passionatelyperusing

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Read Around the World Challenge: The "A" Countries

I heard about the “Read Around the World” challenge a while ago, but I forgot it until it popped up on TikTok. The challenge is to read a book from every country, and the story should be set in that country, as well as the author being born there. It’s not easy to find both pieces of criteria, so a few don’t really fit, but it’s the best I could find.  Here is a link to the Read Around the World…

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5 Mini Book Reviews

Chain-Gang All-Stars by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 3.5 out of 5. Chain-Gang All-Stars is a dystopia following prisoners forced to duel for freedom on live TV. There are multiple POVs from prisoners and fans who watch the show. There are two women, the gladiators, who dominate the fighting arenas. As one of them plans to leave the prison, she thinks about how she can help her fellow…

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After a Two-Year Hiatus, Here's My 2024 Reading Plans

Well, well, well, this is a bit awkward. It’s been a few years since I’ve written anything on here. It’s been a social media roller coaster for me. I couldn’t decide whether I wanted to have an online presence or not. I actually deleted my Bookstagram, personal Instagram, and my personal Facebook. However, here I am, resurrecting my Bookstagram. A fresh start from square one, perhaps a necessary…

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Follow Me to the Land of Sweets! Baking Glazed Lemon-Thyme Poppyseed Cake

Follow Me to the Land of Sweets! Baking Glazed Lemon-Thyme Poppyseed Cake

Hey, friends! I touched on wanting to include more than just book posts on my blog. It won’t be an all-the-time thing, but I’d really love to share my journey of baking with you all. It’s another hobby I dabble in quite often, and it’s something I’m passionate about outside the land of books. I totally understand if you aren’t interested, but for those who are, let me share with you my successful…

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Goodreads Choice Awards Predictions

Goodreads Choice Awards Predictions

I personally don’t vote in the GR Choice Awards because it’s typically the popular books that end up winning. I don’t really talk about it much, but I think it would be a fun blog post if I predicted which book I thought would win and which one I would choose. I think I saw a blogger post something like this recently…I’m sure many have. You can tag them below if you know other people who have.…

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Book Review of How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith

Book Review of How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith

How the Word is Passed by Clint Smith 336 pages Published in 6/1/21 by Little, Brown, and Company ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5. Genre: Nonfiction / History / Social Justice Amazon | B&N *click on photos to view original source. “Poet and contributor to The Atlantic Clint Smith’s revealing, contemporary portrait of America as a slave owning nation Beginning in his own hometown of New Orleans,…

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Guess Who's Back?

Guess Who’s Back?

Hello, friends! I know it’s been a while, but I finally feel up to the task of writing a blog post. Since I’ve left I haven’t read many books. To let you really know how it’s been going this year, I’ve only read 29 books. Unfortunately, at the end of April / beginning of May, I went through a pretty tough breakup just a week shy of our 5-year anniversary. I don’t want to go into much detail since…

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Top Ten Tuesday: Book Titles That Give Me Crayola Crayon Vibes

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Titles That Give Me Crayola Crayon Vibes

I haven’t participated in TTT in a LONG time, and I thought this prompt was super cute and creative. I had a lot of fun completing this list. I’m excited to see what other bloggers say. I’m sure there are tons of titles that could work. I couldn’t even narrow it down to 10, so I stopped at 15. Rules: Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That…

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The Recommendations Book Tag

The Recommendations Book Tag

I saw Kristin @ Kristin Kraves Books post this, and it looked like so much fun, so I decided to participate. It was originally created by Ally Writes Things (link below). I tag whoever wants to participate! Rules: Tag Ally @ Ally Writes Things so I can see your recommendations!Give at least one recommendation for each of the prompts belowIf you don’t have a recommendation, talk about a book you…

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Book Review of The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

Book Review of The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles 368 pages Published: 2/9/21 by Atria Books Genre: Historical fiction ⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 3 out of 5. Amazon | B&N *Click on photos to view original source. ”Based on the true World War II story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris, this is an unforgettable story of romance, friendship, family, and the power of literature to bring us…

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Book Review of Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Book Review of Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Survive the Night by Riley Sager 336 pages Publication date: 6/29/21 by Dutton Books ISBN: 9780593183168 Genre: Thriller ⭐⭐ Rating: 2 out of 5. Amazon | B&N *Click on photos to view original source. “It’s November 1991. George H. W. Bush is in the White House, Nirvana’s in the tape deck, and movie-obsessed college student Charlie Jordan is in a car with a man who might be a serial…

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Short Book Review of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

Short Book Review of Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson

Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson 496 pages Published: 8/4/20 by Random House ISBN: 9780593230251 Genre: Nonfiction — Social Justice ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5. B&N *Click on photos to view original source. “The Pulitzer Prize–winning, bestselling author of The Warmth of Other Suns examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives…

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Book Review of The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Book Review of The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah 464 pages Published 2/6/18 by St. Martin’s Press ISBN: 9781250165619 Genre: Historical Fiction ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5. *Click on photos to view source. “Alaska, 1974.Unpredictable. Unforgiving. Untamed.For a family in crisis, the ultimate test of survival. Ernt Allbright, a former POW, comes home from the Vietnam war a changed and volatile man. When he…

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6 Books Written by Women About Women: Women's History Month

6 Books Written by Women About Women: Women’s History Month

Happy Women’s History Month! I thought I’d write about women writing about other empowering women, whether they’re based on facts or fiction. Are there any books you’re specifically reading this month for Women’s History Month? Are there any you’ve read and would suggest to other curious readers? This list is curated from my TBR shelf on Goodreads. Circe by Madeline Miller If you’re unsure of…

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Etsy Shop Flop + Rebranding

Etsy Shop Flop + Rebranding

Hello, friends! I promise I’ll be back with reviews and interesting book content, soon. I’ve been working on my Etsy shop. Unfortunately, I didn’t much care for digital planning / digital stickers. It’s not the life I live, so it’s not something I want to sell, if that makes sense. But, I knew I still wanted another creative outlet, and I knew I wanted to keep my Etsy shop. I’ve been practicing…

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Book Review of The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr.

Book Review of The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr.

The Prophets by Robert Jones, Jr. 400 pages Published: 1/5/21 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons ISBN: 9780593085684 Genre: Historical fiction ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5. B&N | Amazon *Click on photos to view original source. “A singular and stunning debut novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation, the refuge they find in each other, and a betrayal that…

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Etsy Shop: Digital Hygge Stickers

Etsy Shop: Digital Hygge Stickers

Happy Sunday, friends! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I blinked and it was over, sadly. Back to the work grind tomorrow. If you digitally plan, I have some cute decorative stickers—Hygge themed. You can cozy up your planner. I apologize that I can’t sell physical ones, yet. That is my goal. Until then, this is all I can offer. Even if you don’t purchase anything, I’d love it if you just…