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Jessica Stefani

Books and Life

Tag: Critiques

— Writing —

The Importance of Being . . . Critiqued

June 4, 2018

“More than half of modern culture depends on what one shouldn’t read.” So says Oscar Wilde in The Importance of Being Earnest.  While Wilde was referring to the taboo literature of the time, this quote makes me think of the poorly written/edited books flooding the market today. There are so many of them that I’ve… Read More The Importance of Being . . . Critiqued

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I see that it’s World Book Day . . . Ever wond I see that it’s World Book Day . . . 

Ever wonder who comes up with these? Sounds like a fun job! If I did it, though, every day would be Eat Chocolate, Read, and Hug Your Dog/Cat Day. 

#Bookspines #penguinclothboundclassics #penguinclassics #persuasion #janeaustenfan #austenite #worldbookday2022 #bibliolovers #beautifulbooks #lovelybooks #booklovers #bibliophilelife #bibliophilelifestyle #readingcommunity #literarylifestyle #literarylove
Do any of you collect Macmillan Collector’s Libr Do any of you collect Macmillan Collector’s Library?

I don’t have many, but I love these little books. I like to pick them up on trips. 

#bookcommunity #bibliolovers #bookcollection #bookcollector #bookshelvesofinstagram #arcturuspublishing #bookrainbow #louisamayalcott #littlewomenbook #walden #thoreau #beautifulbooks #lovelybook #bibliophilelife #literarylifestyle
A pretty stack for the weekend. #stacksaturday #b A pretty stack for the weekend.

#stacksaturday #bookspines #barnesandnobleleatherboundclassics #bibliolovers #beautifulbooks #lovelybooks #vintagebookstack #vintagebooks #literarylife #literarylifestyle #bibliophilelife #bibliophilie #bookobsessed #booklove #booklover #andrewlang #bluefairybook
Evening in the library. I love my physical books Evening in the library. 

I love my physical books, but my aging eyes definitely appreciate a kindle for nighttime reading. 🤓

When you read at night, do you have a book light or an e-reader?

This pic’s for you, @carrigrimes ! 💕

#homelibrary #library📚 #moodreader #bibliolovers #bookspines #barnesandnobleleatherboundclassics #beautifulbooks #lovelybook #lovelybooks #readersofinstagram #readingcommunity #literarylifestyle #literarylife #bibliophilelife #bibliophiles #bookobsessed
YA: yea or nay? I’m not a fan. I guess I’m ju YA: yea or nay?

I’m not a fan. I guess I’m just too old. I love middle grade reads, but YA just never strikes the right chords for me.

Speaking of being old: 
Happy boob-squishing day to me. 😬

I know it’s not fun, but be sure you’re keeping up with your annual visits, ladies! 💗 💗

#Bookspines #Bibliolovers #Barnesandnobleleatherboundclassics #bookrainbow #literarylife #literarylifestyle #booklovers #beautifulbooks #puffininbloom #puffinclassics #wordsworthclassics #chroniclesofnarnia #janeaustenfan #booksandteacups
Went a little crazy at Barnes & Noble. 🛍📚 I Went a little crazy at Barnes & Noble. 🛍📚

I’m especially intrigued by An Elderly Lady…. Everything about this book caught my eye: cover, title, and size. Anyone read this? 

#bookflatlays #bookflatlay #bibliolovers #barnesandnobleleatherboundclassics #booksandstationery #bookaccessories #bookstore #booklover #beautifulbooks #lovelybooks
They’re here! After reading about the diaries They’re here! 

After reading about the diaries of Samuel Pepys in 84, Charing Cross Road, I wanted a set for myself. I had heard about them before but never really had a desire to own them. Reading about Helene Hanff’s love of them changed my mind. 

I do plan to read these so they aren’t just shelf decoration, but aren’t they beautiful? 📖❤️

These were printed in 1920 by G. Bell and Sons, LTD. At some point they were sold as a set by London fine bookseller Chas J. Sawyer LTD as evidenced by a small address label on the inside cover. See my stories for a pic!

I love provenance in a book! 

Do you put ex libris stickers/stamps on your collection? I don’t, but I’ve been thinking about doing it.

#vintagebookstack #vintagebooks #vintagebook #booklover #booklove #bibliophilelife #literarylifestyle #literarylife #beautifulbooks #lovelybooks #samuelpepys #bookset #bookspines #diaries #84charingcrossroad #bookstagramfeature #bibliolover #readerslife #bibliophilefeatures #bibliophilebookpile
What’s been your most disappointing read so far What’s been your most disappointing read so far this year? Something surprisingly good? 📖

The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley was a disappointment for me. It was the third in a series, and I don’t really remember the stories for the other 2 but it wasn’t necessary for reading this one. It started off well but fell apart in the end. It was also about 100 pages too long. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I was surprisingly pleased with The Maid by Nita Prose. I had never heard of it before and had no expectations going in. It was a Kindle suggestion. 🔍

The Maid is a contemporary murder mystery with a quirky title character, Molly, who perhaps falls somewhere on the spectrum/neuro-diverse which makes her such an interesting protagonist. And the mystery was great too! I hope this becomes a series. It was a 4/5 ⭐️ for me. 

#Bibliolovers #bibliophilelife #bibliolifestyle #booklovers #bookloversofinstagram #beautifulbooks #lovelybooks #bookshelvesofinstagram #bookshelflove #readersofinstagram #readinglove #bookrecommendations #themaid #nitaprose #dkbooks #gibbssmithbooks #janeaustenfan
I bought this gorgeous Jane Austen book stack teap I bought this gorgeous Jane Austen book stack teapot on my recent visit to Disney World. It was pricey (Disney! 🙄) but I really couldn’t pass it up. The books are: P&P, S&S, and Northanger Abbey. Check out my stories for a closer look!

Finding this made up for Disney no longer carrying the Mary Poppins teacup I wanted. The Alice teacup in this pic is also from Epcot. 

My daughter made these macarons last night! They are as delicious as they look! 💗

#janeawesomewednesday #janeite #janeaustenfan #prideandprejudice #senseandsensibility #northangerabbey #wordsworthclassiccollection #wordsworthcollectorseditions #bookstack #booksandteacups #booksandtea #lovelybooks #beautifulbooks #bibliophilelife #literarylife #literarylifestyle
“You’ll be fascinated to learn (from me that h “You’ll be fascinated to learn (from me that hates novels) that I finally got round to Jane Austen and went out of my mind over Pride and Prejudice which I can’t bring myself to take back to the library till you find me a copy of my own.” HH

I finished Helene Hanff’s 84, Charing Cross Road yesterday and absolutely loved it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I moved on to Q’s Legacy and will finish the week with The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street. 📚❤️

What’s the last book you went out of your mind over?

#bookspines #bookrecommendations #bookreview #readersofinstagram #readerslife #booklove #84charingcrossroad #helenehanff #janeite #janeaustenfan #lovelybook #barnesandnobleleatherboundclassics #bibliophilelife #literarylifestyle #bookstacklove #booksarelife
Happy Valentine’s Day! 💗 Since we just retur Happy Valentine’s Day! 💗

Since we just returned from vacation, my husband and I decided not to buy each other gifts this year (other than that set of Samuel Pepys diaries which I bought yesterday 🤗). 

Tell me your favorite literary couple! 

Mine is Jo March and Professor Bhaer. 💕

I know many lament that Jo didn’t end up with Laurie, but Alcott was adamant about that. She didn’t want Jo to marry at all, but her publisher-and readers!-insisted on it, so she gave Jo an older man who challenged her and matched her intellectually. 

#Bibliolovers #bookspines #wordsworthclassics #bookflatlays #bookflatlay #valentinesbooks #pinkbooks #littlewomen #louisamayalcott #janeaustenfan #janeaustenbooks #penguinthreads #foliosociety #marjoleinbastin #beautifulbooks #lovelybooks #booklove #bibliophilelife #bookobsessed #barnesandnoblecollectibleeditions #bookcollector #bookcollection
Teddy wishes you a blessed Sunday! #shelfiesunday Teddy wishes you a blessed Sunday! #shelfiesunday 

#Bibliolovers #bookspines #bookshelfie #bookshelvesofinstagram #dogsandbooks #bibliophilelife #bibliolifestyle #beautifulbooks #lovelybooks #bookstagramcommunity #shelflove
I returned from Florida to find this had arrived. I returned from Florida to find this had arrived. I’ve been wanting to read it for ages. Only a few pages in and I already love it! 

I went to Disney (of course) while in Florida but was sadly unable to find a replacement for my Mary Poppins teacup which was broken a few months ago. 😔 I did find a fabulous book-themed tea jar, though! I’ll post a pic of that in a few days. 

Happy weekend reading, friends! 💕📚

#Bibliolovers #booksaboutbooks #84charingcrossroad #helenehanff #bookflatlays #bookflatlay #beautifulbooks #lovelybooks #readingtime #weekendreads #literarylife #bibliophilelifestyle #bibliophilelife #booklife #booklover #bookloversofinstagram #bookstagramlife
“I sat and forever am at work here.” Can you “I sat and forever am at work here.”

Can you place that non-literary quote without an online search? It must be the snow that brought it to mind. And if you know where it’s from, you’ll know why. 

I wish I could have sat like this forever today, but the endless amount of snow falling required some shoveling. I also needed to check on my 🐓, who weren’t having any part of the snow. They refused to budge from their warm coop, where they have plenty of food and heated water. 

I still need to go leave some corn and seed for the local wildlife too. With 8+ inches of snow on the ground they’ll need it. 🐿🐦

#snowdayreading #booksandpets #currentlyreading #bookcommunity #instareads #bibliolovers #bookobsession #bookobsessed #literarylife #bibliophilelife #bibliophilelifestyle
A snowstorm is enveloping us, and Teddy has the ri A snowstorm is enveloping us, and Teddy has the right idea. Relaxing in the library is the best way to spend the day.
❄️
I’ve taken a break from reading Wolf Hall. I like it, but it’s not the most engaging book. 
📚
Instead, I’m reading The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley. If you’ve never read anything by her I highly recommend it, especially if you enjoy historical fiction and historical fantasy.

#beautifulbooks #bookrecommendations #bookbassador #lovelybooks #dogsandbooks #homelibrary #bookshelvesofinstagram #bookspines #barnesandnobleleatherboundclassics #puffininbloom #bibliolovers #bibliophilelife #literarylifestyle #susannakearsley
Are you a fan of Sherlock Holmes? 🔍 I was intr Are you a fan of Sherlock Holmes? 🔍

I was introduced to Arthur Conan Doyle in high school when I took Mystery and Science Fiction as an elective. How my small school even managed to offer this is still a mystery to me, but I am forever grateful. In that class I read, in addition to Doyle, Christie, Poe, Verne, Wells, & Arthur C Clarke. 

Is there a specific course from your past that still inspires your literary tastes? 

#sherlockholmes #arthurconandoyle #literaryclassics #beautifulbooks #lovelybooks #bookcoverlove #houndofthebaskervilles #bookrecommendations #bookflatlays #booknerd #literarylifestyle #bibliophilelife #bookbassador #bookishlife #bookishlove #penguinclothboundclassics #bookaddict #bookcommunity #bookaesthetic
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