The Literary Adventures of an Opinionated Bookworm

It is not very often that a book cover will match something in my closet; but the girl on the cover of The Glorious Guinness Girls by Emily Hourican is wearing a dress so similar to my high school grad dress, I just had to do a special post/review for it. The "Fanny" of the Guinness Family The relationship between England and Ireland during the 1920s is severely tense, and with the conclusion of the Great War, some families are excelling while others struggle. Such was the case for Felicity, whose mother sends her to live with the Guinness (yes, the beer) family because she cannot afford to keep her. Thus, Felicity (Fliss) enters the glamorous, privileged lives of Aileen, Maureen, and Oonagh Guinness. Despite the fact that it is clear she is not a Guinness Girl herself, Fliss becomes dedicated to the three sisters, accompanying them to parties and becoming their confidant.  A cross between Mansfield Park and Downton Abbey, this book is definitely a window into the roaring tw...

The end of a trilogy can either be a very frustrating event, or a very melancholy feeling. If the ending is not what you hoped, it can feel disappointing to have invested so much time. However, if the ending is satisfying, as was the case for The Toll  by Neal Shusterman, then leaving a series behind can be a concoction of emotions. The Toll The Arc of a Scythe trilogy came to a dramatic, thrilling, wonderful close in the final installment, and while I can say that I enjoyed it, I find it interesting how my interests seemed to change from the story of Citra and Rowan, to Greyson's story. I loved how complex the world got, and the ending was perfectly written, even though I still wanted more. 4 stars from this Bookworm! The only reason it was not a five is because I loved the second one. Second books are great because there is still a build up of tension, fantastic characters, and an ending that does not conclude the whole series and make me wish I could start all over again... Oh w...

The Night Wanderer by Drew Hayden Taylor, with art by Michael Wyatt is a thrilling read that manages to tell a dark tale without plunging all the way into the pit of despair. The story itself was powerful, and the art that filled the pages was absolutely perfect. When Pierre, a mysterious traveler from Europe, arrives at Otter Lake, he discovers that the land he thought he would find was much altered. He moves into the basement of an Indigenous family, and through them learns that the land is not the only thing that has been altered. Tiffany is a sixteen year old girl struggling to cope with her mom walking out on her and her father, coupled with other dilemmas that often come with being a teenager. Despite the fact that Pierre has his own intentions in coming to Otter Lake, his encounters with Tiffany awaken many of his memories, and he endeavors to help her look at the good in her own life instead of the bad. This is a standalone graphic novel, but it has the tone of an origin story ...

Hockey has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember, and the Gretzky family is a huge part of the game I love. Imagine my surprise when I found Great Too  by Glen Gretzky on NetGalley.  Great Too This children's book is about nerves, being overshadowed, and how a good coach and good teammates can make all the difference in a child's life. I also got a sense of how the Gretzky family grew up, which makes me truly believe that they are a beautiful family that are important to the game I love.  Inspired by Walter Gretzky, this story is an example of all coaching in kids' sports should be, and everything I aspire to as a coach. Beautifully illustrated and easy to empathize with, I believe kids will love this book (almost) as much as I do.   Thank you to NetGalley for this 5 star read! If you have any thoughts, questions, or review requests, please comment below, email me (theopinionatedbookworm@gmail.com) or follow me on Instagram (@theopinionatedbookwor...

Before Going Postal , I had never read anything by Terry Pratchett, which is why I am grateful to be in a bookclub. Bookclub gives me the opportunity to pick up books I might not have turned to on my own, and Terry Pratchett is definitely an author everyone should encounter at least once in their lifetime.  Deliver us! When con artist Moist von Lipwig is caught and charged for his crimes, he is given the choice between death, and running Ankh-Morpork's postal service, which has not been functioning at all for years. Deciding to take up the position of postmaster, Moist finds himself surrounded by peculiar problems within the post office, strange employees, and a midnight killer.  It is safe to say I have never read anything quite like Going Postal, as there is no one who writes or thinks like Pratchett. The events of this book are so strange, and yet, so entertaining, mostly because of how they were written. There was a little lull around the quarter mark, but I will give this...