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There’s just something about horror that makes it better in small doses. You can only ratchet up the tension so many times before people start getting wise to the game you’re playing. The scares get stale, and then your book is about as frightening as an elementary school haunted house. I don’t say that to rag on authors who write long-form horror pieces. Stephen King’s IT is one of my favorite books of all time — as well as one of the scariest books I’ve ever read — and it’s over 1,000 pages....

Don’t be intimidated by these fluffy friends. There’s a lot of amigurumi that you can do with basic stitches! Check out our guide to basic crochet books if you need a leg up. Amamani Puzzle Balls by Dedri Uys A cross between amigurumi and Amish puzzle balls, these patterns work up into some unique multi-part toys. Be aware: plushy puzzle animals are not for the weak of heart! If you’re looking for a challenge, this is your first stop....

Thank you, dear reader, for allowing me this indulgence. I like to imagine that after this goes live, my Pinterest board will come to life out there in the wild. So, without further ado, enjoy these bookish gender neutral nursery ideas! Bookish Wall Art for Your Gender-Neutral Nursery This Winnie the Pooh wall decal will remind your little one how much they’re loved. You can also buy a print version of this quote....

Certainly, summer is a magical time. The children are out of school and the teachers are (kind of) free. Of course, that means it’s up to parents and caregivers to engage their little ones through those long summer days. While it might not be common practice for preschoolers, many schools utilize summer reading lists to keep children engaged in literacy activities year-round. Accordingly, these lists are one way schools attempt to combat the so-called “summer slide....

If the young trick-or-treaters in your life are looking for more stories about witches, there are dozens of options, ranging from picture books aimed at very young readers, through chapter books for those building their confidence, to longer reads for older children who are seeking to scare or inspire themselves with a witchy tale. Here are 15 witch books for kids, with a mix of spooky horror tales, fun school stories, and enchantingly-illustrated picture books, which will keep the young magic fans in your life entertained long past Halloween night....

It’s no surprise that authors past and present have found Arthurian legends a rich source of inspiration. Some look at the way that Arthur and his knights are ultimately doomed to fail, while others look at the promise that, in the world’s time of need, Arthur will return to save us all. (I’m not rushing you, Art, but now would be the time). There have been queer and feminist retellings of Arthurian myth, and settings have included everything from the medieval era to a far-off spacefaring future....

I especially can’t believe the amount of new books on my TBR. Between listening to writers, librarians, and book reviewers rave about these books, I just knew I had to write this list. So without further ado, I present 15 BookFest adult fiction reads that I look forward to reading! 15 Adult Fiction Books From BookFest Check out our list of other book events that happen during the summer! It’s a 2020 list, so some may not be virtual anymore, but others like the Decateur Book Festival will be online this year too....

Kurt Vonnegut Quotes on Life, the Universe, and everything “Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies—‘God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.’” —God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater “There is no order in the world around us, we must adapt ourselves to the requirements of chaos instead....

While positive thinking is good in the short run, few can maintain positivity in the face of any and all obstacles. Instead, it requires regular work. I’ve chosen these positive thinking books to reflect a variety of ways to fuel that work. Hopefully they will increase your positivity and help you keep going no matter what difficulties you’re facing. And that’s the last of my positive thinking books for 2020....

13 young adult authors… 13 heart-stopping tales… This collection will “delight longtime Poe fans just as much as readers who haven’t read the classics” (Beth Revis). We’ve all—well, most of us—been on that awkward first date. The one that made you question your own judgement, wonder if you have any taste at all, ask yourself, well, is this all that’s left in the dating pool? Is this punishment for my sins?...

The suit, filed Tuesday in the L.A. County Superior Court, alleges sexual abuse, harassment, and fraud. It comes as a result of the circumstances surrounding the film’s nude scene. Initially, director Franco Zeffirelli told the two teen stars they’d only be required to wear flesh-toned underwear for the scene, but the underwear changed to body makeup, and then finally to a promise that the camera would be positioned in such a way as to not show their naked bodies....

Ever since the success of the original film, the Alien franchise has expanded by leaps and bounds. It is now comprised of the four original films (Alien, Aliens, Alien3, and Alien Resurrection) as well as the two most recent additions (Prometheus and Alien: Covenant). But it’s not just movies! The Alien franchise now also encompasses video games, graphic novels, and books! Lots and lots of books, in fact. So grab your flamethrowers, your cat carriers (Hi, Jonesy), your motion detectors, and your space suits....

#1 New York Times bestselling author C. J. Box’s Treasure State finds Cassie Dewell in Montana on the trail of a con man. This audiobook is read by Christina Delaine. I love listening to audiobooks across many genres, but one of my favorite types of genres to listen to? Mysteries, obviously. Mysteries just lend themselves so well to the audiobook form. The right narration ups the sense of suspense in the story and creates the perfect atmosphere for surprising twists and turns....

Tomb of Sand is the first book originally written in any Indian language to win the award and the first novel translated from Hindi to be recognized in the prize’s history. Set in northern India, the novel follows the path of an 80-year-old-woman who in the wake of her husband’s death and a period of depression decides to reclaim her life and travels to Pakistan to confront the unresolved traumas of her experiences as a teenager during the Partition....

For full disclosure, while the majority of stamps listed are the typical rubber stamp, you’ll also find some made of other materials such as silicon. If this is important to you, please be sure to read the linked listing carefully. Find one that speaks to you below. Rubber Stamps for Book Lovers Try this compact and adorable Mini Rubber Bookish by PlannerMe, $3.71+ If you love books and rodents, this one is for you: Cling Stack of Books by OreliusThings, $9 What you really need is an assortment of designs: Assorted Bookish Rubber Stamp by MayMayStationery, $5....

But come on, admit it. That’s not the only reason we read manga. We also read manga for the baddies. The villains. The sly ones. The patient ones. The pretty ones. The demons. Manga has some of the best demons in comics. They are unabashedly evil. Gleefully snarky. They have the best hair and the best clothes (sometimes lack thereof) and often the very best swords. Heroes are great, but there’s nothing like a good villain and there’s no villain like a denizen of Hell....

Nineteen-year-old Na has always lived in the shadow of her younger brother, Bao-bao, her parents’ cherished son. Years ago, Na’s parents left her in the countryside and went to work in the city, bringing Bao-bao along and committing everything to his education. But when Bao-bao dies suddenly, Na realizes how little she knew him. Did he really kill himself because of a low score on China’s all-important college entrance exam?...

This magical little green book was a revelation to me. Each quote is a bite-sized piece of wisdom expressed in a straightforward yet luscious way. When I opened the book, I sat down and read it cover to cover. When I got to the end, I had tears in my eyes. In those quotes, Cheryl had told me what I needed to hear. I immediately ordered a copy of Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar, and proceeded to read it three times in a matter of months....

Pilsen Community Books in Pilsen (Instagram) Roscoe Books in Roscoe Village (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram) The Underground Bookstore in Calumet Heights The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram) Armadillo’s Pillow in Roger’s Park (Instagram) 57th Street Books in Hyde Park (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram) Myopic Books in Wicker Park Selected Works in the Loop (Facebook) Challenger’s Comics in Bucktown (Facebook | Twitter | Instagram)...

An adaptation of Shaftesbury’s award-winning, groundbreaking queer vampire web series of the same name, Carmilla mixes the camp of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the snark of Veronica Mars, and the mysterious atmosphere of Welcome to Nightvale. Growing up in the United States, pop culture bombarded me with images of vampires. Or rather, vampires that fit a certain aesthetic: sharp fangs, pale skin, and an aversion toward sunlight. But here’s the thing about growing up in an immigrant family that comes from a country with lots of supernatural folklore: you learn about those monsters, too....