Books, Knits, & More

Being creative through knitting/crocheting, cooking, and writing drives me to be the best version of myself.

[izzybooknerd42]

This novel has to be one of my favorite books of the year so far.  From the unique perspective of Jane the recently orphaned college dropout, you as the reader get to experience the world of Tu Reviens, the remote palace home set on an island.  Invited by her friend Kiren, Jane finds herself in the unique experience of trying to find herself in the oddest adventure... 10/10 would recommend. #22bookbubbles  #22tbrbgone https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ5NoiKPxcSJVF0dHkBsGP0ZqSi54aMWd7jCOQ0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

When I first read the description of the novel, I was intrigued and curious to see how the author would combine idea of witches and the man that brought them into their power with the modern day. Now having read the novel, I was unfortunately confused, totally underwhelmed, and overall less than impressed by the story. From the description of the characters, I thought it would be a strong story line. However the story didn't seem to know where it wanted to go and the descriptions of the relationships of the women and the world, their community, and their divorced husbands was so metaphorical, it was confusing. 0/10 would not recommend #22bookbubbles #22tbrbgone https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ5NfByPKMxoqWpsciWUDS7IxLXYxaXlj3NOT00/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

Reading Book#5 of the week and trying a recipe: Butterscotch Bars! #fridaynights #22tbrbgone https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ26apJs_wASf9E3RvkPdNvOOXiX__RTw4Fvus0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

Margaret Peterson Haddix wrote one of favorite childhood mysteries- Running Out Of Time. (Definitely go check it out) This one however was not my favorite by any means. It was interesting but not enough to keep this one. #22bookbubbles  #22tbrbgone https://www.instagram.com/p/CZtCZPGswakpEsQy3Uk_oB7wUSnhYaZ0W_189c0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

What does it mean to be an American? What does it mean to be split between two cultures (or more)? What does it mean to be different? What does mean to stand out and tell your story? All these questions, stories and more are talked in this fantastic collection of memories, stories, and experiences of what it means to be an American and not at the same time from a wide variety of actors, activities, sports players, etc. 10/10 would recommend. #22bookbubbles #22tbrbgone https://www.instagram.com/p/CZqcJGKsZUYn8AZkLfjvEDSXeiTKy7AghpgdT80/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

Taking a page out of @neilsarah15 's book by intentionally choosing 4-5 books from my TBR books (75 right now) each month to read and review on my social media! #22bookbubbles #22tbrbgone https://www.instagram.com/p/CZp6f2Lpgzhnr03e9tWAeZA28BXCc6B1MdEb0c0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

[izzybooknerd42]

Trying new genre today-Westerns! I ran out of books (all my unread books are currently packed...) so I ran to @halfpricebooks to pick up a few books to hold me over until unpacking day!#bookloverproblems #moving https://www.instagram.com/p/CYVJN9asrO3yIy-sgd2maVaJq72Rej7X9cAWVc0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

Thank you all for an amazing 2021 reading year! #succeedingatreading2021#bookbingo21#50newreads #redding21 #150books #bookchallenge21 #booksof21 https://www.instagram.com/p/CX7uY-GsaWuBRbR9f7KYJbpR0k5K9zue18xx_Q0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

Ryn has a flight to catch. Ryn has to be in San Francisco before January 1st at 10:05 am. Ryn is waiting for her connecting flight in the Denver Airport amidst the worst snowstorm of the year. Ryn deals with the waiting by asking Google all the random questions that come into her head that moment. Which means Ryn doesn't see the person she bumps into, nor the fact that that she picked up the wrong phone after her tumble onto the airport floor. Ryn needs her phone.  It's her lifeline but not for the reasons you'd expect.  You see Ryn is avoiding many things. This novel was frustrating, intriguing and frankly a quite honest look at what it means to grieve and how others influence our lives both on a day to day basis but also on a big picture level as well. #redding21 #150books #bookchallenge21 #booksof21    https://www.instagram.com/p/CX7tanFMSV_aPvYpd8J45rJ6Yv9xuNm0sHcCbg0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

Everyone knows the story of the Pied Piper who lured the rats out of the town for a promised fee, only to be denied his fee. So he then lured the children of the town instead to punish the townsfolk. Except what if there's more to the story? What if there is someone else involved with the Piper? Piper is a graphic novel that had an amazing premise but lost its way between the original fairy tale and new adaptation. #redding21 #150books #bookchallenge21 #booksof21 https://www.instagram.com/p/CX7tUuCsf2Mj2BjWy5euIgGrXAh_r6oce0nOE00/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

I love Philippia Gregory's historical fiction stories. She usually weaves a world that allows the reader to engage with the past without losing the personal perspective of the characters she portrays. That being said, Changeling was my least favorite story of hers so far. She sets up an intriguing premise of a 17 year old boy who investigates events that might predict end times in 1453. One such event involves Isolde, a 17 year old girl who has recently been made a Lady Abbess at her father's death so she can't claim her rich inheritance. The nuns at the nunnery have been having strange visions, walking in their sleep, and having bleeding wounds unexpectedly ever since she arrived. Great premise but the author solves the mystery halfway through the book and moves onto the next one without any real plot development...it had potential but that's about it. #redding21 #150books #bookchallenge21 #booksof21 https://www.instagram.com/p/CX4J1PRvhf7W_M1eIPJTYjkHmvg1DmivwW_nHA0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

Recently I reread "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" as well as reading "Sybil Luddington's Ride" for the first time. Both poems intrigued my curiosity about the beginnings of the American Revolution. So I've been keeping my eye out for books, fiction and nonfiction, about that particular brand of history when I found The Fifth of March at my local Half Price Books. I grew up reading a different series of Ann Rinaldi's so I knew she was a solid historical fiction young adult author. Long story short: This is a good start to seeing the story of the American Revolution unfold from the eyes of the fictionalized servant girl, Rachel Marsh, as she tries to figure out what it means to be an American and not just a British citizen of the colonies. Additionally it give the reader a perspective into the world of 1770 Boston and all of the events/characters that led to The Boston Massacre on the fifth of March. Now it wasn't a perfect fit due to the fact that Rachel tends to act more like a 21st century teenager towards the end of the novel and there's more to the history side of things that I will be looking into going into 2022 but otherwise this was a lovely YA Historical fiction introduction to the Boston Massacre and John Addams part of the American Revolution. #redding21 #150books #bookchallenge21 #booksof21 https://www.instagram.com/p/CX1vlyDvJtAgkk71hG__3EwMNQt7IfvT0jmEO40/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite stories of all time. So when I get a chance to read adaptations of this particular fairy tale, I tend to be pretty critical due to my high standards (thank you Disney for that!) A Curse So Dark and Lonely has very slow start and doesn't quite hit the mark until you get about a third of the way in. But oh man, once the characters hooked me, I simply couldn't put the book down. Not only that, but the idea of continuing to struggle through your problems, even when it seems like there is no way gives me hope. One character says it so eloquently "...when the world seems darkest, there exists the greatest opportunity for light." #redding21 #150books #bookchallenge21 #booksof21 https://www.instagram.com/p/CXz_LFEshi_p4dta_UjoldR_zI-50ODLJ3-aqE0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

20 years ago my dad introduced me to 2 amazing , incredible books- The Lord of the Rings and Dune. At the time, 13 year old me grasped the Lord of the Rings far better than Dune but I was still curious to see what happened in the novel so I pushed through. The years passed and curiosity struck again when I found the novel at the college library. Seeing Paul Atreides from the perspective of a somewhat grownup plus having a better understanding of the social, political, and environmental world of Dune, allowed me to grasp the story more completely. Fast-forward to this fall when I saw the newest movie adaptation and curiosity struck again. Seeing the movie made me wonder how much had been changed so I picked up the book. Turns out a classic can grow and adapt as you as the reader can. Each time I've read this book, my perspective on the characters, world, and story has revealed itself to be a more complex novel than I could have imagined. #redding21 #150books #bookchallenge21 #booksof21 https://www.instagram.com/p/CXxHYNZMjYwMeaGP1l_7mHpqeN-fN4yoE4gL-k0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

What does it mean to be involved as a couple? When do you introduce your partner? All these questions and more are addressed in Heartstopper #3. #redding21 #150books #bookchallenge21 #booksof21 https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuy-N2Mv2ITdmCLV6PCx3YfBrNQR3-lZGuCfo0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[izzybooknerd42]

Being in relationship is tricky, but being in a relationship while trying to figure who you are can make things even more complicated. Heartstopper volume 2 is a fantastic graphic novel that leaves you wanting more. #redding21 #150books #bookchallenge21 #booksof21 https://www.instagram.com/p/CXuM3lfPcBe4Oq1PeF8klZSVTxki_MujeGLEIA0/?utm_medium=tumblr