#FitReaders Check-In

  • This check-in is for May 4th – 10th.
  • I’ve finished 25% of the Appalachian Trail on Walking4Fun.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.

 

  • Steps: 26,382/56,000
  • Miles: 10.85/25
  • Total Miles: 264.65
  • Active Minutes: 187/210
  • Total Money Donated: $0.73/$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
  • Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones
  • Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
  • Year One by Nora Roberts

    
Finished:

  • Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory


Total pages read this week: 575
Total books for the year: 33 of 90.  I haven’t picked up any of my own books this week due to having checked out 3 books from the library that I really want to get read by the time they’re due.  I finished Spoonbenders last night, and immediately started Year One before I went to sleep.
What are you reading this week?

Bout of Books 22!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda Shofner and Kelly Rubidoux Apple. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, May 14th and runs through Sunday, May 20th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 22 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. – From the Bout of Books team

I’m hoping I’ll have the apartment completely finished by the 14th since the Boyfriend promised me a week’s vacation before I start looking for work.

My Goals

  • Read.  Read.  Read.
  • Finish the books I’m currently reading.
  • Finish at least one more book from my TBR.

Books to Read

One or two of these might already be finished by the 14th.

  • Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
  • Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones
  • Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
  • Spoonbenders by Daryl Gregory
  • The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss

Updates

I will be posting an update each day with the amount of time I read, the number of pages read that day and the titles of any of the books I’ve finished.

Down the TBR Hole #23

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 back up to 726 books.  Though I read quite a bit last week during the #readathon, I added more than 10 books to my wish list thanks to a combination of TBR posts and loving what I was reading so much that I want to read everything else by that author (I’m looking at you Jim C. Hines).

This week’s five books:


Hiking Alone by Mary Beath – KEEP.  I found this book in the gift shop of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, NM while on a road trip back in 2011.  I vaguely remember that I started reading it while I continued on my way through New Mexico, but I got distracted by other books while in Utah.  I will be picking this up again, hopefully soon.

Before Green Gables by Budge Wilson – KEEP.  Normally, I would pass on a story about a favorite character from another author, but this one was authorized by L.M. Montgomery’s heirs for the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables.  I’ll wait to read it after I’ve finished re-reading the rest of the original series, but I will give this one a chance.

This Book is Overdue! by Marilyn Johnson – KEEP.  Y’all know by now how much I love books about books, libraries, librarians, etc.  So obviously this one is not leaving my shelf.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein – KEEP.  I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve either read or been told that I need to read this book.  After reading the synopsis, I’m a bit concerned that it will trigger all sorts of bad memories, but I’m hoping it will be healing in the way that Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins and Primary Inversion by Catherine Asaro were for me.

The Salinger Contract by Adam Langer – KEEP.  I briefly picked this one up and read a few pages while I was in the process of going through everything I owned and deciding whether or not I wanted to keep it.  I chose to keep this one, and I still stand by that decision, but I want to read something by J.D. Salinger before picking it back up.  If you have any suggestions, let me know in the comments.
My to-read shelf remains at 726 books.  See you next Saturday when I start with book #156.

#FitReaders Check-In

  • This check-in is for April 27th – May 3rd.
  • I found a group on Meetup to go walking with around Lake Merritt on Tuesday.  I also found an independent bookstore nearby, Walden Pond Books.  Welp, there went my spending money, but at least I got over 12K steps that day!
  • The Boyfriend gave me the go-ahead to order the remaining pieces of furniture we need for the apartment.  So, next week will be all about putting together nightstands and a yet another bookshelf along with some other odds and ends.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.

 

  • Steps: 37,836/56,000
  • Miles: 15.56/25
  • Total Miles: 253.80
  • Active Minutes: 267/210
  • Total Money Donated: $0.70/$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
  • Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones

  
Finished:

  • Libriomancer by Jim C. Hines
  • Day 21 by Kass Morgan
  • Bohemian Gospel by Dana Chamblee Carpenter
  • The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

   
Challenges:

Total pages read this week: 1322
Total books for the year: 32 of 90.  I managed to finish 75% of the OWLs.  I finished the Defense Against the Dark Arts OWL on Thursday, Astronomy  and History of Magic on Saturday during the #readathon, and just barely finished Charms on Sunday, the final day of the challenge.  My goal was to finish all 12 OWLs, like Hermione.  Even though that didn’t happen, I still got an Outstanding and I now have 9 subjects to choose from for the NEWTs.  I will, of course, focus on the subjects I need to become a Librarian.  Now, I need to catch up on Les Misérables.
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: 706
  1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Midnight (Hour 20) when the combination of sugar and tiredness made my dermatillomania kick in with a vengeance and the Boyfriend had to put band-aids on all of my fingers to help me stop doing anymore damage.
  2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Bohemian Gospel by Dana Chamblee Carpenter and The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
  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 will avoid the sugar.
  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? 2, but I also read a good chunk of The Lightning Thief.
  6. What were the names of the books you read? Bohemian Gospel and Day 21 by Kass Morgan.
  7. Which book did you enjoy most? Bohemian Gospel
  8. Which did you enjoy least? Day 21
  9. How likely are you to participate in the Readathon again? I will definitely be participating again.

Due to my fingers being in band-aids, I went to bed not longer after Midnight.  I’m determined to read for a large chunk of Sunday, though, to make up for bailing out with less than 5 hours to go.  I know I shouldn’t feel bad about that, but I do.  I was having a lot of fun.

Dewey's 24-Hour #Readathon – Second Update

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza
I’ve survived 16 hours of Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon and I still haven’t fallen asleep!

  • Pages Read: 264
  • Books Read: Bohemian Gospel by Dana Chamblee Carpenter
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: I didn’t do any of the mini-challenges since my first update thanks to Bohemian Gospel reeling me in and not spitting me back out until I was a speechless heap of emotions.
  • Yummy in my Tummy: I went to Peet’s for a late lunch and had a veggie sandwich and a chai latte.

Until my final update, at 5 am, I’ll continue reading the remaining books on my list:

  • Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones
  • The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
  • Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (or another book with magical creatures for the Care of Magical Creatures OWL)
  • The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

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

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

1. What are you reading right now? Bohemian Gospel by Dana Chamblee Carpenter
2. How many books have you read so far? 1, but I’m over halfway through Bohemian Gospel.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Readathon?  I’m still really looking forward to The Alchemyst by Michael Scott.
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 look at a cute cat pic on Facebook.
5. What surprises you most about the Readathon, so far?  How I’ve managed to stay awake without even nodding off despite not drinking the bottle of Coke I have in the fridge yet.

Dewey's 24-Hour #Readathon – First Update

Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza
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 the audiobook of Day 21 on my computer.

  • Pages Read: 351
  • Books Read: Day 21 by Kass Morgan
  • Mini-Challenges Completed: I’ve done the Book and a SnackTell Me a Story, and Pen Pal challenges.
  • Yummy in my Tummy: I had a giant cup of “Hobbit Hearthwarmer” tea from Solstice Brews and 2 cinnamon rolls from Trader Joe’s.  I also ate far too many oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Until my 2nd update, at 9 pm, I’ll continue reading the remaining books on my list:

  • Castle in the Air by Diana Wynne Jones
  • The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
  • Bohemian Gospel by Dana Chamblee Carpenter
  • Seraphina by Rachel Hartman (or another book with magical creatures for the Care of Magical Creatures OWL)
  • Child of the Prophecy by Juliet Marillier (or another book involving a prophecy for the Divination OWL)

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