*Post contains affiliate links. During this last week of Advent, The Book Joy Family has Christmas and predicted snow to look forward to and, of course, a stack of books to read to pass the time away. Here is a look at what we have reserved from our local library for the start of winter … Continue reading Books Make the Perfect Gifts
Writing Letters in the Age of Coronavirus
“Life is bearable when you have someone to write, and someone who writes you back. Even if it's just one person.” ― Eunjin Jang Six hours north of my life in Ohio, there is a quaint, humble home on the Western side of Michigan where, for fourteen indulgent days in the middle of July, my family … Continue reading Writing Letters in the Age of Coronavirus
Celebrating and Discovering Poetry in April: National Poetry Month
“Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.” ~Plato Since its official declaration in 1996, poetry has been celebrated nationally during the month of April. Though I cannot recall how old I was when I first fell hard for the words of poetry, I do know that my affinity for reading poems began at a … Continue reading Celebrating and Discovering Poetry in April: National Poetry Month
Searching for Words of Comfort and Peace During the Coronavirus Pandemic
"Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are." – Mason Cooley In times of great distress, I return to reading books of comfort and peace, great story-telling with an apparent gentleness, seeking out words that foster encouragement and joy, and stories of triumph over incredible odds. When life … Continue reading Searching for Words of Comfort and Peace During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Summer Reads of 2019
“One benefit of Summer was that each day we had more light to read by.”—Jeannette Walls One of the most beautiful occurrences that develop when spring turns to summer and school days end and unstructured ones begin, is the sudden emergence of free time for which to partake in pleasurable pursuits of our own choosing. … Continue reading Summer Reads of 2019
Book Review: Lucy Castor Finds Her Sparkle
Reviewed by: Bookworm Girl Title: Lucy Castor Finds Her Sparkle Author: Natasha Lowe Genre: Realistic Fiction Number of Chapters: 30 Number of Pages: 230 Where did you find this book? My mom found it at the public library and brought it home for me. What did you like the most about this book? What I … Continue reading Book Review: Lucy Castor Finds Her Sparkle
Book Review: Deep Zone (Football Genius #5)
Reviewed by: Bookworm Boy Title: Deep Zone Author: Tim Green Genre: Fiction Number of Chapters: 68 Number of Pages: 265 Where did you find this book? I found this novel in the Teen Section of the local library. I had been waiting to read it, and I was happy to find it there during my … Continue reading Book Review: Deep Zone (Football Genius #5)
Book Review: Spirit Week Showdown (Peachy and Keen)
Reviewed by: Bookworm Girl Title: Spirit Week Showdown (Peachy and Keen) Author: Jason Tharp Genre: Fiction, humor Number of Chapters: 9 Number of Pages: 96 Where did you find this book? My mom saw it on a featured book shelf at the library and asked if I’d like to read it (because I love unicorns!) … Continue reading Book Review: Spirit Week Showdown (Peachy and Keen)
Library Lot: President’s Day 2019
Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card. – Marc Brown My children were some of the lucky ones still able to savor this President’s Day as a holiday. I’ve heard of so many schools (my nieces’ and nephew’s, included) who had to trade their holiday for a make-up day due to an … Continue reading Library Lot: President’s Day 2019
Book Review: The Year of Magical Thinking
“Life changes in the instant. The ordinary instant.” ― Joan Didion, The Year of Magical Thinking When a friend recommends a particular book, I take note, and read. Over a decade ago, I recall sitting in my office chipping away at the day’s to-do list. When late in the morning, in walked a colleague of mine, whom … Continue reading Book Review: The Year of Magical Thinking