Have you ever walked out of the bookstore feeling depressed because there are just so many good books you want to read? It’s the classic “too many books, too little time” dilemma.

It was definitely one of those weeks for me, and I had a hard time making my selection for this week’s Wandering Reads. But here they are, in all of their bookish glory.

What books caught your eye this week?

A. Swan Thieves (Elizabeth Kostova)

B. Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Laini Taylor)

C. Paper Valentine (Brenna Yovanoff)

D. Temple of a Thousand Faces (John Shors)

E. Void (Rhiannon Lassiter)

F. The Obituary Writer (Ann Hood)

G. A Discovery of Witches (Deborah Harkness)

H. The Age of Edison (Ernest Freeberg)

I. The Gods of Gotham (Lyndsay Faye)

Read any of these books or have any other good books to recommend?

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Stuff You Might Like

When you give books as gifts, sometimes it’s fun to include a bookplate or two. These free printable bookplates are simple and highly versatile, perfect to give to nearly anyone in your life. That, and who can resist a little bit of peace, love, and books?

Have fun, and happy reading!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Stuff You Might Like

As yesterday was Alfred Hitchcock day, I thought it would be fun to look at some of the other amazing films and filmmakers that have shaped modern cinema, specifically in the United States.

The 2011 documentary These Amazing Shadows by Paul Mariano and Kurt Norton does just that, highlighting the National Film Registry and the work they do to select and preserve films that have lasting importance within American culture.

Housed (when possible) by the Library of Congress, the films selected by the National Film Registry are not necessarily the “best” of American cinema, but instead films that are deemed “aesthetically, culturally and historically significant.” This includes more than just full-length films, with clips and commercials included and open for consideration when the board makes their selections each year.

In addition to talking about the National Film Registry itself, These Amazing Shadows also highlights some of the most significant films within the collection, as well as delving into the behind-the-scenes preservation of films that have been damaged by age or poor handling and storage.

Even if you’re not a film buff, I cannot recommend this documentary enough. It is informative, engaging, and emotionally profound all at the same time. As someone who readily admits to being documentary obsessed, this is by far one of the most well-rounded documentaries I’ve seen. Interviews with filmmakers such as Christopher Nolan, John Waters, and Rob Reiner also add a nice touch of modern-day Hollywood to the film.

You can watch the film on Netflix, or purchase it on Amazon Instant Video and Youtube. You can watch the trailer by clicking the video embedded below.

You can visit the National Film Registry website to learn more about the organization and see the full list of films included in the registry.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Stuff You Might Like

In case you missed them yesterday, you can also get my free film inspired movie night printables for your next party or movie night.

In honor of Alfred Hitchcock day, I made these fun film-inspired coaster and wine glass charm printables for you to use at your next party or movie night.

I love poetry, and thought it was high time I did a poetry edition for Wandering Reads. I own nearly all of these books and love them all, reading them whenever I need a dose of inspiration.

A. Strike Sparks (Sharon Olds)

B. The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson (edited by Thomas Johnson)

C. Ariel: The Restored Edition (Sylvia Plath)

D. The Amputee’s Guide to Sex (Jillian Weise)

E. Ballistics (Billy Collins)

F. Songs of Innocence and of Experience (William Blake)

G. Queen for a Day (Denise Duhamel)

H. The Road Not Taken and Other Poems (Robert Frost)

I. Dream Work (Mary Oliver)

Have you read any of these books or have any other books of poetry to recommend? 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Stuff You Might Like

With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, I’ve been revisiting some of my favorite Irish Blessings to send to friends and family. As usual, it didn’t take long before I found myself putting a bookish twist on some of the blessings.

Inspired by the blessing “May your home always be too small to hold all your friends,” this free print makes a great St. Patty’s day decoration for yourself or fellow book lovers.

While I’ve always had a soft spot for Renaissance art, I’ve only delved into modern art during the past couple of years by learning what I could here and there. With my recent interest in Van Gogh however, I’ve found myself looking into modern art like never before, and was drawn to the lovely BBC “Modern Masters” series in the process.

Covering the life and influence of Matisse, Picasso, Dali and Warhol, the series offered a perfect overview for someone like myself, who knew the basics about the artists but wanted a more in-depth look at what made them tick.

While all of the episodes are excellent, I especially loved the episode on Henri Matisse. A truly interesting artist who is hailed as the “King of Color,” watching the progression of his style during the episode was fascinating.

The BBC always does an excellent job, and in this case, has a great deal of additional information to go along with the episodes. You can see all of the information on the Modern Masters website, (including a virtual exhibition of the works) and can view more about Matisse in particular.

You can watch the episode by clicking the video embedded below, or can learn more about where to find the episodes by visiting the BBC Episode Guide for the series.

Happy watching!

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Stuff You Might Like

Can you believe it’s March already? I’m still having a hard time remembering to write “2013″ and now it’s almost Springtime…

But with the new month comes new books, and the start of sunshine peeking through the window. Not a bad combination, especially when you have a cat or two to keep you company.

Here’s a printable calendar for the month, featuring my original illustration and a  lovely quote by Da Vinci. Enjoy, and have a wonderful month!

(To get the full size image for printing, click on the image below.)

| For Personal and Non-Commercial Use Only – ©2013 TheWanderingReader.com |

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Stuff You Might Like

I know I have quite a few fellow Doctor Who fans here, so I thought I’d share some of the newest items I’ve been working on, inspired by the Doctor Who episode “Vincent and the Doctor.”

(For those of you who haven’t seen the episode, I highly recommend it. It offers the perfect blend of science fiction, history, and art.)

While I already knew a little about Van Gogh, the episode really motivated me to learn more about him as both an artist and a person. What I’ve found is both heartbreaking and inspiring, and has got me thinking a great deal about artists who persevere even when their work is not recognized during their lifetime.

I find Van Gogh particularly inspirational, as he wrote a great deal about strength and overcoming difficulties despite his frequent rejection from both artists and society during his too-short life.

In addition to the quotes I used for the necklaces, you can check out more quotes from Van Gogh here, and more quotes from “Vincent and the Doctor” here.

These necklaces will be debuting for sale later this week, along with some other new items.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Stuff You Might Like

Sometimes, you just want to give a little note of thanks. I made this printable thank you card for those occasions where something simple and heartfelt is called for.

Featuring a quote by the timeless Mr. Wilde, it reminds us that sometimes it really is the ‘small things’ that mean the most.

Get the free card for printing below!

(To get the full size image for printing, click on the image below.)

| For Personal and Non-Commercial Use Only – © 2013 TheWanderingReader.com |

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Stuff You Might Like