Top Five Fantasy Comics (For People Who Don’t Read Comics)

April 7, 2015 by Caitlin

When asked the first thing that comes to mind when someone mentions comic books, I’d warrant a guess that many people think “superheroes.” You know the type – square jawed and muscular, super-human talents and tights. I mean, this association isn’t wrong, but it’s where many literature enthusiasts I know often draw the line between books and comics – the superhero thing just doesn’t do it for those who get swept up in fantasy and folklore. Good news, everyone – […]

Categories: Best Of • Tags: Bill Willingham, Bone, comic books, Fables, fantasy, folklore, graphic novels, Hellboy, Jeff Smith, Neil Gaiman, Sandman, wonder woman

Happy Galentine’s Day – Literature’s Best BFFs

February 13, 2015 by Ladies On The Shelf

Let’s all take a moment to thank Leslie Knope for a holiday ladies can all get behind – Galentine’s Day. Invented by Amy Poehler’s perky character on Parks and Rec, this holiday delights in one of our most favorite things: lady friends! Sure, maybe it’s fun to give your sweetie some flowers and candy, but come on, girlfriends are where it’s at, amirite? Ovaries before brovaries! So crack a bottle of bubbly with your favorite gal pals and take a […]

Categories: Best Of • Tags: anne of green gables, besties, bffs, children's literature, daughter of smoke and bone, fiction, gal pals, galentine's day, minnie and moo, young adult

Top Five Tools to Kick Start Your New Year’s Resolution Reading

January 6, 2015 by Caitlin

The book-lovin’ world is currently abuzz with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s latest New Year’s Resolution, “Read a new book every other week,” and his “A Year of Books” group page.  While I disagree that he’s “this generation’s Oprah” (mostly because I don’t like to be told what my age’s anything is supposed to be), I know he’s definitely not alone in the “read more books” resolution category, and appreciate the idea of this whole online book club, as anything that […]

Categories: Best Of • Tags: Book Clubs, Mark Zuckerberg, New Year's Resolutions, Read More Books, Reading Recommendations, top 5

Erin’s Christmas Wish List – Top 5 Books I need from 2014

December 15, 2014 by Erin

Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery Never mind that I already own three copies of Anne of Green Gables! It’s one of my favorite books ever, and this new edition with gorgeous cover art by Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co. would make a worthy addition to my collection. The other three titles in the “Puffin in Bloom” children’s classics series are also lovely. The Oldest Living Things in the World, Rachel Sussman Stunning photography of various trees and lichen […]

Categories: Best Of • Tags: anne of green gables, christmas, gregory maguire, margaret atwood, mary poppins, rachel sussman, top 5

Jessi’s Christmas Wish List-Top Five Books I Need From 2014

December 9, 2014 by Jessi

The Storied Life of A.J. Fiery, Gabrielle Zevin A grump, a bookstore, and a toddler that opens his heart. Well, this story sounds adorable. This sap may need a tissue box or two. My hope is that the characters are just as quirky and charming as I imagine they should be. Heroes of Olympus, Book Five: The Blood of Olympus, Rick Riordan Okay, you caught me! I own this book. I have been faithfully reading Rick Riordan’s series forever. However, there’s been a bit procrastinating with […]

Categories: Best Of • Tags: 2014 books, bj novak, books, caitlin moran, gabrielle zevin, heroes of olympus, rick riordan, top 5, wish list

Caitlin’s Christmas Wish List – Top 5 Books I need from 2014

December 4, 2014 by Caitlin

Yes, Please – Amy Poehler It’s fair to say that I have a pretty big crush on this perky blonde woman. Amy Poehler is delightful, hilarious and inspiring, and I expect nothing less than embarrassingly loud belly laughs. The Secret History of Wonder Woman – Jill Lepore Wondy just doesn’t get enough limelight, in this girl’s humble opinion. Where’s her movie?? I’ll have to settle for this tome, which delves into the fascinating feminist-y story of how my favorite super […]

Categories: Best Of • Tags: Amy Poehler, book lists, gift guide, Saga, top 5, wish list, wonder woman

Team Buttercup: The Great Cats of YA Fiction

November 22, 2014 by Erin

In honor of Buttercup Everdeen, that magnificent cat who had the balls to hiss at Katniss and the resilience to survive the District 12 firebombing – but, in true cat fashion, still can’t resist a good game of flashlight chase – I have here a list of my favorite kitty companions in young adult and children’s literature. These cats prove that the best sidekick to accompany a young character on his or her fictional journey is graceful, intelligent, tough, irritable, […]

Categories: Best Of • Tags: buttercup, crazy cat lady, Mockingjay, The Hunger Games, YA

“Call me Ishmael” and Other Favorite First Lines in Literature

November 14, 2014 by Erin

Happy birthday, Moby-Dick! On this day in 1851, Herman Melville’s classic novel was first published in the United States. Even if you’ve never read the book, odds are you’re still somewhat familiar with Captain Ahab’s maniacal hunt for the albino sperm whale that ate his leg. You’re probably also familiar with the first sentence, because it’s one of the most well known in the literature world: “Call me Ishmael.” That’s a damn fine opening, especially for a novel that otherwise […]

Categories: Best Of • Tags: famous first lines, herman melville, literature love, moby dick, top 5

Four YA Trilogy Conclusions to Look Forward to This Month

September 2, 2014 by Erin

September is here! And holy cow, is this a good month for fans of fantasy and paranormal young adult fiction. Over the next four weeks, four exciting trilogies are concluding and they’re sure to be awesome. And how wonderful is it to start a series knowing you won’t have to wait a year or more for the next installment to be published? So here you go, four brand new young adult trilogy closers to conclude your summer reading. Heir of […]

Categories: Best Of • Tags: fantasy, gothic, love triangles, paranormal, young adult