Reading
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Rose in Bloom – Book Recommendation
“Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for.” – Jo March? Louisa May Alcott is most famous for her timeless novel Little Women. In the Little Women 2019 movie adaptation, Jo March boldly states the above quote to Marmee. But did you know that famous line isn’t actually in the Little Women book? This iconic phrase is taken from another of Alcott’s masterpieces, Rose in Bloom, which was published in 1876. In this book, the protagonist, Rose…
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Book Review: The Ranger’s Apprentice
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Book Review: The Ranger’s Apprentice
I first heard of this book when I submitted a short story to my critique group and someone commented on my title. I had never heard of the Ranger’s Apprentice series so I was curious after my own story’s title, “The Mountain Ranger”, was compared to it. I’m very grateful I let my curiosity win and got this book! Here’s a short blurb about the book: The Ranger’s Apprentice by John Flanagan follows the story of Will, a boy who was orphaned and taken in as the castle’s ward. Upon his fifteenth birthday, he must be chosen by one of the Craftmasters to become an apprentice. Will dreams of becoming…
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Rose in Bloom – Book Recommendation
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Why We Love Magic: A Christian Perspective on Fantasy
“If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity This popular quotation by C. S. Lewis echoes a thought I’ve recently had on our draw as humans towards stories containing magical or fantastical elements. The fantasy genre is widely popular and it is made unique because of all the varieties of magical elements it contains. Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, even Disney movies are full of magic. This made me wonder, why are we so drawn to stories with the fantastical? Magic is widely controversial within…
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8 Books That Inspire Hope, Create Courage, and Encourage Bold Living
Have you read something recently that made you feel brave, inspired, encouraged, or like you could take on the world? Today I want to share a list of books (both fiction and non-fiction) that will inspire you to be a little braver, live a little louder, and perhaps take that next tiny step toward becoming the incredible person God called you to be. Sometimes all you need is a little inspiration and a vision of who you could be and what you could do to take the next step forward. Maybe all you need is to be reminded that ordinary people can do extraordinary things if they say yes to…
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The Ascendance Series: What a Fictional King Taught Me About Real Leadership
I recently finished reading the last two books of the Ascendance Series by Jennifer A. Nielsen. To those of you who don’t know, the Ascendance Series is a YA fantasy series that follows the journey of an orphan boy named Sage and his journey into becoming Jaron and the king of Carthya. Last year I read the first book, The False Prince, and I completely fell in love with the main character. I was amazed by the plot twists and how masterfully they were pulled off. After finishing the original trilogy, I read the two last books which take place right before the ending of The Shadow Throne. The Story…
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Get to Know Me: My Faith and Reading Journey
Hello again, friend! It’s a joy to have you drop by for another visit. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable and help yourself to some tea and cookies while we chat? I just made them fresh. Well, virtually fresh. As fresh as virtual cookies can be. Anyway, I thought we’d take some time to get to know each other. So get comfy and make yourself at home. As you may know, I’m passionate about my relationship with Jesus and I’m also an avid bookworm. Being that the case, I thought I’d share a few snapshots of my life. I’ll first share about my faith, and then I’ll share about my…
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Favorite Reads of 2024
Hello again, friend! This past year, I finally read some popular books that had long been recommended to me. I also discovered some surprising jewels in the huge world of indie publishing. As for nonfiction… don’t ask, because it’s the category I’ve read the least in. But, be that as it may, I do have some highlights from this past year. Here are some of my absolute favorite reads of 2024: “The Lord of the Rings” by J. R. R. Tolkien Genre: FantasyIn one word: Masterful My thoughts: Let us begin with the king of high fantasy himself. I now understand why Tolkien is considered a literary genius. This story…
