REVIEW: Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes & The Last Little Blue Envelope, by Maureen Johnson

Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes
Maureen Johnson
eBook (borrowed from library)

My synopsis: Book 1: It’s the summer before Ginny’s senior year of high school when she receives a mysterious letter from her nomadic Aunt Peg with a list of instructions and a packet of other letters that need to be read in order.  Aunt Peg always thought have a free lifestyle was a good thing and something Ginny should experience. The oddest part about it all?  Aunt Peg died months before Ginny received the first letter. So, with her letters and instructions, Ginny sets out to Europe for a summer of discovery and mystery.

This was an interesting, light read – nothing to write home about though (no pun intended).  Though it did make me wish someone had sent me a series of letters that sent me around Europe on a trip I’d never forget. I know I wouldn’t get into the same situations Ginny did (the chances of me traveling around with complete strangers isn’t likely – especially like the crazy family she ends up rooming with for almost a week).  But I love the idea of only being able to know a bit at a time and having to read the next clue to find out what comes next. The aunt really knew how to find the local places and really got into the different cultures and she certainly found/met some quirky places and people.

The Last Little Blue Envelope
Maureen Johnson
eBook (borrowed from library)

My synopsis: Book 2: Due to unforeseen circumstances in book 1, Ginny never gets to read the last letter.  But the following summer she receives an email from someone in England who found the last letter. So, off Ginny goes to England to retrieve her last letter from Aunt Peg and get some closure.  Once again, Ginny is involved another one of Aunt Peg’s crazy adventures.  But will her friends from last time be around and will they help her?

The guy that contacts Ginny about the last letter basically forces her to let him join in on the last task set by Aunt Peg: in exchange for the original letter, he gets half the money that will come from this last adventure.  But if Ginny doesn’t agree, she’ll never see the letter. It turns out that this letter has another task (broken into 3 parts) for Ginny to complete. Ginny’s love interest from book 1 is back but not quite who Ginny thought he was.  A strange journey ensues with Ginny, her love interest, his possible girlfriend, and the guy who found the letter traveling in a tiny cramped car.

So these books weren’t amazing by any means, but they were enjoyable reads for the most part.  Ginny could be a little annoying.  She kind of hints at the fact that her parents are pretty boring and basically, they don’t seem like the kind of parents who would let their 17-year-old daughter just up and go to Europe on her own.  Stranger things have happened, I suppose. Some of it seemed kind of far-fetched, but again, not looking for high literature here, just an enjoyable read.  I would classify it as a beach read or even something to read when flying…just something to pass the time.

Home Sweet Home (Random Post #2)

I’m back home

Aruba was fun, but I’m happy to be home; cold weather and all!  We had great weather for the most part, did some shopping,  went to a water aerobics class a few mornings, took a free salsa dancing class, and did a whole day, self-guided tour of the island with Jeeps. We got the Jeeps at 10am and didn’t get back to the hotels until about 5:30 or so.  It was so much fun!  We hit so many spots and saw so many things!

Here’s a run-down of our Jeep day:

We started off at Baby Beach after driving through the local, residential area.  All of the houses were so colorful!  But it was pretty amazing to see such a difference in the conditions of different houses, even if they were right next to each other.

Baby Beach

The water here is crystal clear and the sand feels so weird but cool at the same time; it’s sort of like a velvet-silk feeling.

We saw a lot of wild goats and donkeys while riding along the unpaved desert.

We saw the turbines on the island which could probably give power to the whole island…they are huge!

We ate at a restaurant in the middle of the desert, and the food was actually pretty good.

We went by the ruins of the old gold mines on the island (or at least, that’s what someone told me they were..hehe).

Then we went to the Natural Bridge, one of Aruba’s main attractions.

Natural Bridge

This bridge has collapsed due to time and the water, which is sad. It was already collapsed last year when I went, so I’ve only ever seen it complete in pictures.  But there is a new bridge forming.

"new" Natural Bridge

We were unable to get to the Natural Pool last year because they had really bad rain the week before we went so the roads were pretty flooded but this year we were able to get there so it was really cool to see it. I could see the fish swimming just below the surface. I wish I had taken my underwater camera with me but I forgot it. The water was great!  The only problem was that we had to climb down stairs cut into the rocks to get there and of course climb back up; I was ready for a nap after that climb! (especially since I had to do it in flip flops!)

Natural Pool

Our last stop was at the lighthouse, and we returned here later that night for dinner at the restaurant right next to it.

And of course, throughout most of this ride we were able to see the coast. We got a lot of great photo ops along the way. Sometimes when the water crashed against the rocks we could see a rainbow in the spray; I was able to get a good picture of it:

Now, to get down to business: I read four books while on my trip, starting at my arrival at the airport through the last full day (Saturday).  One of the things I love most about being on the beach is being able to lounge around and read.  I definitely spent a lot of time in the ocean and the pool too! I read Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card, Yoga Bitch by Suzanne Morrison, Locked in Time by Lois Duncan, and If Jack’s In Love by Stephen Wetta.  I’m getting ready to shut down for the night though, so I’ll make a separate post for the books tomorrow.

Travel Adventures…Never Leave Home Without a Book! (Random Post #1)

I’ll be heading off to Aruba on Sunday and obviously have my Kindle stocked with many books for my reading pleasure.  But of course, growing up as a Girl Scout I learned to Be Prepared so I’m also bringing a few “real” books with me as well.  The Kindle is fully charged and I don’t intend on turning the 3G on, so the battery should last.  But, I always like to have options around and I do have a few “real” books I’ve been meaning to get around to anyway….

As soon as I get to the airport I’ll have that book on…and for the duration of the flight…and while lounging on the beach…

(photo from Google Images)

I’m very excited to head off to Aruba.  This will be my second time there.  I’m going with Mark and his family. We’re going to snorkel (which we did last year and was very fun!) and we’re going to rent jeeps for a day to explore the other side of the island (also did this last year and was awesome and HYSTERICAL!).

We’re planning to go see the Natural Pool which we were unable to do last year.  And I know I’m picturing it incorrectly in my head, but I’ll go with it for now.  I want to do the horseback riding on the beach, but no one else wants to do it with me.  And frankly, I’m not going to go by myself…  Maybe some other time! Or maybe I can convince someone else…

But mainly, our trip will consist of lounging on the beach, enjoying the 12-5 Happy Hour at Sassy’s Den (a beach-bar…she is awesome and we’re all looking forward to seeing her again), and checking out different restaurants each night.  On the list of restaurants to attack are: Azzuro, Madame Jeanette’s, El Gaucho, Texas de Brazil, The Flying Fishbone…. and well, I think there were maybe 2 or 3 others, but I forget them right now.  We’ve been to all but Azzuro and The Flying Fishbone.

Have any of you ever been to Aruba?  What do you recommend doing/seeing/eating?