Book Review - Little Weirds by Jenny Slate

I have seen a few of Jenny Slate's work but, I wouldn't call myself a fan (nor do I hate her). I saw this book in my to be read pile and thought I would give it ago. I figured that since Jenny is a comedian, I would get a few laughs. I liked that the book was written as "small stories". However, even though they were short stories, I found myself re-reading a lot of what I had read. I felt like Jenny wrote this book in a single stream of consciousness. Occasionally, I did find a gem among the weird bits but, I didn't feel like I should work so hard to read a book. If you like eccentric and random things, you might like this book.

 

Book Review - The Bye Bye Man: And Other Strange-but-True Tales by Robert Damon Schneck

Photo Credit - Amazon

In the winter of 1990 in Wisconsin, three college students decide to experiment with an Ouija board. Little did they know that would be a terrible mistake. The board allowed them to make contact with a psychic serial killer known as The Bye Bye Man. When they learned his name, he becomes drawn to you. He is willing to travel day and night for his next victim. You will know he is close when you hear a shrill sound of a steady whistle. He might be even waiting for you outside your bedroom door, talking to you in the voice of a trusted friend.

I see the movie before I read this and thought it was done well. It was scary and entertaining. The book contains several short stories of weird but, true stories. The author provides the story along with some background and provides his theories. Some of the stories were interesting but, I found a few to be dull and boring. Overall, it was an interesting read, and look forward to reading more of his novels.

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Book Spotlight: Brave the Page: A Young Writer’s Guide to Telling Epic Stories by Rebecca Stern and Grant Faulkner + Ideas for Inspiration

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Partly a how-to guide on the nitty-gritty of writing, partly a collection of inspiration to set (and meet) ambitious goals, Brave the Page is the go-to resource for middle-grade writers. Narrated in a fun, refreshingly kid-friendly voice, it champions NaNoWriMo's central mission that everyone's stories deserve to be told. The volume includes chapters on character, plot, setting, and the like; motivating essays from popular authors; advice on how to commit to your goals; a detailed plan for writing a novel or story in a month; and more!

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes in the transformational power of creativity. They provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds--on and off the page. With its first event in 1999, the organization's programs now include National Novel Writing Month in November, Camp NaNoWriMo, the Young Writers Program, Come Write In, and the "Now What?" Months.

 **Disclosure -  This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Topic - Things you can do for motivation to help you with story ideas 

Spending time to write down one's thoughts and emotions are essential for mental health. A common misconception is that you need to be a "writer" or you only "need to write stories or poems". However, even take a few minutes to write whatever you are feeling can give you mental clarity. But, what happens when you are feeling the dreaded writer's block? I have a few ideas that can help you get into the writing mood!

1. Take a long relaxing bath or shower 
2. Go for a walk  in nature  
3. Take a walk utilizing a different route
4. Talk to a stranger
5. Read a book 
6. Do word associations
7. Take a look at photographs and try to picture the memory
8. Listen to music
9. Draw without limits
10. Visit a museum
11. Try eating/cooking a new dish
12. Ask a relative about their favorite memory
13. Research events that happened around a specific day
14. Take a nap
15. Meditate 
16. Try freewriting
17. Eating a favorite childhood dish
18. Playing 
19. Going for a run


What are your favorite things to do when you feel "stuck"? Which techniques helps you the most?


 

Book Review - Tales of the Kingdom by David R. Mains

Photo Credit - Amazon

Scarboy and his brother, Little Child escape from Enchanted City after their mother has passed. They run away to seek safety in Great Park because orphans are enslaved in Enchanted City. Together with his brother, they must gather their courage to conquer their fears to locate the King their mother talked about.

The book is a series of inspiring stories for kids that teach them values such as good and evil, virtues and values, along with the importance of trusting God. To be completely fair, I am probably not the target audience for this book. I found some of the stories hard to get into and I was stumped on some of the hidden meanings.  However, I believe this book would be a great book for children and adults in the target markets.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**