Have you ever read a book and wished you could visit the places described? I know when I first read Narnia I peeked in the back of closets hoping for a glimpse of a winter wonderland. Some authors possess an undeniable ability at describing beautiful landscapes, from majestic forests to stunning castles, all the way…
Month: April 2023
The Sin Eater Book Review
“Don’t I know by now that folk see their sins in the way they choose? There’s always a reason as to why selfishness is not really selfish and crimes are honest and waiting safely by while some folk else is killed is really the more courageous choice.” Megan Campisi, The Sin Eater Do you ever…
Seven Major Story Elements Used in Every Story
All great stories contain the same basic story elements. From Shakespearian literature, to children’s imaginative daydreams, to the next big Hollywood movie, to story based video games, the same building blocks are used in all story creation. Oftentimes, we don’t focus on the individual pieces or why each piece is important to the story. If…
The Hound of the Baskervilles Book Review
I grew up watching Sherlock Holmes movies. From the ones starring Robert Downey Jr. to the TV show starring Benedict Cumberbatch, I convinced myself I loved Sherlock Holmes. So when I saw The Hound of the Baskervilles on my scratch off poster of must read novels, I thought I had found an easy read. I…
10 Must-Read Realistic Fiction Novels
Not too long ago, Jonas wrote a piece on different genres. However, in his list, he missed one of my favorites. Realistic fiction is often overlooked, so I can’t say I blame him. I think the reason being is they carry many different themes that leave them being sorted into different genres. While books can…
I’m Glad My Mom Died Book Review
Welcome to Umbra Ex Libris’s first nonfiction book review! All of our previous book reviews have been on fiction novels because that’s what we like to read most. I find a lot of nonfiction books boring and easy to put down. However, I could not put this book down. This is probably the first memoir…
Passive Voice Versus Active Voice
In high school English, a lesson I struggled with talked about active versus passive voice. I thought to myself, why is this important, and when will I ever need to use this. Maybe those thoughts lead me to not care about the subject matter taught. However, in college I discovered a passion for writing. This…