An ambitious pile this month but I also have a week off..
👮🏼‍♀️ I need to finish The Hate U Give.
🦞 My book club is reading Where the Crawdads Sing.
🐉 The illustrated version of HP & the Goblet of Fire is out on Tuesday (my original copy is standing in). I‘ll also reference Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them.
🎃 I love spooky books in October so I have my eye on The Book of Speculation and A Discovery of Witches.
💀I love my new Thinker.

When my book club picked this I was bummed bc I thought it would be a super-religious book. Actually it‘s well-told historical fiction about a woman who may have been pope around 855.
Starting with Joan learning to read as a little girl who‘s not supposed to, I was hooked. The focus is really on Joan‘s quest for & love of knowledge. I liked how she applied her learning to her faith. It wound up being a great female empowerment story.
💪💪💪💪💪

I had to hurry & read this bc I had an entire season of the show taking up space on my TiVo. I‘m thankful the show was a catalyst to get me reading faster since the book was very scary & well-paced. The characters each had a good amount of background story & I also loved the supernatural elements.
At one point while reading this I was convinced there was a murderer in the house which is my bar for scary stories.
🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
P.S. Book beats show.

I loved this coming-of-age story! It takes place at the start of the Great Depression in North Carolina. Thea Atwell is banished to riding camp but why remains a mystery through much of the story. I liked the main character & waiting to see if she could grow from her mistakes. My favorite part though was the horseback riding!
🐴🐴🐴🐴🐴

I‘m already behind but I at least wanted to share my intention to join @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks & @OriginalCyn620 for another month of photo challenge fun!
#selfimprovementsept

🍯 tea
📚 fiction
🖤 dark
🐕 dogs
🔮 tarot
🧙‍♀️ story
🌵 plants
🗺 south
#basicwitchswap
@sprainedbrain
@Meaw_catlady

I think this book is the most popular choice for #orphanage. It‘s extra messed up bc it‘s based on a real orphanage, if you could even call it that.
But now look at how cute my dog is and feel better.
#letstravelaugust
#dogsoflitsy
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

I took a picture of One Good Dog with three good dogs! They are all rescues but Captain Skippyjon Jones on the left is the only one from the animal #shelter.
If you love dogs you will probably love this book too. One of the characters has to volunteer at a homeless shelter. Lots of character development and pit bull love.
#letstravelaugust
#dogsoflitsy
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

Last summer on a #layover from Arizona to Florida my husband covertly took this picture of me. I had just finished Stardust by Neil Gaiman and was getting ready to start Duma Key, my favorite of the year.
Also his selfies are mirrored so that‘s why the cover is backwards and my tattoo is on the wrong ankle.
#letstravelaugust
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

Since I‘m behind on the #letstravelaugust challenge I thought of one book I could use for two prompts: #trains and #hotels.
I loved reading about the Harvey Girls and this time period in the mid/southwest. It got a little repetitive at the end but mostly was an engaging history book.
🚂🚂🚂🚂
Bonus: my dh is a train collector & has the type of train used!
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

Prison Mike says the worst thing about #prison is the Dementors. So does Sirius Black!
#letstravelaugust
#officereference
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

I‘m behind on the #letstravelaugust challenge so I‘ll try to catch up this weekend!
I recently finished this book. If you like Sarah Addison Allen you will not be disappointed. Lost Lake is a place where you can rent a cabin #lakeside. It also holds a power to bring family together. Sweet story with a healthy dose of magical realism.
🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

I had such a happy start to my day when I opened my #bookmark swap packages. I really love my bookmarks @OrangeMooseReads and @IndoorDame !!
There are so many that I would have picked out for myself!
What a nice surprise when my bookmarks from @TorieStorieS were sent in the tagged book!
Thank you swappers for making my day!
Thank you for hosting @LibrarianRyan !
💙💙💙💙

I got the rest of my packages today @LibrarianRyan !
Can‘t wait to open them but got a great amount of pleasure just from finding them in my mailbox. Thanks @OrangeMooseReads and @TorieStorieS !
#bookmarkswap

I loved the penultimate book in this series, but the last one (tagged) was a bummer. Kudos for the #fantasysetting though.
#letstravelaugust
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

So far I love this series and it takes place in the #UnitedKingdom. Hoping to read the third one in October.
#letstravelaugust
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

@LibrarianRyan I mailed my packages today for the #bookmarkswap!
I hope my people like theirs!

This summer I read this book in its setting, San Francisco. When we took a boat tour of the bay I of course had to bring my book along to get its picture with the iconic Golden Gate #Bridge!
#letstravelaugust
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

@LibrarianRyan I got my first #bookmarkswap happy mail! Can‘t wait @IndoorDame !
Mine are going out soon...

🌔 I read this book 6 years ago so I‘m not 100% positive, but I think there‘s a cool #lighthouse part. I looked up the real life setting in France & there is a lighthouse there so I think I‘m right. In any case, I for sure remember loving this book so much!
✅ Also this summer I went to 2 lighthouses in Maine & got a lighthouse passport.
#letstravelaugust
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

This summer I got my family to drive across the Kansas/Missouri state line to go here. We were treated to three floors of used books and live Irish music. Definitely got some cool points.
This is why I like to visit independent #bookstores when I travel.
#letstravelaugust
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

After reading this book I decided I will never live in #Alaska!
Stellaluna agrees!
#letstravelaugust
#dogsoflitsy
#tonguesouttuesday
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

This pop-up #ship is from my big sister‘s vintage edition of Peter Pan retold by David L. Harrison & illustrated by Bob Brackman (not entered on Litsy). I covet this book so much. Watch out sis! Lol!
#letstravelaugust
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

This was taken on a backpacking trip in the North Rim of Grand Canyon in 2001. I always take a book when I go #camping!
I borrowed this book from my parents when I found out the tv show I loved, Five Mile Creek, was based on it. In this instance I thought the show was better.
#letstravelaugust
#alwaysbringabook
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

I got my bachelor‘s degree from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff in 1998. I feel like my #college has the most beautiful campus & I was fortunate make many memories there.
I haven‘t read this book yet but couldn‘t pass it up at Goodwill!
#letstravelaugust
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

I love a good coming-of-age story. I promised myself I‘d read more Betty Smith after reading this in 2016 but I still haven‘t!
🌳 A #newyork book in an Arizona tree 📙
#letstravelaugust
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

Today was the first day of school so I probably won‘t be posting as much this month, but I will still play along when I can!
#LetsTravelAugust
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
@OriginalCyn620

🚂 This is the true story of a boy from #India. He got on a train & got separated from his family. Since he couldn‘t remember the name of his town or his mom he was adopted to a couple from Australia.
It‘s so good. You should read it too.
Also it was made into the movie Lion. Has anyone seen it?
📸 Taken on the Verde Canyon Railroad in Arizona in 2017
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I took this book back to its homeland when we went to San Francisco last month. I took this picture in Muir Woods National Monument. That #forest has some of the biggest trees I‘ve ever seen!
I haven‘t read it yet but in the book description the characters go camping in this part of California, so I‘m assuming some of it will take place... *Update: Sources say ...on a steep mountain. 🙌
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I took this photo on a road trip to Arkansas for Spring Break 2016. Whenever I go on a #journey I always wear my compass ring, which really works! And if it‘s a road trip I always bring a road atlas.
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

🇷🇼 This true story is so inspiring! I read it with my book club a few years ago & we all loved it. It‘s about how citizens of Rwanda rebuilt their community after the genocide against the Tutsi, partially with a restaurant called Heaven.
#africa
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

🚧 If you‘re not a true crime fan: Warning. Disturbing book description. 🚧
This is about a serial killer from the U.K., Dennis Nilsen. The book begins with the end, his arrest, which only came about bc his victims' body parts backed up his neighbors' plumbing after months of flushing them bit by bit down the toilet.
He begins his bizarre killing spree in the #1970s.
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

When The Lacuna came out I got to hear Barbara Kingsolver talk about writing it & she signed my book! Reading it sparked my Frida fandom.
🇲🇽 Oops just realized I‘m a day ahead for
#Mexico
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This book got to go to the #beach !
🌜Taken at Half Moon Bay in March 🌛
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Today is the last day to join the bookmark swap with @LibrarianRyan ! You send a minimum of 1 bookmark to 1-5 people. Bookmarks can be store bought or handmade. Open date is August 15th.
I‘m looking forward to my 2nd Litsy swap!
#bookmarkswap

This book starts in #Ireland and ends in Los Angeles. I‘ve been to LA so now I just need to go to Ireland!
Taken on Venice Beach in 2017 ⛱
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This summer on our road trip we had to take a #detour because Yosemite was still closed. Despite good reasons in this book to be cautious about taking detours we still enjoyed ourselves greatly.
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

In #russia in 2012 five members of Pussy Riot went into a church & sang a punk song in protest of the church telling its members to vote for Putin. Three members were arrested & charged with “felony hooliganism motivated by religious hatred,” and this book was written/compiled while they were in prison. Very scary.
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

🏴‍☠️ This nonfiction book tells of William Dampier, a naturalist who went around the world 3 times. It is shocking he is not more well known considering he discovered and named so many things. It‘s an easy read because it‘s so fascinating.
#voyage
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I was obsessed with this book as a kid, and I remember reading it multiple times.
The main characters discover a secret world #underground where the people speak their own language.
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I took this picture last month in Maine at the lighthouse Forrest Gump ran to in the movie. It‘s a beautiful place by the #water. I haven‘t read this book but I‘m sensing it‘s not as serene as this location.
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alice Hoffman is one of my favorite authors so I follow her on Instagram. A few months ago I saw she was reading this book from my tbr. I asked how she liked it and she said it was good. So I feel cool. And now I need to read it too.
It‘s written by an author from #France.
🌸 Taken with my sister‘s flowers.
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

We took a road trip last month for our 20th anniversary. This was taken around Half Moon Bay in California. I did not read this book while on the trip but I‘ve read it twice before. Jack Kerouac definitely had a double helping of #wanderlust!
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

This amazing story takes place in the #1940s and if you haven‘t read it I think you should, even if WWII stories are not your favorite.
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I was reading this in October when we went through Tombstone, Arizona. I had to stop for some pics in the Boothill #Cemetary of course!
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I had planned to do today‘s #letstraveljuly challenge (Garden) at my sister‘s house bc she always has beautiful flowers, but since we didn‘t get there until after dark I‘m going back to Day 6. I got some good reading done today on the #airplane going there.
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I loved this book because it made me feel like I was backpacking but without the heavy pack! This was one of my favorite books read in 2017.
🌄 Taken in the #mountains of Flagstaff, Arizona 🌲
🥾🥾🥾🥾🥾
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

When I saw the #LetsTravelJuly challenge was #Concert I thought of this book.
🎤 One of my favorite parts was that Henry kept time traveling to a concert. Even if you see the same artist more than once, no concert experience can be duplicated.
I love imagining having that ability bc I have been to some awesome concerts I wish I could go back to!
🎸 What concert would you go to again if you had the power?
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

🇺🇸 Happy 4th of July to everyone who celebrates! Here are my red, white, and blue books for the #USA.
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

I haven‘t read this book but I have been to New Orleans! It was awesome.
On LibraryThing this booked is tagged with New Orleans so I‘m assuming it‘s at least partially set there.
My username is the same on LT. Tell me yours if you‘re on there too 😎
#neworleans
#letstraveljuly
@OriginalCyn620
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks