Author: Rachelle

Dewey's 24-Hour #ReverseReadathon

Published on by Rachelle


Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon has officially started!  Wait? What?!  Yep, that’s right.  It’s a bit different this time around.  Not only is it in the middle of the Summer instead of April or October, but it’s starting at 8 PM EST instead of the usual 8 AM EST.  Since I’m in California, it’s 5 PM, and I’ve been up since 7 AM so I already know I won’t be staying awake the entire 24 hours.
I don’t know if the wonderful hosts of this Reverse Readathon will be doing the opening survey, since I’m writing this in advance, but here are my answers anyway:

  • What fine part of the world are you reading from today? I’m in Emeryville, CA.
  • Which book in your stack are you looking forward to the most?  The Merchant of Death by D.J. MacHale.
  • Which snack are you looking forward to the most? I made popsicles out of guava juice and they are the perfect Summer treat.  I’ve also got fresh mango for making smoothies.  I can’t decide which I’m looking forward to more.
  • Tell us a little something about yourself!  Here are 20 somethings about myself.  Also, I’m the leader of a questing party on Habitica called The Acorns.
  • If you participated in the last readathon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today?  Since this is a more laid back readathon, I’m not going to try to stay awake for the entire 24 hours.  Instead, I’ll read until at least my 1st update and then head to bed for some shut eye.  That way I can read all day without getting stabby.

Here’s my TBR:

  • The Merchant of Death by D.J. MacHale
  • The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
  • Boneshaker by Cherie Priest
  • The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
  • The Salmon of Doubt by Douglas Adams
  • The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
  • The Word Exchange by Alena Graedon
  • Shift by Hugh Howey
  • Press Start to Play ed. by Daniel H. Wilson and John Joseph Adams
  • It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis

I’m also going to finish The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry before it’s due back at the library.
My first update will be at 1 AM PST.  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

Published on by Rachelle

  • This check-in is for July 20th -26th.
  • I haven’t lost any weight since starting my new workout routine.  However, I had to get rid of 3 shirts for being way too big on me, and an older, much smaller pair of yoga pants now fits me after spending over a year in the drawer because they were too tight.  I might throw out the scale, but for now I will just stop using it.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.

 

  • Workouts: 6/6
  • Steps: 21,574
  • Miles: 8.92
  • Total Miles: 404.75
  • Active Minutes: 121/210

Monday's Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“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 Glorious Cause by Robert Middlekauff
  • The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson

  
Finished:

  • To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
  • I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown
  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau
  • The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

  

Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 730
Total books for the year: 56 of 90.  
What are you reading this week?

#24in48 Readathon – Good Night, Everyone!

Published on by Rachelle

We have reached the end of the 24 in 48 readathon.  Luckily, there is another readathon in a couple of weeks, but for now I’m going to bed after a full weekend of reading and I will begin the recovery process (aka cleaning the apartment) tomorrow.

Final Update
I finished Walden around the same time I was ready for lunch.  After I was done eating, I immediately picked up The Ocean at the End of the Lane, and other than a short nap, I read it straight through.
In the Middle of Reading:

  • The Glorious Cause by Robert Middlekauff


Books Finished:

  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau
  • The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

 
Pages Read: 228
Total Pages Read: 549
Time Read: 6 hours 15 minutes
Total Time Read: 15 hours and 13 minutes

Goodnight, Y’all!

#24in48 Readathon – Hour 36

Published on by Rachelle

Only 12 more hours to go until we reach the end of the 24 in 48 readathon.  I didn’t get up until about 30 minutes ago, so this update will be a bit short.

Update #3
I did not finish Walden before I fell asleep.  However, I have less than 50 pages to go, so I will finish it today.
The Boyfriend woke me up around 8:30 this morning and surprised me with breakfast from our favorite local bakery so I wouldn’t have to use precious reading time to cook something.  He is definitely a keeper!

Current Reads:

  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau


Pages Read: 24
Total Pages Read: 321
Time Read: 1 hour 7 minutes
Total Time Read: 8 hours and 58 minutes
My final update will be at 9 pm Pacific time.

#24in48 Readathon – Hour 24

Published on by Rachelle

We’re now a whole day into the 24 in 48 readathon.  I’ll be headed to bed in a couple of hours, but below is my update.

Update #2
YAY!  I managed to finish I Thought it Was Just Me despite frequent interruptions from my very needy Feline Overlord, Dresden, and the constant noises from the video games the Boyfriend has been playing.  I had to put in my noise-canceling ear buds to do it, but that’s life in a small California apartment.

I also did quite a bit of eating.

Current Reads:

  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau


Books Finished:

  • I Thought it Was Just Me (But it Isn’t) by Brené Brown


Pages Read: 216
Total Pages Read: 297
Time Read: 5 hours 57 minutes
Total Time Read: 7 hours and 51 minutes
My next update will be at 9 am Pacific time.  I want to finish Walden before I go to bed, since I have less than 100 pages left, so here’s to hoping I don’t fall asleep until then!

#24in48 Readathon – Hour 12!

Published on by Rachelle

It’s hour 12 of the 24 in 48 readathon and here’s my first update!

Update #1
Since the official start time was 12 am EST and I live in California, I was able to read a bit before I went to bed.  I got caught up on the official readathon posts after I made breakfast this morning, and also checked out Litsy to see what everyone else is reading, like ya do.

Current Read: I Thought it Was Just Me (But it Isn’t) by Brené Brown, which I’m determined to finish today.

Pages Read: 81
Time Read: 1 hours and 54 minutes
My next update will be at 9 pm Pacific time, and I’m sure I’ll have much more to share!  See you then 🙂

This Weekend – #24in48 Readathon!

Published on by Rachelle

 

Another #24in48 Readathon is happening this weekend!  This is the Readathon that started it all for me.  I created this blog so I could better connect with such a great bookish community.  This will be my 6th 24 in 48, and I’m so excited that I’ll be able to participate all weekend!
Goals:

  • Read for 24 hours.
  • Finish at least three books.

TBR:
The first 3 on my TBR are books I’m currently reading, and the last three are books I checked out from the public library.  All of the book covers are linked to Goodreads.

  • The Glorious Cause by Robert Middlekauff
  • The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken
  • I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t) by Brené Brown
  • The Bird’s Nest by Shirley Jackson
  • The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
  • The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
  •      

Are you participating in the 24 in 48 Readathon?

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

  • This check-in is for July 13th – 19th.
  • I can now do TEN unmodified push-ups!
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.

 

  • Workouts: 6/6
  • Steps: 27,595
  • Miles: 11.36
  • Total Miles: 395.83
  • Active Minutes: 213/210

Review: Ruby Holler

Published on by Rachelle

  • Author: Sharon Creech
  • Pages: 288
  • Genre: Middle-Grade

Brother and sister Dallas and Florida are the “trouble twins.” In their short thirteen years, they’ve passed through countless foster homes, only to return to their dreary orphanage, Boxton Creek Home.
Run by the Trepids, a greedy and strict couple, Boxton Creek seems impossible to escape. When Mr. Trepid informs the twins that they’ll be helping old Tiller and Sairy Morey go on separate adventures, Dallas and Florida are suspicious.
As the twins adjust to the natural beauty of the outdoors, help the Tillers prepare for their adventures, and foil a robbery, their ultimate search for freedom leads them home to Ruby Holler.

Ruby Holler is the second book by Creech that I’ve read that is about orphans.  However, this book is a much sweeter story in comparison to The Wanderer.  It’s also a tad bit slower in pacing, and a little more relaxed, which makes sense, given it takes place in a holler instead of a boat out on the ocean.
The difference in pacing and intensity is one of the reasons why I didn’t love Ruby Holler nearly as much as The Wanderer.  What really sealed it’s fate, however, was how simple it was.  Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed being able to relax into a comforting story set in a house surrounded by woods with two elderly and very loving people who enjoyed cooking wonderful food.  It just wasn’t all that realistic compared to The Wanderer.  It felt more like the fantasies of children who are stuck living in the kinds of cold, unloving places like Boxton Creek Home.  It was the kind of fantasy I would have dreamed up when I was a little younger than Dallas and Florida.
If it weren’t for the interwoven message that children deserve to be loved for who they are instead of constantly punished for the small troubles they get into, I might have considered the story to be more fitting to children who are not quite ready for Middle-Grade books.  In fact, Ruby Holler is only one step above a chapter book.  I would definitely recommend it for children who need something a little more advanced, but who aren’t ready for something like “Harry Potter” or “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”