Author Archives: Thistle

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About Thistle

Queer, neurospicy, chronically longwinded oversharer. 40s; they/them. ✍️📷🐈📚🥾🇩🇪🏳️‍🌈😇💖🐍

Top Books Picked Out on a Whim

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Thistle

Today’s topic specifies that we’re discussing books picked up without recommendation and without knowing much about the book beforehand. I have a tendency to pick up a lot of books based purely on the cover or mini-description that comes through my … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Talk | Tagged | 12 Comments

Happily Ever After (Part 1)

Posted on May 16, 2016 by Thistle

I’ve been reading a couple of fairy-tale like series this month – princesses! – and instead of reviewing each book one by one, I’m going to do mini-reviews in a single set. No sense clogging up my blog with tons … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Sunday Coffee – The Right Books

Posted on May 15, 2016 by Thistle

Back in 2008, when I first started blogging, I’d spent most of my adulthood reading classics only. A few modern books had caught my attention over the years, but for the most part, I ran up against the same problem … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Talk | Tagged | 4 Comments

Being Mortal, by Atul Gawande (audio)

Posted on May 13, 2016 by Thistle

Subtitled: Medicine and What Matters in the End I recently learned about this book from Bryan at Still Unfinished. I’ve never read much about aging, dying, and mortality in general, and this was honestly the perfect time to come across … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Top Ten Nonbook Sites (and Apps)

Posted on May 10, 2016 by Thistle

I love today’s topic! I’ve been very book-focused here lately, so it feels nice to take a little break from that and think about the not-bookish things in my life. I’m including apps here as well as sites, because some … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal | Tagged | 8 Comments

A Kiss at Midnight, by Eloisa James

Posted on May 9, 2016 by Thistle

After seven years of virtual servitude at the hands of her callous stepmother, Kate once more has her wants overruled. Her stepsister is injured and thus cannot go with her fiance to meet the prince and gain approval for the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, Adult, Prose | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Sunday Coffee – Things I Love

Posted on May 8, 2016 by Thistle

A couple years ago, on the cusp of moving to the Boston area, I attended a writer’s conference. There were many agents and editors in attendance, each with their specialties and preferences on the conference website. One agent specified that … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Talk | Tagged , | 8 Comments

The Raven King, by Maggie Stiefvater

Posted on May 6, 2016 by Thistle

1. Book 4 of the Raven Cycle. 2. There will be no spoilers at all in this review (book or series). 3. I honestly considered simply writing the word LOVE!!!!! on this review and being done with it. 4. I … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, 2017, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Readathon: The Selection, by Kiera Cass

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Thistle

America Singer is perfectly fine with her life. Sure, her family isn’t rich or part of an upper caste, but the love of her life lives next door, and she’s happy with the profession she’s assigned by society. Then she … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Readathon: The Trouble With Destiny, by Lauren Morrill

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Thistle

Liza is determined. As the drum major for her band in a school where music funding is about to get severely cut, she needs to find a way to save the program. Enter the Destiny cruise, where high school performers … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, Prose, Young Adult | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments