Tag Archives: fantasy

A Colorful World of Books

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150407_eye_jbclose1-crop-original-original - EditedBeyond the swirls, patterns, and mandalas of the the typical grown-up coloring books, there is a whole story-filled world of unique artistic creations. These favorites of mine tell stories; either within a single picture, through tradition and history, or mysteriously through each unraveling page. I love coloring and I do like the mandalas, but now that I have discovered the wonders beyond that, I am hooked.

Here are my favorite book-coloring experiences to date.

I love this book, the illustrations are incredibly beautiful. It was so fun to explore and imagine the stories behind each image. I love the variety within the pages and the dual copies. Each new page was different and unique and I had so much fun making them my own.

After Enchanted I was hooked on Selina Fenech’s art work.
So now I cannot wait to get Mermaids and start exploring and
beautifying the pages more. 

I love rich texture and culture of Celtic art and symbols. This book will be a fun and beautiful way to explore them more. 

I wouldn’t say I am a die-hard Steampunk fan, but I do like it, and this book is so crazy awesome. I cannot wait to start it.

Another by Creative Haven but a different artist.
The preview of this one is stunning. I love the mixture of pattern/graphic flow with the organic faces. They are all so pretty and the variety and mixture is really interesting.

Owls by Creative Haven is also beautiful.

The_Time Garden will sweep you away into a whimsical cuckoo clock–inspired world, created in intricate pen and ink by the internationally best-selling Korean artist Daria Song. Then, explore the magical world outside the clock through the eyes of a fairy in the sequel;
The Time Chamber: A Magical Story and Coloring Book.

I am really impressed with this line of books, the detail is astounding.
I also love that there is a story and a mystery withing the pages.
There are many others by Johanna Basford that I love as well,
this on is just my favorite.

Here is a link to 2 others that I really like Lost Ocean and Secret Garden.

I saved this one for last, because I am SO excited for it!
I have it on pre-order now, due to come out May 17th.
Beauty and The Beast is my all time favorite tale, and based on the preview of this book; the art and designs are absolutely gorgeous.
Now I just have to wait 😦

There are also Alice and Wonderland and Snow Queen books by the same artist and they look fantastic as well.

If you are a stress coloring fan like me, what books do you love?

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The Most-Fun Libraries Pt. I

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books-are-beautiful - EditedHere are some of the most fun filled libraries from all over.
These awe inspiring libraries will bring out the kid in anyone:

ImaginOn
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It’s a Library, a Children’s Theatre and so much MORE!

ImaginOn hosts the Spangler Children’s Library; the Teen Loft, a library for the teens of Mecklenburg County; Time Warner Tech Central; the Story Lab, a collection of interactive multimedia workstations exploring the arts of narrative; Studio I, an audio/video recording and animation studio; the Hugh McColl Family Theater; and the Wells Fargo Playhouse, as well as administrative offices for the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte and library staff.

Southfield Public Library
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Brentwood Library
tumblr_mmk67lMLFH1s7a0b4o6_1280.jpgThis library is exquisitely detailed and loaded with imagination and fun. The children’s section features a beautiful and inviting entrance adorned in over-sized books and a life-sized storybook tree.
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An animatronic owl greets visitors when it
is triggered by a motion sensor.
Inside the kid’s section, the walls are covered in paintings of fairy-tale forests and between the rows of books are charming artificial trees.

The second Friday of each month they hold LEGO Mania time and summer reading programs which feature musicians, puppets, magicians, live animals and more. During the school year, they have an after-school program that includes snacks, crafts, games and books.

Public Library of Cincinnati
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puppet-theatre.jpgThe library’s Children’s Learning Center encourages children to read in a number of fun and unique ways. They have programs for children to read to dogs, let books be taken outside for outdoor reading, teach art classes, present theater programs and have a children’s book club that allows kids to collect rewards for reading.
fb_thumb_563b47e39253f__700The library itself has a beautiful saltwater aquarium, tons of computer learning stations equipped with educational software and a 9,200 square-foot children’s garden.

They even offer teen programs that include after-hours activity nights, gaming tournaments and homework help for those who need it.
teenspot-downtown-library-cincinnatiIn any given year, the library offers over 1,000 kid’s programs that are attended by over 26,000 children and teens.

Vancouver Community Library
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The flooring of the children’s area features bright colored lights throughout the space. For kids under 5, the Early Learning Center is a fantastic playground that encourages exploring and learning. For those who are a little older, the kid’s area offers a space fitted with comfy seating, LEGO building areas and game-play tables.

They even offer their own Minecraft server. For teens, programs include job seeking courses, trivia nights, teen writing contests and a hangout space that includes video games and more.

Stay tuned for even more fun coming up in Part II.

Fantasy Friday

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I am a big fan of Fantasy Fiction but I am also very particular and picky about which books and series I choose to read, and eventually which books I like.


Here are the top 2 Fantasy Fiction books on my TBR:

outlander1.jpg
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 

I have nearly started this series SO many times, and I keep kicking myself for still not having started it. I have wanted to read it for so long, and have extremely high hopes for it, I just hope that I will love it as much as I anticipate.

 

 


Outlander is a New York Times bestseller, and has earned the praise of critics and captured the hearts of millions of fans. The story introduces two great characters, Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser, in a spellbinding novel of passion and history that combines exhilarating adventure with a love story for the ages.

Rated 4.6 on amazon.com

Graceling_cover.png
Graceling by Kristin Cashore

This book was recommended to me by a fellow blogger, and once I checked it out, it quickly made it to my list of books to read.
Another best seller and award winner.

 

 

 

Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable yet strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. She is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace.

Rated 4.3 on amazon.com

Have you read either of these books, what did you think? No spoilers please 😉

 

Piraté Au Lait

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tumblr_nz4nkwdles1tuqkmto1_1280 (1) - Edited (1)
images (1)I’m feeling the Swashbuckler love this morning. Maybe it’s the Cuban coffee, or maybe it be the weather, but my love for all things piratey sounds!

Here are some buccaneer books and a black jack brew
to get you on board:

Treasure Island
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Starting with a classic. This tale is packed with memorable characters, pirates, a deserted island, and of course buried treasure! This is a new illustrated edition; award-winning artist Robert Ingpen has a beautifully captured Robert Louis Stevenson’s beloved novel. The book features over 70 awe inspiring pictures.

Rated 4.4 on amazon.com

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
by Avi
I read this book when I was younger but I remember loving it. It is definitely one of the books that sparked my love of novels. It was a thoroughly engrossing tale of a young girls arduous sea journey among a ship full of unsavory sailors. It’s a great story were prim and proper Charlotte changes to a swashbuckling mate of a mutinous crew, and is even accused of murder.

Rated 4.4 on amazon.com

The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure
by William Goldman
This is one of my favorite stories of all time! You will not find another book so full of adventure, humor, romance, action, and camaraderie. Well, you might, but please share it with me because I’ve yet to find a book equal to the balance and brilliance of “The Princess Bride.” You will find these pages rich in character and satire.

Rated 4.4 on amazon.com

Yo ho, Avast ye! Let’s take a brief intermission and enjoy some treasure; a steaming cup of Buccaneer worthy Coffee!tumblr_nz4nkwDlES1tuqkmto1_1280

Book Bean: Piraté Au Lait
Get out your best stein. Pour in rum, coffee liqueur, and a glob of buttered rum. Fill 3/4 the way full with hot coffee/espresso. Top it off with warm and slightly whipped (or steam frothed) cream and cinnamon. 
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Blimey! That’s good!

Peter Pan and Wendy
 by J.M. Barrie
This montage would not be complete without the famous Captain James Hook and mermaids of Neverland! The book I have pictured here is the Centenary Edition (Sterling Illustrated Classics.) This timeless tale never grows up, it is magical and captivating. Reading it is charming and will remind you of childhood fun and joy. There is always time for an adventure!

Rated 4.5 on amazon.com

 
Neverland
by Anna Katmore
I had to include a tbr in my little book array and this one looks inviting. An adaptation of the classic “Peter Pan.” It looks like a compelling book full of fun and adventured but geared a bit more to grown-ups. Angelina McFarland loves reading fairytales. But she never dreamed of falling right into one herself. That’s exactly what happens when she slips on her balcony and a flying Peter Pan catches her mid-fall. Ending up in Neverland where no one seems to age and laws of nature are out of control

Rated 4.5 on amazon.com

Lost Ocean: An Inky Adventure
and Coloring Book
by Johanna Basford
I thought I’d change it up a bit and add a touch of fun. These coloring books are SO beautiful and so fun to dive into. They are not only full of stunning pictures with intricate detail, they also have a bit of a game to them. It is an enchanting way to unwind, and this one in particular will blow you down!

Rated 4.5 on amazon.com

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Well shiver me timbers that was fun!

What piratey tales do you love
and/or want to read?

The Strange and Beautiful

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Have you ever read a book that was super strange, and yet oddly moving? Well I have, plenty in fact. These books speak to a deeper side of our psyche, the side that is there lurking beneath the surface (well, for some.)

Here are some of The Strange and Beautiful books I’ve encountered:

(click any picture or title for more info.)
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
What better book to start with than Lewis Carroll’s strange and delightful story of Alice; who has some rather interesting adventures in Wonderland. This story is like a quirky silly bizarro dream. It is witty and charming, and full of intriguing characters to love. It may be a bit of an oddball, but it is beautiful!

“Have I gone mad?     I’m afraid so, but let me tell you something, the best people usually are.”
 
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Rated: 4.3 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Rose Tea
Steeped with cream and sugar to taste. 

 
Out of the Silent Planet
Another of C.S. Lewis’ treasures that I love. This book is so wonderfully strange. It is futuristic and prophetic, and thick with symbolism. There is a surreal ethereal like vibe to the story, that is captivating. I really enjoyed this book because well, it’s just so odd but so beautiful. As abstract as the book is, I felt it was very relate-able.

“The love of knowledge is a kind of madness.”

 

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Rated: 4.5 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Cocomallow Steamer
Coconut milk concentrate and milk (to taste) heated and added to a blender, add a dab of cream marshmallow, blend til thick n’ frothy. MMM…

 

House of Leaves
The presentation of this book is bold and odd and crazy, and completely non-conventional. However, it somehow  works. Mark Z. Danielewski writes beautifully and with a daring one of a kind concept. It’s so interesting to read about how this book came to be in the world.

“We all create stories to protect ourselves.”

NF6zoQho-2400-2920 Rated: 4.0 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Flat White
Use whole milk for your foam and pour over 2 ristretto (short) shots. Perfect blend, not to strong and not too creamy.
Green Eggs and Ham
Well it most certainly is an oddball story. Green eggs..? It’s silly and random and full of rhyme. There is so much to love! Dr. Seuss’ unique characters are so odd and weird, but so natural somehow… I love the poetic playfulness he weaves into his books so gently and generously, it’s beautiful.

“You do no like them, so you say. Try them! Try them! And you may!

downloadRated: 4.8 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Matcha Latte
Matcha is a powder made from finely grinding green tea leaves. Make a latte as you would usually but with the powder in place of your shots. It’s mild earthy flavor is lovely, and well, green. 🙂

Flowers For Algernon
This book truly is a beautiful story. I loved it so much. It’s unique writing style takes a bit to get used to, but in the end you realize the power in it. The perspective and feeling that the story generates is phenomenal. It’s interesting and fascinating, sad and brilliant.

“I am afraid. Not of life, or death, or nothingness, but of wasting it as if I had never been.”

images (1)Rated: 4.6 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Caramel Hot Cocoa
Chocolate and steamed milk drizzled with rich caramel. Toss in some marshmallows if you desire.

 

The Neverending Story
This book is strange and magnificent, and full of magic. It is well written and has a great story line. Once again a book with a timeless aura. It is filled with superb characters, and interesting twists and turns. I love the beauty tangled in-between it’s pages. This is the book that you want to find a place hidden away from it all, and let it read you.

“Everything must be equal in your eyes, good and evil, beautiful and ugly, foolish and wise.”

download (1)Rated: 4.7 on amazon.com
Book Bean: Maple Mocha
Stir together espresso, candied maple cubes, chocolate, and steamed milk. Top with whip,  chocolate drizzle, and maple crumbles (if you fancy.)

 

You know what book  I wanted to put on this? You guessed it “The Gargoyle,” but I didn’t, aren’t you proud? There are books I imagine could make it on, but I haven’t finished them yet “Midnight in The Garden of Good and Evil” and “What Dreams May Come,” maybe even Dante’s “Inferno” (I know, another shamefully unread classic.)

Have you read any of these books? What are your thoughts?

Tell about any books you’ve read that are Strange yet Beautiful.

Fantasy Friday

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69

4948fbb616b0b80febbd3302f5db437d - Edited.jpg
I am a big fan of Fantasy Fiction but I am also very particular and picky about which books and series I choose to read, and eventually which books I like.


Here are the top 2 Fantasy Fiction books on my TBR:

outlander1.jpg
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 

I have nearly started this series SO many times, and I keep kicking myself for still not having started it. I have wanted to read it for so long, and have extremely high hopes for it, I just hope that I will love it as much as I anticipate.

 

 


Outlander is a New York Times bestseller, and has earned the praise of critics and captured the hearts of millions of fans. The story introduces two great characters, Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser, in a spellbinding novel of passion and history that combines exhilarating adventure with a love story for the ages.

Rated 4.6 on amazon.com

Graceling_cover.png
Graceling by Kristin Cashore

This book was recommended to me by a fellow blogger, and once I checked it out, it quickly made it to my list of books to read.
Another best seller and award winner.

 

 

 

Graceling tells the story of the vulnerable yet strong Katsa, a smart, beautiful teenager who lives in a world where selected people are given a Grace, a special talent that can be anything from dancing to swimming. Katsa’s is killing. She is forced to use her extreme skills as his thug. Along the way, Katsa must learn to decipher the true nature of her Grace.

Rated 4.3 on amazon.com

Have you read either of these books, what did you think? No spoilers please 😉