Closer Than You Think

Closer Than You Think

Mar 16, 2015

The Magic of Ordinary Days by Ann Howard Creel

Release Date: July 2001
Publisher: Penguin
Pages: 274 pages
Source & Format: Bought; Paperback 
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Summary from Goodreads

Olivia Dunne, a studious minister's daughter who dreams of being an archaeologist, never thought that the drama of World War II would affect her quiet life in Denver. An exhilarating flirtation reshapes her life, though, and she finds herself banished to a rural Colorado outpost, married to a man she hardly knows. Overwhelmed by loneliness, Olivia tentatively tries to establish a new life, finding much-needed friendship and solace in two Japanese American sisters who are living at a nearby internment camp. When Olivia unwittingly becomes an accomplice to a crime and is faced with betrayal, she finally confronts her own desires. Beautifully written and filled with memorable characters, Creel's novel is a powerful exploration of the nature of trust and love.

Thoughts on The Magic of Ordinary Days

I watched the Hallmark movie The Magic of Ordinary Days long before I ever knew it was based on a book. It came out in 2005, and I somehow stumbled upon it. I wasn't a big Hallmark movie fan, but I absolutely loved Keri Russell. I recently decided to re-watch it, which is when I finally realized that there was a book by the same name. Since I already knew I loved the story, I couldn't wait to see if the book was even better. After all, that's usually the case! So, was that true with The Magic of Ordinary Days?

It's the last year of World War II, and Olivia Dunne is a minister's daughter who dreams of being an archaeologist. But a moment of passion changes of her life forever. Suddenly, she's leaving Denver for a rural Colorado outpost... and about to marry a man she's never met before. Overwhelmed by loneliness, Olivia becomes friends with two Japanese American sisters who are living a a nearby internment camp. She's stumbling through the awkwardness of her marriage and battling loneliness until she unwittingly becomes an accomplice to a crime. Now, she's finally forced to decide what she wants out of her life - and her marriage.

I love marriage of convenience stories, so that was already a point in this book's favor when I started. As soon as I started, I could already tell that I liked Creel's writing style. I highlighted a number of passages while I was reading! Olivia, who goes by Livvy, narrates the book. There were things I loved about her character, such as her love of history. But she was also difficult to connect to because of her grief. She's put up a wall around herself, and she really only thinks about herself for a long time. While that's not a flaw of the book, it is something I found frustrating at times. Furthermore, her love of history occasionally turned into info dumps that felt largely unnecessary - though I believe they were meant more as a character quirk.

Because of the first person point of view, you only see the other characters through Livvy's eyes. This is particularly important when it comes to Ray, the man Livvy marries. As the reader, you can tell that Livvy is wary of Ray. He does numerous kind things for her to make her feel welcome and to ease her into life on his farm. But for all his outreach to Livvy, she remains distant and closed off.

My biggest issue with the book was the development of their relationship. It felt so realistic and understandable to me for so long - until there's a change. In the movie, you get to see them interact and watch the progression of their feelings. In the book, you're only seeing through Livvy. So, you don't really understand why Ray cares for her as much as he does, or why she finally makes the decisions she does regarding their relationship. Because of that, I never loved the book as much as I'd hoped. I was rooting for the Ray and Livvy of the movie much more than I was for the couple in this book.

What about what I did love about this book? I think my favorite aspect was the inclusion of Rose and Lorelei - the two Japanese American sisters living in an internment camp. The Japanese internment camps are such a sad part of our nation's history, and I feel like it's something I never see depicted or discussed in books. I enjoyed seeing Livvy's friendship with them blossom, and my heart broke for what they were experiencing. The biggest difference between the movie and the book is the way their storyline ends. I did not expect it to end where it did and that broke my heart even more.

The Magic of Ordinary Days was an enjoyable read. I lost myself in the story, and I loved what I learned about history. There are so many stories from the past - layers and layers of people who experienced so many unimaginable things. I'm so glad this book made me think more about the stories of Japanese Americans in internment camps. As for the main story of the book - Livvy and Ray's marriage - I enjoyed watching it grow. While I ultimately loved the movie more, the book was still worth reading!

So Quotable

"As we grew up, my sisters played with dollhouses and dreamed of futures beside successful husbands, whereas I became gripped by the past. The stories and struggles of olden days worked their way from the crepe paper pages of old books and under the seal of my skin."

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Bread Crumb Trails of Love Letters

Bread Crumb Trails of Love Letters

Mar 13, 2015

If You Find This Letter by Hannah Brencher

Release Date: March 10, 2015
Publisher: Simon & Schuster | Howard Books
Pages: 272 pages
Source & Format: Edelweiss; e-ARC
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Summary (from Goodreads)

Fresh out of college, Hannah Brencher moved to New York, expecting her life to look like a scene from Sex and the City. Instead, she found a city full of people who knew where they were going and what they were doing and didn't have time for a girl still trying to figure it all out. Lonely and depressed, she noticed a woman who looked like she felt the same way on the subway. Hannah did something strange - she wrote the woman a letter. She folded it, scribbled If you find this letter, it's for you on the front and left it behind.

When she realized that it made her feel better, she started writing and leaving love notes all over the city--in doctor's offices, in coat pockets, in library books, in bathroom stalls. Feeling crushed within a culture that only felt like connecting on a screen, she poured her heart out to complete strangers. She found solace in the idea that her words might brighten someone's day.

Hannah's project took on a life of its own when she made an offer on her blog: She would handwrite a note and mail it to anyone who wanted one. Overnight, her inbox exploded with requests from people all over the world. Nearly 400 handwritten letters later, she started the website, The World Needs More Love Letters, which quickly grew.

Thoughts on If You Find This Letter

Cassie introduced me to this book after she found it while browsing Edelweiss. I think the cover caught her eye, and then she knew it was something I'd want to read as soon as she read the summary. Well, she was completely right. While I hadn't heard of Hannah Brencher before, I couldn't wait to read her story.

If You Find This Letter is Hannah Brencher's memoir. After graduating college, she moved to New York to spend a year serving others. She imagined her life there would be like one those adorable movie montages. Instead, she found herself disconnected and adrift. She felt like she was surrounded by people who had it all figured out - while she was slowly falling apart. Lonely and depressed, she writes a letter to a woman sitting across from her on the subway. While she never gives the woman the letter, she soon begins writing letters labeled If you find this letter, then it's for you and leaving them all over the city. But the secret project took on a whole new life when Hannah posted about it on her blog, offering to send letters to anyone who needed one. Nearly 400 letters later, her little project became The World Needs More Love Letters.

In some ways, I've gone back and forth on how I felt about this book. I debated the rating for a while, but it's only because If You Find This Letter was nothing that I expected. I thought it would focus more on Hannah's website and her letter-writing campaign... and to an extent, it did. But it's really just Hannah sharing her story. She writes about her depression, feeling purposeless after college, wanting to make a difference in the world and yet being overwhelmed by the immensity of that task.

If You Find This Letter reads like a conversation over coffee. It's sitting down and listening to someone pour out their heart. There are self-deprecating smiles and whispered confessions. There are deep breaths, long pauses and broken hearts. There are fist pumps and happy dances. There are hard truths and little observations. It's a celebration and a commemoration all in one. It's a memoir of the things that moved her, changed her, broke her and pushed her on. I wasn't expecting that, but I think I loved it all the more because of it.

There are times it feels a little indulgent or meanders just a bit too long in memories. And maybe I'd have enjoyed it less if I'd focused more on those moments. And there's not necessarily anything revolutionary in here. And yet. It made me FEEL. It made me stop, highlight whole paragraphs and read them over again. It made me think about my life, my passions and my calling. It made me stop and take notice. And it made me remember that everyone has a story. We're all walking around with fears, worries, hopes, and dreams. We want to be connected - to be seen and accepted, to know we're not alone and that we matter.

Personally, I loved Hannah's writing style. She's a dreamer, and I'd probably describe her as a grown up Anne Shirley. You know how Anne seems to feel things so deeply? How she sees a story in everything? How she seems to never quite fit in while simultaneously drawing people near to her? That's how I felt about Hannah while I was reading If You Find This Letter. 

"It almost feels like at some point life whacks you on the top of the head and hands you a list of all the things you can keep. The list is surprisingly long. You can keep letters. You can keep trying. You can keep secrets and you can try your hardest to keep promises. You can keep your eyes on the road. You can keep his sweatshirt, the one he left on the living room floor. You can keep photos and you can keep memories. But you cannot keep people. People are not things - you can't keep them."

Memoirs are tricky things to recommend. So much of it depends on whether a reader connects to the author's voice, and it's hard to predict how someone will react to personal reflections. So while the analytical part of me could probably find critical things to say about the book, the emotional part of me doesn't care. I loved it, and I'll be buying a copy for my shelves.

So Quotable

"Some people are dotted lines and other people are destinations. Some people get you somewhere and some people are just a place to be, all in themselves. But you cannot force those dotted lines into destinations."

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.

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My Foxy Dori & Other Favorites!

My Foxy Dori & Other Favorites!

Mar 12, 2015

A few weeks ago, I posted a photo of my brand-new Foxy Dori and teased that a post about was in the works. I'm finally ready to deliver on that promise! I was thinking about the post and decided to also highlight a few of my other favorite things, too. It turned out a little longer than I intended, but I've got a lot to share!

My Traveler's Notebook: Foxy Dori

I stumbled upon traveler's notebooks one day while searching #MayBooks on Instagram. They were first created by a Japanese company, and those are called Midori Traveler's Notebooks. A traveler's notebook is a leather cover that has elastic bands inside to hold notebooks and an elastic band to keep it closed. The original notebooks come in two sizes and two colors.

There are a number of "faux dori" brands, but my favorite is Foxy Dori. Regular Midoris aren't customizable, but other sellers offer leather traveler's notebook covers with so many more options! For example, Foxy Doris are available in three different types of leather, seven sizes and seventeen colors. You can choose if you want a single, double or quadruple strand binding inside, as well as a single or double strap closure. When ordering, you get to choose from a bunch of colors for the elastics and an optional stamp or monogram.

The leathers differ by thickness, texture and flexibility. I bought the Wanderlust leather, which is the thickest, has the most flexibility, the most texture and comes in two colors (black or brown).  I love the ripples in the cover and that it's so supple. The custom color Foxys are the thinnest, stiffest, have varying texture and come in seventeen colors. I believe the Bay Leather Foxys are similar in thickness and flexibility to the custom color ones but have fewer markings / less texture. Here's what I ordered: 

Wanderlust Leather / Size: Wide / Strap: Single / Binding: Quad / Elastic: Black 

Kelly, the creator of Foxy Doris, offers a limited number for sale each day. There's such a high demand (she's sold almost 2,000 since she opened her shop four months ago) that she's regulating how many she sells. If you visit her shop after they've sold for the day, it might look a little empty. So, just check back the next day!

Once you buy the traveler's notebook, what are you supposed to do with it? BUY INSERTS! The thing that I love about it is that you get to put anything you want inside. You could use your traveler's notebook as a wallet, for journaling, for projects... for basically anything and everything. It's all up to you!  

My Inserts: May Books

I've blogged before about how I use May Books for blogging, but that's changed some since I got my Foxy Dori. I specifically bought the size made to hold 1-4 May Books because I knew I wanted to put three inside:

• Live Creatively = Ideas / Cassie gave me the Live Creatively notebook for my birthday, and I knew immediately it was going in my Foxy Dori. It's blank, and I use it for jotting down blog ideas. Whether it's planning a blog event or keeping track of possible discussion posts, this gets used a lot.

• Watercolor Anemone = Quotes / Whenever I read a quote worth saving, I write it down. I've always loved quotes, so I make it a point to include a notable quote in my reviews. I've had "quote books" since high school! This Watercolor Anemone book is lined because I find that's the best for this purpose.

• Irregular Dots = Book Notes / I didn't start taking notes on the books that I read until just recently, and it's already drastically improved my review-writing process. As soon as I finish a book, I write down key details and my thoughts on it. This Irregular Dots book has the dot grid pages, which I love.

I already used May Books for blogging, so I'm obsessed with the fact that I can easily carry all three around with me in my Foxy Dori. I just open each book to the middle and slide it around one of the four binding straps. That's only three straps in use... so what do I do with the fourth?

My Inserts: Pocket Folder and Business Card Holder

I could have stopped with my three May Books, but I had to have something else at the front of my Foxy Dori. I wanted to learn how to make the most of my notebook, so I watched this YouTube video from The Reset Girl. It's really long, but it's so informative if you want to find more faux dori tips, tricks and resources!

One of the things she highlighted in her video was the folder and business card holder in the front of her traveler's notebook. And I knew I needed both in mine, too! I bought two pocket folders from The Lovely Habitat on Etsy (though I'm just using one right now). All I currently have inside are some silly stickers and my library receipt, but I tuck random stuff into it all the time (receipts, notes, bookmarks, tickets, etc.).

Then, I bought the Midori business card holder. Following The Reset Girl's lead, I bought some scrapbook paper (this Mambi Sheets pack). I cut twelve rectangles out of the paper and slid them into each of the card slots. Since the holder is clear, I love cute paper showing through instead of whatever is on the other side.

In the back (bottom left photo - left side of the holder), I have three bookmarks from craftedvan. Seriously, aren't they adorable?! I actually have a ton, so I switch these out. In the front (bottom left photo - on the right side of the card holder), I've got Post-it tabs, letter H sticky notes and Post-it flags. On the inside, I have some Post-it notes, washi tape wrapped around a used gift card (pink stripe, neon pink, pastel blue, and fun dots), the "Make every day a page worth marking" card that came with my craftedvan order, my blog business cards (design from In My Studio), stickers from Pemberley Pond, and some paper clips. I just fold the card holder in half, tuck the folder inside and slip those two inserts around the first binding strap. Voila!

That should explain what a Foxy Dori is, where you can get it, how it works and what I've got in mine. I'm just getting started, and there are lots of people who are much more knowledgeable about them than I am. But please let me know if you have any questions! The YouTube video I mentioned has ton of information on additional insert options, and I recommend searching #FoxyDori on Instagram if you want more ideas!

A Few More Things I Love...

I always have my Foxy Dori with me because I just toss it in my purse and take it everywhere. But there are a few more things I love that I just keep at home. So, I'm going to share those with you, too!

Sticky Notes and Washi Tape

Yes, I have a little box filled with sticky notes and washi tape. The box used to have Rifle Paper coasters in it, but I've totally repurposed it. I love sticky notes for bookmarking a page, quick reminders, short to do lists and any other number of things. I usually buy the Post-it brand because, duh, they work the best.

I also have a little collection of washi tape - my favorite is the Scotch Expressions line. I like to write on washi it, and I've found that's almost impossible with some brands. But Sharpies always work fine with the Scotch washi tape! I use it to decorate pages in my planner, highlight certain details, designate a new section, and more.

Pencils, Pens and Markers

I'm totally addicted to buying pens. Even though I don't need more, I just keep buying them! I'm left-handed, so my main requirement for pens is ink that dries quickly. I don't want to drag my hand over my writing and smear it all! In the top left picture, I've gathered what you're most likely to find in my Nate Berkus pencil pouch from Target. I usually have a black and silver Sharpie, Sharpie pen and a Sharpie highlighter - the basics.

Then, I have four favorite types of pens: Bic Ultra Round Stic Grip, Marvy Japan Le Pen, Papermate Flair and Staedtler Triplus Fineliner. You can see how they all write in the one photo, but I'll admit that the Staedtler and Papermate pens are my favorite. I may have a lot of them...

Lilly Pulitzer Planner

In the past few years, I've tried several different planners: the May Designs Months + Weeks planner, the Emily Ley Simplified Planner and the Lilly Pulitzer planner. There are things I like and dislike about each one. May Books are great if you want something you can easily toss in your purse, and the Simplified Planner is great if you want a lot of room per day. But I keep coming back to Lilly Pulitzer!

It comes in four sizes, and there are always a bunch of patterns available. This year, I have the Large Jellies Be Jammin'. All Lilly 2014-2015 agendas are sold out, but they'll introduce the 2015-2016 agendas soon! It's a 17-month planner (August 2015 to December 2015) and includes a spread for each month, two pages for each week, Lilly-themed stickers, spiral binding, a front pocket and an elastic closure band.

I use the planner solely for blogging, so I just keep it at home. While I sometimes use a digital calendar, I can't get away from a paper one. I'm too attached to it! As you can see in the one photo, I use washi tape to help me keep track of what I have for review and what I've pre-ordered. And yes, I color code my calendar. Ha!

Blog Planner Notepad

I recently bought this blog planner notepad from Heart & Arrow Design. I've only been using it for two weeks or so, but I like it so far! There's space to write what you want to post Monday to Friday, a social media checklist (Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook) and a post progress checklist (write post, add images, proof & edit, and schedule). There's space for ideas and inspiration, as well as any to dos (reply to comments, read other blogs, etc.). I just tear off a sheet, stick it in my Foxy Dori, and then I have it whenever I need it!

Wunderlist

I've already written a whole post about how I'm obsessed with Wunderlist, and that's all still true. I'll always been a pen and paper kind of girl, but this is my favorite digital planning tool. I won't talk about all the ways I use it since I've already shared that on the blog, but I can't resist any opportunity to mention it. Seriously, download it!

Do you prefer paper or digital planning?

Have any questions about traveler's notebooks?

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Forged by Fire

Forged by Fire

Mar 11, 2015

The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows

Release Date: March 10, 2015
Publisher: HarperCollins | Katherine Tegen
Pages: 400 pages
Source & Format: Borrowed from Alexa; ARC
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Summary (from Goodreads)

Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.

She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.

She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others.

Thoughts on The Orphan Queen

When Alexa offered to let me borrow The Orphan Queen, I was thrilled! I hadn't read anything by Jodi Meadows before, but this book sounded right up my alley. I've become a fantasy convert, which means I want to read anything I can get my hands on from the genre. And if my friends are raving about it? Even better!

The Orphan Queen is the story of Wilhelmina, princess displaced from her homeland after the Indigo Kingdom conquered it years ago. She was taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom's capital, with the other orphaned children of nobility. They've banded together to form the Ospreys - a group with the common goal of returning Wilhelmina to her throne. But in order to do so, Wil and her best friend, Melanie, must go undercover at Skyvale Palace to observe their enemy. At the same time, wraith (the toxic by-product of magic) is pouring across the continent. Magic has been forbidden, but the wraith isn't slowing down. Wilhelmina keeps her own magical abilities hidden, but it might not before the vigilante Black Knife discovers her secrets.

The Orphan Queen got off to a bit of a slow start for me. Because you jump right into the story, it took me some time to familiarize myself with the terminology and the world. But the more I read, the more I found myself unable to put the book down. Wilhelmina is a great heroine. I loved her talent for forgery and the fact that she has survived in the shadows for so long. She starts to come into her own as the book progresses, and I found that journey really enjoyable.

While reading Part One, I felt the book was a little generic. I liked Meadows writing, the world was interesting, and Wil was compelling... but I didn't feel like anything really set it apart from other YA fantasy series that I've enjoyed. Then, I got to Part Two. And from that point on, I was hooked. The plot captured my attention, the pace picked up and the characters became more developed. I never considered quitting - I was too intrigued for that - but Part Two is when I realized just how much I loved The Orphan Queen. My imagination started to come alive, and I began picturing the things being described in the book.

And the romance? Yes, please! I certainly don't think every book needs a romance, but I won't turn one down either. I don't want to say too much about what happens with this aspect of book, so I'll simply note that I loved the way this relationship developed. I loved that it was complicated and presented a huge challenge for both people involved. I can't wait to see its repercussions throughout the series - though I'm a little nervous about what will happen next! I have a feeling it will take a lot of heartache for these characters to work it all out.

The Orphan Queen is a creative and enjoyable start to a new fantasy series! While I saw a number of the twists/reveals coming, that didn't lessen my enjoyment for the book. There are aspects that feel a bit too familiar - tropes that have appeared in YA fantasy pretty frequently recently, for example - but this is still one of my favorite reads so far this year. It started to really stand out by Part Two, and I have high hopes that it will just continue on that trajectory. I can't wait to see what happens with Wil, and I need the next book. Because yes, this ending is torture. Meadows has me hooked!

So Quotable

“I was going to have to face the man who'd destroyed my kingdom, and the boy who was the reason.”

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review consideration. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review.

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Consider This Classic: Zeee Recommends

Consider This Classic: Zeee Recommends

Mar 10, 2015

Consider This Classic is a monthly feature where bloggers highlight and recommend their favorite classic. They'll tell you when they first read it, why they love it and where to go from there. If you'd like to participate in Consider This Classic, click here to sign up.

Although I haven't read this month's recommendation, I'm excited to feature some science fiction in Consider This Classic! When I saw what Zeee from I Heart Romance recommended, it reminded me that there's a pretty big gap in my classics background when it comes to science fiction. I somehow made it through school without reading any, as far as I can remember. And I loved learning that Zee sleeps with her Nook under her pillow, reads multiple books at one time and loves re-reading. I'm so excited to have her on my blog today!

Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

Publication Year: 1870
Originally Published In: France
Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Summary (from Barnes & Noble)
When Professor Pierre Aronnax and harpoonist Ned Land join an expedtion to hunt a fierce "whale" that has been sinking ships, little do they expect that they will soon become captives of Captain Nemo, a self-exiled renegade who prowls the sea in his magnificent submarine, the Nautilus, seeking revenge against the civilized world that he feels has betrayed him. Aboard the Nautilus, Aronnax and Land are introduced to an undersea world that is mysterious, marvelous, and exhilirating, and have extraordinary adventures among the flora and fauna of the ocean.

First published in 1870 as one of Jules Verne's "Extraordinary Voyages," Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea is revered as a landmark of science fiction and a classic tale of wonder.

I read this book back in 4th grade and was instantly hooked. At that time, I was still reading the Sweet Valley series (yes! THAT one) and I had stumbled upon a copy of this book at a local bookstore.

Despite a lot of controversy about translations of Jules Verne's books, I loved this story so much that I read his two other famous works (A Journey to the Center of the Earth and Around the World in Eighty Days). This book also started my love for Science Fiction even though I do not read a lot of Sci-Fi books these days. I still remember my fascination while reading 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and devoured page after page. I loved reading about submarines and machines written at a time when all these things weren't even thought possible.

I never really thought of books that are similar to this but there are movies based on this book. The 1954 film starring Kirk Douglas is the only one I can remember off the top of my head.

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