Oh, the Places I'll Go

I've talked about my wanderlust in a lot of places - an Odyssey article, various blog posts about books that have incited it, Facebook...even my Tumblr devoted just to travel. There's something immensely scary about traveling - particularly outside the country and particularly for someone with anxiety like me. But there's also something alluring and enchanting about it at the same time. 

I think some of it comes with the territory of being a reader and a writer. The former means I want to explore new places and have new experiences. The latter means I need to have new experiences so I can write richer stories.

Plus there's just something fascinating about other cultures. My love for history draws me to those types of sites, and I can appreciate art and beauty as well.

I'm still very much a broke college student (about to graduate with a sizable amount of student loans), but I can't help but dream of all the places I will travel to in the (hopefully near) future.

Like France. Oh, how I long to go to France. I'm sure that comes as no surprise to anyone who's been a reader of my blog for even just a few months. I want to see Paris, but I also want to go to Annecy, and the Loire Valley, and Normandy, and Monet's garden and...I could go on forever.

(Beuvron-en-Auge, Normandy, France)

I want to visit Finland, particularly Helsinki and Turku. I'm part Finnish, so I think my heritage is calling me back home.

There's something about teeny little Belgium, as well, and Budapest and Bratislava. Just look at that cathedral.

(St. Martin's Cathedral, Bratislava, Slovakia)

And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the British Isles. England...

(London)

Scotland...

(Edinburgh)

Wales...

(Aberystwyth)

Ireland...

(Trinity College, Dublin)

I'm coming for you soon. :)

I don't want to just travel internationally either. There's so much of the United States I haven't seen yet. I've been west of the Mississippi, but no further than Minnesota and Iowa. San Francisco is definitely on my bucket list, along with Charleston, S.C., Savannah, GA, and Boston. 

(Charleston)

And if I'm leaving the country but not the continent...I really want to go back to Montréal and Québec City as well as visit Prince Edward Island (admittedly because of Anne of Green Gables).

(Charlottetown, PEI)

Of course this is only the tip of the iceberg. I'll admit my Pinterest board is very Euro-centric right now. One of my best friends is hopefully traveling to Thailand in the near future, though, and I'm ready for her recommendations. I think Singapore could also be interesting, and with my recent history explorations, Morocco is definitely on my radar.

So, yeah, I've definitely caught wanderlust. Now I just need some traveling partners, a steady income, and a plan.

NoVa Teen Book Fest 2018

After planning to go to NoVa last year and then catching the flu two days before spring break...well, getting to go this year was definitely the culmination of a year of hopes. And it was made only better by winning VIP ticket status. Hear all about my time at NoVa 2018 in the video below!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books That Surprised Me

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

(All in a good way, I promise.)

1. This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales

2. One Past Midnight by Jessica Shirvington

3. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

4. All Four Stars by Tara Dairman

5. Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

6. Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

7. Anything Could Happen by Will Walton

8. The Weight of Feathers by Anna-Marie McLemore

9. The Archived by Victoria Schwab

10. In a Perfect World by Trish Doller

What books surprised you (positively or negatively) and why?

Rewind & Review #105

Created by Shae Has Left the Room.

~How did February go by so fast??

~Internship applications are continuing, and I'm very nervous. Please keep me in your prayers and thoughts!

~My last spring break as a student has begun. Honestly, it's not going to be that exciting. My parents have to work all day, so I'm pretty sure the only fun thing I'll be doing happened yesterday: NoVa Teen Book Fest. More about that in a post later this week.

Books I Received for Review

What You Left Me by Bridget Morrissey (from Sourcebooks Fire via Edelweiss)

Books I Won/Traded for/was Gifted

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia ARC (traded with Becca)

The Boyfriend Bracket by Kate Evangelista (traded with Christy)

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

Hamilton and Peggy! by L.M. Elliott (from my parents)

Tradition by Brendan Kiely

Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian

Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman (in my VIP swag bag at NoVa)

Books I Bought

A Million Junes by Emily Henry

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

The Unlikelies by Carrie Firestone

Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert

Bygone Badass Broads by Mackenzi Lee

NoVa haul:

More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer

The Radical Element by various authors

Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

Windwitch by Susan Dennard

Sightwitch by Susan Dennard

Books I Read

Sounder by William H. Armstrong (4 stars)

In Her Skin by Kim Savage (DNF)

The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (4 stars)

The Language of Thorns by Leigh Bardugo (reread)

Bygone Badass Broads by Mackenzi Lee (4 stars)

Now a Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy

The Queen's Rising by Rebecca Ross (4 stars)

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien (reread)

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (4 stars)

My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

Impossible Love by Craig and Médine Keener (3.5 stars)

Royals by Rachel Hawkins

Blog Posts You Might've Missed in the Last Few Weeks

   (from 2/26-3/3)

• Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Could Reread Forever
• Random Friday: Spring 2018 Reads
• Review: In Search Of Us by Ava Dellaira (3 stars)
• The Odyssey Article - 13 Books To Read This Spring Break

   (from 3/4-3/10)

• Books I'd Play Hooky With
• Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Quotes from Books
• Review: The Radical Element by various authors (3.75 stars)
• So You Like... #66

So You Like... #66

There are two constants in my life: books and Taylor Swift. Whenever I can do blog posts that marry the two, well, I'm a happy camper. So you like...

THE RED ALBUM.

(as always book covers link to Goodreads pages)

Have any other suggestions for fans of Taylor's fourth album? Or do you have a request for a So You Like... post's topic? Let's chat in the comments!

Review: The Radical Element

The Radical Element by various authors
Grade: B
Release date: March 13, 2018
An e-galley was provided by Candlewick Press in exchange for an honest review.
Summary: To respect yourself, to love yourself—should not have to be a radical decision. And yet it remains as challenging for an American girl to make today as it was in 1927 on the steps of the Supreme Court. It's a decision that must be faced whether you're balancing on the tightrope of neurodivergence, finding your way as a second-generation immigrant, or facing down American racism even while loving America. And it's the only decision when you've weighed society's expectations and found them wanting. In The Radical Element, twelve of the most talented writers working in young adult literature today tell the stories of the girls of all colors and creeds standing up for themselves and their beliefs—whether that means secretly learning Hebrew in early Savannah, using the family magic to pass as white in 1920s Hollywood, or singing in a feminist punk band in 1980s Boston. And they're asking you to join them.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: I really hoped there would be a follow-up to A Tyranny of Petticoats. Thank goodness Jessica Spotswood didn't let me down. The Radical Element has only one overlapping author (Jessica herself), which provided the opportunity for me to read more from new-to-me authors as well as some favorites (like Stacey Lee and Anna-Marie McLemore). Once again, I really appreciated the author's note after each story. Like my other anthology reviews, I'm going to do quick comments and ratings of each story.

"Daughter of the Book" by Dahlia Adler

I love stories with Jewish characters, and this is no exception. Rebekah, the protagonist, longs to study the Torah in a time when it wasn't really acceptable for young women to have further education. The setting felt realistic, and there was a nice balance of characters. 5 stars. 

"You're a Stranger Here" by Mackenzi Lee

I liked the storytelling but didn't agree with all of the ideas. The side characters all started to run together, also. 4/5 stars.

"The Magician" by Erin Bowman

Some of the little details bored me. I liked Mrs. Lowry, though. 3/5 stars.

"Lady Firebrand" by Megan Shepherd

Good length with sympathetic characters. It was a fun, interesting story. 4.5 stars.

"Step Right Up" by Jessica Spotswood

Didn't hate it, but I didn't love it either. This story was just kind of...there. 3 stars.

"Glamour" by Anna-Marie McLemore

I liked the magic and tone and the focus on mental health. And I loved the history behind what Graciela did. 4/5 stars. 

"Better for All the World" by Marieke Njikamp

I liked parts, and it addressed a strong topic. I think it could've used a little more tightening up, though. 3.5 stars.

"When the Moonlight Isn't Enough" by Dhonielle Clayton

I loved the magic element and the descriptions, but the rest let me down. 3/5 stars.

"Belle of the Ball" by Sarvenaz Tash

I liked Rosemary's interest in TV show production, and I liked Tomas too, but honestly the story kind of bored me. 3/5 stars.

"Land of the Sweet, Home of the Brave" by Stacey Lee

Sweet and empowering, just like its title. Stacey Lee shines when she writes historical fiction. 4/5 stars.

"The Birth of Susi Go-Go" by Meg Medina
This one didn't quite work for me, with the way it was told. Also the obsession with the upstairs neighbor seemed a little more like something out of a middle grade novel. 3.5 stars.

"Take Me With U" by Sara Farizan
I liked most of the story, but it was lacking just a little something. 3.5 stars.

The Verdict: Can Jessica Spotswood please organize more YA historical fiction anthologies? 

Buy: Read Between the Lynes  Barnes & Noble

Will I be adding this book to my library?: Oh, definitely.

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite Quotes from Books

Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.

Some of my favorite quotes are from books...and here's eight of them. :)

1. "In friendship we are all debtors. We all owe each other for a thousand small kindnesses, for little moments of grace in the chaos." (from Emery Lord's The Start of Me and You)

2. "You found me in a constellation." (from Francesca Zappia's Eliza and Her Monsters)

3. "Loneliness is a strange sort of thing.

It creeps on you, quiet and still, sits by your side in the dark, strokes by your hair as you sleep. It wraps itself around your bones, squeezing so tight you almost can't breathe. It leaves lies in your heart, lies next to you at night, leaches the light out of every corner. It's a constant companion, clasping your hand only to yank you down when you're struggling to stand up. 

You wake up in the morning and wonder who you are. You fail to fall asleep at night and tremble in your skin. You doubt you doubt you doubt. 

do I

don't I

should I

why won't I

And even when you're ready to let go. When you're ready to break free. When you're ready to be brand-new. Loneliness is an old friend stand beside you in the mirror, looking you in the eye, challenging you to live your life without it. You can't find the words to fight yourself, to fight the words screaming that you're not enough never enough never ever enough. 

Loneliness is a bitter, wretched companion. 

Sometimes it just won't let go." (from Tahereh Mafi's Unravel Me)

4. "Sometimes you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book." (from John Green's The Fault in Our Stars)

5. "It was like swimming under the stars, like sleeping outside, like climbing a tree in the dark and seeing the view. It was scary and safe and peaceful and exciting, all at the same time. It was the way I felt when I was with him. 'Like a well-ordered universe.'" (from Morgan Matson's Since You've Been Gone)

6. "'You're better than waffles, Matthias Helvar.'

A small smile curled the Fjerdan's lips.

'Let's not say things we don't mean, my love.'" (from Leigh Bardugo's Crooked Kingdom)

7. "'When one has made as many mistakes as I have, one becomes very familiar with the fullness of God's grace and mercy.'" (from Robin LaFever's Mortal Heart)


8. "'If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more.'" (from Jane Austen's Emma)


What are some of your favorite book quotes?

Books I'd Play Hooky With

If I could take the day off of school and work and do nothing but read (and actually feel motivated to only read), these are the books I would read. Of course, I'd need to play hooky so often to finish all these books that I'd probably fail my classes and get fired. But sometimes my blog operates in an imaginary world where that isn't a factor.

1. Rereading the first Warrior Cats series

It's been a while so... Don't judge me. :P

2. The Nancy Drew series

I read many of them years ago, but I can't remember most of the plots. 

3. Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

But only if it's the edition pictured above.

4. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland

I mean, duh.

5. Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli

6. Furyborn by Claire Legrand

I have an e-galley of this one so maybe I'll jump my review schedule and zoom through this one over spring break?

7. Save the Date by Morgan Matson

I have waited too long for this book.

8. Little Do We Know by Tamara Ireland Stone

9. Not the Girls You're Looking For by Aminah Mae Safi

Holy crap, this looks so good.

10. The Game of Hope by Sandra Gulland

Under-the-radar historical fiction? I'm game.

11. My Plain Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

*eyes e-galley* Or maybe I'll ignore my review schedule for this one?

12. A Thousand Beginnings and Endings by various authors

Aw, heck, maybe I'll just prioritize all three of the listed e-galleys over the rest of my review schedule. Can you blame me?

13. For a Muse of Fire by Heidi Heilig

It's Heidi Heilig. Need I say more?

14. The Lady's Guide to Petticoats and Piracy by Mackenzi Lee

I am so ready for Felicity's adventures.

15. The Light Between Worlds by Laura E. Weymouth

*bounces in seat*

16. All the Wandering Light by Heather Fawcett

I needed Even the Darkest Stars's sequel, like, yesterday.

What books would you play hooky with, if you could get your hands on a copy?

Review: In Search Of Us

In Search Of Us by Ava Dellaira
Grade: C
Release date: March 6, 2018
An ARC was provided by Macmillan in exchange for an honest review.
Summary: The author of the beloved Love Letters to the Dead returns with a parallel story of a mother and daughter each at age seventeen. Marilyn's tale recounts the summer she fell in love and set out on her own path. Angie's story is about her search for her unknown father.

This sweeping multi-generational love story introduces readers to mother-and-daughter pair Marilyn and Angie. To seventeen-year-old Angie, who is mixed-race, Marilyn is her hardworking, devoted white single mother. But Marilyn was once young, too. When Marilyn was seventeen, she fell in love with Angie's father, James, who was African-American. But Angie's never met him, and Marilyn has always told her he died before she was born. When Angie discovers evidence of an uncle she's never met she starts to wonder: What if her dad is still alive, too? So she sets off on a journey to find him, hitching a ride to LA from her home in New Mexico with her ex-boyfriend, Sam. Along the way, she uncovers some hard truths about herself, her mother, and what truly happened to her father.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: I didn't love Ava Dellaira's debut, Love Letters to the Dead, but I wanted to give her sophomore novel a chance. However, I feel pretty much the same way about In Search Of Us that I did LLttD.
Marilyn's and Angie's stories were vaguely interesting, but I didn't feel like I truly knew Angie. Her story seemed so dependent on her mother's, and I never quite bought into her relationship with Sam. I wanted more time with Angie, Marilyn, and Justin post-discovery.
In Marilyn's story, her mom came across as stereotypical. The whole relationship dynamic with James didn't feel quite right. I also really wanted more female friends for her and Angie. Angie had a few, but they barely mattered.
There's foul language, drinking, drugs, and plenty of sexual content.

The Verdict: Mehhhhhh.

Buy: Read Between the Lynes  Barnes & Noble

Will I be adding this book to my library?: No.

Random Friday: Spring 2018 Reads

Want to participate in Random Fridays? Just do the following:

• Include the above image in your post and link back to my blog.
• Blog about this week's topic (or a variant of it).
• Add the link to your Random Friday post at the bottom of this one.

Time to talk about the spring 2018 releases I'm excited to read!

1. The Way the Light Bends by Cordelia Jensen

(Although I'm starting to hear this is actually a novel in verse, which makes me nervous.)

2. Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi

3. Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

4. Dread Nation by Justina Chen

5. A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas

6. On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

7. Dark of the West by Joanna Hathaway

Of course, I'm looking forward to a lot more books. I'll highlight some more of them in a few weeks during a Top Ten Tuesday post!