Tag: Chicago

  • Girl on Fire: Mother nature can be so breathtaking

    [As seen in Creston News Advertiser October 15, 2015] The sunlight was warm on my face as I trudged up a steep incline, little clouds of dust forming around my Nikes with each step. The dirt and grass were dappled with light until I reached an opening in the trees at the top of the […]

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  • Girl on Fire: Musical, races make for great weekend

    [As seen in Creston News Advertiser, May 7, 2015] Last weekend I had the opportunity to see a modern production of “The Lion King” Saturday at the Des Moines Civic Center. That was probably one of the best productions I’ve ever seen.

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  • Girl on Fire: A trip to sunny Phoenix in the dead of winter

    [As seen in Creston News Advertiser, February 6, 2014] Over the weekend I took a short vacation in Phoenix, Ariz., a nice break from the snow and bitter Iowa cold. While I was there, I saw Russel Finehout, my boyfriend, and my aunt and uncle, who winter there. My flight from Des Moines to Chicago […]

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  • Book Review: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

    Title: Allegiant Author: Veronica Roth Published: 2013 Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Pages: 544 From: Barnes and Noble What I’ve failed to give author Veronica Roth credit for in previous reviews is her ability to delve into the human mind and seek out a person’s character, then be able to show that character to her readers. […]

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  • Book Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

    Title: Insurgent Author: Veronica Roth Published: 2012 Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Pages: 525 From: Barnes and Noble “One choice can destroy you.” The quote on the cover of Veronica Roth’s second novel Insurgent is the perfect lead into the second installment of the author’s Divergent trilogy. Insurgent is a continuation of the first novel Divergent. […]

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  • Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

    Title: Divergent Author: Veronica Roth Published: 2011 Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books Pages: 487 From: Barnes and Noble The first thought I had when I heard about Veronica Roth’s debut novel Divergent was, “Oh, God. Not another one.” I have a natural hate toward anything paranormal, science fiction or fantasy written after the year 2005, thanks […]

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  • Girl on Fire: How books, music inspire my writing

    [As seen in Creston News Advertiser October 17, 2013] One thing I love talking about, which could be one reason why I have a degree in English and creative writing, is books. I’m an avid reader, and occasionally I can devour a book in a day or two. Currently, I’m reading several series, two of […]

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  • Book Review: Wicked by Gregory Maguire

    Title: Wicked Author: Gregory Maguire Published: 1995 Publisher: HarperCollins Pages: 432 From: Barnes and Noble Everyone knows the story of the Wicked Witch of the West, but what I like about Gregory Maguire’s version is it’s not so simplified to good and evil. Shades of grey are part of reality, and the Witch is one […]

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  • Book Review: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

    Title: Sharp Objects Author: Gillian Flynn Published: 2006 Publisher: Shaye Areheart Books Pages: 272 From: Walmart Rating: 9/10 I was watching TV and someone in the show mentioned Agatha Christie. Right then I had the urge to read a mystery novel, preferably something Christie wrote like And Then There Were None. I ran to the […]

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