Category: Reading

Books, Reading

Special Feature and Excerpt: Every Time We Say Goodbye (Jane Austen Society #3) by Natalie Jenner

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Special Feature and Excerpt: Every Time We Say Goodbye (Jane Austen Society #3) by Natalie Jenner

Reading the Jane Austen Society books has been a fun little way to revisit some of my favorite Austen novels but in a new way with a more modern-ish twist. I read the first book in the series a few years ago and for me it was just ok, but then I read the second book and it started to grow on me as a series! I love that each book, while part of a larger series, can be read on their own. And the book are not necessarily Austen retellings but rather their own unique story with Austen being more of a backdrop for the larger story.

This book has a lot to recommend itself, an exotic location (Italy) in a post war cinematic world. I think this book sounds like it’s going to be a lot of fun and I love that it’s taking us to this new location and glamorous characters to meet! And considering I work at a Catholic School, I think it will be interesting to see how the Catholic Church influences the films of this time and location. All around it sounds very interesting and I am eager to check it out this spring.

This year my spring and summer reading schedule filled up REALLY fast, especially since I am limiting how many books I will be reviewing in the coming months. So today I was able to share an excerpt with you lovely readers and I have this one on my TBR for the fall. It sounds like it’s going to be a little different from the other books in this series so I am looking forward to seeing how that unfolds! Be sure to get this one on your TBR list and follow along with the other tour stops to see what other readers are saying about this one!

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Books, Reading

A Year of Personal Growth Through Reading: Top Picks for 2024

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on A Year of Personal Growth Through Reading: Top Picks for 2024

Reading is one of the most powerful ways to transform your life. Here’s how you can grow exponentially through books. 

In our digital world, the allure of reading may not be what it used to be. But at the same time, people are suffering from digital burnout, a lack of purpose, and the constant dissatisfaction that comes with existing online in the age of social media. 

While there’s no turning back the clock to the pre-internet era, the good news is that reading books is one of the most powerful ways you can develop your mind and spirit.

Read on to learn how we can harness the power of reading in just a few minutes a day to boost your mental power, focus, empathy, and skills, and gear up for huge growth and success in the year ahead.

Make reading your island of virtue in a sea of bad habits.

Here’s an unpopular opinion that I totally standby: modern life gives us way too many opportunities to self-sabotage.

From time spent browsing social media and doom scrolling to superficial relationships and overstressed work environments, many of us are losing touch with what life is all about.

Reading can be a great antidote to digital fatigue because it forces us to sit quietly, spend time with ourselves, and connect intellectually with some of the greatest writers of our age and days gone by.

These are some of the benefits you’ll enjoy from developing a reading habit this year:

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Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: The Tuscan Daughter by Tessa Harris

by The Lit Bitch1 Comment on Review: The Tuscan Daughter by Tessa Harris

I have been a long time Tessa Harris fan! I read a few of her standalone books over the years and always feel like it was time well spent! I have also enjoyed her mystery series! It’s rare when an author can seamlessly cross over between different genres! She writes with knowledge on several topics and I have been looking forward to this one since I was first approached about it! I couldn’t wait to check it out!

This book takes us to Italy during WWII and gives us interesting insight into the resistance movement in Italy during that time. I don’t really have much background knowledge about the politics of Italy at the time or where they fit into WWII. Most of my own interest and research has been limited to England, France and Germany during this time. However when I saw this book was going to be set in Italy with this kind of new to me history, I was totally on board to review it!

Lately I have been kind of in this reading funk. The books I have been reading have been mostly by authors that I know I will love, but even then I have been so bogged down with work that reading has been difficult. But this book was one that I was anticipating for so long that I made sure I had time and room for it on my calendar and I am so glad that I did because it offered the escape that I desperately needed!

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Books, Reading

From Classics to Modern Bestsellers: Evolution of Gay Dating Themes in Literature

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on From Classics to Modern Bestsellers: Evolution of Gay Dating Themes in Literature

Books are beautiful and valuable for many reasons, but one of the most important must be mirroring the society. Even fictional books in dystopian or utopian worlds show the author’s feelings and opinions about their area and society. So today we’ll look into the evolution of gay dating in literature.

You’ll notice that topics have changed, which is good because it shows that the world is moving to acceptance and equality. But of course, remember that real dating and relationships in books aren’t the same (that can be more or less true depending on the genre).

Let’s first look at the differences…

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Book Critic, Book Review, Books, Literary Criticism, Reading

Review: What the Mountains Remember by Joy Callaway

by The Lit BitchLeave a Comment on Review: What the Mountains Remember by Joy Callaway

I love the Edwardian era. I love the hats, the dresses, and the history! There aren’t that many books set during that time period so when I see one come up for review, I usually jump on it! This particular author is a new to me author and while I have heard of some of her books, I haven’t read any of them yet! So when I saw this book up for review, I was eager for the time period/setting and because I love discovering new to me authors!

To be honest though, this setting didn’t really appeal to me—a new hotel, the Grove Park Inn in the North Carolina mountains, seemed a little basic and uninspiring. However when I started reading about the hotel, the setting grew on me. The Blue Ridge Mountains feel more rugged and robust to me so when I started reading this book I was thinking it would be more like roughing it camping rather than ‘glamping’. Ultimately I ended up really enjoying the setting which was surprising! I thought it added an interesting change for readers!

If you are a historical fiction fan, I hope this one is on your radar! It’s a lovely novel and I think readers will find something refreshing in the pages! I know I did! I am now eager to read more books by this author! I know she has written a number of other historical fiction books set during similar time periods with promising stories that offer new and untold narratives! I cannot wait to check out some of her other books as this one was wonderful!

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