Around The World With... (June 2015)

Hey everyone! I created a new feature for Unraveling Books! I love to travel and want to go all over the world one day and I also love books! So, I decided to find a new way to incorporate the two and came up with "Around the World with..." Each month I am going to feature one of you lovely book bloggers and ask you some questions about books and traveling.

So without further ado, here is...

SOPHIA from Ravens and Writing Desks and Literary Rambles!

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?
Start with the hard questions, huh? :-) Really, it changes every few months. I'd currently love to go somewhere in Northern Europe. Perhaps Denmark or Holland?

If you were a city what city would you be?
Quebec City. Not as loud as New York or London, but not too quiet, either. Something between European and North American. The perfect blend of modernity and ancient old-fashioned style.

Favorite place you’ve been to?
Venice. HANDS DOWN. Venice is The Place for Magic. You want a mystical city filled with shadows and alleyways and twinkling lights where anything could happen? Go to Venice.

Favorite setting in a book? Least favorite?
I mean, I think it's pretty awesome that the Divergent series is set in my home town of Chicago. I recognize the references! But I also really love the fictional town of Henrietta, Virginia from Maggie Stiefaver's The Raven Boys. It makes me want to visit Virginia sometime. It sounds utterly gorgeous!

Are you planning on traveling anywhere in 2015?
So far, no. But we still have time! Who knows what deals my my mother may find on the internet?

Favorite book set in Europe? North America (East, West, North, South, Midwest - pick a book for each location in North America or just a couple that you like)? Other place?

Do you realize how many of my favorite authors set their books in Europe? From a classics perspective, we have Les Miserables and The Chronicles of Narnia (but really, this list coiuld go on forever). From the more modern pile of books, we have Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein and The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. One European favorite is NOT HAPPENING.

For North America, I really like A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith. And for other places, there's the Number One Ladies' Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. That's set in Botswana, which I find fascinating. Put that on my list for visiting someday!

If you were taking a road trip, what would be some of your must see tourist stops?
Mount Rushmore. I have yet to see Mount Rushmore. And I would love to stop by at the Carlsbad Caverns. Gosh. I need to travel the US more! I'm always going international and there's so much awesomeness in my own country. :)

Favorite author? Where are they from?
I've got two. C. S. Lewis, from England, and Victor Hugo, from France.

SIGN-UPS FOR THIS FEATURE ARE OPEN!

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Around The World With... (January 2015)

Hey everyone! I created a new feature for Unraveling Books! I love to travel and want to go all over the world one day and I also love books! So, I decided to find a new way to incorporate the two and came up with "Around the World with..." Each month I am going to feature one of you lovely book bloggers and ask you some questions about books and traveling.  And if you want to participate, sign up HERE!!!

So without further ado, here is...

NIKKI!

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?
Depends for how long! If it were just for a vacation, probably somewhere like Hawaii, where I could veg out on the beach and relax for a few days... (or weeks...) I went to Maui once, and it was amazing, so I'd probably go there again if I could. ORRRR, to MN to visit my BFF. Because she used to only be 1 state away and now she's farther and I miss her. :(

If I were traveling someplace to stay for a longer length of time, it'd have to be somewhere rainy where I could snuggle up by the fire at least semi-often. That's a staple in my life and I couldn't live anywhere without that! Sooo... London, Edinburgh, Seattle (wait, I live there... yes, I love it), places like that. ;)

If you were a city what city would you be?
Somewhere rainy and peaceful and laid-back... Probably a little town in the English countryside that nobody's ever heard of. ;)

Favorite place you’ve been to?

London! I studied in London over the summer of 2008 for an English Literature program with the University of Washington, and it was basically the best summer of my life. I loved it there! We got to explore London itself, and visited all the normal tourist-y places like Big Ben, Westminster, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Globe theatre, etc, etc... and we also got to go to Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born, which was amazing! We saw tons of Shakespeare plays, the highlight of which was David Tennant in Hamlet. <3

Favorite setting in a book? Least favorite?
Real favorite: In general, I love books set in London. Or anywhere in the UK. Or Europe, really... :P But I did recently read a book set in Melbourne, Australia, which I thought was awesome -- Ellie Marney's Every Breath. I'd never read a book set there before, and I think she did an amazing job of capturing the feel of the city, or at least the feel of it from the perspective of the main character.

Fictional favorite: Camorr, from The Lies of Locke Lamora. It's basically a cutthroat Venice with glowy magic lights and crystal towers and I love it to death. (But I'd never ever ever want to go there.)

Least favorite: I really don't dislike settings outright! They often just don't impact me, in which case I totally forget where the book took place at all... =S

Are you planning on traveling anywhere in 2015?
I'm going back to NYC for BEA! I'm so excited fro that. NYC is a super expensive place, but it's also SUPER fun and I really enjoyed my trip there last year, so I'm really looking forward to it.

Favorite book set in Europe? North America (East, West, North, South, Midwest - pick a book for each location in North America or just a couple that you like)? Other place?
Europe: Scarlet & Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen (shhhh, don't tell me Nottinghamshire isn't a real place!). Also, The Name of the Star and The Madness Underneath, which are very location-oriented (London!)
North America: Ummmm... One thing this exercise is telling me? I don't read a lot of books that are set in North America and have a strong sense of "place". The ones I'm thinking of off the top of my head are: The Archived / The Unbound by Victoria Schwab, set in New York; Jim Butcher's Dresden Files which are set in Chicago (and which I really need to catch up on...) And... can I cheat a little? Because I love Rick Riordan's The Lightning Thief. Percy and Co. basically road-trip all across North America: New York to LA, via St. Louis, Denver, and Las Vegas. XD

If you were taking a road trip, what would be some of your must see tourist stops?
Oh wow, ummm. I am bad at remembering good tourist stops. If I could choose one road-trip route, I'd probably just want to drive all down the west coast, from Seattle to LA or something like that. I feel like that would be pretty, with lots of ocean vistas and beaches and little seaside places to stop at. But if I had to road-trip and choose specific destinations, and I could go anywhere... I'd probably want to see the Grand Canyon, the California Redwoods, and... this is gonna sound weird but I would love to drive through somewhere that's SUPER flat, where you can see forever. I live in the PNW, where there are hills everywhere, so somewhere super flat sounds like a novel experience.

Favorite author? Where are they from?
Oh gosh. I'm gonna have to go with two - Brandon Sanderson, who is from Utah, and Victoria Schwab, who I believe is from Tennessee, but who is currently studying in Edinburgh (and I am SO JEALOUS).

Don't forget to sign up HERE!

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Around The World With... (December 2014)

Hey everyone! I created a new feature for Unraveling Books! I love to travel and want to go all over the world one day and I also love books! So, I decided to find a new way to incorporate the two and came up with "Around the World with..." Each month I am going to feature one of you lovely book bloggers and ask you some questions about books and traveling.

To close out the year, I decided to mix things up and do another video blog! Check it out :)

So without further ado, here is...

ME!

Email me at: michellelaumb[at]yahoo[dot]com  OR Use the sign up sheet below!

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Around The World With... (November 2014)

Hey everyone! I created a new feature for Unraveling Books! I love to travel and want to go all over the world one day and I also love books! So, I decided to find a new way to incorporate the two and came up with "Around the World with..." Each month I am going to feature one of you lovely book bloggers and ask you some questions about books and traveling.

So without further ado, here is...

Francine from The Perks of Being Francine Soleil! I first met Francine through Twitter over a year ago during the Summer Lovin' Read-a-Thon! Besides her own blog, Francine also co-blogs at The Not So Literary Heiresses and Fluffy Reads.

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?
Europe. All over Europe.

If you were a city what city would you be?
Err. I'm not really familiar with cities much. But I once took this random test that says I belong in the Netherlands so Amsterdam maybe?

Favorite place you’ve been to?
A local beach in the Philippines. It was in Bataan, and the place was just breathtaking. I wasn't able to take good pictures though.

Favorite setting in a book? Least favorite?
Europe. 13 Little Blue Envelopes was the book that started it all. And then I read a lot more books about different places in Europe that I just want to go go go! I don't think I have a least favorite. I pretty much love traveling through the world through books.

Are you planning on traveling anywhere in 2014?

Well, 2014 is almost over so not really. I think my friends want to go to a local beach in Palawan or something. I'm thinking of going to Vietnam next year though. Maybe.


Favorite book set in Europe? North America (East, West, North, South, Midwest - pick a book for each location in North America or just a couple that you like)? Other place?

Europe: 13 Little Blue envelopes (all over), Anna and the French Kiss (Paris, France), Just One Day (France and The Netherlands)
North America: Err. I'm bad at remembering setting in books and I have no idea which part of the world they're in. I think some memorable ones were for New York (Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares, and Where She Went) and Chicago (Will Grayson, Will Grayson and Divergent). And I love Amy & Roger's Epic Detour which pretty much features different places in America.

If you were taking a road trip, what would be some of your must see tourist stops?
Can I just say that I want to go the exact same route as Amy and Roger in Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson?

Favorite author? Where are they from?
A.G. Howard.

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Around The World With... (September 2014)

Hey everyone! I created a new feature for Unraveling Books! I love to travel and want to go all over the world one day and I also love books! So, I decided to find a new way to incorporate the two and came up with "Around the World with..." Each month I am going to feature one of you lovely book bloggers and ask you some questions about books and traveling.

So without further ado, here is...

Anna from Anna Reads! Okay I literally have not been able to contain my excitement about this months guest! My sister had always wanted me to do a blog of some sorts and she always gets a kick out of hearing my thoughts on books and movies etc, so she thought why not have me try a book blog. I wasn't sure about it because I just can't (to this day) put my thoughts into writing (as you can tell). But we went online and looked up book blogs and Anna's was the first one I found! I scoured her blog for hours and then found other blogs and it was definitely because of Anna and her blog that I decided to try this out. I know we all know Anna on Twitter but now let's see what she has to say about traveling! Thank you so much Anna for doing this!!

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?

Tops on my "to see someday list" are Australia and New Zealand.


If you were a city what city would you be?
Actually I think I'd be my hometown, Chicago. Busy busy busy and always something to do, but more laid-back than NYC. That's very "me." Oh, and lots of hot & cold extremes. Ha!

 Favorite place you’ve been to?
My two favorite cities I've visited are Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Oia (Greece), with Munich (Germany) being a closer runner-up in third.

Favorite setting in a book? Least favorite?
This may sound counterintuitive to me just saying how much I love city life, but I love rural settings in books (In Honor by Jessi Kirby is a good example). I also love books like Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard that are set in relatively unpopulated areas, like remote beaches. I guess I like them because they take me to places unlike those I see every day!

Are you planning on traveling anywhere in 2014?
Yes, I've got an insane amount of travel the rest of this year: Vegas twice, Orlando, California, Portland, Seattle, Nashville. And that's not counting the trips I've already gone on this year! Clearly, I travel a lot.

Favorite book set in Europe? North America (East, West, North, South, Midwest - pick a book for each location in North America or just a couple that you like)? Other place?
Off the top of my head...
Europe: Just One Day by Gayle Forman
U.S. East: Sloppy Firsts by Jessica Darling
West: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
South: Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
Midwest: Divergent by Veronica Roth

If you were taking a road trip, what would be some of your must see tourist stops?
In theory I love road trips -- I romanticize books like Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson and adore road trip books like Saving June by Hannah Harrington or Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt. But in reality I can't sit still that long and trying to read gives me motion sickness so...nowhere, unless it's within three hours from home!

Favorite author? Where are they from?
My favorite author is Megan McCafferty, who is from New Jersey and sets her Jessica Darling series there. Which is why Sloppy Firsts was the first book that came to my mind for the East Coast!

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Around The World With... (June 2014)

Hey everyone! I created a new feature for Unraveling Books! I love to travel and want to go all over the world one day and I also love books! So, I decided to find a new way to incorporate the two and came up with "Around the World with..." Each month I am going to feature one of you lovely book bloggers and ask you some questions about books and traveling.

So without further ado, here is...

Octavia from Read.Sleep.Repeat! I met Octavia when she was one of the hosts of the Summer Lovin' RAT! Since then, it has been fun getting to talk to her on Twitter (I especially enjoyed all of her tweets when she became a first time watcher of The Vampire Diaries!) and participate in her new online book club!

1. If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?

It's actually a tie! I'd give up an arm to go to the Maldives and Barcelona

2. If you were a city what city would you be?
I'm actually going to cheat a pick the state of Hawaii. I could have tried narrowing it down to one city but I have my moments when I can properly portrat the various personalities of each island.

3. Favorite book setting?

It's going to sound so cheesy but I love when a book is set in New York. It just keeps the fantasy version of NY that I've built in my head real...if that makes sense! My least favorite is anything in the south. I get annoyed by the stereotypes and it's so hard to find a book that can step away from those stereotypes.

4. Are you planning on traveling anywhere in 2014?
In 2014 I'm actually planning to travel to New York for BEA (there goes the fantasy hello reality!)! I've never really wanted to visit NY but I'm really excited.

5. Favorite book placed in Europe? America? Other place?
Europe. It's a tie between Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (Prague!!) and Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo (alternate reality-ish RUSSIA!)
America. Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson (dystopian Chicago)
Other place. SPACE!! These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

6. If you were taking a road trip, what would be some of your must see tourist spots?
I honestly never really thought of this! I loathe being in cars for long periods of time but a place I really REALLY want to drive/see is the autobahn in Germany. I like to go fast.

7. Favorite author? Where are they from?
This question is CRUEL! I don't have a favorite author, but I have many authors I could read over and over again and never tire of them. Including:
Anne Bishop ~ I have no idea where she's from but she currently stays in NYC
Leigh Bardugo ~ Born in Jerusalem, raised in LA
Brandon Sanderson ~ Nebraska
Tahereh Mafi ~ Connecticut

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Around The World With... (May 2014)

Hey everyone! I created a new feature for Unraveling Books! I love to travel and want to go all over the world one day and I also love books! So, I decided to find a new way to incorporate the two and came up with "Around the World with..." Each month I am going to feature one of you lovely book bloggers and ask you some questions about books and traveling.

So without further ado, here is...

Jess from Such a Novel Idea! I think I met Jess on Twitter during the Summer Lovin' RAT! We don't really talk that much but I love following her and her blog and you should, too! :)

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?
Oh man, there are SO many places I want to visit. If I could travel anywhere, I’d definitely go to Europe… Some time in the UK (England, Scotland, Ireland), then head to Paris and the French countryside. I’d take some time in Spain and Greece. Definitely Italy. Also some of the less talked about destinations like Denmark and the Netherlands. Oh and Germany. I wouldn’t backpack, because I am 30 and that part of my life is over, but the trip that Ginny takes in 13 Little Blue Envelopes would definitely be a great place to start. (*Note: Jess also added Hawaii - which would be so fun!)

If you were a city what city would you be?

Something intelligent and not flashy. A little offbeat and quirky. I’d definitely think Portland. Also, my Buzzfeed quiz agrees. 

Favorite place you’ve been to?
My brain said Disneyworld when I read this question, but honestly Branson is what my heart says. My husband insisted we go on vacation there a few years ago, and now it is our go-to place. It has a lot of memories for our family, but it is also just beautiful. I love everything about it from the drive there (hello northern Arkansas and Missouri are beyond gorgeous!) to the mountains to Silver Dollar City. And I’ve never been to a show or most of the normal attractions, but I don’t mind missing on those things when there are so many awesome things to do and see. (*Picture to the right is Jess reading on the water in Branson)

Favorite setting in a book? Least favorite?
I love when books take place overseas, especially Europe. I feel like I am getting to experience that place, and I love when the setting is as important to the book as the characters. Of course, I love the English countryside in Harry Potter, but really this is my favorite book world, so I’d live there in a heartbeat. My least favorite is somewhere desolate or too cold to enjoy. So, basically dystopian worlds like Panem and Chicago a la Divergent.

Are you planning on traveling anywhere in 2014?
Well, I visit my family in San Antonio, which doubles as vacation. We probably won’t go anywhere else, but I’ll be traveling to LOTS of places in books.

Favorite book set in Europe? North America (East, West, North, South, Midwest - pick a book for each location in North America or just a couple that you like)? Other place?
Favorite book set in Europe – Die for Me by Amy Plum and mostly because of the vivid and lovely descriptions of Paris 

Favorite Book set in America – Oi vey, this is a hard one! Seriously, most of my favorite books are set in fantasy or outside of the states. However, I will go with a series that’s place had a big impact on me. I am not a person who loves snow, but when I read Unearthly by Cynthia Hand, I immediately wanted to move to Wyoming. I knew nothing of Wyoming before this book, but I now have vivid details about it. And of course, I can thank the Twilight series for my fascination with the Pacific Northwest.
Other – My other would be These Broken Stars by Meagan Spooner and Amie Kaufman. And it takes place in space and on another planet. Which I TOTALLY want to visit. Even if it will never happen.

If you were taking a road trip, what would be some of your must see tourist stops?

Okay so the ideal road trip would be from one end of the country to the other. Since I live in the middle this will be hard, but it’s my imaginary road trip, so let’s do it. I’d want to see the Pacific Coast, so I’d probably drive through the Southwestern states – see the part of Texas (west) I’ve never seen, including the art sculptures in the middle of nowhere. I’d like to see the mountains and desert, just to say I’ve been there. Once I got to Cali, I’d want to see the coast, the San Diego zoo, LaLa land, San Francisco, and northern California and the wine country. Then, I’d definitely trek up to Oregon/Washington and check out the scene in Seattle and Portland. I’d cross over into Canada, because I’ve never left the country and c’set la vie. I’d then go towards Wyoming and Montana, because Cynthia Hand made it sound amazing in the Unearthly series. I’d do Chicago again, because it’s been a long time and then down to Missouri, because I just love it there. Up then to NYC (maybe it would be while BEA is in town, because that would be just perfect). Then down to Florida to see that ocean with the perfect sand. A hop over to Disney World and then back through the southeastern states to Texas. Shew, I’m tired just thinking about it.

Favorite author? Where are they from?
Seriously, this question borderlines torture. I guess I’m going to take the easy way out and say JK Rowling, who is from the United Kingdom. Another place I’d love to live or visit.

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Around The World With... (April 2014)

Hey everyone! I created a new feature for Unraveling Books! I love to travel and want to go all over the world one day and I also love books! So, I decided to find a new way to incorporate the two and came up with "Around the World with..." Each month I am going to feature one of you lovely book bloggers and ask you some questions about books and traveling.

So without further ado, here is...

Brittany from The Book Addict's Guide! I first started talking to Brittany when she helped host the Just One Year (Gayle Forman) read along! I love Brittany's blog and her unique format for her book reviews (the addiction rating especially) and she really tells you what you need to know whether good or bad! Go wish her a happy blogoversary - The Book Addict's Guide is TWO years old now! :)

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?

I would LOVE to travel to Europe someday. I'm half Italian (my dad's side) and I'm also German, Polish and Norwegian so I'd really love to be able to visit all of the countries that make up part of my heritage. Mostly I'd love to see Italy, Germany, and Spain. I was a Spanish major in college so I'd really love to see the country that I learned so much about and hopefully be able to use my Spanish skills! (You know... whatever skills I still have left after being out of school for five years!)

If you were a city what city would you be? 

Oh wow, that's a hard question. I would say... Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Milwaukee is a really fun area for me. If I were to be a city, Milwaukee is still filled with all of the Midwestern fun that I love (and I've lived in Illinois my whole life so I feel like it would still have to be in the Midwest) and I LOVE the beer scene in Milwaukee. There's a reason their baseball team is called the Brewers! My fiancé and I have taken many a brewery tour there and we've had a lot of fun every time we've gone up there. I also really like that Milwaukee is still a major city but it's not as crazy and busy and trafficky as Chicago. Add in Lake Michigan and the fact that my sister is currently living there, and I think it pretty much sums me up pretty well!

Favorite place you’ve been to? 

Snowy Range Mountains, Wyoming. Shane (my fiancé) first took me to the Snowies just six months after we started dating. He went to school out in Wyoming and he's very much an outdoors person so it was really just the most special trip I've ever been on. It was a nice, quiet vacation and we backwoods camped in the mountains. It was the 4th of July weekend and there was still of ton of snow on the ground! We camped in this clearing of snow. It was so cool. It was just such a peaceful trip and still my favorite one to date.

Favorite setting in a book? Least favorite? 

Hmmm. I don't know if I really have a specific place that's my favorite! I really like books that are set in summer for some reason, but that's not a PLACE. I always like when books are set in Chicago or the Chicago suburbs just because it's so easy for me to connect with and I get a little thrill when I recognize a place or have been there!
As for least favorite... Probably most places I'm really not familiar with. I think it's really hard for me to connect with books set in Asia in general simply because I'm not familiar with the area or customs. It's a lot of new things for me to try to get a hang of so it becomes difficult for me to connect with the book.

Are you planning on traveling anywhere in 2014? 

I am! Earlier in January, I flew out to NJ and Amy (Tripping Over Books) picked me up and we had a girls weekend with Alyssa (Books Take You Places) in central NY. In May, I'm going to BEA again (YAY!) and in June, Shane and I are flying out to Montana for his friend's destination wedding which I am SUPER excited for. Then in November (or December -- TBD) we will have our honeymoon! Not sure where yet though.

Favorite book set in Europe? North America (East, West, North, South, Midwest - pick a book for each location in North America or just a couple that you like)? Other place? 

Favorite Europe books include Just One Day by Gayle Forman, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, and Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill <333 LOVE THEM so much.
Hmm, I'll just throw in a couple for North America! The Book of Broken Hearts (Sarah Ockler) took place in CO, If I Stay (Gayle Forman) took place in Oregon, The Summer I Became a Nerd (Leah Rae Miller) took place in Louisiana, and Better Off Friends (Elizabeth Eulberg) was a fun one from Wisconsin!

If you were taking a road trip, what would be some of your must see tourist stops? 

You know, I really don't know! I would love to take a road trip someday but I don't really know of very many tourist stops. I'd have to ask for some advice! :) Although I would love to road trip out to the southwest and see the Grand Canyon. Always wanted to see it (just not stand too close to the edge)!

Favorite author? Where are they from? 

I feel like a lot of them are from New York haha. But Marissa Meyer lives in Washington state, Leigh Bardugo lives in Los Angeles, and Gayle Forman lives in New York, I believe!

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Around The World With... (March 2014)

Hey everyone! I created a new feature for Unraveling Books! I love to travel and want to go all over the world one day and I also love books! So, I decided to find a new way to incorporate the two and came up with "Around the World with..." Each month I am going to feature one of you lovely book bloggers and ask you some questions about books and traveling.

So without further ado, here is...

Kelly from Belle of the Literati! I was very happy when she said yes because she loves to travel so this was perfect! Kelly is my go to person now when I have questions about Europe and traveling! She should be yours, too :)

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?
Just one place?!...Ok, I have been obsessed with Russia since I was a little girl. YES it is because I love the movie Anastasia and who DOESN'T want to be a lost princess? I have a thing for architecture and I find it amazing how unique each European or foreign city can look based on their buildings. The Russian palaces have always fascinated me and I long to see those colorful places filled with history both beautiful and tragic. Also, I just binge read The Bronze Horseman series and I now know even MORE about Russian history and culture and am just DYING to go there...hopefully very soon!


If you were a city what city would you be?
I love this question! If I were a city I think I would have to be London. There is this amazing fusion of old and new and I think my personality is similar to that. I love traditional things and I have a major obsession history in general but also specifically English history. I love art and sculptures and find London to be filled with amazing pieces. But I also LOVE modern fashion and trends. I describe myself as a person of extremes and that includes loving things of old and new and I think London exemplifies that juxtaposition more than any other city I've been to. You have 600 year old buildings next to modern museums. I love it.

Favorite place you’ve been to?
Rome. There is just this feeling I get when I'm there and I could just keep going back for more. Rome was almost my answer for what city I would be but there isn't enough modern to fit my personality but that is also why I LOVE Rome so much. The art, the sculptures, the architecture, the food, the entire vibe of the city is simply enchanting to me. I could easily live there and never leave and be happy forever.

Favorite setting in a book? Least favorite?
Favorite: Venice in City of Falling Angels by John Berendt. I read this book before I ever even fantasized about travelling to Venice and this book MADE me want to go. Even though the book made me feel like I've already been there. The description and setting development is that good. You feel like you've been to Venice and lived there all your life after reading this book. Then having been there, he did an amazing job at capturing the magic that is Venice.

Least: His Fair Assassins series by Robin LaFevers BECAUSE I have never been to Brittany or any French countryside and now I want to go SO BAD!!

Are you planning on traveling anywhere in 2014?
Always! I was in Kenya, Tanzania, and Zanzibar in Africa in January. I have tentative travel plans to Scotland and England with my sister in June. BUT if that doesn't work out I have a pretty massive travel itinerary in the works...and it is epic. That place I mentioned in the first question is my number one travel destination this year...cross your fingers I can make it work. I also am starting travel nursing which will include short assignments in places across the United States.

Favorite book set in Europe? North America (East, West, North, South, Midwest - pick a book for each location in North America or just a couple that you like)? Other place?
Europe--Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor in Prague, Czech Republic. I love how this city comes to life in this book and it is just as beautiful in person.
East--Gossip Girl in NYC baby. You can't help but fall in love with the city. It's a character all on it's own.
West--Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand in Wyoming. I have wanted to hike and fly fish and swim in a river ever since this book and experience all the great outdoors have to offer.
Midwest--Divergent! Chicago, IL. 90 min south of my hometown, woot woot!
South--Nowhere but Home by Liza Palmer in North Star, Texas! I want to live in small town Texas solely because of this book. I need some Stetsons and cowboys in my life ASAP.

If you were taking a road trip, what would be some of your must see tourist stops?
Charleston, South Carolina is a place I really want to go! All the Southern charm and old plantation houses. New Orleans I am DYING to go to. All the rich history and culture I cannot wait to experience. Boston for all the history. Texas for some Nowhere But Home love and amazing Tex-Mex food. Denver to find the boys in the Marked Men series. San Diego to bake in the sun all day long. Georgia to see Hannah. New Jersey to see Cass. And Philly to see Betty.

Favorite author? Where are they from?
This should have been hard but the staple answer is always JK Rowling from England. I am an anglophile to my heart.

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Around the World with... (February 2014) - NEW FEATURE!

Hey everyone! So as I said at the beginning of the month, I created a new feature for Unraveling Books! I love to travel and want to go all over the world one day and I also love books! So, I decided to find a new way to incorporate the two and came up with "Around the World with..." Each month I am going to feature one of you lovely book bloggers and ask you some questions about books and traveling. I am still fine tuning this feature so I hope to come up with more questions or change the questions as I do more of these! And I drew the logo in color but my scanner was acting weird so hopefully that will be fixed for next time!

So without further ado, here is...

Angie from Disquietus Reads! She is one of the first book bloggers I met last year during the Summer Lovin' RAT and we got to go to some of Wordstock together in Portland last year!

If you could travel anywhere in the world where would it be?
Ireland. There are tons of international countries I would love to travel to, but if I can only visit one of them, it would be the country of my ancestors. I've been obsessed with it ever since I was a kid, and am in fact going to use the next two years to save up and get everything in order so I can go for my 30th birthday.

If you were a city what city would you be?
Oooooooh. I love this question. I'm going to have to take the easy way and say I'd be my home town of Portland, OR. Just because.

Favorite place you’ve been to?
New York City. When I graduated from college back in 2009, my cousin surprised me with a trip there as my graduation present and it was the best vacation I've ever had. There was so much to see and do that I barely got to scratch the surface. I can't wait to go back.

Favorite setting in a book? Least favorite?
I love when books are set in the southern U.S., or small towns. Maybe because I've always wanted to live in a small town, and the southern part of the country is the one I've always wanted to visit and haven't. As for my least favorite, I'm not really sure I have one. Maybe space? Does that count. For someone who loves Sci-Fi as much as I do, I always struggle with books set in space.

Are you planning on traveling anywhere in 2014?
Oh lots of places, hopefully. I'm going to Seattle in February, and then in either late March/early April I'm going to go to Minnesota or Nebraska, or possibly Minnesota and then drive down to Nebraska for a couple days. In the summer I'm going to Sacramento and then in November I'm going to South Carolina. And that's just what I have planned right now.

Favorite book set in Europe? North America? Other place?
Ohhhhhhhh this is so hard. So I'll totally cheat and just choose my favorite books from the last year.

Favorite book set in Europe-Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Favorite book set in North America-Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

If you were taking a road trip, what would be some of your must see tourist stops?
Hmmmmm it would depend on where I'm road tripping too, but if I were taking my dream road trip from Portland to Washington DC via the CA and the southern states, I would stop at a winery in northern California, and then obviously I would have to stop at Disneyland. I would also want to detour through both San Diego and Dallas, TX so I could go to the zoo in each city. I would also make sure to check out the Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas. And of course I would visit all of the touristy places in DC. Honestly, I'm sure there are tons more that I would stop at, but I've never really thought about it.

Favorite author? Where are they from?
Victoria Schwab, who is from Tennessee I believe.

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