Etsy has been around for awhile now, but I have really been getting in to it lately! There are so many beautiful book related items, and I have discovered so many shops.  Here are a few of my favourites so far.

1. Beedoo.TO- I recently discovered magnetic bookmarks and I love them! This shop has some adorable ones, for an affordable price.  This Harry Potter one is my favourite, but there is also a Nutella one that is so cute!

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I first saw the idea to combine these two weekly features on the blog Snow Connections, and I thought it was such a fun idea! Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice. 

All you have to do is grab the book you are reading (or any book), and post the first line or paragraph, as well as your thoughts about it.  After that, turn to page 56 and post any part of the page that stands out to you! That is it! I love reading these, and I think you will too.  If you participated please let me know in the comments down below.

I am currently reading The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, and I have to say I am loving it so far!

The Ice Dragon by George R. R. Martin
Publisher: Harper Collins, 2014 (originally Starscape 2006)
Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Children
Pages: 128 (large font and illustrations)

An enchanting tale of courage and sacrifice for young readers and adults by the wildly popular George R.R. Martin, author of A Song of Ice and Fire, the series that inspired HBO's Emmy Award-winning GAME OF THRONES.

Lavish illustrations by acclaimed artist Luis Royo enrich this captivating and heartwarming story of a young girl and her dragon.

In the world of A Song of Ice and Fire the ice dragon was a creature of legend and fear, for no man had ever tamed one. When it flew overhead, it left in its wake desolate cold and frozen land. But Adara was not afraid. For Adara was a winter child, born during the worst freeze that anyone, even the Old Ones, could remember.

Adara could not remember the first time she had seen the ice dragon. It seemed that it had always been in her life, glimpsed from afar as she played in the frigid snow long after the other children had fled the cold. In her fourth year she touched it, and in her fifth year she rode upon its broad, chilled back for the first time. Then, in her seventh year, on a calm summer day, fiery dragons from the North swooped down upon the peaceful farm that was Adara's home.

And only a winter child-and the ice dragon who loved her-could save her world from utter destruction. 
Although there are many scenes that are depressing and violent, I think that the message of this wonderful book is thought-provoking and important.  There were moments where I thought "Wow this is pretty intense for a children's book," but in my opinion, children are exposed to much more violent forms of media that does not have the beautiful prose and message that The Ice Dragon delivers.

Despite the fact that it is targeted toward children, The Ice Dragon is a story that people of all ages will enjoy.  There are elements in this story that will appeal to all types of readers.  I especially think that this will appeal to George R.R. Martins lovers, and those who adore fantasy.  For those of you who have come to expect greatness from George R.R. Martin, I do not think you will be disappointed. 

The illustrations by Luis Royo are beautiful and work well with the story.  The drawings of the dragon are nothing short of incredible.  


I am happy to say that I can not come up with anything that I disliked about this quick read!

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme created by one of my favourite blogs- The Broke and the Bookish.  If you are like me and love creating lists, then this is the meme for you! This week's topic is is a freebie! Since I am a new blogger, I figured I would pick a topic that will give you some more incite in to who I am.  So here it is- my top ten childhood favourites! If you participated please leave a link to your post down below. I truly love reading, and commenting on these posts.




2. Hardy Boys- Hardy Boys came second only to Nancy Drew when I was growing up.  I loved mysteries back then, and I still do these days.  Maybe I have Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys to thank for that!

3. Charlotte's Web- I vividly remember my dad buying me this book many years ago, and it is very special to me.  I still have that copy displayed proudly on my shelf.



4. Matilda- I was in love with both the book and the movie when I was growing up.  I felt like I could relate to her in some ways. This is definitely a book I will be reading to my future children!



5. Goosebumps- Even though they used to give me nightmares, I still really loved Goosebumps! Just thinking about them brings me back to childhood!



6. Animorphs-I was reading Animorphs around the same time as Goosebumps- and I feel the same way about both series. They terrified me and I loved it!



7. Anne of Green Gables- Did every Canadian girl worship this book, or was that just in my town? I love this one so much I have it in many different covers! Here are just a few...



8. Black Beauty- My grandfather owns a barn, and currently owns 27 horses.  I grew up around horses, and because of that I adored Black Beauty.  It is also the first book that I remember making me cry.  

9. Little Critters- My dad used to read these, as well as Berenstain Bears,  to me every single night.  I had a lot of them memorized, so I would call him out if he was tired and tried to skip a few pages!



10. The Berenstain Bears- If I had to choose my absolute favourite books as a child then I would have to choose The Berenstain Bears!

Serena by Ron Rash
Genres: Historical Fiction, Adults
Pages: 371
I decided to pick up this book when I discovered that it was made in to a movie starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence.  Now, the movie didn't get great reviews, but I just couldn't pass this up.  After reading, and really enjoying this book, I think I am going to give the movie a chance.  I know historical fiction is not for everyone, but for some reason it always appeals to me.  Also, look these stills from the movie. They are so amazing, and I wish I knew how to wear my hair like that! (tips on how to do this anyone?!)

I first saw the idea to combine these two weekly features on the blog Snow Connections, and I thought it was such a fun idea! Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and The Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice.

All you have to do is grab the book you are reading (or any book), and post the first line or paragraph, as well as your thoughts about it.  After that, turn to page 56 and post any part of the page that stands out to you! That is it! I love reading these, and I think you will too.  If you participated please let me know in the comments down below.

The book I am currently reading is Serena by Ron Rash.  I enjoy reading books that have been made in to movies. If you are interesting in learning more about it, I will leave the blurb down below.

Book Beginning

"When Pemberton returned to the North Carolina mountains after three months in Boston settling his father's estate, among those waiting on the train platform was a young woman pregnant with Pemberton's child.  She was accompanied by her father, who carried beneath his shabby frock coat a bowie knife sharpened with great attentiveness earlier that morning so it would plunge as deep as possible into Pemberton's heart."

This is the kind of opening paragraph that I really love.  Already I have so many questions that need to be answered, and I know that something interesting is going to happen very soon.  To be honest, I was so sure I wanted to read this book but after reading the first page I was hooked!

The Friday 56

"Pemberton stepped off the porch into the summer evening.  Fireflies winked as the sun settled behind Balsam Mountain.  In the distance a whippoorwill called. Next to the dining hall a rusty fifty-gallon drum smoldered with supper's detritus.  Permberton dropped the unopened letters into its fire and walked on."

Blurb

The year is 1929, and newlyweds George and Serena Pemberton arrive in North Carolina to create a timber empire.  Although George has already lived in the camp long enough to father an illegitimate child, Serena is new to the mountains- but she soon shows herself to be the equal of any worker, overseeing crews, hunting rattlesnakes, even saving her husband's life in the wilderness.

Together Serena and George ruthlessly kill or vanquish all who fall out of their favor.  But when Serena learns that she will never bear a child, she sets out on her own to kill the son George had without her.  Mother and child begin a struggle for their lives, and when Serena suspects George is protecting his illegitimate family, the Pembertons' intense, passionate marriage starts to unravel as the story moves toward its shocking finale.

If I am not reading book blogs on my computer, then I am most likely on pinterest.  I have noticed that there are a lot of book boards out there, and I thought it might be fun if we all followed each other! So, below is my board, and if you want to me to check out yours please post a link to it in the comments!

Follow Kristin's board Books! on Pinterest.