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Home Read. Review. Repeat. Genres Non-Fiction Autobiography

Category Archive

Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Autobiography”

Review: A RIVER OF DARKNESS by Masaji Ishikawa (Translated by Risa Kobayashi and Martin Brown)

Janelle January 10, 2018 Advance Copy, Amazon Publishing, Autobiography, Book Reviews, From Publisher, Memoir Leave a Comment

Thank you so much to Amazon Publishing for sending me a free copy – all opinions are my own. “Someone once said, ‘If a crying baby could tear down the universe, it would.’ Thats how I felt that day. I …

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Instagram post 2193912271363880533_5480751027 Thank you so much @riverheadbooks for sending me a free copy ✨ . I am buddy reading LONG BRIGHT RIVER by @lizmoorebooks with @crystals_library and so far, it’s incredible. I’m in that place, you know that place where all you want to do is ignore everything and get back to the story?! Well friends, I AM IN IT ✨ . What are you all reading this weekend?!
Instagram post 2193328885805069532_5480751027 Thank you @williammorrowbooks @morrowgift for this adorable book! I sure do love these little guys 👽 . If you haven’t seen these comics before, they are so fun! Nathan W. Pyle’s STRANGE PLANET is set in an “universe of pink, blue, green, and purple” and each one will guarantee to make you smile. Included are never-before-seen illustrations in addition to old favorites, offering a sweet and hilarious look at a distant world not all that unlike our own. Scroll ⇦ to see one of my favorites! 👽 . What’s the last book you gifted to a loved one?! 👽
Instagram post 2192720522846942217_5480751027 Thank you @littlebrown and @mulhollandbooks for the free copy ✨ . Selected by @reesesbookclub for December and I could not be more pleased. Denise Mina’s CONVICTION is unlike any other book I have read this year. It captivated me from cover to cover! I mean, a complicated protagonist with a secret past, a true crime podcast, and a murdered family...how is it even possible to put this book down?! . The perspectives change between Anna and the podcast which keeps the reading momentum going. Not only do we follow along with intriguing characters and a true crime podcast, the story is relevant to the #MeToo movement as well as shines a light on the power of social media. It’s compulsive, suspenseful, modern, and with vivid characters and a twisty plot. ★★★★ . #ReadWithReese #ReesesBookClub #Conviction #DeniseMina
Instagram post 2191986971943987175_5480751027 Thank you so much @williammorrowbooks for sending me a free copy of MY DARK VANESSA by @kateelizabethrussell 🦋🦋 . I finished this book back in November and it is still seared in my mind. I couldn’t put it down. It’s truly unsettling, disturbing, and difficult to read but extremely relevant and necessary. I will write up a full review closer to the publication date, but definitely put this one on your TBR! Also please note, there are triggers for abuse and rape - I know it’s an uncomfortable subject matter to read but this book is absolutely incredible 🦋🦋 . What book are you most excited for in 2020? Drop your recommendations below 🦋🦋
Instagram post 2191222258410926947_5480751027 @booksparks @duttonbooks #partner . I knew the minute Abby from @crimebythebook posted the cover reveal that I wanted to read @saracshepard’s REPUTATION. First off, the cover is so eye-catching and second, the book is a fantastically fun, witty, juicy, and drama-filled whodunnit! Shepard delivers the exact book I was looking for! It’s twisty, fast-paced, packed to the brim with scandal and a plethora of suspects. . An unsuspecting hacker leaks 40,000 emails of students and the faculty of Aldrich University. Scandalous rumors and extramarital affairs are exposed causing chaos. Then prominent surgeon Dr. Greg Strasser is murdered, found by his wife Kit in his home, which causes the chaos to turn into full blown crazy. There’s a killer on the loose and everyone in this small college town has a secret. . LOOK, LISTEN, this book is pure entertainment with a ton of twists, so expect to be in for a wild ride. We follow multiple perspectives which builds a healthy amount of suspense up until the very end. Every single character has a motive, everything is over-the-top, and I absolutely loved every bit of it. It’s a total, sit-down-with-your-favorite-cocktail, devour-in-one-sitting, sort of read. REPUTATION is pure brain candy! Highly recommend! ★★★★½
Instagram post 2190534672616952570_5480751027 @atriabooks [partner] . Thank you so much to my sweet friend Katie from @the_grateful_read for sending me this book - she’s such a GEM ✨ . @williamkentkrueger’s THIS TENDER LAND surprised me in the best way. Even though the cover drew me in right away, I wasn’t sure if the story would interest me. But not only did it interest me, it was BEAUTIFUL. . Set in 1932 Depression-era Minnesota, we follow the adventures of four orphans, Odie, Albert, Emmy, and Mose, who fled from the Lincoln Indian Training School, a school set up for Native American children who were separated from their parents. There they are abused and forbidden to engage in their native culture. Odie and Albert were sent to live there after their father was murdered, Emmy because her mother was killed by a tornado. Together with their friend Mose, a young Sioux who cannot speak, they escape for a life of escapades and exploits. They consider themselves vagabonds looking for a new home, but end up finding so much more. . Krueger’s prose is as gorgeous and engaging as the story. Odie is our narrator and it’s interesting to see the world through his eyes as the characters embark on this harrowing journey down the Minnesota River. I learned a thing or two reading THIS TENDER LAND as it is a thought-provoking, mystical adventure that I won’t soon forget. ★★★★
Instagram post 2189702362883672591_5480751027 @booksparks [partner] THAT’S A WRAP 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 . This is me in my office in all my nerdy glory! I had the best time with the #hitthebookclub #FRC2019 lineup! I cannot thank #BookSparks enough for letting me be a part of this! Now, on to winter! ☃️☃️ . What are you looking forward most this season?! . . Scroll ⇦ to see the epic photo bomb 📸
Instagram post 2188962384150815570_5480751027 BEHOLD! The many faces of Abby! 😺😾😸😽😼 . Happy #CATURDAY everyone! Today Abby is modeling KNOW MY NAME by @chanelmillerknowmyname with a @sewhappystitchhappy gray plaid sleeve - a personal favorite 📸 . Three ways to describe this book: POWERFUL, BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN, and NECESSARY READING MATERIAL. I opted for the UK cover because I cannot resist the pretty black and white! Special thanks to @sfbookgirl for posting this edition 🖤 . Do you read memoirs? If so, what’s the last 5★ memoir you’ve read?!!
Instagram post 2187445797736460898_5480751027 Happy Thursday! Happy Thanksgiving! May your day be filled with eating, TV binging, and napping! Also, wine - cheers!🍷🍷 . @bookishmommy came up with the coolest hashtag: #fivestarselfie 🔥💀 IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN by Andy Davidson is my top choice! I was itching for a western and this one checked all the boxes. A finalist for the 2017 Bram Stoker award for a debut novel is IMPRESSIVE. I chose this book, one because it sounded amazing, two I love the cover, and three, Davidson has a new book coming out next year called THE BOATMAN’S DAUGHTER - one of my most anticipated reads for 2020! . I devoured this gripping story at record speed. I quickly fell in love with Davidson’s unique style and mad storytelling skills. If you are looking for vampire lore set in West Texas with amazing characters (not kidding, every character is perfectly flawed and relatable), then this book is for you. IT’S PHENOMENAL. Also, I kind of want the paperback copy as well because it’s so badass 🔥💀 . Today and everyday I’m thankful for all of you, the amazing friends I’ve made here, the @night_worms crew, and ya da ya da...my husband/Abby/family. Tell me, what are you most thankful for?
Instagram post 2186826330652487859_5480751027 @tlcbooktours @natgeo [partner] 🌎🌍 . Once again National Geographic has created a book that is beautiful yet practical with HISTORY AT A GLANCE. It’s a comprehensive look at world history through multilayered timelines, organized by topic and region. The contents of this book cover everything from the beginning of humankind right up to our current digital information age. . As always, with every #NatGeo book it features gorgeous vivid full-color illustrations throughout and the information is very easy to grasp and comprehend. Of course there are maps (you know how I love maps 😉) and beautiful photos, but the stars of the book are the wonderfully informative data grids, which cover relatively short periods of time and provide insight into the significant political, environmental, and cultural events that took place. . This lovely tome is perfect for the history buffs in your life, and I’m happy to say it will have a residence on my coffee table for a long time to come. . If you could live in any time period in history, which would it be? 📰🕰
Instagram post 2186077007429911135_5480751027 GIVEAWAY CLOSED 🚫🚫 @librofm [partner] IT’S AN AUDIOBOOK 3 MONTH MEMBERSHIP GIVEAWAY 🎉🎉 . I am so excited to host a giveaway from one of the best brands around... #LIBROFM - get fantastic audiobooks AND support an independent bookstore with your membership. It’s that simple! I made the #audiobookswitch and I have never looked back 🎧🦍 . If you are not an #audiobook fan like I am, you can gift it to a friend. It makes the perfect Christmas gift (hint, hint). Just follow the rules below to enter and make all your audiobook dreams come true 🎉🎉 . FUN FACT: I’m not sure if you noticed my t-shirt, but I chose this one specifically from the #merch store. KOKO the gorilla knew sign language, so this shirt combines my love of animals with the fact I know sign language. Although I’m a little rusty, it’s something I picked up quickly and was way out of my comfort zone. Because you can’t use the sound of your voice for emphasis, you have to be dramatic. I have stage fright, so taking each exam in front of the class was terrifying, but I did it! And did it well! 🎧🦍 . To enter this giveaway: . 1. Like this post 2. Please follow myself @shereadswithcats and @librofm 3. Tag 2 friends in the comments and tell me a “FUN FACT” about yourself 🎉🎉 . BONUS entry each time you comment (please don’t tag the same friends twice) 🎧🦍 . Giveaway ends on 12/3! Good luck! 🎉🎉
Instagram post 2185351230073793586_5480751027 @randomhouse @riverheadbooks @aaknopf @hmhbooks @flatiron_books [partner] Happy Monday from Miss Abby! 😽 . I love Dennis’ #scaredstraightstack challenges and today’s #bookstagrammademedoit is perfect! Also, I’m combining this with @jordys.book.club and @kraysbookclub #bookstathankful challenge, because if there is anything for me to be #thankful for it’s this bookish community 😽 . I pay very close attention to the books coming out and add endless amounts to my #TBR stack, so when a #bookstagrammer unknowingly nudges me to pick up a book next, it’s an event. Here are the accounts that had a hand in this stack. Trust me, every person I interact with is someone who plays a part in my reading game so THANK YOU 😽 . Also, special thanks to @crystals_library for tagging me in the buddy read giveaway - I’m so excited to read LONG BRIGHT RIVER with you 😽 . @scaredstraightreads (obvi) @mother.horror (my #horror hero) @wherethereadergrows @crimebythebook (my #crimefiction hero) @belletrist (duh) @shelfbyshelf @jobis89 @franzencomesalive (my #book hero) @ouija.doodle.reads @book.happy @readwithjamie
Instagram post 2184599674231600266_5480751027 Who can’t believe it’s almost December?! Chandra and I are so excited for the next #BuddyReadstoDieFor because it’s Erin Craig’s HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROW ✨✨✨ . We thought this one would be a lot of fun for the month of December because it’s said to be atmospheric, eerie, mesmerizing, lovely, and immersive - all things we love! ✨✨✨ . Take a peek at the synopsis and let us know in the comments if you’ll be joining us! We keep things super casual, read-at-your-own-pace style, so no pressure. We schedule one spoiler filled day to discuss, so until then we just support each other and engage in some happy-go-lucky chit chat ✨✨✨ . 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼: Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last--the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge--and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods. Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that her sister's deaths were no accidents. House of Salt and Sorrows is a spellbinding novel filled with magic and the rustle of gossamer skirts down long, dark hallways. Get ready to be swept away.
Instagram post 2183901962540667740_5480751027 @aaknopf #partner | Happy #Caturday from Abby *meow* 🐱🐰 . I picked up MARY TOFT; OR, THE RABBIT QUEEN by Dexter Palmer and WOAH. I immediately wanted to read this book when I saw the cover and then I realized this book is based on a real person. Mary Toft did some rather questionable things with animal parts...like mouth agape things. It’s an interesting book that reads quickly. It’s categorized as historical fiction, a device that authors sometime use so dialogue flows naturally, but do not be fooled: SHE ACTUALLY DID all of these things. If you are looking for a historically gross crime with the most fantastic cover, I highly recommend reading MARY TOFT; OR, THE RABBIT QUEEN 🐱🐰 . . . . #bookrecquickies #shereadswithcats #abbythetinytabby
Instagram post 2183145945586268747_5480751027 It’s my first official @night_worms review and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. . I haven’t read a ton of westerns but when I do, it’s an adventure I usually enjoy. But this one is a bit different in every aspect - it’s a strange combination of western, horror, and folklore. I cannot stress this enough: I am obsessed with this story and every single one of its characters. . “This, this… person was carved from bad dreams. He was a quilt of scary stories and fearsome fables. Stitched in scars and ratty whiskers.” . WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN by John Boden is a dense book. It’s only 154 pages, but it’s all grit. I couldn’t just speed read it; I had to pace myself to let it all sink in. . We follow four distinct characters: Jones who seeks vengeance; Keaton and Jubal who are looking for a fresh start; and Levi, who is a loathsome, grotesque character that I kind of adore. He might even be one of my favorite villains in any story I’ve ever read. They all take their own journey, but inevitably cross paths to the most unexpected and repulsive, yet brilliant, ending. . When we start reading, the pace is slow and steady. The desolate, western atmosphere is a character in the story and sets the mood for what’s to come. The chapters are short, but the content is heavy. As we switch perspectives between Jubal and Keaton, or Jones, or Levi we start to put the pieces together, but we never quite know what’s in store until Boden intends us to. Every word, every sentence is deliberate. . As the story goes, the land all around is aflame and everything and everyone is in harm’s way, but it’s up to these characters to find the answers. I am not going to go into further detail, but even the lesser, side characters pack a big punch. . Boden’s writing is true poetry. I highlighted quote after quote because I couldn’t get enough. Yes, this is horror, but it’s also a story, a quest, and even though there are fantastical, horrifying elements, you will get invested in WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN. . I’m very grateful to @shineynobuttons @mother.horror and @pageandparlor for taking me on this adventure. ★★★★★
Instagram post 2182428544012053315_5480751027 It’s #Thursday ...thank goodness. I took this photo while we were at a gorgeous winery I visit every year in the fall when we go to Apple Hill. The book is LONG BRIGHT RIVER (out Jan’20), which I haven’t started but I am so excited about. I’m actually reading THE ROAD TO JONESTOWN because @bookishmommy #mademedoit - Guys, it’s so good! ✨✨ . What are you reading this evening?! . Featured in this photo is a gorgeous @bookartbookmarks #artmark that Margaux sent me. I love everything this lovely lady makes. She has some new ones up in the shop so you better go hurry and check them out. Be sure to use code SHEREADS to save 10% at checkout ✨✨
Instagram post 2181705426599543280_5480751027 @gallerybooks [partner] . When I saw the cover of FISHNET by Kristin Innes I knew I needed to read it. I love shiny objects and that includes a gorgeous cover with a bold neon sign on it. Then once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. . Set in Scotland, our main character, Fiona Leonard, is bored at her menial administrative job and looking for something to get herself motivated. There are picketers outside her office protesting the demolition of a shelter for sex workers. Because of this, Fiona becomes obsessed with the lives of sex workers and cannot stop searching online. Additionally, her sister, Rona, disappeared 6 years ago leaving her daughter behind. Her parents have stopped looking, but Fiona can’t let it go. She decides to enter the world of sex workers as she suspects her sister may have ended up as one. At first, it feels glamorous: she’s envious of these women and their strength, sense of community, and sexual freedom. But after befriending and spending time with them, she realizes it’s actual work. Fiona’s eyes open up to a world that’s very different from her own and like nothing she has ever encountered. She grows up a bit and learns what it means to survive and be a feminist. . So here’s the thing: the writing style and format of the book is like nothing I’ve seen before, so it’s difficult to follow. I personally love a challenging book, and I knew it was going to be one going in. The story is told from different perspectives, changing from second to third person and jumping through timelines, which takes some getting used to. Also, I thought it was a nice touch that Innes writes in the Scottish dialect and I always appreciate small detail ms such as that. I couldn’t put this book down – the atmospheric, authentic, and evocative language and eye-opening story engrossed me. And like Fiona, I learned a great deal. . The primary focus of this book is about Fiona’s realization of what it is to be a true feminist and not to judge a book by its cover (pun intended). She learns from people and their experiences – and learns not to be judgmental. Highly recommend to readers looking for a unique and challenging read. ★★★★
Instagram post 2180967597321971130_5480751027 Thank @getredpr @lorijill321 and @rarebirdlit for my copy 🔥🔥 . If there was ever a cover to grab your attention, this is it. PLASTIC by @frankhstrausser not only looks intriguing, the synopsis has that “must read” quality. It totally reminds me of the show Nip/Tuck which I was completely addicted to once upon a time. Have you read this book? Or did you watch the show Nip/Tuck? 🔥🔥 . 𝓑𝓵𝓾𝓻𝓫𝓼: . “Hollywood satire meets crime fiction―an extremely Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup-style combination of two of our favorite flavors!” ― @flavorwire . “Edgy. Pretty shocking. You wonder what the heck is going to happen!” ― @npr . 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼: . Dr. Harry Previn, the renowned Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, is secretly called in to operate on the disfigured face of the ravishingly beautiful teen pop star Fay Wray following an assault. Surrounded by image makers who value beauty over all else, he soon fears Fay is in mortal danger. Will he risk everything to save her beauty, her life, or himself?
Instagram post 2180913651207208492_5480751027 GIVEAWAY CLOSED 🚫🚫 IT’S A GIVEAWAY! Thank you @stmartinspress for my free copy 🎉🎉 . TWENTY-ONE TRUTHS ABOUT LOVE by Matthew Dicks is out today and to celebrate @stmartinspress wants to give away a copy to one of you! Not only is the cover art adorable, Taylor Jenkins Reid has a blurb on it! I mean, enough said. But just in case you need more, the synopsis is in the comments below 🎉🎉 . To enter: . 1. Like this post 2. Please follow myself @shereadswithcats and @stmartinspress 3. Tag 3 friends in the comments below and use emojis to tell me your #currentread 🎉 4. Unlimited entries (use separate comments and please don’t tag the same friends twice 😆) . US ONLY • This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram • Winner will be chosen on Friday 🎉🎉
Instagram post 2180247032537767562_5480751027 @littlebrown #partner | . Another edition of #bookrecquickies because I cannot recommend Leslie Jamison’s collection of essays enough. MAKE IT SCREAM, MAKE IT BURN is part memoir, part journalism, and part criticism, but all of it is intelligent, candid, and emotive. She’s a true talent, a gifted writer, and a unique voice. ★★★★★ . Use emojis to answer this...How was your Monday?!
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Instagram post 2193912271363880533_5480751027 Thank you so much @riverheadbooks for sending me a free copy ✨ . I am buddy reading LONG BRIGHT RIVER by @lizmoorebooks with @crystals_library and so far, it’s incredible. I’m in that place, you know that place where all you want to do is ignore everything and get back to the story?! Well friends, I AM IN IT ✨ . What are you all reading this weekend?!
Instagram post 2193328885805069532_5480751027 Thank you @williammorrowbooks @morrowgift for this adorable book! I sure do love these little guys 👽 . If you haven’t seen these comics before, they are so fun! Nathan W. Pyle’s STRANGE PLANET is set in an “universe of pink, blue, green, and purple” and each one will guarantee to make you smile. Included are never-before-seen illustrations in addition to old favorites, offering a sweet and hilarious look at a distant world not all that unlike our own. Scroll ⇦ to see one of my favorites! 👽 . What’s the last book you gifted to a loved one?! 👽
Instagram post 2192720522846942217_5480751027 Thank you @littlebrown and @mulhollandbooks for the free copy ✨ . Selected by @reesesbookclub for December and I could not be more pleased. Denise Mina’s CONVICTION is unlike any other book I have read this year. It captivated me from cover to cover! I mean, a complicated protagonist with a secret past, a true crime podcast, and a murdered family...how is it even possible to put this book down?! . The perspectives change between Anna and the podcast which keeps the reading momentum going. Not only do we follow along with intriguing characters and a true crime podcast, the story is relevant to the #MeToo movement as well as shines a light on the power of social media. It’s compulsive, suspenseful, modern, and with vivid characters and a twisty plot. ★★★★ . #ReadWithReese #ReesesBookClub #Conviction #DeniseMina
Instagram post 2191986971943987175_5480751027 Thank you so much @williammorrowbooks for sending me a free copy of MY DARK VANESSA by @kateelizabethrussell 🦋🦋 . I finished this book back in November and it is still seared in my mind. I couldn’t put it down. It’s truly unsettling, disturbing, and difficult to read but extremely relevant and necessary. I will write up a full review closer to the publication date, but definitely put this one on your TBR! Also please note, there are triggers for abuse and rape - I know it’s an uncomfortable subject matter to read but this book is absolutely incredible 🦋🦋 . What book are you most excited for in 2020? Drop your recommendations below 🦋🦋
Instagram post 2191222258410926947_5480751027 @booksparks @duttonbooks #partner . I knew the minute Abby from @crimebythebook posted the cover reveal that I wanted to read @saracshepard’s REPUTATION. First off, the cover is so eye-catching and second, the book is a fantastically fun, witty, juicy, and drama-filled whodunnit! Shepard delivers the exact book I was looking for! It’s twisty, fast-paced, packed to the brim with scandal and a plethora of suspects. . An unsuspecting hacker leaks 40,000 emails of students and the faculty of Aldrich University. Scandalous rumors and extramarital affairs are exposed causing chaos. Then prominent surgeon Dr. Greg Strasser is murdered, found by his wife Kit in his home, which causes the chaos to turn into full blown crazy. There’s a killer on the loose and everyone in this small college town has a secret. . LOOK, LISTEN, this book is pure entertainment with a ton of twists, so expect to be in for a wild ride. We follow multiple perspectives which builds a healthy amount of suspense up until the very end. Every single character has a motive, everything is over-the-top, and I absolutely loved every bit of it. It’s a total, sit-down-with-your-favorite-cocktail, devour-in-one-sitting, sort of read. REPUTATION is pure brain candy! Highly recommend! ★★★★½
Instagram post 2190534672616952570_5480751027 @atriabooks [partner] . Thank you so much to my sweet friend Katie from @the_grateful_read for sending me this book - she’s such a GEM ✨ . @williamkentkrueger’s THIS TENDER LAND surprised me in the best way. Even though the cover drew me in right away, I wasn’t sure if the story would interest me. But not only did it interest me, it was BEAUTIFUL. . Set in 1932 Depression-era Minnesota, we follow the adventures of four orphans, Odie, Albert, Emmy, and Mose, who fled from the Lincoln Indian Training School, a school set up for Native American children who were separated from their parents. There they are abused and forbidden to engage in their native culture. Odie and Albert were sent to live there after their father was murdered, Emmy because her mother was killed by a tornado. Together with their friend Mose, a young Sioux who cannot speak, they escape for a life of escapades and exploits. They consider themselves vagabonds looking for a new home, but end up finding so much more. . Krueger’s prose is as gorgeous and engaging as the story. Odie is our narrator and it’s interesting to see the world through his eyes as the characters embark on this harrowing journey down the Minnesota River. I learned a thing or two reading THIS TENDER LAND as it is a thought-provoking, mystical adventure that I won’t soon forget. ★★★★
Instagram post 2189702362883672591_5480751027 @booksparks [partner] THAT’S A WRAP 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 . This is me in my office in all my nerdy glory! I had the best time with the #hitthebookclub #FRC2019 lineup! I cannot thank #BookSparks enough for letting me be a part of this! Now, on to winter! ☃️☃️ . What are you looking forward most this season?! . . Scroll ⇦ to see the epic photo bomb 📸
Instagram post 2188962384150815570_5480751027 BEHOLD! The many faces of Abby! 😺😾😸😽😼 . Happy #CATURDAY everyone! Today Abby is modeling KNOW MY NAME by @chanelmillerknowmyname with a @sewhappystitchhappy gray plaid sleeve - a personal favorite 📸 . Three ways to describe this book: POWERFUL, BEAUTIFULLY WRITTEN, and NECESSARY READING MATERIAL. I opted for the UK cover because I cannot resist the pretty black and white! Special thanks to @sfbookgirl for posting this edition 🖤 . Do you read memoirs? If so, what’s the last 5★ memoir you’ve read?!!
Instagram post 2187445797736460898_5480751027 Happy Thursday! Happy Thanksgiving! May your day be filled with eating, TV binging, and napping! Also, wine - cheers!🍷🍷 . @bookishmommy came up with the coolest hashtag: #fivestarselfie 🔥💀 IN THE VALLEY OF THE SUN by Andy Davidson is my top choice! I was itching for a western and this one checked all the boxes. A finalist for the 2017 Bram Stoker award for a debut novel is IMPRESSIVE. I chose this book, one because it sounded amazing, two I love the cover, and three, Davidson has a new book coming out next year called THE BOATMAN’S DAUGHTER - one of my most anticipated reads for 2020! . I devoured this gripping story at record speed. I quickly fell in love with Davidson’s unique style and mad storytelling skills. If you are looking for vampire lore set in West Texas with amazing characters (not kidding, every character is perfectly flawed and relatable), then this book is for you. IT’S PHENOMENAL. Also, I kind of want the paperback copy as well because it’s so badass 🔥💀 . Today and everyday I’m thankful for all of you, the amazing friends I’ve made here, the @night_worms crew, and ya da ya da...my husband/Abby/family. Tell me, what are you most thankful for?
Instagram post 2186826330652487859_5480751027 @tlcbooktours @natgeo [partner] 🌎🌍 . Once again National Geographic has created a book that is beautiful yet practical with HISTORY AT A GLANCE. It’s a comprehensive look at world history through multilayered timelines, organized by topic and region. The contents of this book cover everything from the beginning of humankind right up to our current digital information age. . As always, with every #NatGeo book it features gorgeous vivid full-color illustrations throughout and the information is very easy to grasp and comprehend. Of course there are maps (you know how I love maps 😉) and beautiful photos, but the stars of the book are the wonderfully informative data grids, which cover relatively short periods of time and provide insight into the significant political, environmental, and cultural events that took place. . This lovely tome is perfect for the history buffs in your life, and I’m happy to say it will have a residence on my coffee table for a long time to come. . If you could live in any time period in history, which would it be? 📰🕰
Instagram post 2186077007429911135_5480751027 GIVEAWAY CLOSED 🚫🚫 @librofm [partner] IT’S AN AUDIOBOOK 3 MONTH MEMBERSHIP GIVEAWAY 🎉🎉 . I am so excited to host a giveaway from one of the best brands around... #LIBROFM - get fantastic audiobooks AND support an independent bookstore with your membership. It’s that simple! I made the #audiobookswitch and I have never looked back 🎧🦍 . If you are not an #audiobook fan like I am, you can gift it to a friend. It makes the perfect Christmas gift (hint, hint). Just follow the rules below to enter and make all your audiobook dreams come true 🎉🎉 . FUN FACT: I’m not sure if you noticed my t-shirt, but I chose this one specifically from the #merch store. KOKO the gorilla knew sign language, so this shirt combines my love of animals with the fact I know sign language. Although I’m a little rusty, it’s something I picked up quickly and was way out of my comfort zone. Because you can’t use the sound of your voice for emphasis, you have to be dramatic. I have stage fright, so taking each exam in front of the class was terrifying, but I did it! And did it well! 🎧🦍 . To enter this giveaway: . 1. Like this post 2. Please follow myself @shereadswithcats and @librofm 3. Tag 2 friends in the comments and tell me a “FUN FACT” about yourself 🎉🎉 . BONUS entry each time you comment (please don’t tag the same friends twice) 🎧🦍 . Giveaway ends on 12/3! Good luck! 🎉🎉
Instagram post 2185351230073793586_5480751027 @randomhouse @riverheadbooks @aaknopf @hmhbooks @flatiron_books [partner] Happy Monday from Miss Abby! 😽 . I love Dennis’ #scaredstraightstack challenges and today’s #bookstagrammademedoit is perfect! Also, I’m combining this with @jordys.book.club and @kraysbookclub #bookstathankful challenge, because if there is anything for me to be #thankful for it’s this bookish community 😽 . I pay very close attention to the books coming out and add endless amounts to my #TBR stack, so when a #bookstagrammer unknowingly nudges me to pick up a book next, it’s an event. Here are the accounts that had a hand in this stack. Trust me, every person I interact with is someone who plays a part in my reading game so THANK YOU 😽 . Also, special thanks to @crystals_library for tagging me in the buddy read giveaway - I’m so excited to read LONG BRIGHT RIVER with you 😽 . @scaredstraightreads (obvi) @mother.horror (my #horror hero) @wherethereadergrows @crimebythebook (my #crimefiction hero) @belletrist (duh) @shelfbyshelf @jobis89 @franzencomesalive (my #book hero) @ouija.doodle.reads @book.happy @readwithjamie
Instagram post 2184599674231600266_5480751027 Who can’t believe it’s almost December?! Chandra and I are so excited for the next #BuddyReadstoDieFor because it’s Erin Craig’s HOUSE OF SALT AND SORROW ✨✨✨ . We thought this one would be a lot of fun for the month of December because it’s said to be atmospheric, eerie, mesmerizing, lovely, and immersive - all things we love! ✨✨✨ . Take a peek at the synopsis and let us know in the comments if you’ll be joining us! We keep things super casual, read-at-your-own-pace style, so no pressure. We schedule one spoiler filled day to discuss, so until then we just support each other and engage in some happy-go-lucky chit chat ✨✨✨ . 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼: Annaleigh lives a sheltered life at Highmoor with her sisters and their father and stepmother. Once there were twelve, but loneliness fills the grand halls now that four of the girls' lives have been cut short. Each death was more tragic than the last--the plague, a plummeting fall, a drowning, a slippery plunge--and there are whispers throughout the surrounding villages that the family is cursed by the gods. Disturbed by a series of ghostly visions, Annaleigh becomes increasingly suspicious that her sister's deaths were no accidents. House of Salt and Sorrows is a spellbinding novel filled with magic and the rustle of gossamer skirts down long, dark hallways. Get ready to be swept away.
Instagram post 2183901962540667740_5480751027 @aaknopf #partner | Happy #Caturday from Abby *meow* 🐱🐰 . I picked up MARY TOFT; OR, THE RABBIT QUEEN by Dexter Palmer and WOAH. I immediately wanted to read this book when I saw the cover and then I realized this book is based on a real person. Mary Toft did some rather questionable things with animal parts...like mouth agape things. It’s an interesting book that reads quickly. It’s categorized as historical fiction, a device that authors sometime use so dialogue flows naturally, but do not be fooled: SHE ACTUALLY DID all of these things. If you are looking for a historically gross crime with the most fantastic cover, I highly recommend reading MARY TOFT; OR, THE RABBIT QUEEN 🐱🐰 . . . . #bookrecquickies #shereadswithcats #abbythetinytabby
Instagram post 2183145945586268747_5480751027 It’s my first official @night_worms review and I couldn’t be more excited to share it with you. . I haven’t read a ton of westerns but when I do, it’s an adventure I usually enjoy. But this one is a bit different in every aspect - it’s a strange combination of western, horror, and folklore. I cannot stress this enough: I am obsessed with this story and every single one of its characters. . “This, this… person was carved from bad dreams. He was a quilt of scary stories and fearsome fables. Stitched in scars and ratty whiskers.” . WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN by John Boden is a dense book. It’s only 154 pages, but it’s all grit. I couldn’t just speed read it; I had to pace myself to let it all sink in. . We follow four distinct characters: Jones who seeks vengeance; Keaton and Jubal who are looking for a fresh start; and Levi, who is a loathsome, grotesque character that I kind of adore. He might even be one of my favorite villains in any story I’ve ever read. They all take their own journey, but inevitably cross paths to the most unexpected and repulsive, yet brilliant, ending. . When we start reading, the pace is slow and steady. The desolate, western atmosphere is a character in the story and sets the mood for what’s to come. The chapters are short, but the content is heavy. As we switch perspectives between Jubal and Keaton, or Jones, or Levi we start to put the pieces together, but we never quite know what’s in store until Boden intends us to. Every word, every sentence is deliberate. . As the story goes, the land all around is aflame and everything and everyone is in harm’s way, but it’s up to these characters to find the answers. I am not going to go into further detail, but even the lesser, side characters pack a big punch. . Boden’s writing is true poetry. I highlighted quote after quote because I couldn’t get enough. Yes, this is horror, but it’s also a story, a quest, and even though there are fantastical, horrifying elements, you will get invested in WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN. . I’m very grateful to @shineynobuttons @mother.horror and @pageandparlor for taking me on this adventure. ★★★★★
Instagram post 2182428544012053315_5480751027 It’s #Thursday ...thank goodness. I took this photo while we were at a gorgeous winery I visit every year in the fall when we go to Apple Hill. The book is LONG BRIGHT RIVER (out Jan’20), which I haven’t started but I am so excited about. I’m actually reading THE ROAD TO JONESTOWN because @bookishmommy #mademedoit - Guys, it’s so good! ✨✨ . What are you reading this evening?! . Featured in this photo is a gorgeous @bookartbookmarks #artmark that Margaux sent me. I love everything this lovely lady makes. She has some new ones up in the shop so you better go hurry and check them out. Be sure to use code SHEREADS to save 10% at checkout ✨✨
Instagram post 2181705426599543280_5480751027 @gallerybooks [partner] . When I saw the cover of FISHNET by Kristin Innes I knew I needed to read it. I love shiny objects and that includes a gorgeous cover with a bold neon sign on it. Then once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. . Set in Scotland, our main character, Fiona Leonard, is bored at her menial administrative job and looking for something to get herself motivated. There are picketers outside her office protesting the demolition of a shelter for sex workers. Because of this, Fiona becomes obsessed with the lives of sex workers and cannot stop searching online. Additionally, her sister, Rona, disappeared 6 years ago leaving her daughter behind. Her parents have stopped looking, but Fiona can’t let it go. She decides to enter the world of sex workers as she suspects her sister may have ended up as one. At first, it feels glamorous: she’s envious of these women and their strength, sense of community, and sexual freedom. But after befriending and spending time with them, she realizes it’s actual work. Fiona’s eyes open up to a world that’s very different from her own and like nothing she has ever encountered. She grows up a bit and learns what it means to survive and be a feminist. . So here’s the thing: the writing style and format of the book is like nothing I’ve seen before, so it’s difficult to follow. I personally love a challenging book, and I knew it was going to be one going in. The story is told from different perspectives, changing from second to third person and jumping through timelines, which takes some getting used to. Also, I thought it was a nice touch that Innes writes in the Scottish dialect and I always appreciate small detail ms such as that. I couldn’t put this book down – the atmospheric, authentic, and evocative language and eye-opening story engrossed me. And like Fiona, I learned a great deal. . The primary focus of this book is about Fiona’s realization of what it is to be a true feminist and not to judge a book by its cover (pun intended). She learns from people and their experiences – and learns not to be judgmental. Highly recommend to readers looking for a unique and challenging read. ★★★★
Instagram post 2180967597321971130_5480751027 Thank @getredpr @lorijill321 and @rarebirdlit for my copy 🔥🔥 . If there was ever a cover to grab your attention, this is it. PLASTIC by @frankhstrausser not only looks intriguing, the synopsis has that “must read” quality. It totally reminds me of the show Nip/Tuck which I was completely addicted to once upon a time. Have you read this book? Or did you watch the show Nip/Tuck? 🔥🔥 . 𝓑𝓵𝓾𝓻𝓫𝓼: . “Hollywood satire meets crime fiction―an extremely Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup-style combination of two of our favorite flavors!” ― @flavorwire . “Edgy. Pretty shocking. You wonder what the heck is going to happen!” ― @npr . 𝓢𝔂𝓷𝓸𝓹𝓼𝓲𝓼: . Dr. Harry Previn, the renowned Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, is secretly called in to operate on the disfigured face of the ravishingly beautiful teen pop star Fay Wray following an assault. Surrounded by image makers who value beauty over all else, he soon fears Fay is in mortal danger. Will he risk everything to save her beauty, her life, or himself?
Instagram post 2180913651207208492_5480751027 GIVEAWAY CLOSED 🚫🚫 IT’S A GIVEAWAY! Thank you @stmartinspress for my free copy 🎉🎉 . TWENTY-ONE TRUTHS ABOUT LOVE by Matthew Dicks is out today and to celebrate @stmartinspress wants to give away a copy to one of you! Not only is the cover art adorable, Taylor Jenkins Reid has a blurb on it! I mean, enough said. But just in case you need more, the synopsis is in the comments below 🎉🎉 . To enter: . 1. Like this post 2. Please follow myself @shereadswithcats and @stmartinspress 3. Tag 3 friends in the comments below and use emojis to tell me your #currentread 🎉 4. Unlimited entries (use separate comments and please don’t tag the same friends twice 😆) . US ONLY • This giveaway is not affiliated with Instagram • Winner will be chosen on Friday 🎉🎉
Instagram post 2180247032537767562_5480751027 @littlebrown #partner | . Another edition of #bookrecquickies because I cannot recommend Leslie Jamison’s collection of essays enough. MAKE IT SCREAM, MAKE IT BURN is part memoir, part journalism, and part criticism, but all of it is intelligent, candid, and emotive. She’s a true talent, a gifted writer, and a unique voice. ★★★★★ . Use emojis to answer this...How was your Monday?!
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  • Review: FISHNET by Kristin Innes
  • Review: WALK THE DARKNESS DOWN by John Boden
  • Review: THE REDDENING by Adam Nevill
  • Blog Tour: THE DEAD GIRLS CLUB by Damien Angelica Walters
  • Blog Tour: LADY IN THE LAKE by Laura Lippman

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