Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Bookish Brags: Little Free Libraries
Saturday, October 5, 2024
The Sunday Salon: "...that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse..."
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Comfy Cozy Cinema: Kiki's Delivery Service
I can't remember the last time I saw an animated film. I was apprehensive when I saw this film was from Japan, worried this film might be like the animated films from Japan like Speed Racer that I saw as a young person.
I needn't have worried. Kiki's Delivery Service is an exceptional film. I was immediately captivated by the details in the film, the buzzing bee, the shifting point-of-view of the camera, the little gesture the bus driver makes when he shifts into gear. The film feels startlingly lifelike.
The story is about a young witch who turns thirteen and must strike out on her own. The only skill Kiki has is flying on her broomstick, so she decides to run a delivery service. The owner of a bakery provides Kiki with a place to stay and helps her get her business going. In addition to the baker, Kiki soon meets and befriends a boy fascinated with flying, an old lady, and an artist named Ursula.
Kiki is horrified when she realizes that she is losing her magic, one of the most powerful parts of the movie, and it is the artist who is able to help Kiki cope with the way our gifts can come and go.
Kiki faces the same struggles as most teens, and with the help of her new friends, she learns more about herself and how to deal with others.
I couldn't help speculating about what our world might be like if kids were sent out on their own at thirteen, to make their own way in life.
My Comfy Cozy Rating: High
Comfy Cozy Qualities: The trials of adolescence including
learning to make friends, discovering your strengths and weaknesses,
and learning how to make it in the world
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
Books I Refused to Read Because They Were Too Popular
Yes, I'm one of *those* people. A book snob, some might call me. A book gets too popular, and I shun it. I'm sure I wouldn't like it, I think, nose in the air. Probably just pure fluff.
Here are some of the books I rejected for a long time, before finally caving in and reading:
Harry Potter
John Grisham
Here are some I ended up buying a copy of, though I have not yet read these. Should I read these?
The Thorn Birds
Cold Sassy Tree
Here are some I have never read. Should I reconsider?
The DaVinci Code
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together. Each Tuesday That Artsy Reader Girl assigns a topic and then post her top ten list that fits that topic. You’re more than welcome to join her and create your own top ten (or 2, 5, 20, etc.) list as well. Feel free to put a unique spin on the topic to make it work for you! Please link back to That Artsy Reader Girl in your own post so that others know where to find more information.
Monday, September 30, 2024
Nonfiction November Returns: Save the Date!
A chill wind blows. For most, fall is about soft sweaters, delectable candles, and pumpkin treats. Here in the book blogging community, it certainly is about all of those things, but there is one most special event in the forecast every autumn. For us, the fall breeze brings Nonfiction November!
Throughout the month of November, bloggers Liz, Frances, Heather, Rebekah, and Deb invite you to celebrate Nonfiction November with us.
Meet your hosts!
Liz, who blogs at Adventures in reading, running and working from home, is an editor, transcriber, reader, reviewer, writer and runner. She likes reading literary fiction and nonfiction, travel and biography.
Frances blogs about the books she has read at Volatile Rune and is a published poet, reviewer, sometime storyteller and novelist.
Heather of Based on a True Story lives in Ohio with her husband, surrounded by lots and lots of critters!
Rebekah reviews social justice books on She Seeks Nonfiction. She is a Pittsburgh-based activist, graphic designer, and cat parent.
Deb, who blogs at Readerbuzz, is a Texas librarian-for-life who swims, rides her bike, draws, writes, and loves to read nonfiction-that-reads-like-fiction, literary fiction, classics, and children’s picture books.
How it works
Each Monday, our weekly host will post our topic prompt and include a linkup where you can link your posts, connect with other bloggers, and dive deeper by reading and sharing nonfiction book reviews. Feel free to use our official Nonfiction November graphics, too!
Here are the topic prompts for each week:
Week 1 (10/28-11/1) Your Year in Nonfiction: Celebrate your year of nonfiction. What books have you read? What were your favorites? Have you had a favorite topic? Is there a topic you want to read about more? What are you hoping to get out of participating in Nonfiction November? (Heather)
Week 2 (11/4-11/8) Choosing Nonfiction: What are you looking for when you pick up a nonfiction book? Do you have a particular topic you’re attracted to? Do you have a particular writing style that works best? When you look at a nonfiction book, does the title or cover influence you? If so, share a title or cover which you find striking. (Frances)
Week 3 (11/11-11/15) Book Pairings: This week, pair up a nonfiction book with a fiction title. Maybe it's a historical novel and the real history in a nonfiction version, or a memoir and a novel, or a fiction book you’ve read and you would like recommendations for background reading. Or (because I’m doing this) two books on two different areas have chimed and have a link. You can be as creative as you like! (Liz)
Week 4 (11/18-11/22) Mind Openers: One of the greatest things about reading nonfiction is the way it can open your eyes to the world around you–no plane ticket required. What nonfiction book or books have impacted the way you see the world in a powerful way? Is there one book that made you rethink everything? Is there a book that, if everyone read it, you think the world would be a better place? (Rebekah)
Week 5 (11/25-11/29) New To My TBR: It's been a month full of amazing nonfiction books! Which ones have made it onto your TBR? Be sure to link back to the original blogger who posted about that book! (Deb)
Meet the newest Nonfiction November host!
This year we have a new Nonfiction November host for week 5: New To My TBR in Deb. This prompt allows everyone who participates to come together and share all the new nonfiction books they discover each November!
The other four of us (along with Lisa) saved Nonfiction November from the brink of extinction in 2023, and we host this event again because we love the book blogging community and the books that we get to share. Thank you to Deb for joining us for our final week and sharing the joy of hosting. Please join us in spreading the love and tying the bow on Nonfiction November 2024!
Saturday, September 28, 2024
The Sunday Salon: World Postcard Day, Comfy Cozy Cinema, and We'll Prescribe You a Cat
Liz of Adventures in Reading, Running, and Working from Home is organizing the upcoming Nonfiction November, and this year I will be hosting the last week of the event. I'm starting to collect books for the event.