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Reading Roundup // 08

January 27, 2015June 11, 2019 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 1 comment
Reading Roundup // 08

It feels like it’s been forever since I had a reading roundup! This one isn’t very big; I haven’t had much time for reading these days. It’s time to make it a priority! But I do have some good reviews for you! There will be a few other reviews coming soon and I’m really excited to share those with you too so keep an eye out this weekend for my update of the Winter Book Challenge and the book club discussion for The Lake!

Speaking of the book club, it’s time to vote for February’s book! And if you’d like to keep in touch throughout the month, you can join our new Goodreads group.

Okay, let’s move onto the reviews!

Fish Out of Water by Natalie Whipple 

Note – I received an advanced copy of the eBook from the author in exchange for an honest review. 

I read this book at the end of 2014 and absolutely fell in love with it. It’s about a teenager named Mika, who loves fish and is looking forward to helping her parents with their work at the Monterey Bay Aquarium during the summer. All of that changes when her estranged grandmother appears on her doorstep. She knew that something happened when her dad stopped talking to his mother, but she didn’t know exactly what it was until her grandmother started to make racist comments about Mika’s mother. When her parents learn that her grandmother has Alzheimer’s, they decide to take her in to care for her, and Mika’s summer plans go out the window. Her beloved job at a pet store doesn’t even offer a break, as she must train in the owner’s insufferable nephew. And when her best friend is unavailable to turn to when Mika needs to vent due to family drama of her own, it looks like Mika’s in for the worst summer ever. 

This book, you guys. I really loved it. It’s not always an easy book to read, because it deals with a lot of heavy topics. Racism plays a big role in the book. Whipple also tackles other forms of prejudice and the story has a big focus Alzheimer’s, which is always a difficult topic for me to read. Mika really came to life in this story and felt like a friend that I knew well by the end. I loved following her as she took in what was taking place around her that summer, as she met and got to know the people that entered her life. While the book has strong messages, it didn’t feel like a message-driven book. Whipple’s writing is beautiful and descriptive… so descriptive that she described Mika’s favorite dish—chicken saagwala—so much that I found a recipe and made it. Twice. And now that I’m writing this review I want to make it again.

If you’d like a more detailed review, check out my writing blog. I talked about it yesterday.

Just One Day by Gayle Forman 

Allyson reaches the end of her lackluster tour of Europe after her high school graduation when she meets Willem—a young, Dutch Shakespeare actor whose flying home from London after years of travel. When he meets Allyson—whom he dubs Lulu—and hears of her disappointment that she didn’t get to see Paris, he trades in his ticket for Holland and buys her a ticket for Paris. They have one day to tour the city of love! 

First, I want to start out by saying that I really enjoyed this novel. However, I had mixed feelings about it. I’m positive that my mixed feelings came from the expectation that I had for this book. I love stories about two people who spend a short period of time together—a day or a night, like the Before Sunrise movies. I love those and I kind of expected this book to be the same way: Allyson and Willem spend a day in Paris together and that’s the novel. There’s more to it than that, however, so while they were in Paris I kept thinking that they were kind of speeding through the day and I was focused on that instead of their time in Paris. So it wasn’t what I expected it to be and I was a little disappointed about that.

That being said, I did enjoy the novel. I thought it dragged on a little in the middle, however I was curious about what was going to happen during that portion and I really enjoyed the end of the novel. As soon as I was finished I opened up the companion—Just One Year—and started to read that. And I’m a little disappointed that I have a couple of books that I should read first. I’m really excited to read the second and expect to pick it up again soon!

What books have you read recently? 

PS – Check out my recent reviews of The Girl with a Clock for a Heart and Landline!

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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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One comment

  1. Loyal RUN says:
    January 28, 2015 at 2:39 am

    I really want to read "Fish Out of Water" now. Thanks for sharing your review.

    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.

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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