Book 5 down for the #NancyDrewBR - Bess & George are introduced in this book. My only frame of reference for Nancy Drew before starting on this buddy read is Jackie reading ND books to Kelso in That 70s Show and talking about Bess eating hot fudge sundaes all the time 😆. I didn‘t see any blatant fat shaming in this one but I read one of the updated versions. I enjoyed the setting of the ranch in Arizona with all of the cowboys. 3.5⭐️

I‘m a big fan of Anne of Green Gables and I found these adorable children‘s books to read to Jace.

💚 I Can Read Fearless Girls: Lucy Maud Montgomery 4⭐️
💚 Lit For Little Hands: Anne of Green Gables 5⭐️
💚 Anne‘s Red Hair 4⭐️

#AnneOfGreenGables
#childrensbooks
#LMMontgomery
#LMM

Cousin Kelly comes to visit the twins for Thanksgiving. She shows up a few days early & is very sad. Her parents are thinking about getting a divorce. So the twins take it upon themselves to cheer her up & take her mind off of things. I always enjoy when Kelly shows up and they act like triplets. Luckily her parents decide to stay together in the end. 4⭐️

#SweetValley
#SweetValleyKids
#SVK
#twins
#nostalgia

Book 19 in the Hamish Macbeth series is a really good one. I had a hard time putting this down yesterday. As always, I‘d highly recommend this series along with the Agatha Raisin series if you enjoy cozy mysteries. 4.5⭐️

#audiobook
#cozymystery
#HamishMacbeth

Book 18 of the Hamish Macbeth series down! I still miss the old narrator but I‘m slowly getting used to the new one. I enjoy this cozy series and all of the village drama. 4⭐️

#audiobook
#cozymystery
#HamishMacbeth
#Scotland

I chose Canadian Summer, the sequel to The Mitchells: Five For Victory for #foodandlit this month. The Mitchell family moves to Montreal from Washington, D.C. shortly after the end of WWII. There are 6 Mitchell children & they get up to all sorts of shenanigans. They befriend some of the French speaking locals & other interesting neighbors. These are sweet & cozy & I‘m looking forward to reading the next book in the series. 4⭐️🇨🇦

#Canada

This is another beautifully illustrated Canadian cookbook that showcases multiple different Canadian chefs. The recipe I most want to make is tartiflette au fromage (cheese tart). 4.5⭐️

#foodandlit
#Canada
#cookbook

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Here‘s another Canadian cookbook I chose for #foodandlit this month. Standout recipes that I want to try are toasted garlic soup 🤤 and wild rice and mushroom soup. There are also a ton of beautiful pictures of the Canadian countryside. 4⭐️

#Canada
#cookbook

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I chose this cookbook for #foodandlit this month. It was originally published in 1966 so there are no food pictures but there are a lot of authentic Canadian dishes that sound delicious. I might finally make scotch eggs which I‘ve been wanting to do for awhile. 3.5⭐️

#Canada
#cookbook

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I read the short essay Modern Fiction by Virginia Woolf for the #VirginiaBloomsberries - The only book of hers I‘ve read so far is Mrs. Dalloway, so I‘m looking forward to reading more of her books. This essay talks about modern writers versus the classics and how modern writers should focus on writing what they want versus what is expected of them.

Here‘s another great tribute to Canada that Jace and I read together. We learned about the Mounties, maple syrup and other Canadian goodies. 4⭐️

#foodandlit
#Canada
#childrensbooks

I wanted Jace to join me again for #foodandlit this month so I chose this adorable series. We learned about different provinces and territories in Canada, as well as a lot of cool animals. 4⭐️🇨🇦🍁

🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦🍁🇨🇦

#Canada
#childrensbooks

In this Halloween book, Lila throws a party for the whole class at a haunted house, which is actually a museum that rents the house out for parties. There‘s a ghost rumored to live there and all the kids scare themselves with every little weird noise. I wish I had a rich friend like Lila when I was growing up. 😆 4⭐️

#SweetValley
#SweetValleyKids
#SVK
#twins
#nostalgia
#Halloween

SVMS is putting together a time capsule to be opened in 25 years. Students are put onto teams of 4 to come up with 3 items which best represent the 1960s, when SVMS was founded. The winning team gets to have their photo put in the time capsule, along with the 3 items. Of course, Jess & the Unicorns want to win but Liz is placed on a team with her current pet project, George (would take too long to explain his story), & to the surprise of no one⬇️

I never read any of these Sweet Valley Kids books back in the day so I‘m really enjoying this read through. Jess & Liz have a slumber party while their parents are out of town & their great Aunt Helen is in charge. GA Helen is actually pretty cool & everyone has a fabulous time. Makes me miss being a kid. 4⭐️

#SweetValley
#SweetValleyKids
#SVK
#twins
#nostalgia

New student Ginny Lu Culpepper is a walking stereotype. She is from the Great Smoky Mountains & has a thick southern accent. Ellen takes an instant disliking to her & humiliates her whenever she gets the chance. Liz of course befriends her. What would we do without Saint Liz? 😆 She talks Ginny Lu into entering the Arts & Crafts fair at school & Ginny Lu ups and runs away because she thinks people are making fun of her. It all works out in the ⬇️

I‘ll give book 4 in the Nancy Drew series a soft pick. The first half was good with the usual brushes with death, shady characters & Nancy‘s doppelgänger. Once it got to the last 3rd of the book, it became a bit fantastical in my opinion. But overall, I‘m enjoying the cozy vibes of this series for the #NancyDrewBR and look forward to reading more. Hopefully I‘ll be caught up within the next month. 3⭐️

#NancyDrew
#buddyread

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying Jamaica Inn so far. I created a survey so I can better understand everyone‘s preferences moving forward and choosing the next book. As always, anybody else who wants to join is welcome! Please fill out the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MWWGX88

#HitchToScreen
#BuddyRead

I‘m glad we chose this for the first #HitchToScreen buddy read. This book has such a haunting atmosphere & I love her writing style. Mary is the main character but the moors themselves are a character & I love the gothic vibes. I‘m really looking forward to watching the movie. I‘ll be working on getting the reading schedule organized for the next year. I hope everyone is enjoying it so far! 5⭐️

#Hitchcock
#classics
#buddyread

To everyone‘s surprise, Jessica wins the 2nd grade spelling bee at school & gets to compete in the district spelling bee. She feels she is not smart enough & apparently everyone agrees because the whole class tries to convince her to do a twin switch on the big day & let Liz go in her place. But she surprises everyone & herself most of all when she does it all on her own. 4⭐️

#SweetValley
#SweetValleyKids
#SVK
#twins
#nostalgia

This is the 3rd book I‘ve read in the Addicted Animals parody series 😆 and I enjoyed it. Nothing will top Barking Bad in my opinion but I‘m a sucker for cats and I love the artwork. This series is great for a laugh. 3.5⭐️

#graphicnovel

I binge watched this show last week & loved it. This is one of the rare instances where I prefer the show to the book. But the book was still enjoyable & I liked the ending. 9 strangers go to a health resort called Tranquillum House. The eccentric owner has some very interesting ideas about therapy & hallucinogenic drugs. It‘s a good character study but perhaps a bit too long. 4⭐️

#audiobook

Poor Sarah lost her mother recently & her dad has a new fiancée, Annie. Annie is sweet as pie when dad is around but barely disguises her contempt when he isn‘t. But Sarah won‘t tell her dad. Dad has to go on a week-long business trip & asks Annie to stay with Sarah. Annie ditches her immediately but makes her swear not to tell dad. Sarah is terrified staying alone & barely gets any sleep. By the time the weekend rolls around, she‘s so exhausted⬇️

This book was published in 1945 & is the story of the Mitchell family. There are 5 Mitchell children who live with their mother & Grannie while their father & uncle are off fighting in the war. They get into all sorts of funny shenanigans with their club to help the war effort. A nice snapshot of American life during WWII. I‘m reading the sequel for #FoodAndLit - 4⭐️

#classics
#WWII
#historicalfiction

Thanks for the tags @Sace and @Eggs !

💛 Seeing Jace dressed up as Alvin for Halloween. I‘ve been a huge Chipmunks fan since I was a kid!
💛 Spending time with family at 2 fall festivals this week.
💛 Such a dumb thing, but finding this chickpea salad at BJ‘s. I used to eat these all the time and they stopped selling them at Publix 😪
💛Cuddles with my old man cat, Chipper 🐈‍⬛ 🐾
💛 It‘s November! My favorite time of the year 💛

#5JoysFriday

A friendly reminder that our #HitchToScreen buddy read of Jamaica Inn starts today! I‘m tagging those who have shown interest and anybody who wants to be added or taken off, let me know! You have 6 weeks to read the book & it is very casual. Just read & post a review when you‘re done & don‘t forget to tag me. I will also look into hosting some kind of watch party for the movie once we‘re finished. Happy reading!

Happy Halloween to my Litsy family! Love, Alvin A.K.A. Jace 🧡🖤🧡

#Halloween
#Jace
#AlvinAndTheChipmunks

Time for #ThreeListThursday presented by @dabbe !

Didn‘t do so great this week but there are a bunch on there that are on my TBR. My 3 faves are:
1. The Shining 🪓
2. Silence of the Lambs 🐑
3. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

https://www.listchallenges.com/litsy-time-magazines-100-best-mystery-and

#TLT

Jace and I only got one book in last night but it was a good one. I might be biased because I love cats but this is an adorable autumn themed book perfect for this time of year. 5⭐️

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#TBRread
#childrensbooks
#PeteTheCat

🍂🎃🍂🎃🍂🎃🍂🎃🍂🎃🍂🎃🍂🎃🍂🎃🍂

Time spent reading yesterday: 2 hours = 20 points x‘s 5 for 4 readathons = 100 points.

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#Spookoween
#Witchathon
#31by31
#ReadAway2024

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🧡Sweet
🖤Buy
🧡Ghost
🖤Owls
🧡Mummy
🖤ScaryMovieThon
🧡Hocus Pocus but I also adore Casper! 👻
🖤Potion
🧡Witch‘s brew 🕷️🚫😱
🖤Carve pumpkin
🧡Haunted House

#WondrousWednesday

Jess & Lila skip gym class to meet TV star Kent Kellerman. Liz takes off to warn them but only Jess & Lila get caught. As punishment they have to clean blackboards after school & have no after school activities for 2 weeks. This cramps Jess‘s style because she is the star basketball player & the championship game is coming up. She somehow convinces Liz to do a twin switch so she can play in the game. Saint Liz fesses up after Jess wins the ⬇️

Time spent reading yesterday: 3 hours 30 minutes = 35 points x‘s 5 for 4 readathons = 175 points.

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#31by31
#Spookoween
#Witchathon
#ReadAway2024

Book 3 down for the #NancyDrewBR ! I‘m actually really enjoying these. I find them relaxing and it‘s nice to get lost in Nancy‘s world and see just how many near-death experiences she can have in one book! 😆
4⭐️

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#spookyread
#cozymystery
#NancyDrew
#nostalgia

Reading with Jace:
1. Charlie The Cheerful Engine 4⭐️
2. Trevor 4⭐️
3. Thomas‘s ABCs 4⭐️
4. The Mischievous Twins 3⭐️
5. A Crack In The Track 3.5⭐️

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#ThomasTheTrain
#childrensbooks

50 points

Time spent reading yesterday: 6 hours 30 minutes = 65 points x‘s 5 for 4 readathons = 325 points.

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#31by31
#Spookoween
#Witchathon
#ReadAway2024

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I can‘t find this book in the system but this was a fun & spicy Halloween romance novella. Perfect for this time of year! 4⭐️

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#Halloween
#novella
#TBRread

🎃🍁🎃🍁🎃🍁🎃🍁🎃🍁🎃🍁🎃🍁🎃🍁🎃

Jess & Liz go for a 3-day joint stay at the hospital to have their tonsils out. Such a contrast to the way things are done today! Their stay is made more exciting by 2 contraband turtles that another kid has sneaked into the ward. The kids amuse themselves with turtle races. 4⭐️🐢🐢👯‍♀️

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#TBRread
#SweetValley
#SweetValleyKids
#SVK
#twins
#nostalgia

Well I got thoroughly sucked into this story for the #ChildrensClassicRead2024 ! I really enjoyed this and it has inspired me to read more books set in this time period (1600s). Thanks for organizing this @TheBookHippie ! 5⭐️

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#TBRread
#classics
#buddyread

Reading with Jace:
1. The Happy Pumpkin 4⭐️ (TBR)
2. The Itsy Bitsy Pumpkin 3.5⭐️ (TBR)
3. Arthur‘s Back To School Surprise 4⭐️ (Other)
4. Arthur‘s Homework 4⭐️ (Other)
5. Arthur‘s Teacher Moves In 4⭐️ (Other)

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#Halloween
#Arthur
#childrensbooks

80 points

I‘m really enjoying the tagged book for the #ChildrensClassicRead2024 and can tell already I‘m really going to like it. Time spent reading yesterday: 4 hours 30 minutes = 45 points x‘s 5 for 4 readathons = 225 points.

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#Witchathon
#Spookoween
#31by31
#ReadAway2024

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I‘m still trying to catch up for the #NancyDrewBR & just finished book 2. I really enjoyed this one. It wasn‘t quite as cheesy as the last one & the stakes were higher as poor Mr. Drew goes missing. I like Helen & the old ladies & the setting of the old colonial house with hidden staircases & passages. I do find it funny how quickly Nancy is able to get every bad guy to bend to her will & confess. 😆 This was fun! 4⭐️

The first SVT super edition is completely new to me. The 6th grade class goes on a field trip to The Enchanted Forest & after a bump on the head, Elizabeth finds herself sucked into a world full of fairy tale creatures. Don‘t know how I missed this one when I was a kid but it‘s very reminiscent of Alice falling through the looking glass & waking up in a strange world. 4⭐️

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#TBRread
#SweetValley
#SweetValleyTwins
#SVT

I don‘t read many romance books but I really enjoyed this one. Jeanie, the new owner of the Pumpkin Spice Cafe, has to adjust to the small town of Dream Harbor. She befriends Logan, a sexy farmer, who has abandonment issues because his last girlfriend publicly dumped him because she didn‘t want to live the small town life. They start falling for each other but are afraid of screwing it up. Cute, cozy, funny & sexy. 4⭐️

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub

Didn‘t get much reading in yesterday. 2 hours = 20 points x‘s 5 for 4 readathons = 100 points.

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#Spookoween
#Witchathon
#31by31
#ReadAway2024

Reading with Jace:
1. Scooby-Doo & The Ghastly Giant 4⭐️
2. Thomas & Friends: Right On Track 3⭐️
3. Today Is Halloween! 3⭐️
4. Arthur Lost In The Museum 4⭐️
5. Arthur In A Pickle 4⭐️
6. D.W.‘s Guide To Perfect Manners 4⭐️
7. Arthur‘s Nose 4⭐️
8. Arthur‘s Classroom Fib 4⭐️

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#childrensbooks

(2 spooky, 6 other = 100 points)

Time spent reading yesterday: 5 hours = 50 points x‘s 5 for 4 readathons = 250 points 🤓

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#31by31
#Witchathon
#Spookoween
#ReadAway2024

👻🎃👻🎃👻🎃👻🎃👻🎃👻🎃👻🎃👻🎃👻

This is a sweet story about a middle-aged woman who befriends 93-year-old Edward after the death of his beloved wife. They bond over delicious food & their friendship changes her life. Listening to this made me very hungry! Thanks for the recommendation @DebinHawaii ! 4⭐️

#HauntedShelf
#FrightClub
#audiobook
#foodie

The Wakefield family takes a family vacation at the lake. Jess is horrified at the idea of fishing and hangs out with Jilly, a girl their age staying in the cabin next door. After 2 days of hanging out with this insufferable girl, fishing sounds more & more appealing. She finally goes out on the boat on the last day of vacation & catches the biggest fish, bigger than anyone else has caught all weekend. So cute! 4⭐️

#SweetValley
#SweetValleyKids

SVMS has its very own bully! Big bad Dennis Cookman spends all his time bullying the entire 6th grade, beating up poor Jimmy Underwood & extorting money from Lila. Aaron, Ken, Jimmy, Liz & Amy come up with a plan to get back at him. Meanwhile, Grace wants to join the Unicorn Club & Jess tasks her with getting Dennis to join her for lunch as an initiation task. Luckily Grace saves the day in the end & saves Dennis‘ life when the Fearless Five‘s⬇️