The Magical Readathon was created by the book-tuber, Book Roast, in 2018 as a fun Harry Potter themed reading challenge. Held during the month of April, there are many different levels for the O.W.L.’s so readers of all ages, time constraints, etc. are able to participate and I’m hoping to convince some of my gal pals to join in the fun!
With this particular challenge, you choose your career and then complete the reading prompts required to pass each of the subjects. For my career as a Librarian (IRL and for the challenge, lol), I must pass five separate O.W.L.’s, so I must read five books.
Here you can see the subjects that Librarians are required to study and pass in order to gain employment within the wizarding community.
Some of the key traits for this career are to be knowledgeable, brave, adventurous, and resourceful… I think I have those covered. 😛
Old Man’s Journey was the first video game that I played in 2020 and it was such a great way to start gaming! It’s a super cute, indie game about an elderly gentleman finding his way home to his family. The puzzles are fun, sometimes challenging, and the music is amazing…
Carry Me Far plays during the train portion of the game and I could listen to this song over and over and over again, it’s that good!
I reviewed Old Man’s Journey and that post can be found HERE.
Did you enjoy this song? Does it make you interested in the game? Let me know in the comments!
As a young gay man—and a werepanther—all Jin Rayne yearns for is a normal life. Having fled his past, he wants nothing more than to start over, but Jin’s old life doesn’t want to let him go. When his travels bring him to a new city, he crosses paths with the leader of the local were-tribe.
Logan Church is a shock and an enigma, and Jin fears that Logan is both the mate he fears and the love of his life. Jin doesn’t want to go back to the old ways, and mating would irrevocably tie him to them. But Jin is the mate Logan needs at his side to help him lead his tribe, and he won’t give Jin up so easily. It will take time and trust for Jin to discover the joy in belonging to Logan and how to love without restraint.
Change of Heart by Mary Calmes sounded like a really good book and the print version might live up to my expectations of it…
Sadly, the narration of this story left much to be desired and I nearly didn’t finish the book because of it. There were many points in the story where I found myself not liking anything about the story only because of the way it was being read to me.
I know of many non-professional narrators who could have read this story and transformed it into a wonderful audio experience, but Sean Crisden just did not deliver that kind of performance.
I’m not sure what effect the narrator was going for in the reading of this story, but it was way of the mark for me. Jin was at times too whiny and at others too blasé about everything going on around him. And, while Logan was supposed to be the strong, alpha male of the story, the narration came across as pushy and fake every time Logan was speaking.
I truly believe that if I’d read this in a print format then it would have been an entertaining story worthy of more than the 2/10 I’m giving it… mainly because I wanted it to be good.
Series: Change of Heart Series, book 1 Format: Electronic audio book Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Source: Tennessee READS Rating: ★☆☆☆☆ Links: Amazon || Goodreads
A friend of mine is an artist and asked if there was any way that I could make a glove for his pinky that would help with his work.
So, I went digging…
It took a fair bit of my Google-fu, because I had no idea what such a thing was called, but I eventually discovered a free pattern for an “artist’s glove” on Ravelry.
Because I’d never even seen this pattern before, this project took me about four hours to complete. From making a gauge to figuring out which of my needles worked best with this yarn to binding off, it was an adventure and a half.
I’ve been waffling between super busy and insanely apathetic this last month. I’ve struggled with a lack of interest in getting things done and my reading goals suffered because of it… but I managed to re-arrange my living space, make progress on a knitting project, and read just a few things, including a non-fiction title that’s been on my “to read list” since 2012!
I first became interested in Nathaniel Fick’s story by watching HBO’s Generation Kill, a show inspired by the book a journalist, Evan Wright, wrote about his time embedded with Marines during the first phase of the Iraq War.
It says a lot about his character, that the reason Nathaniel Fick joined the Marines was because they didn’t say how great they were, but asked instead if he could be great enough to join them. They challenge applicants to be better than even they think they can be and, if they succeed, they will embody the values held by the Marine Corp and will become “The few, the proud, the Marines.” (no pun intended)
“You need discipline most, when it’s hardest to muster.” ― Nathaniel Fick
I listened to the audio version of this book, which is read by Nathaniel Fick, and while the narration is sometimes bland, the content more than makes up for those few moments. It is particularly enthralling to hear a Marine’s thoughts as he makes the decision to join up, goes through various levels of training, and finally goes to war following the 9/11 attacks on the United States.
While serving, Nathaniel Fick’s core objective was to take care of the men under him. I think we hear more about the abuses of power, than about those individuals who truly care to make a difference in the lives of the people they lead… and that’s terribly sad. It is an honor to lead others, be it on the battlefield or in the office, and those in positions of power should take care to remember that.
“Complex ideas must be made simple, or they’ll remain ideas and never be put into action.” ― Nathaniel Fick
Having heard his story through his own words, I can only that the world could use more men like Nathaniel Fick.
On a recent trip to Nashville, I was able to get my hands on a copy of The Radium Girls at a used bookstore, yay!
This nonfiction title is about when radium was first discovered and how, as the new thing, we didn’t really understand the side effects it could have. The Radium Girls is about the women who worked in radium-dial factories and the serious effects this dangerous element had on them.
Can’t wait to crack this one open!
Do you enjoy reading biographies? Why or why not? What about nonfiction in general? Let me know what your favorite genres are in the comments!
Nothing But Knit has shared another fun quiz and this time it’s all about socks! Join me for “Socks: A Quiz“
Do you knit/crochet socks? Yes, I knit micro-preemie socks, but haven’t managed an adult sock yet.
If yes, how long have you been making them? If no, why not? I think it’s been about six months to a year? Maybe?
What is your preferred method? Top down, toe up? Which needles? Do you have a preferred heel type? My preferred method is top down, with a turned heel, with the tiniest of needles!
Have you gifted socks? Were they worn, loved and appreciated? I’m currently filling up a fish bowl with micro-preemie socks. When it’s full, they will be donated to a local NICU for use.
Could you make nothing but socks for the rest of your life and be happy? Probably not. It’s too much fun learning how to knit different things!
One of the most addictive things about sock knitting is the amazing selection of fingering weight yarn that is available. What is your favorite yarn for socks? Do you prefer solid or multi-color yarn? Do you have a fiber preference? I prefer multi-color, fingering weight yarn, yes. I think my favorite so far was Patons Kroy Socks in Gentry Grey. It’s a super fine, wool/nylon blend… SO SOFT!
Meandering Michelle 