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Jessica Stefani

Books and Life

Tag: Jeanne Birdsall

— Book Review, Literature —

Confessions of a Book Snob

September 12, 2018

I admit it. I’m a book snob.  Well, I should say a recovering book snob. There was a time in my youth when I turned my nose up at anything written less than fifty years ago. I would speed through the book store to ‘Classic Literature’ as if the new releases and genre fiction were contagious. … Read More Confessions of a Book Snob

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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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