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How to Read 30 Books in a Year: A New Year’s Resolution
Late December is the time that people start thinking of their resolutions or their goals for the next year, and among the usual suspects of “lose weight” and “eat better” is the ever-present “read more.” But how do you do that? It’s fine to say, to want it, but how do you actually go about reading more than a book or two a year? I’m here to help you. I finished university in April of 2014. I spent four years in courses pertaining to my degree — English Literature. That means that I was either writing essays or reading books. In third year I had five English courses and had…
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Bookworms Unite With #50BookPledge
How many books can you get through in a year? By joining the 50 Book Pledge initiative and using the official tag, #50BookPledge, on Twitter, book lovers everywhere can keep track of exactly just how much of a bookworm they are. It all started with the creation of The Savvy Reader, a blog created back in 2006 and hosted by HarperCollins Canada. It was a response to the then-outdated HarperCollins website, which didn’t reflect the values and services the publishing company wanted to give to its readers. Through The Savvy Reader, HarperCollins is able to “connect and engage with readers as readers rather than as publishers and marketers,” says Kaitlyn…
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OTD Recommends: Life-Changing Books
On the Danforth staff is a passionate about books and reading. Here are all the books that changed our lives, we think you should read them too!
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9 Books Every Bibliophile Should Read
Tender Buttons by Gertrude Stein Simply the name of this book is enough to send any 3rd or 4th year student into wailing despair. Tender Buttons is a nonsensical masterpiece that delves into the very meaning of what words can and cannot be. Don’t let this text scare you away, though you might want to prepare for battle before reading. 1984 by George Orwell We all know this one; many of us read it in high school. 1984 is a classic, and one that should be given its yearly dues. Reading this book again at a critical turning point in ones life (like, say, the first year of university) is…
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5 Books about Mental Illness
Mental illness is something that affects many people, either directly or through someone they know. The Canadian Mental Health Association states that 20% of Canadians will experience mental illness personally. With schizophrenia and bipolar disorder each affecting 1% of the population, anxiety disorders affecting 5%, and depression affecting 8% of the adult population and 17% of the youth population (aged 12 to 19), mental illnesses are getting more attention. This fact is shown in the amount of novels published about various mental illnesses. Though there are many books you can read that will give you some perspective on what it may be like to live with a mental illness, these…
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6 Spots to Shop for a Literature Lover
Do you have a book nerd friend who not only enjoys reading books, but loves the scent of an old library? Or the sound of a book being cracked open for the first time? Are you a book fan yourself? If not, I’m sure you’ve at least ventured into a Chapters or Indigo to check out their home living section or to grab a cup from your favourite coffee mermaid, and found yourself walking through a sea of books, wondering how you got there. The holidays are upon us and if you’re looking for a new book for yourself or a gift for someone else, here are six independent stores…
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Book Review: Six of Crows
We’ve all got secrets, we all carry shame, and there are things each of us desperately wants, especially things that are wrong for us. Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows isn’t just a fast-paced, frantically page-turning heist story; it speaks to the complexities of each person, how we’re made of contradictions. Six of Crows is set in the fantasy city of Ketterdam (similar to Holland), where thugs and thieves run the streets and Kaz Brekker is their crippled, trickster king. Multiple viewpoints bring to life the diversity of characters who are all coming together to pull off the impossible: breaking into one of the most notoriously guarded prisons in the world…
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6 Reasons Hermione Granger Should Have Stayed Single
Forget about Ron or Harry. Hermione would have done better alone. BY BEATRIZ SANCHEZ 1) Ron is too needy He was always begging for attention. Having a big family wasn’t an excuse for him to act this way. 2) Harry’s ego is annoying You know, since he is “the chosen one” and all… 3) She’s usually acts as the “mom” of the group And seriously…what kind of sick person would find it appealing to marry their mom? 4) She is smarter than the both of them, combined Hermione was the one who solved every problem the three friends came across. Ron was usually useless and Harry would always screw everything…
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Life Eruptions: Full Interview
A Closer Look at Mary Stanik and Her Novel Life Erupted By Rebecca Taylor Life can often take unexpected turns. Jenn Bergquist, protagonist of Mary Stanik’s Life Erupted, is no exception—there are quite a few twists and turns along the way in her story. Her life is turned upside down when she meets Bianca Fiona, a new patient at the medical centre where Jenn works. Jenn embarks on a journey at Bianca’s request, but little does Jenn know that this adventure will change everything from her views on family to her outlook on life. I took the opportunity to talk with Mary Stanik about her book and about life’s many trials.
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Profile: Stacey Madden
Author of Poison Shy By Meghan Gribben Stacey Madden is a writer currently residing in The Beach. His stories, poems, reviews, and essays have been published in places such as The Globe and Mail, Open Book: Toronto, Encore Literary Magazine, Quill & Quire, and Broken Pencil. His first novel, Poison Shy, was published by ECW Press in Fall 2012. He owns a cat and is a bit of a hypochondriac. He enjoys beer, British comedy, and quiet reading time. Stacey was born and raised in the east end of Toronto. Despite his father’s wish that he’d grow up to be a hockey star, Stacey nurtured a passion for reading and writing,…