Holy Crow, there are soo many amazing books coming out this summer that I just had to spread the love/proselytize their greatness! Series Closers! Assassins! Supernatural Creatures! Mystery! Oh my! Cassandra Clare (along with Kristin Cashore) was pretty much my ‘gateway drug’author to YA, thus it’s with baited breath that I reunite with the ole shadowhunter/downworlder … Continue reading
An April Night by Lucy Maud Montgomery The moon comes up o’er the deeps of the woods, And the long, low dingles that hide in the hills, Where the ancient beeches are moist with buds Over the pools and the whimpering rills; And with her the mists, like dryads that creep From their oaks, or … Continue reading
It seems like you can’t walk down the street in my neighborhood without hearing a parent either whistling “Do you want to build a snowman?” or their small child belting out “Let it Go” at the top of their lungs; where ever you go, the whole world has Frozen fever. And I’m certainly not immune. While the … Continue reading
*It is known* that I’m not the biggest fan of contemporary YA fiction around here. Actually, that’s kind of an understatement. Until recently I pretty much avoided this sub-genre like the annoying popular clique at my high school. Rolling my eyes as mentions of it passed me by on twitter, and scurrying down back alleys … Continue reading
Oh my goodness! I need to start learning Japanese A.S.A.P! Studio Ghibli recently announced that they will be venturing on to the small screen, and their first project will be based on Astrid Lindgren‘s Ronia the Robber’s Daughter. Set in a mythical Medieval Sweden, Ronia is the daughter of a chief of bandits, who spends … Continue reading
Our love for all things Grimm is no secret. So it’s always a thrill to see others ‘fangirl’ over their classic stories, and witness how this storytelling power duo inspire new creative work, whether it’s poetry, fiction, or film. Recently, The Huffington Post featured a German photographer, Kilian Schönberger, whose childhood in the misty, dark woods … Continue reading
I always find it impossible to say which of Roald Dahl’s books is my favorite, but it’s usually a close tie between Fantastic Mr. Fox and Matilda. Here’s a link to a lovely little interview from NPR with Roald Dahl’s daughter Lucy Dahl, in which she reads an excerpt from a letter he wrote to … Continue reading
One of my favorite children’s books is Elsa Beskow’s Children of the Forest. I love how it tells the stories of this little woodland family through the seasons, particularly the autumnal scenes of foraging for mushrooms on the forest floor. It makes me want to grab a basket, a book, and a thermos of tea … Continue reading
I love how this depiction of Red Riding Hood shows her wielding a knife, perched up in the branches of a tree where she’s defending herself against the wolves below. She reminds me of Katniss Everdeen in this pose, ready to take on whatever is thrown her way. A fairy tale heroine with agency: I’d like … Continue reading
There’s a a spectacularly eerie song, called “Danse Macabre” composed by Camille Saint-Saëns, that is woven through the narrative of Samantha Shannon’s The Bone Season. You should definitely listen to it if you’re thinking about reading this book. It’s fevered, emotional, dark, at times frenzied, rich and innovative; a tone poem set for orchestra that is … Continue reading
