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Book Picks and Pics is your expert source for book reviews, photography tips, travel scenes, and creative inspiration.
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Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
★★★★★ With its message of gratitude and reciprocating gifts, Braiding Sweetgrass was an excellent choice to read during the Thanksgiving season. Using the braiding metaphor, the author, trained as a botanist, weaves scientific, environmental, cultural, and spiritual knowledge to teach readers a different way of seeing the world.
The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger
★★★★☆ Krueger weaves a strong sense of place and respect for the land into his historical fiction novels. In the case of The River We Remember, the Alabaster River, which flows through Black Earth County, is as integral to the story as the main characters, Sheriff Brody Dern and several other residents of Jewel, Minnesota.
More than a Book or a Lesson
I’m embarrassed to admit this: as much as I love reading and photography, I’d never considered combining my passions and reading a book about photography. Fortunately, thanks to a recommendation, this light bulb finally went off!
Photo Tips
How to Level Up Your Photography Skills
Three and a half years ago, I rediscovered my love for photography while standing in a Panera parking lot, watching an amazing sunset unfold. Since then, landscape photography has become
Creativity When Everything Isn’t Coming Up Roses
It’s unavoidable – some days or weeks are harder than others. Despite our best efforts, things just don’t turn out the way we want. I recently had a week that
Indie Reviews
Fire at Her Fingertips by Rebecca Crunden
★★★★☆ Written in the second person, Fire at Her Fingertips is about a young woman who lives with daily rejection by her family. She has nothing, not even a birthday, to call her own. Nothing, except the flames at her fingertips, that is.
The Io Project by J.E. Clarkson
★★★★★ Callie Sullivan headlines The Io Project, a new sci-fi series by J.E. Clarkson. In book one, Sullivan accepts the opportunity to work with the renowned Horatio Brookes, an inventor and philanthropist, on an environmental project after climate change starts having an accelerated impact.
Secrets They Never Told by Kayla Hicks
★★★★☆ Secrets They Never Told by Kayla Hicks is a heartwarming story about 18 year old Sadi who is preparing for a new stage in her life after the tragic death of her parents.
Sadi is a lovable character – you can’t help but to want her to find peace and happiness. Her best friend, Parker, is also an endearing character. Everyone needs someone like him in their lives.
Dystopian Reviews
The Io Project by J.E. Clarkson
★★★★★ Callie Sullivan headlines The Io Project, a new sci-fi series by J.E. Clarkson. In book one, Sullivan accepts the opportunity to work with the renowned Horatio Brookes, an inventor and philanthropist, on an environmental project after climate change starts having an accelerated impact.
The Guidal: Unearthing Secrets by Roxy Eloise
★★★★☆ The Guidal: Unearthing Secrets is the second book in Roxy Eloise’s dystopian series, which she began publishing after landing a contract in a Twitter pitch event.
In The Guidal, we return to Boulderfell Institute, where Aurora makes a shocking discovery.
Embryo Zero by Trevor Wynyard
★★★★☆ The second book in the dystopian fiction Streetlighters Trilogy, Embryo Zero again features brothers Matthew and Kevin Turner, along with a few new characters and familiar faces from the first book.
The brothers are estranged as Matt takes Kevin’s place at university, and finds himself propelled into national hero status. Meanwhile, his younger brother makes a risky move in an attempt to have a different future for himself and his family.
Travel Scene
The Art and Architecture of Quebec City
My family took our first trip to Canada this summer, where we spent time in Quebec City, Quebec, and Halifax, Nova Scotia. Quebec City was our first stop, where we
Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia
This summer, my family took a trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia. When planning the itinerary for our stay, one of my must-sees in the area was Peggy’s Cove, which is
Science Fiction Reviews
The Io Project by J.E. Clarkson
★★★★★ Callie Sullivan headlines The Io Project, a new sci-fi series by J.E. Clarkson. In book one, Sullivan accepts the opportunity to work with the renowned Horatio Brookes, an inventor and philanthropist, on an environmental project after climate change starts having an accelerated impact.
Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
★★★★★ I was browsing a bookstore while vacationing in Canada when I ran across Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel. I had previously read Station Eleven by her, and though it was well-written, it wasn’t my favorite. Sea of Tranquility was different.
The Day After Never by Nathan Van Coops
★★★☆☆ The Day After Never is book three in Nathan Van Coops’ time-traveling series. I loved In Times Like These, the first book in the series and, while I didn’t like The Chronothon (Book 2) quite as much, its Amazing Race-style plot and pacing held my attention.
Mental Health Reviews
Stolen Focus by Johann Hari
★★★☆☆ I was reminded of Stolen Focus when admiring an artist friend’s ability to focus deeply while creating. This skill is increasingly rare in a society that has conditioned us all to believe we have to constantly multitask in order to be successful, valuable, or productive.
Climb Out of the Traps
Have you fallen into the trap? The negative thinking trap. You know the traps I’m talking about. The one that has you obsessing and taking things personally that probably don’t have anything to do with you.
These traps zap creativity and drain productivity because they monopolize our mental energy and lock us into a narrow way of thinking.
Effortless by Greg McKeown
★★★☆☆ I listened to McKeown’s book Essentialism and it was a game changer for me. I wanted more of his wisdom on how to simplify my life and get more with less effort. Unfortunately, Effortless: Make it Easier to Do What Matters Most wasn’t as revolutionary as Essentialism.