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Winter 2014 Book Challenge // Preliminary List

November 6, 2014August 25, 2015 Crystal // Dreams, etc. Post a comment
Winter 2014 Book Challenge // Preliminary List

I had a lot of fun participating in the summer book challenge, so as soon as I finished it I knew I’d participate in the winter book challenge this year. Since I completed the last challenge, I even got to choose a topic for this one! Below is my preliminary list. We’ll see how much I stick to it; I didn’t really stick to the preliminary list that I made last time. But, this is what I’m planning for now.

5 points: Freebie! Read any book that fits the general rules.
The Retribution of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin (480 pages)

I am reading this one right now and I can’t wait to see how it ends, so this will definitely be my freebie for the challenge.

10 points: Read a book written by an author who has published at least 10 books. — Submitted by Megan.
Tempting Fate, by Jane Green (384 pages)

I read this one on the first and was excited when I reached the end, looked at her biography and saw that she has written 14 books.

10 points: Read a book of short stories. — Submitted by Meredith.
The New York Stories of Edith Wharton, by Edith Wharton (464 pages)

10 points: Read a book with a food in the title. — Submitted by Megan.
Chocolat, by Joanne Harris (320 pages)

15 points: Read the first book in a series that is new to you (so no rereads for this one!). — Submitted by Crystal.
Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo (416 pages)

15 points: Read a book that was originally written in a language that is not your native language. — Submitted by Belle.
Therese Raquin, by Emilie Zola (242 pages)

I’ll probably listen to the audio book for this one, because it’s narrated by Kate Winslet. I also have the ebook (in both English and it’s original language, French) so I can follow along.

15 points: Read a book written by a local author (either an author from your state if you live in the United States, or from your country if you live somewhere else). — Submitted by Katelyn.
Shadow Tag, by Louise Erdrich (272 pages)

Louise Erdrich was born in Little Falls, Minnesota. She still lives in Minnesota and even has a bookstore in Minneapolis! She’s also one of my closest friend’s favorite authors, so she’s been trying to get me to read one of her books for awhile.

20 points: Read a “bookish book” (in which books play an important role, e.g. the setting involves a bookstore or library, a major character is an author, or a book that celebrates reading and books.) — Submitted by Jen.
The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafon (483 pages)

This was included as an example. A friend of mine read this a few years ago and loved it so I’ve been meaning to read this for ages! Now’s the perfect opportunity!

20 points: Read a book with a direction in the title (e.g. north, south, east, west or any combination of those). — Submitted by Donna
Witches of East End, by Melissa de la Cruz (304 pages)

I started reading this last year and never finished. It wasn’t that I wasn’t enjoying it–I was–but I just wasn’t in the mood for it at the time. I’ll start from the beginning again, because I don’t always remember details.

25 points: Read a book from a genre you don’t usually read. — Submitted by Jenn.
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, by Mindy Kaling (222 pages)

I thought about a classic for this, as I don’t read many of those, but I already included a classic up above and I don’t want to be classic-ed out. I also don’t read many memoirs and I’ve heard this one is really funny, so I thought I’d give it a try.

25 points: Read a book with a song lyric in the title. Be sure to tell us the song name and artist as well! — Submitted by Daire.
The Girl You Left Behind, by Jojo Moyes (464 pages) or Pop Goes the Weasel, by James Patterson (480 pages)

Both of these were included as examples. I’ve had the JoJo Moyes book on my to-read list, but I’ve also enjoyed some books by James Patterson this year, so we’ll what I’m in the mood for when I’m ready to complete this challenge.

30 points: Read two books with a different meal in each title (e.g. breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper, brunch). — Submitted by Amber.
Breakfast Served Anytime, by Sarah Combs (272 pages) and Lunch in Paris: a love story with recipes, by Elizabeth Baird (352 pages)

See the list of rules for the Semi-Charmed Winter 2014 Book Challenge and check out the preliminary list link-up.

ARE YOU PARTICIPATING IN ANY BOOK CHALLENGES THIS WINTER?


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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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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 “I love you’s” 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. 💙
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.
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