A roundup of recent favorites we’ve reviewed in the BuzzFeed Books newsletter.
Maritsa Patrinos / BuzzFeed
Plume
Jeff Zorabedian
27 Inspiring Pieces Of Advice For Writers
“Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say.”
Suggested by Kori H., Facebook / Via Picture by Moyan Brenn on Flickr
2. "You don't write because you want to say something, you write because you have something to say."
—F. Scott Fitzgerald
Suggested by Allison E., Facebook
3. "The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair."
—Mary Heaton Vorse
Suggested by justanotheroriginal
4. "Tomorrow may be hell, but today was a good writing day, and on the good writing days nothing else matters."
―Neil Gaiman
Suggested by oswin42
Suggested by Celina G, Facebook / Via Flickr: tao_zhyn
29 Ridiculously Wonderful New Books To Read With Kids
Picture books guaranteed to make both children and adults excited for story time.
Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed
Vegetables in Underwear by Jared Chapman
Vegetables on their own = sometimes cute. Vegetables with faces = very cute. Vegetables wearing underwear = completely and utterly adorable.
What kind of reader is it for? Anyone who wants to "celebrate the universal joy of undies" (AKA every single kid in the world--underwear is always good for a laugh).
Release Date: Out now.
Buy here.
Abrams Appleseed
In the Butterfly Garden by Philippe Ug
A vibrant pop-up book that follows a caterpillar's journey to becoming a butterfly.
What kind of reader is it for? Children that spend a lot of time watching bugs mosey around in the garden.
Release Date: Out now.
Buy here.
Prestel
Bigfoot is Missing! by J. Patrick Lewis and Kenn Nesbitt, illustrated by Minalima
An introduction to cryptozoology (the study of animals whose existence has not been proven) featuring Bigfoot, Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp, Chupacabra, Mothman, and more.
What kind of reader is it for? Children who want to believe (but who are way too young to watch The X-Files).
Release Date: Out now.
Buy here.
Chronicle Books
Who Said It: Holden Caulfield Or Someone On Tumblr?
Phony versus phony.
Daniel Dalton / Sian Butcher / BuzzFeed
The Marvel Universe Is Ending And Here's What You Should Know
The Marvel Universe we’ve known since 1962 will be destroyed in this summer’s huge Secret Wars event, and will be recreated later this year. Here’s how that came to be, including MASSIVE SPOILERS for some of the best Marvel comics in years.
Secret Wars is Marvel Comics' huge event for the summer of 2015.
The company does "events" all the time, but this one is much bigger than the rest in that it will involve the destruction of the Marvel Universe as it has existed since 1961. And when the story is over, there will be a new Marvel Universe in its place.
Alex Ross/Marvel
Though the story of Secret Wars will be told in a flagship 8-issue miniseries by writer Jonathan Hickman and artist Esad Ribic, it's much bigger than that.
Pretty much the entire Marvel line will be replaced by miniseries featuring alternate versions of Marvel's characters on Battleworld, a version of Earth featuring elements of many of the most popular Marvel stories of all time.
But let's come back to Battleworld in a little bit. For the moment, let's focus on how the Marvel Universe is about to be destroyed in Secret Wars.
Alex Ross/Marvel
Marvel
The ABCs Of "Harry Potter"
T is for THE BURROW DIDNT HAVE TO BURN DOWN YOU SADISTIC SCREENWRITERS.
A is for Albus
The man that we put our complete and utter trust in. Even though it turned out he was keeping literally everything from us.
Warner Bros.
B is for the Burrow
WHICH DID NOT NEED TO BE SET ON FIRE.
Warner Bros.
C is for Celestina Warbeck
Because, let's be real, we all want to jam out to "A Cauldron Full Of Hot, Strong Love".
Warner Bros.
D is for Diagon Alley
The most magical place in all of London.
Warner Bros.
26 Faces Every Bookseller Will Recognise
“Where do you keep your non-fiction?” :|
The “someone just flung something from biography in the middle of my perfect 3-for-2 pyramid” face.
Giphy / Via giphy.com
The “customer put my face-out back on the shelf face-in” face.
Giphy / Via giphy.com
The “been put on the quiet till near poetry” face.
the-baobab-tree / Via the-baobab-tree.deviantart.com
The “do you stock Gone Girl?” face.
Giphy / Via giphy.com
19 Smart Tips To Protect Your Phone All Summer Long
Two words: Phone condom.
Invest in a waterproof case.
These can get pricey, but it'll be worth it in the long run. Lifeproof, OtterBox, and DryCase are some great options.
Mashable / Via mashable.com
Stock up on plastic baggies.
If you're going to the beach, you should absolutely put your phone in a plastic bag. It will keep it safe from any water or sand on your hands or in your beach bag.
Jordan Gardone / Via explosion.com
Or use a phone condom.
You read right: Now you can pop your phone into its very own condom. Be safe out there, kids.
Firebox / Via firebox.com
If you drown your phone, immediately use a hairdryer on MEDIUM heat.
You've probably heard of the rice trick, but Gazelle tested and compared it to seven other methods, and they recommend shaking, blowing, and/or vacuuming as much water out as you can before relying on drying agents. Rice, kitty litter, and even a sponge can get out the last few drops, but probably won't save a soaked phone on their own.
Crazy Fixes / Via crazyfixes.com
These Graphic Photos Show How Dangerous Sparklers At Weddings Can Be
Third-degree burns aren’t exactly Pinterest-worthy.
In recent years, "sparkler send-offs" have become a popular alternative to showering couples with rice or birdseed.
Brian Mullins brianmullinsphotography.com
But Raleigh wedding photographer Brian Mullins recently suffered second- and third-degree burns during one couple's grand exit.
Brian Mullins brianmullinsphotography.com
"I had a handful of sparklers when the bride and groom appeared in the doorway," Mullins told BuzzFeed Life.
"Our practice has always been to grab a few sparklers, get the lines formed, hand out sparklers to anyone who needed them, and then help get them all lit," he said. He was holding about 10 sparklers in his hand when they were lit. He can't remember if he lit them himself or someone else did.
Brian Mullins brianmullinsphotography.com
"The only things I remember about it was a very hot and bright flash close to my face and a searing pain in my hand," he said.
Despite the pain, he was able to keep shooting. "Wedding photographers don't have the luxury of being able to re-stage a missed photo so we get the shot first then apologize, cope, or complain later," he said.
Brian Mullins brianmullinsphotography.com
You Can Actually Attend The School Of Wizardry Now
Get your wands ready.
Claus Raasted, Liveform, and Rollespils Fabrikken have made it possible to have a full-on wizarding experience at a CASTLE IN POLAND.
Their LARP (Live Action Role Playing) Indiegogo campaign has already raised nearly 300% of it's goal for the four-day event.
That means WIZARDRY ABOUNDS.
"Students" are sorted into one of five houses, then live and go to class in and around the fairytale castle in Czocha, Poland.
And this isn't some lackluster event with a few creatures and potions here and there. The School of Wizardry has a whole scenography team that designs every inch of the space — from the candles down to the potions.
Here Is The Perfect DIY Gift For The Mansplainer In Your Life
Turn those “actually”s into $$$.
Chances are, you know a mansplainer.
Maybe he butts into conversations uninvited in order to correct your pronunciation of "Thomas Pynchon;" maybe his hobbies include telling women that they missed the point of articles they wrote themselves. Maybe he just abuses that most dreaded of words — "actually" — far too often. Remember: even the most enlightened, lovable dudes (and ladies!) can sometimes catch a case of the mansplanations.
(Here is a handy guide if you, too, would like to become a mansplainer.)
Bowie15 / Getty Images
So what you do about it?
Tempting, but, nah.
Voyagerix / Getty Images
Make an "Actually" jar!
Take any old jar or vase (although it should probably be a big one!) and decorate it as you see fit. I took a fairly literal approach but the world is your oyster.
Alanna Okun
Give the jar to your mansplainer and make him put in a dollar every time he "Actually"s somebody.
Greater dollar amounts may be assigned to greater offenses. When he's reached a certain threshold (say, $50) or a certain date (say, his birthday), donate the money to a worthy cause (say, this one).
Alanna Okun
Can You Guess Which House These People On "House Hunters" Picked?
Three houses, but only one will become a home.
Tammy and Troy — Provo, UT
Tammy and Troy have a budget of between $150,000 and $180,000.
Their wish list includes:
• Three bedrooms
• A white kitchen with a big pantry
• A basement
• She wants a single-family home with projects, while he wants a move-in ready townhouse
HGTV
HGTV
21 Smart Ways To Feel Happier Right Now
You, but happier. Inspired by this Quora thread.
Jenny Chang / BuzzFeed
Smile.
Research shows that genuine smiling (where your cheeks really come up) can actually make you less stressed. So smile at your barista, accept the compliment your boss gave you, watch some stand-up — whatever gets you grinning.
youtube.com / Via yii-yoko.tumblr.com
Be grateful for all the awesome things in your life.
Like that your roommate did your dishes for you or that you have a paycheck coming in three days. Taking inventory of the little things you’re grateful for can actually boost your happiness and wellbeing (according to science).
Plan a vacation.
Even if you can’t actually step foot on a beach for months. Just searching for hotels, ranking the pool bars, and booking the trip will give you a little gratification and something to look forward to.
17 Insanely Adorable Ways To Thank Your Teachers
A+ ideas.
"The best gift I ever got was from a student who wrote, 'You made high school bearable for me' in my yearbook." --Kay Emily Holly, Facebook
A thoughtful book.
"When the end of the school year came, I was given this book. It is filled with pictures of various student council events I helped to organize. They even included the birth of my son and when the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in 2010. Nearly five years later I still look at it after a bad day at school to remind myself how much fun teaching can be." --Stephen Rauch
Stephen Rauch / Via BuzzFeed
"Perhaps the most thoughtful was a letter that a young lady wrote me about how she transferred schools halfway through high school. She was feeling very lost and said that my classroom was where she started making friends in her new school, and where she became confident that she could do well in history (it had never been her subject before). I've got the letter posted in my classroom now. It's a reminder that you can really make a difference in a student's life!" --Kate Quimby
14 Sweary Versions Of Classic Children's Books
Goodbye childhood, hello juvenile humour.
Daniel Dalton / BuzzFeed
Daniel Dalton / BuzzFeed
Daniel Dalton / BuzzFeed
Daniel Dalton / BuzzFeed
14 Photos Of British Politicians Improved By "Game Of Thrones" Quotes
When you play the game of elections, you win or you die.
Channel 4
ITV / Handout
Stefan Rousseau / Getty Images
Stefan Rousseau / PA WIRE
