The Day of the Wave Book Review

2016 Reading Challenge

10. The Day of the Wave by Becky Wicks
      Topic: book that takes place on an island
     

Synopsis:

Isla and Ben were just sixteen when the Boxing Day tsunami tore through their beach resort in Thailand. Just days after forming a life-changing bond, both were missing and presumed dead. Unbeknown to each other and haunted by one of the biggest natural disasters in world history, Isla and Ben are living very different lives, until over a decade later when a chance encounter throws them back together.

My Review:

Ben and Isla are only teens when they become friends while on vacation and experience a tragic event. Not knowing if the other survived, Ben and Isla go back to their regular lives - Isla back to London parentless as they died in the tsunami and Ben to rebuild what was destroyed and start all over again. Life moves on for them as normally as possible, with Isla living in fear and Ben living with tremendous guilt over what they experienced. Ten years later, Isla gets a chance to go back to Thailand for work and as the fates would have it run into Ben. Together, they are finally forced to open up about that fateful day years before. Isla has to face her fears and Ben gets to let loose his emotions/guilt which he has buried deep inside himself. In the process of doing that, they are finally able to move on and feel free from everything.

Note: On December 26, 2004, a 9.2 magnitude earthquake occurred off the western coast of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia, causing a tsunami that hit 14 countries and affected 5 million people worldwide. 230,000 lives were lost that day. This book is based on the events of that day and the days following. It's been known as the Boxing Day Tsunami, among other names.

I chose to use this as a book that takes place on an island. It does take place on islands during parts of the book, but not for the whole book. I may have cheated a little with this one, but I don't think it matters.

♥Meg♥

Running Toward Fate Book Review

2015 Reading Challenge

39. Running Toward Fate by Kate Benzin
      Theme/Topic: book based on a true story

Synopsis:
Peter was definitely not the type to believe in love at first sight. He was too logical for that. But when a mysterious woman named Rina mesmerized him from across the restaurant on his last night in Indonesia, he couldn’t get her out of his mind. And Rina didn’t even realize that she’d had such an effect on someone. Peter left Indonesia the next morning without ever having talked to his mystery woman. Could he find a way to meet her? And would she be willing to get to know him?

My Review:
Would you go halfway around the world for someone you fell in love with at first sight? Sounds crazy right? Well that's exactly what Peter did. After meeting Rina on the last night of vacation in Indonesia, Peter is beside himself back home in the States. She becomes his infatuation and it seems that nothing else matters besides finding a way back to her. At first, they only communicate back and forth by mail and then followed by email. Peter eventually can't take no more and devises another trip back to Indonesia so he can figure out if Rina's the one for him. It ends up being the perfect love story.

It was an interesting story. I did think Peter was crazy for falling head over heels about a woman he met one time. However, I did appreciate his determination and resilience in going after Rina. He didn't let anyone stop him from finding out once and for all if Rina was the one for him. I did like how well Indonesia was described, but at times it stopped the story from progressing forward. It was interesting to learn how travel agents book tours.

Since this is based on a true story, the question I have is: do you believe in love at first sight?
I like to believe that love at first sight is possible since I believe that there's someone out there for everyone.

Happy Reading and Keep on Writing!

♥Meg♥