Book cover of A Barrel of Laughs, a Vale of Tears

Book description

‘Prince Roger sets out eagerly on a quest and finds a few adventures, a lot of friends, a damsel or two in distress (not!) and himself, in the end. A ‘carrier of joy’ whose mere presence causes everyone to laugh uncontrollably, Roger finds cruelty and kindness equally amusing, and expects…

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Why read it?

1 author picked A Barrel of Laughs, a Vale of Tears as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

An absolutely favorite read, A Barrel of Laughs, a Vale of Tears is a perfect blend of humor and fantasy—exactly the sort of thing I strive for with my own writing. With characters that actively defy the author and the constricts of the plot, this book was meta before meta was cool. A classic tale of love told in a very not-classic way, this is the first book I can vividly remember making me laugh the whole time I read it. It’s a distinct feeling, and one I have been chasing ever since.

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Book cover of Jurassic Girl: The Adventures of Mary Anning, Paleontologist and the First Female Fossil Hunter

Jurassic Girl by Michele C. Hollow,

Not too many people know about Mary Anning. In 1811, at age 12, Mary lived on the Jurassic Coast where she unearthed a 17-foot fossil.

Many of the men in the scientific community called her a fraud. They didn’t believe a girl from a poor family could make such a…

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