Tag Archives: readers advisory

Happy Ever After: 100 Swoon-Worthy #Romances | NPR #list #books #romance #HEA

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It annoys me when the media and the close-minded do not respect or acknowledge the romance genre as quality fiction. Some of my favourite, most memorable, most thought-provoking and most heart-wrenching reads (and Kleypas re-reads) have been from this genre. Romance = HEA. Romance does not equal just sex or “purple prose.” In my opinion, reading romance contributes to developing social skills (connection, relationship-building) and emotional maturity (empathy, empowerment) – we can all benefit from improving these qualities in ourselves.

What I like about this list from NPR is that the whole series is mentioned – not just specific title(s) considered the best in a series. The list is comprehensive and unranked, sorted into the following categories: Historical, Classics, YA, Suspense, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Paranormal, LGBTQ, Erotic Romance, Inspirational, Contemporary, Category Romance. What I would have liked to see is a fan fiction romance category, as fan fiction is becoming big business with all the Austen and Twilight continuations. The suggestions would be very interesting I’m sure (i.e. the Sharon Lathan P&P series or E.L. James’ 50 Shades of Grey/Grey). The suspense category could have included another Linda Howard title. There were no titles mentioned from Elizabeth Lowell or Jayne Ann Krentz nor was Catherine Anderson’s Annie’s Song mentioned. I would vote for Johanna Lindsey’s Malory series over Warrior’s Woman (SciFi/Fantasy).

A single title only Top 100 Romance list I recommend is from LikesBooks: The Top 100 Romance Books as Voted in 2013. (Note: At the bottom of this webpage are links to historical Top 100 Romances lists from 1998, 2000, 2004, 2007 and 2010).

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As we get into the hottest, most languorous months of the year, it’s the perfect moment for a hot read — and just in time, our big summer book list is here. It’s the NPR Books Summer of Love, and we have 100 great romances for you, from historical to paranormal to LGBTQ to the subgenre that started it all, category romance (the slim-spined Harlequins of your childhood).

Back in June we asked you to tell us about your favorite romantic reads, and you responded in droves. (We had to shut the poll down early after more than 18,000 nominations flooded in!) Once the votes were tallied, we turned to our expert panel, reviewers Bobbi Dumas and Sarah Wendell, and authors Sherry Thomas and Michelle Monkou, to help us break down the categories and shape the final list into a love story for the ages. READ MORE: Happy Ever After: 100 Swoon-Worthy Romances | NPR.

14 #Aboriginal #Women #Writers to Read this Summer | Room Magazine #diversity #books #reading

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I was both honoured and delighted when Room asked me to compile a list of Aboriginal women authors as part of the 2015 celebration of National Aboriginal Day. While this list is by no means a comprehensive list of all the great Aboriginal women writers in Canada, it includes 14 writers whose work I have either come to know and respect or that are on my “to read” list. I have been blessed to have the opportunity to know many of these writers on a personal level.

We are a relatively small but growing community. I have found gatherings such as the National Indigenous Writers Conference and the Ânskohk Aboriginal Literature Festival to be important as they have offered opportunities to meet and learn from Aboriginal women writers. The authors listed here are all accomplished women that have had, or will have, a major impact on Canadian literature in general and Aboriginal literature in particular. READ MORE: 14 Aboriginal Women Writers to Read this Summer | Room Magazine.

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Dune, 50 Years On: How a Science Fiction Novel Changed the World | The Guardian #books #SciFi #ScienceFiction #Dune

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It has sold millions of copies, is perhaps the greatest novel in the science-fiction canon and Star Wars wouldn’t have existed without it. Frank Herbert’s Dune should endure as a politically relevant fantasy from the Age of Aquarius. READ MORE: Dune, 50 years on: how a science fiction novel changed the world | Books | The Guardian.

50 Essential NC-17 Films | @Flavorwire #film #NC17

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Here are 50 films that challenged censors. READ MORE: 50 Essential NC-17 Films | Flavorwire.

35 #Books Every Designer Should Read + 27 #Apps Designers Can’t Live Without| Co.Design #design @FastCoDesign

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Some great design app suggestions that I had not heard of before (like Axure, IFTTT and Processing) and a wide range of design books recommended. Something for everyone.

35 Books Every Designer Should Read | Co.Design | business + design We asked some of the world’s top design schools to share their favorite books. Here’s what they recommend for your summer reading list.

27 Apps Designers Can’t Live Without | Co.Design | business + design
Maybe it’s just Gmail, or maybe it’s something more esoteric like Processing, but there are certain apps we rely on so much that if they suddenly went missing, we’d have a hard time getting by. That’s especially true for designers. Their livelihoods depend upon great software. What’s more, as people who dissect design details all day, they have unique insights into what makes an app great. They can see UI/UX friction points the way Superman can see microscopic structural flaws in steel. So we combed out rolodexes and reached out to more than two dozen designers to ask about the apps they couldn’t live without.

25 Great Literary Series to Replace Your TV Habit This Summer | Flavorwire #books #summerreading #summerreads

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Summertime is upon us: sticky subway rides, backyard barbecues, and a general lack of solid television. You should be outside anyway! I know, hilarious. But instead of binge-watching something old on Netflix, why not binge-read a great book series? You’ll get all the enjoyment of sticking with characters for hours and hours, through complicated, folding plots, and you can make it so Hugh Dancy plays every role (what do books look like in your mind?). Plus, you know, you can totally read these outside. After the jump, check out 25 awesome literary series to read this summer. And, of course, there are lots more out there, so add your favorite to the list. READ MORE: 25 Great Literary Series to Replace Your TV Habit This Summer | Flavorwire.

You May Also Like: Massive List of Summer Reading Lists [2015] #books #summerreading #summer2015 | Infophile

UPDATED Massive List of Summer Reading Lists [2015] #books #summerreading #summer2015

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Girl ReadingThat time of year where we look forward to lazy summer days, if we are fortunate enough to have vacation time, and where all sorts of summer reading lists are suggested by bloggers, publishers and media organizations. So here’s a massive list of links to summer reading lists for 2015. What books will you be inspired to read this summer?

All Ages & Popular

Children’s

Non-Fiction & Intellectual

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10 #Books To Read Before You See The #Movies This Summer | HuffPo #adaptations

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We all love a few hours at the movie theater, but there’s just no substitute for curling up with a few hundred pages of printed magic. READ MORE: 10 Books To Read Before You See The Movies This Summer | Huffington Post

Myers-Briggs Personalities: A Book for Every Type | Flavorwire #MBTI #books

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READ: Myers-Briggs Personalities: A Book for Every Type | Flavorwire.

17 Awesome New Books You Need To Read This Summer | BuzzFeed #books

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Of the 17 books recommended, 13 are written by women! A diverse collection of stories. 17 Awesome New Books You Need To Read This Summer | BuzzFeed