I recently read and thoroughly enjoyed The Lazy Genius Way by Kendra Adachi. So I made a video about it! Kendra offers 13 Lazy Genius Principles, about how to be a genius about the things that matter, and lazy about the things that don’t. I love books on how to manage your life better, and this was a particularly good one.
Today’s Book Blogger Hop question is: How young do you think children should be when they start reading?
I don’t think you can start too early with reading to children. I started reading picture books to my baby when he was probably less than a month old. He’s almost six months now, and we read a few books almost every day. He was five months before he started appearing to notice the book much – up until that point I think he just liked hearing my voice, and it was easier for me to read than come up with a monologue. But I figure if we start the habit of reading to him now, we can just keep going.
I don’t expect him to start being able to actually read himself for years – that’s usually a kindergarten thing, right? But I think it’s important to start reading to children long before they learn how to read.
This duology was recently recommended to me by a friend and I was intrigued by the premise. I loved the first book, Strange the Dreamer. And then the second one, Muse of Nightmares, was good, but much, much darker – which I kind of anticipated going into it. Even though I loved the first one, it was a few weeks before I felt emotionally ready to take on the second one!
The story centers around Lazlo Strange, who dreams of finding the Lost City. He does find it, but that’s only the beginning of the adventure, involving gods (or are they demons?), mysterious powers, and dark deeds that are still haunting the people who did and witnessed them. The second book in particular focuses in on horrible events of the past, and the way the trauma lives on for the people who experienced them. There is a happy ending – I kind of felt all along that there would be, despite the darkness – but it was a rough journey along the way.
There’s a really lovely, lyrical, magical quality to this duology, especially the first book. Even though we begin to skirt into areas that could be science fiction, especially in book two, it always keeps a very fantasy feel. There’s some really cool and creative magic in here that I enjoyed. There’s also a rather lovely romance that I enjoyed as well. Continue reading “Book Review: Strange the Dreamer and Muse of Nightmares”
I’ve been reading a lot of picture books to my baby, even though he’s too small to really appreciate them yet! That means I get to pick the books we read, and right now one of my great favorites is the Little Blue Truck series. So I made a video review about it, discussing the plot, characters and worldbuilding of the different installments in the series – and, all importantly, whether each book includes enough times of the Little Blue Truck saying “beep beep beep!”
Watch below, and I hope you enjoy!
Today’s Book Blogger Hop question is: Have you ever gotten a book signed by the author?
I’m fortunate to know several great authors personally, and so I have an entire shelf of books signed by them: K. D. Blakely, R. A. Gates, Kelly Haworth, Elizabeth Garner, Dennis Mahoney, A. G. Stewart and Magnus Victor. I’ve been to two book readings where I got a book signed – a little surprising that it hasn’t been more, actually! I got signed copies of The Art Lesson by Tomie de Paola, and Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin. Two very different authors and books!
I have also bought a couple of signed books, without meeting the authors. I have a copy of Beauty signed by Robin McKinley, and Terrier signed by Tamora Pierce. I’d love signed copies of books (any books) by L. M. Montgomery (way, way too expensive) or J. M. Barrie (surprisingly less expensive, but pricey) but haven’t made that happen!
Tales of the Marvelous 