Hello, lovely people of PB!

I'm once again in need of recommendations, and I thought who better to ask than the PB community!

The theme of my next book club is "the sea" and I don't know any books that fits it 😭

What's the best book you've read that would fit it ?

I do have a few restrictions: I do not want romance or thrillers, as I really do not like those 2 genres but I'm open to everything else 😁

If possible, it would really help me out if this book has been translated into French, as it is the language in which the book clubs will take place. But don't worry if you don't know if it's been translated, I'll check it out myself!

Are there any pet peeves you have when receiving ARC's?

I'm talking like the ones who get physical ARCs and then proceed to sell them on whatever place for $$$

I think my biggest one is receiving a highly anticipated ARC and the publisher only uploading it in PDF format so you're forced to read on the NetGalley app and it has no brightness control so it's like reading while staring into the sun

ARC stands for Advanced Reader Copy and they're free copies of books sent to people to review before publication to build hype for official release. They're very helpful!

I've been thinking about this lately bc I'm in the habit of writing my first and last name inside the cover of the books I own. I started as a kid because a lot of my books were retired from my mom's classroom, and they had our last name written in them/on the spines so they didn't disappear at school somewhere. Naturally, I just assumed this is standard practice for book ownership, and started doing the same inside the covers. I also buy a lot of used books and I always love to find dedications, names, and annotations in a book and write mine alongside them. I think about the people who will hopefully one day pick up my copies and add their names to the list.

On the other hand, I feel a little weird about writing my name in books sometimes because it feels very, well, possessive, and I love the idea of letting books come and go from my personal library in a more free-flowing exchange between friends. Getting to pass on a book I loved to someone I love is so gratifying and fun, and receiving a well loved copy from a friend feels like a precious gift. As much as this system appeals to me, I just sometimes struggle to part with a beloved book once I've read and reread and annotated it to the point that it feels more like a memento than a mass market paperback.

Basically what I'm saying is I have way too many thoughts about this and I can't make up my mind...what do y'all think?

What is a book you absolutely love but it has a very low rating on here or other sites? A book you just really connected with or a guilty pleasure of yours, something you just get and you don’t care that others don’t hahah

This book uses first person, second person, and third person perspectives. It's very confusing! Especially because it might switch mid-page! Here is a mini guide :)

-2nd person: the main character? (I guess?) this person (you) is watching a play -3rd person: follows the story of the two main characters in the "play" -1st person: the internal thoughts of people in the scene at that very moment

I hope this makes all of your reading experiences easier! 💕

I promise this will be my last post about this, but I really couldn't resist. Today is the last day of my 32-year teaching career. I am officially retired in 4 hours. I was going to post something about what teaching meant to me today but then a student handed me a note. The note said everything I felt about teaching. It was wonderful. It completely encapsulated why I think my job is so important. For any teachers out there, or anyone who wonders why people teach, I'm posting the note here for you (I did ask my students' permission). I am not going to lie, it was hard for me not to sit down with her and say," Let's see if we can tighten this up," but I didn't. These are her words, complete.

I just wanted to say thank you for being one of the best teachers I have ever had. It honestly makes me really sad to know that you are retiring this year, especially since I graduate tomorrow night. It feels emotional knowing that this chapter is ending because you have been such an important teacher to me and so many other students. Thank you for always making me laugh, especially on days when I was in a bad mood or going through a hard time. Even when I didn’t feel like smiling, somehow you always found a way to make class fun or make me laugh without even trying. That meant more to me than you probably realize. You made school easier on hard days. You are not just a teacher to me, you are someone I will always remember for your kindness, humor, patience, and the way you always cared about your students. A lot of teachers teach lessons from books, but you taught lessons that people will carry through life. You made a difference in so many lives, including mine. It honestly hurts to know you are retiring, because teachers like you are hard to find. I’m really going to miss seeing you at school, hearing your jokes, and the way you could always make everyone smile. Even Years from now, I know I will still remember your class and the impact you had on me. As I graduate tomorrow night and move on to high school, I just want you to know that I’ll never forget you or everything you’ve done for us. Thank you for always being supportive, funny, caring, and real with your students. You truly made school a better place. I hope you have the best retirement ever and an amazing summer. You deserve the happiness, rest, and so many good memories after everything you have done for your students over the years. Thank you for everything, Mr. Daley. I am going to miss you so much.