A whole new year, a whole new blog? Not exactly but definitely time for a few tweaks.
This year, a lot of our blog posts have focused on our 2016 Library Challenge. But as the year is winding down and the challenge deadline is drawing near, I wanted to spend some time looking ahead to next year.
George Armstrong Custer is one of the most controversial figures in American history.
Don’t believe me?
Pick up any book about him or the American West or the American Civil War and see what the authors have to say about him. Some will praise him as a brave but misunderstood genius, some will denigrate him as an egotistical moron, and some will eulogize him as a tragic figure.
I’ve personally always found Custer a fascinating but relatively unsympathetic historical figure, but reading T.J. Stiles’s excellent, Pulitzer-Prize winning Custer’s Trials forced me to re-evaluate some of my assumptions about him.
Continue reading “T.J. Stiles’s Custer’s Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America”
This is it. Believe it or not, you have made it to the last post of the 2016 Library Challenge.
If you’ve been participating in the challenge or following along with the blog, you know we have taken quite the journey this year, working our way through a range of interesting challenges, everything from romance to nonfiction to badly-reviewed books.
The only one left is a book published in the last year. So, without further ado, let’s take our last romp of the year with a round-up of some recent releases that have received positive reviews.
As always, if you’re interested, please visit our online library catalog for more information on any of the books.
Continue reading “2016 Library Challenge: A Book Published This Year”
In my life, some have accused me of being a grinch.
But I think that’s less a reflection of my own thoughts on the holidays and more a reflection of other people’s enthusiasm for them.
I can’t even think about the holidays until December rolls around, so anytime I see Christmas decorations and advertising or hear Christmas songs in October and November, I have to restrain myself from reacting with more than a grimace or an eyeroll.
Oh I suppose I should just be happy people are enjoying themselves, but I can’t help but think, “Wait your turn, Christmas! Let pumpkins and turkeys get some attention first!”
But since we’re into December now, I think it’s safe to venture into holiday reading territory now, and I thought it would be fun to share Christmas reading traditions.
Continue reading “2016 Library Challenge: A Book Set During Christmas”
One month to go!
As the year is winding down, this is just a friendly PSA that if you’ve been participating in our reading challenge this year and have or will have successfully completed 40 of the 48 challenges by the end of the year, you’ll need to present your scorecard in person at the Berryville Public Library by December 31st.
Here’s a link to a recap of the rules and a downloadable copy of the scorecard.
Personally, I still lack 4 categories. I have the books I need to read for them checked out. They stare at me reproachfully every night before I go to sleep, but I’ve managed to ignore them while I read other things. . . .
So, how’s your reading challenge coming along? If you’re not participating in the 2016 Library Challenge, how many books have you read this year? How many books are you planning on reading in December? Tell us in the comments!
Let’s be real. For many, the Pulitzer Prize is not a reading turn-on.
And I understand why. If contemporary literary fiction isn’t your thing, ploughing through some of the past winners may seem like real work.
But I like literary fiction and think many prize-winning books make for a good read, even if you aren’t living in an ivory tower. If nothing else, they always give you plenty to think about!
Don’t forget that Pulitzers are also awarded for nonfiction, history, and biography.
Ready to take the plunge? Here’s a few prize winners that may just draw you in…
Continue reading “2016 Library Challenge: A Pulitzer Prize Winner”
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK!
Worst thing I have ever read.
This book stinks!
Ever read any of these on an Amazon review? Ever intentionally sought out books with bad reviews? Now’s your chance since one of the challenges in the 2016 Library Challenge is to do just that – read a book with a bad review.
I must confess, this challenge probably amused me the most of any of the ones on this list when I first read it at the beginning of this year.
Because, really, how hard is it to find a book with bad reviews?
Continue reading “2016 Library Challenge: A Book with a Bad Review”
Don’t feel like you have the emotional energy to devote to an entire novel?
Still looking for something different but the nonfiction post from last week isn’t really your thing?
Try a short story collection!
Personally, I love a good short story. This may be a form of heresy to many readers, but if I had to pick between a good short story and a good novel, I’d pick the short story just about every time.
To that end, here are a few short story collections released in the last year or so!
Continue reading “2016 Library Challenge: A Book of Short Stories”
Ready to binge watch some TV shows now that the weather is (finally) turning cooler? Here are two great series you might have missed (I had before I received some excellent suggestions)!
Continue reading “Television Review: Endeavour (2014)/Fortitude (2014)”
Not in the mood for a novel but still want something to read?
Looking for a book that qualifies as “nonfiction” for the library challenge?
Love nonfiction but unsure of what’s been recently released?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then this post is for you!
Continue reading “2016 Library Challenge: A Nonfiction Book”
Berryville Book Buzz 