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RTW: Best Book in January

February 7, 2013August 25, 2015 Crystal // Dreams, etc. 3 comments

It’s time for Road Trip Wednesday!

From YA Highway:  Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.


This Week’s Topic is: What’s the best book you read in January?


Well… I didn’t read much this much.  I ended up falling into a book rut that I am determined to pull myself out of and make up for this month.  But, I can definitely say that my favorite book of the month was Falling for You by Lisa Schroeder.

The novel is about Rae, a teenager who doesn’t have the best home life but is able to find happiness at the flower shop that she works at and in conversations with Leo, the boy who works at the coffeeshop next door.  But when Rae begins to date Nathan, the new guy at school, her relationship may threaten all of that.

Lisa Schroeder generally writes verse novels, but she deviated from the norm with this novel.  There was poetry included throughout the novel, however, and I loved how she pulled poetry into the book.

This book is hard to describe because it’s so much more than just a love story, but it’s hard to discuss it all without giving too many details.  At the start of the book, the reader gets a glimpse of what’s to come, and then the novel goes back in time.  The author interspersed these “glimpses” throughout the novel.  This format created a tension in the novel and made it nearly impossible for me to put this book down.  I wanted to know all of the details!  On Goodreads the author stated that this is a book about darkness and light.  There was a lot of darkness, but there was also a lot of light, and at the end that’s what I took away from this novel so it was a satisfying read.

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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3 comments

  1. Sam M says:
    February 10, 2013 at 3:55 pm

    Hey Crystal! Loved your answers to my Bloggers of the Month questions! Just letting you know you've been picked! What photo would you like me to display? And are there any social media links? šŸ™‚

    Reply
  2. Optimistic Existentialist says:
    February 10, 2013 at 4:07 pm

    Sounds like an intriguing book!!

    Reply
  3. Nickie says:
    February 28, 2013 at 2:35 pm

    I started reading the preview on Amazon… and I got sucked right in. I'll have to check this one out. Even though I don't read a lot of contemporary, Rae is a great character.

    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.

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.
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. šŸ˜ PS - the last photo is from a lake we stopped at on our way from Geysir to Thingvellir.
Iceland, Day 2, Part 1. We went on a rather unvent Iceland, Day 2, Part 1. We went on a rather unventful Northern Lights tour the night before and slipped in a few hours of sleep before meeting our bus for the Golden Circle tour. Our tour guide was @busdriver_annie and she was amazing! Pictured: Faxi (the small waterfall) Gullfoss (the big waterfall), a wool market where we also saw some animals, and Geysir (the hot springs area). Geysir is actually the most famous geyser in the world but it doesn’t erupt anymore. However, Strokkur erupts every 5 - 10 minutes. I’ll share more photos from the tour soon!
Iceland, Day 1. We landed bright and early at 6:30 Iceland, Day 1. We landed bright and early at 6:30 am, dropped off our bags at the hotel, and went exploring. We saw HallgrĆ­mskirkja, the amazing view from the bell tower, the rainbow street, and walked down Laugavegur. Swipe to the end to see the view from our apartment!
Scenes from November, which were mostly at the dam Scenes from November, which were mostly at the dam apparently.
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