Skip to content
  • HOME
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
  • HOME
  • custom-logo
  • THE DREAMER
    • CONTACT
  • DISCLOSURES
Books

ABC Reads // Fifth Update

December 2, 2016December 1, 2016 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 10 comments
ABC Reads // Fifth Update

Note – This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something by clicking on that link I’ll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. All thoughts and opinions of the books listed are honest and my own. Thank you for supporting Dreams, etc.!

Happy Friday, friends! We made it to the weekend! 🎉

Today I have the second to last update for the ABC Reads Challenge. I’ll do a final update by the end of December.

The second to last update for the ABC Reads challenge. // dreams-etc.com

This month as I started to make my way through the final letters I realized that I’ve been including one that I should have checked off the list. I had been debating what to read for the letter “J” and as I read a list of all the books mentioned during the Gilmore Girls TV show to see how many on the list I’ve read (almost 100), I saw a book that I read this year: Jane Eyre.

So I can check “J” off the list! Now for the second letter I can cross off with this update:

Y // You Deserve Nothing, by Alexander Maksik [Completed November 2016]

You Deserve Nothing is about a charismatic teacher an an international school in Paris who captures the attention of his students as he asks them to reflect on life, their beliefs and what they can do in the world. The novel is told from the POVs of three different characters: the teacher Will, his student Gilad (with whom he witnessed a violent encounter while out in the city) and another student Marie, who fantasizes about Will and with whom Will has an affair. (This is not a spoiler, it’s pretty obvious from the start what will happen and it’s in the official synopsis.)

Where to start with this book? I didn’t care for the writing. It was too repetitive. Lines like:

“Congratulations,” I said.

“For what?”

“Graduation. For graduating.”

This happened constantly. At times I felt like I understood what he was trying to do with all this repetition… but I just couldn’t handle it. It was too much. And this novel was so pretentious. Granted, after reading some of the reviews on Goodreads, it’s just not my kind of read, so maybe that was part of it, but I struggled with this one. I finished it because it allowed me to check “Y” off this list and it’s been sitting on my Kindle for years.

Now, for the other thing worth mentioning about this: it appears to be based off Maksik’s own experience teaching at an American school in Paris, where he had an affair with a student who is the “Marie” character in this novel. I don’t know if he’s ever confirmed it, but his past students–including “Marie”–have spoken out about it and talked about how painful it is to see these experiences that they had with their teacher in a novel that he’s now being praised for, especially since some details included are almost exact–like conversations he had with students and in class–and other details have been manipulated–like the affair.

It looks like it’s created a lot of conversation about whether or not it’s okay for someone to write a work of fiction based off of real life events, without releasing this information to the public and checking with/giving a heads up to the real life people involved. I have thoughts on this, but it’s probably enough to fill a post on its own. I didn’t particularly care for the book, but after reading it I thought it was fascinating to also read some of the conversation about the controversy surrounding the book. For that alone, it was worth the read, however if you don’t enjoy bookish conversations like that, it’s probably not a reason to read the book.

Read this book if:
>> It sounds like a book you’d enjoy! I didn’t care for it, but it’s not my kind of book. If you think you’d enjoy it, go ahead and check it out.
>> You’re a bookish nerd like me and get excited by these kinds of literary discussions.

Here are the letters I still need to read to complete the challenge: V, X, Z.

I’m currently reading “V” and I have “X” and “Z” picked out. (Which reminds me, I need to pick up “X” from the library.)

If you’d like to see what else I read for this challenge, here’s the list:

A // All Stories Are Love Stories, by Elizabeth Percer  [Completed March 2016]

B // Breaking Pointe, by Lani Woodland [Completed June 2016]

C // Chronicles of a Death Foretold, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez [Completed September 2016]

D // (A) Drop of Night, by Stefan Bachman [Completed June 2016]

E // (The) Ex, by Alafair Burke  [Completed February 2016]

F // Fracture, by Megan Miranda [Completed October 2016]

G // Girl Through Glass, by Sari Wilson  [Completed February 2016]

H // Half-Resurrection Blues, by Daniel José Older  [Completed April 2016]

I // Illuminae, by Amy Kaufman and Jay Kristoff  [Completed January 2016]

J // Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë [Completed July 2016]

K // Keep You Close, by Lucie Whitehouse  [Completed June 2016]

L // Lagoon, by Nnedi Okorafor [Completed June 2016]

M // Memories of My Melancholy Whores, by Gabriel Garcia Marquez [Completed May 2016]

N // Natchez Burning, by Greg Iles [Completed September 2016]

O // (The) Opposite of Everyone, by Joshilyn Jackson  [Completed February 2016]

P // (The) Past, by Tessa Hadley  [Completed January 2016]

Q // (The) Quotidian Mysteries, by Kathleen Norris [Completed October 2016]

R // Rise of the DEO, by Maria Giudice and Christopher Ireland [Completed March 2016]

S // (The) Sister’s of Versailles, by Sally Christie  [Completed March 2016]

T // Thief of Lies, by Brenda Drake [Completed June 2016]

U // (The) Uninvited, by Cat Winter [Completed October 2016]

W // Where We Fall, by Rochelle b. Weinstein  [Completed April 2016]

Y // You Deserve Nothing, by Alexander Maksik [Completed November 2016]

What have you been reading?

About Crystal

About Crystal

Hi! I'm Crystal, a millennial learning how to live slowly and sustainably, while still seeking adventure and following my dreams, etc.

Post navigation

October Reads
Book Tour // Under the Influence by Joyce Maynard

10 comments

  1. Chelsea says:
    December 2, 2016 at 9:02 am

    Thank you so much for sharing your insight with me! Sadly, I haven’t been able to read a book since this summer due to school, but the last book I read was the Happiness Project, which I ADORED.

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      December 2, 2016 at 4:44 pm

      I have heard such great things about that book! I think I actually have a copy of that on my Kindle too after seeing it on sale once. I need to read it!

      Reply
  2. Abbey says:
    December 2, 2016 at 9:33 am

    What a cool challenge! Sounds like you’re doing great! šŸ™‚

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      December 2, 2016 at 4:43 pm

      It’s been a lot of fun! And I’m not even rushing to finish it like usual, so that’s cool. šŸ™‚

      Reply
  3. Divya @ Eat Teach BLog says:
    December 2, 2016 at 4:11 pm

    I haven’t read a single one of those books!! Just finished The Help and absolutely loved it!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      December 2, 2016 at 4:22 pm

      That’s awesome! I haven’t read The Help yet, but I’ve heard really good things about it. šŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Susannah says:
    December 5, 2016 at 10:52 pm

    You’re so close to being done with your challenge! That’s amazing!!!

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      December 6, 2016 at 9:45 am

      I know! I’m so excited that I’m almost done and that I wasn’t scrambling to finish at the end of the year!

      Reply
  5. Mia says:
    December 6, 2016 at 8:56 am

    Yay! You’re almost done. šŸ™‚ I’m reading my X book right now and then I’ll be done, yay! šŸ™‚

    Reply
    1. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says:
      December 6, 2016 at 9:44 am

      I know! I’m so excited. šŸ™‚ I’m still finishing V right now (had to take a break to read the book for the book tour post today), but after that I have X and Z lined up to read!

      That’s awesome! Can’t wait to see what you read for X. I found that to be the toughest one to choose for.

      Reply

Share Your Thoughts! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

hi!

I'm Crystal, the storyteller behind Dreams, etc. I'm all about learning how to live slowly & sustainably, while also seeking adventure as we follow our dreams, etc.

If only we always remembered to be in touch with o If only we always remembered to be in touch with our loved ones regularly; to tell them that we love them.

This thought has been on my mind the last few weeks as I’ve been in touch with one of my best friends almost daily. They’ve been navigating a scary situation.

But that’s what everyone says, isn’t it? Reach out to those you love. Tell them you love them. Don’t let a lot of time pass.

We all know that. We think about it sometimes. We hear about it when others are in crisis. We’re thankful that we aren’t the ones in crisis and we can remember this lesson through someone else.

But eventually we get caught up in life. Our daily ā€œI love you’sā€ are reserved for those we live with and sometimes we forget to text someone back… or it takes a few days to do so.

This week as I wondered why we don’t remember this more often I realized it’s probably a good thing. It’s a good thing that we can live life without worrying that tragedy is right around the corner. That would be an exhausting way to live.

It’s also good that we can get little reminders, sometimes not from our own life. So from someone who spent one week numb, another week weepy, and this week sad, remember to send your friends a text. Tell them you love them.
I took these in early January when the snow still I took these in early January when the snow still felt a bit magical, but right now I’m just ready to walk barefoot in grass.

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like if we got so much snow that it would be piled high above our doors. I wondered if we’d be able to create tunnels in the snow to move around in.

And this year might just be the year we find out. I’m kidding, of course, but at this point I feel like we’ve been buried in snow. We’re even on track to beat some snow records I think (the amount of snow and the number of consecutive days with snow on the ground.

So. What’s the weather like where you are?
February was here and gone in the blink of an eye February was here and gone in the blink of an eye but contained moments I’ll carry with me forever.
When it’s almost halfway through February and yo When it’s almost halfway through February and you still haven’t posted January’s recap. January was filled with lots of family time. šŸ’™
Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! šŸ‘‹šŸ¼ Swipe through for a few glimpses from January. As 2022 came to an end I had this feeling that I was preparing to hibernate and I guess, in a way, I have. I’ve been slowly easing into the new year, focused on getting back into a few routines after Iceland and the holidays. And it’s been a great month. I can’t believe it’s almost over. What have your favorite moments of January been?
2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of 2022. Looking back on this year it was the year of so many dreams experiences. Whales. Cape Cod/Nantucket. Iceland. I saw musicals that have I’ve been dreaming of with Moulin Rouge, Wicked, and Six. 

It wasn’t without its stresses and rough moments but I’m grateful for the good that can be found, even when it’s hard.
Let’s journey back to November for the second we Let’s journey back to November for the second weekly dam walk of the month. My dad joined me for this one and we made it somewhat fast because it was a chilly day. ā€œThe water looks cold,ā€ I said when we back to the car.

Between Iceland and the below zero, windy, and snowy weather we had last week (which came with requests from my parents not to go) it’s been a few weeks since I’ve been to the dam and I miss it!
Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Years ago I celebrated Christmas and New Years in Vienna and it still lives in my memory today as such a special time. I know December in Reykjavik will be the same—and not just because I came home with a little over $100 worth of ornaments of all 13 Yule Lads AND their mom AND the Christmas cat. (There was a little bit of miscommunication between my mom and me on that shopping trip. šŸ˜‚)

It might have been cold (and when that wind hits you don’t want to be outside or by the harbour…I speak from windswept, breath-stolen experience and will forever be grateful for the library we eventually found respite in) and we only saw the sun a few hours each day, but seeing this already charming city decked out in Christmas lights with a skating rink and the prettiest tree secured it’s place in my heart.

Reykjavik, I hope to see you again one day. Soon. Probably not in December, but I’m glad I got to see you in December once.
Last year my niece and I visited New York at Chris Last year my niece and I visited New York at Christmastime and it was fun to see the city decked out in lights. I can also now say that I’ve seen the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and skating rink and the Saks Christmas lights, but I’ve also seen the crowds they draw.

It was completely different in Reykjavik this year. You actually had a chance to skate on the ice rink if you wanted (and I never did the conversation, but I think it’s cheaper) and you could actually walk up to the Christmas tree. Two very different Christmas in the city experiences.
See More Follow on Instagram

RECENT POSTS

  • Saying Goodbye to Crystal the Writer
  • The Day the Sorcerers Visited Baby Jesus
  • Thoughts on Hope
  • Christmas Playlist // 2022
  • Life Under Construction

CATEGORIES

  • Adventures (52)
  • Beauty (16)
  • Books (147)
  • Creativity (57)
  • Entertainment (18)
  • Life (224)
  • Uncategorized (539)
  • Wellness (8)

LOOKING FOR SOMETHING?

Follow
  • Book Review Policy
  • BOOKS
  • Contact
  • DISCLOSURES
  • Insta Links
  • Seint Links
  • THE DREAMER
Copyright © 2023 | All Rights Reserved | Ā© 2023. All text and photos belong to Crystal Brutlag, unless otherwise stated. Theme designed by Little Theme Shop: https://littlethemeshop.com

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Dreams, etc. // Minneapolis Lifestyle Blog
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.