Going Home to Hogwarts…

January 6, 2021

In these trying times, I have found myself yearning for the books and movies I used to watch and read when I was younger. I pulled my battered copy of “The Chamber of Secrets” from my bookshelf and was slapped with a wave of nostalgia. I remember the taste of butterbeer, the sound of the films’ soundtrack, the excitement I felt walking through Hogsmeade and exploring Diagon Alley, the feeling of a warm January day in Florida. I had forgotten how much of my childhood was built around Harry Potter…

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Book Review: Slaughterhouse-Five

Kurt Vonnegut’s 1969 novel “Slaughterhouse-Five” is a spectacular mix of the science fiction and antiwar genres that comes as a response to Vonnegut’s own experience having been one of the few to survive the Dresden firebombing of World War II. It’s fairly often that the reader finds themself stuck trying to distinguish between the two genres as the book’s main character, Billy Pilgrim, repeatedly becomes “unstuck in time” or, in simple terms, time travels between events in his life…

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Magic of the Season

October 7, 2020

Halloween isn’t just a time for dressing up, scaring people, and eating candy. It is also a time for scary stories, or even non-scary stories filled with magic and fairy tales. If you are looking for a fantastical book with a refreshing take on magic to enjoy this spooky season, I recommend Magic For Liars by Sarah Gailey…

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To Do: Read

September 24, 2020

Here is a fun fact that’s not so fun: spending all day on the computer for class can be mentally and physically exhausting. Now, that’s not a surprise. The big surprise for me has been just how easily I get bored and antsy during the school day! Based on my misadventures and attempts to take care of my brain during busy days, here are some tips to stay on top of your work while fueling yourself with free time…

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In This Month: Happy Birthday, Mr. Bradbury!

August 17, 2020

Are you a fan of horror and spooky stories that send shivers down your spine? Is science fiction is more your thing? Or perhaps you find magical realism most attention grabbing. This month marks what would be Ray Bradbury’s 100th birthday, and although he isn’t a popular name in gossip magazines or on television, you probably recognize his name from your high school and college “required reading” lists. You might not be able to name any of his works past what was on your syllabus, but he boasts a large catalog of speculative fiction books and collections that hold something for everyone…

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In This Month: Welcome (Back) To The “Twilight” Zone

It is not at all uncommon for the examination of former adolescent passions to result in feelings of embarrassment. Most people can think of at least one thing they were obsessed with growing up that now only carries nostalgic appeal—and for many the subject of interest was a literary universe. If you were an avid reader as a kid, books like Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, The Hunger Games (and yes, Twilight), may have at one point felt like the most important thing in the world; stories you would never not be completely engulfed in. ..

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