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:

  • Becoming Odyssa by Jennifer Pharr Davis


Finished:

  • Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
  • The Labyrinth by Allen Houston

  
Total pages read this week: 1014
Total books for the year: 85 of 90.  I finished Hex in time for Halloween and the Boyfriend and I also finished the 2nd season of “American Horror Story.”  I was sick most of the week though, so I didn’t get to dress up for work.  Instead, I was stuck at home feeling like garbage.  We watched “Hocus Pocus,” ate soup, and had some candy corn before I went back to bed.
What are you reading this week?

Down the TBR Hole #44

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.

I think I jinxed myself.  My TBR pile is back up to 701 books!  I blame it on my Goodreads feed and the people I have friended on there.  Why did they have to be reading so many great sounding books when I was finally whittling down my TBR?!  Don’t they know I have very little willpower when it comes to books?! *sigh*

This week’s books:

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith – KEEP.  I tried to read this a couple of year ago but it was too depressing so I put it down.  I will try again at some point.

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke- KEEP.  This is one of those books that I’ve been meaning to read for what feels like forever but I always forget I own it because I have the ebook.

The Undays of Aralias Lyons by K.L. Horvath – KEEP.  This book was highly recommended by another blogger quite a while ago, so I bought the ebook.  Reading the synopsis makes me think this it is so much more than the average Time Travel story and I want to start reading it even though I’m in the middle of 3 other books right now.

The Butterfly Crest by Eva Vanrell – GO.  This was a book I got from the publisher through Netgalley quite a long time ago.  I’m never going to read it so I might as well let it go.

Titanborn by Rhett C. Bruno – KEEP.  I’m adding this book to my list for Sci-Fi Summer.  I’m not sure if it will be anything like “Firefly,” but it sounds too good to pass up.

My to-read shelf is back down to 700 books.  Hopefully I’ll get it back down to 698 by next weekend.

#FitReaders Check-In

  • This check-in is for October 26th – November 1st.
  • I’ve been sick since Tuesday, so I haven’t been doing much of anything but trying to get better.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Workouts: 3/6
  • Steps: 38,074/50,000
  • Miles: 15.78
  • Total Miles: 659.49
  • Active Minutes: 192/210

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:

  • What the Woods Keep by Katya De Becerra
  • Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty
  • Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt

  
Finished:

  • Badge, Book, and Candle by Max Gladstone


Challenges:

  • RIP: Peril the First – 5; Peril of the Short Story – 14; Peril on the Screen – 25

Total pages read this week: 371
Total books for the year: 82 of 90.  I’m really hoping to finish Hex by Halloween.  The Boyfriend and I are only an episode away from finishing the 2nd season of “American Horror Story” so we’re trying to decide what we’re going to watch on Halloween. 
What are you reading this week?

Down the TBR Hole #43

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 officially under 700 books!  I owe it all to the #Readathon last weekend.

This week’s books:

  Bad Magic and Bad Luck by Pseudonymous Bosch – KEEP.  Both of these books sound like a lot of fun. A Blade of Black Steel by Alex Marshall- KEEP.  I absolutely loved A Crown for Cold Silver, so there’s no way I’m getting rid of this book. The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss by Max Wirestone – KEEP.  “Veronica Mars” meets “World of Warcraft”?!  Yep, I’ll give this cozy mystery series a chance. Acne, Asthma, and Other Signs You Might Be Half Dragon by Rena Rochford – KEEP.  I absolutely love the title, and I’ve read several great reviews. The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub – KEEP.  I love King’s older books, but I’ve never read any of the one’s he co-authored.  I’ve had this particle story on my physical TBR for more years than I remember, but unfortunately it will probably still be on the shelf until next year.  I only read Horror during September and October, I’ve already read a King novel this year (‘Salem’s Lot) and I’m currently in the middle of Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt (highly recommended by King, BTW) with less than a week left until Halloween. My to-read shelf is down to 698 books.  It probably won’t decrease at all this week unless I miraculously finish the 4 books I’m reading right now, but at least it’s under 700.

#FitReaders Check-In

  • This check-in is for October 19th – 25th.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Workouts: 1/6
  • Steps: 38,074/50,000
  • Miles: 15.84
  • Total Miles: 643.71
  • Active Minutes: 193/210

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:

  • What the Woods Keep by Katya De Becerra
  • Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Caitlin Doughty
  • Badge, Book, and Candle by Max Gladstone

  
Finished:

  • Read it and Weep by Jenn McKinlay
  • ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
  • White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi

  
Challenges:

  • RIP: Peril the First – 5; Peril of the Short Story – 13; Peril on the Screen – 17

Total pages read this week: 866
Total books for the year: 82 of 90.   I love the #Readathon in October!  I get to catch up on all my dark, creepy, and scary books and I get a huge boost towards my reading goals.  I’ve completed my goals for #RIP and I’m only 8 books away from reaching my annual Goodreads goal.  Also, my TBR mountain is now under 700 books!
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 Readathon!

  • Total Pages Read: 634
  1. Which hour was most daunting for you? 1 am (Hour 21), when Dresden, my fur child, decided he wanted to take a nap on me and I didn’t have another book nearby when I finished White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi.
  2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Badge, Book, and Candle by Max Gladstone.
  3. Do you have any suggestions on how to improve the Readathon next year?  Nope, I only have ideas for improving it for myself.  I will remember to ALWAYS keep extra books and my water nearby just in case Dresden decides to nap on me.
  4. What do you think worked well in this year’s Readathon? Having all of the mini-challenges open for the full 24 hours.
  5. How many books did you read? 3, but I also read most of Badge, Book, and Candle.
  6. What were the names of the books you read? ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King, Read it and Weep by Jenn McKinlay, and White is for Witching.
  7. Which book did you enjoy most? White is for Witching.
  8. Which did you enjoy least? Read it and Weep.
  9. How likely are you to participate in the Readathon again? I will definitely be participating again.

 

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

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza
I’ve survived 16 hours of Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon, but I did take a 4 hour nap!

  • Pages Read: 185
  • Books Read: Read it and Weep by Jenn McKinlay
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: I did the Modern Classics challenge.
  • Yummy in my Tummy: I had far too many Newman O’s, but it was totally worth it 🙂  I also had turkey tacos for dinner.

Until my final update, at 5 am, I’ll continue reading my current book, White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi and then another book or two from my Goodreads list.

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

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

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza

I’m a little late with this because I fell asleep on the couch but here are my answers to the Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon Mid-Event Survey!

1. What are you reading right now? White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi and Read it and Weep by Jenn McKinlay
2. How many books have you read so far? 1, but I’m nearly finished with Read it and Weep and about halfway through White is for Witching.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Readathon?  I’m really looking forward to What the Woods Keep by Katya De Becerra.
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, because it was to tell me about a really cool part of Oakland that has bookstores, coffee shops, and all sorts of boutiques and other shops.
5. What surprises you most about the Readathon, so far?  How I wasn’t tired until after  2 pm and then suddenly I was asleep.