Kate Willis's Blog, page 9

how to prepare your used book haul for the bookshelf

(In retrospect, this post is ironic due to my impending doom book-buying ban.) I love book thrifting for the deals, the joy of the hunt, and the variety I can find. A huge percentage of the books I own are thrifted from my local Goodwill(s), Savers, a charity thriftstore, and two used bookstores in the...Continue reading »

currently reading: Leo Tolstoy and agents

I’m constantly reading something new, and I thought it would be fun to take some time once a week to share my thoughts about what I’m currently reading. (For more real-time updates, check out my Goodreads.) Please note, I do not endorse any of these books until I’ve finished reading them. 😉 I’m not a...Continue reading »

it’s Jewish American Heritage month again

I was telling a story at the dinner table with my family earlier this month in which I realized for the first time that not everyone loves my Jewish heritage. I had assumed (naively, as 2016 Kate so often was) since we both lived in the US and were going to college together that our...Continue reading »

it’s time for a book buying ban

Between challenge books, a Book Outlet order, and thrifting trips (two of which were ridiculously successful), I’m booked out. Seriously, I haven’t done book hauls lately cause it’s kind of embarrassing how happily off-the-rails my book buying went. 🫣 It’s all been great deals, so it hasn’t been too hard on my budget, and almost...Continue reading »

i wrote a thing!

Since I finished “A Dream of Family in late November last year, I’ve been kind of drifting. Writing hasn’t been a regular part of my life or this blog. Sure, I wrote two short stories and attempted to begin my next book, but those have been blips in a creatively dead time. I’ve missed deadline...Continue reading »

after almost a decade, The Book Thief still holds up

Instead of sharing regular reviews here (that will stay on my Goodreads), I’ve decided to highlight my most favoritest of favorite books this year. 😉 I’ve already covered a few, which you can find by clicking the “Favorites” tag. My new favorite movie I don’t remember how I first stumbled on it, but my family and I...Continue reading »

currently reading: The Ordinary Princess and sci-fi

I’m constantly reading something new, and I thought it would be fun to take some time once a week to share my thoughts about what I’m currently reading. (For more real-time updates, check out my Goodreads.) Please note, I do not endorse any of these books until I’ve finished reading them. 😉 I mentioned recently...Continue reading »

diagnosing my characters

Just for fun, I thought I might “diagnose” my characters with the physical and mental health problems I think they probably have. Let me know if you disagree on any of these! I’m curious to know your thoughts. Kiera Kiera is a hard one to pin down since she lives in a dystopian world, and...Continue reading »

the Goodreads blog tag (second edition)

I thought it would be fun to recycle another tag I did years ago, and since I love Goodreads so much, this one seemed perfect. (I use Goodreads multiple times a day, so some of these answers may not still be accurate by the time this post goes live.) What was the last book you...Continue reading »

another Mother’s Day

I’ve loved babies as long as I can remember. When other girls were playing games or talking with each other, I saw it as my chance to get to hold the current community baby without competition. I think the babies liked me, too. I was eerily calm and quiet back then, and it was my...Continue reading »