wrap-up post for the #High Summer Readathon. I never do very well with readathons. I am amazed at how many books some of the other participants read in just a week! I read TWO! And I actually didn't finish the last one until the Tuesday after the readathon was over. So sad. But I do like the idea of spending as much of my free time in a week reading. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>These are the two books I read: </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1430942546l/22948207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="22948207" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1430942546l/22948207.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>"A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman - I gave this one 5 stars. It was a book about a secretly lovely man. Some people have said it wasn't a life-changing book, but I don't care. It was very good and I liked the way Fredrik Backman laid out the story, the way he let the reader in on Ove's past a little at a time. You just grew to love the man. It deserves 5 stars. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<a href="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477740245l/18584855.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="18584855" border="0" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477740245l/18584855.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>The other book I read was "Heartless" by Marissa Meyer. I also gave this one 5 stars. It is the imagined story of the Queen of Hearts from "Alice in Wonderland" and how she got to be so fond of the phrase "off with his/her head!" For most of the book, I couldn't reconcile the character of Catherine with the Queen of Hearts. As the reader, I liked her so much. Then... You can suspect the ending, and I did, too, but getting there was quite a story. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>So, there are my two High Summer Readathon books. I didn't even get to a Christmas book for the end. I was going to read "The Christmas Pony" by Melody Carlson. Her Christmas books are so good. There is always something to be learned and considered from her books. She is my favorite Christmas author. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>SILLY ME! THE READATHON ISN'T OVER UNTIL NEXT SUNDAY!!! </i></span>
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AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-58817543477891578652017-07-17T09:14:00.000-04:002017-07-17T09:14:04.752-04:00#HS Readathon<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Change up! I started reading "A Man Called Ove" by Fredrik Backman as my first #HS Readathon book! It's very good so far. They were showing the movie at our local library last week and I had the book, so I have started it and plan to watch the movie when I am finished. </i></span><br />
<img alt="22948207" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1430942546l/22948207.jpg" />AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-2321239542957651022017-07-16T09:05:00.001-04:002017-07-16T09:05:32.995-04:00<img alt="Image may contain: text" src="https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/13435547_1119020564828268_6535146170737583662_n.jpg?oh=7780fa0be50bddc4f00009111a4cf0f0&oe=5A0C4373" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>We were here yesterday and I purchased 4 books to add to my TBR (like I needed them). Anyway, the Book Loft is 32 rooms of heavenly books in all genres imaginable. It was wonderful! Here is what I bought: </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<img alt="25813937" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1444246918l/25813937.jpg" /><img alt="13538552" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1343851908l/13538552.jpg" /><br />
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<img alt="25893693" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1462850258l/25893693.jpg" /><img alt="20643052" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1418350512l/20643052.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I read "The Kitchen House" a while ago and really liked it, so I have been wanting to get "The Glory Over Everything." "Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend" was recommended by Katarina Bivald and I am anxious to read it. "Lilac Girls" has been popping up in places - you know how that is, you keep seeing a book until you buy it. The story sounds very good. "Ink and Bone" is the first in The Great Library series by Rachel Caine and I heard about it from one of my Book Tubers on You Tube. Will I get to any of these during the High Summer Readathon? Who knows. Ooooh! I forgot to get a Christmas book. I will look at our library for one. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>What are you reading today? </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-19677574290930351442017-07-03T20:53:00.002-04:002017-07-16T08:54:25.380-04:00High Summer Readathon #HSreadathon<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's that time of year again - time for the High Summer Readathon! As you can see, it runs from July 17 - 30, 2017. There are no reading requirements, so I can whittle away at my TBR pile. It will be great! Here are a few of the books that I plan to read - I usually only get through 2 or 3: <i>"The Hunchback of Notre Dame" </i>by Victor Hugo. I am planning to listen to the audiobook while I read the physical book. <i>"Let's Pretend This Never Happened" </i>by Jenny Lawson. It is our book club selection for July. AND <i>"Heartless" </i>by Marissa Meyer. I read the Lunar Chronicles and loved them, so I can't wait to dig into this book. During the end of the High Summer Readathon, the Christmas In July Readathon will be going on for 48 hours July 29 & 30. For that, I will dig out one of my Christmas novels. I know I have some put away to read this Christmas, I just don't remember what they are. Anyway, I love Christmas!!! If you want to sign up for the High Summer Readathon, <a href="http://seasonsreading.blogspot.com/2017/07/sign-up-for-high-summer-readathon.html">here</a> is where you can do it. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img alt="30600" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1421537683l/30600.jpg" /><img alt="12868761" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1489415716l/12868761.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" /><img alt="18584855" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1477740245l/18584855.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" /></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-46218742624387799792016-11-30T13:42:00.003-05:002017-07-25T10:00:55.542-04:002017 Monthly Motif reading challenge<img alt="2017-reading-challenge-sign-ups" height="212" src="https://i1.wp.com/www.girlxoxo.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2017-Reading-Challenge-Sign-Ups-1.jpg?resize=700,466" width="320" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Here's another one! I like reading for a theme so this will be just right for me. </span><br />
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JANUARY 1, 2017 – DECEMBER 31, 2017 ~</div>
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This is the <span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">2017 Monthly Motif Reading Challenge</span>! For this challenge, each month is assigned a motif or theme. Our task is to read one book per month that fits in with the assigned motifs…<span id="more-10554" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">JANUARY – <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Diversify Your Reading</em></span><br />
Kick the reading year off right and shake things up. Read a book with a character (or written by an author) of a race, religion, or sexual orientation other than your own.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">FEBRUARY – <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Undercover Thriller</em></span><br />
Read a book involving spies, detectives, private investigators, or a character in disguise.<br />
<i>I read "A Fierce Radiance" by Lauren Belfer - 3/24/2017. </i></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MARCH – </span><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Time Traveler</span></em>Read a book set in a different dimension, a book in which time travel is involved or a dystopian or science fiction book where reality looks very different than what we’re used to.<br />
<i>"Ever My Love" by Lynn Kurland - 4/5/2017. </i></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">APRIL – <em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Award Winners</em></span><br />
Read a book that has won a literary award or a book written by an author who has been recognized in the bookish community.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">MAY – <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Book to Movie or Audio</i></span><br />
Read a book that has a movie based off of it. For an extra challenge, see the movie or listen to the audio book as well.</div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 27px; margin-top: 27px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">JUNE – </span><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Destination Unknown</span></em>Read a book in which the character(s) take a trip, travel somewhere, go on a quest, or find themselves on a journey toward something.<br />
<i>"Named of the Dragon" by Susanna Kearsley - 1/3/2017. </i></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 27px; margin-top: 27px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">JULY – </span><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Believe the Unbelievable</span></em>This month it’s all about fantasy. Epic fantasy, urban fantasy, fairytales, magic, etc. <br />
<i>"The Scorpio Races" by Maggie Stiefvater - 6/13/2017. </i></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">AUGUST – </span><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Seasons, Elements, & Weather </span></em>Read a book in which the season, the elements, or the weather plays a role in the story.<br />
<i>"The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan - 1/13/2017. </i></div>
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Noto Serif", Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 27px; margin-top: 27px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-break: break-word;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SEPTEMBER – </span><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Creepy, Chilling, & Frightful</span></em>Cozy mystery ghost stories, paranormal hauntings, murder mysteries, weird and scary creatures- it’s up to you!<br />
<i>"Mistress in the Art of Death" by Ariana Franklin - 4/17/2017. </i></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27px; margin-bottom: 27px; margin-top: 27px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">OCTOBER</span><em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">– Games, Challenges, & Contests</span></em><span style="font-family: noto serif, georgia, serif;">Read a book that involves a game of some sort. Video games, war games, psychological mess-with-your-mind games, characters who participate in a contest, or a story in which the character takes on a challenge. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>"Heartless" by Marissa Meyer - 7/25/17. </i></span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">NOVEMBER – </span><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Last Chance</span></em>Read a book you’ve been meaning to get to all year but haven’t yet or read the last book in a series you started.</div>
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<span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">DECEMBER – </span><em style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-weight: 700; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Picking Favorites</span></em>Read a book by one of your favorite authors or read a book that Girlxoxo has recommended this year.</div>
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AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-87572747360153917582016-11-30T12:44:00.002-05:002016-11-30T12:44:27.702-05:002017 Alphabet Soup Challenge<img alt="2017-alphabet-soup-button" src="https://i1.wp.com/www.escapewithdollycas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/2017-alphabet-soup-button.jpg?resize=599%2C373" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Starting to sign up for my 2017 reading challenges. I have been doing this challenge, on my own, for a while now. I figured I might as well join others. It will be more fun! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">These are the details: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.92px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">This challenge will run from January 1st, 2017 until December 31st, 2017.</strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.92px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #d3156a; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">You can join anytime. You do not have to post a review of the book. Books can come from any genre.</span></strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.92px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #0033cc; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">You do not need to link up each spoonful</span>.</span></strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.92px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #0033cc; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Make a page or a post or a</span><span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/" style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="https://www.goodreads.com/">GoodReads shelf</a> </span><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">where you will keep track of your spoonfuls. (I made a shelf on Goodreads - but I also have an Excel worksheet that I keep track of EVERYTHING.) </span></strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.92px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><em style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Crossovers to other challenges are allowed and encouraged!</em></strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.92px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">It’s an alphabet challenge!!! The challenge is to read one book that has a title starting with every letter of the alphabet.</strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.92px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">You can drop the A’s and The’s from the book titles as shown below.</strong></span></div>
<h4 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20.88px; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0.5em 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 20.88px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 20.88px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">The First Main Word Needs To Be<br />The Letter You Are Counting </span></strong></h4>
<h4 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 20.88px; line-height: 1.1em; margin: 0.5em 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 20.88px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 20.88px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 20.88px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Except For those pesky Q, X AND Z titles the word <span style="border: 0px; font-size: 20.88px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">that starts</span>with the challenge letter can be anywhere in the title.</span></span></strong></h4>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.92px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">So there are two different ways you can set up your own A-Z Reading Challenge.</strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.92px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">A – Make a list on your blog from A-Z. Throughout the year, as you go along, add the books you are reading to the list. Towards the end of the year, you can check and see which letters you are missing and find books to fit.</strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.92px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">OR</strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.92px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #339966; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">B – Make a list now of 26 books, picking one for each letter of the alphabet. For example:</span> <span style="border: 0px; color: #d3156a; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">A – </span></span></strong></span><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="0425279596" data-amzn-link-id="06133d8af1077b93c82f03deb1b3755c" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Assault and Beret" href="http://www.amazon.com/Assault-Beret-Hat-Shop-Mystery/dp/0425279596/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=06133d8af1077b93c82f03deb1b3755c&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_198575" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #af0a4f; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Assault and Beret</a><img alt="" border="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_198575" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=dollycsthoug-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=06133d8af1077b93c82f03deb1b3755c&_cb=1478893839359" style="border: none !important; font-size: 13.92px; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /> </strong><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">by Jenn McKinlay</strong> </span><span style="border: 0px; color: #339966; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">B-</span> <a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="0425277267" data-amzn-link-id="19f555019198d5864e71c67959d330e3" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Bookman Dead Style" href="http://www.amazon.com/Bookman-Dead-Style-Dangerous-Mystery/dp/0425277267/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=19f555019198d5864e71c67959d330e3&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_833568" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #af0a4f; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Bookman Dead Style</a><img alt="" border="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_833568" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=dollycsthoug-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=19f555019198d5864e71c67959d330e3&_cb=1478894092148" style="border: none !important; font-size: 13.92px; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /> <span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">by Paige Shelton</span></strong><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </span> </strong></span></span><span style="border: 0px; color: #00ad25; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">C –</span> <a class="amzn_ps_bm_tl" data-amzn-asin="0425277232" data-amzn-link-id="9eeb8ed809a3212edb3af425d65c4e03" data-amzn-ps-bm-keyword="Cold Pressed Murder " href="http://www.amazon.com/Pressed-Murder-Olive-Grove-Mystery/dp/0425277232/ref=as_li_bk_tl/?tag=dollycsthoug-20&linkId=9eeb8ed809a3212edb3af425d65c4e03&linkCode=ktl" id="amznPsBmLink_6497453" rel="nofollow" style="border: 0px; color: #af0a4f; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Cold Pressed Murder </a><img alt="" border="0" id="amznPsBmPixel_6497453" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?source=bk&t=dollycsthoug-20&bm-id=default&l=ktl&linkId=9eeb8ed809a3212edb3af425d65c4e03&_cb=1478894254642" style="border: none !important; font-size: 13.92px; height: 0px !important; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px !important; width: 0px !important;" width="0" /><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">by Kelly Lane</span></strong><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </strong> </span><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">D</span> – <span style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://amzn.to/2fXJxgZ" style="border: 0px; color: blue; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Dead Cold Brew</a></span> <span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">by Cleo Coyle </span></strong><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">etc.</strong></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13.92px; margin-bottom: 1.5em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Books can be read in any order and all formats – print – e-book – audio – are acceptable for this challenge!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; color: #0033cc; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span></strong></span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Ready to join??</strong></span></div>
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<span style="border: 0px; color: #9900ff; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-size: 13.92px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">If you are interested, there are more details and a place to sign up on <a href="http://www.escapewithdollycas.com/reading-challenges/2017-alphabet-soup-reading-challenge/">Escape with Dollycas Into a Good Book.</a> </strong></span></div>
AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-64766311144997257552016-11-28T08:01:00.001-05:002016-11-28T08:03:09.313-05:00Christmas Readathon Wrap-Up Post<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://seasonsreading.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="Seasons of Reading" src="http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u359/miller4plusmore/christmas%20spirit%20readathon_zpscvqb0imr.jpg" height="246" width="320" /> </a> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>Well, here it is, the end of the Christmas Spirit Readathon! I'm sorry to say that there were times when I could have been reading that I just didn't want to do anything. That's sad, but true. I still enjoyed participating. I made progress on "The Angel's Game" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. That was fun because my son was in Barcelona while I was reading it. Also, I read two books by Melody Carlson - "The Christmas Shoppe" and "The Christmas Angel Project." I love Melody Carlson Christmas novels. They are really about Christmas - not some murder that happened or some mystery that had to be solved. They are about Christmas and they make your heart swell and sometimes they even make you cry Christmas tears. Love her. </i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i>So, that's my wrap-up. I'm planning to read more Christmas/Winter books and watch my favorite Christmas movies and television shows from now until January. My husband and I found a series of videos of old Andy Williams Christmas Specials on You Tube. We plan to investigate that this season as well. And I hear there's an I Love Lucy Christmas Special to air soon. Hope you all have fun doing Christmas things this holiday season! </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-85821083281850319292016-11-16T15:47:00.000-05:002016-11-16T15:47:45.820-05:00Christmas Spirit Readathon<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://seasonsreading.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="Seasons of Reading" src="http://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u359/miller4plusmore/christmas%20spirit%20readathon_zpscvqb0imr.jpg" height="246" width="320" /> </a> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I am participating in the Christmas Spirit Readathon which runs from Monday, November 21 at 12 a.m. CST to Sunday, November 27 at 11:59 p.m. CST (adjust for your time zone). </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>This readathon kicks off the Christmas season at Seasons of Reading and you can sign up <a href="http://seasonsreading.blogspot.com/2016/11/sign-up-for-christmas-spirit-readathon.html">here</a>. You do not have to read only Christmas/holiday books, but you do need to read at least one. You do not have to have a blog to participate. You can check in on Twitter with the hashtag #CSReadathon, you can link up on Goodreads, Facebook, etc. AND interact with us in our Facebook group. </i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>In addition, the Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge runs all season long - from November 21 through January 6, 2017. You can find out all about it and sign up for that at the <a href="http://truexmasspirit.blogspot.com/2016/11/christmas-spirit-reading-challenge-sign.html">Christmas Spirit</a> blog. I do this Reading Challenge every year. It includes books, children's books, movies, etc. Everything Christmas! Go on over and check it out! </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-62972690905924124292016-10-10T09:09:00.002-04:002016-10-10T09:09:42.217-04:00#Frighfall Read-a-Thon Wrap-up Post<img alt="Seasons of Reading" src="https://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u359/miller4plusmore/FrightFall%20RAT%202016_zpsrkuwi1m3.jpg" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>#Frightfall Read-a-Thon is over! I finished my scary book - "Forgotten Tales" by Edgar Allan Poe, a collection of short stories that were well-thought-out, a little scary and sometimes frightening to think about. They weren't the "jump out and get you" kind of scary, but I think they qualified for me. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I also made good progress on the other books I was reading: "Anne of Green Gables" by L. M. Montgomery (161 pages) and "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah (219 pages). "Anne of Green Gables" is the story of a lively young, red-haired orphan who is very intelligent and has an outstanding imagination. Compared to today's young adult novels, it is calm and some might say "ordinary," but I am enjoying it. A new movie adaptation is coming out on Thanksgiving Day. It is a frustrating decision whether to watch "Anne" or the first of the Gilmore Girls' reunion movies. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>"The Nightingale" is one of those compelling reads. I didn't want to put it down even to craft this post. It is a great book and I promise I will review it when I am done. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Thank you to Michelle at Seasons of Reading for hosting this Read-a-thon. I read every morning, but this past week I read in the evening and sometimes even in the afternoon! Thank you! </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-83891879767513698732016-10-03T09:46:00.000-04:002016-10-03T09:46:02.682-04:00Starting #Frightfall Read-a-Thon<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>It starts today! The #Frightfall Read-a-Thon! I found this little book at our public library's book sale last week. I plan to read one story every day of the Read-a-Thon. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>This is what Goodreads has to say about it: </i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Scary...</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Horrifying...</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Terrifying...</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Seven EERIE tales by the master of terror!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">The Spectacles - a young man sees what others don't...</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">The Oblong Box - it's shaped like a coffin, but what's inside?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">The Premature Burial - where the dead are really alive!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">The Oval Portrait - How can one person sit so still for so long?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;">Plus: Morella and more!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Ooooh went the wind, and out went the light...</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>What are you reading? </i></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91299764939614224.post-66965989735960438692016-09-29T16:37:00.001-04:002016-09-29T16:37:31.435-04:00Frightfall Read-a-Thon 2016<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: 16px;"></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: 16px;"><a href="http://seasonsreading.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <img alt="Seasons of Reading" height="231" src="https://i519.photobucket.com/albums/u359/miller4plusmore/FrightFall%20RAT%202016_zpsrkuwi1m3.jpg" width="350" /> </a> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>It's time for Seasons of Reading's Frightfall Read-a-Thon! I had a good time participating in the last Read-a-Thon, so I decided to join up with this one, too. </i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>The one main rule for #Frightfall is that you have to read at least ONE scary book. It can be a thriller, mystery, Gothic novel, or similar for those like me who don't really like scary books. I went to our public library's book sale today and I found "Forgotten Tales" by Edgar Allen Poe and "Heart of Darkness" by Joseph Conrad. They should do for the scary books, right? </i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>I am also reading "Anne of Green Gables" by L. M. Montgomery - definitely not scary. I hope to finish it during the Read-a-Thon. The last book I will dive into is our October pick for book club: "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah. I want to at least get started on it. </i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>So, that's what I'm doing for the #Frightfall Read-a-Thon. What books will you read next week? </i></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>AlleluiaLuhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03701508892842219439noreply@blogger.com0