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Reading Roundup // 05

July 3, 2014August 25, 2015 Crystal // Dreams, etc. Post a comment
Reading Roundup // 05

It’s been quite some time since I posted a Reading Roundup. I was in a reading rut for awhile, so even though I kept planning to review some books I kept pushing it back. Today I finally have some book reviews to share. Most of these are audiobooks that I listened to throughout the last month, but there are some books that I’ve read in the mix, too. A couple of them I already reviewed on my writing blog, so I’ll be sure to link to those reviews as they might be more in depth than what I’ll write here.

Stolen by Lucy Christopher is about a teenager who is abducted from an airport and taken to Australia by a man who claims to love her and who claims to be saving her from her parents. This book is written as a letter from Gemma, the teenager, to Ty, her captor, and I thought that was an interesting perspective. While I didn’t feel like I connected with the characters, I definitely wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen and I’ve thought about this book a lot since I finished it. I’ll definitely look at more books by Lucy Christopher in the future. You can see my original review here.

Cartwheel by Jennifer duBois is about an American student studying in Argentina who is accused of the murder of her roommate. This book was inspired by the Amanda Knox case and I thought this mirrored the facts of the Knox case quite closely. I liked that we got to see the case from different sides: the prosecutor, her father, her boyfriend, etc. You can see my original review here.

The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks is about a marine who finds a photograph of a woman while in Iraq and carries it with him during his tour. After surviving many events that should have injured or killed him his best friend proclaims it his lucky charm, which prompts him to walk across the country to find the woman. It’s been a long time since I read (or in this case, listened) to a Nicholas Sparks book, but I used to be obsessed with his books. I read my favorites countless times and spent a lot of time on his website, which actually had a lot of information about writing in general, but also facts about his books. I greatly enjoyed this novel. I wanted to know how this book would end and was guessing the entire way through. The narrator of this book was fantastic. He has a deep voice that I thought fit the main character perfectly. See my original review here.

Ten by Gretchen McNeil is about ten teenagers who plan a party on an island and find themselves fighting for their lives when a murderer starts killing them off one by one. I wouldn’t necessarily say that this novel scared me, although it did have my heart pumping throughout. I was turning pages the entire way through to find out what happened and thought that this was a fun, summer read.

Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro is about Tandy Angel, who, along with her siblings, are suspects in the murder of their parents. I loved this book! I definitely felt like Tandy and her siblings were friends of mine as I listened to their story and I had no idea how it would end. I was drawn into the drama of the Angel family and thought that there were a few jaw-dropping moments. The narrator was fantastic; she was Tandy. I already started listening to the second Confessions book.

So that’s all. What have you been reading lately?

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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Summer 2014 TBR

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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.

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. 💙
Hello, friends! 👋🏼 Swipe through for a few g Hello, friends! 👋🏼 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. “The water looks cold,” 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. 😂)

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.
Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle Iceland, Day 2, Part 2. We ended the Golden Circle tour with a stop at Thingvellir National Park. My fingers froze as I took these photos but it was worth it to capture this view. 😍 PS - the last photo is from a lake we stopped at on our way from Geysir to Thingvellir.
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