Summer Days and Summer Nights #BookClub

Welcome to the first post in my book club!

I'm a huge bookworm, so I'm going to start writing reviews about the books that I read from now on. Don't worry, though, I will never give away too much of the stories! I'm not too fond of spoilers myself, and I'd hate to ruin it for anyone else.
(Also, just to clarify; none of the reviews that I'm going to be writing will be sponsored unless otherwise noted. I read all books because I'm genuinely interested in them and all opinions are mine and honest.)

I think the best way to start this off is to mention that I mainly read YA novels, romance genre in particular. I'm not sure why, I'm just a sucker for romantic stuff. Although, I'm starting to push myself to broaden my horizons. I'm eyeing some sci-fi and thriller books at the moment, and I really hope I can get more into those types of books.

Now let's get into the book review!

The first book that I'll be writing about is Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, edited by Stephanie Perkins. This anthology is written by twelve bestselling authors, including a story by Stephanie herself.

Photo by me ©

Let's start with the front cover. The title makes it obvious, all stories are set in summer time, that's no mystery. But my favorite thing about the cover is the tiny illustrations of people on there. 'Cause get this, all twelve stories have their own set of main characters on the cover. It makes me feel giddy and a little like an 8-year-old kid, but I just love flipping back to the front to figure out which character is who.

The thing I love most about an anthology is that I can read one story in one sitting and that's the end of it. I hate it when I put down a novel and then when I pick it up again, I have to read back a little to figure out what's happening again. Anthologies crush that concept. Sometimes I've only got a sliver of free time to spare and that's where one of these short stories come in handy.

This book's stories are very unpredictable. Since there's no summary of any of the stories, every one is a little surprise. I've found it's pretty diverse. You've got gay couples, fantasy and sci-fi stories and interracial couples. I'm pretty sure that something can be found for everybody. The catch is that you don't know what the story has in store, so don't be surprised when suddenly a mythical creature pops up.

Another thing I discovered about anthologies is that it's a great way to discover authors I otherwise wouldn't have known. Because of the short stories, I got a glimpse of their writing style and if I liked it, I could check out their other work.
But of course, you also take the risk that you stumble upon stories that are absolutely not your thing. There are a couple stories in here that were just really hard to read through because they were not my typical cup of tea. Or the ending was really disappointing, which made the overall story mediocre. It's quite frustrating, but at least now I know that those authors aren't something for me.

My favorite story out of all twelve is probably Stephanie Perkins' one. In Ninety Minutes, Turn North is actually a sequel story to It's a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown from Stephanie's first anthology (more about that below). I really love her writing style and the characters' relationship develops so well in only two short stories, which is just really impressive to me.
Another personal favorite was Veronica Roth's Inertia. The Divergent author stays true to her style and has written a unique story with a bit of sci-fi sprinkled in.

It's really up to yourself whether you'd like to read an anthology or not. Like I said, you take the risk of reading some stories that are worse than others. But don't get me wrong, you can find hidden gems in anthologies too, and I have definitely found some.

Although autumn is starting to loom around, with these tales you'll sure be in the summer mood for a little while longer!

Happy reading!

Love, Faith

P.S. Be sure to check out Stephanie Perkins' first anthology; My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories. Instead of summer, it's time for Christmas! It's perfect for when you want to curl up on the couch on a cold winter day. I know the holidays are still a few months away, but maybe it's something to put on your wishlist.

Life in New York

Hello!

It's time to talk about one of my favorite cities in the world; New York City. Read along and view my pictures of my adventures there.

In September of 2016 I went to New York and stayed all the way through May 2017. It was my first time ever in the USA. I guess you could call it a gap year, a little adventure before starting college. I attended a language school there to improve my English, so at least my mom wouldn't bother me with what she assumed would be, and I quote, "doing nothing all year". But I truly wanted to become better in English myself, and I have to say I really did notice how much easier it became to use. I was surrounded with all these people from all over the world so I was 'forced' to speak English. The classes weren't always as fun, however most teachers there were super chill and nice, so it made it all a bit better. This school was in Tarrytown, it's about a 40-minute train ride away from the city and it's right next to the Hudson River. School wasn't really a priority though, so I went to New York City a lot, or you know, as much as my wallet would allow me to.

You don't really need to go on both the Top of the Rock and the Empire State Building. Choose the Top of the Rock, this way you'll have the Empire State Building included in your view and you'll save a little money. 

The first time I went to the city was everything and more. I always tell myself to never set any expectations, so I won't be too disappointed if something doesn't live up to my imagination. It's a quote I read once; "Expect nothing, appreciate everything." But I think no matter how high your expectations of New York are, it will still manage to amaze you one way or another. 

If you've traveled around a little bit, I think you'll understand the feeling of seeing things on TV or online, and then the overwhelming feeling of seeing it in real life with your own eyes. Sometimes I really had to pinch myself to believe that what I was seeing was real and not just on a screen. For me, it's especially bad since I'm a huge Gossip Girl fan, and there's just dozens of spots in the city where they've recorded episodes. My personal favorite spot is the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain, where Blair and Chuck got married. I even got to witness an actual proposal and a wedding photoshoot there myself! I went back to the Bethesda Terrace several times. I absolutely loved to go there on a sunny day, go for a stroll in Central Park and then watch other people and tourists go about their day. 

I'm proud to say I've visited all 5 boroughs at least once, but Manhattan will always have a special place in my heart. It's the center of everything and the streets are so lively, at even the earliest (or latest) hours. This coming from a small town girl, it's impossible to say I'm not impressed. I was and still am in complete awe at how incredible it is.

I think one of my favorite things is how elaborate the holidays are celebrated. New York truly goes all out. Not to mention how fun an experience it was to go and eat an actual Thanksgiving dinner at an actual American family. My friends and I felt so welcomed and it was really interesting to chat with them. The food was so delicious, and at the end of the night I literally felt like my stomach was going to explode. (Seriously, how do Americans deal with a turkey that big?) And of course I couldn't miss out on Black Friday shopping the next morning. I didn't get ahold of that much stuff, but that's just because I'm picky. I wouldn't have wanted to miss it anyway.

Christmas decorations were done weeks in advance and I couldn't have loved it more if I wanted to. It's my favorite time of the year and to see people go to great lenghts to decorate made me want to jump of happiness. There was one day mid-December when I was in the city and I can't remember what exactly was happening on that particular day, but there were people dressed like Santa everywhere. I even saw someone dressed as Buddy from the movie Elf. It was my first time seeing something like that and I was so fascinated that I couldn't stop smiling.

One of the most popular sights in the city during Christmas is without a doubt the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. True as it is, it's a gorgeous tree, but to squeeze yourself into that mess of people is just like sending yourself into a panic attack. My advice is to dedicate one very early morning to it. Go there at 6am and I assure you, the peace is so refreshing. I shot this photo at six in the morning and there was only one other family there. 

The best way to get anywhere in New York is either by foot or with the subway. People in movies make it seem so fun and easy to haul over a yellow cab and smoothly drive from one place to another. Well, get your head out of the clouds. It'll take you forever to get somewhere if you're driving, especially in Manhattan. 

It's not that hard to figure out how the subway system works. I downloaded a map of the subway on my phone, so I could see where the nearest subway station was at all times. Get a metro card, fill it with money and you're good to go. 

As easy and convenient as the subway in New York is, one thing I really liked was just walking. I know it's not really for everybody, but I just loved strolling through the streets of Manhattan, either with friends or on my own. I was finally there and my time was limited, so I wanted to see as much of the city as I could. 

If you didn't know, I'm telling you now; Manhattan has numbered streets. I didn't know this before I got there and it's made my life so much easier. It makes navigating and remembering key points a piece of cake. The fact that Grand Central Terminal is on 42nd St. is basically stomped into me. Times Square is in the same street but on 7th Avenue so you gotta walk a couple blocks. And 5th Avenue's Barnes and Noble is on 46th St. I doubt I'm ever forgetting those because it's just become common knowledge to me now. 

Another little money-saving tip; actually going to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty is overrated, expensive and, if it's during peak tourist season, time consuming. The lines will be so long it'll make you dizzy. Instead, take the South Ferry to Staten Island. It's completely free and goes every half an hour. You'll get a nice view of the statue and a little bit of the New York skyline. When you get to Staten Island you can either explore over there or wait half an hour and take the next ferry back to Manhattan. 

As magical as New York is, it's got its downsides. I can't even begin to tell you how ridiculously overpriced everything is. Not to mention that the taxes and tips in restaurants were a real pain in the ass. Pretty much everyday I'd hear at least one person complain about the prices of a train ticket. Over $20 for one roundtrip? That's honestly freaking insane. 

Then there's that thing that New York isn't the absolute safest place on earth. Manhattan is still okay, especially on the upper side, but outside that I can't help but feel that it's a bit sketchier. Maybe it's just my paranoia from having lived in the safety of a small town. All I'm saying is that you should just be careful and be alert. 

Other than that though, the city is absolutely lovely. The people are overall really nice, there's endless things to do and tons and tons of restaurants to try out. Seriously, don't go to generic fast food chain restaurants. Go and explore Hell's Kitchen or Chelsea Market for some of the best dishes. You won't be disappointed. 

The phrase "Stand clear of the closing doors, please." haunts me in my dreams. Jay-Z and Alicia Keys' Empire State of Mind makes me cringe but also jump up and go into full-on karaoke mode. I can't help but continue to pronounce "coffee" in a New York accent. And yet I wouldn't change these things for the world. These are what have made me a New Yorker, even if it was temporary. 

If I could rewind time and explore everything all over again, I would. I've had good and bad experiences, but all of it has shaped and changed me for the better. I've realized and discovered things about myself, and now I know myself better. I felt so much healthier and happier at the end of my trip than at the beginning, and I couldn't be more thankful. 

New York City will always have a special place in my heart. 

I've got more photos attached below! Go on and have a look. 

"I feel a little like Alice in Wonderland." 

"Manhattan will do that to a girl. You'll be happy to know, it never wears off." 

Love, Faith

Chuck Bass' hotel! I might or might not have freaked out when I found this. 

I don't have a proper picture, but in December you should definitely visit the Christmas market in Bryant Park. The place that you see in this photo will be entirely full of little stands that sell food, souvenirs, and other little bits and pieces. You can stroll through and it's just got the nicest Christmas vibe ever. Plus, there's even an ice skating rink! 

(Yes, I'm aware of the fact that my eyes are closed here.)

All photos are mine ©

Sleepless Nights

Hey guys!

First off, I apologize for not posting in 2 weeks. I've been prepping for college and spending a lot of time with my family, so I've temporarily taken a step back from writing. But I'm back now, with an extra long post for your enjoyment.

I bet everyone has had those kind of nights where insomnia is just kicking you right in the face. You twist and turn under your covers, but you just can't seem to fall asleep, even when you're exhausted. It messes up your sleeping schedule and you're tired literally all the time. I had this problem a few weeks ago, and to make things even worse, it was a couple nights in a row.
So, I dived into the wonders of the internet and personal history to provide you with tips that might help you fall asleep.

Let's start with my favorite tip; listening to either music or other soothing sounds. I especially love the sound of rain, it calms me down and I'll be put to sleep in no time. Although I haven't tried ocean sounds or white noise yet, that might help too.
My cousin can fall asleep when her music's really loud, whereas I can only stand it on the lowest volume. One time she was taking a nap without headphones and when I turned the music down a little, she literally woke up and asked me if I could turn it back up.
It all really depends on personal preference, so you should definitely try everything out and see what works best.

This problem only applies if it's summer or if you live somewhere hot. It's literally impossible for me to fall asleep comfortably in heat. I'm glad I live in a little country where the sun only makes an appearance five times a year, but still. I'm not a huge fan of the fan (ha ha). I don't want to point it directly at me, because that's too much, and if I turn it away, it's too little and I get hot again. It works for some, not for me. I prefer to open my window just a crack, so I can let some cool air in.

Another thing I do is read. I'll read a few chapters of the novel that I'm currently reading, yet it doesn't always help. I tend to get a little too excited and then I don't want to stop reading anymore, so it's not the best thing for me, but I like it. Although I sometimes really do feel myself getting tired while reading. When my eyelids start to feel heavy, I know it's time to put it away or I'll fall asleep with the book still in my hands. I'd be lying if I said that hasn't happened before. My mom used to suggest to read books from school, because she says it'll 'bore me to sleep'. I mean, it's worth a shot.

Something that I struggle with a lot is the fact that I have a lot of thoughts floating around in my head. With my anxiety, it happens quite often that I overthink and then it's in the middle of the night and I'm laying in bed wide awake wondering what I'm doing with my life. I've mentioned in a previous post that I keep a Post-it pad next to my bed, but a little journal could also work in this case. I just write down whatever's bothering me, so it's out of my mind for the time being. It really does help to relieve some stress, even if it's for a little while so you can fall asleep in peace.

As a kid, I always had a nightlight in my room. I'd be scared to death if I didn't have one. Now though, I can't sleep unless it's pitch black. I have a roll-down shutter in front of my window which I roll down to make my room even darker. I believe it's also healthier to sleep in an as dark as possible space and then wake up from natural daylight. I always leave a little slit from my shutter open to allow sunlight to stream in when the mornings hit.

A little trick that's handy for anyone with an iPhone; night shift mode. I only recently discovered this feature and I use it everyday now. I'm not the most tech-savvy person, so I'm not too sure how to accurately explain this, but it's to lessen the blue light from your screen. It makes your screen a more yellow-y color that's designed to make you fall asleep easier. You can find it in your control panel when you swipe up on your screen or install it so it automatically turns on everyday. I've got it installed from 9pm till' 6am, so I can be sure that it's already been on for a few hours before I go to sleep and it'll be off by the time I wake up the next day.

Even with all these tips, everyone is different and there are dozens of other methods to help you fall asleep. Try warm milk or meditation exercises for instance. Make sure you get your fair share of sleep, because it's got so many benefits for your health.

Sweet dreams, Faith