book review

Book Review: New Moon

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New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

New Moon (The Twilight Saga, #2)
by Stephenie Meyer

4 out of 5 stars

I am always amazed at this author’s writing style. There is something so immediate and emotional in her scenes. Even if Bella is just doing something boring like eating cereal, there is an emotional undercurrent that makes every action meaningful. It captivates me every time.

This book is not perfect, but I really loved it. The flaws were not severe enough to ruin my enjoyment, and all the good things and the wonderful characters made it so satisfying to read.

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Non Fiction Book Review: Olaf Hajek’s Fantastic Fruits

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Olaf Hajek's Fantastic Fruits by Olaf Hajek

Olaf Hajek’s Fantastic Fruits
by Olaf Hajek, Annette Roeder

3 out of 5 stars

This book pairs whimsical artwork of fruit together with history and myths about each fruit. Did you know that when pineapples were first introduced to Europe only the very wealthy could afford them? Legend says that spirits inhabit cherry trees. There is a story that a starving woman prayed for food, and the beads of her necklace were turned into blueberries for her to eat.

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Book Review: Midnight Sun

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Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer

Midnight Sun (The Twilight Saga, #5)
by Stephenie Meyer

4 out of 5 stars

Midnight Sun is a retelling of Twilight, but from Edward’s perspective, instead of Bella’s. I really liked that the dialogue and main plot remain the same, but we get all these insights into what was happening with the Cullen family when Bella was not around. We get to hear Edward’s inner thoughts and feelings, and his reactions to everything that happens.

I really enjoyed the scenes of the Cullen family, and all of Edward’s flashback memories of his earlier days as a vampire. It was so cool to get this background and more depth to the story. All these extra facets made it almost feel like a whole new story!

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Book Review: The Big Book of Less

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The Big Book of Less by Irene Smit

The Big Book of Less: Finding Joy in Living Lighter
by Irene Smit, Astrid van der Hulst, Flow Magazine

2.5 out of 5 stars

2.5 stars – The first article in this book is a serious analysis of the American economy, the financial crisis of 2008, the history of consumerism, and progressive theories about economic change. Not what I was looking for in this book. I wanted something much more lighthearted, personal, and inspiring; not a bunch of political theories.

However, there were many other articles and little personal biographies in this book that I DID enjoy, and which I found very inspiring! There is one article about stepping away from our screens that really spoke to me, and encouraged me to spend less time on my phone. I like the overall message of this book about slowing down, living more simply, and embracing what it truly important.

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Non Fiction Book Review: I Will Teach You to be Rich

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I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi

I Will Teach You to Be Rich: No Guilt. No Excuses. No BS. Just a 6-Week Program That Works
by Ramit Sethi (Goodreads Author)

3 out of 5 stars

The title kind of put me off, because no one can give you a magic formula that will suddenly make you rich. However, as I began reading I was relieved to see that there are no get-rich-quick schemes in this book. It’s just general advice about saving, spending wisely, investing, and saving for retirement.

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Poetry Review: The Path to Kindness

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The Path to Kindness by James Crews

The Path to Kindness: Poems of Connection and Joy
by James Crews (Editor)

4 out of 5 stars

This book has poems from many different poets on all types of subjects that all lead back to kindness, love, and joy. Each poem has a little snippet of beauty, something we can recognize around us in life and say “this is a good thing.”

I like how simple many of the poems are. They cut right to the heart of something that we usually overlook: a child swimming, a family getting waffles at a hotel, a tulip, a heartbeat, the smell of clean laundry.

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Activity Book Review: Kids’ Book of Sticker Love

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The Kids' Book of Sticker Love by Irene Smit

The Kids’ Book of Sticker Love: Paper Projects to Make Decorate
by  Irene Smit, Astrid van der Hulst, Flow Magazine

5 out of 5 stars

This book has tons of cool crafts that can be done with paper and stickers! You can fold paper airplanes, envelopes, and finger puppets. You can make a magic wand, a paper globe, and a crown and decorate them with stickers and washi tape. There are reusable stickers for an outer space scene. There are two cute notebooks that you can decorate! You can even make a pretty suncatcher and a wind sock.

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NonFiction Review: Younger Next Year

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Younger Next Year by Chris Crowley

Younger Next Year: Live Strong, Fit, Sexy, and Smart—Until You’re 80 and Beyond
by Chris Crowley, Henry S. Lodge, Allan J. Hamilton MD (Contributor)

1.5 out of 5 stars

This book gives advice on exercise, nutrition, and staying healthy beyond 50.

This is definitely a “guy” book, written by guys, for guys. It’s crass and in your face and trying to be super macho. I only wish that the descriptions on the back, or in the title, or anywhere on the internet had made that clear. There should be a big sign on this book saying, “No Girls Allowed.” I finally searched around and found a different book by the same authors called “Younger Next Year for Women.” Guess I should have picked that one up, but I won’t bother with it now.

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Book Review: Love Notes to My Self

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Notes to Self by Tanya Carroll Richardson

Notes to Self: Creating a Practice of Self-Care, Self-Compassion, and Self-Love
by Tanya Carroll Richardson

4 out of 5 stars

Each page in this book has a little lesson or affirmation to help you navigate the difficulties of life and find peace within yourself. At the top of the page is a main statement, and then a short paragraph or two explaining the concept and how you can apply is to your own self-care.

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Coloring Book Review: Reverse Coloring Book Through the Seasons

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The Reverse Coloring Book™ by Kendra Norton

The Reverse Coloring Book™: Through the Seasons: The Book Has the Colors, You Make the Lines
by Kendra Norton

5 out of 5 stars

This is such a creative idea! With all the swirling colors on the page, it will really spark your imagination in a new way when you have to put in the lines and bring clarity to the page. I am so impressed with this beautiful book! The book is divided into sections for each season of the year, with bright green colors for spring, and warm reds and yellows for autumn, and cool blues and grays for winter.

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