Monday's Minutes

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

Currently Reading:

  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White
  • Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker
  • The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

  
Finished:

  • A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace
  • Succubus Heat by Richelle Mead

 

Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 398

Total # of books for the year: 39 of 85. Ugh, The Count of Monte Cristo is so boring!  That might be because I’ve been in more of a “cheap paperback” kind of mood than a “Classic Lit” one lately.  Hence my devouring of Succubus Heat in less than a week.  Actually, most of it was consumed on Saturday while I listened to a playlist of Nine Inch Nails, Kate Bush, and Placebo (you’ll understand why if you’ve read the book), sipped on a café mocha, and nibbled on an almond croissant.

What are you reading this week?

#FitReaders Check-In

fitreaders-2017-1

  • This check-in is for May 19th – 25th.
  • I started using Habitica (also known as Habit RPG) to help get me in the habit of exercising and a few other activities.
  • I also started the Appalachian Trail on Walking4Fun.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 22,284/70,000
  • Miles: 9.16/35
  • Total Miles: 200.63/1779
  • Active Minutes: 62/210
  • Days I Drank 64 ounces of Water: 7/7
  • Virtual 5Ks: 0/10
  • Total Money Donated: $2.12/$10.00

Monday's Minutes

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

Currently Reading:

  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White
  • Abarat: Days of Magic, Nights of War by Clive Barker
  • A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace

  
Finished:

  • Abarat by Clive Barker
  • Brain Rules by John Medina

 

Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 809.  I would have finished A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again if I hadn’t discovered that Amazon started delivering groceries to my area.  I saved so much time and energy, and while I still read, I stuck with my physical books instead of audio.

Total # of books for the year: 37 of 85.

What are you reading this week?

#COYER – Summer Reading List

COYER

Yeah! It’s almost time for #COYER Summer!  They’re doing things a bit differently this year, and I’ve decided to join in on the fun that is the Summer Reading List.

Summary of the Rules (check out the sign-up page to see all of the details.)

  1. The challenge starts on June 17th and ends September 8th. This is roughly at the same time as my Sci-Fi Summer reading challenge, so I’ll be reading pretty much nothing but Science Fiction.
  2. Books can be in any format: Ebook, Physical, Audio, Library, Borrowed, etc.
  3. You must pick 30 books for the Summer Reading List (you do NOT have to read all 30 books).  Once COYER starts the list can’t be changed. For every 5 books read, 5 more can be added to the list.
  4. There will be 3 readathons.  During a readathon, only books from the list can be read.

Readathon Dates:

  • June 25th – July 2nd: Only ebooks
  • July 23rd – July 30th: Only physical books
  • August 20th – August 27th: Only audio and ebooks

My Summer Reading List

  1. Doctor Who: The Taking of Chelsea 426 by David Llewellyn
  2. Doctor Who: The Eyeless by Lance Parkin
  3. Doctor Who: Wooden Heart by Martin Day
  4. Doctor Who: Sick Building by Paul Magrs
  5. Mad Tinker’s Daughter by J.S. Morin #3
  6. Doctor Who: Lights Out by Holly Black #4
  7. Curiosity Quills: Chronology by J.R. Rain
  8. Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
  9. Steampunk: Extraordinary Tales of Victorian Futurism by Mike Ashley
  10. Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
  11. Doctor Who: The King’s Dragon by Una McCormack #5- Adding Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler #6
  12. Doctor Who: The Deviant Strain by Justin Richards
  13. Doctor Who: Only Human by Gareth Roberts
  14. To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
  15. Maybe the Moon by Armistead Maupin
  16. True Calling by Siobhan Davis
  17. The Gemini Effect by Chuck Grossart
  18. The Undays of Aralias Lyons by K.L. Horvath
  19. The Time Traders by Andre Norton
  20. Allegiant by Veronica Roth
  21. The Einstein Prophecy by Robert Masello
  22. Doctor Who: Engines of War by George Mann
  23. Sword & Laser Anthology ed. by Veronica Belmont
  24. Out of Time by Monique Martin
  25. Doctor Who: Dead of Winter by James Goss
  26. Planet Urth by Jennifer Martucci
  27. Black Widow: Red Vengeance by Margaret Stohl
  28. The Circle by Dave Eggers #2
  29. The Man in the High Castle by  Philip K. Dick #1
  30. Ghost Ship by Diane Carey #7

Sci-Fi Summer 2017 Reading Challenge

SCI-FI SUMMERReading Challenge
I enjoyed last year’s Sci-Fi Summer Reading Challenge so much that I’m going to do it again this year.   I’m also going to start using the hashtag #SciFiSummer across all of my social media accounts (Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Litsy – just look for Fortified By Books to add me).
The challenge is from June 20th, the official first day of Summer, to the 21st of September (the day before the Autumnal Equinox).  Below are the levels:

  • Red Shirt – 1 to 5 books
  • Viper Pilot – 6 to 10 books
  • Jedi – 11 to 15 books
  • Time Lord – 16 or more books

Any book of at least 100 pages that is classified as Science Fiction, including any Sci-Fi subgenres, qualifies for this challenge.  That means audiobooks, physical books, ebooks, library books, free books, other borrowed books, anthologies, and graphic novels are all acceptable options.  You may also count any Sci-Fi book that counts towards another reading challenge.  The link-up for your reviews will open on June 20th and stay open until September 25th.
This year, I’m going to attempt to reach the Jedi level, despite successfully earning Time Lord status last Summer.  I just barely made it, though, and I’m sure the only reason was being out of work for nearly a week.
So, why not join me in a Summer full of Science Fiction fun?  Link up your sign-up post below:


The challenge sign-up will stay open until September 14th.

#FitReaders Check-In

fitreaders-2017-1

  • This check-in is for May 12th – 18th.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 31,369/70,000
  • Miles: 12.89/35
  • Total Miles: 191.47/1779
  • Active Minutes: 132/210
  • Days I Drank 64 ounces of Water: 6/7
  • Virtual 5Ks: 0/10
  • Total Money Donated: $2.06/$10.00

Monday's Minutes

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

Currently Reading:

  • The Once and Future King by T.H. White
  • Abarat by Clive Barker
  • Brain Rules by John Medina

  
Finished:

  • The Women in the Castle by Margaret Atwood
  • Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
  • Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling
  • The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

  

Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 890

Total # of books for the year: 35 of 85.  This week was Bout of Books, and even though I didn’t get nearly as much reading accomplished as the last Bout of Books, I still read more than I normally do during the week.

What are you reading this week?

Bout of Books 19 – Day 7 Progress and Wrap-Up

Bout of Books

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 8th and runs through Sunday, May 14th 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 19 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

The Boyfriend’s Aunts were visiting, so I didn’t get a whole lot of time to read. However, I did manage to get very close to the end of Abarat by Clive Barker.
This Bout of Books didn’t go nearly as well as the last one, but I knew it wouldn’t.  I was on vacation last time and there was no way I could take a vacation for this Bout of Books.  Hopefully, I’ll be able to for the next one.
  • Total Time Read: 16 Hours 52 Minutes
  • Total Pages Read: 890
  • Books Finished: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling, The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck, and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood.
  • Total Number of Books Read: 4

Bout of Books 19 – Day 6 Progress

Bout of Books

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 8th and runs through Sunday, May 14th 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 19 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

It was another busy day, but I did manage a good stretch of time reading Abarat by Clive Barker.
  • Time Read: 3 hours 15 minutes
  • Pages Read: 169
  • Books Finished: 0
  • Total Number of Books Read: 4

Bout of Books 19 – Day 5 Progress

Bout of Books

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 8th and runs through Sunday, May 14th 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 19 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

I listened to some more of Brain Rules by John Medina during my commute.  I also read some more of Abarat by Clive Barker.  I wanted to get more reading time in, but it was a fairly busy day.
  • Time Read: 1 hour 22 minutes
  • Pages Read: 65
  • Books Finished: 0
  • Total Number of Books Read: 4