Lovely Books and Things - 2.14.21

Lovely Books and Things
My Weekly Books and Films Update

Linking up with:
Sunday Post (details)
Mailbox Monday (details)

~*~

HAPPY THINGS:

1. Spaghetti and meatballs :-)
2. Fun fact: Puzzle Mansion museum in Tagaytay, Cavite, Philippines hosts a collection of jigsaw puzzles which is recognized as the biggest in the world according to Guinness World Records in 2012.
3. Language of the Birds sculpture by Brian Goggin and Dorka Keehn (2008) found across the street from City Lights bookstore at Columbus Avenue and Broadway - Chinatown and North Beach (little Italy) border. The flying books light up at night.

~*~

Library: audiobook

The Old Drift
by Namwali Serpell
Historical, East Africa, Zambia | Published: 2019 | Goodreads

Library:

The Rage of Dragons
(The Burning #1)
by Evan Winter
Fantasy, Africa | Published: 2019 | Goodreads

Freebies: from Free Little Library

Gemina
(The Illuminae Files #2)
by Amie Kaufman, Jay Kristoff
SciFi, YA | Published: 2016 | Goodreads

~*~ AND watched: virtual theatre

Judas and the Black Messiah (2021)
Director: Shaka King
Screenplay/Screenplay: Will Berson
Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, LaKeith Stanfield, Jesse Plemons
Biography, Drama, History | imdb | my rating: 5
The story of Fred Hampton, Chairman of the Illinois Black Panther Party, and his fateful betrayal by FBI informant William O'Neal.

~*~ * comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

Thanks for stopping by :-)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Stacking the Shelves - 5.7.16

Stacking the Shelves
hosted by Tynga's Reviews (details)
Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!

~*~
Bought:

The Darkest Corners
by Kara Thomas
-Mystery, Thriller, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> Keep hearing good things about this one. And very interested in the thriller aspect.

The Book of Roads:
Travel Stories from Michigan to Marrakech
by Phil Cousineau
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> The June book for the face-to-fact SF Travel Book Club.

=====> Kepler's Books presented a YA author event at Redwood City Public Library.

The panel included: (pictured above)
Ryan Graudin
Aimee Kaufman
Jay Kristoff
Stacey Lee (moderator)

Something about each…

Ryan: one of the inspirations for her alternate history, Wolf by Wolf, includes the tv series Long Way Round (imdb) which is about a motorcyle tour and happens to star my fave actor, Ewan McGregor ;-)

Aimee: the inspiration for Illuminae was from conversations of various interests between her and Jay

Jay: he and Aimee met via sharing their horror story experiences with the IRS

Stacey: loves to listen to audio books and is currently enjoying Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

ALSO bought their recent books:

The Walled City
by Ryan Graudin
-Dystopia, Thriller, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> Actually this book was released before her recent book, Wolf by Wolf which was mentioned on my shelves before.

Illuminae
by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> I reviewed the ARC. But wanted a finished copy which is even more awesome!

Under A Painted Sky
by Stacey Lee
-Historical, Western, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
AND watched: in theatre

MIKU EXPO Short Film Festival
-Documentary, Music Videos | website | my rating: 4
Needless to say, Hatsune Miku's world is produced by innumerable amazing creators - of music, art and even movies too! MIKU EXPO will host its first short film festival by curating an exciting collection of Hatsune Miku related movies including "Mikumentary Remix", "#UltraMiku Special Edition!", and music videos that won the Grand-Prix at previous years' UGC Awards of Sapporo International Short Film Festival and Market!

=====> I did not know what I was getting into with this one. Mostly was compelled because it was a special showing at the Japan town cinema. I was blown away with the popularity of this phenomenon of an animated character gaining such a following and how various media continues to create and morph Miku.

Right Now, Wrong Then (2015)
Ji-geum-eun-mat-go-geu-ddae-neun-teul-li-da (original title)
Director/Writer: Sang-soo Hong
Starring: Jae-yeong Jeong, Min-hee Kim
-Drama, South Korea | imdb | my rating: 5
Quite by accident, a film director arrives in town a day early. With time to kill before his lecture the next day, he stops by a restored, old palace and meets a fledgling artist. She's never seen any of his films, but knows he's famous. They talk. And together, they go to her workshop to look at her paintings, have Sushi and Soju. More conversation follows, and drinks, and then an awkward get-together with friends where all sorts of secrets are revealed. All the while, they may or may not be falling for each other. Then, quite unexpectedly, we begin again, but now things appear somewhat different.

=====> A kind of love story told with two perspectives. Interesting to watch for the filming sequencing.

Journey To The Shore (2015)
Kishibe no tabi (original title)
Director: Kiyoshi Kurosawa
Screenplay: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Takashi Ujita
Based on book by: Kazumi Yumoto
Starring: Eri Fukatsu, Tadanobu Asano
-Drama, Fantasy, Romance, Japan | imdb | my rating: 5
Mizuki's husband (Yusuke) drowned at sea three years ago. When he suddenly comes back home, she is not that surprised. Instead, Mizuki is wondering what took him so long. She agrees to let Yusuke take her on a journey.

=====> Beautiful story that is sad yet uplifting.

SPECIAL: book event

=====> Exciting! I will be in Chicago attending BEA (and Book Con) next week walking around in the floor plan above amongst authors, publishers and books ;-)

Currently flipping through: from the library

Lookbook Cookbook--Salty:
Vegan Food, Hot Models, Great Eats for Healthy Living
by Jessica Milan
-Cookbook
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> This cookbook has an interesting format where all the recipes are pictured in color with hipster models. How cute and cool is that! The Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Pesto looks like a yummy one that I plan to try.

~*~
* image source: Miku

* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways offers

Waiting on Wednesday - 11.11.15

I'm waiting for...

Their Fractured Light
(Starbound #3)
by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
Release date: December 1, 2015
Amazon | Goodreads
A year ago, Flynn Cormac and Jubilee Chase made the now-infamous Avon Broadcast, calling on the galaxy to witness LaRoux Industries' corruption. A year before that, Tarver Merendsen and Lilac LaRoux were the only survivors of the Icarus shipwreck, forced to live a double life after their rescue.

Now, at the center of the galaxy on Corinth, all four are about to collide with two new players in the fight against LRI.

Gideon Marchant is an underworld hacker known as the Knave of Hearts, ready to climb and abseil his way past the best security measures on the planet to expose LRI's atrocities. Sofia Quinn, charming con artist, can work her way into any stronghold without missing a beat. When a foiled attempt to infiltrate LRI Headquarters forces them into a fragile alliance, it's impossible to know who's playing whom--and whether they can ever learn to trust each other.
With their lives, loves, and loyalties at stake, only by joining forces with the Icarus survivors and Avon's protectors do they stand a chance of taking down the most powerful corporation in the galaxy---before LRI's secrets destroy them all.

The New York Times best-selling Starbound trilogy comes to a close with this dazzling final installment about the power of courage and hope in humanity's darkest hour.

~*~
* Waiting on Wednesday is sponsored by Jill at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming releases that we are eagerly anticipating.

* YAY! only have to wait a couple more weeks to get this one. Although, I still have to read book two. What the heck - the covers for this series are freaking amazing!

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Illuminae
by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Find out more about this book and author:
Amazon | Goodreads | BookExcerpt
AMIE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
Tumblr | Twitter @AmieKaufman
JAY: Website | Facebook | Twitter @misterkristoff

Release date: October 20, 2015
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Genre: SciFic, YA
Hardback: 608 pages
Rating: 5

The Illuminae Files trilogy:
Illuminae
book 2 - tba

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto one of the evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it’s clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

My two-bits:

Although a chunkster of a book, it reads fast as the story is told via chat sessions, emails and reports. Illustrations and schematics are included to compliment the feel of the book.

Loved the presentation of this book (although I read an ARC). I am tempted to get a final copy for the full effect.

Loved the characters and how they interact via mostly online.

Got me thinking of AI's and robots.

~*~
* review copy courtesy of publisher

* see if the authors will be in your town in November (here)

* read this during Dewey's 24 hour Read-a-thon (here)

Dewey's Readathon: October 2015 pt2

Dewey's 24 hour Readathon
October 17, 2015 (details)
Pre-Dewey post with reading list (here)
Deweys part one: Hours 1-12 (here)

HOUR 13: 5pm
Reading at the cafe.

Mini Challenge: A Recommendation Engine (here)

My current recommendation: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
My recommendation to commenter: The Stone Rider by David Hofmeyr

HOUR 14: 6pm
Still at the cafe with my book. And the hour started with some live music. I have some gorgeous romantic piano playing in the background. It also looks like other musicians are assembling. Perhaps a jazz ensemble?

HOUR 15: 7pm
Sure enough, got some classic jazz tunes while reading at the cafe.

HOUR 16: 8pm
Picked up some dinner and headed home.
Had dinner while playing Words with Friends.

HOUR 17: 9pm
Continued to read and finished Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff!

( happy dancing )

Mini Challenge: 4 Seasons 4 Books (here)

Spring: The Admissions by Meg Mitchell Moore
Summer: The Grownups by Robin Antalek
Fall: Reading The Sweet Oak by Jan Stites
Winter: Blonde Eskimo by Kristen Hunt

HOUR 18: 10pm
Started reading...

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Amazon | Goodreads=====> Actually started reading from page 294 (out of 720). I wanted to make a major dent in this chunkster or possibly finish it during the read-a-thon (fingers crossed).

HOUR 19: 11pm
Reading on the couch.

HOUR 20: 12am
Reading in bed. Probably not a good idea. But, it is the warmest place to be in the wee hours. And, I might nap.

Mini Challenge: Shelfie (here)

HOUR 21: 1am
Read until page 370 of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara before retiring for the night. It was slow going reading this. Got through 76 pages and boy-o-boy was there a doozy of a scene within those pages.

HOUR 22: 2am
zzz

HOUR 23: 3am
zzz

HOUR 24: 4am
zzz

Mini Challenge: Reading Fort (here)

Under the dining room table. Throw blankie, pillows and snacks underneath and all set.
-->late entry, just wanted to answer question

WRAP-UP: 5am

CLOSING SURVEY (here)

Which hour was most daunting for you?
--> Hour 21
Perhaps next year, I should nap between Hour 20-23 and set alarm to be up for Hour 24.

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
--> Both books I read were fabulous.
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? --> NA

What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
--> Although I do not always comment, I always like the posts on the Dewey site to be able to touch base.

How many books did you read? --> 2

What were the names of the books you read?
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Which book did you enjoy most? --> Both books were enjoyable in different ways.

Which did you enjoy least? --> NA

If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? --> NA

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? --> YES, as a Reader.

LOVED this episode of the Read-a-thon and devoting the day to reading books.

THANKS to the hosts and supporting cast :-)

Until next time...

October 2015 - 21 hours
October 2009 - 22 hours
April 2009 - 8 hours

Dewey's Readathon: October 2015

Dewey's 24 hour Readathon
October 17, 2015 (details)
Pre-Dewey post with reading list (here)
Dewey post pt 2: Hours 13-24 and Wrap-Up (here)

HOUR 1: 5am PDT (start time)
Got up 5 minutes before the alarm and read in bed for about 20 minutes. Then finished up a solo game of Words with Friends that I started last night.

HOUR 2: 6am

Made breakfast and went to check out the Dewey site.

Read some history about Dewey (The Hidden Side of the Leaf – Dewey’s archived blog).

INTRO SURVEY says:

1) What fine part of the world are you reading from today? --> California
2) Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? --> Illuminae
3) Which snack are you most looking forward to? --> chips
4) Tell us a little something about yourself! --> Recently became an empty nest-er, as my daughter went off to college last month. So, immersing myself in books and movies these days.
5) If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? If this is your first read-a-thon, what are you most looking forward to? --> I participated back in 2009 and found that I really like the interaction bit with the read-a-thon. So, I will not push to hard on getting a high reading page count.

Started reading...

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Amazon | Goodreads

Mini Challenge: Cover Escape! (here)

Doon (book 1) by Carey Corp and Lorie Langdon
Amazon | Goodreads
HOUR 3: 7am
Updated blog. Checked email. Worked on mini-challenges. Read.

Mini Challenge: Diversity Shelfie (here)

The Red Sheet by Mia Kerick
Amazon | Goodreads | my review=====> Loved the superhero theme used to drive the main character throughout this coming of age (closet) story.

HOUR 4: 8am
Caught up on mini-challenges. Read.

Mini Challenge: Kids Challenge (here)

Little Miss Austen: Pride & Prejudice by Jennifer Adams
Amazon | Goodreads
Little Miss Austen: Sense & Sensibility by Jennifer Adams
Amazon | Goodreads=====> Never too early to introduce the amazing Jane Austen!

HOUR 5: 9am
Visit fellow read-a-thon-ers. Read.

Mini Challenge: Goodreads Road Trip (here)

=====> My postcard entry:
Hey Sweetie,
I am currently on a wild truck ride with Kady and Ezra (of Illuminae). They just broke up so tensions are strained and it feels awkward. But, I am having a great time getting to know these two and look forward to where they take me in the next 24 hours. I might be going into outer space.
See you soon.
--vvb

HOUR 6: 10am
Went to the gym and read while cycling. Picked up a sandwich, chips, slice of cheesecake and small mocha at the deli.

Mini Challenge: Power of Love (here)

Describe how a book (or books) have made you fall in love with them.

Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger series) by V.C. Andrews
Amazon | Goodreads | my review=====> This is the ONE that hooked me to reading. It was a book I found in the library in the adult section of the library. At the time I was a tween. What got me first was the super cool keyhole cover on the paperback version. And then, the story about the forbidden.

Funny thing to note: my blog started because of a V.C. Andrews reading challenge post I came across.

Mini-Challenge: Top 10 list of something that has to do with the read-a-thon (here)

1. READ
2. Change reading seat location
3. Do mini challenges
4. Visit fellow read-a-thon-ers
5. Eat and drink favorites
6. Take a short walk outside
7. Watch/listen to a couple of the Dewey youtube videos shared
8. Take a quick nap
9. Take a shower or freshen up
10. Continue to READ

HOUR 7: 11am
Back home and lunching while catching up on reading fellow read-a-thon-er posts. And then, back to reading.

Mini Challenge: Halloween Prepartion (here)

Night Film
by Marisha Pessl
-Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Amazon | Goodreads=====> I plan to crack this one open this Halloween season. Been wanting to read it since last year.

HOUR 8: 12pm
Worked on tweaking this post.
Still reading Illuminae and loving it.

Mini Challenge: Armchair Traveling (here)

I would like to travel to Paris of this book and definitely visit book and chocolate shops.

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George
Amazon | Goodreads
HOUR 9: 1pm
Seems like the time is flying by.
Working on more mini-challenges and then back to reading.

Mini Challenge: Book Scavenger Hunt List (here)

from: Illuminae by Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
1. Something hard - Battlecarrier Alexander - 78V
2. Something fast - Kady Grant and her mad survival skills
3. Something sweet - Ezra Mason and his soft spot for Kady
4. Something high - Hypatia -a long range scientific exploration vessel, ideally suited for deep space recon/assessment
5. Something funny - verbal exchanges between Ezra and Sgt. J. McNulty

HOUR 10: 2pm
Spent the hour on the couch reading Illuminae. Almost halfway through the book out of 600 pages - a chunkster. Couple cat naps snuck in.

I should mention the morning was cold with spitting rain now and then. Now, the sun is shining and the sky is a beautiful blue.

Mini Challenge: Classics and Comics (here)

In Search of Lost Time: Swann's Way: A Graphic Novel by Marcel Proust
Amazon | Goodreads=====>Would like to read this as an introduction to Proust works.

HOUR 11: 3pm
Changed the reading venue to a local cafe. People and background music help keep the eyes from drooping. And, got a Pumpkin Spice Latte inspired by the hour's mini challenge.

Mini Challenge: Pumpkin Spice or Naw (here)

Thumbs up for a Pumpkin Spice Latte with book ;-)

HOUR 12: 4pm -half way mark! woo hoo!

Mid-Event Survey: (here)

1. What are you reading right now? --> Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (past the half-way point)
2. How many books have you read so far? --> working on one chunkster
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? --> A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
4. Have you had many interruptions? --> just one phone call which was a quickie
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? --> how fast time flies when doing mini challenges along with reading

~*~
* created a part 2 Dewey post (here) - for Hours 13-24 and Wrap-Up

Pre-Dewey's Read-a-thon: October 2015

Dewey's 24 hour Readathon
October 2015 (details & signup)
October 2015 - 21 hours (my results)
October 2009 - 22 hours
April 2009 - 8 hours

Below is my prospective reading list which is subject to change depending on my mood.

I will focus on ONE and try to complete it by the end of the event. And I will get into the second book if I finish the first.

I am not sure how much reading will get done as I will be visiting other blogs, doing mini-challenges and blogging - the added fun part of the read-a-thon.

I also donated 3 book prize pack giveaways for participants of the event.

Any of your comments would be most welcome during the read-a-thon. If you're a night owl, please stop by that is when I will need the boost (to keep the eyes open) the most. Jokes (book-related) and limericks in the comments would be much appreciated ;-)

TO DO before read-a-thon:
- clear the calendar on event day
- do chores, housework, etc. before event
- plan easy main meals - minimal preparation (maybe pizza delivery?)
- stock up on favorite munchies
- set alarm for event start time
- get some good sleeping time in before the event

TO DO during read-a-thon:
- read, blog, mini-challenge
- go to cafe for lunch and reading
- read outside (in hammock) - if the weather is cooperative

Have you done a read-a-thon before? How did it go?

Will you being joining in?

My reading list:

Illuminae
by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
-SciFi, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
AND

A Little Life
by Hanya Yanagihara
-Contemporary Fiction
Amazon | Goodreads
=====> I started this one in March and have been slowly reading bits and pieces each week. It has such rave reviews which seem valid from what I have read so far. But the book is a chunkster and pulls at the heart with such sad moments which is why I have been reading it in small doses. I hope to work on this more during the read-a-thon.

Books and Fashion Week

Chiara Boni La Petite Robe Spring 2016
& The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (goodreads)
from BuzzFeed Books books and fashion pairings (more here)
In tribute to the Fall season Fashion Weeks...

New York: September 10-17, 2015
London: September 18-22, 2015
Milan: September 23-29, 2015
Paris: September 30-October 7, 2015

I wanted to share books and fashion mashups.

This set of fashion pairings were inspired by New York Fashion Week and created at BuzzFeed Books (complete list here)

Son Jung Wan Spring 2016 & Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff (goodreads)
=====> Found this one on the list that is in my tbr pile!

Leanne Marshall Spring 2016 & California by Edan Lepucki (goodreads)
=====> This one is amusing. It is also a book on my backburner tbr list.

The Blonds Spring/Summer 2015 & The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen (goodreads)
=====> This is from last year's mashups that wow-ed me (see complete list here). Also, a book in my tbr pile.

Tommy Hilfiger Spring/Summer 2015 & Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami (goodreads)
=====> This is another from last year which I thought was a cute number. I read this book last year (review).

~*~
Book Riot (here) added book accessories to the 2015 Emmy runway. These are all on my want list.

Dascha Polanco in Leanne Marshall, book accessory A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James (goodreads)
=====> This book is currently part of Man Booker Prize 2015 short list (here) and was on The Shortlist for The Morning News 2015 Tournament of Books (here).

David and Jessica Oyelowo, book accessory The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler (goodreads)

~*~
Fiction to Fashion (here) has assembled not only clothes but accessories to match up with books. Here are a couple that caught my eye.

Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff (goodreads)
=====> I will be reading this one very soon :-)

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (goodreads)
=====> Loved this one and can't wait to see the film adaptation.

A Darker Shade of Magic (A Darker Shade of Magic #1) by V.E. Schwab (goodreads)


~*~
* see my previous post of Book Covers and Fashion Week (here)

* found the links to Book Riot and Buzzfeed at Thoughts from an Evil Overlord (here).

* feel free to share any links you know of that has married books and fashion