tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18588891864208180752024-02-19T00:06:54.111-05:00The Local MuseWhat I've read and what inspires meMallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.comBlogger662125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-34019439076574636232018-06-07T00:30:00.000-04:002018-06-07T00:30:10.757-04:00Pride Themed TBR! I had made a list of books that I wanted to read in June based on what I had out from the library and what's on my top-priority shelf of books I own, and I realized that I had unintentionally created a great Pride themed TBR for June, which was so perfect, I just had to pop-in and tell you about it. I'm hoping to write a few reviews for books I've read while I've been gone, but I'm not sure if I will or not. The second half of the year will (hopefully) be extremely busy for me as I am hoping to start my first year of teaching, so I don't know if I will be back to posting or not, but for the meantime, here's what I'm hoping to read this month.<br />
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To see what I've been reading lately and a few quick thoughts, you can check out my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/22184057-mallory-the-local-muse" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>.<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Ace Representation</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31625039-let-s-talk-about-love?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann</a></div>
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I've heard lots of great things about this YA contemporary, and I'm really interested to read it as the main character identifies as Ace, which is not often represented in novels. I'm not sure if this is own voices or not, but I'll be checking into that after I read it. </div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;">Bisexual Representation</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22813605-hunger" target="_blank">Hunger by Roxane Gay</a></div>
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I'm currently listening to this one on audiobook and loving it. This is my first Gay, though she is an author I have been wanting to read for a very long time. So far this memoir is so honest and well written that I am captivated and just want to hear everything that Gay has to say. Gay identifies as bisexual.</div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: x-large;">Lesbian Representation </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25104465-tipping-the-velvet?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters</a></div>
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I read and loved Water's Fingersmith last year, and I have been wanting to read another of her books. I'm in the mood for romance novels this month (summer does that to me) but I tend to get tired of the typical YA contemporary romance if I read more than one or two in a month, so I thought a Water's historical romance would be great to throw in this month. </div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">Gay Representation </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38462.Giovanni_s_Room?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin</a></div>
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I'm also currently reading this one. I have been wanting to read this one for a very long time and have almost picked it up many times over the past two-or-so years and I finally decided now is the time! I'm really in the mood for a consuming and intense romance story, and I think this one will deliver. Baldwin himself was either gay or bisexual, and one of the only black authors to be open about it during the Harlem Renaissance, and I'm really eager to read his works. </div>
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Have you read any of these? What are you reading this month? Any intense and slightly tragic romances to recommend to me? </div>
Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-27018650915215168442018-04-02T00:30:00.000-04:002018-04-02T00:30:26.375-04:00March Book Haul! (And a cry for science fiction recommendations)The end of February was my birthday, and my parents bought me a few books, and I received some bookstore gift-cards as a gift, so March was a good month for new books! Here's a quick look at what's new to my shelves this month.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34728667-children-of-blood-and-bone?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Children of Blood and Bone</a> by Tomi Adeyemi</div>
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<a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/03/recently-read-gentlemans-guide-to-vice.html" target="_blank">The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue</a> by Mackenzi Lee </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_orS38ONO85vM2_zRZJO-U738ZMh9ENzyD2HYd9IR_WRXuaS5WlkKGQR4iMbAmvyhmTSMb94HvL3Pkm6f2lMzlhsEDs5ER5Ai9g3AdyRZVMWvwxUTx6KLFk_f1T9jmBPgq3r1rmTXWYDb/s1600/bygonebadassbroads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_orS38ONO85vM2_zRZJO-U738ZMh9ENzyD2HYd9IR_WRXuaS5WlkKGQR4iMbAmvyhmTSMb94HvL3Pkm6f2lMzlhsEDs5ER5Ai9g3AdyRZVMWvwxUTx6KLFk_f1T9jmBPgq3r1rmTXWYDb/s320/bygonebadassbroads.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35888416-bygone-badass-broads?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Bygone Badass Broads</a> by Mackenzi Lee</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17934530-annihilation?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Annihilation</a> by Jeff Vandermeer</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGYrKih3Njr1FS9XCaM7NcqLgtxByqZp_330IpLEuCFYC5pkx04yYyYu8Jktcyb1l-OgGVvCE_OfEjN7_YpkBq1E-h9SDLItJe-bfmOdhcjML4T-eHYfeiixzZM9bLSsE6JI3p2ZbYRtO/s1600/thelongwaytoasmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGYrKih3Njr1FS9XCaM7NcqLgtxByqZp_330IpLEuCFYC5pkx04yYyYu8Jktcyb1l-OgGVvCE_OfEjN7_YpkBq1E-h9SDLItJe-bfmOdhcjML4T-eHYfeiixzZM9bLSsE6JI3p2ZbYRtO/s320/thelongwaytoasmall.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22733729-the-long-way-to-a-small-angry-planet?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet</a> by Becky Chambers</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYm18Yjb2mQQHN31fVwztvowHPebC796pc1JIXCa-STGCom9RA_Vzq4uZcZkOjRMHIrG6vLyHFogrVQvXLsKz1VqnffVTOVkUAKlYELqw-frbm4BOOvcM026n67A4Q-seUFWx2xqRExqX/s1600/mayapoems.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglYm18Yjb2mQQHN31fVwztvowHPebC796pc1JIXCa-STGCom9RA_Vzq4uZcZkOjRMHIrG6vLyHFogrVQvXLsKz1VqnffVTOVkUAKlYELqw-frbm4BOOvcM026n67A4Q-seUFWx2xqRExqX/s320/mayapoems.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51881.Poems?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Poems</a> by Maya Angelou</div>
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I've been craving science fiction and fantasy reads lately, and science fiction is not a genre that I have a lot of experience with. I decided to use my gift-cards to buy Chambers' novel since I have been hearing really great things about that series, and I LOVED the movie version of Vandermeer's <i>Annihilation</i> so I thought those two would be an okay place to start with science fiction. If you have any recommendations for me, please let me know! <i> </i></div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-77490327995410859812018-03-28T00:30:00.000-04:002018-03-28T00:30:10.233-04:00Recently Read: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue <b>Author: </b>Mackenzi Lee<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult-Historical Fiction<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>2017<br />
<b>Page Count: </b>513<br />
<b>Rating: </b>4/5<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29283884-the-gentleman-s-guide-to-vice-and-virtue" target="_blank">Add on Goodreads</a></b><br />
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<i><span id="freeText7321424201103046286" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.<br /><br />But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.<br /><br />Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"> From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29283884-the-gentleman-s-guide-to-vice-and-virtue" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I knew I would love this book back when I first read the </span>synopsis<span style="font-family: inherit;"> for it, and I finally got around to reading it. I was hooked from page one, and knew that Monty was a character who I would end up loving. I loved the premise of this book and the </span>execution. I will say, the plot of this book took an unexpected turn for me, when it turned into an adventure story rather than just a comedic "roadtrip" novel, but I really enjoyed that turn. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The characters are all loveable and developed. I found myself caring about each of the main charactes as soon as they were introduced. The romance is sweet, but doesn't take over the plot of the novel, which I </span>appreciated<span style="font-family: inherit;">. I really liked Henry's sister Felicity, and I'm glad to see that she is getting her own novel this year. I will </span>definitely be picking that up as soon as it comes out, and I'll be picking up whatever Lee comes out with in the future, as this book was such an enjoyable read. I found myself laughing out loud a few times in the story, and I can see myself rereading this in the very near-future, which is how you know I enjoyed it. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This novel is worth the hype, and I really recommend you pick it up. It has all the elements of a great historical fiction that I love, great characters, multiple historical locations, romance, and travel, with the added bonus of humor and a bisexual main character. I really hope Lee writes more novels like this in the future. I have bought her </span>nonfiction<span style="font-family: inherit;"> anthology on women in history, and will be preordering Felicity's novel (and probably stalking Lee on Twitter to see what her future plans are for books.) This was the perfect distraction from work-related worry, and a highly enjoyable read. Oh, and there's pirates. This book has every possible thing you could need! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy Reading! </span></div>
Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-81539017541216828262018-03-26T00:30:00.000-04:002018-03-26T00:30:21.911-04:00Women's History Month: Nonfiction Recommendations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's no surprise that most of the nonfiction I read is women's history or feminist related. Here's a look at some of my favorite in honor of women's history month. </div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2015/11/recently-read-half-sky.html" target="_blank">Half of the Sky, Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn</a></div>
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This book is full of so much information about what it is like to be a woman around the world. This book is not an easy read, it's quite heavy and emotional, but it contains enough stories of successful and brave women to carry you through to the end. It also has a great collection of resources for further information and to help you get involved. </div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/02/recently-read-my-life-on-road.html" target="_blank">My Life on the Road, Gloria Steinem</a></div>
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This is my first Steinem piece, and I loved it! I loved her writing and her ability to listen. She is truly inspiring and so smart. She's an author I want to read more from ASAP. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK6v6XClcrl4im51PngvnwEBgUdDxVmXRej3CMMypIxEt7Rvb0_Ljt7kjN42h9s-M5a5gHR8e66-FcDmw4WQWXznyQNziHUbVqlWOQXAZaySXcO0yTAq3gQR-THXk5vtehrkbxLJzKZjR/s1600/westwiththenight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="334" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisK6v6XClcrl4im51PngvnwEBgUdDxVmXRej3CMMypIxEt7Rvb0_Ljt7kjN42h9s-M5a5gHR8e66-FcDmw4WQWXznyQNziHUbVqlWOQXAZaySXcO0yTAq3gQR-THXk5vtehrkbxLJzKZjR/s320/westwiththenight.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2017/06/recently-read-west-with-night.html" target="_blank">West With the Night, Beryl Markham</a></div>
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I really enjoyed this memoir from female pilot Beryl Markham. She lead such an interesting and barrier breaking life, and I really enjoyed reading this book and reading about this book. After they divorced, her ex-husband claimed to have written the book for his wife, but it is now widely accepted that she did indeed write her own memoir. A great fictional novel about Markham's life is Paula McClain's <a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2016/06/recently-read-circling-sun.html" target="_blank">Circling the Sun</a>. </div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2016/09/recently-read-i-am-malala.html" target="_blank">I am Malala, Christina Lamb and Malala Yousafzai</a></div>
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This is another great and moving memoir. I really loved listening to this one on audiobook, and I really want to reread it soon. Malala has such a strong narrative voice and her determination is inspiring. If you haven't read this one yet, you need to pick it up!<br />
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2016/08/recently-read-astronaut-wives-club.html" target="_blank">The Astronaut Wives Club, Lilly Kopple</a></div>
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I found this read really interesting, as I knew almost nothing about the space program in the 60s. I found myself constantly stopping to look up more information and pictures of the people in the book. I do think this could have been a little more in-depth, but I thought it was a really interesting look at the women behind the most famous men in the Space Race. </div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2017/02/recently-read-men-explain-things-to-me.html" target="_blank">Men Explain Things to Me, Rebecca Solnit</a><br />
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This essay collection is very well researched and Solnit is extremely eloquent. Quite a few of the essays in this collection are shocking and hard-hitting. I really want to read more feminist essays, and I think this was a great place to start. </div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-35673441640702876592018-03-21T00:30:00.000-04:002018-03-21T00:30:32.018-04:00Recently Read: Truly Devious<b>Author: </b>Maureen Johnson<br />
<b>Genre:</b> Young Adult/ Mystery<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>2018<br />
<b>Page Count: </b>416<br />
<b>Rating: </b>4/5<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29589074-truly-devious" target="_blank">Add on Goodreads</a></b><br />
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<b>Also by Maureen Johnson </b><br />
<b><a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2014/03/recently-read-name-of-star.html" target="_blank">The Name of the Star</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2014/04/recently-read-two-sequels.html" target="_blank">The Madness Underneath</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2015/08/recently-read-shadow-cabinet.html" target="_blank">The Shadow Cabinet </a></b><br />
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Stevie Bell is obsessed with solving crimes, one crime in particular: the disappearance of an American billionaire's wife in daughter in the late 1930s. When Stevie is accepted into the boarding school started by the billionaire, and the scene of the infamous crime, she is determined to solve the mystery once and for all, but first, she may have a few other crimes to solve. </div>
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Back in 2014 I read the first book in Johnson's <i>Shades of London </i>mystery series and I loved it! The next books in the series were less-great (though still good) so I was excited to hear that Johnson had a new YA mystery series coming out this year, but also a little unsure of how I would feel about it.</div>
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I really enjoyed this book! It was such a quick read. I read the ebook and couldn't believe when I finished it that it was four hundred pages because I flew through it. As usual, Johnson's characters were super loveable and interesting. I loved the dual mysteries and time-lines that were in the plot, and thought both of them were equally intriguing and entertaining. We receive information on the 1936 case in alternating chapters alongside Stevie's story, and I was just as invested in the past crime as the current story-line. I think the two will come together in a brilliant way in the upcoming novels.</div>
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All elements of this novel were high-quality including the mysteries, the characters, the setting, and the slow-burn and confused romance. I loved the idea of the boarding school for super-smart and creative kids, and I thought it made a great setting for a mystery. I think that this plot will really expand in the upcoming novels, as there is a lot of unanswered questions at the end of this book. I'm not looking forward to the wait for book two! I also loved all of the side characters, and found Stevie's classmates to be so interesting. I'm hoping that we will get to know these characters more in the upcoming books. There is a lot of natural-feeling diversity in the side characters, which is always appreciated.</div>
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I'm really looking forward to more books in this series. The end of this book had me trying to turn the page to the next chapter, and being shocked to see it was done. If you've been thinking about picking this one up, go for it! </div>
Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-34812362130539690132018-03-20T00:00:00.000-04:002018-03-20T00:00:23.706-04:00Top Ten Tuesday: Spring TBR<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlYNOyXiVydJ-Gj1L9QyGAze0WA0y0RGz9wphwQB2cIdp90fXx7b3Ri33kyINvUZrsTOYw8YO59LyDyhpOsyR8s_H7ZK0JmlySClK4Oai-05XcFRr9iKFtx7l1-GmM3htU_lCn4gAEydv/s1600/toptentuesnew.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="500" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlYNOyXiVydJ-Gj1L9QyGAze0WA0y0RGz9wphwQB2cIdp90fXx7b3Ri33kyINvUZrsTOYw8YO59LyDyhpOsyR8s_H7ZK0JmlySClK4Oai-05XcFRr9iKFtx7l1-GmM3htU_lCn4gAEydv/s320/toptentuesnew.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Right now, I'm in a HUGE science fiction and fantasy mood, which you will see reflected in this list of books I really want to get to this spring. I've been craving to sit down with a long and super involved fantasy: problem is, work is taking up all my reading time and energy. Hopefully I'll find some time to dive into a few of the selections from this list during the season. Let me know where I should start! All titles link to Goodreads! </div>
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Hosted by:<a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank">That Artsy Girl Reader</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34728667-children-of-blood-and-bone?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi</a> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcOiwrEzS_QFjJMmmB2wyOyDwhOlLYDbCN_kbe_nDG6hyMqHdg1F-oImYmMW-VdT-6qmoRejcVrRyNpFATdFyFoFx_agRQfwzH0O6Rx7v2OjCewk6QzcAHtHanlRg8hUAOw6cW9NYRDmm/s1600/andidarken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcOiwrEzS_QFjJMmmB2wyOyDwhOlLYDbCN_kbe_nDG6hyMqHdg1F-oImYmMW-VdT-6qmoRejcVrRyNpFATdFyFoFx_agRQfwzH0O6Rx7v2OjCewk6QzcAHtHanlRg8hUAOw6cW9NYRDmm/s320/andidarken.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27190613-and-i-darken?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">And I Darken, Kiersten White</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsAbrSp2-9mxwAtD0xqMfJ1N1ZA6NQ6RnI0sa4MGozqJvO6pgJqh3gUyAxwzqLztWt01xM6i85eQBZl57xHU4Y4hPmcxYxz9GY42LBhGvwQpestdlccnKyqaQ39J24rGhEPScw534ZZzfM/s1600/queenofshadows.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/AVvXsEjsAbrSp2-9mxwAtD0xqMfJ1N1ZA6NQ6RnI0sa4MGozqJvO6pgJqh3gUyAxwzqLztWt01xM6i85eQBZl57xHU4Y4hPmcxYxz9GY42LBhGvwQpestdlccnKyqaQ39J24rGhEPScw534ZZzfM/s320/queenofshadows.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18006496-queen-of-shadows?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Queen of Shadows, Sarah J. Maas</a></div>
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(Need to reread <i>Heir of Fire </i>before diving into this one)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQb1K28zcfdfMd7FtzYgwYUcg3IW4v9aAAjB-n3BfnzCTZqlRooqDtsdRt_TMmJ5zeJfmMkYx-aJQcd8yFyqJDehQ4M6O_yu_xTgcydXtQzZ1ZXwxURBvOIN4k1LfJhogzs0HouoRgMvQ/s1600/annnihilation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQb1K28zcfdfMd7FtzYgwYUcg3IW4v9aAAjB-n3BfnzCTZqlRooqDtsdRt_TMmJ5zeJfmMkYx-aJQcd8yFyqJDehQ4M6O_yu_xTgcydXtQzZ1ZXwxURBvOIN4k1LfJhogzs0HouoRgMvQ/s320/annnihilation.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17934530-annihilation?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Annihilation, Jeff VanderMeer</a></div>
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(Loved the movie, now I want to read the series)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25667918-binti?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Binti, Nnedi Okorafor</a></div>
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(Will be reading this one very soon)</div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35297386-the-apocalypse-of-elena-mendoza" target="_blank">The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza, Shaun David Huthinson</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35707056-undead-girl-gang" target="_blank">Undead Girl Gang, Lily Anderson</a></div>
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(High hopes for this one) </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23588512-alice-and-the-fly" target="_blank">Alice and the Fly, James Rice</a></div>
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I will be a happy camper if I manage to make it through some of these reads this spring! What are you looking forward to reading this spring? Any good sci-fi or fantasy recommendations? </div>
Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-44624988751482212362018-03-19T00:30:00.000-04:002018-03-19T00:30:29.352-04:00Women's History Month:Classic Reading RecommendationsHappy Women's History Month! It's taken me longer than I would have wished to be able to put some posts together about this event because work got in the way, but I'm here now! If you have visited before, you would know that literature and feminism are two of my favorite things, so I love posting about Women's History Month. I thought I would start out with a few reading recommendations in case you are looking for a way to celebrate.<br />
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As I was putting this general recommendations list together, I realized I had too many recommendations for one post, so I have decided to split it up between genres. Stay tuned for the nonfiction and Young Adult recommendation lists!<br />
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<i>Titles Link to my reviews </i></div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2014/06/thoughts-on-room-of-ones-own-part-one.html" target="_blank">A Room of One's Own, Virginia Woolf </a></div>
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This is a great place to dive in to both Woolf and feminist nonfiction if you are looking for a jumping in spot. Although this was written about ninety years ago, it still rings very true and is very accessible for the modern reader. If you have an interest in feminist literature, this is a must read. </div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2014/12/author-overview-kate-chopin.html" target="_blank">The Awaking and Other Stories, Kate Chopin</a></div>
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Chopin is the ultimate feminist author. <i>The Awaking </i>is a feminist manifesto for women in every century. Chopin is clever and talented but also fearless with her heavy feminist themes in a time where they were even less accepted than today. </div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2015/02/poetry-spotlight-1-ariel-and-other.html" target="_blank">Ariel and Other Poems, Sylvia Plath</a></div>
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Plath is one of my all-time favorite authors, and I am constantly in awe of the power her words posses. Her poetry leaves me speechless, and every time I read a poem of hers, I find something new to admire or ponder, which is really saying something, because I have read some of her poems countless times. Plath with always be one of the most talented poets that literature has ever seen in my eyes. </div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2016/02/recently-read-frankenstein.html" target="_blank">Frankenstein, Mary Shelley</a></div>
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This novel is a true masterpiece. I thought I would enjoy it when I picked it up, but I didn't know I would be awed by its beauty and power and go on to spend a semester completing two different projects on it. The genre of science fiction was created by a teenage girl, and I really don't think that is a sentence that is said enough. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpW2095veJdBhRDQyVzij0l-7EcW3zbFlrQivVtd0aZoVIFESZpTX1Nfk36lMI7bqxSGXd8QGtWFPChy0OPslQr9N8LpzU-LCl7Mak8zpujra-24-M5PLQHhN44vMBwF9-86IIuE_xeHG/s1600/iknowwhythecagedbirdsings.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="447" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmpW2095veJdBhRDQyVzij0l-7EcW3zbFlrQivVtd0aZoVIFESZpTX1Nfk36lMI7bqxSGXd8QGtWFPChy0OPslQr9N8LpzU-LCl7Mak8zpujra-24-M5PLQHhN44vMBwF9-86IIuE_xeHG/s320/iknowwhythecagedbirdsings.png" width="216" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2016/10/recently-read-i-know-why-caged-bird.html" target="_blank">I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou</a></div>
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Maya Angelou is my ultimate inspirational woman. I love all of her works and various talents and forms of activism. I have been making my way through her autobiographies and loving each and every one, but her first memoir is my favorite. This book made me laugh and cry and I was completely consumed by Angelou's written voice, and verbal voice, as I listened to this on audio. This book is fantastic and should be read by all. </div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2016/06/recently-read-memoirs-of-beaknik-or.html" target="_blank">Memoirs of a Beatnik, Diane di Prima</a></div>
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I really enjoyed researching this book after I finished it. This novel's history is so much more interesting than the actual novel itself. This is not di Prima's real memoir, as the publishers were not interested in publishing the true story of a female Beatnik poet, but a fictionalized memoir that di Prima wrote to sell to the publishers to fund her poetry projects. I loved reviewing this one and talking about the story of how it came to be, and the reception of the novel. I've got my eyes on di Prima's actual memoir, as I think her life is super interesting. </div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2015/11/recently-read-lamplighter-classics-club.html" target="_blank">The Lamplighter, Maria Cummins</a></div>
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This novel was wildly popular in its time, but is now mostly forgotten. It is a long Victorian novel written by a female author about a female main character. It follows the main character all through out her life (<i>Jane Eyre </i>style) and is a classic example of the domestic novels that allowed women an opportunity to earn their own income in the mid 1800s. For more information on this time period of "scribbling women" check out <a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2016/09/the-forgotten-women-of-american.html" target="_blank">this post on forgotten American women writers</a>. </div>
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<a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2015/04/recently-read-emma.html" target="_blank">Emma, Jane Austen</a></div>
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I couldn't make this list without including my favorite Austen novel! This novel is so funny, and all of Austen's works are so timeless. Emma is so irritating yet redeemable and really pushes the boundaries set on Georgian women. All of the Austen's works I have read so far are great, but this is by-far my favorite. </div>
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This is just a small collection of recommended reading; this list could be pages and pages long. For more recommendations see my <a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/p/im-making-effort-to-read-more-modern.html" target="_blank">Women Writer's List </a>for reviews of books I have read, and authors I want to read. </div>
Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-88920722724001906532018-03-14T00:30:00.000-04:002018-03-14T00:30:33.135-04:00Recently Read Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls<b>Author: </b>Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Nonfiction/ Illustrated<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>2017<br />
<b>Page Count: </b>212<br />
<b>Rating: </b>2.5/5<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33016249-good-night-stories-for-rebel-girls" target="_blank">Add on Goodreads</a></b><br />
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<b>You may also like:</b><br />
<b><a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/01/recently-read-women-in-science-50.html" target="_blank">Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed the World</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wll93zQUhfzaFtmzQLDow14X08lWfUs200qpZgDiNlewXV5B01KYadqISPR7TCSGlej-UabLoXmjwyXm9eZOSe4TX70cyLVwi_4XzkF8IKD_oHMBRfdKYvNLf5-zBjIeKJcN-NkQBU83/s1600/goodnightforrebel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wll93zQUhfzaFtmzQLDow14X08lWfUs200qpZgDiNlewXV5B01KYadqISPR7TCSGlej-UabLoXmjwyXm9eZOSe4TX70cyLVwi_4XzkF8IKD_oHMBRfdKYvNLf5-zBjIeKJcN-NkQBU83/s1600/goodnightforrebel.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i>Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls </i>in an anthology in the style of bed-time stories about one hundred women from history. Each story is accompanied by an illustration. </div>
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These anthologies of forgotten or overlooked women of history are becoming quite popular, and I love it! I have been reading as many as I can get my hands on because I love using them to discover new-to-me women from history. You may know I majored in English and minored in history, and my area of interest was always gender in both subjects, so these books were made for me! This is the most popular of these anthologies as it is already getting a sequel and has had quite a bit of buzz. However, I heard some critiques of the book I found interesting (mainly <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSC-eRI4OCU" target="_blank">this video from Jean Bookish Thoughts on Youtube</a>) so I was really interested in checking it out from the library before purchasing it for myself, and I'm glad I did because I have some mixed thoughts.</div>
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Obviously, I love the premise behind this one. I love the idea of a book funded by kickstarter about forgotten women of history all around the world accompanied by portraits of said women done by tons of different women artists, but this sounds better than it was. I found my main problem with this book was the writing of the actual stories. The stories were so vague and watered down that they hardly contained any information about the women themselves or their work. I also found that some of the women's stories focused on strange aspects of their lives other than their work. Virginia Woolf's page, for example, was all about her depression; two short sentences on the page mention that she was a writer. I found myself wanting to learn more about these women than these short summaries offered. There is also the question of the inclusion of a few of the women, as Jean mentions in the video above. There are ancient female leaders who conquered other nations in here, as well as Margaret Thatcher, who was anti-equal rights for many groups of individuals. This brings to light the idea that having power should not automatically earn someone admiration. </div>
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One thing I did love about this book was the full-page color illustration of each woman. I loved that the authors worked with sixty different female artists and that the portraits were of all different styles. Some of the art I loved, and some I didn't, but I appreciated the variation more than I thought I would at the beginning. I also loved that this book included women from around the world as well as throughout time. This collection was one of the most diverse I have seen. It spans ancient Chinese rulers to current athletes and activists. I also appreciated that current women were represented in this book, and a lot of them are very young. </div>
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<br />If more time and detail had been put into the writing in this book, I would have loved it. I came away with a long list of women I want to research and read about, which is exactly what I'm looking for in these anthologies. I will continue to read every one of these types of anthologies that come out because I love supporting books and ideas like this. Although I think there are probably better anthologies out there, (I'll let you know when I find one) I do recommend you pick this one up.</div>
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Let me know if you have any recommendations for me of similar books. Oh, and Happy National Women's History Month :)</div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-42740281425842066222018-03-07T00:30:00.000-05:002018-03-07T00:30:28.774-05:00February Wrap-Up: T.V, Movies, Books, and More<div style="text-align: center;">
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February has been busy for me. The long-term substitute job I had lined up started about five weeks earlier than I had expected it too, so I have been a bit scrambled. That also means that my February reading plans did not happen, as I found myself without a lot of reading time. However, I did manage to read and watch a few things this month, that I wanted to tell you about. I'm going to to try to stick to two posts a week during this new teaching job, but we will see what I can get done. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-large;">T.V. and Movies</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGahj5QOggzu36UI-eS5rsolb257z3m-3Kh1c5U00c8LluNROjS1ZFFqgcFeTUkyo4Y-rtHOcOjpVkipXB_HNJz_AFf-k-0moDI6LpHmWzTVn1ItxDtpd2ORFbk6FFQYFZuGDvQfiWNlnW/s1600/Paris-Is-Burning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1600" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGahj5QOggzu36UI-eS5rsolb257z3m-3Kh1c5U00c8LluNROjS1ZFFqgcFeTUkyo4Y-rtHOcOjpVkipXB_HNJz_AFf-k-0moDI6LpHmWzTVn1ItxDtpd2ORFbk6FFQYFZuGDvQfiWNlnW/s320/Paris-Is-Burning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've been in the mood for documentaries lately, so I started the month off with <i>Paris is Burning</i> which is a documentary made in 1990 about the Drag Queen scene in Harlem New York. I found this one really interesting, as I didn't know anything about the 90s drag scene. The documentary interviews various frequenters of the club Paris is Burning, and interviews them about their life inside and out of the nightclub. I found it fascinating to see that a lot of the slang that black drag queens had invented is coming back in style, and that they are responsible for a lot of cultural elements that they are not given credit for. This documentary is both series and funny, and I really enjoyed watching it. </div>
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The second documentary I watched this month was <i>Finding Vivian Maier</i>. This one reminded me of <i><a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2017/06/need-something-to-watch-try-this.html" target="_blank">Packed in a Trunk</a></i>, which I loved, as they both centered around an undiscovered woman artist. This was is about a nanny who was a secret street photographer and took hundreds of thousands of photos in her lifetime. I really loved this one as it was a dynamic look at her art and her life, and was so engrossing. The photos Vivian Maier took are absolutely stunning, and you can see some of them on the website dedicated to her art <a href="http://www.vivianmaier.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rSQ23g9xrz1IpCyp5FIfoTWBsYX6S6q9EAFYxPsEskjSq6podtF_JMlm0kl0qq0RpGslk3QB-WWuCuRQLxMrt20lmzzhwLj3aMIL3IKd6c7_7GhlvwKfRA2gkhvpU0mvTwzb39ebh8Fs/s1600/queereye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1000" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rSQ23g9xrz1IpCyp5FIfoTWBsYX6S6q9EAFYxPsEskjSq6podtF_JMlm0kl0qq0RpGslk3QB-WWuCuRQLxMrt20lmzzhwLj3aMIL3IKd6c7_7GhlvwKfRA2gkhvpU0mvTwzb39ebh8Fs/s320/queereye.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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My mom and I devoured the <i>Queer Eye for a Straight Guy </i>reboot in a matter of two days this month! I LOVE this show! The new fab five is so sweet and funny, and this show has so much heart. It's so much more than a makeover show. It's about human connection and understanding and doesn't shy away from current social topics. This show had me tearing up from emotion and laughter, and I hope there is a million more seasons! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUCuWVXIRUB-JTAem5o5ctAfkdY2hJeov7JjAmr7Y9IRHSziHI9fNhuK0wA9cGwHXUytLSO4YCrHKsbotl7XoSTrEuy9iZaokzqjTELTVdplJN794flP73ZaK1wrIMnpBTeBSmcOalnZg/s1600/blackpanther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="823" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUCuWVXIRUB-JTAem5o5ctAfkdY2hJeov7JjAmr7Y9IRHSziHI9fNhuK0wA9cGwHXUytLSO4YCrHKsbotl7XoSTrEuy9iZaokzqjTELTVdplJN794flP73ZaK1wrIMnpBTeBSmcOalnZg/s320/blackpanther.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
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I really loved <i>Black Panther </i>and I was glad to see that it lived up to the hype! The Afro-futurism setting was super cool; everyone in this movie is so beautiful; and it had more interesting female characters in it than all of the other marvel movies combined. I'm excited to see where this franchise goes, and I'm hoping that Marvel keeps delivering movies like this with complex and diverse characters. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszs3vqp3-2EL6JYqZFd6pFgnfZ1OP7OIYY2gCcdpauBxGMCwyW7wSh1HOA2r-LHuFvWh63YHgFynJJK8SMkryUYUMhZoPltPFC4dVrZPTplHpy6-HUoIWHslBHgANJa3nCrErT4RjrAKx/s1600/awrinkleintime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszs3vqp3-2EL6JYqZFd6pFgnfZ1OP7OIYY2gCcdpauBxGMCwyW7wSh1HOA2r-LHuFvWh63YHgFynJJK8SMkryUYUMhZoPltPFC4dVrZPTplHpy6-HUoIWHslBHgANJa3nCrErT4RjrAKx/s320/awrinkleintime.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfRYoS51U4aTik6I2Q6oC2gS-1k9MZJohyS7Y3r28MGKIackMNxe0KbbDLZNyPPhvWDdTThFhdDEpjtNSGlYa-ZmRyPyc-_7kjuRdI3saJLhUiuZcTaO82RMT3EMP38e5SahmOVwOJdUZ/s1600/marysmonster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfRYoS51U4aTik6I2Q6oC2gS-1k9MZJohyS7Y3r28MGKIackMNxe0KbbDLZNyPPhvWDdTThFhdDEpjtNSGlYa-ZmRyPyc-_7kjuRdI3saJLhUiuZcTaO82RMT3EMP38e5SahmOVwOJdUZ/s320/marysmonster.jpg" width="211" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/02/recently-read-wrinkle-in-time.html" target="_blank">A Wrinkle in Time</a>- </span>4/5 stars- This was a first-time read for me, and I really enjoyed it. I'm really looking forward to this movie!<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/02/recently-read-marys-monster.html" target="_blank">Mary's Monster</a>-</span>5/5 stars- This book was gorgeous! It's an illustrated biography of Mary Shelley and the art is breathtaking. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXODIWrFXraDv6viqXewcv5KcB2QdHIDOfMjBej4LbxFfJSmM8EG5MBQKE-lM8bHloBlhyphenhyphenpOuCesS-zJ-Ckk_VLyvwOFPfyDc-zSq0wFw8RDtB1RVQ5FLkCPjXN0bvv6JpoQfbQStRrMQu/s1600/mylifeontheroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXODIWrFXraDv6viqXewcv5KcB2QdHIDOfMjBej4LbxFfJSmM8EG5MBQKE-lM8bHloBlhyphenhyphenpOuCesS-zJ-Ckk_VLyvwOFPfyDc-zSq0wFw8RDtB1RVQ5FLkCPjXN0bvv6JpoQfbQStRrMQu/s320/mylifeontheroad.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/02/recently-read-my-life-on-road.html" target="_blank">My Life on the Road</a>-</span>5/5 stars- This was my first read of Steinem's work, and I really loved it. The writing is great and her experiences and knowledge of our society are so vast and intricate. She has really inspired me to concentrate on listening even more than I was before reading this novel.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This Darkness Mine- </span>3.5/5 stars- This book was a wild ride in true Mindy McGinnis style. This book was addicting and dark and cemented McGinnis' place on my auto-read list.<br />
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<a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/02/top-ten-tuesday-books-that-made-romance.html" target="_blank">Ten Books That Made a Romance Skeptic Swoon</a> (this one goes all</div>
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the way back to my teenage reading years)</div>
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<a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/02/poetry-spotlight-black-history-month.html" target="_blank">Poetry Spotlight: Black History Month</a></div>
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Stay tuned for some Women's History Month themed posts in March! </div>
<br />Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-22380874825730379392018-03-05T00:30:00.000-05:002018-03-05T00:30:11.570-05:00Recently Read: This Darkness Mine<b>Author: </b>Mindy McGinnis<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Young Adult/Thriller<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>2017<br />
<b>Page Count: </b>376<br />
<b>Rating: </b>3.5/5<br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30249925-this-darkness-mine" target="_blank"><br /></a></b>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30249925-this-darkness-mine" target="_blank">Add on Goodreads</a></b><br />
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<b>Also by this author:</b><br />
<b><a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2017/07/recently-read-female-of-species-read.html" target="_blank">The Female of the Species </a></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl2ECZHwT2U_V9R3IDCpbFP1EztRMw4YpBd1RC2jS-PCWqb7-RkwXvFt-KJWkSMHJgQDlNqjwivQjdutLmci-cPCSfEb7AoMWnngRjf4EZfxDS8vIcMi4oH211Pe3bO1OwoV2JA0gLo6z/s1600/thisdarknessmine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl2ECZHwT2U_V9R3IDCpbFP1EztRMw4YpBd1RC2jS-PCWqb7-RkwXvFt-KJWkSMHJgQDlNqjwivQjdutLmci-cPCSfEb7AoMWnngRjf4EZfxDS8vIcMi4oH211Pe3bO1OwoV2JA0gLo6z/s320/thisdarknessmine.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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Sasha Stone is the perfect girl. She's a gifted clarinet player destined to play for a top college, a straight A student, and has a perfectly polite boyfriend. But a bad-boy named Issac seems to have control of her heart, even more-so than she does. Sasha learns that before birth, she had a twin sister who was never born, but her sister may have found a way to get what, and who, she wants through Sasha. </div>
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McGinnis is a brilliant writer. Her writing is so captivating and intense, and even though her stories are uncomfortable at times, I just can't look away. <i><a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2017/07/recently-read-female-of-species-read.html" target="_blank">The Female of the Species</a> </i>really shocked and consumed me when I read it, and I knew I had to read more from McGinnis after finishing that one. I picked this one up at my library as soon as I saw it, and flew through it.</div>
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McGinnis is brilliant at writing unhinged characters. Her characters are so unlike anything else in YA. I love a well-done unreliable narrator, and McGinnis has the best in YA. This story is weird, mysterious, shocking, and at times uncomfortable, but McGinnis' story-telling makes it impossible to look away. I really didn't know where this story was headed and was surprised at every twist-and-turn. </div>
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While I really enjoyed being immersed in this book, I don't think it was as strong of a novel as <i>The Female of the Species</i>. To me, <i>The Female of the Species</i> read like a very sophisticated literary fiction, and it dealt with themes and ideas that were vast and complex. This one read more like a typical YA thriller, but with a brilliantly well-done main character. I thought the first half of the book was a lot stronger than the second half, but I was still completely hooked the whole way through. </div>
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McGinnis has made her way on to my 'auto-read' list, and I have picked up another one of her books since finishing this one. If you are looking for a book that will completely absorb you, or get you out of a slump, I recommend checking out McGinnis' works. What she's doing feels unique, and she's very good at what she does. </div>
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If you have any recommendations for YA books with unreliable narrators, please let me know! </div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-77362992932141952962018-02-26T00:30:00.000-05:002018-02-26T00:30:00.258-05:00Recently Read: My Life on the Road<b>Author: </b>Gloria Steinem<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Nonfiction/Memoir<br />
<b>Page Count: </b>280<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>2015<br />
<b>Rating: </b>5/5<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15451058-my-life-on-the-road" target="_blank">Add on Goodreads</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroBpmPjRWixM6OXLq8g9iACAYZhyphenhyphenU-kRAZqT_HLY97SGQLbG-ksdOQ6iX7WUehmCHqdo13SMuVcdKzyImSPS1snfyijOuN-0DsGwYZLnKH27LPOCXdi1JDfGzsOCIKUsVsruTvPUUANCm/s1600/mylifeontheroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroBpmPjRWixM6OXLq8g9iACAYZhyphenhyphenU-kRAZqT_HLY97SGQLbG-ksdOQ6iX7WUehmCHqdo13SMuVcdKzyImSPS1snfyijOuN-0DsGwYZLnKH27LPOCXdi1JDfGzsOCIKUsVsruTvPUUANCm/s320/mylifeontheroad.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Gloria Steinem has done everything. She's an activist, journalist, organizer, magazine editor, traveler, speaker, and listener. In her essay-style memoir, she recounts some of the most important events in her life and what she has learned from her travels and her long activist career. </div>
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This is my first Steinem experience. I was aware of her and her work before reading this, and I knew she was a person that I wanted to read about and from, so I thought her memoir would be a good place to start. I knew I would enjoy this, but I didn't know the writing would be so good. Steinem's writing is so engaging and entertaining, that even when she is discussing complex or distressing concepts, it felt like a casual conversation with a friend. </div>
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This memoir starts with a chapter on her childhood with a focus on her father. This was my favorite chapter of the novel. The way that Steinem writes about her always-traveling father with love, admiration, and introspective-reflection was quite beautiful. Steinem has a great outlook on life, and has accomplished so much in so many areas of life and activism, it's a bit insane. </div>
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The biggest take away from this memoir for me was the importance of listening. Steinem is a constant listener, and because of this, she is able to learn and experience so much life. She covers so many interesting topics and eras in the novel and recounts the stories of others rather than herself. While feminism is a large focus of this novel, as it is a large focus of Steinem's career, it is not the only focus. Steinem discusses racism, overcoming a fear of public speaking, AIDS activism, the rights of indigenous Americans, and of course travel. Her section on the primary election in 2008 between Obama and Hillary Clinton was fascinating. Her account of listening to democratic women who did not support Clinton was so interesting, and her conclusions were something that I had never thought of before. </div>
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Before this novel, I admired Steinem for her activism and barrier-breaking career. After reading her memoir, I still admire her for those things, but even more than that, I admire her ability to listen and communicate. Her chapter on talking circles and her audience-involvement at her public speaking events has really inspired me to listen more. I have always considered myself a good listener, but I could always do a better job of listening to individuals (particularly ones I disagree with or who think differently than me) and I think that is something that is universally true of humans. I can see myself revisiting chapters in this novel many times, and found myself marking many sections where I learned something new or was introduced to a new approach to a topic. </div>
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I highly recommend checking this out if you have an interest in Steinem, feminism, activism, or just want to learn something new. I want to search out more of her work, particularly her essays in the near future, as well as learn more about some of the activists I was introduced to in this novel. </div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-18464196641455516792018-02-21T00:30:00.000-05:002018-02-21T00:30:12.874-05:00Recently Read: Mary's Monster<b>Author: </b>Lita Judge<br />
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<b>Genre:</b> Nonfiction/Illustrated</div>
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<b>Publication Date: </b>2018</div>
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<b>Page Count: </b>320</div>
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<b>Rating: </b>5/5</div>
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<b>You May Also Like:</b></div>
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<b><a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2016/02/recently-read-frankenstein.html" target="_blank">Frankenstein Review</a></b></div>
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<b><a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2015/08/literary-look-gothic-novel.html" target="_blank">Literary Look: The Gothic Novel </a></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqj5B6s0IjpitRCQ-fc6zsL7jNyNFGRxyngHw06QPbv3k7I5GWZPE043KvR_IHF4Oxx0ckaB4i-74kFdr9-TyH4QHox9dnX4L0AdS_m4WsV0PEyw5u8W1yV9yrjbakdyq3cpyFjwuDO8F/s1600/marysmonster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqj5B6s0IjpitRCQ-fc6zsL7jNyNFGRxyngHw06QPbv3k7I5GWZPE043KvR_IHF4Oxx0ckaB4i-74kFdr9-TyH4QHox9dnX4L0AdS_m4WsV0PEyw5u8W1yV9yrjbakdyq3cpyFjwuDO8F/s320/marysmonster.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<i>Mary's Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley created Frankenstein</i> tells Mary Shelley's life and woes with beautiful illustrations. From her own birth, which brings misfortune, to the death of her beloved, Percy Bysshe Shelley, and the creation of her masterpiece and the science fiction genre, Mary Shelley's story is heartbreaking and poetic. </div>
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I read <i>Frankenstein </i>a couple of years ago, and I believe it is one of the best and most important novels ever written, even more impressive, is that Shelley was eighteen years old when she began writing it. I researched the origin of the novel a little bit when I first read it, as I was writing a paper on it, and immediately knew I needed to learn more about Shelley. When I saw this one, I was interested, but upon learning it was completely illustrated, I immediately ran to my library to grab it. </div>
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The story of Shelley's life is told in free-verse and accompanied by absolutely breathtaking illustrations. The back-flap reveals that this books took Judge five years to finish, and I cannot imagine how much work went into this novel. Every illustration is a full-page or double-page charcoal drawing, which captures the mood of Shelley's life perfectly. </div>
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Mary Shelley had a turbulent life and romance with the famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley. Her fear of and tragic experiences with pregnancy and birth lead her to explore themes of creation and motherhood in <i>Frankenstein </i>and her involvement with Shelley, Byron, and others in the Romantic circle allowed for her to create and publish her novel. Shelley wrote <i>Frankenstein </i>in nine months, while she was pregnant with her second child; her first had died ten days after birth. It was published anonymously, but after it's great success with the public, Lord Byron published proof that Shelley was the author.</div>
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This biography is a great introduction to Shelley's life. It gives the complete story of Shelley and her creation, but it doesn't go too deep. I have plans to read much larger biographies, but I'm glad that I read this one first. The art is what really makes this novel. Shelley was an amazingly brilliant woman who defied society at every turn and created one of the most important and popular novels ever written. I recommend this novel for all levels of interest in Shelley and her work. Even if you are a seasoned-Shelley-scholar, the artwork in this novel is worth seeing alongside her story. </div>
Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-60487584268465934512018-02-19T00:30:00.000-05:002018-02-19T00:30:24.860-05:00My Library Holds ListI've been trying to cut down on my book buying this year, as I am running out of shelf space for my physical TBR at the moment. It really stresses me out to see a jam-packed shelf of books that I have owned for various amounts of time that are still unread, so I've been trying not to add to it. I have of course bought some books this year, but I have been using the library a ton in the past two months. One thing I like about placing holds on books from the library is that you're on the list to get the book, but if there are people in front of you, you don't get it right away. That means that in the mean time I can read the books I own and it really is the best of both worlds. Here's a look at what I have a hold on at the moment in both physical and ebook format from my library.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrLtqZEzozanfBKtvEO65QZh2gRpd51U5Tw0hK5nVPfzHZdg7qgB-3tRtK9yYJaM75asDuqILuqS3-DArlshhiMgg5r7ifbZdAaLz8BNDIlc_NdqkuKhz0qtyhHTvri-5QxLSid5TRXQq/s1600/truly+devious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTrLtqZEzozanfBKtvEO65QZh2gRpd51U5Tw0hK5nVPfzHZdg7qgB-3tRtK9yYJaM75asDuqILuqS3-DArlshhiMgg5r7ifbZdAaLz8BNDIlc_NdqkuKhz0qtyhHTvri-5QxLSid5TRXQq/s320/truly+devious.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
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Everything I have read by Maureen Johnson has made me crack up, so I really want to read her new release. She's great at mystery and humor, and since this is a mystery, I think I'll really enjoy it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoq19iGesXualMEM3TI8nN0a7tJKUZH1WxDtYwZKBUdIK3nzzI-5wpsDJLdbzqu-AKPlJtpGI5ycfGy-jOWWmZ13Njg3bJfteCq1eA3be1PUnaLfFFs1S8WBiPPh_U0YENVDQ0b6wsQJd/s1600/binti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="297" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBoq19iGesXualMEM3TI8nN0a7tJKUZH1WxDtYwZKBUdIK3nzzI-5wpsDJLdbzqu-AKPlJtpGI5ycfGy-jOWWmZ13Njg3bJfteCq1eA3be1PUnaLfFFs1S8WBiPPh_U0YENVDQ0b6wsQJd/s320/binti.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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This sci-fi novella is a bit different from what I would normally pick up, but I've heard great things about this series, and I have been interested in science fiction lately. I've got a long list of books I want to read in this genre, and I think this will be a good starting place. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMoWWQwiIi_P6G__WI3D1ep9YmVav4QbSlqSSkHCKwT-Du2icByIe_NYAaWuEUVUxStCTjakORGnNz14uHILrS2g0ekueT0u2g3s2iZozGbhXWaKZ8rukn-_-CELbqFCJlyKeg3k36kOj/s1600/marysmonster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMoWWQwiIi_P6G__WI3D1ep9YmVav4QbSlqSSkHCKwT-Du2icByIe_NYAaWuEUVUxStCTjakORGnNz14uHILrS2g0ekueT0u2g3s2iZozGbhXWaKZ8rukn-_-CELbqFCJlyKeg3k36kOj/s320/marysmonster.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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What really drew me to this nonfiction account of Mary Shelley's life and her creation of <i>Frankenstein </i>was that it is illustrated. I love <i>Frankenstein</i>; I think it is one of the best novels ever written, and I really want to learn more about Shelley. I have a longer biography of her and her mother on my shelves already (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22294061-romantic-outlaws?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Romantic Outlaws</a>), but I think this shorter one will be a nice introduction. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifw38I2tINifyvITKQfljIB-Xpq1F3Axs0iFmvdVFXWoNxfCNlEPbsIGl7_doecPRW0PQM-XA4uoYvv3ZAlZW5HZ1M5krW2cCEQ63aRsDmUHWhOnjEnIJ6vYaSL7lDpjP0vKcpPv2ZInq/s1600/bygonebadassbroads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhifw38I2tINifyvITKQfljIB-Xpq1F3Axs0iFmvdVFXWoNxfCNlEPbsIGl7_doecPRW0PQM-XA4uoYvv3ZAlZW5HZ1M5krW2cCEQ63aRsDmUHWhOnjEnIJ6vYaSL7lDpjP0vKcpPv2ZInq/s320/bygonebadassbroads.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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Ever since reading <a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/01/recently-read-women-in-science-50.html" target="_blank">Women in Science</a>, I have been wanting to read all of the anthologies about historical women! They are so expensive though, so I am loving getting them from the library and then deciding which ones I want to buy in the future. This one looks like it has beautiful illustrations, which is something on my priority list for books like this. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4B1ZOyVTUKHv_YnGF47W2BDSv5_utwhUY3RZb2W76z1R5z0aUf3FEKx39OWQZJJnQhRBpTQnuDt7i605FepiG-zV2XBKe2MmdPqfpOUijOzOft86990Ezl7izPMuh4NpW3-A1IK3DGrY/s1600/goodnightforrebel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="294" data-original-width="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4B1ZOyVTUKHv_YnGF47W2BDSv5_utwhUY3RZb2W76z1R5z0aUf3FEKx39OWQZJJnQhRBpTQnuDt7i605FepiG-zV2XBKe2MmdPqfpOUijOzOft86990Ezl7izPMuh4NpW3-A1IK3DGrY/s1600/goodnightforrebel.jpg" /></a></div>
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This is a similar anthology, but I have heard some mixed things about this one, so I wanted to check it out from the library and get in on the controversy. This one has become very popular, which is why I was surprised to see the controversy around it. I don't think this is the best anthology out there, but I want to check it out.</div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-55728385215954334352018-02-14T00:30:00.000-05:002018-02-14T00:30:32.541-05:00Recently Read: A Wrinkle in Time<b>Author: </b>Madeleine L'Engle<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Children's Classic/Science Fiction<br />
<b>Page Count: </b>256<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>1963<br />
<b>Rating: </b>4/5<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33574273-a-wrinkle-in-time" target="_blank">Add on Goodreads</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TX-Xjz40Ti9yH6v4rOE2jF5x4FdpfuCB7Whyphenhyphendz7WHGf7_RHuKeNskNejz5bOukwjPJAJ_nZ8uVNCTl-BYZxsOrfotJuF4FIyjudFJJ5TIx1eSrGomgVf8u-PsuKuaEyWXXHS6HK2Z-e_/s1600/awrinkleintime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TX-Xjz40Ti9yH6v4rOE2jF5x4FdpfuCB7Whyphenhyphendz7WHGf7_RHuKeNskNejz5bOukwjPJAJ_nZ8uVNCTl-BYZxsOrfotJuF4FIyjudFJJ5TIx1eSrGomgVf8u-PsuKuaEyWXXHS6HK2Z-e_/s320/awrinkleintime.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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Meg's scientist father has been missing for years and no one will tell her family where he is. She's having trouble fitting in at school and misses her father. When a stranger shows up at her house and claims to know where her father is, Meg, her younger brother Charles Wallace, and a boy from school named Calvin go on a journey through time and space to save him.</div>
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I never read this as a child, and with the Disney adaptation coming out in March, I knew I needed to pick this up. The adaptation looks brilliant, and I have very high hopes for it. I wasn't sure what to expect out of this book as I know it is well beloved, but also aimed at young readers and was written in the 1960s. I sometimes have issues with older books aimed at children because they can sometimes seem too simple or dumbed-down compared with the children's books of today. That was not the case with this book.</div>
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I was pleasantly surprised at how good this was. I was pulled in right away by Meg and the three Mrs. characters. The writing was good and the plot and concepts totally unique. I knew absolutely nothing about this book (in fact I kept waiting for them to ride a big furry creature before realizing that I was thinking of <i>The Never Ending Story</i>) so I truly got to experience the story for the first time, and as an adult, loved it. </div>
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I really liked the science fiction elements of this story as they were based in reality and L'Engle doesn't shy away from including real science in the book. The concept of wrinkling time is so poetic and a great analogy and mental image. The themes running through this novel are both obvious and subtle and for readers of all ages, as there is much to examine under the surface of this novel. I think this book would have been so unique and outstanding in its time of publication, but I also think it stands the test of time as a story that will fascinate young readers and inspire nostalgia in older readers for years to come. </div>
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I am really looking forward to seeing this novel visually, as its world is so interesting and has the potential to be so beautiful. I really like the casting for the movie as well. On a side note: the inclusion of a few references to religion has me interested in researching the motif of religion in children's sci-fi and fantasy novels. If you have examples of novels besides this one and <i>Narnia </i>with religious references or themes, let me know! </div>
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If you haven't read this one yet, I really recommend you do before the film comes out. It's a quick, light-hearted adventure through time and space. What more could you want in a children's book? </div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-50178203083493742592018-02-13T00:00:00.000-05:002018-02-13T00:00:03.736-05:00Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Made a Romance Skeptic Swoon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugxEGo-rG7mWwDaKw-G5XpCaDMSbtTNjUaS8M8GJUDcMjTQh5J5U4iPv-6KlacKS6v7JUbhh_woUms1q5S8s2062i0K1l_HR7hyphenhyphenlEeeMq6309YSHoRa0SfkZj4eMCp295tLZsaCjGDWry/s1600/toptentuesnew.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="203" data-original-width="500" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugxEGo-rG7mWwDaKw-G5XpCaDMSbtTNjUaS8M8GJUDcMjTQh5J5U4iPv-6KlacKS6v7JUbhh_woUms1q5S8s2062i0K1l_HR7hyphenhyphenlEeeMq6309YSHoRa0SfkZj4eMCp295tLZsaCjGDWry/s400/toptentuesnew.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I am not the biggest fan of romance as it's portrayed in books and movies. I find myself rolling my eyes at a lot of things classified as romantic, both in real life and in books and movies, but there are some portrayals of romance that I will grudgingly admit make me swoon. Here's ten of my favorite book romances (some go way back to my teenage years) that I got embarrassingly caught up in. </div>
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Hosted by: <a href="http://www.thatartsyreadergirl.com/top-ten-tuesday/" target="_blank">That Artsy Reader Girl</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma6a_1EzDwHLPqxogm2_YOb4YiLDUHz3U9yFS60ob3mVNLFJnC-pOz7RLP4FGGv9jtRr92FytbmOEeQWfRDCnNgzGUDDKQck7SXI63guu8IRHR7TUbTCuhL4hsZEiWmwIjQbWS6ySqN-i/s1600/thetruthaboutforever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhma6a_1EzDwHLPqxogm2_YOb4YiLDUHz3U9yFS60ob3mVNLFJnC-pOz7RLP4FGGv9jtRr92FytbmOEeQWfRDCnNgzGUDDKQck7SXI63guu8IRHR7TUbTCuhL4hsZEiWmwIjQbWS6ySqN-i/s200/thetruthaboutforever.jpg" width="128" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwqMkMbB17-Q6wM_70Jyy9BKS4FWOrbNjncsa49rTZ9YKYZFYLo11NIA87jcv4ov8RCVuG_gnGy3lAOJaeJ0d-G6m16JboVhrBqrKaB3P88Vdl_7SZRsj8c2yYdUrjNKMVo2pn3Da-qqk/s1600/thesisterhoodofthetp.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="256" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwqMkMbB17-Q6wM_70Jyy9BKS4FWOrbNjncsa49rTZ9YKYZFYLo11NIA87jcv4ov8RCVuG_gnGy3lAOJaeJ0d-G6m16JboVhrBqrKaB3P88Vdl_7SZRsj8c2yYdUrjNKMVo2pn3Da-qqk/s200/thesisterhoodofthetp.gif" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHwUz1xIkWc8Sp7YWQIuEn_U_OWMcHX0geMSOrogkhbFsod8uPEZ9XVkyDPmOhXuehj2ffK0ty-cU6srqobzPr90OGywnVzpzwCNZQBUooKDaDI2dCj21jWmg_wOWYNQrxXwbl5k9GwgS/s1600/thetimetravelrs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIHwUz1xIkWc8Sp7YWQIuEn_U_OWMcHX0geMSOrogkhbFsod8uPEZ9XVkyDPmOhXuehj2ffK0ty-cU6srqobzPr90OGywnVzpzwCNZQBUooKDaDI2dCj21jWmg_wOWYNQrxXwbl5k9GwgS/s200/thetimetravelrs.jpg" width="135" /></a><br />
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<b>1. The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen</b></div>
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Like every teenage girl, I loved Sarah Dessen. This was the first book of hers that I read and I remember being so in love with the romance, and the male interest, Wes, specifically. The fact that I can even remember his name after all these years proves how much I loved him.</div>
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<b>2. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares </b></div>
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These books were so important to me as a teen, and I loved them so fiercely. The romances were so amazing for teenage me, and I remember going through a roller-coaster of emotions for Bridget's and Lena's romances specifically. I was so heartbroken over the book three events concerning Lena and Kostos. </div>
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<b>3. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger</b></div>
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This is still the saddest book I have ever read, and my teenage self was so enthralled by this romance. I felt so grown-up reading it and felt every emotion so deeply. The movie version is NOTHING compared to the novel, and I still really recommend this one. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZ-NCBMC0KI7GNWgNSPWGsNSLDstbw_nOALAhDC8rGzeWgc7jF-c0wPXvW4G0rPH24RizlektjBO4W4Aoyv287iL-S1ZxPmWC2cJrWLRd2KxTUU1je-68Sn-E320Xz2i5kDtulRRCESZY/s1600/persuasion-cover-vintage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="297" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZ-NCBMC0KI7GNWgNSPWGsNSLDstbw_nOALAhDC8rGzeWgc7jF-c0wPXvW4G0rPH24RizlektjBO4W4Aoyv287iL-S1ZxPmWC2cJrWLRd2KxTUU1je-68Sn-E320Xz2i5kDtulRRCESZY/s200/persuasion-cover-vintage1.jpg" width="128" /></a><b><br /></b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EKfXtnujj2O7XWxmMBjHRAWVPQq9wRdptwFMOyIm39X9X5LKgCHef2jDHoih87U3uUIILPNAyiv9ZlQt-eKRRaTYXmN2FM3nuMTmgzUaXUi1H6JVW-Q1LC87-_kPawy7S5UkwwbJ_9-D/s1600/simonvs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="849" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6EKfXtnujj2O7XWxmMBjHRAWVPQq9wRdptwFMOyIm39X9X5LKgCHef2jDHoih87U3uUIILPNAyiv9ZlQt-eKRRaTYXmN2FM3nuMTmgzUaXUi1H6JVW-Q1LC87-_kPawy7S5UkwwbJ_9-D/s200/simonvs.jpg" width="133" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F8cny6B6fnD8uFVW5v4mUuRETDpN_1EtHtdk546uiuNLaorNTJ4Pj5PIgN_sT2ImijZg120GoDq24iQtnKBjkuEMK8evzkjh9WOaQS5Ospw862H-HuWdFqKkwJy0xJa-2nxxCFqNIvwM/s1600/bridget+jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="424" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2F8cny6B6fnD8uFVW5v4mUuRETDpN_1EtHtdk546uiuNLaorNTJ4Pj5PIgN_sT2ImijZg120GoDq24iQtnKBjkuEMK8evzkjh9WOaQS5Ospw862H-HuWdFqKkwJy0xJa-2nxxCFqNIvwM/s200/bridget+jones.jpg" width="132" /></a><br />
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<b>4. Persuasion by Jane Austen</b></div>
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This is my favorite romance out of the Austen's I have read so far. Anne and Captain Wentworth's romance was so agonizing and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for them to communicate their feelings to one another, even though I knew how the story would ultimately end. That deceleration of love!- The best I've ever read. </div>
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<b>5. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli </b></div>
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I was so giddy over this romance! I had a huge smile on my face for the whole novel and I can't wait to see this one played out on film! This story is so well-done and so much fun. </div>
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<b>6. The Diary of Bridget Jones by Helen Fielding</b></div>
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Bridget Jones and Mark Darcy Forever! These books are so funny and Bridget is so real and endearing. The movies are some of my favorites too. Even though they are completely different from the novels, both stories are brilliant. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzhDpSmr1tDq2UuQSl2Esm_5hOyUFIXdZWmph20oHMcuDeN0tPYMzr7kIcDfCHNrl-COpUh-2iPH_GA0vlJ6xQhBH8w-jlzSTABX0E1Zju0p7O0QvMZy9hwfXfFlDFUbmnTfkWHn3u3zw/s1600/the+raven+boys+maggie+stiefvater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1224" data-original-width="810" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzhDpSmr1tDq2UuQSl2Esm_5hOyUFIXdZWmph20oHMcuDeN0tPYMzr7kIcDfCHNrl-COpUh-2iPH_GA0vlJ6xQhBH8w-jlzSTABX0E1Zju0p7O0QvMZy9hwfXfFlDFUbmnTfkWHn3u3zw/s200/the+raven+boys+maggie+stiefvater.jpg" width="131" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkh8Q7shdWJ1mp5eLgUKA1EW1zY7-pSvrQmOCVNNjdtZW3yENwzExvJnQC2r6z5mZ4gvRF5IGoyP6ww7xbzZARFR-WwEDcoKtAH4HI11rkEUFEs26gnXX5JoyhOtMUUlPFImB3z6kdZ1H/s1600/placesnooneknows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkh8Q7shdWJ1mp5eLgUKA1EW1zY7-pSvrQmOCVNNjdtZW3yENwzExvJnQC2r6z5mZ4gvRF5IGoyP6ww7xbzZARFR-WwEDcoKtAH4HI11rkEUFEs26gnXX5JoyhOtMUUlPFImB3z6kdZ1H/s200/placesnooneknows.jpg" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQEHwhA3oXFA2uCLCihtEVaw6r7JP5X2R-YrOrRZ6XmHK3Y2smCdHBtmLVgrO5ypeEZdrrpbvEkBgsodAvnjboH-cTrHOUnkTFxqulu-5yW35VYpnljID4GBXaN3CxMBgTMReFofZh6cy/s1600/thesunisalsoastar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQEHwhA3oXFA2uCLCihtEVaw6r7JP5X2R-YrOrRZ6XmHK3Y2smCdHBtmLVgrO5ypeEZdrrpbvEkBgsodAvnjboH-cTrHOUnkTFxqulu-5yW35VYpnljID4GBXaN3CxMBgTMReFofZh6cy/s200/thesunisalsoastar.jpg" width="132" /></a><br />
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<b>7. The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater </b></div>
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I don't want to spoil anything just in case you haven't gotten to these books yet, but a romance between two main characters in this novel is so swoon worthy. I wasn't really impressed by the main romance in the novel, but the side romance had me on the edge of my seat for the whole series. </div>
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<b>8. Places No One Knows by Brenna Yovanoff</b></div>
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Something about this book really spoke to me. Perhaps it was the magical realism idea of visiting each other in their dreams, but this romance really caught me off guard and I liked this novel so much more than I expected to. </div>
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<b>9. The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon</b></div>
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I devoured this novel about first love and fate and had butterflies the whole time! This romance was so sweet and nostalgic, but there was a lot more to this book than just the romance which I appreciated. </div>
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<b>10. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz</b></div>
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Another book that I devoured; I couldn't put this down. I loved the romance in this one so much as well as the other themes that were woven in. This is one I can see myself rereading for ages to come. </div>
Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-26632889295483066712018-02-12T00:30:00.000-05:002018-02-12T00:30:06.711-05:00Poetry Spotlight: Black History Month <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: #fafbfe;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In my second year of college I took an Introduction to Poetry class and I fell in love with reading poetry. Before then, poetry was always a little intimidating and a medium that I didn't have much experience with. But after that class, I became addicted to reading poetry, and during the class I actually found myself thinking in and expressing myself in poetry- which I never would have guessed would happen in a million years. So, with this series I'm here to share some of my favorite poems in a way that I'm sure will turn out rambley and unorganized.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/p/poetry-spotlight.html" target="_blank">Read the Rest of my Poetry Spotlight Posts </a></span><br />
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I figured I would celebrate Black History Month the best way I know how to celebrate anything, which is with some poetry! Today I'm here to spotlight a few of my favorite black poets and their amazing work. I've also rounded up some really interesting links for you at the end of the post!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Countee Cullen</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1903-1946</span></div>
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Cullen was an American poet writing during the Harlem Renaissance (see links below for more info.) Harlem, New York was a hub of art and creation for black Americans in the 1920s, and many artists influenced each other and worked together. Cullen has a bit of a mysterious childhood, but he was adopted by black activist and minister in 1918. Cullen was gay, which caused an internal struggle with his strict Christian upbringing, and tension with his adopted father. Cullen was briefly married to W.E.B Du Bois' daughter Yolanda, until she filed for divorce, partly because of Cullen's attraction to men. After their lavish wedding, and then divorce two years later, he taught French at Fredrick Douglas Junior High, where James Baldwin was one of his pupils. Cullen wrote poetry, novels, plays, and translated fiction, but it is his poetry that has garnered the most recognition in recent years. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://allpoetry.com/Yet-Do-I-Marvel" target="_blank">Yet Do I Marvel</a></span>-- I remember reading this poem for the first time, which is how I know it's a good one. Although the poem only contains two sentences, it packs a huge punch. Cullen starts by stating that he "doubt[s] not God is good, well-meaning, kind" and that he could explain his reasons for everything in this world, including the suffering, but he ends the poem by questioning one specific act of God: "Yet do I marvel at this curious thing:/ To make a poet black, and bid him sing!" </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://allpoetry.com/From-The-Dark-Tower" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://allpoetry.com/From-The-Dark-Tower" target="_blank">From the Dark Tower</a></span>-- This is a poem that speaks of history and future change. The imagery in this poem is very strong and clear and the rhythm carries you through the the final message at the end. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Langston Hughes</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1902-1967</span></div>
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Hughes is one of the most-known Harlem poets, and for good reason. His poetry is easily accessible for all ages, yet is complex and powerful. Hughes' work received a fair bit of criticism from his contemporaries, perhaps because his work was so popular during his lifetime, and many questioned his decision to write about ordinary life and ordinary people in black America, including those of the lower class. Hughes was active in every aspect of the Harlem art scene, running a magazine, writing novels and poetry, and contributing to theater programs. The themes in Hughes poems are so applicable to today's political conversations that they could have easily been written yesterday rather than almost a hundred years ago. </div>
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<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47558/i-too" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">I, Too</span></a>-- This short poem is bursting with emotion and statement. Hughes is a great poet to read at any time, but particularly in today's political climate.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46548/harlem" target="_blank">Harlem</a></span>-- I wrote on this poem in college and loved taking an in-depth look at all it had to offer. It has so many poetic elements that work together to bolster the impact of the theme. This poem is great to hear read aloud and must be read a couple of times.<br />
<a href="https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/let-america-be-america-again" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Let America Be America Again</a>--This poem is so relevant to the current American political climate surrounding a certain campaign slogan with a very similar message as the poem's title. Hughes challenges the idealistic nostalgia for the American past and shines a light on all those who were excluded from America's 'glory days.'<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Claude McKay</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1889-1948</span></div>
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Born in Jamaica, McKay was another central figure to the Harlem Renaissance. Many of McKay's poems focus on themes of racism and bigotry. Like Hughes, McKay was criticized by his choice to portray the lives of lower class African Americas, as some activists felt it hurt rather than helped their case for equality. Like Cullen, McKay's work fell out of popularity after his death, but has reemerged and found a new popularity. McKay's poems cover religion, race, Jamaica, and resistance. </div>
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<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44694/if-we-must-die" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">If We Must Die</a>-- One of his more popular poems, McKay speaks of resistance, resilience, and retaliation. </div>
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<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44693/harlem-shadows" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Harlem Shadows</a>-- Beautiful imagery and a melancholy tone.<br />
<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44691/america-56d223e1ac025" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">America</a>-- This is a great poem about loving your country, while also wanting to change and improve its shortcomings.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Maya Angelou</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1928-2014</span></div>
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Maya Angelou is my hero. She was such an amazing woman AND so talented. She literally did it all. She danced, sang, acted, wrote, inspired, and had every job under the sun. Her autobiographies are SO GOOD and I highly recommend you read them as well as her poetry. In addition to all of this, she was also an activist and active in the political spheres of both America and Africa. Her poetry is honest, beautiful, and empowering. Her poems often contains themes related to race as well as gender, and the best way to experience them is to hear her read them herself. </div>
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<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48985/phenomenal-woman" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Phenomenal Woman</span></a>--This poem is so empowering and really captures the grace of Ms. Angelou.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqOqo50LSZ0" target="_blank">And Still I Rise</a>--</span>This is one of my favorite poems of all times, and I have linked you to a version of Angelou reading it. I love her delivery of this poem as well as the sentiment behind it.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48989/caged-bird" target="_blank">Caged Bird</a>-- </span>The imagery in this poem is similar to the title of Angelou's first memoir, <b>I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings</b>. The beautiful imagery and juxtaposition in this poem build the themes of longing and hope. <br />
<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48987/kin-56d22aaaea246" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Kin</a>-- This very emotional poem is dedicated to Angelou's beloved brother Bailey, who died as a young man. Angelou was very close to her brother, and the two had a beautiful relationship.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Gwendolyn Brooks</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">1917-2000</span></div>
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Brooks is one of the most popular and highly regarded poets of the twentieth century. She was the first black author to win the Pulitzer Prize, and received much recognition during her lifetime. Brooks wrote during the Civil Rights Movement in 1960s America, and many of her poems have a political undertone. Brooks left her publisher Harper Row in the 1970s in order to help publishing companies focused on publishing black authors by allowing them to publish her works. Brooks faced backlash for some of the political statements found in some of her poems, but she was undeterred by this. Brooks experimented with various forms of poetry and wrote a two volume autobiography.</div>
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<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/28112/we-real-cool" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">We Real Cool</span></a>--This is one of Brooks most anthologized and popular poems. This short poem is best heard aloud. Brooks often covered the life of 'everyday' people as Hughes did in his poetry.<br />
<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/28110/the-bean-eaters" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">The Bean Eaters</a>--There's a lot going on in this simple little poem.<br />
<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51835/riot" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Riot</a>-- This poem has so many emotions and so much human nature packed into it. There's anger and hypocrisy, violence and ignorance, and truth. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Interesting Links:</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/collections/101640/celebrating-black-history-month" target="_blank">Celebrating Black History @ The Poetry Foundation</a>-- This page has poems, articles, essays, and podcasts to help you celebrate Black History Month. </div>
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<a href="http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/a_f/cullen/cullen.htm" target="_blank">Modern American Poetry's Page on Countee Cullen</a>-- Poetry analysis, essays, and more links. </div>
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My <a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2014/09/literary-look-harlem-renaissance.html" target="_blank">Literary Look post on the Harlem Renaissance</a>-- Find more information on this literary movement and more recommended authors to check out. </div>
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<a href="http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/harlem-renaissance" target="_blank">History.com- Harlem Renaissance </a></div>
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Please leave me your favorite black poet or poem below! I'm always looking to expand my list of favorite poems.Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-74271724533543847562018-02-07T00:30:00.000-05:002018-02-07T00:30:15.803-05:00Recently Read: All the Crooked Saints<b>Author: </b>Maggie Stiefvater<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Young Adult- Historical fiction/Magical Realism<br />
<b>Page Count: </b>311<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>2017<br />
<b>Rating: </b>3.5/5<br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30025336-all-the-crooked-saints" target="_blank">Add on Goodreads</a></b><br />
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<b>Also by Maggie Stiefvater:</b><br />
<b><a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2016/06/recently-read-raven-king.html" target="_blank">The Raven Boys Quartet </a></b><br />
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A town in the desert named Bicho Raro is full of saints who grant miracles and the pilgrims who come to receive the miracles. The Soria family has been preforming miracles in their 1960s Colorado town for generations, but they can only perform the first miracle which manifests a pilgrim's darkness, the banishment of the darkness must be done by the pilgrim and the pilgrim alone. Interference or help from a Soria is forbidden, until a saint and a pilgrim fall in love. </div>
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I loved <i>The Raven Boys </i>quartet by Stiefvater and have been meaning to read more of her works since finishing the series. I was browsing in my local bookstore when I came across a signed copy of this one, so I decided it was the next Stiefvater I would read. Stiefvater has a very unique and beautiful writing style which lends itself to magic and magical realism very well. This book, I was a bit surprised to see, is very full of magic and borders on fantasy. I loved the concept of this novel and the idea of miracles and darkness being given physical forms. The concept was totally unique and felt so real and plausible. The town of Bicho Raro had a real life of its own and felt as if it truly existed thanks to Stiefvater's writing. </div>
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Despite this, I felt the book was lacking in a few ways. I thought that this concept had so much potential and the story could have been much longer or more developed. I love that it's a standalone, and I think the ending was great, but I think there could have been more 'middle' to the story. The characters were a bit unmemorable, and although Stiefvater's writing is always beautiful, I felt that the writing sometimes got in the way of the plot and made me loose interest. </div>
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With that being said, I think this book is definitely worth reading and there is a lot of beauty in this story. I'm eager to read <i>The Scorpio Races </i>as I know a lot of people love that novel, and of course, I will be reading whatever Stiefvater releases in the future as her novels are always unique, atmospheric, and entertaining. I'm really itching to reread <i>The Raven Boys </i>now! </div>
<b><br /></b>Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-61703229848274928702018-02-05T00:30:00.000-05:002018-02-05T00:30:17.384-05:00January Wrap-Up: T.V. Books and MoviesI had a really great month of consuming! Here's a quick look at what I read and watched this month.<br />
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I watched the first season of <b>Glow </b>on Netflix in two days. It's been in my list since it came out, and I was just craving a new show to binge and started it on a whim. I really, really liked it! It was funny, smart, and full of beautiful 80s leotards. I loved the majority female cast, and the concept of female wrestling. I really liked Alison Brie in <b>Mad Men</b> and loved seeing her in a leading role. I'm really exited for season two. I recommend checking this one out if you're looking for a quick and entertaining watch.</div>
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This was my first time watching this 80s cult classic and I loved it! If you've been here before, you know that I LOVE a well-done satire, and that's exactly what this is! This was a super smart and hilarious satire of the typical 'teen-movie.' Winona Ryder is brilliant of course, and I'm already itching to watch this one again! If you have ever watched a typical teen-movie, you'll love how this one pokes fun at them. It also holds up extremely well, as teen-movies haven't changed much in the past thirty years. This one is on Netflix U.S. </div>
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<b>Carol </b>has been on my to-watch list since the Oscars last year, and it finally came to Netflix. This was a quiet but powerful movie, and I have a feeling that the book it is based on is even better; it was immediately added to my TBR after finishing the movie. This movie is beautiful to look at, and both Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett give great performances. This would make a great Valentine's Day watch. </div>
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I LOVE Robert Redford (who doesn't?) so I always pick up his movies when I see them out and about. I love 'classic' and older movies and have a pretty large collection of them. This is one that I bought during the summer last year and then never watched, so I figured it was about time. This movie was a lot more than I expected it to be. Streisand's character was so interesting and the ending was a lot different than I expected. This isn't your typical romance movie, and it has a lot to say about love and compromise. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: x-large;">Books </span><br />
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I had a really great reading month in January too! I read six books, and really enjoyed them all. I would love to keep up this pace for February, as I want to concentrate on reading the books on my shelves. In January, 4/6 books I read came from the library, which is great, but doesn't help me reduce my physical TBR. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Bird Box. Josh Malerman-- 3.5/5 <a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/01/recently-read-bird-box.html" target="_blank">REVIEW</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Miniaturist, Jesse Burton-- 4/5 <a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/01/recently-read-miniaturist.html" target="_blank">REVIEW</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Weave a Circle Around, Kari Maaren-- 3/5 <a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/01/recently-read-weave-circle-around.html" target="_blank">REVIEW</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed the World, Rachel Ignotofsky-- 4/5 <a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/01/recently-read-women-in-science-50.html" target="_blank">REVIEW</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Art of the Affair, </span>Catherine<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Lacey and Forsyth Harmon-- 3/5 Quick thoughts: I don't think I'm going to </span>officially review this one on the blog because I don't have that much to say. This is a small coffee table book that chronicles the connections (romantic and otherwise) between famous people of the 20th century. The layout was a bit confusing at times, and a lot of the information was scattered. I didn't know a lot of the people in this book, which made it less interesting at times, but I loved the art and it introduced me to some new super interesting people. It's worth checking it out from the library or browsing through at the bookstore. <span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">All the Crooked Saints, Maggie Stiefvater-- 3.5/5 REVIEW: to come</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I Also Posted...</span></div>
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<a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/01/some-2018-intentions-reading-and.html" target="_blank">Some 2018 Intentions</a></div>
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<a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/01/tbr-spotlight-books-set-in-africa.html" target="_blank">TBR Spotlight: Books Set in Africa </a></div>
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<a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/01/2018-releases-on-my-radar-and-that.html" target="_blank">Under the Radar 2018 Releases</a></div>
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<a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/01/updated-women-writers-list-tbr.html" target="_blank">Updated Women Writers List TBR</a></div>
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Hope you had a great January and good luck on your February goals and plans! You can see what I plan to read in February <a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/02/february-reading-plans.html" target="_blank">here</a>!</div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-40807063772058552792018-02-01T00:30:00.000-05:002018-02-01T00:30:11.316-05:00February Reading PlansI got quite a bit of reading done in January (wrap-up of books and movies coming soon) and I want to keep that momentum going in February. I read a lot of books from the library in January, which is fine, but I really want to focus on reading books I own this month. I've got a stack of books I've been wanting to get to for ages, and now is the time! Here's what I'm hoping to get to this month!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupI-Bm52SzOCQTw2riFG79MphSW94dtWRA7xVUIHwJe4JTrRWUjxy-1X8XgCBM2jcYJpqNCaIxRKVYHxJB4_WgCYVd1dpaXQCYVtDLDxRsNSjqz6c3USRUiLfPlFqTmF2h6Poabu9Te7o/s1600/awrinkleintime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhupI-Bm52SzOCQTw2riFG79MphSW94dtWRA7xVUIHwJe4JTrRWUjxy-1X8XgCBM2jcYJpqNCaIxRKVYHxJB4_WgCYVd1dpaXQCYVtDLDxRsNSjqz6c3USRUiLfPlFqTmF2h6Poabu9Te7o/s320/awrinkleintime.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
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<b>A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle</b></div>
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I have actually never read this one, and I really want to read it before the Disney adaptation comes out! I actually really love the movie-tie-in edition that I picked up. This one should be a quick read, and L'Engle is on my <a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/01/updated-women-writers-list-tbr.html" target="_blank">Women Writers List</a>, so I'm eager to read something of hers and cross her off! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZYpfTWjVy0oh0Dr80QV-rWDngB-0SnOwggCwf1zVXTrOuv5syFu-HKcBCKro6FEFH2abct8eu_sjwLJDclwrtk89ETt_xeAeGtCYdbNqqcXAyzxEWZ1a1HKVwGwlvrZviAPnjC6lQYvk/s1600/aliasgrace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZYpfTWjVy0oh0Dr80QV-rWDngB-0SnOwggCwf1zVXTrOuv5syFu-HKcBCKro6FEFH2abct8eu_sjwLJDclwrtk89ETt_xeAeGtCYdbNqqcXAyzxEWZ1a1HKVwGwlvrZviAPnjC6lQYvk/s320/aliasgrace.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<b>Alias Grace, Margaret Atwood</b></div>
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I picked this one up super cheap ages ago at a library sale, and have been wanting to get to it for ages. The size has always put me off a bit while in school, but now that I'm done with my degree, I'm trying to tackle the big reads I've been putting off. I know I will enjoy this, and the Netflix adaptation is calling my name too! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWpB4fqeHW8qNEbOXX1PYBBdSfcOumtDrF-4Lz_1wW7WYX3dGv0Vig52MXAmaZcZlQk7yZoL4TP81c84JkyIQ93cMnaOxyArpYQV9-HJ8AlSuydOfRUqWqhiPxxrVpnbsIlzSpcS-4Bjf/s1600/mylifeontheroad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWpB4fqeHW8qNEbOXX1PYBBdSfcOumtDrF-4Lz_1wW7WYX3dGv0Vig52MXAmaZcZlQk7yZoL4TP81c84JkyIQ93cMnaOxyArpYQV9-HJ8AlSuydOfRUqWqhiPxxrVpnbsIlzSpcS-4Bjf/s320/mylifeontheroad.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<b>My Life on the Road, Gloria Steinem </b></div>
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Steinem is another writer from my list I'm eager to cross off. I actually got this from the library a few months ago and got about fifty pages in before realizing that I needed to buy my own copy of this before I could read it so I could mark and flag passages. I'm really interested in learning more about Steinem and her work. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjFqOqUMJ13cjKtxA8T05bmlsYSA4kYnUSVWE3ypH_c2GDa1vQpfijwCKaBHBphxbnCVgembTmr1bPdMHaXOsbdZfygzJrPP5ZyYIfnuYG6ewv7AYiE9tIX0OcrJjQAnPfeNs5foH1kch/s1600/the+quiet+american.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="581" data-original-width="377" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjFqOqUMJ13cjKtxA8T05bmlsYSA4kYnUSVWE3ypH_c2GDa1vQpfijwCKaBHBphxbnCVgembTmr1bPdMHaXOsbdZfygzJrPP5ZyYIfnuYG6ewv7AYiE9tIX0OcrJjQAnPfeNs5foH1kch/s320/the+quiet+american.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<b>The Quiet American, Graham Greene </b></div>
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Another book that I've been wanting to read for ages! I read Greene's <a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2015/01/recently-read-end-of-affair.html" target="_blank">The End of the Affair</a> in 2015 and have been wanting to read more of his works since then. I saw the movie adaptation of this in high school, but don't remember much of the plot. I'm really interested to read this and see how it portrays the Vietnam War and to experience more of Greene's storytelling. </div>
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What are your reading plans for this month? </div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-75135021980274637392018-01-30T00:30:00.000-05:002018-01-30T00:30:11.078-05:00Recently Read: Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers who Changed the World<b>Author: </b>Rachel Ignotofsky<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Nonfiction- Young Readers<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>2016<br />
<b>Page Count: </b>128<br />
<b>Rating: </b>4/5<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27405561-women-in-science" target="_blank">Add on Goodreads</a> </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n3JY5FM95UHAWwGPnoYtrQZZVYsj9SEwIonAwMVVNivxt2f1Ai9oHJnJMne6oatx270QiWQxw68nJvDYl2lkxmzDigkM2p94-jvsm7kf9-Ck5gIvmux2VhwB_SZ8LnGwlfxCGOtuXkcc/s1600/womeninscience.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="660" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n3JY5FM95UHAWwGPnoYtrQZZVYsj9SEwIonAwMVVNivxt2f1Ai9oHJnJMne6oatx270QiWQxw68nJvDYl2lkxmzDigkM2p94-jvsm7kf9-Ck5gIvmux2VhwB_SZ8LnGwlfxCGOtuXkcc/s320/womeninscience.webp" width="268" /></a></div>
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This is an anthology aimed at younger readers featuring short biographies and facts about fifty women who have made important advances in the STEM field. Each woman is accompanied by an illustration, facts about themselves, and details regarding her findings. </div>
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This book is so cool! Every elements of it is so well-done and compelling. The art work is adorable, but it doesn't make the book feel too cutesy or take away from the amazing work these woman have done. The bios are short enough to make this a fast read, but have enough detail to spark interest and curiosity. I have to admit, I spent longer looking up more information about these women than I spent reading the book. I was introduced to so many new awesome ladies that I will be researching in the future! I was only familiar with a handful of the women in this book, which was great because it meant I was introduced to so many new names. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4H8nGm00NH1aePznM12uzNW5z8iu4A8_5RVD1mKh1yZJ2Hu3rdEnv9CQK_jZ6aotmKtUTG5ZVtjLhWnPzpMqxbmth00NIHjqpfhgyStBRyg8Vvp9gL-BM5lgm6XM16rbJV-p_HD8NXnem/s1600/marie-curie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1000" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4H8nGm00NH1aePznM12uzNW5z8iu4A8_5RVD1mKh1yZJ2Hu3rdEnv9CQK_jZ6aotmKtUTG5ZVtjLhWnPzpMqxbmth00NIHjqpfhgyStBRyg8Vvp9gL-BM5lgm6XM16rbJV-p_HD8NXnem/s400/marie-curie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Check out the author's website to see this image and </div>
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others from the book <a href="https://www.rachelignotofskydesign.com/women-in-science-prints" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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I really appreciated the range of women that were included in this book. The book ranges from Hypatia, born in 350 C.E., to Maryam Mirzakhani, born in 1977. Women from all around the world are included, and their achievements outside of science are also included. A large number of these women are honored suffragettes, civil rights activists, and peace ambassadors, and I loved that this information was included alongside their scientific achievements. Although this book is aimed at younger readers, it did not feel simple. The author does not shy away from including the science and math involved in these women's findings, and the information is engaging but easy to understand.</div>
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I also loved that the author included the struggles that many of these women faced in order to be accepted in colleges and graduate programs, as well of those who were snubbed of their rightful acknowledgments because they were women working in the scientific field. One of the only things I remember from my high school science classes is the fact that Rosalind Franklin discovered and proved DNA's double helix structure, not Watson and Crick. I was surprised at some of the treatment that these women endured at the hands of higher-education institutions, and I'm really glad that information was included in this book. Another, and more positive, common theme I saw between a lot of these women, were husbands who doubled as research partners. Some of the couples in this book are seriously #relationshipgoals. As soon as I read about Gerty Cori's husband carrying her around her lab when she became to ill to move around it herself, I immediately Googled books about them, and unfortunately, came up short. </div>
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I hope that with books like this, and the recent success of novels/films such as <i>Hidden Figures</i> and <i>The Imitation Game</i> we continue to tell the stories of these unknown women who have helped to build our society. I know I'm dying to hear these stories, and I think that big media companies are realizing that other people are interested in these stories too. I checked this book out from the library, but will be searching out my own copy ASAP. I also recommend checking out the author's website as she does beautiful illustrations and sells prints of them, including prints from the book. I am dreaming of putting her <a href="https://www.rachelignotofskydesign.com/female-activists" target="_blank">Women Activists poster</a> in my classroom. </div>
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If you have any recommendations of books/movies/documentaries similar to this, let me know! </div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-32736123847540391312018-01-24T00:30:00.000-05:002018-01-24T14:24:28.416-05:00Updated Women Writers List TBRA couple of years ago, I made a list of female authors that I wanted to either read more from or read for the first time. I made some good progress towards the list, but I thought it was time to revamp and expand that list to motivate myself to read some authors I've been wanting to read for AGES. So here is my new list of fifty three women authors I want to read more from or read for the first time. I'll be keeping track of what I read for this list on my blog tab page titled "Women Writers List" as I was for the other one, and of course, I'll be reviewing the books as well. I wanted to mention that this list could have been much longer, but I left it shorter so that I could add to it as I cross authors off. Let me know if I missed any of your favorites so I can add them to the list! I used my physical TBR, my Goodreads TBR, and <a href="https://morejeansthoughts.wordpress.com/100womenwriters/" target="_blank">this list from Jean's Bookish Thoughts blog </a>to make this list.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUfjAbAF9TiVeDZf2IQGMzXg5HouKOnQdGOnA93Ocol5mGEm7f4p92ztJp-L76xJMSgaXykaR06Au0kSf5PLa9McleuOXVYy_wXOCyiGxUQiaZCNWXW8Ttht4-4WKnD1lLr3l7NgSnSKu/s1600/fannyfern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="367" data-original-width="220" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUfjAbAF9TiVeDZf2IQGMzXg5HouKOnQdGOnA93Ocol5mGEm7f4p92ztJp-L76xJMSgaXykaR06Au0kSf5PLa9McleuOXVYy_wXOCyiGxUQiaZCNWXW8Ttht4-4WKnD1lLr3l7NgSnSKu/s200/fannyfern.jpg" width="119" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Women I want to read more from</span></div>
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1. Sarah Waters</div>
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2. Sylvia Plath</div>
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3. Jane Austen</div>
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4. Chimanda Ngozi Adiche</div>
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5. Margaret Atwood</div>
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6. Muriel Spark</div>
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7. Shirley Jackson</div>
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8. Edith Wharton</div>
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9. Charlotte Bronte</div>
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10. Virginia Woolf</div>
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11. Diane di Prima</div>
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12. Maya Angelou</div>
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13. Mary Shelley</div>
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14. George Elliot</div>
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15. Louise Erdrich</div>
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16. Agatha Christie </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Women I want to read for the first time</span></div>
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17. Gloria Steinem</div>
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18. Zora Neal Hurston</div>
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19. Angela Carter </div>
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20. Elena Ferante</div>
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21. Donna Tart</div>
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22. Mary Wollstonecraft</div>
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23. Elizabeth Bowen</div>
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24. Dorthy Parker</div>
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25. Ali Smith</div>
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26. Daphe Du Mauier</div>
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27. Toni Morrison</div>
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28. Anne Bronte</div>
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29. Willa Cather</div>
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30. Betty Smith</div>
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31. Charlotte Perkins Gilman</div>
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32. Anne Sexton</div>
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33. Alice Walker</div>
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34. Zadie Smith</div>
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35. Elizabeth Gaskell</div>
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36. Angela Davis</div>
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37. Audre Lorde</div>
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38. bell hooks</div>
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39. Carol Ann Duffy</div>
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40. Fanny Burney</div>
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41. Mary Beard</div>
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42. Louisa May Alcott</div>
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43. Sappho</div>
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44. Rita Mae Brown</div>
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45. Carson McCullers</div>
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46. Iris Murdoch</div>
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47. Jeanette Winterson</div>
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48. Rebecca West</div>
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49. Madeleine L'Engle</div>
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50. L.M. Montgomery</div>
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51. Mary Stewart</div>
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52. Patricia Highsmith </div>
Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-87565529261213022222018-01-22T00:30:00.000-05:002018-01-22T00:30:22.362-05:00Recently Read: Weave a Circle Around<b>Author: </b>Kari Maaren<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Young Adult- Science Fiction/Fantasy<br /><b>Publication Date: </b>2017<br />
<b>Page Count: </b>336<br />
<b>Rating: </b>3/5<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33517568-weave-a-circle-round" target="_blank">Add on Goodreads</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdie-qieMj51AEaVHsGRN916iQqT7_hjtZliY9koQHXY6SboN40Dc1saIsvqfoYOJcTsYgIZZdZ1aYvg7GeYByh5LKDfolU4yVk3oBd6HXx1Rsmrp13bhEZK_3aDuHiR_d-UGcr0oq_7gx/s1600/weaveacirlcearound.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="265" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdie-qieMj51AEaVHsGRN916iQqT7_hjtZliY9koQHXY6SboN40Dc1saIsvqfoYOJcTsYgIZZdZ1aYvg7GeYByh5LKDfolU4yVk3oBd6HXx1Rsmrp13bhEZK_3aDuHiR_d-UGcr0oq_7gx/s320/weaveacirlcearound.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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Freddy lives with her younger sister, her deaf step-brother, her step-father, and her mother. She can't seem to get along with her step-brother Roland, who has bounded with her sister Mel over role-playing games, and her step-dad and mother are never around. Freddy feels out of place at home and at school. When new neighbors move into the often-vacant house next door, Freddy quickly discovers they are not who, or even what, they claim to be. </div>
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I'm pretty sure I saw this book on a list of books recommended to fans of S<i>tranger Things</i> right after I finished season two. And since I, like the rest of the world, am a HUGE fan of <i>Stranger Things</i> I decided to check this one out. </div>
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There were parts of this book that I really enjoyed and parts that I felt underwhelmed by. I really liked the concept, and the supernatural elements were really unique. The neighbors, Josiah and Cuerva Lachance were unlike any supernatural force I have encountered before, and I'm always interested by time travel in a plot. Even with these super cool individual elements, there was something missing. The characters fell a bit flat for me, and the time travel section of the novel was a bit too scattered and didn't add enough to the overall plot. The mystery of the novel was interesting enough to keep me reading in order to unravel it, but once it was unraveled it was a bit underwhelming. </div>
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The end of the novel was also a little scattered and there was a couple of events that I didn't entirely understand how they were resolved. I know that the supernatural is not always meant to be understood, but I don't think that was what was going on here. </div>
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One element of the novel that I really enjoyed was its connection to the Coleridge poem "Kubla Khan." I'm a sucker for contemporary fiction, particularly YA, that aligns itself with or references a classic work, and this one did it really well. "Kubla Khan" is a heck of a roller coaster ride, and it served its purpose very well in this novel. I thought that was a really clever addition. </div>
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Overall, this was a super quick read and a pretty unique plot. I'm glad I picked this one up from the library, as it was entertaining and pretty light-hearted. I've really been in the mood for sci-fi and historical fiction lately, and this one kind of checked both boxes. If you like supernatural/sci-fi reads, I would give this one a try! </div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-91498525123205819872018-01-17T00:30:00.000-05:002018-02-04T13:44:03.270-05:002018 Releases on My Radar (and that might not be on yours)January tis the month to post about upcoming book releases! I have seen quite a few posts highlighting books that will be released in 2018, but I haven't seen a lot of the books that have caught my eye on many lists. I thought I would share some of the books on my 2018 watch-list that may not be on yours. Book titles lead to Goodreads of course!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29589074-truly-devious" target="_blank">Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson </a></span><br />
Release Date: January 16th<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJpBXoKWvdSZrMF-Qt9CxVYndMyy5v17LiLPhw3sqlbw2K11UsvR7TntuUq3M_BZ61a5LkqynyNai-212VChh_RXUylghN7QtRKkKxBBk-157-0nUKNhRH6XzZR-ZLSxJrFIurUaFBAtF/s1600/truly+devious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJpBXoKWvdSZrMF-Qt9CxVYndMyy5v17LiLPhw3sqlbw2K11UsvR7TntuUq3M_BZ61a5LkqynyNai-212VChh_RXUylghN7QtRKkKxBBk-157-0nUKNhRH6XzZR-ZLSxJrFIurUaFBAtF/s320/truly+devious.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
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This is a mystery that flips back and forth in time that takes place at a boarding school. I love Johnson's humor and thought the first two books in her <i>Shades of London </i>mystery series were hilarious and so well-done, so I think this one will be a really great read. It looks as if this will be the first book in a trilogy. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35297386-the-apocalypse-of-elena-mendoza" target="_blank">The Apocalypse of Elena Mendoza by Shaun David Hutchinson</a></span></div>
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Release Date: February 6th </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46J71kn4pV7o5d4kuPBzxDNKi6eLyoCBXUMiZTMpwbIUpCiUnNEaNeQpLvaKc8IoSljYL08b9c7EK5vL2pm3670GuMTD-27IVLSWUXUOatHZ5ljXq3Ooz9hOJAWTaCJp5I0O7kSHU3Hmz/s1600/theapocalypseofelena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh46J71kn4pV7o5d4kuPBzxDNKi6eLyoCBXUMiZTMpwbIUpCiUnNEaNeQpLvaKc8IoSljYL08b9c7EK5vL2pm3670GuMTD-27IVLSWUXUOatHZ5ljXq3Ooz9hOJAWTaCJp5I0O7kSHU3Hmz/s320/theapocalypseofelena.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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I loved the writing and magical realism of Hutchinson's <a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2016/07/recently-read-we-are-ants.html" target="_blank">We Are the Ants</a> which I read in 2016, so I'm really looking forward to this release. This one also sounds like it will have some magical realism as the main character, a girl-who-likes-girls, is able to perform miracles, including healing her crush from a gunshot wound as her mysterious shooter disappears into the clouds. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33123849-tess-of-the-road" target="_blank">Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartmen</a></span></div>
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Release Date: February 27th </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga023Z4QxSSBHZFiSVLOtnmx8wxg8S3vtLeQ4RP5sr7CTD1OaxKCyIJkGoalazNpKGfeSlawcdHuv9GPwgPdJo_esJbNL8svk9tTAuSKzECBXPdZEYPbEa3zTS1Fst3cLCrvnPo6hi_jFj/s1600/Tessoftheroad.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/AVvXsEga023Z4QxSSBHZFiSVLOtnmx8wxg8S3vtLeQ4RP5sr7CTD1OaxKCyIJkGoalazNpKGfeSlawcdHuv9GPwgPdJo_esJbNL8svk9tTAuSKzECBXPdZEYPbEa3zTS1Fst3cLCrvnPo6hi_jFj/s320/Tessoftheroad.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
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This one is set in Medieval times and is about a rebellious girl who avoids being sent to a nunnery by her parents by running away and disguising herself as a boy. Oh, yeah, and there's dragons. </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35540804-blood-water-paint?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35540804-blood-water-paint?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough</a> </span></div>
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Release Date: March 6th </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN7iXJcjiF65pe3bUYtaN_JlK0WTg3B2o6r2zfnizKWthoBXWI9qFL1nQMHy3XnWDtQdsZHlsWt7pLvk0h3ZAabU1NYKRUapvP1TTWek3KHQ1UcDC0CJc3WFQeENGhUR8FFJOL-TzsYwwM/s1600/bloodwaterpaint.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/AVvXsEgN7iXJcjiF65pe3bUYtaN_JlK0WTg3B2o6r2zfnizKWthoBXWI9qFL1nQMHy3XnWDtQdsZHlsWt7pLvk0h3ZAabU1NYKRUapvP1TTWek3KHQ1UcDC0CJc3WFQeENGhUR8FFJOL-TzsYwwM/s320/bloodwaterpaint.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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Books about art and artists always catch my eye and this one sounds really interesting as it centers around an Italian teenage female artist in the early 1600s. It's written in verse, and centers around a young woman's struggle to make a name for herself in a world that doesn't approve of her lifestyle. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35879387-the-price-guide-to-the-occult" target="_blank">The Price Guide to the Occult by Leslye Walton</a></span></div>
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Release Date: March 13th </div>
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This one deals with family curses, witches, and love. I haven't read Walton's first novel, but I've heard lots of great things about the lyrical writing and the magical realism elements. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35707056-undead-girl-gang" target="_blank">Undead Girl Gang by Lily Anderson</a></span></div>
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Release Date: May 8th </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH5rM144QV4CHP6SS0OGeKWzJ-VoacbmJ0XoM3fAZwfuazfhmTOgJuuYvCxIs5lOD8xpeXy8v52plZj2pbKR-xCi_cdcnzwh9PJCBQzTB8cgilKyMzsBJax39MAf_hrG9eDwJ2PTQ9qCk/s1600/undeadgirlgang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVH5rM144QV4CHP6SS0OGeKWzJ-VoacbmJ0XoM3fAZwfuazfhmTOgJuuYvCxIs5lOD8xpeXy8v52plZj2pbKR-xCi_cdcnzwh9PJCBQzTB8cgilKyMzsBJax39MAf_hrG9eDwJ2PTQ9qCk/s320/undeadgirlgang.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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This one has a super unique premise! Mila tries to solve the mystery of her best friend and the school's mean girls' deaths by bringing them back from the dead. I love the vibes of this cover, and the premise sounds like it has a lot of potential! </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32928987-scream-all-night?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Scream All Night by Derek Milman</a></span></div>
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Release Date: July 24th</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfnE88x-P-Sv_tvgUUCabYH_uJEQJa5iOQlqeXjWOPYfq_LzZyyITCZqvIPXxgz9FzeEGTwl_u0F2KvVd8HllbseGFq81ow122F18rAcQODrXJR3bflxI7Lj-cAWVBrPQkcYc6UUK1p6l/s1600/screamallnight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfnE88x-P-Sv_tvgUUCabYH_uJEQJa5iOQlqeXjWOPYfq_LzZyyITCZqvIPXxgz9FzeEGTwl_u0F2KvVd8HllbseGFq81ow122F18rAcQODrXJR3bflxI7Lj-cAWVBrPQkcYc6UUK1p6l/s320/screamallnight.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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I have to rely on Goodreads for this one because its another one with a unique premise. </div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Dario Heyward knows one thing: He’s never going back to Moldavia Studios, the iconic castle that served as the set, studio, and home to the cast and crew of dozens of cult classic B-horror movies. It’s been three years since Dario’s even seen the place, after getting legally emancipated from his father, the infamous director of Moldavia’s creature features.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">But then Dario’s brother invites him home to a mysterious ceremony involving his father and a tribute to his first film—</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">The Curse of the Mummy’s Tongue</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">. Dario swears his homecoming will be a one-time visit. A way for him to get closure on his past—and reunite with Hayley, his first love and costar of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Zombie Children of the Harvest Sun,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> a production fraught with real-life tragedy—and say good-bye for good. But the unthinkable happens—Dario gets sucked back into the twisted world of Moldavia and the horrors, both real and imagined, he’s left there.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">With only months to rescue the sinking studio and everyone who has built their lives there, Dario must confront the demons of his past—and the uncertainties of his future. But can he escape the place that’s haunted him his whole life?</span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35887232-the-truth-lies-here" target="_blank">The Truth Lies Here by Lindsey Klingele </a></span></span></div>
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Release Date: August 21st</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fCZPSVbfkmrsliKGBv8CK9Qe6E2flkLwihbIwT317cc7twm3kxzmraRn_GbfOwCG0mQvWWWkdkB2vhrihB_44bvHVqpFiz9ZeUB0-TyO97TlCGZFIuxQ-yjI0x4oHYQasYJeYa0GYTNT/s1600/thetruthlieshere.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="315" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fCZPSVbfkmrsliKGBv8CK9Qe6E2flkLwihbIwT317cc7twm3kxzmraRn_GbfOwCG0mQvWWWkdkB2vhrihB_44bvHVqpFiz9ZeUB0-TyO97TlCGZFIuxQ-yjI0x4oHYQasYJeYa0GYTNT/s320/thetruthlieshere.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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This one has lots of great elements. It takes place in my home state, it's a mystery with paranormal elements, and a conspiracy theory obsessed father who goes missing. </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36949995-the-boneless-mercies" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36949995-the-boneless-mercies" target="_blank">The Boneless Mercies by April Genevieve Tucholke</a> </span></div>
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Release Date: October 2nd </div>
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There's not a lot of information about this one out yet besides that it's a gender-bent Beowulf, which you can sign me up for. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36952596-blanca-roja" target="_blank">Blanca and Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore </a></span></div>
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Release Date: October 9th </div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Goodreads: <i>A magical realist Snow-White & Rose-Red meets Swan Lake, in which two sisters become rivals in a game that will turn the losing girl into a swan</i>. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I enjoyed McLemore's first novel. Her writing was super lyrical and the magical realism was super interesting, and I'm hoping this one will be similar. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #181818; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/32970644-pulp" target="_blank">Pulp by Robin Talley</a></span></span></div>
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Release Date: 2018</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">Goodreads: <i>About a closeted teen in the 1950s finding a way to express herself by writing a lesbian pulp novel and a contemporary out-and-proud lesbian who discovers the book years later and becomes fascinated by its pseudonymous author.</i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31822503-girls-on-the-verge" target="_blank"><br /></a></i></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31822503-girls-on-the-verge" target="_blank">Girls on the Verge by Sharron Briggs Walker</a></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Release Date: 2018 </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Goodreads: </span><span id="freeText3548550323929688611" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;">When 17-year-old Camille discovers she can't obtain an abortion anywhere near her small hometown, she sets off for a Planned Parenthood clinic in the next state. Accompanied by Annabelle, the one-time star of her high school who has wound up stocking shelves, Camille embarks on a road trip of self-discovery in this coming-of-age story pitched as <i>Going Bovine</i>meets <i>Thelma and Louise</i>.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "merriweather" , "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span></div>
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<br />Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-91137646478694652652018-01-16T00:30:00.000-05:002018-01-16T00:30:34.863-05:00Recently Read: The Miniaturist <b>Author: </b>Jessie Burton<br />
<b>Genre: </b>Historical Fiction<br />
<b>Page Count: </b>382<br />
<b>Publication Date: </b>2014<br />
<b>Rating: </b>4/5<br />
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18498569-the-miniaturist" target="_blank"><br /></a></b>
<b><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18498569-the-miniaturist" target="_blank">Add on Goodreads</a> </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXolttwGY7cIwk-KoJ5BopUaTsGjnAG5QQMFhPh0XWyfNSJocDAseHLtz4YR0c8dk3NUUDy8mUVjJjV3c302aUR2R7lqRURM_paEoxrpo6I4C_SuCGUn6Pc2dq0OMf_vH1EresJvnXuaE6/s1600/theminiturist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXolttwGY7cIwk-KoJ5BopUaTsGjnAG5QQMFhPh0XWyfNSJocDAseHLtz4YR0c8dk3NUUDy8mUVjJjV3c302aUR2R7lqRURM_paEoxrpo6I4C_SuCGUn6Pc2dq0OMf_vH1EresJvnXuaE6/s320/theminiturist.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office--leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic;">But Nella's world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist--an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . .</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><i>Johannes' gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand--and fear--the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction? </i>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18498569-the-miniaturist" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></div>
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I have a huge collection of popular historical fiction novels that I have been wanting to read on my TBR shelves and cold weather always puts me in the mood for a long historical novel, so this is the one I picked off my shelf to read first. I really enjoyed this novel. I really didn't know much about it besides the information on the inside flap, and that it received a lot of positive buzz when it was released, and I was pleasantly surprised by what was inside this novel. It had a great plot, intriguing characters, mystery, and beautiful writing. </div>
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I loved the 17th century Amsterdam setting, as this is a setting I have never read before. Burton did an amazing job at bringing the setting to life. This novel felt like a visual experience, and I am happy to hear that it has been adapted into a mini-series. The characters are very real, and all of the characters, even the small side characters, have been given so much detail and care by Brandt that they all seem absolutely essential to the novel. The back cover compares Burton's novel to the works of Sarah Waters, and I have to agree there. While <i>The Miniaturist </i>may not have the same level of twists as Waters' novels, this novel is full of mystery and surprise and kept me on my toes. </div>
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This novel deals with so many subjects in such an interesting way. It comments on religion, wealth, sin in its varying degrees, the historically limited options for women, family, love, and the inner mysteries of every human. All of these ideas weaved into the plot seamlessly along with the mystery of the miniaturist and the question of fate and the future. The writing is beautiful and the plot never falters or slows. Time truly slipped away while I was reading this novel. </div>
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I already purchased Burton's second novel, and I will be eager to read whatever she releases in the future. Her writing was beautiful and her scene building impeccable. I have a feeling that this novel has inspired a marathon of historical fiction reading! </div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1858889186420818075.post-1607776575516573402018-01-15T00:30:00.000-05:002018-01-15T00:30:16.756-05:00TBR Spotlight: Books Set in AfricaIn the past year, I have really been loving books set in Africa. This was not a setting that I read a lot of fiction about until I read Paula McLain's <a href="http://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2016/06/recently-read-circling-sun.html" target="_blank">Circling the Sun</a>. After reading her beautiful descriptions of the African landscape and being intrigued by the colonial Africa setting, I decided I really wanted to pick up more fiction with an African setting. Here's some of the books set in Africa that are highest on my TBR list.<br />
Book titles link to Goodreads!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE90faFvlTe-HAu-Sq5ruir_MTVss9jIXLj4ZdGVIfd_6p_EWUp0MJHQk3nqk_VSfDAkZE-4zfAhC6IKaG7Oglj3TM0JWva3bLSpqUfraJ6E1QFM3cSNgqPy1rKb0MuI41PncuogeyhwZY/s1600/homegoing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE90faFvlTe-HAu-Sq5ruir_MTVss9jIXLj4ZdGVIfd_6p_EWUp0MJHQk3nqk_VSfDAkZE-4zfAhC6IKaG7Oglj3TM0JWva3bLSpqUfraJ6E1QFM3cSNgqPy1rKb0MuI41PncuogeyhwZY/s320/homegoing.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27071490-homegoing?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi </a></div>
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I've heard lots of praise for this one. A generational family saga set on multiple contents sounds like something I need in my life. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTA0lOQwv95Le-Wl9K85HCzPDsriyw_mPxsQ1fkLcx_F_KfSf4Dinxmwq1LFEWr6cMY3y-UQ1SNedJup-_W5XWNKqBkam8-9X2ajLN9uE1WVb0FiuEvzs2ka8osZrxxWh6lV5PW9NHS36/s1600/halfofayellowsun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="318" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivTA0lOQwv95Le-Wl9K85HCzPDsriyw_mPxsQ1fkLcx_F_KfSf4Dinxmwq1LFEWr6cMY3y-UQ1SNedJup-_W5XWNKqBkam8-9X2ajLN9uE1WVb0FiuEvzs2ka8osZrxxWh6lV5PW9NHS36/s320/halfofayellowsun.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18749.Half_of_a_Yellow_Sun?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Half of A Yellow Sun, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie</a></div>
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I've heard that this Adichie novel is a bit more intense than her other novels, but I really love her writing and want to read all her works. I have only read one, so really all of her works are on this list. I really love all of the different editions of Adichie's novels, so it will take some searching before I decide which edition of this one I want to pick up. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKPYN1bYPKoW28_7PkO3TcxT7MQTfHOZUqwycjC9akzlOUvKp16QSGcMgt1gm5qd-yWZsRjdU-TgNaojLwI3GCtttu_E7MqQICSDoMgPFYQoFlvy1ez0gMMvWuLzlU3wWqZi-qVCKCow9/s1600/americanah2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="291" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkKPYN1bYPKoW28_7PkO3TcxT7MQTfHOZUqwycjC9akzlOUvKp16QSGcMgt1gm5qd-yWZsRjdU-TgNaojLwI3GCtttu_E7MqQICSDoMgPFYQoFlvy1ez0gMMvWuLzlU3wWqZi-qVCKCow9/s320/americanah2.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15796700-americanah?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Americanah, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie</a></div>
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Another novel with a setting on multiple contents, this has been labeled as Adichie's best work so far. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQMqAaATP6tn1MMwWWtbNHI03iXnHinJ6O6NNr8_GjjyJhWvUENxssfGlqZkUX7aCowGIpZfsZKwXyYPCn4oJS4gVdBbtSv37Zq_TUfaY1Mi6pIruch3206o3Zf2Bn7JgcN1T29vcUuzB/s1600/outofafrica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIQMqAaATP6tn1MMwWWtbNHI03iXnHinJ6O6NNr8_GjjyJhWvUENxssfGlqZkUX7aCowGIpZfsZKwXyYPCn4oJS4gVdBbtSv37Zq_TUfaY1Mi6pIruch3206o3Zf2Bn7JgcN1T29vcUuzB/s320/outofafrica.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/781787.Out_of_Africa?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Out of Africa, Isak Dinesen</a> </div>
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I've been wanting to read this one after reading so much about Beryl Markham last year. I have never seen the movie (which I hear is quite different) so I can see a back-to-back marathon in my future. </div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7507944-akata-witch?ac=1&from_search=true" target="_blank">Akata Witch, Nnedi Okorafor</a></div>
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I had to stop myself from buying this one in the book store the other day, as it sounds so cool. A magic-school series set in Africa. Yes Please! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCJ0YVb15ER0EFmfa173F-7rr_y96De88ARESKJgB9C4sx0vXEQ8zWY_sjjFD7Uy_V1perDpZ44CCD7jnVsj6q8tBCGqiEQcRmLAy6bY-bmLuVWJGxiq1Y5dONyWRhyphenhyphenbr1Ygzkh3r8434/s1600/staywithme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="255" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyCJ0YVb15ER0EFmfa173F-7rr_y96De88ARESKJgB9C4sx0vXEQ8zWY_sjjFD7Uy_V1perDpZ44CCD7jnVsj6q8tBCGqiEQcRmLAy6bY-bmLuVWJGxiq1Y5dONyWRhyphenhyphenbr1Ygzkh3r8434/s320/staywithme.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31349579-stay-with-me#" target="_blank">Stay with Me, Ayobami Adebayo</a></div>
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I've heard lots of great things about this one, and it sounds like it has a similar feel to <a href="https://thelocalmuse.blogspot.com/2018/01/recently-read-purple-hibiscus.html" target="_blank">Purple Hibiscus</a> in that it's a character driven family drama. </div>
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Leave me recommendations for your favorite fiction set in Africa so I can expand this list! </div>
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Mallory @ The Local Musehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18076272254010271626noreply@blogger.com2