Book Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Author: Markus Zusak
Series: N/A
Audience: +16
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf
Release Date: March 14th 2006
My Rating: 3.5 Cups
Source: Own Copy
Blurb (from Goodreads):

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will be busier still.

By her brother's graveside, Liesel's life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger's Handbook, left behind there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel's foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel's world is both opened up, and closed down.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

2018 Bookending Winter Day 2: Dear Santa...

Welcome to day 2 of the Bookending Winter event!! Today Anthony's prompt is all about writing a letter to Santa. I think the last letter I wrote to Santa was when I was about 10, so 20 years ago *slow sigh* Yeah...With that being said, here's my attempt at a good letter to Santa.

Blogmas Day 2: Favorite Christmas Foods

Food has always been an important part of my life. I’ve always loved the seemingly complicated recipes my mom, grandmother and great-grandmother knew how to make, and when I was old enough to understand basic cooking rules I started making my own things. Small things at first, and then I grew more confident in my abilities in the kitchen and started trying out recipes no one in my family knew how to make.

The Christmas dinner is a huge event in my family. We’re not a big family, but we sure know how to make a Christmas dinner feel like a royal event. From the entrée, to soup, to main course and ending with dessert, it’s probably the most food I eat in a day, until New Year’s Eve that is. Because my family celebrates both events with huge enthusiasm, and we have two big dinners before the year ends. What can I say, we love food.

Since I moved in another country, we don’t make all of the dishes, but some of them are a must at the dinner table before the gift unwrapping starts. Out of all of the dishes, some are my absolute favorite.

Blogmas Day 1: 2018 Bookish Gift Guide

It's the most stressful time of the year. It doesn't matter what type of winter holiday you celebrate, having to come up with the perfect gift for someone is, for the most part, pretty stressful. Especially when it comes to people with specific interests, like books. If you are afraid of buying your favorite bookish person a book they already have, or something they might not be interested in, or if you just don't have time to look for something unique that might soothe your bookish person's soul, I've got you covered.

*Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored. I have not been asked to include these shops on today's post, these are just the ones I found while I was searching for the respective items on the internet.

Bookending Winter Day 1: Christmas Characters Tag

It's the 1st of December guys, which means Sam and Clo have come together to make another fantastic event, this time called Bookending Winter. Just as Blogoween, there are daily prompts and weekly hosts, and I'm going to have sooo much fun.

Book Review: The Enchanted Sonata by Heather Dixon Wallwork

Author: Heather Dixon Wallwork
Series: N/A
Audience: +16
Genre: YA, Retelling
Publisher: The Wallworkshop
Release Date: October 23rd 2018
My Rating: 4 Cups
Source: Netgalley
Blurb (from Goodreads):

Clara Stahlbaum has her future perfectly planned: marry the handsome pianist, Johann Kahler (ah!), and settle down to a life full of music. But all that changes on Christmas Eve, when Clara receives a mysterious and magical nutcracker.

Whisked away to his world--an enchanted empire of beautiful palaces, fickle fairies, enormous rats, and a prince--Clara must face a magician who uses music as spells...and the future she thought she wanted.

"The Enchanted Sonata," a retelling of The Nutcracker Ballet with a dash of The Pied Piper, will captivate readers of all ages.

*Disclaimer: I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my rating or the content of my review in any way.