The Running Bibliophile

Something I never realized was that once a year, each state apparently has a national day. In this case, "National New Jersey Day" is July 27. You didn't know this either? That's because it just came into existence in 2017 when National Day Calendar created the holiday.

This new holiday celebrates the day New Jersey signed and ratified the Constitution and Bill of Rights. The year was 1787 and made New Jersey the third state of the new nation called the United states of America.

National New Jersey Day shouldn't be confused with New Jersey Day. In 1664, on June 24, the state of New Jersey came into existence . . . at least appearing on paper for the first time ever. New Jersey Day celebrates the day it was officially created by the Duke of York making it an English Colony.

In honor of National New Jersey Day, I thought I'd share my favorite book series with you that is based out of the Garden State.
Janet Evanovich writes many different books and series, but…

July 20 is National Pennsylvania Day! As the second state of the United States, there are lots of things to celebrate about the Keystone State. The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed in Philadelphia*; the first polio vaccine was developed at the University of Pittsburgh*; and the Pittsburgh Pirates was one of two of the first teams to play in the first ever World Series (baseball)*.
In honor of National Pennsylvania Day, The Running Bibliophile put together a list of books that take place in Pennsylvania. So, light a candle, grab some wine and Hershey chocolate, and slip into a bubble bath while checking out these books set in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.


The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky Taking place in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, PA, The Perks of Being a Wallflower follows Charlie in that awkward time in life between childhood and adulthood as he navigates his freshman year of high school. Topics include sexuality, drugs…

Throughout history, many events have taken place on July 16. Here are a couple worth noting in the publishing world.
On this day in 1951, J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger is published by Little, Brown and Company. Since its publication, The Catcher in the Rye has been deemed a classic and is required reading for many high school students.
With that being said, it is frequently in the top ten most challenged books to be removed from libraries or schools according to the website of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom. The last year it was reported as being in this top ten list was back in 2009. Reasons for wanting it banned include it having offensive language and being sexually explicit.
Also on this day in 2005, J.K. Rowling's sixth installment of the Harry Potter book series, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, is published worldwide and a whooping 9 million copies are sold within 24 hours! In 2006, it won an award for "Best Books f…

In 1870, on this day in history, Georgia was the last confederate state to be readmitted to the United States after the Civil War, which ended in 1865. This was due to Georgia agreeing to allow African Americans take seats in the state legislature. Previously, Georgia had been readmitted in July 1868.
The Running Bibliophile's Recommended Read for July 15 is Margaret Mitchell's Gone With The Wind. The story follows the spoiled Scarlett O'Hara in Atlanta, Georgia during the Civil War and the Reconstruction. Mitchell received a Pulitzer Prize for her novel in 1937, and the novel was turned into a film a couple of years later.


*Source:  On This Day, https://www.onthisday.com/events/july/15
**Source:  Politico, Andrew Glass, 07/14/014, https://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/georgia-civil-war-108886

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On July 14, 1789, revolutionaries in France storm the Bastille, a fortress and prison located in Versailles, France. This particular instance started the French Revolution.
Looking for a book that is related to the storming of the Bastille? We recommend Becoming Marie Antoinette by Juliet Grey. It begins in the year 1766 and introduces us to 10-year old Maria Antonia who is now better known as Marie Antoinette. This is historical fiction novel is the first in a series.
A full review of this book will be published sometime in the next few months, so be on the lookout for our review!


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Don't walk under a ladder . . . A broken mirror brings 7 years bad luck . . . Don't cross paths with a black cat. These are just a few unfounded fears that superstitious people believe in. For those of us that take those superstitions with a grain of salt and like to scare themselves on days like Friday the 13th, here is our book listography of creepy, supernatural, scary, and/or horror books to creep yourself out.

Middle Readers (4th grade through 7th grade)
Goosebumps series by R.L. StineWait Til Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn
Tweens & Teens
Temptation (The Secret Diaries, #1) by Janice HarrellTrick or Treat by Richie Tankersley CusickThe Baby-Sitter by R.L. Stine
Adults
Desperation by Stephen King77 Shadow Street by Dean KoontzCinema of Shadows by Michael WestThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving

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The three books that make up the All Souls Trilogy (A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, & The Book of Life) became one of my all time favorite trilogies when I discovered the first book several years ago and devoured it. Then, one of the book clubs I belong to enjoyed the trilogy so much that we created a private Pintrest board where we posted photos of actors and actresses that we envisioned played the characters should it become a movie or television show.
When it was announced that the All Souls Trilogy was being turned into a television show, I was ecstatic. Sky One & Bad Wolf began casting the show, and I couldn't wait to see who they chose to play the characters. I am disappointed in some of the people who were chosen, but I trust that who the casting directors chose will bring the books to life. 
It has yet to be announced where the series will air in the United States, and everyone that loves the books have been anxiously awaiting for an announcement . . . an…

When I was a kid, I hated reading chapter books because I found most of them boring . . . that was until I discovered two series during the summer between 5th grade and 6th grade . . . Sweet Valley Twins by Francine Paschal and The Baby-Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin. These two series made me an avid reader. Unfortunately, the middle school library didn't have these books in stock, so I started perusing the shelves for something to read when my English class visited the library.
I happened across a book titled The Time of the Witch written by Mary Downing Hahn. The synopsis of the book sounded intriguing, so I decided to check it out. I fell in love with the book, and it is what made me love fiction books about the paranormal . . . witches, vampires, daemons, etc. My love for the book made me check out many of her books from the school library. Unfortunately, they didn't have a lot of her books, and the public library by my house had none of her books, so I had to resort to buy…