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:

  • Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee
  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
  • The Revenge of Analog by David Sax


Finished:

  • Brain Hacks by Lara Honos-Webb
  • Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

 
Total pages read this week: 379
Total books for the year: 28 of 50. The digital decluttering “challenge” continues to go well, but I’ve been trying to balance my free-time with other activities besides reading. I want to see if my reading goal for the year is still realistic, or if I’m going to need to increase it.
What are you reading this week?

Down the TBR Hole #64

Image: hjl

Down the TBR Hole was started by Lia over at Lost in a Story.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

I will be repeating this process until I’ve filtered out my entire TBR.

My TBR pile is still at 679 books from last week.  I was hoping to have finished at least one book by today, but that didn’t happen. I am less than 20 pages from finishing Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport, though, so next week should see at least a tiny decrease in the height of the pile.

This week’s books:

Blood Faerie by India Drummond – GO.  As much as I love a story set in Scotland, I’m not into Faeries all that much. I think the only reasons I got this ebook were because of the setting and it was free.

The Girl Who Would Be King by Kelly Thompson – GO. The title doesn’t make sense after reading the synopsis.  Also, the two main characters both have alliterative names, and there doesn’t seem to be any reason as to why.  This was another freebie I picked up at some point, so I’ll pass.

Marking Time by April White – GO.  I’m usually really into stories that involve time travel, but this one doesn’t sound appealing.  It sounds like a weird Sci-Fi mixed in with Historical Romance and a weird Fantasy/Mythology element that I have a feeling won’t make a lot of sense. No thanks.

Creatus by Carmen DeSousa – GO.  The synopsis refers to this book as “Romantic Suspense.” Nope.

Morna’s Legacy by Bethany Claire – GO. The synopsis screams “Outlander” knock-off.  Nope. Nope. Nope.

My TBR mountain is down to 674 books!  I knew at least a couple of this week’s books would find themselves thrown off the TBR, but I didn’t expect all five of them to go.  My goal to get down to 625 books is looking a little more doable.

#FitReaders Check-In

  • This check-in is for April 19th – 25th.
  • I’ve been having issues with the FitBit app, but I think I finally got it fixed.  It took a bit to get my FitBit to sync with the app so that my data would show up, so I’m now waiting for the data to sync up with my Walking 4 Fun account.  I would really like to know whether or not I’ve finally made it out of Culvers Gap on the Appalachian Trail.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Workouts: 2/5
  • Steps: 35,342
  • Miles: 14.52
  • Total Miles: 225.22
  • Active Minutes: 72

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:

  • Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee
  • Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport
  • Brain Hacks by Lara Honos-Webb

 
DNF:

  • The Practice of the Wild by Gary Snyder


Finished:

  • Genius Hour by Andi McNair
  • Life Admin by Elizabeth Emens


Total pages read this week: 621
Total books for the year: 26 of 50. I’ve had a significant amount of time to read since I started the Digital Decluttering “challenge” in Digital Minimalism. As you might be able to tell, I’m also on a bit of a Non-Fiction kick. I’m not really sure why I’m choosing Non-Fiction over Fantasy, but I am learning a lot. Maybe that’s just what my brain needs right now.
What are you reading this week?

Down the TBR Hole #63

Image: hjl

Down the TBR Hole was started by Lia over at Lost in a Story.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

I will be repeating this process until I’ve filtered out my entire TBR.

My TBR pile is sitting still at 681 books.  I’m reading a lot more thanks to starting a digital decluttering “challenge,” but the books I’m reading are longer or denser in information, so I haven’t finished any of them yet.

This week’s books:

Lichgates by S.M. Boyce – GO.  Why is it that the main female character *always* has to rely on a male with a dark past or secret to navigate the strange and dangerous new world in which she finds herself? Ugh.

Sword Bearer by Teddy Jacobs – KEEP. The title is a bit generic and unpromising and I’m skeptical about the story, but the synopsis is so well written that I’m intrigued enough to give this book the 50 page test.

Wild-Born by Adrian Howell – KEEP.  I have faith that this will be a fun book.  The story involves a boy with telekinetic powers, a girl who relies on telepathy to speak, and a paranormal world full of danger.  It’s not often that Sci-Fi and Fantasy are combined, and even more rare for that combination to do well enough to make it the finals of any competition.

Frey by Melissa Wright – GO.  “Unaware she’s been bound from using magic…” Is it just me or does that sentence not make sense? Another weird word choice in the synopsis is “Hunted by council…” Not “the council” or “a council”, but just “council”? With a synopsis that poorly written, I’ll pass on this book.

Dead of Winter by James Goss – KEEP. It’s a “Doctor Who” book, so of course I’m going to keep it.

My TBR mountain is down two books to 679 books.  All of next week’s 5 books are potentially doomed to be thrown off the side of the mountain since they were all freebies back when I was still a bit impulsive about downloading free ebooks.  See you next week!

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:

  • Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee
  • The Practice of the Wild by Gary Snyder
  • Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport


Finished:

  • The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel


Total pages read this week: 169
Total books for the year: 24 of 50. This was a slow reading week.  I was focused on work and doing some much needed Spring cleaning at home. On top of that, I was dealing with a bit of insomnia (which is the only reason I managed to finish Stranger in the Woods) and feeling depressed.
What are you reading this week?

Down the TBR Hole #62

Image: hjl

Down the TBR Hole was started by Lia over at Lost in a Story.  All book covers are linked to Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads to-read shelf.
  • Order on ascending date added.
  • Take the first 5 (or 10 if you’re feeling adventurous) books
  • Read the synopses of the books
  • Decide: keep it or should it go?

I will be repeating this process until I’ve filtered out my entire TBR. Despite the 24-Hour #Readathon, my TBR pile is only down one  book at 682 books.  I finished so many books last weekend, but some of them weren’t on my TBR, and while spending time on Twitter checking out the readathon hashtag and cheering on other readers, I discovered more books to add!

This week’s books:

The Other of One by Brian Burke – KEEP.  The synopsis is interesting enough for me to give this book the 50 page test.

Sword and Laser Anthology ed. by Veronica Belmont and Tom Merritt – KEEP. I love the Sword and Laser book club, so I snatched this anthology up as soon as it was available.

Division of the Marked by March McCarron – GO.  I was considering keeping this book until it mentioned Romance.  No, thank you.

In a Glass Darkly by Sheridan Le Fanu – KEEP.  I’m hoping to finally get to this during the next 24-Hour Readathon in October, especially since the story “Carmilla” is included.

The Girl in Between by Laekan Zea Kemp – KEEP. I don’t know why, but I love the cover of this book.  I’m skeptical of whether or not it will be worth reading, though.  Like the first book on this week’s list, I’ll give it the 50 page test.

My TBR mountain is down one book to 681 books.  Taking a glance at the next 5 books on my list, there is only one that I know I will be keeping without a doubt, so hopefully I will be shedding a few more books next week.

#FitReaders Check-In

  • This check-in is for April 5th – 11th.
  • I participated in Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon on Saturday, and I didn’t do much for exercise most of the week. Instead, I struggled with getting enough sleep and trying to get through each day while feeling depressed and not wanting to do anything, much less exercise.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Workouts: 2/5
  • Steps: 26,317
  • Miles: 10.84
  • Total Miles: 197.83
  • Active Minutes: 93

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 Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel
  • Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee


Finished:

  • Day After Night by Anita Diamant
  • To Visit the Queen by Diane Duane
  • The Powerpuff Girls Classics #5 by Jennifer Keating Moore
  • Adulthood is a Myth by Sarah Andersen
  • Book Love by Debbie Tung
  • Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot
  • Guide to Troubled Birds by Matt Adrian
  • Frisky Business by Shoebox Greetings (Not Pictured)




Total pages read this week: 1187
Total books for the year: 23 of 50. This weekend was Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon.  I may have to increase my goal for the year, but I’m going to hold off until at least October’s Readathon before I make that decision.
What are you reading this week?