Carry On...again

Also, someone needs to stop me from reading this....

#carryon #rainbowrowell #waywardson #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Goodbye March

March who? April what? 

Here I am again checking in with my 2019 resolutions:

(1) Keep learning

(2) Write [almost] every day

(3) Don't stop reading

(4) Complete something (e.g. a manuscript)

(5) Get [a little] professional 

Again, I wasn't super successful this month. I got really sick again (stubborn little germ monsters), and then my motivation just took a hit when the sun suddenly showed up again. Bleh, excuses, excuses, Abby (again).

(1) Again, no real "evidence" of this to share. 

(2) I'm doing a lot better at this. The prompt book is helping. And so is working on #4. 

(3) I read...not a lot in March. I think I read about 6 or 7 books in total. Does it help that I have about 4 work in processes? No? Yeah, I didn't think so.

(4) I've done a lot, a lot better in this aspect, slowly. My manuscript has ~113 pages done (and counting). Most of them still look more like a screenplay than a novel, but again, its a work in progress. But I'm still really happy with it; and really excited about my characters and their journey.

(5) Posts in February: 24 (that includes this one). Squeezed in a few more just at the end there.

I'm going to (try) to do this at the end of every month, or close to it (that is, if I remember, and my life isn't too too crazy at that time).

What are your big April reads?

Anything I should check out?

As we say at the daycare I work at during circle time:

"Goodbye, March!"

"Hello, April!"

It sounds silly, but just imagine 6-10 two year olds repeating that after you. It could make almost anyone smile.

#newyearsresolutions #keeplearning #writeeveryday #dontstopreading #completesomething #getprofessional #goodbyemarch #helloapril #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Prince & Knight

Another amazing stumble upon of mine in the last week (through Tumblr this time) was "Prince & Knight" By Daniel Haack.

Who doesn't love a classic fairytale? Who doesn't droll over a handsome prince (or princess, you do you folks)? Who doesn't love a great boys-who-love-boys story?

Well this children's story has it all. Yes, I said children's story. 

This books is some of the first in a generational change in what (small) children need to seen in literature to show them what is normal, what needs to be more widely accepted.

Please, go read it. It's cute and beautiful.

#princeandknight #danielhaack #childrensstory #lgbtrepresentation #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Bloom

While stress book buying the other day, I stumbled upon the graphic novel "Bloom" (written by Kevin Panetta and illustrated by Savanna Ganucheau). And let's just say, what a discovery.

"Bloom" followed Ari during that time in his teen life where he's constantly searching for meaning, validation, and escape. To move into an apartment in the city with friends, he must first find and train a replacement at his family's bakery.

Hector reminds Ari why he loved baking, why he loved spending time with his family. 

It certainly didn't hurt that these two soft, sweet boys fall in some serious love (with each other and with themselves).

What other sweet, full of romance graphic novel can you recommend for me?

#bloom #kevinpanetta #savannaganuchaeu #graphicnovel #books #bookphotography #bookstagram #ilovebooks

Fence (vol 1 & vol 2)

Okay, so I loved, loved, loved "The Captive Prince" trilogy by C.S. Pacat so, so, so much, that I finally, finally, finally picked up her comic book series "Fence". Let's just say, she didn't disappoint. 

Its just a slow burn and high stakes (minus the death thing) as TCP. I was amazed by the diversity of characters and personalities that Pacat was able to shove into only so many (amazing, beautiful, provoking) colored blocks. 

I read Volume 1 and Volume 2 this weekend. They each only took me about 30 minutes, if that. I can't wait until Volume 3 comes out later this summer.

What is something you've read recently that you shamelessly waited far too long to read?

#fence #cspacat #captiveprince #comicbook #fencing #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Peter Pan (take three)

"Peter Pan" by J.M. Barrie. I already told you how much I love this book, love these characters, love this fandom. 

Captain Hook (and Peter Pan, if we're being honest with ourselves) is my favorite villain.

I've seen the movie and the musical (the musical is better) "Finding Neverland" once (and I'd die to see it again, at least two more times). I've seen a ballet adaptation. But I've never seen the original play. Guess what, though? They're coming to Pittsburgh this summer, and I'm soo soo going.

Who's your favorite Peter Pan character? 

What's your favorite Neverland location?

#peterpan #findingneverland #jmbarrie #childrensbook #childrensclassic #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Wicked

"Wicked: The Life And Times of The Wicked Witch Of The West" by Gregory Maguire. 

Also known as the backstory of your favorite green-skinned witch. This book makes you fall in love with Elphaba (the witch) and fall into hate with Dorothy (that silly little girl). 

I read this book for the first time in middle school. At that point, it was the longest book that I have ever read. Twice. Or was it thrice? I can't remember.

I saw the musical (and fell in love again) three times? Or was it four? I can't remember that either.

Who is your favorite evil villain?

What is your favorite musical?

#wicked #wickedthelifeandtimesofthewickedwitchofthewest #gregorymaguire #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

e.e. cummings

ee cummings...a poetry legend.

"you are my sun, my moon, and all my stars"

i fell in love with that line, with that poem in high school. still now it makes me smile much, much, much more than it should.

what's your favorite poem?

who's your favorite poet?

#eecummings #youaremysunmymoonandallmystars #poetry #poetrybook #bookstagram #bookphotography #books #ilovebooks

Treasure Island

Ahhh "Treasure Island" (by Robert Louis Stevenson).

The long, ever-felt love and utter nostalgia of all things pirate has come from this children's classic.

Peg leg? Check. Eye patch? Check. Treasure map? Check. X-Marks the Spot? Check. Bad pirate versus good pirate versus the navy? Check versus check versus check. 

I think I'm missing a lot of things, but you get the drift.

What's your favorite pirate themed book? Movie? Cliche?

#treasureisland #robertlouisstevenson #childrensclassic #childrensbook #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #pirates #ilovepirates #ilovebooks

A Little Princess

*Sigh* I have conflicting feelings over Frances Hodgson Burnett's "A Little Princess." 

The theme of being kind, always, no matter what, no matter what you've been through, was inspiring. But there were just things....well....the entire ending, that I...hated.

But I love, love, love the 1995 movie. It made up for....a lot that the original text was lacking.

Which do you like better? The movie or the book?

#alittleprincess #franceshodgsonburnett #childrensclassics #childrensbook #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

And Then There Were None

Agatha Christie. Need I saw more?

I read "And Then There Were None" (otherwise known as "Ten Little Indians") in high school. We had to make a fake Facebook profile of one of the characters. I had the judge. If you read the book, you knew how I felt.

This book....god, this book. I loved this book. I grew up on crime shows. I thought I knew who the killer was. I thought I had it all figured out. Well, I was wrong. But that just shows how amazing the writing was, how amazing the author was. 

Who was your favorite character? 

#andthentherewerenone #tenlittleindians #agathachristie #classicbooks #classicmurdermystery #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Great Gatsby

"The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. 

Need I say more?

What's your opinion on this classic?

Is Daisy sweet and tragic or manipulative and egotistic? Is Jay in love or obsessive? Is Nick a great, ultra supportive BFF or a lovesick gay disaster?

#greatgatsby #fscottfitzgerald #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #classicbooks #ilovebooks

More Harry Potter

Okay, so I've been kinda absent lately, with adding posts and with liking my fellow bookstagramer's posts. For that, I'm sorry.

As an apology, have like...eight brand new posts all at once... (and at least two-three more this weekend)

This is my lovely kindle cover. I love, love, love it. It makes my kindle look like a book from the library at Hogwarts. 

Don't you just love it?!

I got it from Klevercase's etsy shop. It reminds me every time i read an ebook or even look at it, about how much I love, love, love Harry Potter. 

What does your ebook reader's cover look like?

#harrypotter #hogwartslibrary #jkrowling #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #kindlecover #etsy #ilovebooks

Magic Marks The Spot

Okay, so I've been posting a series of children's classics, and this might not be a classic (yet), but you still need to go read it, like now.

"Magic Marks The Spot" by Caroline Carlson is the first novel in "The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates" series. God, if you didn't want to read this book because of the description I'm about to give you, do it for the title alone, please.

This novel follows young Hilary Westfield, who has always dreamed of being a pirate (haven't we all (or was/is that just me?)). She has all the makings. There's only one thing: The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates refuses to let any girl (no matter how skilled) join their ranks. 

That and her father, Admiral Westfield, absolutely forbids it. He sends her to a Finishing School for Delicate Lady's, from which she promptly runs away. 

Join Hilarly as she's swept up in an adventuring including a map without an X, a magical treasure that likely doesn't exist, a rogue governess who insists on propriety, a crew of misfit scallywags, and the most treacherous--and unexpected--villain on the High Seas. Oh, and her best friend, the family gargoyle. 

Trust me, you'll love this book. Trust me.

Again, if not for the description, for the title. If not for the title, do it for the promise of a very feminist novel that will teach young children that girls can be and do absolutely anything that boys can, including being a pirate.

And...I already thought of a bunch of questions, and I don't really have another....how about you all ask me one? 

#magicmarksthespot #theverynearlyhonorableleagueofpirates #pirate #childresnsbooks #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Persepolis

"Persepolis" (1 and 2) by Marjane Satrapi is an graphic autobiography. Graphic meaning graphic novella and graphic meaning explicit."Persepolis" follows Marjane's childhood and early adult years in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution. 

I read this in college as reading for my first year English Comp class. Coming from a small town, this was one of the first real depictions of something that was non-white, something real, something completely void of racism (except for typical things that come/came from the revolution). It helped me understand a part of history that has forever been bared by high school education systems (because its non-white, non-European related, non-Christian).

In my opinion, this book needs to be read by every child before or during high school. Every individual needs to be given this inside look into a world that is probably unfamiliar to them, EVEN IF (especially if) it is on a lot of banned book lists (if a book is banned, that usually means it needs to be read all that much more).

Go read it. Then watch the movies. They're all amazing.

What is one of your favorite banned books?

I'll be doing a banned book posting spree eventually (my friend recently sent me an article (that I have yet to read) all about banned books)).

#persepolis #marjanesatrapi #punkisnotdead #bannedbook #childrensbooks #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Boxcar Children

Ahhh the "Boxcar Children". This was the very first Big-Girl book that I ever read. This was the book that made me fall in love with reading (that you to Mrs. Prager, my second grade teacher for forever instilling this passion into me at such a young age).

Gertrude Chandler Warner begun this series, and after her death, her daughter picked up the pen.

The first book follows orphan siblings Henry, Jesse, Violet, and Benny. They are sent to live with a baker and his wife, who have plans to separate the children, keeping two of them and putting the other two up for adoption. The other plan is that they are sent to live with their grandfather, who they were brought up with fear. Neither plan is okay with these spunky children, so they decide to run away.

They find an old boxcar in the woods and decide to make that their home (since then, I've always wanted my own little boxcar playhouse). The oldest two work to provide their new family with food and small comforts.

The rest of the books, as I seem to remember, follow the children as they solve crimes (am I even remembering that correctly? (I googled it, and yes, they did solve mysteries)). There are a total of 161 books. I, unabashedly, owned many of them. I might even have some of them still, somewhere (probably the attic).

What book(s) made you fall in love with reading? 

#boxcarchildren #gertrudechandlerwarner #childrensbooks #childrensclassics #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Stargirl

I read "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli in middle school. As a fellow quirky outcast, I remember closely identifying with her.

This highly acclaimed novel following Leo as he moves and begins a new school in a new state and is forced to make new friends. A few years after moving, after establishing new relationships, Leo finally meets the infamous Stargirl, with her strange outfits and eccentric personality. 

Leo tells the story of Stargirl gaining and losing popularity, of him slowly falling in love with her kindess, bravery, and nonconformity. 

I don't remember a lot from this novel, expect that Leo and Stargirl (and most of their high school) were forever changed by this girls personality and willingness to be a little bit (or a lot of bit) outside of the box.

What book(s) that you read in middle school do you remember leaving an impact on you?

#stargirl #lovestargirl #jerryspinelli #childrensbooks #childrensclassics #books #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Little Prince

"Le Petit Prince" or "The Little Prince" by Antione de Saint-Exupéry is a children's book cult phenomenon that I didn't know existed until college.

Everyone talks about books/movies that depict the non-typical-princess character, but no one talks about the non-typical-prince character. The prince in this book is that, non-typical. He's kind, sweet, innocent. He cares more for his friends, his rose, than he cares about himself. 

It's been a while since I've read "The Little Prince", but I remember loving it. Eventually, I plan on buying the book in its original French (and struggling through it with my two years of high school language courses).

I have yet to see the Netflix movie adaptation of this book, though. Have any of you seen it? Is it worth the watch?

#thelittleprince #lepetitprince #antoinedesaintexupery #childrensbooks #childrensclassics #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Charlotte's Web

To round out my classics posts, I'll share with you a children's classic (which will highlight the theme of my next posting spree: children's book).

Pretty much everyone has read "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White at least once in their lifetime. 

This book suddenly shares themes of change, death, innocence, goodness, and friends with children. It doesn't hurt that the main characters are all adorable animals. 

I also love the names in this books (you'll learn I have a thing for names): Wilbur, Fern, Zuckerman, Charlotte, Templeton.

Which animal is your favorite from "Charlotte's Web"?

Are you more of a Wilbur or a Charlotte? (I wonder if Buzzfeed has a quiz for that).

#charlottesweb #ebwhite #wilbur #somepig #terrific #humble #radiant #theclassics #childrensclassics #childrensbooks #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Brokeback Mountain

Okay, so many not an old-old classic, but a classic nonetheless.

"Brokeback Mountain" by Annie Proulx was written in 1997, during the/near the end of the AIDS/HIV Crisis. I mean, you have to be a serious BAMF to write and publish a book about the homosexual experience during this time. 

And oh, was it good. "Brokeback Mountain" was a phenomenon, still is. It's the pre "Call Me By Your Name." A classic that following the secret homosexual relationship of two men as they discover themselves and their heterosexual relationship during yet another time of nationwide homophobia/heteronormalization. Granted, the ending was sad, and it made me cry (again, much like "Call Me By Your Name"), it was so worth the read.

"Brokeback Mountain" showed me that it was okay to write about LGBT experiences, that it was okay to read about it. 

#brokebackmountain #annieproulx #theclassics #lgbtclassic #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Fahrenheit 451

Another classic: "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury.

In this dystopian, technology-driven universe, the possession of and reading of books is a crime. If a person is found with books, the texts (as well as their home) is burned. 

The title represents the temperature in which books catch fire and burn. Such a high number, in my opinion, represents the quality of books, that something so valuable can only burn at such a high temperature.

Firefighters are not in charge of stopping fires, but starting them (very Series of Unfortunate Events (#VFD)). 

Everything is normal, everything is fine, until Guy Montag (narrator) meets an individual that throws themselves into the fire as their books burn. He wonders what could be so wonderful that would make someone want to die with the thing they love.

Guy goes on a journey of self discovery. He falls in love with books, even as he continues to burn them. 

I love the edition of "Fahrenheit 451" that comes with a match.

What's your favorite dystopian novel (classic or otherwise)?

#fahrenheit451 #raybradbury #bookburning #theclassics #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

The Divine Comedy

"The Divine Comedy" by Dante Alighieri...I remember reading "Inferno" in high school. It was one of the many books (that I plan on sharing with you today) that helped me shape my academic identity, push forward my love of literature, and understand my drive for books that mean something, that come from something important, that shape minds.

"Inferno" was fabulous to read. I should have been inspired to lead a better life, to stop sinning or something. Instead, I fell in love with the dark themes and even darker imagery. 

If you haven't read it, "Inferno" is the journey of Dante (not (necessarily) the author) as he descends through the nine levels of hell. 

In high school, one of our reading projects was to pick something to make into hell and give it nine different depths as well as create punishments to fit accordingly. Most people picked their workplaces or sports teams. I picked annoying people. I can't remember all of the circle I made, but I know one was parents who put their children on leashes.

If you had to do this project, what would your hell be?

The other two books in this series follow Dante as he goes through Purgatory and Paradise. I've yet to read these additions, but I plan to (eventually).

#divinecomedy #inferno #purgatory #paradise #dante #dantealighieri #theclassics #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks

Lord of the Flies

Okay, I lied to you. The book that really made me discover the wonder of literature, higher education, and analyzing/theorizing was "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding.

This was the very first book we read sophomore year of high school in advanced academic english. My teacher that year...she changed my life. Her passion for books, for teaching, has driven me every day since then. Thank you, Mrs. Mann.

"Lord of the Flies" focuses on a group of young boys as they're abandoned on an uninhabited island after a plane crash and are forced to figure out how to live (all Survivor style). This novel has so many metaphors and powerful symbols. There was so much to analyze. I loved it.

The major question that this novel addresses is: are people born evil or does society turn people evil? This novel fueled my love of criminology/psychology/sociology before I knew what this field of study was.

Many people think that "The Maze Runners" was inspired by "Lord of the Flies". What modern novel(s) that were inspired by a classic is your favorite?

#lordoftheflies #williamgolding #theclassics #piggyisthebest #bookstagram #books #bookphotography #ilovebooks