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By Hook Or By Book

Monthly Archives: July 2020

Family Fridays #19

31 Friday Jul 2020

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 21 Comments

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Family Fridays

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Happy Friday Everyone! Do you believe this is the last day of July? Here’s how things are going in Alabama.

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As of Thursday evening, there are 85,762 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 1,565 deaths. From last week, positives have risen by 13,066 and at least 208 more people have tragically passed away. On Monday hospitalizations in the state broke a new record with 1,599. There is talk of pop-up hospitals perhaps at some point being needed and medical professionals are saying the next two weeks are critical. Our governor has extended our “Safer At Home” orders until August 31. These orders include mandated masks in most public settings as well as second grade through high school classrooms. While I’d say the majority of Alabamians are using their heads, there are still many who are listening to the wrong “leaders” and not following state or federal guidelines. For instance, a small church in Strawberry, Alabama recently had a multi-day revival. Well, now at least 40 attendees have gotten sick. But they not only have no regrets, they’d do it again.

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What else can I say?

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For this week’s positivity I’d like to introduce you to Dr. Quentin J. Lee, one of the coolest school principals in AL. Check this out!

Well, I’m off to beat my negative thoughts into submission. I hope you and yours are safe and well. Please let me know how you’re doing in the comments.

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Because I think right now calls for extra hugs, here are some more!

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John Lewis: “Together You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation.”

30 Thursday Jul 2020

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 6 Comments

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John Lewis Final Op-Ed

 

Happy International Day of Friendship!

30 Thursday Jul 2020

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 23 Comments

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Happy International Day of Friendship!

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Where Dreams Descend (Kingdom of Cards #1), by Janella Angeles ~ 4.0 Stars

30 Thursday Jul 2020

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, YA Fiction

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Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: August 25th, 2020

464 Pages

Synopsis: In a city covered in ice and ruin, a group of magicians face off in a daring game of magical feats to find the next headliner in the Conquering Circus, only to find themselves under the threat of an unseen danger striking behind the scenes.

As each act becomes more and more risky and the number of missing magicians piles up, three are forced to reckon with their secrets before the darkness comes for them next.

The Star: Kallia, a powerful showgirl out to prove she’s the best no matter the cost.

The Master: Jack, the enigmatic keeper of the club, and more than one lie told.

The Magician: Demarco, the brooding judge with a dark past he can no longer hide.

Where Dreams Descend is the startling and romantic first book in Janella Angeles’ debut Kingdom of Cards duology where magic is both celebrated and feared, and no heart is left unscathed.

A blend of Phantom of the Opera, Moulin Rouge, Erin Morgernstern’s The Night Circus, and Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige, Where Dreams Descend will definitely appeal to a wide audience of dark fantasy lovers. The plot and world building are the book’s strengths and kept me turning the pages over the three nights it took me to read it, although I do think the storyline could have been edited a little and the narrative tightened. The three main characters, I have more mixed feelings toward. They’re very colorfully written, yet at times come across as extremely immature even for a YA novel. Out of the three, the enigmatic and manipulative Jack was my favorite and I kept picturing Tom Ellis as Lucifer Morningstar in the Lucifer tv series. Despite the issues I had with character development, I very much enjoyed this first book in the Kingdom of Cards duology, and I’m eagerly looking forward to the sequel. Where Dreams Descend is a glittering, magical and enjoyable debut by Janella Angeles who is an exciting new voice in YA fiction.

The Perfect Solution For The School Reopening Issue ~ A Chris Mann Parody

29 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 21 Comments

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Chris Mann Parodies

 

 

 

 

Whimsical Wednesday

29 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 18 Comments

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“The Candy Man Can”, Whimsical Wednesday, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

 

 

 

 

Lovely Lyrical Lines

28 Tuesday Jul 2020

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 13 Comments

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”cardigan”, Folklore, Lovely Lyrical Lines, Taylor Swift

 

 

 

The Lions of Fifth Avenue, by Fiona Davis ~ 5.0 Stars

27 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

Adult Fiction, Dysfuncional Families, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Mystery, Romance

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Thanks to NetGalley and Dutton Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: August 4th, 2020

368 Pages

Synopsis: In nationally bestselling author Fiona Davis’s latest historical novel, a series of book thefts roil the iconic New York Public Library, leaving two generations of strong-willed women to pick up the pieces.

It’s 1913, and on the surface Laura Lyons couldn’t ask for more out of life—her husband is the superintendent of the New York Public Library, allowing their family to live in an apartment within the grand building, and they are blessed with two children. But headstrong, passionate Laura wants more, and when she takes a leap of faith and applies to the Columbia Journalism School, her world is cracked wide open. As her studies take her all over the city, she finds herself drawn to Greenwich Village’s new bohemia, where she discovers the Heterodoxy Club—a radical, all-female group in which women are encouraged to loudly share their opinions on suffrage, birth control, and women’s rights. Soon Laura finds herself questioning her traditional role as wife and mother. But when valuable books are stolen back at the library, threatening the home and the institution she loves, she’s forced to confront her shifting priorities head on…and may just lose everything in the process.

Eighty years later, in 1993, Sadie Donovan struggles with the legacy of her grandmother, the famous essayist, Laura Lyons, especially after she’s wrangled her dream job as a curator at the New York Public Library. But the job quickly becomes a nightmare when rare manuscripts, notes, and books for the exhibit Sadie’s running begin disappearing from the library’s famous Berg Collection. Determined to save both the exhibit and her career, the typically risk-adverse Sadie teams up with a private security expert to uncover the culprit. However things unexpectedly become personal when the investigation leads Sadie to some unwelcome truths about her own family heritage—truths that shed new light on the biggest tragedy in the library’s history.

The Lions of Fifth Avenue is undoubtedly going to be one of my favorite novels of 2020, thanks to the exceptional storytelling of Fiona Davis. Starting with every library lover’s dream setting of the New York Public Library, and including the time period’s socioeconomic disparities and stirrings of the women’s rights movement, Davis skillfully blends the historical with two fascinating mysteries that are connected, albeit decades apart. More often than not, when reading a book with two timelines, I find myself preferring one over the other, but that wasn’t the case here. I loved both Laura and her granddaughter Sadie, and was equally invested in both of their stories. I don’t want to give too many details away, so let me just say this book is a sumptuous feast for any reader who loves books, libraries, history, wonderful characters, and fascinating mysteries!

Reopening Schools

26 Sunday Jul 2020

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 22 Comments

Tags

Reopening Schools

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The reopening of schools in the midst of a pandemic has become the next hot button issue. With daily changing and mixed messaging coming from the White House and the CDC, emotions are running high on both sides of the issues. As a former teacher and children’s librarian myself, I’m torn. Of course learning from home isn’t a perfect solution. Not only do children not learn as much remotely, but it’s psychologically and socially damaging. On the other hand, while yes, children as a whole aren’t getting as sick from COVID-19, there haven’t been many studies yet on their passing it on to others, although a recent South Korean study involving 65,000 found that those ages 10-19 were just as likely to spread the virus as adults. Here are two very different videos regarding the issue. The first is from a 5th grade teacher as she tries to prepare her classroom. The second is a musical parody from singer Chris Mann, who has a young child.

I also found these Washington Post and National Geographic to be very informative.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/07/25/confused-by-cdcs-changing-guidance-school-reopening-here-are-recommendations-experts-not-pressured-by-white-house

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/07/coronavirus-infection-spread-in-children-cvd/#close

 

 

 

 

Pandemic Parodies

25 Saturday Jul 2020

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 18 Comments

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“If Disney Villains Sung About 2020”, Pandemic Parodies, The Holderness Family

 

 

 

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the confessions of a random blogger

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Reviews for children's and adult books.

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all things bookish!!

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My slice-of-life as child and as parent. Of reading, writing, gardening, and giving back to nature.

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novels around the world

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Tracy the Bookworm

a bookworm detailing all her bookish thoughts

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Connecting Author to Readers and Readers to Author

theconfessionsofarandomblogger.wordpress.com/

the confessions of a random blogger

Hit or Miss Books

Reviews for children's and adult books.

Amani's Reviews

Here’s where I’ll gush about my favorite books , shows, and other projects!

@onceuponawishlist

all things bookish!!

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My slice-of-life as child and as parent. Of reading, writing, gardening, and giving back to nature.

A Naga of the Nusantara

Fantasy and sci-fi reviews by a Malaysian book wyrm

Award Winning Books

As decided by me, your favorite raccoon host

Reader Jones

a book blog

The Traveling Bookworm

novels around the world

.com

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"Writers Helping Writers" with Marcia Meara & Friends

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