I’ve spent the majority of this past week in Brussels, Belgium learning, oddly enough, about the process of tapestry weaving. Continue reading
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Author Archives: LAL
Au Revoir Paris, Now On To Belgium
Well, once again I am a bit behind my schedule for #BackpackEurope. I can’t help it. I get to a new country and find that I just have to savor every moment before moving on and this week definitely was a savor week.*
This past week, I have been back in France, this time visiting Paris. And what a week it has been! Continue reading
From Spain Back to France
Continuing on my European literary adventure! (If you’re behind, catch up on my literary journey here and here and here.)
This past week and a half, I’ve been in Spain.* My trip to Spain lasted a bit longer than anticipated, but I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. Continue reading
Au Revoir France, Hola Spain!
If you’ve been following my #BackpackEurope adventure, you know that I arrived in Caen, Normandy, France on Monday. (Catch up on my entries here and here.)
Today I say au revoir to France as I head across the border to Spain.* Continue reading
Vive Le France!
Welcome to Week 2 of the #BackpackEurope reading challenge.
I’m starting week 2 in France. Bonjour!
Last week, as you know, I flew into Heathrow and started my journey in England with Wuthering Heights. Although not a book I ended up liking, I can at least now say I’ve read it. (And bonus, I can mark it off my #GARbingo board.)
And go give my friends over at The Reader’s Room some love for creating and hosting this fun literary adventure! Continue reading
#BackpackEurope: Week 1 Wrap-Up
On Monday, I started the Backpack Across Europe Summer 2018 Reading Challenge. This reading challenge, hosted by the awesome folks over at The Reader’s Room, is all about exploring Europe via literature.
The challenge has rules, special events, and travel obstacles making it like a virtual board game with reading. As you know, I opted to “fly”* into Heathrow on Monday and my literary journey started with English author Emily Brontë’s classic Wuthering Heights. Continue reading
Backpacking Across Europe (In The Literary Sense): Day 1
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about all the reading challenges I am doing. Yesterday started the #SFFTBR reading challenge and today starts the Backpack Across Europe Reading Challenge!
SFFTBR Reading Challenge Starts Today
If you caught my last post, then you read about the 5 reading challenges I’m currently doing (or will be doing).
Today starts the Science Fiction/Fantasy To Be Read Reading Challenge. It runs from today, July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019. Twelve months to complete this 50-book challenge.
I have a starting TBR of 50 books—and that’s just the ones I currently own. (I know, I know!) As I went through the synopses, (yep, that’s correct. That’s the plural of synopsis. I checked.) I believe I’m missing a few categories. So I may be asking for recommendations in some of the categories.
I’ll be posting my #SFFTBR updates here, on Goodreads/Twitter (my Twitter account is connected to my GR account), and on Litsy (wanderinglynn). (Just look for the #SFFTBR hashtag.)
And if you’re so inclined & want to play along, then here are the categories (or here’s the handy-dandy SFFTBR Reading Challenge PDF version):
| 1 | Longest Book on your TBR |
| 2 | Shortest Book on your TBR |
| 3 | Written by Person of Color |
| 4 | Written by straight, white male author (look close & critically on diversity) |
| 5 | Strong female lead & passes Bechdel test |
| 6 | Set in the future |
| 7 | Set in the past |
| 8 | Horror (or close equivalent) |
| 9 | Award-winning Fantasy |
| 10 | Award-winning SF |
| 11 | includes African mythology |
| 12 | includes Norse mythology |
| 13 | includes Asian mythology |
| 14 | includes LGBTQ+ relationship |
| 15 | YA novel not suited for (younger) teens |
| 16 | A sequel |
| 17 | Compared to the “Hunger Games” |
| 18 | Compared to “Game of Thrones” |
| 19 | includes a prophecy |
| 20 | Saving the world from evil |
| 21 | “…” of “…” Title |
| 22 | A book that was gifted to you |
| 23 | gorgeous cover |
| 24 | lowest rated on GR |
| 25 | can’t remember how much time has passed since you bought the book |
| 26 | love triangle |
| 27 | POV character dies or family member died |
| 28 | encountering an alien species |
| 29 | murder investigation |
| 30 | shows the worst of humanity |
| 31 | war or soldier story |
| 32 | short story |
| 33 | graphic novel |
| 34 | recommended by a litten |
| 35 | elves/orcs/dwarfs |
| 36 | space exploration |
| 37 | fairytale retelling |
| 38 | New York Times Bestseller |
| 39 | here be dragons |
| 40 | includes a map |
| 41 | children’s book |
| 42 | last in a series |
| 43 | beautifully written |
| 44 | one of Unbound World’s Top 100 Fantasy novels that you never heard about |
| 45 | steampunk |
| 46 | classic Fantasy/SF |
| 47 | your choice |
| 48 | your choice |
| 49 | your choice |
| 50 | your choice |
Tell me in the comments below if you plan on playing along. And share your recommendations for any of the categories too!
Happy Reading!
Summer ’18 Reading Challenges
Somehow, someway, I have committed myself to 5 different reading challenges. That’s right. Five.
I blame Litsy (mostly).
I also blame Litsy for my exponentially growing TBR, so much so, that I put myself on a book buying ban earlier this month.
(Of course, I may have already broken that ban when I received an email today from Subterranean Press about a special edition of Kevin Hearne’s Hexed, book 2 of the Iron Druid Chronicles. I had already pre-ordered Hounded, Book 1, so I *had* to pre-order Hexed. Right?) Continue reading
Mental Health PSA
This week, we’ve seen news of two rather high profile celebrity deaths from suicide. A recent CDC report found that suicides nationwide have increased by 30% since 1999. This news is concerning. But this post isn’t about that. This post is about you.
If you are in crisis, please know that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
If you are thinking about suicide, if you are worried about a friend or loved one or would like emotional support, please call, text, or chat one of the resources below.
United States:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
- Crisis Text Line Text 741741 from anywhere in the US to text with a trained Crisis Counselor.
- IMAlive (online chat)
- GLBT National Help Center 1-888-THE-GLNH (843-4564)
- Email: help@GLBThotline.org
- The Trevor Project (LGBTQ Youth) 1-866-4-U-TREVOR (488-7386)
If you or someone you know is currently in danger, please dial 911 immediately.
For international resources, please use the PostSecret Community’s International Suicide Prevention Wiki to find resources in your region/country.
