Thursday’s Things #4

1001 Things
Original Image: Viktor Hertz

 

Bout of Books 13!

Bout of Books
The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 11th and runs through Sunday, May 17th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 13 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

It’s that time again!  I’m super excited about this Bout of Books because, with the exception of two Final exams, I’ve got the whole week to read, read, read!

Time Devoted to Reading

I will be reading every day of the week whenever I’m not running errands, studying for those Finals, or spending time with the Boyfriend.

My Goals

  • finish off whatever books I’m currently reading.
  • Read at least one new book off of my TBR shelf.
  • I want to be able to finish at least 3 books, but I’m really hoping I’ll be able to finish 4.

Books to Read

This list might change by May 11th, so I’ll be sure to update it.

  • The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg
  • The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
  • The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon
  • At the Water’s Edge by Sara Gruen

Updates

I will be updating with one post each day with the number of books I’ve read that day, the titles of the books I’ve finished, and the total number of books read.  If I wasn’t able to finish a book that day, I’ll put the number of pages read instead.

#FitReaders Check-In #17

Geeky Bloggers Book Blog
  • This check-in is for April 20th – 26th.  I really took it easy this past week.  I don’t know how this week is going to go, and I’m not trying to meet my goal of averaging 8K steps per day, but I’m hoping to steadily increase my steps.  I think a gradual increase over the next couple weeks will help me get back to where I was without hurting my back again.
  • If you’d like to add me as a friend on FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 19,096
  • Distance: 7.83 miles
  • Flights of stairs: 25

The House of Spirits Read-Along Week 3 Recap

House

Below is the chapter breakdown that will take us all the way to May 15th.  I’m doing a recap each week, and at the end I’ll do an overall review of the book.  If you’d like to join me, leave a comment!

This week’s recap is for Chapters 6 – 7.  If you’re a little behind, that’s ok!  I’ll clearly mark any spoilers.

SO.MUCH.DRAMA.  What is up with the men in this book?!

*Spoilers* We meet Jean de Satigny, who seems to be the type of guy who really doesn’t care what a woman thinks, and will seek shady ways of getting what he wants.  He reveals Blanca’s affair with Pedro Tercero to her father, but it eventually backfires on him when Blanca realizes she’s pregnant, and Esteban forces Jean to marry her, despite Jean no longer being interested.  The family is crazy, so I kind of don’t blame him, even if I do think he’s a weasel. I don’t foresee the marriage turning out well.  When Esteban is told about Blanca and Pedro, he chases off to find them.  He comes across Blanca and brutally whips her.  After Clara tries to criticize him, he hits her so hard that several of her teeth are knocked out.  Clara decides to never speak to him again and goes back to the city with Blanca.  Esteban goes on the hunt for Pedro Tercero and eventually finds him hiding out in a small shack. In trying to kill him, he only manages to cut off three of Pedro’s fingers.*End Spoilers*

What do you think of the story and the characters so far?  All comments about the book are welcome, but please mark any spoilers.

Monday’s Minutes #17

Currently Reading: The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg, a review book, The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell, The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon, and The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende for the Classics Club Spin #9.

Dream Sparrow Fiery       House

Finished:  Quilt, Book, and Bard by Bryna Chalmer.  I won’t be reviewing it, but I will say that I only gave it 2 stars on Goodreads because it was an exercise in frustration.  I also finished The Essential Feminist Reader, and Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

Quilt Feminist Good

Challenges:

S&S Bingo2update9

Total pages read for the week: 400 pages, the last 83% of Good Omens, and the remaining 46% of the podiobook.

Total number of books for the year: 23.  Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon helped me get quite a lot of reading done.  It also made me feel hungover most of Sunday and in need of detoxing.  I didn’t have any caffeine on Sunday.  Instead, I drank peppermint tea and lemon water, and I tried to stay away from sugar as much as possible.  It’s not a party unless you feel like crap the next day, though, right?  I had a blast and can’t wait until October.  Most of this week is going to be insanely busy for me as I wrap up the semester.  My last day of class is next Monday.  I’m greatly looking forward to next Monday.

Top Commenters: This week, I just want to give a great shout out and round of applause to all the cheerleaders for the readathon! 🙂

What are you reading this week?

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Final Update

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza

I’ve survived another Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon!

  • Total Pages Read: 279 and the remaining 83% of Good Omens.
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: #Shelfie
  • Snacks Consumed: Mountain Dew, Challah bread, and cheese.
  1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Around 3am, when I got cranky.
  2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg.  The chapters are all short, the writing is beautiful, and George Sand was an amazing and interesting ahead of her times character.
  3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Nope, because it keeps getting better and better.
  4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? The cheerleaders did an awesome job.  I loved that they were put into teams.
  5. How many books did you read? 3 and most of a 4th
  6. What were the names of the books you read? The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende, The Essential Feminist ReaderGood Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, and The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg.
  7. Which book did you enjoy most? ooh, that’s tough.  I have to say both The Essential Feminist Reader and The Dream Lover for very different reasons.
  8. Which did you enjoy least? The House of Spirits
  9. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I’ll definitely be participating in October, and I might sign up to be a cheerleader.

I’m going to bed now…

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Update 3

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza

There’s only 6 hours left of Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon!

  • Total Pages Read: 164 and the remaining 83% of Good Omens.
  • Books Read: The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende, The Essential Feminist Reader, and Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: Be #FitReadersMusic is Muse, and Reading Story
  • Snacks Consumed: I had pizza for dinner, and I also got a chocolate chip cookie “pie” and a 2 Liter of Mountain Dew to go with it.

The #readathon tweets have slowed down considerably, and since Good Omens was an audiobook, I was able to multitask.  I’m beginning to get sleepy now.

Until my final update, at 7am, I’ll continue knocking off the books on my goal list:

  • The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg
  • The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
  • The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

Whether you’re participating in the read-a-thon or not, what book(s) are you currently reading?

 

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon – Update 2

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza

It’s an hour past the halfway point of Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon and I’m still going strong!

  • Total Pages Read: 164
  • Books Read: The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende and The Essential Feminist Reader
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: Plan a Bookish Party and the Mid-Event Survey
  • Snacks Consumed: Not really a snack, but Chinese food.  I also had a home made quesadilla and an iced chai.

I haven’t done much better than I did for the 1st 6 hours, but I’m still having a ton of fun lurking and favoriting on #readathon tweets.  I absolutely loved, reread, and bookmarked many a page of The Essential Feminist Reader, and I’ve listened to lots of music by my favorite Riot Grrrl bands.

Until my 3rd update, at 1am, I’ll be knocking off the books on my goal list:

  • Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
  • The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg
  • The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
  • The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

Whether you’re participating in the read-a-thon or not, what book(s) are you currently reading?

 

#Readathon Mini-Challenge: Mid-Event Survey

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza

Mid-Event Survey:
1. What are you reading right now?

The Essential Feminist Reader
2. How many books have you read so far?

This is my 2nd book, but I only read 2 chapters from my first book, The House of Spirits by Isabel Allende. 
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I’m really hoping I get to The Dream Lover by Elizabeth Berg.
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those?

I haven’t really had any interruptions, except when the Boyfriend brought me my favorite Chinese food, but I have had a lot of distractions like #readathon on Twitter.
5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far?

The constant flow of Tweets!

#Readathon Mini-Challenge: A Hobbit Themed Party

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_BellezzaYes, I’ve already written about the Hobbit today for another Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon mini-challenge, but I just couldn’t stop my brain from coming up with all sorts of Hobbit-themed party ideas when I read Christina’s mini-challenge over at Christina Writes.

My Hobbit party would consist of the following:

  • Food and Drink:
  1. Waybread Blueberry Tarts (as found in the Unofficial Hobbit Handbook by The Shire Collective)
  2. Tea
  3. Scones
  4. Various Breads
  5. Jam
  6. Meat and Fruit Pies
  7. Various Cheeses
  8. Ale
  9. Wine
  10. Smaug the Golden Cocktail
  • Activities:
  1. Hobbit Trivia Game
  2. Viewing of all three Hobbit films
  3. Middle Earth Cosplay Contest
  • Party Favors:
  1. Hobbit bookmarks
  2. Handkerchiefs
  3. Large “hairy” plastic or rubber spiders for stabbing
  4. Books of riddles
  5. Pocket sized Middle Earth maps
  6. Small Treasure Boxes for storing the items listed above