AND
Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer (details)
With the announcement of the Oscar contenders, I continue to watch as many nominated films as I can before awards night.
I picked up a couple cookbooks and food related books from the library to look through in hopes of using some for my Foodie book challenge.
For Review:
by SDL Curry
-Historical, Christian, Japan
courtesy of -Thanks!
Amazon | Goodreads
NOTE: In writing Hidden by the Leaves, a substantial part of Mr Curry’s research emanates from the Vatican Secret Archives, taking over ten years to complete. Over the period of a decade, Mr Curry has conducted meticulous research in the archives of the British Library in London, the Metropolitan Library of New York, and countless museums, churches, and places of interest throughout Japan. Supplementing his research, Mr Curry is an avid collector of rare books, maps, and artefacts dating back to the time of the shogun and the early Jesuit missions in Japan.
As part of his historical explorations, Mr Curry has conducted comprehensive on-the-ground research in Nagasaki and surrounding cities and regions on the southern island of Kyushu. On a more global level, Mr Curry has interviewed and consulted extensively with priests, historians, and scholars around the world, including members of the Society of Jesus in Europe, North America, and Asia.
From an early age, Mr Curry has lived, worked, and studied in Japan, holding a passion for the country, its people and its culture. Based on his extensive research, Mr Curry is an expert in medieval Japanese history, bringing this original authenticity to bear in his uplifting novel Hidden by the Leaves and the wider Hidden Trilogy series.
UNBOXING:
OwlCrate is a subscription service that sends you magical monthly boxes tailored to a chosen theme. Each OwlCrate will contain one new Young Adult novel, as well as 3-5 other bookish treats to help you get your nerd on. @owlcrate
JANUARY Box includes:
theme: classic remix
- Owlcrate button
- The Little Prince Tea from First Edition Tea Co.
- The Secret Garden Soap from TeaSoapBooks
- Slaughterhouse Five Bookmark from Lexy Olivia
- Phantom of the Opera Magnet from Sweet Sequels
- Children's Classic Stories Calendar from Obvious State
- Signed bookplate and letter from author
- TEASER card: February theme - Run Away with the Circus
AND this book...
by A.G. Howard
-Fairy tale retelling, YA
Amazon | Goodreads
Rune Germain moves to a boarding school outside of Paris, only to discover that at this opera-house-turned-music-conservatory, phantoms really do exist. RoseBlood is a Phantom of the Opera–inspired retelling in which Rune’s biggest talent—her voice—is also her biggest curse. Fans of Daughter of Smoke and Bone and the Splintered series will find themselves captivated by this pulse-pounding spin on a classic tale.
Rune, whose voice has been compared to that of an angel, has a mysterious affliction linked to her talent that leaves her sick and drained at the end of every performance. Convinced creative direction will cure her, her mother ships her off to a French boarding school for the arts, rumored to have a haunted past.
Shortly after arriving at RoseBlood conservatory, Rune starts to believe something otherworldly is indeed afoot. The mystery boy she’s seen frequenting the graveyard beside the opera house doesn’t have any classes at the school, and vanishes almost as quickly as he appears. When Rune begins to develop a secret friendship with the elusive Thorn, who dresses in clothing straight out of the 19th century, she realizes that in his presence she feels cured. Thorn may be falling for Rune, but the phantom haunting RoseBlood wants her for a very specific and dangerous purpose. As their love continues to grow, Thorn is faced with an impossible choice: lead Rune to her destruction, or save her and face the wrath of the phantom, the only father he’s ever known.
A. G. Howard brings the romantic storytelling that Splintered fans adore to France—and an entirely new world filled with lavish romance and intrigue—in a retelling inspired by a story that has captivated generations. Fans of both the Phantom of the Opera musical and novel, as well as YA retellings such as Marissa Meyer’s Cinder, will devour RoseBlood.
FUNNY, last week I commented about how the covers of this series are so appealing and how I have not yet read any of the books. And then, lo and behold I got myself the latest book. While I have seen the Broadway production of Phantom of the Opera (and love the music), I have not read the book. Should be interesting.
OTHER things on my shelf: kinda book-related
13th Rooster Award for best fiction
details (here)
ADDING most of these titles from the short list to my reading this year.
AND watched: in theatre
Director/Writer: Kenneth Lonergan
Starring: Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges
-Drama | imdb | my rating: 5
An uncle is asked to take care of his teenage nephew after the boy's father dies.
Oscar nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Original Screenplay.
THE weather and the location go hand in hand with this sad story.
Director/Writer: Jeff Nichols
Starring: Ruth Negga, Joel Edgerton
-Biography, Drama, Romance | imdb | my rating: 5
The story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple, whose challenge of their anti-miscegenation arrest for their marriage in Virginia led to a legal battle that would end at the US Supreme Court.
Oscar nominated for Best Actress.
THIS slow moving story created such impact with its loving endurance quality.
UPCOMING reviews for January:
Brake Failure by Alison Brodie
Some Kind of Magic by Mary Ann Marlowe
UPCOMING reviews for February:
The Return of Sir Percival by S. Alexander O'Keefe
Different Class by Joanne Harris
River Road by Carol Goodman
* comment and TELL me what you have acquired for your shelves recently
