Book Review Thoughts: Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd

Book: Finding Wild by Megan Wagner Lloyd
Genre: Picture book
Rating:★★★★☆


I've rarely done a picture book review, mostly because I've been out of that genre forever and it's not often I have a chance or opportunity to read one these days! Most awesomely I'm getting back into that now that I have a baby girl in my life again, even if I won't get to see her much. I'll be on the look out!

The other day at book club one of  our members gave us copies of this picture book that her sister has written. And so here are my thoughts!

It's a lovely story about two kids who go on a walk and discover all the cool things that are wild out in the world.

It contrasts things in nature that are both tiny and soft and fragile and those that are prickly and itchy and stingy. It makes use of all the senses and really makes a case for all the things you can experience out on a walk.

But then there's the problem of nature and wild things in a city. Is it there? Yes, of course it is!

Bottom Line: Cute story with fun colorful pictures all about nature and how it's everywhere around us.

Other Reviews:

And hopefully it will make kids want to get off that couch and go play outside. From Alternate Readality

...a delightful gift for anyone with an affinity for determined city blossoms and wide, green spaces. From Book Page

Top Ten Tuesday: Non-Reading Summer Activities

I haven't done a Broke and Bookish Top Ten Tuesday prompt for awhile but the list today sounded fun so here I am joining in again.

Ten Summer Activities NOT Reading


1. Driving with the windows down and blasting music. If I had a convertible, I'd be SO all over that!!

2. Going on a trips, sometimes big ones, sometimes small ones, but there needs to be an escape of some sort going on!

3. Going to plays and concerts at the outdoor theater. We've been going on and off (mostly on) for the past 25 years. It's not summer without it.

4. Watching TV, catching up on all the things!

5. Going to movies, all the summer blockbusters. Back in the day we'd do the summer kid movies every week. That was fun.

6. We don't have a beach here. And I'm not much of a swimming person, but I feel like that idea of going to the pool should be included. It's a good idea, but it was always more of a pain for me than it was fun.

7. Project time! I think of summer (at least I used to) as the time to finally finish a big project, or start a new one, or learn something new. Basically to just jump in and do that thing that you've been putting off. Do it now!

8. Conventions! This will be my new thing I think. Summer is full of conventions and I'm addicted. This year it's not happening, but next year (in addiction to Comic Con which is usually spring and fall actually) I'd love to go to both Vidcon and Kcon at the very least.

9. It's sort of about reading, but different... but going to the library's summer reading program was always a part of our summer back in the day. I miss those days actually. They always have such fun activities and get the kids motivated to make and usually keep their reading goals. Loved it.

10. Sleeping in of course. While I still have to get up on work days, the non work days are truly about sleeping in. Usually. Or I wish they were.

What stuff do you do in the summer that doesn't include reading?

Sing Along Saturday: Summer Blasting

We're thinking about summer again over at the Sing Along Saturday meme hosted by Bookish Things and More. Here's the prompt:

Summer theme song – what song will you be blasting nonstop over the summer?

Okay, well, I'll be blasting kpop all summer, as I have done for the past six months. There is no end in sight. Everyday I'm discovering new songs to love. And while I can't think of ONE particular song that will define my summer (of course I can't!) I can think of a few that I KNOW I'll be blasting pretty much non-stop.

And since it's been awhile since I shared kpop here... (It HAS been awhile! I checked! It's been over a month, not counting the introduction of the kpop channel we started. That's A LOT of new songs I've been listening since then!)... I figured I was good to share more today in the ongoing effort to lure more friends to the fandom. Because man, we have fun over in this fandom!

Here we go.

Somehow this song has slipped under my radar and when I listened to it yesterday I was like...oh... I love this one! It will be on the blasting playlist for sure. It's called Silver Spoon by BTS:




One of our fellow kpop friends recently introduced us to this song (you can see our first reaction to it here) and since then we've been playing it non-stop. Yes, it will be on the blast list too. It's called Rocking by Teen Top:




And finally, one from my new favorite group (after Super Junior that is!) This is Eternity by VIXX, and I love love love it!


Just an example of what my summer music blast list will look (sound) like. At the end of the summer maybe I can choose just one that ended up as the theme song. Um. That will be interesting.

What songs will you be blasting this summer?

Book Review Thoughts: PS I Still Love You by Jenny Han

Book: PS I Still Love You by Jenny Han
Genre: YA contemporary
Rating:★★☆☆☆

I loved the first book in this series (is there more? I don't know.. maybe it's just the twosome?) and was dying to read this one. But, having done so, I'm a little disappointed.

In the first book (my review here) Lara Jean has to face the repercussions of her love letters being mailed. As part of that, she and Peter pretend to be a couple. And then they become a real couple.

In this one, they have to deal with a situation (they are videotaped making out) and an ex girlfriend (it appears Peter is a bit of a player and that of course makes Lara Jean worry when it comes his dealings with Gen.) So their relationship is a bit rocky. And then another boy that she (well not she, but her sister) sent a love letter to in the first book appears on the scene. And he is tempting.

So when she and Peter have issues, John is just RIGHT THERE!

Sigh.

I wanted to love it, but I was not as smitten as I was with the first one. It was more about sex than it was about relationships. I'm getting sick of this theme. And in the end, I was over Peter and kinda sorta wanted John to make a bigger splash than he did. But having said that. Lara Jean had all her issues to sort out too, so maybe John needed/deserved someone with a few less issues.

It did redeem itself in the end with much being said about sisters and how they are pretty much your best friends. And I love their dad relationship too. Also, I appreciated the nod to Korean culture this time around much better than I did in the first book. Imagine that!

Bottom Line: Fans of the first book will enjoy it, but it was really nothing to rave about.

Other Reviews:

Final Thoughts: Jenny Han captures contemporary romance perfect - the highs and lows combined with drama, friendship, and family. If you haven't read this yet, what are you waiting for? From YA Book Nerd

It’s a book that will make you smile and think, and if you’re like and your high school years are behind you, it will give you wistful remembrance of the confusion of first love. From Ex Libris

I can’t say it blew me away as much as the first book. Nonetheless, it is still an enjoyable read, From Muggle Born

Jenny Han is the true queen of the love triangle. You say you hate love triangles? Well, read one of hers. From Alternate Readality

Thirty Days of Books: Last Prompts!

With this post, the 30 days of books wraps up! I did it a bit randomly but I did address every prompt! What fun! And now... what will I blog about? Anyway, here's the final three prompts. Be sure to check out Jenni's blog for other responses!


Favorite title:

This one was hard for me. Most titles are pretty straight forward and nothing really that special. I scrolled through my Goodreads READ list to see what jumped out. And finally, I came to this one. I remembered that my son got this for me for Mother's Day that year and had to go to the bookstore and ask for it. "Yeah, I want a book for my mom called I Don't Want to Kill You." Awkward.

A book everyone hated but you liked:

Here's on that I'm pretty sure the whole world hates, and yet, it rips my heart and for some reason... I love that!

Your favorite book of all time:

This one as already been addressed by another prompt, but here we go again! Seriously kids... the best book ever.

And with that, we end a lovely month of bookish prompts! Thanks Jenni for the fun time!

Thirty Days of Books: Surprises and Opinions

A Character That I Relate to Most

I feel like I can relate a lot to Elinor from Sense and Sensibility. I took one of those quiz things one time and it agreed.

A Book That Changed My Opinion About Something:

I can never think of a book to answer this one. I'm sure the book exists, but it just doesn't stand out! Anyway, I decided to be (a wee bit) snarky and go with this book. Because, even though I love horses, I don't usually find them fascinating or books about them fascinating... and this book changed that idea completely around!

The Most Surprising Plot Twist or Ending:

The one that comes to mind every time this question comes up is:

Just thinking about it makes me crazy still.

The 30 days are almost move! Check out other responses at Jenni's blog!

Kdrama Review: Dramaworld

Drama: Dramaworld

Genre: Spoof
Starring: Sean Dulake, Liv Hewson
Rating: ❤ ❤ ❤

So someone here in the States had the brilliant idea to make a funny drama based on being addicted to dramas. The main girl is American and can barely function due to her addiction to Korean dramas... working while watching on her phone and etc.

Then one day she falls and is whisked into Dramaworld... a place that exists only to make sure Kdramas keep on happening! Something is amiss in this particular drama and it's now her job to make sure the main leads fall in love just like they are supposed to. If they don't, then all is lost and Dramaworld will be no more!

There's a list of rules about getting involved in the workings of a drama and of course, she proceeds to break them all.

It's a great ride, a simple story, crazy silliness and lots of fun. Meant mostly for drama addicts as there are so many inside jokes and and fitting every kdrama trope in and such. Also many cameo appearances by drama actors such as our favorite: Siwon (which literally lasts only seconds!):






This one is a breeze to watch as there are only ten episodes and each one is only 10 to 15 minutes long, if even that. They are talking both English and Korean (as you'll see from that above clip) which is a bit trippy.

Bottom Line: I found it fun, but in the end, I was a bit disappointed by it and expected it to be even more over the top silly and funny.



Here's the trailer: