Author: Rachelle J.

Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon – Final Update

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I’ve survived another Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon!

  • Total Pages Read: 809
  1. Which hour was most daunting for you? 3 am when I suddenly didn’t want to read anymore.  That has never happened before.  I usually just start feeling a bit punchy, but this time I got to the end of a chapter and decided I didn’t want to continue.  I switched to an audiobook, and that fixed it, but for a second there I thought something was wrong with me!
  2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay
  3. Do you have any suggestions on how to improve the Readathon next year?  Nope, I only have ideas for improving it for myself.  Next time, I want to be more social, and I’ll start with the book I’m most looking forward to instead of anything else.
  4. What do you think worked well in this year’s Readathon? The 10 Years in 10 Books challenge was the most fun.
  5. How many books did you read? 3, but I also read most of Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton
  6. What were the names of the books you read? Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson, and Head Full of Ghosts.
  7. Which book did you enjoy most?  Head Full of Ghosts
  8. Which did you enjoy least? Ghostland
  9. How likely are you to participate in the Readathon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?  I will definitely be participating again, and I might sign up to be a Goodreads discussion moderator.

I’m going to bed now…

Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon – 2nd Update

Published on by Rachelle J.1 Comment

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I’ve survived the first 16 hours of Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon and I’m still awake!

  • Pages Read: 317
  • Books Read: Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: Make New Friends and Mid-Event Survey.
  • Yummy in my Tummy: Popcorn, fudge truffles, Coke

Until my final update, at 7 am, I’ll continue reading the remaining books on my list:

  • Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton
  • Wildwood by Colin Melot
  • My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
  • Curse of the Boggin by D.J. MacHale
  • The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket

Whether you’re participating in the readathon or not, what book(s) are you currently reading?

Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon Mid-Event Survey

Published on by Rachelle J.1 Comment

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It’s time for Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon Mid-Event Survey!

1. What are you reading right now? The audiobook of Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay and Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton.
2. How many books have you read so far? 2, but I’m over halfway through Skin Trade.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Readathon?  I’m still really looking forward to My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix.  It will probably be my next physical book.
4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? I’ve only had one interruption, caused by The Boyfriend, but I don’t mind, since he was getting ready to head out the door to hang out with friends.
5. What surprises you most about the Readathon, so far?  How I’ve managed to stay awake without even nodding off.

Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon – 1st Update

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I’ve survived the first 8 hours of Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon and I haven’t fallen asleep on the couch even once!  I have my cat, Dresden to thank for that, since I sat down in front of my laptop and he jumped into my lap to take HIS nap!  Luckily, I had my phone nearby to listen to an audiobook.

  • Pages Read: 280
  • Books Read: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: I’ve only done the 10 Years in 10 Books challenge.
  • Yummy in my Tummy: The Mediterranean plate I mentioned in the opening survey. However, I completely forgot about the dolmas in the fridge!  I’ll probably eat them later tonight.

Until my 2nd update, at 11 pm, I’ll continue reading the remaining books on my list:

  • Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton
  • Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey
  • Wildwood by Colin Melot
  • My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
  • Curse of the Boggin by D.J. MacHale
  • The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket

Whether you’re participating in the readathon or not, what book(s) are you currently reading?

Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon – 10 Years in 10 Books

Published on by Rachelle J.2 Comments

In celebration of 10 years of Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon, participants have been challenged with recommending 10 books, one for each year of the #readathon.

I’m a bit confused that it’s only 10 years in 10 books since 2007 to 2017 equals out to be 11 years and 11 books, unless we weren’t supposed to pick a book for this year?  Regardless, I paged through all of the books I’ve read since I started tracking them on Goodreads and managed to find a book for each year since 2007 that I would recommend reading.  I’ve linked the titles to my reviews, if I wrote one, and the covers to the books on Goodreads.

  • 2007 – Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead

  • 2010 – Feed by Mira Grant

  

  • 2016 – The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle by Janet Fox

  • 2017 – The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon

Published on by Rachelle J.1 Comment

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza

Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon has officially started!  The Boyfriend and I got up at 6:30 am to eat croissants for breakfast.  Due to my Synovitis, this #readathon is going to be low tech for me.  I’ll still be posting my updates every 8 hours, but I won’t be doing much socializing.

  • What fine part of the world are you reading from today? I’m in Austin, TX.
  • Which book in your stack are you looking forward to the most? My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix.
  • Which snack are you looking forward to the most? I’m making myself a “Mediterranean Plate” instead of going to The Steeping Room.  It’s dolmas, toasted pita bread, feta cheese cubes, olives, and hummus.
  • Tell us a little something about yourself!  Here are 20 somethings about myself.  Also, I love to crochet and listen to cozy mysteries at the same time.  I miss that more than anything else while my hands have been trying to heal.
  • If you participated in the last readathon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today?  I’m going to try listening to audiobooks while I walk on the treadmill (I usually listen to music) during my exercise breaks.

Here’s my TBR:

  • Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton
  • Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey
  • The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
  • Wildwood by Colin Melot
  • My Best Friend’s Exorcism by Grady Hendrix
  • Curse of the Boggin by D.J. MacHale
  • The Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket

My first update will be at 3 pm.  I’ll be tracking how many pages I read and any books I finish.  I’ll also include snacks I’ve nommed, and any musical earworms that have gotten into my head.

Whether you’re participating in the readathon or not, what book(s) are you currently reading? 

#FitReaders Check-In

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fitreaders-2017-1

  • This check-in is for October 13th – 19th.
  • I have Synovitis in both of my hands, so I won’t be doing much blogging until it’s under control.  Instead, I’m going walking with the Boyfriend for Damn Early Days.  So far, it’s been nice getting up early and heading out the door.  When we get back, I still have plenty of time to relax with a book, eat breakfast, and drink a huge cup of tea before work 🙂
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.

 

  • Steps: 32,249/70,000
  • Miles: 13.51/35
  • Total Miles: 395.49
  • Active Minutes: 87/210
  • Virtual 5Ks: 0/10
  • Total Money Donated: $4.47/$5.00

Monday’s Minutes

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“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:

  • Skin Trade by Laurell K. Hamilton
  • Ghostland: An American History in Haunted Places by Colin Dickey
  • Do it! Let’s Get Off Our Buts by Peter McWilliams
  • Wildwood by Colin Melot
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

   

DNF:

  • Tales of Terror and Mystery by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Finished:

  • Demons ed. by John Skipp
  • The Turn of the Screw by Henry James – for #Turnofthescread
  • The Shadow Garden by Allen Houston
  • The Mammoth Book of Vampire Stories by Women ed. by Stephen Jones

                           

Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 1146

Total # of books for the year: 82 of 85.  I got a lot of reading done this week only because I couldn’t do much else.  I had to take nearly 3 days off from work while I went to doctor’s appointments trying to find out what is wrong with my hands.  Right now, the diagnosis is Synovitis.  I can’t be on the computer much and crocheting or coloring while listening to audiobooks is out of the question.  At least I’ve been able to complete the #ShelfLove challenge with more than 2 months to go before the end of the year!

What are you reading this week?

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle J.1 Comment

fitreaders-2017-1

  • This check-in is for October 6th – 12th.
  • All of the overtime I’ve been working has caused me a lot of pain in my hands and wrists so I haven’t been able to blog, crochet, or do much of anything I enjoy.  I’m definitely not doing any burpies.  I have an Occupational Therapy appointment this morning, so I’m hoping to get my hands back to the point where I can do all the things I love to do.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.

 

  • Steps: 23,113/70,000
  • Miles: 9.48/35
  • Total Miles: 381.98
  • Active Minutes: 94/210
  • Virtual 5Ks: 0/10
  • Total Money Donated: $4.43/$5.00

Monday’s Minutes

Published on by Rachelle J.1 Comment

“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 Turn of the Screw by Henry James – for #Turnofthescread
  • Demons ed. by John Skipp
  • Do it! Let’s Get Off Our Buts by Peter McWilliams
  • Wildwood by Colin Melot
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

   

Finished:

  • The October Country by Ray Bradbury
  • The House of Seven Gables by Nathaniel Hawthorne

 

Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 466

Total # of books for the year: 78 of 85.  This post is late today because, though I’ve been keeping up with Damn Early Days, I’ve started having a lot of pain in my hands.  I’m hoping to be able to get in to see my Doctor today, but until I do or I get better, I probably won’t be posting.

What are you reading this week?