Thursday, December 10, 2020

Where Is Your Bookmark? (More Dork Diaries & Five Fun Holiday Reads)

I still have three other books in progress, but since I have already featured them here, I am sharing the book my daughter and I just started together: Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl (Dork Diaries #2) by Rachel Renée Russell. This is another one in the series Mouse has read before but wanted to read with me her second time around. Hopefully you aren't tired of my mentioning the series yet!

Recipe for disaster: 4 parties. Add 2 friends and 1 crush. Divide by 1 mean girl out to RUIN Nikki. Mix well, put fingers over eyes, and CRINGE. I thought it would NEVER happen, but my life is FINALLY going well for me. 

I’m adjusting to my new school and hanging out with my BFFs Chloe and Zoey. And, get this! My crush, Brandon, has asked ME to be his lab partner—a seriously awesome development. 

However, when I overhear mean girl MacKenzie bragging that Brandon’s taking HER to the Halloween dance, I’m totally BUMMED and sign-up instead to spend Halloween at a kid’s party with my bratty, little sister, Brianna. 

Lucky for me, I find out Mackenzie is lying and my dream of going to the party with Brandon could actually become a reality! But, can I juggle TWO events at the exact same time and survive a wacky assortment of trials, tribulations and disasters?!! HELP!!! [Goodreads Summary]



A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.
I can't believe this is happening to me!

I'm in the girls' bathroom FREAKING OUT!!

There is NO WAY I'm going to survive middle school.

My initial houghts: Nikki does have a flare for drama as often kids her age do. I love her character though. She's easy to relate to, and I know my daughter likes her too. 



A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.


I guess Dad must have thought he was being attacked by some kind of oatmeal-crusted, cucumber-eyed zombie wearing a pink fuzzy robe with a bath towel wrapped around its head.

Which, I have to admit, DOES sound awfully scary when you think about it. [excerpt from page 56]

My thoughts: You missed the scream by a page. Dad's high pitched scream when he first came into sight of just what he didn't know. It's a funny scene. I imagine Mom was none too happy.


Have you ever read this series? Did you have a favorite book series when you were a kid? 


Connect Five Friday is a weekly meme where readers share a list of five books, 
read or unread, or bookish things, that share a common theme. 
Hosted by the  Kathryn of of Book Date.


It has only been in recent years that I started more consciously reading holiday-themed books this time of year.  I thought today I would share five holiday-themed books I have enjoyed over the years.

1. Holiday Romance - This was my most recent holiday-themed read. Imagine reliving the same Christmas over and over again in order to find what will make you happy. That's exactly what happens to Mae Jones in this fun romantic comedy novel, In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren. While I some minor issues with it, overall, I found it as funny and touching as I anticipated.



2. Holiday Historical Fiction - Reading a novel written in letters creates an intimacy with the characters that one might not get otherwise, but it also limits the view of what is going on outside the letters. Both Gaynor and Webb do a great job of compensating for this overall in Last Christmas In Paris by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb. I was thoroughly wrapped up Tom and Evie’s story, set during World War I, with glimpses forward 1968. This is one of my all-time favorite novels. 



3. Holiday Mystery - If you like a little murder with your yuletide, this cozy mystery will put you in the spirit. Bells, Spells, and Murders ( Witch City Mystery #7) by Carol J. Perry features new field reporter Lee Barret, who stumbles on a dead body on assignment for one of her stories. It was a fun read, and one that if you give it a try, I hope you will enjoy it too! 



4. Holiday Nonfiction - If you are looking for something a little different than the more sentimental and traditional Christmas-themed tale, you might want to give The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York by Alex Palmer a try.  It is a good balance between an inspirational read and a cautionary tale about the rise and fall of the Santa Claus Association as well as the history of how Christmas became the extravagant holiday in America it is today. Fraud, kidnapping, stolen art, and much more. Whoever says real life isn't as interesting and entertaining as fiction should take a closer look at history. 



5. Short Story Holiday Fiction (A Mix of Genres) Mrs. Claus: Not the Fairy Tale They Say edited by Rhonda Parrish is bit of romance, science fiction, crime fighting, horror, comedy, action, and a whole lot of magic mixed in, this collection of short stories is worth checking out. It's Mrs. Claus as you have never seen her before. 



What holiday-themed books would you recommend? 


I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!


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38 comments:

  1. I've heard of this series but never read any of the books. Enjoy your current read!

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    1. Breanna - Thank you! It's one of my daughter's favorite series. Anything that gets her to enjoy reading. Thank you for visiting!

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  2. Nikki sounds like a few of the kids I know! I hope you and Mouse continue to enjoy the stories!

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    1. Eustacia - Thanks! I'm not sure how far she's gotten in the series. I'll have to ask her. She will probably make me read them all. Not that I'm complaining. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  3. I love those excerpts. Thanks for sharing, and here's mine: “THE COUSINS”

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    1. Laurel-Rain - It's a fun book. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  4. The Santa Claus man draws my attention for sure.

    The kids at school love Dork Diaries!! It's light and fun and get the girls to read. So yea!!

    Have a good weekend and enjoy all your great books.

    Weekend Book Friends

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    1. Elza - The Santa Claus Man was interesting. Some of the history I was aware of, but a lot of it I wasn't.

      Yes, the Dork Diaries are definitely popular with my daughter. :-)

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  5. In a Holidaze was such a fun read. I loved the family and all of their holiday traditions. Last Christmas is Paris is one I really want to read. I love historical fiction and have heard so many good things about this one.

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    1. Suzanne - I thought so too! I loved the family traditions and families in In a Holidaze. :-) I hope you will give Last Christmas in Paris a try. It's so good! Thank you for visiting!

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  6. I got enough middle school drama when I was a school librarian. I just can not read books about it. I'm glad you and your daughter are enjoying Dork Diaries. I'm spotlighting The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley which was a read/listen combo for me. Happy reading!

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    1. Kathy - I bet you did! LOL I don't like to read books related to my work either (unless it's for work), so I understand. Thank you for stopping by!

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  7. I am intrigued by The Santa Clause Man. Most holiday themed books are cozy books. I usually like the covers, but don't often read them. I think I have a recent one in the stacks, maybe I'll look for it. :)

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    1. Jenclair - Yes, most holiday books seem to be on the sentimental variety. I enjoy those kinds of reads, but The Santa Claus was a nice change of pace. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  8. I like your Christmas-themed list--I actually have the first two on the list. It would be nice to finally get to those. Happy reading, Wendy!

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    1. Catherine - I hope you are able to read them! Thank you for stopping by!

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  9. Sounds like a quite a fun read!! I'm sure we can all relate to parts as well! Happy weekend!

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    1. Freda - It is fun. It makes my daughter laugh, which makes it a winner in my book. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  10. I loved Last Christmas in Paris! Such a good book. :D

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    1. Lark - Last Christmas in Paris was so wonderful. I am glad you loved it too! Thank you for stopping by!

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  11. I love In a Holidaze. That group had some fantastic holiday traditions an dit left me warm and fuzzy

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    1. Samantha - They did have some great traditions. I am glad we both enjoyed In a Holidaze. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  12. The Santa Claus Man looks quite interesting. I will have to add that to my TBR for next year. I have been reading a lot of Christmas stories and just finished A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig. I have started All I Want for Christmas by Jenny Hale.

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    1. Carla - I hope you enjoy The Santa Claus Man if you read it. I like Jenny Hale. I don't think I've read All I Want For Christmas though. I hope you are enjoying your Christmas reads!

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  13. So many great books on your list. In A Holidaze looks really good. I have to add that one to my list.

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    1. Yvonne - Thank you! I hope you enjoy In a Holidaze if you read it. Thank you for stopping by!

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  14. My daughter used to love The Dork Diaries 😁

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    1. Tammy - My daughter loves them. :-) Thank you for visiting!

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  15. Nikki certainly has 'sass'. I'm not so sure that Enid Blyton's teenage sleuths had that kind of attitude, back in the day! Sign of the times, or just me getting old? :)

    I really like the sound of 'Last Christmas In Paris', one of those Christmas books which can be read at any time of the year and it is definitely heading for my list.

    Thanks for sharing and have a peaceful weekend :)

    Yvonne Xx

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    1. Yvonne - Nikki is very relatable. She can be too self-deprecating sometimes, but it's pretty realistic. We haven't gotten into Enid Blyton, but my daughter does like Nancy Drew. The modern version of her, anyway.

      I hope you get a chance to read Last Christmas in Paris if you read it!

      Thank you for stopping by!

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  16. This series sounds like so much fun! I love seeing you feature it again. That tells me these must be great reads. Hope you have a great weekend! :)

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    1. Ashley - It is a fun series. And it's a long one too, so plenty more books to go. Thank you for visiting!

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  17. That's a great five of holiday reads and a good variety - some cosy and fun, some more intense.

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    1. Kathryn - Thank you! I tried to vary it a bit to make sure several genres were covered. :-) Thank you for stopping by!

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  18. I love that Carol J Perry series and am really looking forward to getting to that book. I have Santa Claus Man on my TBR and may have to add a few more!

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    1. Katherine - I hope you enjoy the Carol J. Perry book and The Santa Claus Man when you read them! Thank you for visiting!

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  19. I love the variety of holiday reads you shared - nonfiction, cozy, historical, etc. And, I think that's so sweet that your little one wanted to read that book with you.

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    1. Iliana - Mouse is a bit of a reluctant reader, and so anything that will excite her about opening a book! Thank you for stopping by!

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