The High Line, New York City

Ever since I found out about the High Line in New York City, I've wanted to go there, and over the weekend I finally got the chance!

So, what is the High Line?  It's a 1.45-mile park and walkway built on the remnants of an elevated railroad freight line on the west side of Manhattan. How cool is that??  For a few years, I worked in historic preservation, so this really appealed to me, how this old rail line was saved and repurposed.  And since my husband works for a railroad, there was an even bigger connection for both of us!

The High Line runs from 34th Street south to Gansevoort Street, and there are several entrances (both stairs and elevators) to the park.  We got on at 30th Street and 10th Avenue at an area known as the Spur.  From here, we walked north for a little bit and saw views of the Hudson River and the rail yard.

 

From the picture above, you can see how in some areas, the park area has enveloped the old rail bed, while in other areas, the original track has been preserved and runs alongside the walkway, like below.

 

We then started walking south, and I was immediately struck by how lush and green the walkway was.  It is just surrounded by plant growth.  Even though there are buildings practically within reach, it still definitely feels like a park.

Even though the picture above doesn't have too many people in it, the High Line was actually super crowded when we went.  There were people everywhere, walking, taking pictures, lounging on one of the many benches and other sitting areas.  It was almost hard to absorb the beauty of the park because I was worried about bumping into other people!

There are several areas of interest along the way - art installations dot the walkway, a water feature allows you to dip your feet and cool down, there's an actual lawn to play on, and enough trees to make you feel completely secluded at times.

 

These LOVE sculptures aren't official High Line art installations, but rather part of a show from a nearby gallery - I just included them because I adore these sculptures and they're right next to the High Line!

 

Of course, you can't be in NYC and not talk about views, and the High Line has some great ones!  Like I mentioned above, you can see the Hudson River and across into New Jersey.  The Empire State Building peeks through at turns.  If you're really observant, you can spy the Statue of Liberty and Hoboken Terminal.  But, it was also really neat to be able to look up the streets and avenues from high up!

 

The High Line is a completely unique public park, and I would highly recommend taking a walk there on your next visit to New York City!

Down The TBR Hole #5

Down the TBR Hole is a feature created by Lost in a Story (although the blog seems to be down recently).  I've seen it on a few other blogs and thought I would try it out myself!  It seems like a really good way to cull your TBR of those books you're no longer interested in.  So how does it work?

• Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
• Order on ascending date added.
• Take the first 5 (or 10 (or even more!) if you’re feeling adventurous) books. Of course, if you do this weekly, you start where you left off the last time.
• Read the synopses of the books
• Decide: keep it or should it go?

Here are the books I'm looking at this time:

 Vox by Christina Dalcher

This dystopian novel about a world where women can speak no more than 100 words a day got a huge amount of buzz when it was released last summer.  I've only seen good reviews for it.  I definitely want to read it, I just haven't had time yet!  Keep!

 The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

This one is a no-brainer - I just featured it last week, and I've been waiting for Erin Morgenstern to release another book since The Night Circus (one of my favorite books ever) came out years ago.  Keep!

 This Lie Will Kill You by Chelsea Pitcher

This YA thriller has a bit of a "I Know What You Did Last Summer" vibe that sounds like it could be really cool, although the Goodreads reviews are less than stellar.  Keeping for now!

 In The Blink of an Eye by Jesse Blackadder

This domestic drama follows a family after, you guessed it, "tragedy strikes."  I've read a lot of these types of books, and so I feel like they have to be really unique in some way for me to want to pick another one up.  This doesn't sound different enough.  Pass!

The Strangers by Margaret Peterson Haddix

This book is about three siblings who discovery they may or may have not been kidnapped.  I added this to my TBR without realizing it was middle grade, which I don't really read.  I'm passing on this for now, unless someone out there has read it and can vouch for it?

Have you read any of these?

Mini-Reviews: Retellings

Ten by Gretchen McNeil (2012)

Thanks to Tracy at Cornerfolds for the rec!

Several teens are lured to a house party on a remote island, but when a storm cuts off all communication and people start dying, they realize something sinister is going on.

I was totally sucked in by this Agatha Christie retelling.  The action (and deaths) started almost immediately and didn't let up.  Knowing the twist from the original story, I was interested to see if McNeil would stay true to it or come up with something new - basically, I was kept guessing the entire time as to the identity of the killer!  The details were kind of gory in some parts, but not anything worse than any teen slasher movie I've ever seen.

I had a couple issues with the book.  There was far too much romance - people are being murdered and they can't find a way off the island, yet Meg, the main character, was so obsessed with every look and touch from her crush.  Also, while the reasoning behind the murders was plausible, I hate when the villain stops to spell out their entire plan, and it also seemed a bit too sophisticated.  Overall, though, it was a very quick, action-filled read!  4 stars

Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody & Joanne Rendell (2019)

A retelling of the classic Les Miserables, set in the future on a distant planet.  Three people from very different walks of life are brought together as their world faces upheaval and revolution.

I've never actually read Les Miserables, but I have a general idea of the story, and I was impressed by how the authors translated the revolutionary times of 19th century France to a futuristic society in a far-off universe.  It didn't feel like a stretch at all that the planet of Laterre, after a few hundred years of civilization, is on the brink of revolution as most of the citizens are poor and barely surviving, while a select few are living the high life.  I loved watching the characters of Chatine, Marcellus and Alouette interact, working with and against each other.  I was probably most interested in Alouette's story, as she has spent much of her life in an underground community that houses books saved from the old world and also keeps a history of the current world.  Yep, in this world, very few people can read anymore - it's a lost art.  Although this book is quite lengthy, I never felt bored, and the cliffhanger ending made me eager for the next installment, to find out where the characters could possibly go next.  4 stars

Can't-Wait Wednesday: The Starless Sea

Can't-Wait Wednesday is hosted by Tressa at Wishful Endings and helps us spotlight upcoming releases we're eagerly anticipating!

The Starless Sea
Erin Morgenstern
Expected publication date: November 5, 2019

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Night Circus, a timeless love story set in a secret underground world--a place of pirates, painters, lovers, liars, and ships that sail upon a starless sea.

Zachary Ezra Rawlins is a graduate student in Vermont when he discovers a mysterious book hidden in the stacks. As he turns the pages, entranced by tales of lovelorn prisoners, key collectors, and nameless acolytes, he reads something strange: a story from his own childhood. Bewildered by this inexplicable book and desperate to make sense of how his own life came to be recorded, Zachary uncovers a series of clues--a bee, a key, and a sword--that lead him to a masquerade party in New York, to a secret club, and through a doorway to an ancient library, hidden far below the surface of the earth.

What Zachary finds in this curious place is more than just a buried home for books and their guardians--it is a place of lost cities and seas, lovers who pass notes under doors and across time, and of stories whispered by the dead. Zachary learns of those who have sacrificed much to protect this realm, relinquishing their sight and their tongues to preserve this archive, and also those who are intent on its destruction.

Together with Mirabel, a fierce, pink-haired protector of the place, and Dorian, a handsome, barefoot man with shifting alliances, Zachary travels the twisting tunnels, darkened stairwells, crowded ballrooms, and sweetly-soaked shores of this magical world, discovering his purpose--in both the mysterious book and in his own life. - from Goodreads

I know I've mentioned on the blog more than once that The Night Circus is one of my favorite books of all time, so when I found out that Erin Morgenstern was finally releasing another book, I was so excited!  This story sounds just as magical and ethereal as her first, and I can't wait!

Top Ten Tuesday: My Fall TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature hosted by Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl.  It's that time again - the week I post my seasonal TBR of books I may or may not get to in the next 3 months!  Honestly, there were so many books to choose from, I practically just chose these from a hat.  And it doesn't include any nonfiction, because I'm getting ready for Nonfiction November and trying to decide what my TBR for that month will be!  So, this is a mix of newer releases and backlist books; I also want to try to mix in some more books inspired by the season (i.e. light horror, creepy, eerie, or thrillers/mysteries).

What will you be reading this fall?

Williamsburg, Virginia Family Vacation

 My sister Michele and I wanted to plan a joint vacation this year (along with Tom and her husband and daughter), and several months ago we decided on Williamsburg, Virginia.  We had been there when we were younger and wanted to go back, plus it didn't involve a plane ride!  So, at the end of August, we hopped in our cars and headed down!

For our full first day there, we decided to head to Busch Gardens, a themed amusement park just a few miles from where we were staying.  We spent ALL DAY at the park - there was just so much to see and so many rides to go on.  I'm not usually one for rides too much, but I decided to go on one of the roller coasters, Verbolten, because it didn't seem too crazy (i.e. it didn't go upside-down).  Mistakes were made, guys - most of the ride ended up being in the dark and it was so disorienting!  Then, at one point the tracks drop out from beneath you, and there were several instances where the coaster would slow down somewhat, only to then shoot you off like a cannon.  I needed a minute after that ride.

The park is really beautiful, though, with each section representing a European country.  I would highly recommend checking out tickets online ahead of time, because we were able to get this incredible deal on a 7-day unlimited pass for Busch Gardens, Colonial Williamsburg, and Water Country USA. 

On our second day, we visited Colonial Williamsburg.  We toured the Governor's Palace and walked around the gardens.  We visited several of the trade shops, and it was really neat to learn about the different methods and materials that people used to use.  The cabinetmaker was particularly interesting, and he showed us an elaborate table he was working on.  We also visited the bindery (and learned how expensive books used to be), the magazine (armory), miliner, tin shop, and colonial garden.

On our third day, Tom and I ventured off by ourselves to York River State Park to do some hiking.  This park was so lovely and peaceful.  The trails were very well-marked, which I always appreciate!  The area was mostly flat, as well.  One nice area along the hike was Fossil Beach, right on the York River.

In the afternoon, we all went over to Merchant's Square, which is a charming little area right next door to Colonial Williamsburg that has modern shops and restaurants.  We did a little shopping and walked back into Colonial Williamsburg for a bit.  That night, we went back to Busch Gardens, and it was SO crowded.  It was fun, though, to see everything at night and we got to see the fireworks, which we all enjoyed.

For our last full day in Virginia, we decided to keep it pretty relaxed.  We went over to Freedom Park, where there is a small (but free!) botanical garden.  Then we headed to the Yankee Candle store, which is enormous.  It even has an entire Christmas section where it snows!  In the afternoon, Tom and I took a drive down the Colonial Parkway to Jamestown - the Colonial Parkway is a scenic byway that connects the three major historical areas of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown.  It was a beautiful ride, mostly along the water!

Overall, we had a fantastic time.  Williamsburg is a beautiful area, and it has so much to do for kids and adults of all ages!

Have you ever been to Williamsburg?

 

Mini-Reviews: Library Purchase Suggestions

Today I'm reviewing a couple more books that were purchase suggestions to my library!

The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden (2019)

After losing her job and being dumped by her boyfriend, Mia is given the opportunity to join a humanitarian trip around the world.

Unfortunately, I liked the premise of this book a lot more than the execution and details.  From a young age, Mia knew she wanted to help others and make a huge impact on the world - and the reader is told this over and over again.  I liked that she was inspired by her aunt, but I never really got the impression that Mia did any volunteer work when she was younger or had any sort of plan to do charitable work as an adult, so her proclamations felt a bit hollow.  The humanitarian trip just kind of fell into her lap, and honestly it felt a little sketchy - the trip seemed a little disorganized, wasted a lot of money, and seemed too concerned with its social media image.  It's not really a good sign when the volunteers themselves feel like it's a waste of time.  It also rubbed me the wrong way that baking was Mia's passion, yet she felt it wasn't a worthy profession and that she was destined for better things.  I felt she was being shortsighted.

However, there were things I enjoyed.  Mia does experience a lot of growth during the book, and so I found myself liking her a lot more as the story went on.  Also, her Nana Alice was the sweetest - I loved how encouraging she was.  3 stars

The Passengers by John Marrs (2019)

In the not-so-distant future, driverless cars are the norm in Britain.  A hacker takes control of 8 cars, setting them (and their Passengers) on a collision course, leaving the public to decide who lives and who dies.

I love how John Marrs was able to take the idea of self-driving cars and perfectly articulate the main fear I have about them - that someone else could take control of the vehicle, leaving me powerless.  He kicks it up a notch by adding this whole social media aspect to it, as people around the world follow along with the Passengers and vote for who they want to survive, using hashtags.  The action and tension in the story move along at a fairly good clip for most of the book, except for the sections where we break away and learn more about the Passengers themselves.  These chapters messed with the pacing a little, but it was really interesting to learn more about these people.  It was a perfect character study in how people are not always who they appear to be and also gave insight into how the hacker was manipulating the entire situation.

One of my pet peeves with thrillers is when the villain is omniscient and omnipotent, and there was a lot of that here; the hacker seemed to always be 20 steps ahead.  It made me roll my eyes a bit, but honestly, I was so invested in the story that I didn't care too much.  This was a super-quick read that will have you guessing until the end!  4 stars