Deprecated: Optional parameter $network declared before required parameter $username is implicitly treated as a required parameter in /home/patran8/patiencerandle.com/wp-content/themes/thevoux-wp/inc/framework/thb-social-links/social-links.php on line 548

Deprecated: Optional parameter $html declared before required parameter $new_class is implicitly treated as a required parameter in /home/patran8/patiencerandle.com/wp-content/themes/thevoux-wp/inc/framework/thb-lazyload.php on line 4

Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/patran8/patiencerandle.com/wp-content/themes/thevoux-wp/functions.php:26) in /home/patran8/patiencerandle.com/wp-includes/feed-rss2.php on line 8
Books Archives - Ink & Fable http://www.patiencerandle.com/category/books/ A Lifestyle Blog with a Literary Twist! Mon, 28 Jun 2021 03:15:09 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 http://www.patiencerandle.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/favi.png Books Archives - Ink & Fable http://www.patiencerandle.com/category/books/ 32 32 Cavan Scott’s The Rising Storm Is Hauntingly Beautiful http://www.patiencerandle.com/2021/06/28/cavan-scotts-the-rising-storm-is-hauntingly-beautiful-high-republic-star-wars/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=cavan-scotts-the-rising-storm-is-hauntingly-beautiful-high-republic-star-wars http://www.patiencerandle.com/2021/06/28/cavan-scotts-the-rising-storm-is-hauntingly-beautiful-high-republic-star-wars/#comments Mon, 28 Jun 2021 03:15:09 +0000 http://www.patiencerandle.com/?p=3021 I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to receive an early copy of a book before! Thank you Del Rey Star Wars and Disney Books for sending me a copy of this highly anticipated book to review. I had such a hard time savoring The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott. I really tried, but…

The post Cavan Scott’s The Rising Storm Is Hauntingly Beautiful appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to receive an early copy of a book before! Thank you Del Rey Star Wars and Disney Books for sending me a copy of this highly anticipated book to review. I had such a hard time savoring The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott. I really tried, but I ended up devouring it cover to cover in about 3 days.

The Rising Storm is just that good, and I guarantee it’s unlike anything you’ve read in the Star Wars universe.

My Rating | 5/5 
Author | Cavan Scott
Publisher | Del Rey 

*This review may contain spoilers, proceed with caution!

We find our beloved characters from the Light of The Jedi moving on from the nightmare that was the Great Disaster and preparing themselves for The Republic Fair. A unified effort commissioned by Chancellor Lina Soh to bring the galaxy together once and for all. Soh wants to send a message to all of the galaxy’s inhabitants: that they are stronger together even with the rogue pirate group the Nihil lurking in the shadows.

Something bad is on the horizon though. Jedi Master Elzar Mann continues to replay his nightmarish visions of the brutal massacre he had in Light of the Jedi. And now, we see him wrestle with the possibility of this vision coming true.

Elzar Mann is a character that I did not expect to fall in love with. In The Rising Storm, Cavan Scott gives his readers the opportunity to get to know the inner workings of each Jedi, Nihil, creature, and citizen. I felt truly immersed as a reader and I know that this is due to Scott’s beautiful writing!

Along with Elzar, we are reunited with my favorite young padawan Bell Zettifar, Jedi Master Stellan Gios, and Chancellor Lina Soh. We also meet one of the newest additions to the High Republic’s roster, Ty Yorrick, a rogue Jedi monster hunter for hire (I want to be her).

And don’t worry, I didn’t forget about the Nihil! They are back and just as ruthless as ever. Scott is not afraid to dive deep into the graphic nature of what Marchion Ro (BAE) and his bloodthirsty goons will do to get what they want.

While the character development in this book is fantastic, the classic themes that drive the plot are some of the best I’ve ever read within the Star Wars universe. How does a young Jedi cope with the loss of his master? What about a Jedi in love? And my favorite in the book, how does a Jedi who is experiencing a pull from the dark side ask for help to stay in the light?

And while we’ve seen all of these themes examined before, Scott brings a fresh perspective that is pleasing to read. He doesn’t shy away from the complexity and the layers but embraces them, humanizing both the heroes and the villains of the story.

All I can say after finishing this book is that I hope and pray that we’ll get this kind of Star Wars on the big screen sometime very soon. Until that day though, I look forward to the next High Republic novel in the series. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott is available everywhere books are sold on June 29th, 2021. Click here to pre-order your copy!

The post Cavan Scott’s The Rising Storm Is Hauntingly Beautiful appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
http://www.patiencerandle.com/2021/06/28/cavan-scotts-the-rising-storm-is-hauntingly-beautiful-high-republic-star-wars/feed/ 1 3021
Thinking About Joining a Book Club? Dear Reader Might Be For You http://www.patiencerandle.com/2021/04/01/thinking-about-joining-a-book-club-dear-reader-might-be-for-you/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thinking-about-joining-a-book-club-dear-reader-might-be-for-you http://www.patiencerandle.com/2021/04/01/thinking-about-joining-a-book-club-dear-reader-might-be-for-you/#respond Thu, 01 Apr 2021 01:44:23 +0000 http://www.patiencerandle.com/?p=2919 A few years ago, I began to search for a book club to join in my city (Kansas City). To my surprise, it was extremely hard to find a club that had a host who looked like me, a Black woman.  I needed a book club that focused on stories that featured Black protagonists and…

The post Thinking About Joining a Book Club? Dear Reader Might Be For You appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
A few years ago, I began to search for a book club to join in my city (Kansas City). To my surprise, it was extremely hard to find a club that had a host who looked like me, a Black woman.  I needed a book club that focused on stories that featured Black protagonists and other minority leads.

So, in January of 2019, I launched my own book club, Dear Reader. I wanted to create something where everyone felt welcomed. It wouldn’t be a formal setting with a list of discussion questions, but rather the focus would be on how that particular book made us feel and how it moved us. I’m the type of person that doesn’t do too well with remembering the specifics of the books that I love. If you ask me the plot point of my top five reads, it will take me a few minutes of staring into space to mush together the words to explain to you exactly what happens.

But if you ask how it made me feel, how the author’s words and chapters made me grow as a person? Grab a bottle of wine and a glass for you and me, because that’s where I could talk to you for hours.

Dear Reader’s primary focus is to read and highlight the literature of Black authors, but we also explore other voices as well. As a Black woman whose home is filled with Black literature, it was important for me to build a space where we could discuss these works of art together and learn from each other.

Prior to COVID-19, we met in person at a local bookstore once a month. Now we meet bi-monthly via ZOOM, so everyone can join. Click here to join this month’s session, we’re reading Kindred by the great Octavia Butler!

The post Thinking About Joining a Book Club? Dear Reader Might Be For You appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
http://www.patiencerandle.com/2021/04/01/thinking-about-joining-a-book-club-dear-reader-might-be-for-you/feed/ 0 2919
The High Republic: Light of the Jedi Rekindled My Love for Star Wars Novels http://www.patiencerandle.com/2021/01/26/the-high-republic-light-of-the-jedi-star-wars-novels/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-high-republic-light-of-the-jedi-star-wars-novels http://www.patiencerandle.com/2021/01/26/the-high-republic-light-of-the-jedi-star-wars-novels/#comments Tue, 26 Jan 2021 01:34:46 +0000 http://www.patiencerandle.com/?p=2774 When I heard that Disney had hand-selected a group of talented authors to tell the story of Star Wars and the High Republic era, I found myself to be both thrilled and quite nervous.

The post The High Republic: Light of the Jedi Rekindled My Love for Star Wars Novels appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
My Rating | 4/5 
Author | Charles Soule
Publisher | Del Rey 

Two hundred years before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, in the era of the glorious High Republic, the noble and wise Jedi Knights must face a frightening threat to themselves, the galaxy, and the Force itself….

* This book was purchased by me, all views are my own. 

When I heard that Disney had hand-selected a group of talented authors to tell the story of Star Wars: The High Republic era, I found myself to be both thrilled and quite nervous, I really wanted this book to live up to my expectations!

Light of The Jedi takes place approximately 200 years before the Prequels, when Jedi Knights and Masters are at their prime and the Republic is at peace. It’s a time of unknowns and new discoveries, the entire galaxy is theirs to explore.

Part One opens with the inciting incident, a ship called the Legacy Run experiences a major accident, sacrificing the lives of several passengers and leaving pieces of its wreckage floating in and out of hyperspace. This causes several “mini” disasters of its own which leads to Chancellor Lina Soh and the Republic bringing together the most equipped Jedi for the job.

There were some moments where this book felt like it was written by two different authors. Phrases like, “it was as if” felt overused and cliche. As well as lines like “letting go of a breath it didn’t know it was holding”.

I would not recommend this book to someone who dislikes novels that involve tons of characters, because there are a TON in the Light of The Jedi. Every time you get to a new chapter, there is almost always a different point of view. It took me nearly all of part one to get used to this constant back and forth. And if I wasn’t expecting it, I might not have stuck it out in order to finish reading the book.

I’m so glad that I did though because Part Two is where the fun begins…

Once you get used to the number of different perspectives (I had to keep a journal to help keep track), the story really does come to life. There are murderous Game of Thrones-ish space Vikings, Jedi that bend the force to perform powerful miracles, and plenty of beautiful friendships– the heart of every good Star Wars story.

“We must always strive for peace, but also justice. Peace without justice is flawed, hollow at its core. It is the peace provided by tyranny.”

Charles Soule does a great job of exploring both the physical and mental boundaries of the Force and hyperspace. The two weave together in a way that tells a unique and riveting story of the Jedi and the people they vow to protect. After all,

“We are all the Republic.”

In addition to some new lore, the story also introduces us to many loveable new Master and apprentice duos, with my favorite being Jedi Master Loden Greatstorm and his padawan Bell Zettifar. I loved them so much, and aside from Chancellor Lina Soh,  they were the characters that I connected with the most.

I love the fact that we are introduced to villains who are not the Sith, and that we are given the opportunity to explore Jedi that have zero connections to the Skywalker saga. Don’t get me wrong, I love me some Anakin and Luke, but there is so much more of the galaxy to explore!

Once I got used to the style of the writing, the story really captivated me. It also shocked me how relevant it was to today’s political dialogue. A very timely Star Wars story that the entire fandom could benefit from reading!

I can’t wait for The Rising Storm and I have an alarm set for the premiere of The High Republic Show hosted by the amazing Krystina Arielle. I can’t wait to see what the Star Wars team does with the era of the High Republic, the possibilities are endless! Do yourself a favor…pour up a glass of blue milk and dive into The Light of The Jedi, it truly is a delight.

The post The High Republic: Light of the Jedi Rekindled My Love for Star Wars Novels appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
http://www.patiencerandle.com/2021/01/26/the-high-republic-light-of-the-jedi-star-wars-novels/feed/ 7 2774
My Top 3 Favorite Independent Bookstores in Kansas City http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/04/26/my-top-favorite-indie-bookstores-in-kansas-city/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=my-top-favorite-indie-bookstores-in-kansas-city http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/04/26/my-top-favorite-indie-bookstores-in-kansas-city/#comments Fri, 26 Apr 2019 21:15:08 +0000 http://www.patiencerandle.com/?p=1667 I'm a firm believer that reading should be an escape, not a chore.Afterword Tavern and Shelves is the perfect reading escape in the heart of the Crossroads, and just also happens to be where I host my monthly book club! 

The post My Top 3 Favorite Independent Bookstores in Kansas City appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
Today is one of my favorite days on the calendar: Independent Bookstore Day! I love when  I get the opportunity to support my local bookstore so I wanted to share a few of my KC favs with you today!

Afterword Tavern and Shelves

1834 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108

I’m a firm believer that reading should be an escape, not a chore.
Afterword Tavern and Shelves is the perfect reading escape in the heart of the Crossroads, and just also happens to be where I host my monthly book club!  Afterword is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, but they have an amazing all day happy hour on Sundays. Be sure to order an old fashion while you browse their amazing selection of books.

Our Daily Nada

304 Delaware St, Kansas City, MO 64105

Located in the River Market, Our Daily Nada is the perfect place for good reads and great food. There is plenty of seating and every corner is perfect for curling up with a good book. Did I mention this place is owned by two AMAZING women Amy and Andrea?

Prosperos

1800 W 39th St, Kansas City, MO 64111

If perusing used books is your jam, Prosperos Books needs to be number one on your list. Every nook of this 3 story shop is lined with books, and there’s a ladder that stretches along the shelves that makes you feel like you’ve stepped right out of Belle’s personal library. After you explore Prosperos be sure to grab a burger at my one of my favorite spots, Fric & Frac, which is located right next door.

The post My Top 3 Favorite Independent Bookstores in Kansas City appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/04/26/my-top-favorite-indie-bookstores-in-kansas-city/feed/ 2 1667
Tips for Hosting Your First Book Club http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/03/31/how-to-start-a-book-club/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-start-a-book-club http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/03/31/how-to-start-a-book-club/#comments Sun, 31 Mar 2019 21:00:57 +0000 http://www.patiencerandle.com/?p=1724 At the start of this year, I realized that I needed to stop obsessing over hosting the “perfect” book club and just DO it. It’s only month 4 but I’m so glad I took the leap because I’ve learned so much throughout the process. You guys have sent me a few questions about starting a…

The post Tips for Hosting Your First Book Club appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
My first book club meet up

At the start of this year, I realized that I needed to stop obsessing over hosting the “perfect” book club and just DO it. It’s only month 4 but I’m so glad I took the leap because I’ve learned so much throughout the process. You guys have sent me a few questions about starting a book club so I thought I’d take the opportunity to share a few things that have helped me.

What’s your motivation?

Before you decide on a name, it helps to figure out why you want to start a book club. Is it to meet new people? Perhaps it’s to explore a genre that you wouldn’t normally pick up on your own. For me, it was both! If you still have trouble picking the right name for your book club, set up a time to brainstorm with a friend. You’d be surprised at how helpful it is to bounce ideas off of another person.

Choose your first book

Once you’ve pinned down your focus and name for the book club, it’s time to pick your first book. I highly recommend starting with a book that you’ve had the chance to read all the way through. While this is definitely not necessary for the entire year, it makes the first discussion run smooth and alleviates the anxiety that sometimes comes along with having your first meet up.

Pick the perfect space

A lot of people choose to host their book club in their home, and while it works for some people, it just doesn’t work for me. I’d much rather host Dear Reader in a cozy bookstore, surrounded by tons of good books and food (that I don’t have to cook). If you decide to go this route, be sure to contact the bookstore ahead of time to reserve your spot and to ask about capacity.

Photo cred: Kelsey Cragg

Set a date and send out the invites

This is my personal preference but I wanted my book club to be intimate. I didn’t want one specific person leading the discussion. For this reason, I found that anywhere between 7-12 people is a good sized group. Everyone gets a chance to voice their opinion about the book and you really get to know the attendees on a personal level.

Now you’re all set!

Remember that there will be books that you hate, books that make you cry, and books that make you laugh so hard your sides split. Remember to enjoy every moment.

Have you ever hosted a book club before? Tell me about your experience in the comments.

 

The post Tips for Hosting Your First Book Club appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/03/31/how-to-start-a-book-club/feed/ 3 1724
How to Track Down Hard To Find, Out of Print Editions http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/03/09/how-to-track-down-hard-to-find-out-of-print-editions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-track-down-hard-to-find-out-of-print-editions http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/03/09/how-to-track-down-hard-to-find-out-of-print-editions/#comments Sat, 09 Mar 2019 16:53:03 +0000 http://www.patiencerandle.com/?p=1584 After posting a photo of my Mr. Boddington Penguin Classics editions on Instagram, my inbox flooded with questions asking about how I managed to track them down since they’ve been out of print for so long. Instead of replying to each message individually, I figured I’d write a blog post about it to help my beans out!…

The post How to Track Down Hard To Find, Out of Print Editions appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>

After posting a photo of my Mr. Boddington Penguin Classics editions on Instagram, my inbox flooded with questions asking about how I managed to track them down since they’ve been out of print for so long. Instead of replying to each message individually, I figured I’d write a blog post about it to help my beans out! This one is for my book collectors.

1. Bookfinder.com

This website is a lifesaver. You just plug in the ISBN number for the edition that you’re searching for, and it automatically pulls in (almost) all of the online listings that are currently active for that particular edition. Shop away!

2. Thriftbooks.com

This is how I found the Alice edition for $40 bucks when normally it’s not sold for less than $400… which is absolutely INSANE. Punch in the ISBN, and turn on the in-stock notifications and wait. Something will show up eventually, I promise!

3. Amazon

Amazon probably shouldn’t be your first choice to find out of print editions, but it doesn’t mean that it can’t be one of your options. I found a pretty good copy of Sense and Sensibility this way! Just be sure to watch out for incorrect listings. I prefer to message the vendor first to make sure they are selling the correct edition before I purchase.

4. Ebay

Ok, so Ebay is usually known for ridiculous, overpriced listings. But what a lot of people don’t take advantage of is the messaging system. You can actually message the seller and ask if they’re open to bargaining and talking down the original price of their items. That’s how I got my Pride & Prejudice for less than half of the price that it was originally listed for! It just goes to show that it never hurts to ask.

5. Be patient, and have fun!

I still have one more Mr. Boddington to track down even though I’ve been searching for these editions for about 6 months now. I’ve heard about some people waiting years to complete this set. It definitely takes patience that’s for sure. If you see an edition that’s overpriced, DON’T buy it. Just wait it out, or try bargaining with the seller, you never know what could happen. Also the bookstagram community plays a HUGE roll in helping each other find these editions. There are books that I would never have if it weren’t for this awesome community.

Also, try applying these tips to other out of print editions that you’re trying to track down and let me know how it goes. Happy hunting!

ISBN for Mr. Boddington Editions:

Pride and Prejudice: 978-0147509055
Sense and Sensibility: 978-0147509062
Alice in Wonderland: 978-0147509079
Jane Eyre: 978-0147509093
Little Women: 978-0147509048
Wuthering Heights: 9780147509086

The post How to Track Down Hard To Find, Out of Print Editions appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/03/09/how-to-track-down-hard-to-find-out-of-print-editions/feed/ 3 1584
5 New Books I’m Excited to Read This Spring http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/03/05/5-new-books-im-excited-to-read-this-spring/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=5-new-books-im-excited-to-read-this-spring http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/03/05/5-new-books-im-excited-to-read-this-spring/#comments Tue, 05 Mar 2019 20:00:58 +0000 http://www.patiencerandle.com/?p=1555 There are so many great new reads to add to my TBR stack this spring! This winter has been BRUTAL so I’m willing to do anything to speed up the arrival of springtime.  I’ve listed 5 of my most anticipated reads below: 1. The Weight of A Piano by Chris Cander I love stories that…

The post 5 New Books I’m Excited to Read This Spring appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>

There are so many great new reads to add to my TBR stack this spring! This winter has been BRUTAL so I’m willing to do anything to speed up the arrival of springtime.  I’ve listed 5 of my most anticipated reads below:

1. The Weight of A Piano by Chris Cander

I love stories that link two separate narratives together from different time periods. The Weight of A Piano is at the top of my list for this month.

From the publisher:

A tour-de-force about two women and the piano that inexorably ties their lives together through time and across continents, for better and for worse.

In 1962, in the Soviet Union, eight-year-old Katya is bequeathed what will become the love of her life: a Blüthner piano, built at the turn of the century in Germany, on which she discovers everything that she herself can do with music and what music, in turn, does for her. Yet after marrying, she emigrates with her young family from Russia to America, at her husband’s frantic insistence, and her piano is lost in the shuffle.
In 2012, in Bakersfield, California, twenty-six-year-old Clara Lundy loses another boyfriend and again has to find a new apartment, which is complicated by the gift her father had given her for her twelfth birthday, shortly before he and her mother died in a fire that burned their house down: a Blüthner upright she has never learned to play. Orphaned, she was raised by her aunt and uncle, who in his car-repair shop trained her to become a first-rate mechanic, much to the surprise of her subsequent customers. But this work, her true mainstay in a scattered life, is put on hold when her hand gets broken while the piano’s being moved–and in sudden frustration she chooses to sell it. And what becomes crucial is who the most interested party turns out to be. . .

2. The Source of Self-Regard by Toni Morrison

From the publisher:

The Source of Self-Regard is brimming with all the elegance of mind and style, the literary prowess and moral compass that are Toni Morrison’s inimitable hallmark. It is divided into three parts: the first is introduced by a powerful prayer for the dead of 9/11; the second by a searching meditation on Martin Luther King Jr., and the last by a heart-wrenching eulogy for James Baldwin. In the writings and speeches included here, Morrison takes on contested social issues: the foreigner, female empowerment, the press, money, “black matter(s),” and human rights. She looks at enduring matters of culture: the role of the artist in society, the literary imagination, the Afro-American presence in American literature, and in her Nobel lecture, the power of language itself. And here too is piercing commentary on her own work (including The Bluest Eye, Sula, Tar Baby, Jazz, Beloved, and Paradise) and that of others, among them, painter and collagist Romare Bearden, author Toni Cade Bambara, and theater director Peter Sellars. In all, The Source of Self-Regard is a luminous and essential addition to Toni Morrison’s oeuvre.

3. Black Leopard, Red Wolf by Marlon James

This novel just so happens to be the Dear Reader Book Club pick for March. If it’s on your TBR list, you should consider joining us to read and discuss this action-packed, African Game of Thrones.

From the publisher:

Tracker is known far and wide for his skills as a hunter: “He has a nose,” people say. Engaged to track down a mysterious boy who disappeared three years earlier, Tracker breaks his own rule of always working alone when he finds himself part of a group that comes together to search for the boy. The band is a hodgepodge, full of unusual characters with secrets of their own, including a shape-shifting man-animal known as Leopard.

As Tracker follows the boy’s scent–from one ancient city to another; into dense forests and across deep rivers–he and the band are set upon by creatures intent on destroying them. As he struggles to survive, Tracker starts to wonder: Who, really, is this boy? Why has he been missing for so long? Why do so many people want to keep Tracker from finding him? And perhaps the most important questions of all: Who is telling the truth, and who is lying?

4. The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker

I received The Dreamers back in December but still haven’t gotten around to reading it. It was Belletrist’s book of the month for January so it has to be good. Maybe this month I’ll finally have the time?

From the publisher:

One night in an isolated college town in the hills of Southern California, a first-year student stumbles into her dorm room, falls asleep—and doesn’t wake up. She sleeps through the morning, into the evening. Her roommate, Mei, cannot rouse her. Neither can the paramedics, nor the perplexed doctors at the hospital. When a second girl falls asleep, and then a third, Mei finds herself thrust together with an eccentric classmate as panic takes hold of the college and spreads to the town. A young couple tries to protect their newborn baby as the once-quiet streets descend into chaos. Two sisters turn to each other for comfort as their survivalist father prepares for disaster.

Those affected by the illness, doctors discover, are displaying unusual levels of brain activity, higher than has ever been recorded before. They are dreaming heightened dreams—but of what?

5. The Water Cure by Sophie Mackintosh

From the publisher:

King has tenderly staked out a territory for his wife and three daughters, Grace, Lia, and Sky. He has lain the barbed wire; he has anchored the buoys in the water; he has marked out a clear message: Do not enter. Or viewed from another angle: Not safe to leave. Here women are protected from the chaos and violence of men on the mainland. The cult-like rituals and therapies they endure fortify them from the spreading toxicity of a degrading world.

     But when their father, the only man they’ve ever seen, disappears, they retreat further inward until the day two men and a boy wash ashore. Over the span of one blistering hot week, a psychological cat-and-mouse game plays out. Sexual tensions and sibling rivalries flare as the sisters confront the amorphous threat the strangers represent. Can they survive the men?

Do you think any of these reads would make it on your TBR list? Anything I should add? Be sure to let me know in the comments!

The post 5 New Books I’m Excited to Read This Spring appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/03/05/5-new-books-im-excited-to-read-this-spring/feed/ 1 1555
Dear Reader Book Club Launch http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/01/03/dear-reader-book-club-launch/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=dear-reader-book-club-launch http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/01/03/dear-reader-book-club-launch/#comments Thu, 03 Jan 2019 14:55:54 +0000 http://www.patiencerandle.com/?p=1472 That last line of Jane Eyre still hits me in the feels. You know the one: “Reader, I married him.” Charlotte Brontë breaks the fourth wall and addresses her audience to tell us about her happy ending. It’s so direct and carries so much weight. Because of this line, the reader becomes part of the story…

The post Dear Reader Book Club Launch appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
January Book Club Pick, There There by Tommy Orange
That last line of Jane Eyre still hits me in the feels. You know the one:

“Reader, I married him.”

Charlotte Brontë breaks the fourth wall and addresses her audience to tell us about her happy ending. It’s so direct and carries so much weight. Because of this line, the reader becomes part of the story too.

When coming up with a name for this book club, I knew it had to celebrate the kindred relationship the reader has to the books that we consume. The act of reading is so special for so many of us.

Dear Reader just clicked.

This is something that I’ve wanted to do for a little over a year now, but I had absolutely NO idea how to get started. Fast-forward to 2019, and I still don’t know if I’m doing this right, but I really felt led to put this together for you all (and for myself).

Dear Reader will exist online under the hashtag #dearreaderbookclub, and will also have a physical book club component with bi-monthly meetings that rotate at various local bookstores in Kansas City. I hope this book club inspires readers to build small groups in their communities to discuss literature that focuses on a myriad of diverse topics. With Dear Reader, I want to recreate the feeling you get when you sit at the table with your good friends to have a home-cooked meal. I hope it provides nourishment and good conversation. I hope it feels like coming home even when your miles away.

I am SO happy to announce the first ever Dear Reader Book Club Pick: There There by Tommy Orange. It’s a beautiful, yet heartbreaking novel about the various paths of several different urban Native American people living in Oakland. As soon as I finished reading There There, I knew it had to be the first pick for Dear Reader.

Here’s a quick description:

As we learn the reasons that each person is attending the Big Oakland Powwow—some generous, some fearful, some joyful, some violent—momentum builds toward a shocking yet inevitable conclusion that changes everything. Jacquie Red Feather is newly sober and trying to make it back to the family she left behind in shame. Dene Oxendene is pulling his life back together after his uncle’s death and has come to work at the powwow to honor his uncle’s memory. Opal Viola Victoria Bear Shield has come to watch her nephew Orvil, who has taught himself traditional Indian dance through YouTube videos and will to perform in public for the very first time. There will be glorious communion, and a spectacle of sacred tradition and pageantry. And there will be sacrifice, and heroism, and loss.

If you plan on purchasing There There to read for Dear Reader, be sure to support your local indie bookstores. Or put it on hold at your local library. There are only 12 seats for this month’s book club so be sure to RSVP below to hold your spot!

REGISTER FOR DEAR READER

We’re really doing this! WHOO!

#dearreaderbookclub

The post Dear Reader Book Club Launch appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
http://www.patiencerandle.com/2019/01/03/dear-reader-book-club-launch/feed/ 1 1472
My Top Reads of 2018 http://www.patiencerandle.com/2018/12/17/my-top-reads-of-2018/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=my-top-reads-of-2018 http://www.patiencerandle.com/2018/12/17/my-top-reads-of-2018/#comments Mon, 17 Dec 2018 14:17:17 +0000 http://www.patiencerandle.com/?p=1414 Shoutout to my girl James for asking me to put this list together! Below are some of my favorite reads of 2018 (in no particular order). It’s been a weird year for reading.  I didn’t meet my Goodreads goal this year. But I did read some pretty interesting books, and found a few gems worth talking…

The post My Top Reads of 2018 appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
Shoutout to my girl James for asking me to put this list together! Below are some of my favorite reads of 2018 (in no particular order). It’s been a weird year for reading.  I didn’t meet my Goodreads goal this year. But I did read some pretty interesting books, and found a few gems worth talking about. So I’ve listed a few of those below.

Happy reading!

1. Cherry by Nico Walker

A rapid-fire, wild ride of a novel. War + opioid addiction. An engaging, not for the faint of heart read.

2. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

This classic take a little bit to get into, but once you commit to reading it, it takes over and sucks you in.

3. Rediscovering An American Community of Color by Nancy Burns and Janette Greenwood

Lately, I’ve been obsessing over rare photographs of African American people from the past. This book is fascinating and deserves a place in every American’s home library.

4. Salt Fat Acid Heat by Samin Nosrat

After watching the Netflix Series Salt Fat Acid Heat featuring Samin Nosrat. I was hooked. Samin is so freaking adorable and seriously has some of THEE best cooking advice. If you’ve ever wanted to cook great meals but don’t know where to start, Salt Fat Acid Heat is the perfect cookbook to start with.

5. Becoming by Michelle Obama

Becoming was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it did not disappoint. One of the most beautiful memoirs I’ve ever read.

6. The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morin

When’s the last time you were so engrossed in a book that you forgot about all of your responsibilities?

7. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

An American Marriage blew me away! Tayari Jones is a magnetic force and her stories have heart and soul.

“A moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple.” —Barack Obama

8. My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

Not gonna lie, this book was really bizarre. And I still can’t quite tell if it was weird in a good way or bad. The fact is, I’m still talking about it.

What were some of your favorite reads of the year? Did you read as much as you wanted to? I’m looking forward to a clean reading slate in 2019. There are so many good books coming out!

The post My Top Reads of 2018 appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
http://www.patiencerandle.com/2018/12/17/my-top-reads-of-2018/feed/ 2 1414
10 Cozy Reads To Curl Up With This Fall http://www.patiencerandle.com/2018/10/01/10-cozy-reads-to-curl-up-with-this-fall/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=10-cozy-reads-to-curl-up-with-this-fall http://www.patiencerandle.com/2018/10/01/10-cozy-reads-to-curl-up-with-this-fall/#comments Mon, 01 Oct 2018 23:57:27 +0000 http://www.patiencerandle.com/?p=1312 The leaves are changing and it’s getting cool out. Which only means one thing, it’s time to curl up by the fire with a new read! Here are some of the books I’m looking forward to reading/re-reading this fall: The Secret History by Donna Tartt It’s definitely time to revisit my favorite book by Donna…

The post 10 Cozy Reads To Curl Up With This Fall appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
Photo from Unsplash.com

The leaves are changing and it’s getting cool out. Which only means one thing, it’s time to curl up by the fire with a new read! Here are some of the books I’m looking forward to reading/re-reading this fall:

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

It’s definitely time to revisit my favorite book by Donna Tartt! I consider it to be a staple “cold weather” read!

The Fifth To Die by J.D. Barker

Probably my favorite crime series ever! J.D. Barker has a gift for writing the perfect killers. If you’re looking for a good crime read, start with the first book in the series, The Fourth Monkey.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

This month’s Barnes & Noble book club pick. This will be my first Hank Green book!

Compulsively entertaining and powerfully relevant, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing grapples with big themes, including how the social internet is changing fame, rhetoric, and radicalization; how our culture deals with fear and uncertainty; and how vilification and adoration spring for the same dehumanization that follows a life in the public eye. The beginning of an exciting fiction career, An Absolutely Remarkable Thing is a bold and insightful novel of now.

Foe by Iain Reid

“We do not get visitors. Not out here. We never have.”

In Iain Reid’s second haunting, philosophical puzzle of a novel, set in the near-future, Junior and Henrietta live a comfortable, solitary life on their farm, far from the city lights, but in close quarters with each other. One day, a stranger from the city arrives with alarming news: Junior has been randomly selected to travel far away from the farm…very far away. The most unusual part? Arrangements have already been made so that when he leaves, Henrietta won’t have a chance to miss him, because she won’t be left alone—not even for a moment. Henrietta will have company. Familiar company.

The Mermaid and Mrs. Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gowar

A spellbinding story of curiosity, love and obsession from an astonishing new talent. One September evening in 1785, the merchant Jonah Hancock hears urgent knocking on his front door. One of his captains is waiting eagerly on the step. He has sold Jonah’s ship for what appears to be a mermaid. As gossip spreads through the docks, coffee shops, parlours and brothels, everyone wants to see Mr Hancock’s marvel.

The End of Loneliness by Benedict Wells

Jules Moreau’s childhood is shattered after the sudden death of his parents. Enrolled in boarding school where he and his siblings, Marty and Liz, are forced to live apart, the once vivacious and fearless Jules retreats inward, preferring to live within his memories – until he meets Alva, a kindred soul caught in her own grief. Fifteen years pass and the siblings remain strangers to one another, bound by tragedy and struggling to recover the family they once were. Jules, still adrift, is anchored only by his desires to be a writer and to reunite with Alva, who turned her back on their friendship on the precipice of it becoming more. But, just as it seems they can make amends for time wasted, invisible forces – whether fate or chance – intervene. 

Washington Black by Esi Edugyan

From the author of the award-winning international bestseller Half-Blood Blues comes a dazzling adventure story, about a boy who rises from the ashes of slavery to become a free man of the world.

The Witch Elm by Tana French

Toby is a happy-go-lucky charmer who’s dodged a scrape at work and is celebrating with friends when the night takes a turn that will change his life – he surprises two burglars who beat him and leave him for dead. Struggling to recover from his injuries, beginning to understand that he might never be the same man again, he takes refuge at his family’s ancestral home to care for his dying uncle Hugo. Then a skull is found in the trunk of an elm tree in the garden – and as detectives close in, Toby is forced to face the possibility that his past may not be what he has always believed.

The Golden State by Lydia Kiesling

Keenly observed, bristling with humor, and set against the beauty of a little-known part of California, The Golden State is about class and cultural breakdowns, and desperate attempts to bridge old and new worlds. But more than anything, it is about motherhood: its voracious worry, frequent tedium, and enthralling, wondrous love.

Becoming Michelle Obama by Michelle Obama

I mean it’s Michelle!


You can shop all of the books on this list by visiting my Amazon storefront. Be sure to comment and let me know if you end up picking up any of the reads I mentioned above. Also feel free to leave your fall recs as well. I want to know what you’re reading when it gets chilly out!

 

 

The post 10 Cozy Reads To Curl Up With This Fall appeared first on Ink & Fable.

]]>
http://www.patiencerandle.com/2018/10/01/10-cozy-reads-to-curl-up-with-this-fall/feed/ 4 1312