But remember, here at Pass/Fail, we’re not judging the product created when a property is adapted, we’re judging the faithfulness of that adaptation to either the spirit or the letter of the comic that spawned it. Full disclosure: I saw Green Lantern once. A long time ago. Usually when I prep for these posts, if it’s been a minute, I rewatch to make sure I’m fresh. I’m not rewatching Green Lantern....
But the more Sherlock Holmes adaptations I watch, the more I begin to see patterns. Not all of these patterns are good ones. Take, for instance, the case of Mycroft Holmes. Hi, Mycroft! For the non-Holmesians, Mycroft is Sherlock’s older brother. He is much smarter than his more famous sibling, but in every other way, he is Sherlock’s opposite. Where Sherlock is energetic, Mycroft never leaves the sanctuary of his club if he can help it....
Like real women, fictional women are asked to be many things, and often criticized for being the wrong things, whatever those may be. Rather than look at those “bad” traits, I will be giving a rundown of the “good” traits most often found in a truly likable female character. I’ve scoured books, internet forums, and the underside of my shoe to come up with a description of this…not perfect, but extremely likable female character....
The challenges took place over the course of several months in 2009. This week, Phillip Todd Wilson, the principal who oversaw the banning of these books from the classroom, was arrested and faces child pornography charges. Wilson is being charged with fifteen counts of distribution of matter portraying sexual performance by a minor, first offense, and fifteen counts of possession or viewing matter portraying sexual performance of a minor, according to a news release from the Kentucky State Police....
We can all agree on one thing, regardless of our personal memories, though: those Romantic Poets were a heck of an emo bunch. They wrote Odes to everything; talked about hills and dales in the context of, err, not the Earth’s landscape; and offered some of the most beautifully tacky love songs of their time. So, naturally, it can be a little challenging to differentiate between their heartfelt words and the heartfelt lyrics of some of the most popular boy bands....
When every modern convenience is lost after a mass power outage, Kevin Barton’s family faces starvation. Their troubles are compounded by the fact that their teenage daughter’s best friend is stranded at their house after a sleepover — leaving them with an extra mouth to feed. Help is offered by the man who stops the town from sliding into everyone-for-themselves chaos but then he gives Kevin an unthinkable ultimatum. With the peace of the town and Kevin’s own family hanging in the balance, he faces a two-front war....
For fans of My (Not So) Perfect Life and Jasmine Guillory’s While We Were Dating, a disarmingly fun debut novel follows Carlisa Henton as her life comes undone after a chance meeting with a rising pop star. With fresh and honest prose, Good Morning, Love examines the uncertainty of being a new professional looking to chase a dream while also trying to survive in a world that’s not always kind to ambitious women....
Betty Cooper and Val Smith are best friends. They’ve always done everything together—even creating the world of Sparklespacelandia–so, Betty assumes they’ll continue to be an unbreakable duo in middle school. But Val finds herself drawn towards a music elective, without Betty. Suddenly Betty’s on her own, struggling to deal with being in the loser drama class–that happens to be dominated by snotty Veronica Lodge! Even her other friends, like Archie, Jughead, and Sabrina, aren’t making it better....
I still love sending snail mail, and I often drop a postcard in the mail just to say hey. The great thing about postcards is that they can be short and sweet. I mean, you can cram a ton of words on there if you want, but you can also just dash off a few sentences or a joke or a draw a silly little comic. It’s fun for you and fun for the recipient....
Created by Book Riot, this smartly designed reading log consists of entry pages to record stats, impressions, and reviews of each book you read. Evenly interspersed among these entry pages are 12 challenges inspired by Book Riot’s annual Read Harder initiative, which began in 2015 to encourage readers to pick up passed-over books, try out new genres, and choose titles from a wider range of voices and perspectives. Indulge your inner book nerd and read a book about books, get a new perspective on current events by reading a book written by an immigrant, find a hidden gem by reading a book published by an independent press, and so much more....
Whether you’re traveling around the world or relaxing on your couch this summer, Libby, the one-tap reading app from OverDrive will make sure you always have a good book with you. Instantly access thousands of eBooks and audiobooks for free from your library in just one-tap. Thanks to Libby and your library no matter what time it is or where you are, you’ll always have instant access to your next great reading adventure....
I’ve arranged this list in the order you might set a table, starting with table runners and napkins, moving into actual things that you eat with and on, and ending with serving dishes and fun decorations. Needless to say, if you actually set your table with everything here, it would make for one eventful (and possibly headache-inducing) table. This is more of a mix-and-match situation. I’ve collected all the pieces you need to create the perfect bookish table for you, whether that’s an elegant table, a very silly one, a super casual one, or, indeed, an eventful and colorful mix of styles....
There was a viral Twitter thread about it and a slew of nasty comments directed at me for what felt like daring to talk about my mental health instead of prioritizing the risks American librarians have been taking at their workplace. It was especially frustrating since last summer was one of the worst periods for my mental health during the pandemic, and while I’ve managed to be fairly open about my struggle with mental illness over the last few years, I wrote that article during a time where every day felt like either waking up in a panic spell or a struggle to get out of bed....
Bear with me for a minute, because I want to unpack that a bit. First, know that I have lots of thoughts about reading. I’m a former elementary school teacher and former literacy consultant for the Kentucky Department of Education. I have a PhD in curriculum & instruction, with a focus on literacy. I’m a literacy professor currently, and I teach people to teach kids to read for a living....
Weiner has spoken up for how male authors have been heaped praise while women’s fiction is dismissed, including with the “chick lit” label, which she said she’s not a fan of. She said in a 2007 interview she doesn’t like the label because it brings “built-in assumption that you’ve written nothing more meaningful or substantial than a mouthful of cotton candy.” Weiner’s characters are complex with layers of issues they’re dealing with in their lives....
I’m a scientist, and science fiction is my favorite genre. Reading an awe-inspiring sci-fi chapter and then returning to my real-life job in the lab occasionally feels like a “reality vs. expectation” meme, but overall my love for one increases my love for the other. I started reading sci-fi at the end of middle school, which is around the time that girls start to lose their natural interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) because of outside pressures....
Temporary is a slim little book, clocking in at 184 pages, with a bright yellow cover that appealed to my dulled senses. So, as the world seemed to be getting darker and more dismal, and finding a job felt futile, I allowed myself to read. In an alternative world, defined and bound by gig work, finding steady employment is life’s only objective. To achieve “the steadiness” of permanent employment, the narrator of Leichter’s story must perform well in every provisional position she fills....
Where to Start Reading Ally Condie’s Books Further Reading Condie is also the author of The Darkdeep middle grade series with author Brendan Reichs, as well as super sugary romances such as the super readable and adorable novel, Summerlost. No matter where you start and how you discover this author, you will be pleasantly surprised at her amazing writing, sweet characters, and at the wonderful worlds that she creates.
As mentioned in a previous look at some drool-worthy crystal bookends, crystals and gems are having a big moment in the west and have been for a few years. It’s hard to resist looking at something so gorgeous that is so natural, too: it’s a reminder that there is beauty all around us. Whether you’re in the market for a new bookmark, are making your next wish list, or are on the hunt for the perfect gift to give a book lover, you’ll find something unique and worthwhile here....
It’s 2018, and you know what’s still harder to find than a needle in the literary haystack? The non-white heroine. More specifically, I mean a mainstream non-white heroine, in a book that isn’t labelled “Interracial Romance” (as if that’s a sub-genre which should actually exist separately) and tucked away into a minor corner of the book-reading world. Of course I can admit things have gotten better over the last few years: we have things like the #ownvoices movement now, specifically featuring marginalized characters, and I can recall reading a couple of books with Chinese or African American heroines....
