Painting Evolution

 In order to have a finished painting - usually the process for me involves several previous paintings. 

For instance a house:

A window or outside the house:

Outside building (still needs improvement)

Some of these are copies of pictures, some are copies with my twist, and some are just paintings from my head. But almost always there are several before pictures and some okay pictures and some good ones.

I learn from the mistakes I make or mistakes I see in the final product. 

It also means I have a boatload of paintings just hanging around my house. And I’m not sure what to do with most of them. 

Thoughts?

Review: Drop Dead Famous

 

Stevie's sister Blair is coming home. She's a super famous pop star. But on the evening of the concert, she's found dead - murdered. Stevie knows she should let the police handle it, but they never found her cousin who went missing and they never found the person who killed a local teen. She doesn't have a lot of faith in the police, even though her father used to be one.

Instead, she and her new friend Colby start investigating. Stevie and Blair used to be really close, but the fame changed Blair. Stevie doesn't know her sister anymore. The more she looks into her sister's death - the more she realizes there are a lot of secrets. Secrets that maybe should stay buried...

My Thoughts: I really loved this book - I loved all the secrets, the twists and turns, and the danger. I loved the new friendship between Stevie and Colby. Yes, this book is long, but it didn't feel long. I loved Stevie's determination to uncover the truth - especially after everything that's happened in the past. 

Cover Thoughts: Perfect

Source: ARC sent for review

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your teen's school and public library collection. 

Picture Book Review: Street Through Time

 

This nonfiction picture book is fascinating. It takes the same European street by the river and showcases it throughout time periods in history. It starts with settlements and you can see how things change but also stay the same. You can see the influence of other cultures. You can see how quickly things go poorly. I love how the illustrations look inside the buildings. (I like the puzzles that do this too). This is a book to pour over and notice all the little details. It might even spark some research questions. 

Top Ten Tuesday: New to Me Authors

 This week's topic is Books I Want to Read by New to Me Authors 

Any of these on your list? Or have you read them?

Middle Grade Review: Goodbye French Fry

 

Ping-Ping's having a hard time. At school, there's a boy bullying her. Her father might get a new job - in Korea. Her little brother Xy is worried about moving. She's 100% American but doesn't feel like it. She doesn't feel Chinese either. Why can't life be easy for once?

My Thoughts: There's a lot of drama in this book - friendship, family, and school. I felt really bad for Ping-Ping and all her troubles - especially the bullying. I wanted to wrap her and Xy in big hugs. But I admired the way they handled themselves. 

Cover Thoughts: Powerful

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Highly recommended for your school and public libraries. 

New Writing Idea

 I had a new writing idea that I've been playing with here and there for a month or so. I don't have too much written as it's still percolating, but...

Review: The Landscapes of Anne of Green Gables

 

This book was:

 part biography of LM Montgomery

part of Anne of Green Gables

and a whole lot of nature.

There were a few points that were redundant, but book was stunning - well worth the library check out for the pictures alone.

Here are a few pictures - I had to force myself to stop.

The house that inspired Green Gables 

Her parents and the house she was born in.

I can see Anne and Marilla walking down this path

I just want to be here

Anne's house

Perfection

The Lake of Shining Waters 

Maud's room - where she brought nature and plants inside

She had a love for flowers - just like Anne

This book made me want to go back to Prince Edward Island, which is not the easiest place to get to. Hopefully one day soon!