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Shawna Blogs: I'm A Book Buying Addict



Whether it’s a big box brick-and-mortar store, Amazon, small shop, or Goodwill - I am addicted to the search and hunt and PURCHASING of books! 

Today I found myself at Barnes and Noble, because they were having a 30% off sale plus my membership discount, I mean, what choice did I have? I HAD to see what the deals were! I went in, optimistically thinking I may purchase 2 or 3 books. Not sure why I try and tell myself lies, because I know FULL well I’m going to be leaving with an armload of books!

I began my hunt with the children's area to add to the kids' library. I came across Creepy Pair of Underwear and Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds and they were a HIT! I’ve already read and re-read them multiple times. The stories are clever and cute and the bunny’s name is Jasper, which is my son's name, so he was excited about that.

I also got What Do You Do With an Idea?, What Do You Do With a Chance?, and What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada. These books are very thoughtful with great illustrations that lead you on a journey to look deeper into experiences that come your way. I snagged FOUR Classic Stories: The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett), Treasure Island (Robert Louis Stevenson), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Mark Twain), and Robin Hood (retold by Peter Clover). These are abridged versions of great classics and just the right size for my 4 year old twins and 6 year old twins. The illustrations are fun and colorful and I know they will enjoy the stories of adventure and wonder! The last book I found for them was The Little Rabbit by Nicola Killen, which follows this little bunny on a magical adventure, sure to be a hit for upcoming Easter!

And now…on to myself! Of course I had to grab some more World War II novels - I just can’t help it! So my latest acquisitions are We Must Be Brave by Frances Liardet, At the Wolf's Table by Rosella Postorino, and Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck. A beautiful copy of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte was on clearance and I have *shamefully* never read it, so I had to grab that as well. I then found a very interesting book that caught my eye because of the cover. Mr. Dickens and His Carol by Samantha Silva, which tells the story of how one of the most beloved Christmas stories came to be! (I actually started reading this one before I even left the store).

Then, for some reason, I am drawn to stories about children who go missing or are kidnapped - I have no idea WHY since that is one of my greatest paralyzing fears. So I found this book, One More Day by Kelly Simmons and it seems so mysterious and interesting about a boy who goes missing in the few seconds his mothers back is turned. Then he turns up for one day, and then goes missing again. Yep…terrifying. Next, I was intrigued by One Thousand White Women by Jim Fergus which is based on actual historical events of white women marrying Cheyenne warriors through a secret government program. Then we have The Girl Who Wrote in Silk by Kelli Estes, which sounds so different from anything I’ve ever read, which uncovers he tragic story of a young Chinese girl told through the silk fabric she has created. And FINALLY, Moloka’i by Alan Brennert. I am so excited about this book because I have lived in Hawaii for 6 years and I love the beauty of their culture. This story is a redemptive story of a young girl sent to an island for Lepers and how she realizes she can still start her life instead of wait for it to end. 

I am extremely excited about my “haul” today and now my only problem is that I am adding MORE books to my TBR (to be read) list! But, like I said before - I. CAN’T. HELP. IT!

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