52 Weeks Of Gratitude Journal Review

 

Title: 52 Weeks Of Gratitude

Author: Ink and Willow Publishing

Genre: Nonfiction, Journal, Spiritual, Gratitude.

Plot: If we have ever needed a guided journal to focus on gratitude, 2020 is the year for it. This journal is a hardcover with a gorgeous design and it id divided into sections inside. Each section, Home, Community, Faith, and Beauty cover the different areas of our lives that we can find gratitude in. Each themed week has a Bible verse, a paragraph to reflect on, a section to journal, and a tip to build gratitude into your daily life. At the back of the journal is a daily gratitude list for the entire year where you write down one thing a day you are grateful for.

All in all, a very elegant and simple journal with a straightforward layout and goal in mind.

Likes/Dislikes: The paper is nice, very smooth and just the right thickness. Some of the reflections might be harder than others but over all, this is a good journal to create and build the habit of gratitude. I quite like it, especially the daily list at the end.

Rating: G-all ages, geared more for adults though.

Date Reviewed: November 14th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publishers for my honest opinion and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

To Read Or Not To Read Journal Book Review

 
Title: To Read Or Not To Read

Author: Ink and Willow Publishing

Genre: Nonfiction, Journal, Literary, Books, Interactive, Lists.

Plot: Every book-dragon and serious reader know that keeping track of the books you've read is a daunting task. Throw in keeping track of the books you want to read and you're pretty much guaranteed to be buried under piles and piles of unsorted books. This is when a journal such as To Read Or Not To Read comes in very, very handy. This journal is designed with book lovers in mind.

Beginning with the table of contents, there are blank spaces to write in the titles of the titles you review for easy future reference. Each page has a space for the book's title, year published, your rating, notes, your review, your final thoughts, why you read the book, and what impact it had on you. Furthermore, there are lists of books such as BBC Top 100 Reads to check off which titles you've read and introduce you to new favorite reads. There is a blank list in the back to list your own to be read titles, and a How Bookish Are You quiz. For a final treat, there are Author Spotlight sections on Flannery O'Connor, Shusaku Endo, Frederick Douglass, Dorothy Sayers, Richard Twiss, and Justo L. Gonzalez.

Likes/Dislikes: This is the first bookish journal I have (shocking, I know) and I absolutely love it! The paper is thick and smooth, the layout of each section is gorgeous and easy on the eyes, and the whole thing makes me excited about reading and discovering new books. I think it is an extra perk that the cover is blue which is my favorite color. All in all, this journal is highly recommended and should be at the top of every book lover's holiday wish list this season.

Rating: G-all ages, geared more toward teens and adults.

Date Reviewed: November 14th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publishers for my honest opinion and wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

She Believed Book Review

Title: She Believed

Author: Jean Fischer

Genre: Children, Nonfiction, Inspirational, Biography, Christian.

Plot: Girls today need strong feminine role models to look up to and this collection of twelve stories provides girls with twelve historic women to admire and look up to.

Written in short concise entries, girls are introduced to Gladys Aylward, Clara Barton, Catherine Booth, Amy Carmichael, Fanny Crosby, Florence Nightingale, Edith Schaeffer, Mary Slessor, Corrie Ten Boom, Mother Teresa, Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman.

Each entry is beautifully illustrated and accompanied by a Bible verse that helps to anchor the story in the Word of God for readers.

Likes/Dislikes: I really enjoyed this little book. The stories are short, concise and to the point without being overly long. I read it to my three girls who are 6, 3 and 18 months. The baby lost interest when she wasn't allowed to eat the book or rip out the pages but the older two listened to the stories and seemed interested. I feel like it is missing the story of Joan of Arc though which was a story I always grew up with as a girl and which mine would adore because swords are popular in my house right now. All in all, I liked it.

Rating: PG-all ages

Date Reviewed: February 27th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of the publishers for my honest opinion. I wasn't required to write a positive review and the opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

This Is How You Lose The Time War Book Review

Title: This Is How You Lose The Time War

Author: Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone

Genre: Fiction, Science Fiction, Romance, Time.

Plot: The Time War is slowly and meticulously waged in the tiny moments of each day, stretching years into the distance. A small tweak here, a snip there and the ripple effect takes over. Each side is convinced that they will win in the end and only Time will tell if that claim is true.

Red is the best at what she does. She was built for this war, in many ways, but she is more than her design. She is thorough and does a good job. Commandant is pleased. But one day she finds a letter in the rubble and unknowingly sets off on a path that will burn across the threads of Time itself.

Blue is also the best at what she does. She was grown by Garden and lovingly cultivated at arms' length to be the best. She matches Red stride for stride and taunts her with her words spanning across the echoing distance.

Each is convinced that they will win the war, but who will lose it?

Likes/Dislikes: This book was amazing! It was shorter than I expected it to be (novella length) and so breathtakingly gorgeous that I read it in one day and haven't fully recovered. I told my husband he has to read it and buy me a copy for my personal library. I liked both protagonists which rarely happens. I loved everything about this story! Trust me, you have to go read it!

Rating: PG-16 and up, mainly for reading level and content (some talk of sex but in the same vein as eating or sleeping).

Date Reviewed: February 6th, 2020

Snug Book Review

Title: Snug

Author: Catana Chetwynd

Genre: Nonfiction, Comic, Graphic Novel, Romance, Humor.

Plot: Snug is a special word that accurately describes that comfortable feeling you only find in loving long-term relationships. And this book, Snug, is a celebration of that word and those feelings and those long-term relationships we are so comfortable in.

Catana and her bearded John are comfortable, loving and in a steady long-term relationship with spots of humor and fun to keep things perky and interesting. These calming black and white illustrations show life at its fullest with just the right amount of reality for spice.

Likes/Dislikes: My sister and I both follow Catana Comics online and like to send each other our favorite snippets. Now I have to find the books and send them to her. This is the second Catana book and I really enjoyed it. Some of the comics were my favorites I have already read and some were new to me. I would've liked more original pieces but I think that is just because I want more Catana and John doing cute things together.

Rating: G-12 and up.

Date Reviewed: January 25th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion and I wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.

That Can Be Arranged Book Review

Title: That Can Be Arranged

Author: Huda Fahmy

Genre: Nonfiction, Comic, Humor, Romance.

Plot: Huda Fahmy is the author of the popular web comic, Yes, I'm Hot In This which humorously talks about her day to day life as a traditional Muslim woman in today's modern world. Her debut book features all new content and tells the often-hilarious story of how she met and married her husband, Gehad.

Divided into easily managed sections, this book tells us about Huda's early days of crushes and searching for a suitable suitor while swamped in Jane Austen's famous novels. Eventually, she beats the naysayers in her life and does find her dream man.

Likes/Dislikes: I would like to note that I personally am not Muslim but I love reading about Huda's adventures. I have learned so much about her culture and strongly encourage everyone to check her out when you get a chance. I don't usually read a lot of graphic novels so I'm very picky when I decide to read one and I'm glad I read this one. My one real complaint is that it was too short. I really wanted to keep reading and learn more about Huda, Gehad and their baby, their daily life and what other books she's become obsessed with over the years. Maybe there will be a sequel. I really liked that it was original content and not just her popular posts printed up. My favorite bits were the interludes as her empty coffee cup pile grew as she told the story.

Rating: G-all ages but mostly 14 and up.

Date Reviewed: January 25th, 2020

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley for my honest opinion and I wasn't required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in the above review are my own.