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Books

Labor Day Weekend Reads

September 11, 2015May 26, 2019 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 8 comments
Labor Day Weekend Reads

Hello, friends! I feel like it’s been awhile since I’ve written a book review. I didn’t read much in August, with all that was happening. I missed reading a lot, though, so over the long Labor Day weekend I knew I wanted to get through a couple of books and I’m finally sharing some book reviews with you again! If you follow me on Snapchat, you may have seen my initial thoughts on both of these books, but here are more fleshed out thoughts. (I’m starting to give “first impression” book reviews on Snapchat. If you’re interested, you can follow me. I’m dreamsetcblog.)

dreamsetc-labordayweekendread

Creed by Trisha Leaver and Lindsay Currie

Dee, Luke and Mike are on their way to a concert out of town when their car runs out of gas on a desolate road. They walk through the snow to the nearest town to get gas, but when they arrive it appears to be empty. They find a place to settle in for the snowy night and the next day the residents start to appear…

First, I feel like I should mention that about two years ago (I think) Lindsay Currie read the first few chapters of a novel that I wrote. She sent a nice email about it and I made sure to buy a copy of Creed as soon as it was released to support her (and Trisha Leaver) for all the ways they support the writing community. This does not influence my review, of course.

Creed was a slow starter for me. It took me a couple of chapters to connect with Dee, but once I did I was incredibly invested in her and what happened to all three of the characters. While it was eerie, I questioned the “horror” genre a bit, but once events really started to pick up, I definitely agreed with it. This book takes you on an adventure through this creepy little town and I felt like I was experiencing every minute of it alongside Dee. I will say that Creed isn’t the kind of horror that I tend to watch or read, so I found one particular element in the story to be unsettling, but that’s due to personal preference. Overall, I really enjoyed the novel. I grew to love Dee, Luke and Mike and was on the edge of my seat as I waited to find out what was going to happen to them. I loved the slow eerie build into the events of the novel and I definitely felt like I was going through that experience with the characters. I’m looking forward to reading their most recently released novel soon!

In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters

It’s 1918. The United States is sending soldiers off to WWI, the population is on guard for anyone who even hints at the possibility of supporting Germany, and the Spanish flu is racing through the country. In the midst of all of the fear and paranoia are the spirit photographers–photographers who say they can capture photos of the living with the dead. Some are convinced the spirit photographers are frauds; others flock to them, hoping to get a photograph of themselves with a deceased loved one. Mary Shelley Black doesn’t believe in the gift of the spirit photographers–even though she’s the poster girl for one. But then the boy she loved who went off to war starts visiting her in spirit form, and Mary Shelley is determined to learn what happened to him.

I think this will end up being one of my favorite reads of the year. I listened to a podcast featuring Cat Winters back in May and she talked about finding these old spirit photographs and incorporating them into a book. I absolutely love books that combine things like photos and even different types of text with the prose, so I immediately knew I wanted to read this. Winters did such a great job of describing life in 1918 that I could see and smell the sights and scents. The photographs were so intriguing and eerie that they definitely added to the creepy feel of the events of the novel. The characterization was fantastic. I loved Mary Shelley and her aunt and didn’t know if I could trust certain characters, like spirit photographer Julius. The slow build of paranoia and fear related to all that was taking place in this period of time pulled me in and progressed naturally to a heightened state as the book went on. It dragged a bit in the middle, but I’m also not sure what I would have wanted to have cut out, because I felt like each element contributed to the overall feel of that time in history. I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to reading more by Winters!

HAVE YOU READ EITHER OF THESE? WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS?
WHAT HAVE YOU READ RECENTLY?

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.

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8 comments

  1. Erica says:
    September 11, 2015 at 12:51 pm

    Shadow of Blackbirds sounds very interesting! I will definitely be adding it to my TBR list šŸ˜‰
    Thanks for the reviews.

    Reply
  2. Nichole aka CuppaGeek says:
    September 11, 2015 at 4:09 pm

    These sound great! I just finished reading Hawkings Grove, a book a friend of mine wrote that I’m blow away by. The book ran a bit long but it was a great who dun it sort of mystery where every loose end is tied up.

    Reply
  3. Karin Rambo says:
    September 11, 2015 at 5:05 pm

    My book list is a mile long, but these look so good they might be moved closer to the top. šŸ™‚ Thanks for the recommendation!

    http://www.truncationblog.com

    Reply
  4. Shann Eva says:
    September 11, 2015 at 6:12 pm

    I haven’t read either of these yet, but the first one sound pretty good. I actually don’t read much from either genre, but I am willing to give them both a try. Adding them to the list! Great reviews!

    Reply
  5. Krysten says:
    September 11, 2015 at 9:39 pm

    Shoot I need to add Creed to my Goodreads so I remember to read it!

    Reply
  6. Jen says:
    September 12, 2015 at 3:57 am

    These don’t seem like my kind of fiction, but I think my mom would really appreciate them. I’m passing your review along to her!

    Reply
  7. Victoria Eaves says:
    September 12, 2015 at 7:26 am

    I haven’t read either of them yet, but they sure do sound interesting! I have been in a reading slump lately, meaning nothing that really wowed me šŸ™

    Reply
  8. jill conyers says:
    September 12, 2015 at 8:49 am

    I need to make more time to read. I have a long to-read list. Have a wonderful weekend Crystal.

    Reply

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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.
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