#FitReaders Check-In

  • This check-in is for June 1st – 7th.
  • I’ve been taking it easy on knee this week so I shifted my focus to doing yoga.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.

 

  • Steps: 23,161/56,000
  • Miles: 9.51/25
  • Total Miles: 325.25
  • Active Minutes: 132/210
  • Total Money Donated: $0.90/$5.00

#SciFiSummer 2018 Reading Challenge

SCI-FI SUMMERReading Challenge
For me, the Summer is the time of year for reading Science Fiction.  So, from June 21st (the official first day of Summer) to the 21st of September (the day before the Autumnal Equinox), I’m reading as much Sci-Fi as possible.  I’ve got a lot of it on my TBR shelves, and I’m inviting all of you to join me for some #SciFiSummer fun!  The sign-up is below, and you can post your intent to participate anywhere on the web that will allow you to share the link to your post.
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

I’m shooting for Viper Pilot this year since the #COYER Summer Birthday Bash overlaps.

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.  On June 21st, I’ll post the link up for your reviews, and it will stay open until September 28th.
Are you up to the Science Fiction Summer challenge?  Link up your sign-up posts below:


The sign-up will remain open until September 14th, a week before the challenge ends.
 

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:

  • Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
  • Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau
  • The Evolution of God by Robert Wright
  • You Are Not Your Fault and Other Revelations by Wes Nisker

     
Total pages read this week: 115
Total books for the year: 39 of 90.  I don’t even remember that last time I read so little.  I’m sure it doesn’t help that 3 of my current reads are fairly dense, and I’ve lost most of my interest in Strange the Dreamer.  I’m determined to finish it, but the god-like people in the story are detestable and that is making it very difficult for me to get through the chapters that focus on them. 
What are you reading this week?

#COYER – Big Summer Birthday Bash!


COYER turns 5 this summer and we’re celebrating with a Big Summer Birthday Bash!  There’s a lot going on this COYER, so I’m only going to share with you the parts that I’ll be doing.  For the full details, click on the link above.

The Basics

  • The challenge begins June 9th and ends August 31st.
  • It’s Summer and that means anything goes! It can be any format, any price, obtained from any legal location.

Birthday Bash Goody #1 – Declare your cleaning goal!

I’ll be going for “Lightly Clean” by reading  up to 10 books.

Birthday Bash Goody #3 – Participate in at least 1 Readathon!

I’ll be participating in the following:

  • Fairy Tales with a Twist: Read fairy tale re-tellings from Sunday June 17th to Saturday June 23rd.
  • Dusting Off The Shelves: Read the oldest books on your TBR. They have to have sat on your shelf for at least 1 year. Readathon runs Sunday July 29th to Saturday August 4th.
  • Scary Stories by the Campfire!: Read about ghosts, goblins, and any other horror/thriller that would make for a scary campfire tale from Sunday August 5th to Saturday August 11th.

Birthday Bash Goody #4 – Participate in one or all the Mini-Challenges hosted by COYER participants!

I don’t know what the mini-challenges will be, but I’m sure I’ll want to participate in at least one of them.

Birthday Bash Goody #5 – Participate in the mini-scavenger hunt!

The mini-scavenger hunt runs from Sunday August 12th to Saturday August 25th.  You can get the scavenger hunt list on the main sign-up page.

Birthday Bash Goody #6 – Participate in the Social Media Games in the Facebook group and the Twitter parties!

Social Media Games I might participate in:

  • Monday: What are you reading?
  • Tuesday: Cora COYER
  • Thursday: Tell Me with a GIF
  • Saturday: COYER Trivia
  • Sunday: COYER Update

Twitter Parties I’ll be able to do:

  • Kick-Off Twitter Party: Sunday, June 10th at 4pm EST
  • Saturday, July 14th at 11am EST
  • Saturday, August 18th at 12pm EST
  • Sneak Peak: Sunday, August 26th at 4pm EST

Birthday Bash Goody #7 – Fill in 1 or all 4 BINGO Boards!

I doubt I’m going to be able to read enough books to fill in an entire BINGO board, but I’m going to try!

Birthday Bash Goody #8 – Survive Hurricane Berls!

Read only eBooks, $1 or less, that you already own (including ARCs), from Wednesday July 25th to Saturday July 28th.

Birthday Bash Goody #9 – Make a list of 15 books and read a least 10 of them!

I put my list on Goodreads.

Birthday Bash Goody #10 – Participate in the Switch!

Each week from Sunday June 24th to Saturday July 14th, do the Strict, the List, and the One with the Twist.  I’ll do the Switch in that order.

The Strict – June 24th to june 30th

  1. Every book you read must be an eBook or audiobook.
  2. Every book must be either free or less than $5.
  3. No library books, borrowed books, or Kindle Unlimited.

The List – July 1st to july 7th

  1. Make a list of up to 15 books you want to read (I’m using the same list I made for Goody #9)
  2. Every book on the list must be in your possession before you put them on the list. Books can be any format, any price, obtained any legal way.

The One with the Twist – July 8th to july 14th

  1. You can read any book, any price, obtained any legal way.
  2. The Twist is you have to stick with one format. I’ll be sticking to eBooks.

Are you participating in the #COYER Summer Birthday Bash?

Down the TBR Hole #26

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 730 books.  I’m sure that’s only because I haven’t started any new books since last week and I’m behind on reading recent posts from the blogs I follow.

This week’s five books:


Only Human by Gareth Roberts – KEEP.  I refuse to get rid of any of my Doctor Who books.

Voices of Freedom ed. by Eric Foner – GO.  I was really looking forward to reading this book around July, but I had no idea that it’s a companion to a textbook I don’t already own and am not likely to shell out the cash to buy.  I’m still going to keep it, but instead of having it on my TBR, I’m moving it to my “reference” shelf since it’s chock full of primary sources.

Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marillier – KEEP.  The only thing stopping me from reading this one is that I haven’t finished the “Sevenwaters” series yet.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King – KEEP.  Every time I look at this book, I consider getting rid of it.  It’s Contemporary YA, which is not a subgenre I read much of, but then I reread the synopsis, notice it’s been a nominee for several awards, and discover it’s the author’s most popular out of 17 published books.  I’m willing to see if it passes my 50 page test.

Black Spring by Henry Miller – KEEP.  Judging by the synopsis, I’ll either love this or hate it.  Since I also have yet to read his earlier books, Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer (both of which I own as well), I’m going to keep this one until I figure out whether or not I like Miller’s writing.
My to-read shelf is down to 729 books.  COYER is only a week away and Sci-Fi Summer starts in less than a month, so I’m hoping that number will start to decrease as we head into warmer, sunnier days.

#FitReaders Check-In

  • This check-in is for May 25th – 31st.
  • I hung out with the friend I made from the walking group last Friday.  By the time I got home, I had walked nearly 20K steps!  I wasn’t able to do much walking until yesterday because my knee started to really hurt on Saturday night, but yesterday we hung out again and wound up doing over 15K steps.  I’m hoping my knee will be OK since I wore my brace.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.

 

  • Steps: 47,581/56,000
  • Miles: 19.54/25
  • Total Miles: 315.74
  • Active Minutes: 327/210
  • Total Money Donated: $0.87/$5.00

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:

  • Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
  • Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau
  • The Evolution of God by Robert Wright
  • You Are Not Your Fault and Other Revelations by Wes Nisker

     
Total pages read this week: 206
Total books for the year: 39 of 90.  I think I might be on the edge of a reading slump.  Maybe it’s just the post-Bout of Books blues or something.  I don’t know, but I really hope it doesn’t last long.
What are you reading this week?

Down the TBR Hole #25

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 up to 731 books.  I continue to find more books to add to my wish list!

This week’s five books:


Boneshaker by Cherie Priest – KEEP.  Steampunk AND zombies?!  Yes, please and thank you!

Smarter Than You Think by Clive Thompson – GO.  Meh.  I doubt this book is going to provide me with any new insights or perspectives that I haven’t already considered in regards to how tech is changing our world.

Porno by Irvine Welsh – KEEP.  I read somewhere that the title of this book was recently changed to “Trainspotting 2” or some other “more palatable” title.  That feels a bit Fahrenheit 451 to me, so I’m keeping my copy of it with the original title.

The Shakespeare Notebooks by Justin Richards – KEEP.  This is one of those books I’ll never get rid of even if I don’t ever read it.  It’s a permanent part of my “Doctor Who” collection that I will always treasure.

Deviant Strain by Justin Richards – KEEP.  Though the 9th Doctor isn’t my favorite, he was my introduction to “Doctor Who” and I think it’s a bit sad that he only got one season.  I already own this as an ebook, and it might be one of many “Doctor Who” books I read for this year’s Sci-Fi Summer.
My to-read shelf is back down to 730 books.  I’m hoping it will be down a couple of more books by the time I kick off next Saturday’s “Down the TBR Hole” with book #166.

#FitReaders Check-In

  • This check-in is for May 18th – 24th.
  • I’m now using Your Daily Walk on the days that I don’t plan on walking outside.  I’m enjoying it so far.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.

 

  • Steps: 38,752/56,000
  • Miles: 15.94/25
  • Total Miles: 296.20
  • Active Minutes: 277/210
  • Total Money Donated: $0.82/$5.00

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:

  • Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
  • A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
  • Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
  • Walden by Henry David Thoreau
  • The Evolution of God by Robert Wright

    
Finished:

  • Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
  • Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones
  • Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins

  
Total pages read this week: 898
Total books for the year: 39 of 90.  Another Bout of Books is over, and it has helped me to get 3 more books ahead of my reading goal for the year.  I’m now 5 books ahead of schedule according to Goodreads.  I don’t know how long that will last now that I’m returning to a more normal daily routine, but I’m hoping I’ll continue the trend of surpassing my annual reading goal.
What are you reading this week?