Drake and Rori went to the land of Aragon, and they were looking for the dragon master of the lightning dragon

It’s amazing how it will only take a month to read the book I was planning on starting my summer out with. Although, in retrospect, I have been trying to finish this book for a few years now, so the fact that I read it all in a month is kind of impressive. The book in question is of course On Stories by C.S. Lewis, a collection of essays he wrote on literature. Due to the book’s eclectic nature I did at times find the quality sporadic, but overall thoroughly educational and enjoyable. Lewis’s prose is absolutely beautiful. He makes simple ideas sound so elegant, and is able to break down complex theories into understandable, approachable concepts. Lewis’s writing is effortlessly artistic, never coming off as crude, hollow, and while he makes his opinions blatantly obvious at times, never transitory. Behind Lewis’s beautiful words, however, are equally elegant ideas. Lewis continues to amaze me with his insight in everything from general storytelling principles to specific works. This collection, On Stories contains a great variety of subjects. I believe this variety to be a part of the book’s greatest strength, and also its greatest flaw. For instance, the second essay in the collections is The Novels of Charles Williams, where Lewis reviews several of his friend Charles William’s books. I have never read any of Charles Williams books. Suffice it to say the essay went over my head. Other essays too also fell into this trap of not being enjoyed by me, a literary ignoramus. Of the essays I did understand (which, to be clear, was most of them), I found them fascinating. On Stories, a proposal to value the actual plot of stories, was brilliant. And as a nerdy teenager who likes to review stories, On Criticism was very enlightening. Something interesting I’ve noticed is how often Lewis repeats himself in his essays. Especially comparing his essay Different Tastes in Literature (in which he criticises the idea that good books and bad books can be only differentiated by taste) to An Experiment in Criticism (a book which I recently read and have already reviewed) was fascinating, because Different Tastes was like a microcosm of An Experiment. Similarly, he mentions the same analogy of why fairytales are considered “for children” in numerous essays, including On Three Ways of Writing for Children, Sometimes Fairy Stories May Say Best What’s to be Said, On Juvenile Tastes, and of course, the aforementioned An Experiment in Criticism. I do not believe that this lessons Lewis’s analysis by any means, but shines light on Lewis’s bluntness. When something has already been explained well, why come up with a brand new explanation? Lewis may repeat similar analogies or ideas in different essays, but each one still offers unique and worthwhile insight.

The Fiend and the Forge by Henry H. Neff, the third book in The Tapestry series, plunges Max McDaniels into a world reshaped by the demon Astaroth’s dark rule. With Rowan Academy in ruins and humanity enslaved, Max sets out alone, driven by grief and a thirst for justice. His journey transforms him into a prisoner, gladiator, and assassin, as he battles supernatural forces and uncovers ancient secrets. This installment deepens the series’ blend of fantasy, mythology, and sci-fi with high stakes and emotional grit.

I LOVED the book: Steelheart, by Brandon Sanderson, because it is so interesting and suspenseful. In general I love books, but this book was phenomenal. It was so interesting, when it was talking about Calamity and all the epic. The line "I've seen Steelheart bleed" is so well crafted. I could stay up all night reading this book. Brandon Sanderson writes this book with so much skill and craftsmanship, I could image I was standing right next to David watching the entire thing. He writes the story in a descriptive way, but not in a distracting manner. I love this book because of the plot, and many other things, like the craftsmanship, the way you can feel the emotions in David, and the way he makes and impossible scenario seem real. The emotions David would feel if Steelheart killed his father in real life are the same he would feel in the book. I like the flashback to the day in the bank at the beginning, and the storyline is so well crafted, nothing sticks out to the reader. This is why I LOVE Steelheart.

Little blue truck says hi to friends and they make different sounds. My favorite part is reading it with mommy. Also the sounds.

Hall was an absolutely fantastic storyteller and I was absolutely gasping at the end with all of the ways that this twisted story found ways to come back together. This novel, and all the subplots wrapped up within it, had me absolutely hooked from the first page.

This one was interesting. I found it to be a very slow read, but a really interesting story. I think Emma Donoghue is a fantastic author, this one just wasn't my favorite of hers.

A fun walk down memory lane music-wise. Fun to think about the what-ifs of all the people I’ve met via music in the 90’s and 2000’s.

Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner is a poignant memoir that explores grief, identity, and the healing power of food. After losing her Korean mother to cancer, Zauner recounts their complex relationship and her journey to reconnect with her heritage. Through vivid memories of Korean dishes and family traditions, she navigates loss and self-discovery, crafting a deeply personal story that resonates across cultures.

I liked this book because the Frog Prince and Daisy helped save the frog pond.