In anticipation of next week's publication celebration of SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY by Julie Murphy, I am here today to share with you all my traveling bucket list. The idea behind this online launch party came from Julie herself, asking others to share their own personal bucket lists.
In the story, Alice has been dealt a crummy hand at life, finding out that her expiration date is coming a lot sooner than she'd planned. She creates a bucket list, marking each item off one by one. But Alice is in a bit of a dark place, and her list portrays that. After conquering this list, she is now faced with conquering the rest of her life -- something she didn't see coming.My list below is a reflection on my love for travel. I wish I had the time and money to visit all of these places -- maybe one day?! In the meantime I'll do the next best thing and visit as many places I can through the power of literature :)
Watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean from the California coast.
Attend a Foo Fighters and Pearl Jam concert, in Seattle.
Eat a lobster roll in Boston.
Sun bathe on the golden shores of Hawaii.
Snorkel through the turquoise waters of the Maldives.
Sip wine in Napa Valley.
Wander down Music Row in Nashville.
Nap under a live oak in Savannah, Georgia.
Browse a bookshop in Santorini, Greece.
Cruise the Pacific Coast Highway with the windows down.
About the book: What if you’d been living your life as if you were dying—only to find out that you had your whole future ahead of you?
When sixteen-year-old Alice is diagnosed with leukemia, her prognosis is grim. To maximize the time she does have, she vows to spend her final months righting wrongs—however she sees fit. She convinces her friend Harvey, whom she knows has always had feelings for her, to help her with a crazy bucket list that’s as much about revenge (humiliating her ex-boyfriend and getting back at her arch nemesis) as it is about hope (doing something unexpectedly kind for a stranger and reliving some childhood memories). But just when Alice’s scores are settled, she goes into remission.
Now Alice is forced to face the consequences of all that she’s said and done, as well as her true feelings for Harvey. But has she done irreparable damage to the people around her, and to the one person who matters most?
Julie Murphy’s SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY is a fearless and moving tour de force about love, life, and facing your own mortality. [goodreads]
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| Julie Murphy & me ATBF 2013 |
About the author: Julie lives in North Texas with her husband who loves her, her dog who adores her, and her cat who tolerates her. When she's not writing or trying to catch stray cats, she works at an academic library. Side Effects May Vary is Julie's debut novel. Julie can best be found on her website (www.juliemurphywrites.com), tumblr (www.andimjulie.tumblr.com), or twitter (www.twitter.com/andimjulie).
SIDE EFFECTS MAY VARY is to be published on Tuesday, March 18, 2014 - Be sure to grab a copy!
I love this! I was thinking of doing a TfT post similarly in which I share my travel bucket list! Traveling is a huge passion of mine and I do my best to go at least one new place every year and I have been blessed enough to make that happen lately. Savannah is one of my favorite places in the US! It is such a beautiful city and I hope you get to see it someday. And I was just in Napa Valley on my trip to San Francisco! WHEN (not if =P) you go to Napa Valley, I recommend Castello di Amorosa :D. I still have to hit up a lot of these other places on your list like GREECE! I would love to go there someday. Right now for international travel I have my eye on Africa and Eastern Europe, and Egypt if it is ever safe enough for me to travel there (I will hire body guards if I have to), oh and Vancouver! (I really want to go everywhere!)
ReplyDeleteAnd just a note on Side Effects May Vary, I haven't read it yet but it is on my list! I am really excited as I have heard so many wonderful things :)
Nicole @ The Quiet Concert
Great bucket list!
ReplyDeleteMissie @ A Flurry of Ponderings
If you really want to get an authentic eating experience in Boston, have a hotdog at a Red Sox/Yankees game in Fenway :)
ReplyDeleteNice bucket list. I wouldn't mind some of that :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic idea for an online launch party! I'm absolutely mad about your choice of topic, too :D
ReplyDeleteTravel has always been an important part of my life and a passion of mine and thankfully I've been blessed that I've been able to do as much of it as I have. I've always firmly believed that it does, in fact, broaden the mind and the soul. Only positive things can come from exposing ourselves to other cultures and practices, and it's nice to know I'm not the only one with a travel bucket list! There are so many items on your list I would also love to do, particularly "Sun bathe on the golden shores of Hawaii" (Who WOULDN'T love to do that?!) and "Cruise the Pacific Coast Highway with the windows down". Be sure to call me if you're ever interested in taking a road trip! ;)
This is definitely a unique idea for a book promotion - especially this one in particular because it matches the book so well! I must say...I rather like it! ;)
ReplyDeleteAs for your bucket list, I completely agree with your choices (especially "watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean from the California coast", "sun bathing on the golden shores of Hawaii", and "snorkeling through the turquoise waters of the Maldives.")
Thanks for sharing Ginger and great choices! :D
~ Zoe @ The Infinite To-Read Shelf
This is awesome! And YES PLEASE FOREVER to the Foo Fighters. You know my love for Dave Grohl.
ReplyDelete