Recent Posts
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Girl on Fire: Havin’ a colorful summer
[As seen in Creston News Advertiser, July 3, 2013] irst, I want to say I got a letter last week. The letter came from Fire Service Training Bureau in Ames, and said I passed both the practical and written aspects of my firefighter test. I’m now a certified Creston volunteer firefighter! Second, I read an […]
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Girl on Fire: A nice, little introduction
[As seen in Creston News Advertiser, June 20, 2013] “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” My cousin Christy’s blog starts with that quote, and I think it’s relatable to me. First, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m 23, and have been a staff reporter for the News Advertiser since mid-November. I […]
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Top Ten Young Adult movies
For those still out looking for who they really are, here are some novels and series that might help. And, if they don’t, at least they are entertaining. Harry Potter series, written by J.K. Rowling (2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011) Hunger Games trilogy, written by Suzanne Collins (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) The […]
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Top Ten Comic Book movies
Everyone is digging films based on comic book heroes lately, so here’s a top ten list for those comic book crazies. League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) Batman Begins franchise (2005, 2008, 2012) Blade series (1998, 2002, 2004) Captain America series (includes Avengers appearances) (2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) Road to Perdition (2002) Watchmen (2009) Constantine (2005) Kick-Ass […]
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Top Ten Western movies
There are plenty of those out there that love a good Western, something like True Grit. Check these films out, based on Western novels. Ned Kelly (2003) Open Range (2003) Jeremiah Johnson (1972) 3:10 to Yuma (1957, 2007) The Alamo (2004) Dances with Wolves (1990) The Great Train Robbery (1903, 1979) Tombstone (1993) All the […]
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Top Ten Historical Nonfiction novels
Here’s another side to history: the real side. Creatively written historical nonfiction can be super interesting! What do you think? Devil in the White City by Erik Larson (2003) A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah (2007) The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester (1998) The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon (1961) […]
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Top Ten Historical Fiction novels
If you love history, which I do, but also love fiction, which I do also, check out some great historical fiction novels. They are based on historical events, but with a fictional plot right alongside. Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (2013) East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952) The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne […]
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Top Ten Fantasies
Sometimes, it’s always fun to lose yourself in a good fantasy novel. Here are ten novels and series worth looking into, in no particular order. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (1997-2007) His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman (1995-2000) A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin (1996- present) American Gods […]
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Top Ten Horror novels
Here are ten of the scariest novels ever. Have you read them? Maybe you should wait until the sun comes up… Dracula by Bram Stoker (1897) Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (1818) The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (1886) The Shining by Stephen King (1977) Interview with the Vampire […]
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Book Review: Faithful Place by Tana French
Title: Faithful Place Author: Tana French Published: 2010 Publisher: Penguin Group Pages: 416 From: Barnes and Noble It’s hard to imagine giving up someone you love, but Frank Mackey managed to do just that in Tana French’s third novel, Faithful Place. The novel, published in 2010, focuses on the undercover cop from her novel The […]
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