Ruby the Foster Dog | Jimmy Wayne | Review

Monday, 13 November 2017

Ruby the Foster Dog | Jimmy Wayne | Review

*Image and book provided via NetGalley for an honest review.

Summary:

Ruby has been in the shelter for several days now. She's seen some dogs go off with families and others go behind the door, never to be seen again. She prays to God to send her a family with a big back yard and kids to play with. What she gets is James, a crazy looking man walking through Texas with ski poles and goggles. He tells her he's walking half-way across America to raise awareness of foster kids who age out of the system with no families and asks her to join him.

Review:

This was such a cute, heart-warming story. It's based on the real-life 1700 mile walk the author went on back in 2010. We get to meet a lot of the people Wayne met and hear about the good and bad he had to go through during his walk and his own time in foster care.

Not all of the images showed up in my ebook copy, but I'm sure the publishers have fixed this. Additionally, what images I could see were very well done! Ruby looks absolutely adorable in all of them. 

I really enjoyed this children's book and its very positive, hopeful tone. There are ways to help foster kids and this book is a good way to raise awareness that not everyone has a home. It can be a difficult concept for kids, but this book is written at their level. 

If you're in need of a cute, feel-good book, this is a great pick-me-up and good for all ages!

Read more »

No comments

Features | Taylor Swift Book Recs

Friday, 10 November 2017

Features | Taylor Swift Book Recs

To celebrate the release of Taylor Swift's newest album (and because I will take any excuse to recommend books to you, dear readers) I am going to recommend an excellent book that I'm sure you'll love based only on your favourite T. Swift album. So take a quick pause from listening to Taylor's new songs and scroll down to find your favourite album and your new favourite book.

Taylor Swift - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Just a boy in a Chevy truck

That had a tendency of gettin' stuck

On back roads at night

And I was right there beside him all summer long

And then the time we woke up to find that summer gone

If the sweet romanticism and young heartbreak of Taylor Swift makes Taylor's debut your favourite of her albums, I recommend Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. Benjamin Alire Sáenz's novel about two teenage boys grappling with identity, friendship, love, and growing up, Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe is every bit as lyrical and optimistic as Taylor's earliest work.

Fearless - Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

'Cause I can't help it if you look like an angel

Can't help it if I wanna kiss you in the rain

So come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you

Can't help it if there's no one else

I can't help myself

If the more confident Fearless is your favourite album then I recommend Anna and the French Kiss. Anna's love story with Étienne (and with Paris) is as full of romance, jealousy, and occasional teenage melancholy as this album. Just like Fearless, Anna and the French Kiss is upbeat and fun but doesn't completely do away with the inevitable heartbreak of being young and in love.

Speak Now - To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Do you remember, we were sitting there by the water?

You put your arm around me for the first time

You made a rebel of a careless man's careful daughter

You are the best thing that's ever been mine

Just like Speak Now, Jenny Han's To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy is all about young love, growing up, and drama the protagonist never wanted. If Speak Now is your favourite Taylor album I'm sure you'll enjoy the sweet, joyful story of Lara Jean dealing with her sisters, high school, and finding love in the most unexpected way.

Red - Just One Day by Gayle Forman

All I knew this morning when I woke

Is I know something now, know something now I didn't before

And all I've seen since eighteen hours ago

Is green eyes and freckles and your smile

In the back of my mind

Moving into pop territory but with one foot still firmly in the country music world, if the more mature and quietly experimental Red is your favourite era of Swift then I recommend Gayle Forman's Just One Day. Just One Day has all the same vibes of a young girl on the cusp of adulthood, figuring out who she is, and how, or if, her new experiences can fit into her old world.

1989 - The Geography of You and Me by Jennifer E. Smith

Everybody here

Wanted something more

Searching for a sound we hadn't

Heard before

And if Taylor's total shedding of her country roots in 1989 means this is your favourite album, try The Geography of You and Me. Starting in New York, just like 1989, but taking the characters and the reader to all sorts of different places, The Geography of You and Me has the same feeling of exploration and discovery that is infused in every track of 1989.

Okay, you can go back to listening to the new album now.

Read more »

No comments

The Sky is Everywhere | Jandy Nelson | Review

Tuesday, 7 November 2017

The Sky is Everywhere | Jandy Nelson | Review

Sometimes, you just want a fun, quick read. After reading I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson quite a while ago, I knew she was just the author to provide me with something like that for a recent holiday. Her writing is the ultimate in escapism writing, though it doesn’t shy away from dealing with the difficult topics.

The Sky is Everywhere explores grief and love and everything in between. Lennie Walker’s life is turned upside down when her sister dies at 19. Suddenly, she’s not quite sure what she is meant to be doing, how her life should like and how she feels, beyond the fact that she’s experiencing a pain that is greater than anything she had ever known.

While that summary might not sound like a “fun, quick read”, it really was. Of course, there were moments where my eyes were welling up and I just wanted to reach through the pages and hug Lennie. What happened to these characters was utterly horrible and unimaginable but The Sky is Everywhere is about the aftermath of that. It is about rebuilding a life, and finding ways to feel something other than grief. It’s about Lennie finding a way to carry on without her sister, while honouring and remembering. What results is a book about the messy reality of human emotion and relationships, which is completely endearing. I wanted to consume this book. A big part of why this works is the characters themselves, who are completely relatable, vibrant and vivacious. Lennie’s family are just screaming to be loved by readers and definitely made the book for me.

My favourite part of The Sky is Everywhere had to be the poetry hidden behind the chapters. These were poems that we had read about Lennie writing so getting to actually read them added an excellent layer to the book. It really helped to show her emotional turmoil and made the reading experience so much.. More. It was something that I really loved about this book and a big part of why I’m raving about it so much today!

Read more »

No comments

Bookish Links #35

Monday, 6 November 2017

Bookish Links #35

1. A Thousand Perfect Notes - we're kicking off this roundup with a big BB congratulations to Cait who recently announced her debut novel is going to be published next year! The book's premise is very intriguing and we can't wait to find out more.

2. Writer's Block - we loved Lauren's Blogtober post on getting over the dreaded writer's block. Do you have any tips to share?

3. Picture Books - if you're looking for a little Christmas gift inspiration check out this roundup of new release picture books and novels for kids.

4. Pin It! - speaking of gifts, we love this adorable book pin from Punkypins on Etsy!

5. Booktube Recs - we're taking note of Kelly's top booktube recommendations! Do you have any favourite channels that aren't on her list?

6. Autumn TBR - we've also been taking notes on Emma's autumn reading picks for our own TBRs; so many amazing books to choose from!

7. Public Property - head on over to Amber's blog for a thoughtful piece on the idea of bloggers and authors being seen as public property.

8. Books + Cocktails - if you love a good cocktail you'll enjoy this post from The Ardent Biblio, perfectly pairing them with some great reads!

9. First Draft - this month we're sure many of our readers will be taking part in NaNoWriMo, and this post has some great inspiration from successful authors.

10. A New Challenge - the 2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge list has arrived! Will you be taking part next year?

If you've read or written an interesting bookish article you think our readers would enjoy please let us know - it may be featured in a future post!    

Read more »

No comments

Blogger's Bookshelf Birthday Scavenger Hunt Clues

Saturday, 4 November 2017

Blogger's Bookshelf Birthday Scavenger Hunt Clues

You may have spotted our clues on Twitter for our big 5th Birthday Giveaway but here’s a quick round-up of all of them! If you're stuck check our Twitter feed for a few extra clues posted earlier in the week.

Don’t forget you have until midnight on the 10th November to enter the giveaway!

Best wishes,
Team Blogger's Bookshelf

Read more »

No comments

Modern Watercolor | Kristin Van Leuven | Review

Wednesday, 1 November 2017

Modern Watercolor | Kristin Van Leuven | Review

*Review copy c/o Netgalley, cover image via goodreads.com

Modern Watercolor is a fun title designed for both beginners and experienced artists looking to try something new. After running through the basics the book demonstrates how to paint a variety of different subjects including landscapes, flowers, animals, faces and even interiors. Also included are several tutorials designed to help you test out your new painting skills. My personal favourites were the sunset design and step-by-step wreaths (my first attempt is pictured above) – perfect for framing your favourite book quotes!

One of the things that makes this book a great guide for beginners is the range of advice included, starting with a whole host of tips and tricks covering everything from brushes, painting styles, colour theory, mark making and materials. In addition the wide range of subjects covered allows readers to try out different ideas in order to discover what kind of artwork they most enjoy creating.

Not only is Modern Watercolor packed full of information and ideas to inspire readers but it is also visually charming with plenty of example images and pages adorned with decorative polka dot borders. If you’re looking for a new creative hobby I’d definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book and trying it out for yourself!

Read more »

No comments