Today I thought I would offer you a peek into my daughter's and my current read, Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life (Dork Diaries #1) by Rachel Renée Russell. Mouse has actually read this one before on her own, but she wanted to read it with me this time around. It is really cute, and we are enjoying it--laughing out loud in spots and commiserating with Nikki in others. Mouse has been good about not giving away spoilers--mostly anyway.
Meet Nikki Maxwell! She's starting eighth grade at a new school—and her very first diary packed with hilarious stories and art in Book One of the #1 New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries series!New school. New mean girl. New crush. New diary so I can spill about all of it…I put a lot of really personal stuff in this diary along with my sketches and doodles.But, mostly it’s about how TRAUMATIC it was transferring to my new private middle school, Westchester Country Day.And, how a lot of the CCP (Cool, Cute & Popular) kids were really SNOBBY and made my life TOTALLY miserable. People like, oh, I don’t know, maybe…MACKENZIE HOLLISTER!!And, it just so happened that I got stuck with a locker right next to hers. I could NOT believe I had such CRAPPY luck. I knew right then and there it was going to be a VERY, VERY long school year :-( ! [Goodreads Summary]
A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.
Sometimes I wonder if my mom is BRAIN DEAD. Then there are days when I know she is.
My initial thoughts: Oh uh. What was I getting myself into? Just kidding. I knew right away this was going to be a funny book. But I can maybe relate to the mother more than I want to admit...
A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.
IF I SEE ANOTHER BOOK, I'M GOING TO PUKE!! [from page 56 of Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life]
Have you read the Dork Diaries? Does this sound like something you would enjoy?
With the holidays here, I know many of us are scrambling to buy or make Christmas presents for friends and family. All my shopping (I hope) is complete. Today I thought I would share five bookish items I would enjoy finding under my Christmas tree.
1. What better present to give someone than a homemade gift, while at the same time supporting a book blogging friend? Iliana of Bookgirl's Nightstand has her own Etsy shop (Bookgirl's Studio), where she sells, among other things, the most beautiful journals. It's obvious she puts a lot of care and love into making them. I have bought a few of her journals in the past as gifts and for personal use. They are nice and compact. I nearly purchased one for myself the last time I visited her shop, but resigned myself to sticking to the task at hand--shopping for others. My daughter will find one in her stocking this year. I just know she'll love it! If I did find one under my tree, however, I was thinking it might make a nice poetry journal . . .
2. This year on Facebook I discovered Maria aka Squishedinabook via a book group. I did not hesitate to follow her Squishedinabook Facebook Page where she posts photos of bookmarks she paints and sells at her Etsy shop Squished in a Book. I may not have a talent for art such as painting or drawing, but I can appreciate others' work. In trying to come up with stocking stuffer ideas this year for the adults and child in my life, I decided bookmarks would be the perfect addition. Everyone on my stocking list reads, and so I know they won't go to waste. Maria's are beautiful. One in particular melted my heart immediately, but I cannot share or else spoil it for the receiver. One can never have enough bookmarks, and finding one of Maria's under my tree would be such a treat.
3. If you ask my husband, he will say the last thing I need is another tote. But doesn't this one featuring a cat and books fit me so well? (Found at the Literary Lodge)
4. Or what about bookish jewelry? This one may turn off the book purist, but keep in mind that not all books find homes, or, as they get older, they begin to fall part. Recycling the pages into some sort of artform only prolongs the life of the book's essence and keeps them from ending up in the trash. Not to mention means something special to the owner. I found a lot of book themed jewelry I would not mind having on Etsy, but this one in particular stood out to me. With an option between Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, I would pick Jane Eyre in a heart beat. (Found at Gilli's Flowers)
5. One of my dream gifts would be a monthly or quarterly book subscription box. I used to subscribe to My Lit Box which unfortunately was discontinued. The book selections centered around books by authors of color. I loved each and every box I received. I am really not in a position to subscribe to another book box, but if I could, I would love to sign up for something similar. There are so many different book subscription box options out there! I would be happy with any of them. These are a few that interested me at first glance (Okay, so maybe I got carried away in my research):
Indiespensible (associated with Powell's Books)
Sample of the Premium Authentic Book Subscription Box
What bookish items would you like to find under your tree this year?
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!
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I've not read Dork Diaries but it sounds really fun! I think I'm a bit older than the target age group, but I'll keep it in mind if I have to make sudden book reccs for younger kids!
ReplyDeleteEustacia - Dork Diaries is fun. It's considered a middle grade, so mostly for a younger audience, but good for any age. :-) Thank you for visiting!
DeleteI think it's amazing you're reading together with your daughter! Some of my favourite childhood memories are about reading with my parents! Also, all your literary Christmas presents look like so much fun, I definitely wouldn't mind finding any of those under my tree. Do drop by <a href="http://universeinwords.blogspot.com/2020/12/friday-friyay-deborah-harkness.html>my post</a> if you have the time and I hope you have a lovely weekend :) Juli @ A Universe in Words
ReplyDeleteJuli - We enjoy reading together. :-) Sometimes it is the only way I can get her to read . . . but anything to see her excited about reading.
DeleteI had way too much fun looking at bookish gifts I might like for this post. :-)
Thank you for stopping by!
Pretty funny line from 56. I can remember feeling that way in the 70s. Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteEd - I thought it was funny too. I hope you had a good weekend too. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteCute illustrations and excerpts! Thanks for sharing...and here's mine: “THE LIES YOU TOLD”
ReplyDeleteLaurel-Rain - Thank you!
DeleteSounds like a fun read! Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteFreda - It is! Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteFirst of all, hearty congratulations on being done with your shopping. Love your wish list, too. You have some great suggestions.
ReplyDeleteAs for the book, I'm afraid my family is all boys (even the cats), so they prefer that the cartoon-illustrated diary seires with the male protagonist. Ah well...
Roberta - Thank you! I try to get most of it done before Thanksgiving in a regular year in case I need to mail any packages, so it isn't too unusual. This year I had the added motivation of wanting to make sure I could get everything I needed unless there were shortages or shutdowns too.
DeleteSounds like your boys might enjoy The Diaries of a Wimpy Kid. :-)
Thank you for visiting!
Oh what fantastic ideas for bookish gifts for the book lover. Every single one of them are fantastic. We don't have subscriptions to book boxes here in NZ and would be too expensive for me to join an overseas one but love the idea of it.
ReplyDeleteKathryn - I can only imagine how much more expensive a subscription box would be going overseas. They already are out of my price range. We can dream, right? Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteA humorous book sounds pretty good right now. I'm reading a thriller and it's taking me all week.
ReplyDeleteHelen - I seem to do better with humor right now. I think it's because of everything going on. Thank you for visiting!
DeleteI bet this is a super fun book to read with your daughter. My Friday Quotes from The Blind Assassin
ReplyDeleteAnne - It is! It's good to hear her laughing--there isn't enough of that these days. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteReading with Mouse is the best way to make memories and to create a lifetime reader!
ReplyDeleteJenclair - I hope so! :-) Thank you for visiting!
DeleteBookish jewelry is always fun and those earrings are really cute.
ReplyDeleteMary - I really like those earrings. Thank you for stopping by!
DeleteThis sounds like such a fun read! It's so sweet that your daughter wanted read it with you. I cherish memories of me and my mom reading together. :)
ReplyDeleteAshley - I am glad to hear that. I hope my daughter will look back on our reading days and it will make her smile. :-) Thank you for visiting!
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