Lovely Little Shelf

Monthly Archives: August 2011

Review: The Lives and Loves of Violet and Daisy Hilton

The Book: The Lives and Loves of Violet and Daisy Hilton: A True Story of Conjoined Twins, by Dean Jenson
The Story: Violet and Daisy Hilton were born attached at the lower back in the early 1900’s.  From day one, they were kind of a big hit.  Their mother gave them up to the midwife who [...]

Vlog: Books Going to Decatur

So, here it is. My first ever vlog.  Feel free to laugh at me.

And, as promised: Julie’s crazy stack of books

Bookish Thoughts: Free Books

This is outside of a small bookstore in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Big box stores, take note. Indie stores have a heart.
That’s all.

Review: Going Up the River

The Book: Going Up the River: Travels in a Prison Nation, by Joseph T. Hallinan
The Story: This is just the story of how the prison system has grown and changed in America over the last 200 years.  Much of the book specifically focuses on how prisons have changed in the last 30 or so years, [...]

Bookish Thoughts: John Green on Nerds

So, I have been following John Green’s tumblr at the recommendation of a few friends.
Can I say that I’m sort of in love with him?  That’s right, I’m becoming a proud member of the John Green fan club.
I’ve seen these quotes by him a couple of times, but today he posted them on his tumblr [...]

Bookish Thoughts: Truth.

I remember reading this in Prince of Tides and laughing out loud.
When I saw it today on Pintrest it had a similar effect.

Presidential Challenge: Martin Van Buren

Martin Van Buren, by Ted Widmer
In the intro to this book, the author says that most Americans know one thing about Martin Van Buren: that he was the president and that he had amazing side burns…. and for me that just about sums it up. I knew a teeny bit from the Andrew Jackson bio [...]

Bookish News: Decatur Book Festival

Not trying to alarm anyone, but the Decatur Book Festival is in less than two weeks. SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE.
In what is maybe the nerdiest, but most wonderful decision I’ve made in awhile, I will be meeting a bunch of my online book-nerd friends there.  Jennie, Julie, Crystal, just to name a few will be there and it [...]

Bookish Thoughts: Upcycled Shelves

I absolutely love the idea of re-using something that is headed for a junk heap somewhere.
Here are a few little ideas I’ve been compiling for our next bookshelf adventure.

This is probably one of my favorite things ever.  I love how it somehow manages to look modern and vintage all at once and I can only [...]

Review: Break the Skin

Woo Hoo! Day #7.  I should do this more often. I feel so frigging successful!

The Book: Break the Skin, by Lee Martin
The Story: Laney is kind of this mixed up teenager.  She doesn’t want to finish school or live with her mom or really do much of anything except sing.  When she meets 35 year [...]