Just One Year Read Along - Week 4

Ok I am FINALLY done with Just One Year! Yay! While I didn't particularly love the book, I definitely loved this final section of chapters for Week 4 of this read along! Here are my answers to this weeks questions!

1. How do you feel about the travel aspect and sense of worldliness in Willem’s life versus Allyson’s own travels and personal adventures? How do you think travel affects their lives differently?

What does travel mean to you?

----------->I love that Willem's life is full of traveling (even if he was using it as an excuse to run)! And I love that Allyson traveled and I hope she does more of it! I think traveling is so important and that everyone needs to do it! Yes, it's fun to travel around the States but in order for someone to fully learn about themselves and about life, they need to go outside of the US, outside of their comfort zone! I can't wait for the day when I get to go to Europe! I really think it's going to change me because right now, without travel, I feel like something is missing. In Willem's case, he had to travel to realize that what was missing was back home all along whereas I think it would be opposite with me.

2. Another big symbol in the book was Allyson’s watch. We know it meant something specific for Allyson. What do you think it meant for Willem?

----------->I honestly still don't know if I know! This applies to the double happiness symbol as well! What I absolutely love about these books is how thought provoking they are and how they force me to think! I feel like I'm going to be working out my thoughts for days to come and I don't know if I'll ever get them all figured out!

3. Both Willem and Allyson grew because of what they found in each other. Is there a person in your life who has helped you grow? Who helped you bring out the person you wanted to be?

----------->There's two people that are a really really long story so I won't share it but I still hope to find someone else that will help push me even more when I need it. In a way though, I already know who I've always wanted to be and I think it's up to me to get there - I don't think anyone should really help you except you.

4. Who caught the Adam Wilde reference!?

----------->I did and I haven't even read If I Stay yet! :)

5. How did you feel about the ending? There have been quite a few reactions! What did you think?
----------->I personally really liked the ending! I was surprised because I've heard others say they hated it but overall it's ok with me! Yes, I would've loved more closure but I'm just happy with the outcome :)

Thank you to Brittany from The Book Addict's Guide for hosting this leg of the Gayle Forman Read Along! :)

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Just One Year Read Along - Week 3

Maybe I just wasn't in the right mind set to be reading this week's chapters because I found Just One Year to be soooo boring! I really can't wait to finish it at this point. The book has been taking place in India and I have a hard time being interested when I have no interest in India or ever going there. I'm more of a Europe girl. Plus, I'm just learning more and more that I'm right when I say I can't do books from guys' POV's. Here are my answers (half of which probably don't even make sense):

1. How did you feel about Willem’s time in India? Besides his mother, what do you think he found 

from his time there?

-------->Like I said above, I didn't really enjoy reading this section so I have to go back through the book and look now...Ok so there's this mantra that his mom told him that means new beginnings and I think Willem learned that he can have new beginnings even if it's hard leaving something behind. Like with his mom, I think they have a new beginning now and will have a better relationship.

2. Prateek told Willem, “To dream is the ultimate dare.” What do you think he means by that? 

-------->I love this quote and I think it's very true. It's risky having dreams and you may not get everything you dream but that's part of the dare (and the risk). I think it's part of living to dream and take risks.

3. Do you have hopes for Willem and his mother? Do you think they’ve mended their relationship? 

-------->I do have hopes for him and his mom and for a brief instant I started thinking that maybe the girl with Willem at the end of Just One Day is going to be his mom but I've already pushed that thought away. I don't think it's correct :) And I also liked how Willem finally told his mom about Allyson :)

4. We finally find out how Bram died. How do you think that affected Willem’s theory of fate and accidents? 

-------->With Bram, I think it made Willem realize that fate is cruel because Bram's sickness was a one in a million thing and maybe Willem has been letting accidents happen and whatnot so that he doesn't get attached and maybe he's playing fate a bit to see if anything will get taken from him. And Allyson did get taken from him.

5. Why do you think that just one day with Allyson awoke so many feelings in Willem?

-------->I think it awoke so many feelings because it obviously was like his parents relationship. I think he didn't realize fully realize what he had until she was gone and now that's one accident he shouldn't have let get away. You have to take these good things coming to you when you have them.

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Just One Year Read Along - Week 2

I'm not sure I'm digging this book. I love reading Willem's thoughts but this book doesn't have that it factor that Just One Day had. I think it's probably because this is from a guys POV and I usually don't like those. But here are my answers to the week two questions!

1. First off, how much did Willem’s time in Mexico KILL YOU? Have you ever had close run-in situations or actual run-in situations with someone you knew far away from home?

----------->I can't believe they were together at the same time and never saw each other! And even though I couldn't believe it, my only thought that was on repeat was that Willem tried harder then Allyson did - but Willem did have more information to go off of then Allyson. I have never had a situation like this happen to me before!

2. Kate told Willem, “Nothing happens without intention” and she also said, “This theory of yours — life is ruled by accident — isn’t that just one huge excuse for passivity?” Do you think she’s on to something there?

----------->I felt a definite reaction to everything that Kate was saying. I was like "Wow! She might be right!" Willem could very well just be using travel as an excuse to run away from everything but in a way, I think traveling and accidents is a part of him. He might not know who he is and he may feel lost but I still think it's HIM.

3. Marjolein said that Willem is like his mother after packing up his bags. He says that he’s not. Which do you think is more accurate knowing what we now know about his mom?

----------->I could not for the life of me remember who Marjolein is so I had to do some research on Google and realized it's because she was featured in the Week 1 section. I just re-read it but still don't necessarily see where Marjolein says this. But if I understand correctly, then I think they are both similar because they both run and want to stay from whatever hurts them. That's how I take it.

4. What do you think of Willem’s relationship with his mother? He feels like they’re not speaking the same language. Do you think that either one of them specifically are at fault?

----------->I think they could both be at fault. She left her son and ran away but he also ran away because he was pushed away. They definitely need to reconnect! I would love to see him have someone in his life that he can count on.

5. We learned a lot about Willem’s history in this section of chapters and we see how rapidly Willem’s life has changed in just the past few years. Even though he’s pretty much an adult at this point, why do you think the absence of his parents hit him so hard?

----------->I don't think it matters whether you're young or old. Your parents/family are what shape you and he has been shaped into someone who won't let someone in and would prefer to just up and leave girls or friends or whoever. He can't commit because his parents didn't commit.

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Just One Year Read Along - Week 1

I'm a procrastinator of course so I waited until this morning to read all twelve chapters of the week one assignment for Just One Year. So far, Just One Day is a million times better then this one but reading from Willem's POV is interesting. I can't relate to him like I could with Allyson but at the same time I can. If you follow me on Twitter then you probably saw all of the quotes I tweeted. I'm obsessed with his thoughts! Now for my answers to this weeks questions :)

1. We know from JUST ONE DAY how Allyson and Willem initially got permanently separated, but in JUST ONE YEAR, we get to see Willem’s story of this situation. Did this change how you initially felt in JUST ONE DAY? Did your opinions of Willem from JUST ONE DAY start changing by seeing his side of the story?
---------->I honestly feel like it's a cop out of some sorts to have him have gotten beaten up. I feel like it's too easy which seems like a crazy thought. I love the whole idea of just leaving her though because that's what he does and leaving her heartbroken. I like the tragedy and sadness of it. I like seeing his POV and seeing that he has the same thoughts as he did with Allyson. I think he's a really smart, beautiful human being and I feel like my opinions of him haven't changed. I still think he's a smart, beautiful human being.

2. A common theme in both JUST ONE DAY and JUST ONE YEAR is double happiness. Besides the Chinese symbols, what sort of significance do you think it holds for our two main characters? Do you think there’s a deeper meaning?
---------->I was thinking about this and it's really hard to decipher! The thought that I came up with is basically...double happiness - you need to have happiness within yourself/be happy but you also need to have someone who compliments you and makes you content with life and wants to you to be happy.

3. Along with Willem’s POV, we also get to get to see a bit more into Celine’s character. Did you feel any different about her reactions towards Willem? Towards Allyson?
---------->I just don't like Celine. I do however feel she is semi important to the story because of her relationship with Willem and it's interesting seeing how she's the opposite of Allyson. But at the same time, I don't really give much thought to her. I just try to get past her sections of the book really fast.

4. Willem’s life has been surrounded by and filled with “accidents”, even going back to the story of how his parents met. Do you think this affected his view on life? How he feels about meeting Allyson?
---------->I love his outlook and how accidents have always been in his life. I feel like he's lucky to have this type of outlook because it brings some uniqueness to him. I guess in relation to Allyson, it's holding him back because he's not the type of guy that's going to just go look for some girl. If they're meant to be together, they'll find their way back to each other.

5. All of the chances and accidents we see in this series brings up the idea of chance versus action & intention. Do you think Fate exists?

---------->Ok so, I feel like fate and destiny are two different things. I feel like fate is perfect for these books and for situations like this. I have a tattoo that says "We Create Our Own Destiny." I really believe in this because I feel like I have done nothing but create my life and my destiny. Ultimately I think I know where I want to end up in life but I am choosing how I get there. It's very important that I be in charge of my life. Not fate. But I love the idea of fate when it comes to love!

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Just One Year Read Along!

I am soooo excited to participate in the Just One Year Read Along! I just did the Just One Day read along and am glad that this one is happening right now because I really need to know who the mystery girl in Just One Day is! This round of the Gayle Forman Read Along is being hosted by Brittany from The Book Addict's Guide! Here is the schedule:

October 18th: Questions week 1 (Ch 1-12) Now!

October 23rd: Answers week 1 (Ch 1 – 12), week 2 questions (Ch 13 – 21)

October 30th: Answers week 2 (Ch 13 – 21), week 3 questions (Ch 21 – 32)

November 6th: Answers week 3 (Ch 21 – 32), week 4 questions (Ch 33 – end)

November 13th: Answers week 4 (Ch 33 – end), wrap-up & giveaway winner announced!

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Gayle Forman Read Along - Week 4

This is the final week of Read Just One Day! I finished the book on Monday and if you follow me on Twitter then you know that I was bawling my eyes out. Just writing this blog post right now is making me want to cry because I'm still so emotional from this book! (You can read my full review of Just One Day right HERE) So, here are my answers for week four!

1. Why do you think Allyson was able travel to Paris alone, even without the “protection” of the faux identity, “Lulu”, or Willem? What is the significance of this accomplishment?

----------->I think Allyson was finally ready to take control of her life and had faith that everything would work out in some way or another. Even though she was still scared, she had to do this if she was ever going to move on and change. I have had similar moments like this where I just wake up and decide 'Such and such is not going to control my life anymore! I'm taking matters into my own hand!' I think everyone needs to have moments like that otherwise you aren't going to change and grow.

2. Did you ever fear throughout the trip that Allyson would revert to her earlier ways?

----------->OMG yes! I was so annoyed at even the slightest step she would start taking backwards. Thank goodness she told herself 'no way through it but through it.' She was very brave but sometimes I still wanted to smack her for not doing things a different way!

3. In what ways does Allyson’s second trip to Paris/Europe differ from her first?

----------->She lived! She talked to people! She explored and took chances and risks! What is life without a little risk every now and then?

4. Speculation: Who do you think the girl was with Willem? (Don’t spoil this if you have read Just One Year.)

----------->I am so nervous that it's a girlfriend because Allyson talked about how there was love there but I'm scared to go against the part of me that has hope still that just maybe it was just a friend or something and that Allyson and Willem might end up together. It's the hopeless romantic in me. I feel like the girlfriend side is winning though and it's really scary!

5. Final thoughts: What was going through your head when the door opened at the end of the book?

----------->I was bawling. I was feeling all kinds of different emotions and I am so frickin happy that he opened the door and it was really him this time! That means there's still a teeny tiny bit of hope which I'm trying to hang on to! These last chapters were some of the most intense reading I have ever experienced in my life! I thought I was a wreck reading Nicholas Sparks but this was even more emotional!

Thank you to Jenna for hosting this leg of the Gayle Forman read along! I love how it was broken up each week that way I didn't have to rush reading it! It might have ruined the book for me otherwise! I can't wait for the Just One Year Read Along that starts later this week and is being hosted by Brittany! Come join! :)

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Gayle Forman Read Along - Week 3

I actually did the reading for week 3 (yay!), so here are my answers to the questions :)

1. What is your opinion? Do you think signing up for the Shakespeare class is progress for Allyson, or regression – since it may not necessarily help her to move on from “that one day”?

------------>At first I thought it was a really, really bad idea! I do still think it wasn't the best decision, but overall, I'm glad she took the class! She met Dee who is awesome! And she's good at Shakespeare! I do wish she would've read Twelfth Night though because I think that would have been progress for her!

2. Ah, Dee… Share your input on this unique character. How is he similar/dissimilar from Willem?

------------>I think he is so different from Willem! I absolutely ADORE Dee! I cried when Dee's mom told Allyson how much she's helped him! He is so unique and I think he knows who he is! I think Dee forces Allyson to look at things even more differently then Willem did.

3. Why do you think it was easier for Allyson to make friends with Dee than it was for her to make friends with her roommates?

------------>I don't really think it was easier for her to make friends with Dee. It still took a lot of time. I think it took her being snappy and feeling bad about being mean (plus reading as Rosalind) to change the way she needed to do this friend thing. I am so glad Dee and her are friends now!

4. What do you think it was about Allyson’s class performance of Rosalind from As You Like It that caused Dee to approach Allyson and forgive her?

------------>I think he probably saw that there was something going on underneath that showed Dee that she's having a hard time and could really use a friend. I think he saw a part of the real her which could be why he approached her, too. Dee also didn't have anyone in high school and he might've seen a bit of himself in her as well.

5. By beginning her search for Willem, in what ways did you see Allyson growing as an individual? What life-lessons was she acquiring?

------------>I've said this before, but I can't get over how much I relate to Allyson. It's really unbelievable to me! I actually love that she's searching for Willem. I feel like I've definitely done the same thing to some extent and even if she doesn't find him, she is going to find herself. I think she will learn to accept herself and be more brave! I think she's starting to see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and her world isn't going to be dark forever. (That's not exactly life lessons per se but oh well)

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Gayle Forman Read Along - Week 2

So week 2 of the Just One Day Read Along was last week...I just finished the required reading yesterday morning so here are my responses to the week 2 questions. (I am hoping to start the week 3 reading tonight since it's due tomorrow...oops...)

1. Time seems to be a major topic in Just One Day, especially after we learn about the origin of Allyson’s watch, which was given to her by her parents. What do you think is the significance of Allyson’s watch? Does is represent who Allyson is as a person at this point in the story?

--------->I think the watch definitely defines who she is right now. She's the creation of her parents basically and she's been letting them control her life, much like a watch does. (I have more to say to this but I'm having a really hard time putting my thoughts into words right now)

2. Do you think Allyson reacted too quickly when she woke up and Willem wasn’t there?

--------->Yes. I don't think she should've had expectations. She shouldn't be relying on Willem, a stranger, to be there for her. I mean, she had sex with him! I think it's pretty obvious that he would up and leave her.

3. How would you have reacted if you woke up in a foreign country to find the person who brought you there suddenly gone?

--------->For starters, I plan on doing Europe by myself so at this moment in time I don't see myself having someone show me around. For the sake of this story, I would freak out but at the same time I would also feel like I was being stupid. Reading the book, knowing it's fiction, I don't think I would worry that something happened to the other person. I would like to think that I would just move on and get back to my safe zone (in this case, London).

4. Everyone seems to know what they want for Allyson. Do you see any similarity in the way Allyson handles conflict with her parents and with Melanie?

--------->Allyson lets everyone walk all over her. She is a major pushover! It's so annoying! With Mel, I think Allyson needs to realize that they are going down different paths. She needs to find someone she can relate to because it's not going to be Mel anymore. At least when they were in Mexico, Allyson got to go to a new place (even though it didn't work out) and at least she finally changed her class schedule. I feel like Allyson should have an easier time speaking up to Mel then her parents but so far nothing. She's probably just going to let it slide.

5. How do you feel about the direction Allyson’s life is going during her first few months in college? Do you find yourself sympathizing with her, or do you want to shake her in order to help her wake up?

--------->I don't sympathize with her at all! She needs to forget Willem and MOVE ON. Oh my gosh, it is so frustrating! She needs to start taking control of her own life! And can we discuss how annoying it is that she chose a Shakespeare class?! I wanted to smack her!

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Note: My answers are a little off and probably don't exactly answer the questions but I can't get my thoughts out and Allyson is honestly just annoying me so much right now that I just can't.

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Gayle Forman Read Along - Week 1

I am through week one of the Gayle Forman read along! I LOVE THIS BOOK. I am finding that I can relate to Allyson sooo much! Usually I don't relate to characters very well - I just live vicariously through them but this is different! So we have six questions to answer this week and here are my answers!

1. At the start of Just One Year, Allyson, a girl just out of high school, attempts to “reinvent” herself by cutting off her long, dark hair. Have you ever “reinvented” yourself, either physically or as a break in your usual routine? Why?

--------------->I have never physically reinvented myself but I've definitely changed myself on the inside. I used to be a really angry person all throughout my teen years and I was mean to everyone. I was constantly negative and just not happy. But then one day, I woke up and just changed. It was so weird. Suddenly I felt happy and positive. It's been really difficult to keep it up all of the time and I've definitely slipped back into my worrying stage a lot more but I manage to still be pretty positive and try to believe that everything is working out how it should be.

2. When we first meet Allyson, she is an all-American “good girl” who has just undergone a European Tour. But other than her hair, she is no different than she was in high school. On the other hand, Melanie has managed to reinvent herself, turning from a “good girl” to a party-all-night flirt. What did you think of the ease with which Melanie reinvents herself?

--------------->I think she's done it pretty well. It doesn't seem like she's being a total rebel but she's getting out there to some extent which is good. I still think you can be a good girl though and not have to turn into a party person.

3. After watching Twelfth Night at the waterfront, Allyson finds herself at a morose standstill. The play is over, but Allyson continues to clap and clap, hoping to make the moment last, so lost was she in the play. She hesitates to return to her “normal” life, associating the play (and also movies) with a “greater” reality. Have you ever felt the same, that a movie, play or book seemed more “real” than your own life?

--------------->I feel this way a lot when I go to concerts! I hate this feeling. I don't even really know how to describe how I feel when I get like this, I just know it makes me sad. My concerts are always the greatest ever but I get sad. I saw a quote or something that basically said we get like this because we're worried that something as great as that moment you just went through, won't ever happen again. I think that's true. I'm 24 now and I'm pretty close to being done with my concert going and that scares me because I don't get to keep being a teen.

4. When Allyson decides to go with Willem to Paris, Melanie is not happy. It seemed as though, even though Melanie was trying to encourage Allyson to change, when Allyson actually did something adventurous, Melanie still wasn’t happy. Do you think maybe Melanie liked having a friend who was more serious so she could be the exciting one?

--------------->I totally think that Mel wants to be the more exciting one but I also think (even if she doesn't realize it) that she's scared because even though she has "reinvented" herself, she's still the same girl she was before. She's probably scared that she's going to be left behind.

5. At this point in the book, who do you find yourself more similar to? Allyson or Melanie? Why?

--------------->ALLYSON!!! I can't even really describe how I can relate to her. Reading her thoughts, I just see that I have literally had the majority of thoughts that she has had so far and it's just weird seeing her internal battle of wanting to change but she has family to please.

6. Allyson seems to experience more with Willem over the span of just one day in Paris than she did during her entire European tour throughout the summer. What do you think it is about Willem (or this one day) that brings out the adventurous side of Allyson?

--------------->I love Willem's mentality. I love his thoughts on falling in love versus being in love. I love his thoughts on "accidents." I think he brings out the adventurous side in Allyson. I've had people like that in my life and it's scary. And then I've had people in my life who are scared and that holds me back a lot. I don't think anything necessarily has to do with this "one day." I think everything has to do with Willem and how he looks at life. I love it.

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Gayle Forman Read Along!

This summer, Brittany from The Book Addict's Guide created a Gayle Forman Read Along of her books. I didn't know about this until now and I have found out just in time to join the Just One Day read along! Everyone raves about this book and I'm not sure if now is the right time for me to try reading it, especially with everything else I have going on but I'm going to try. I really hope I like it! This portion is going to be hosted by Jenna Does Books. Here is the schedule:


Schedule:

September 18th (Chapters 1-9): Questions week 1

September 25th (Chapters 10-19): Answers week 1, questions week 2

October 2nd (Chapters 20-29): Answers week 2, questions week 3

October 9th (Chapters 30-39): Answers week 3, questions week 4

October 16th: Answers week 4, Recap, Winner Announcement

I'm going to participate as much as I possibly can! :)

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