Author: Rachelle

#24in48 Readathon!

Published on by Rachelle

LizLemonYay
Rachel is doing another #24in48 Readathon next weekend!  This is the Readathon that started it all for me.  I created this blog, back when I was The Reading Wench, so I could better connect with such a great bookish community.  This will be my third 24 in 48!  I love it because I can read for 24 hours without the sleep deprivation 🙂
Goals:

  • My plan never goes just how I want it to, but I’m hoping to get at least 14 hours of reading in on Saturday and then finish up the remaining hours on Sunday.  Regardless, the ultimate goal is to read for 24 hours over the weekend.
  • Finish three books.  Since I’ve already started Grave Peril and (R)evolution, this shouldn’t be too difficult to accomplish.

TBR:
This list might change a little by the time the readathon starts because I’ll probably finish The Martian before then, but I’m not sure what I’ll be reading after I finish it.  All of the book covers are linked to Goodreads.

  • The Martian by Andy Weir
  • Grave Peril by Jim Butcher
  • (R)evolution by P.J. Manney

The Martian Grave Revolution

Sign ups are still open.  Are you participating in the 24 in 48 Readathon?

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
FitReaders2016
  • This check-in is for July 8th – 14th.
  • My goal for this week was 4K steps per day, and once again, it was easy.  My new goal is 5K steps per day.
  • If you’d like to add me as a friend on FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 32,940/28,000
  • Miles: 13.53/10.5
  • Flights of stairs: 124/70
  • Active Minutes: 112/70
  • Monthly 5K Races Completed: 3/10
  • Monthly 1 Mile Fun “Runs” Completed: 2/10
  • Total Money Donated: $20.31/$50.00

Review: Black Widow – Forever Red

Published on by Rachelle

Black Widow

  • Author: Margaret Stohl
  • ISBN: 9781484726433
  • Publisher: Marvel Press
  • Genre: YA Science Fiction
  • Pages: 401

Natasha Romanoff is one of the world’s most lethal assassins. Trained from a young age in the arts of death and deception, Natasha was given the title of Black Widow by Ivan Somodorov, her brutal teacher at the Red Room, Moscow’s infamous academy for operatives.
Ava Orlova is just trying to fit in as an average Brooklyn teenager, but her life has been anything but average.The daughter of a missing Russian quantum physicist, Ava was once subjected to a series of ruthless military experiments—until she was rescued by Black Widow and placed under S.H.I.E.L.D. protection. Ava has always longed to reconnect with her mysterious savior, but Black Widow isn’t really the big sister type.
Until now.  – Goodreads synopsis

I requested Black Widow: Forever Read from Netgalley, but wasn’t lucky enough to get a copy, so I bought the Kindle edition with some of my gift card money instead.
Ok, this is one of those moments when my Fangirl starts showing and, trust me when I say this, I have no shame.  I don’t care what it is, if it’s got Black Widow’s name or logo on it, it’s mine, all MINE.  I don’t have to tell you how much Black Widow kicks butt unless you’ve somehow managed to miss every Avenger related movie, comic, or even movie trailer in which she appears, and this book is no different.  Yes, it’s YA.  Yes, I tend to steer away from YA, with very few exceptions.  This is one of those exceptions, and I wasn’t in any way disappointed.
I hadn’t even bothered to read the synopsis before I bought the book or even before I started reading it.  So, I was a bit surprised to discover that this wasn’t exactly what I thought it was.  I thought it was going to be a retelling of Black Widow’s story, but with her as a teen.  As you can tell from the synopsis above, that’s not it at all, and, honestly, I was a bit relieved.  I understand revamping Marvel’s greatest to appeal to a new generation, but understanding doesn’t mean I want Natasha’s story changed.  Please, Marvel, keep doing what you’ve done with this book and just leave my favorite assassin as she is, OK?  Oh, and how about giving her her own video game?  I’ll give you all my monies.
Full of action, attitude, and shocking red hair, if you want a non-comic comic book story, look no further than Black Widow: Forever Red.
Black Widow Rating

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.
Current Reads:

  • Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – for the #FanspeakTheRing Read-Along
  • The Martian by Andy Weir
  • Grave Peril by Jim Butcher
  • Doctor Who: Time Lord Fairytales
  • (R)evolution by P.J. Manney

Fellowship The Martian Grave

Time Lord Revolution

Finished:

  • Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth

Furiously Divergent

Challenges:

Total pages read: 389

Total # of books for the year: 41.  The Boyfriend was a great help in doing all the things that have to be done for us to live while I was stuck on the couch with an injured back.  However, a lot of little things got left by the wayside.  Being the clean freak I am, it drove me nuts, and so I’ve been focusing on getting everything back into perfect order as soon as possible.  It’s getting there, but my reading has slowed a little.  I’m also trying to catch up on the book reviews that I thought I would get written while I couldn’t do much of anything else.  I started with The World’s Strongest Librarian on Saturday, and I hope to get two more posted this week.

Top Commenter: Shaina @ Shaina Reads

What are you reading this week?

Review: The World's Strongest Librarian

Published on by Rachelle

Strongest

  • Author: Josh Hanagarne
  • ISBN: 9781592407873
  • Publisher: Avery
  • Genre: Non-Fiction/Memoir
  • Pages: 291

 
An inspiring story of how a Mormon kid with Tourette’s found salvation in books and weight-lifting.
The World’s Strongest Librarian illuminates the mysteries of this little-understood disorder, as well as the very different worlds of strongman training and modern libraries. With humor and candor, this unlikely hero traces his journey to overcome his disability — and navigate his wavering Mormon faith — to find love and create a life worth living. – Goodreads synopsis

Awhile back, Audible was having a sale, and I got The World’s Strongest Librarian for less than $5.  Had I not been looking for inexpensive audiobooks to help me get through my daily commute, I might not have ever come across this gem of a memoir.
Honestly, I probably wouldn’t have even picked this one up if it wasn’t about a librarian.  I’m not Mormon, or Christian for that matter, and though Tourette’s is an interesting disability, I didn’t think it was interesting enough to warrant reading a book about it.  Well, I was wrong.  First of all, his struggles with faith resonated with me because I was raised Catholic, and while I eventually found what I was looking for in Buddhism, the run of emotions, thoughts, and questions Hanagarne experiences throughout the book were similar to my own.  Secondly, I understood in a very clinical way what Tourette’s is, but I never thought about how it could affect every area of a person’s life.  While it’s a physical disability, it seems to have the same stigma attached to it as the majority of mental disabilities.  Just as many people ask those dealing with Depression why can’t they just be happy, I get the impression that the same people probably want to ask why can’t you just stop doing [insert physical/vocal tick here].
To me, this book proves that having a support network of family and/or friends is one of the most important elements in determining how well someone handles just about anything that life can throw your way.  It also proves that books and libraries are just as important because ultimately we each have to find our own way and what works for us.  What better place than the library to find the resources to do that?  If you need convincing, check out The World’s Strongest Librarian.
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#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
FitReaders2016
  • This check-in is for July 1st – 7th.
  • My goal for this week was 3K steps per day, and since that was easy, my new goal is 4K steps per day.
  • If you’d like to add me as a friend on FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 24,684/21,000
  • Miles: 10.12/7
  • Flights of stairs: 84/70
  • Active Minutes: 64/70
  • Monthly 5K Races Completed: 3/10
  • Monthly 1 Mile Fun “Runs” Completed: 2/10
  • Total Money Donated: $20.08/$50.00

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.
Current Reads:

  • Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – for the #FanspeakTheRing Read-Along
  • Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson
  • Divergent by Veronica Roth

Fellowship Furiously Divergent

Finished:

  • The Fangirl Life by Kathleen Smith
  • Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

Fangirl Life Dirk

Challenges:

Total pages read: 821

Total # of books for the year: 39.  I didn’t get much reading done this week, until yesterday, when I started Divergent.  I had a difficult time putting that book down when I needed to do anything other than read.  I’ll probably finish it before Wednesday.

What are you reading this week?

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
FitReaders2016
  • This check-in is for June 24th – 30th.
  • Week two of wearing  a back brace whenever I’m not laying down.  I decided that since I can’t exercise, I would take a break from my FitBit and not track any of my goals.  It goes back on my wrist today, even though I can’t do any exercise until Monday (and only if my back feels up to it).
  • Since I also have to start over with my walking plan, I’ve set my new goal at 3K steps per day.
  • If you’d like to add me as a friend on FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: /21,000
  • Miles: /7
  • Flights of stairs: /70
  • Active Minutes: /70
  • Monthly 5K Races Completed: 3/10
  • Monthly 1 Mile Fun “Runs” Completed: 2/10
  • Total Money Donated: $19.55/$50.00

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.
Current Reads:

  • The Fangirl Life by Kathleen Smith
  • Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien – for the #FanspeakTheRing Read-Along
  • Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
  • Furiously Happy by Jenny Lawson

Fangirl Life Fellowship Dirk

Furiously

Finished:

  • Murder is Binding by Lorna Barrett
  • Black Widow: Forever Red by Margaret Stohl
  • Doctor Who: Snowglobe 7 by Mike Tucker
  • Welcome to the Future ed. by Christina Escamilla

Murder Black Widow Snowglobe
Welcome

Challenges:

Total pages read: 1064

Total # of books for the year: 37.  I’ve got a lot of reviews to write again, which means I’ve got plenty to do while I’m stuck on the couch and not able to exercise while my back is healing.  I’ve also begun taking notes on Middle-Earth history specifically related to Hobbits because I’m that much of a nerd and find the project to be relaxing and fun.  Yes, there are plenty of websites on the internet that detail anything and everything about Middle-Earth, but I prefer figuring it out on my own and not relying on the potentially inaccurate work of others.  Besides, I can then create a page here showcasing my work 🙂  To help me with my studies, the Boyfriend brought home a fresh loaf of crusty bread, clotted cream, and jam for me to snack on while I read and drink cup after cup of tea.  He is the best boyfriend in all of time and space.

What are you reading this week?

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
FitReaders2016
  • This check-in is for June 17th – 23rd.
  • I started out strong on Friday and Saturday with over 9K steps each day.  I was determined to finally hit my step goal and start the Couch to 5K program.  However, my back had other plans for me.
  • I can’t do any exercise for a total of two weeks and I have to wear a back brace whenever I’m not laying down.  I can’t even do my physical therapy exercises for my knees, and my ITBS is already flaring up as a result.  By the time I can start exercising again, I’ll have to start over from scratch with my walking program and work my way back up to being able to run.
  • I’m trying to stay on the positive side of all this, but considering how close I got to running again, after nearly 5 years of only being able to walk or use an elliptical machine while I watched my weight steadily rise to a depressing point, it’s been difficult.  I especially miss getting out of the office to walk during my breaks.
  • If you’d like to add me as a friend on FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Steps: 31,911/63,000
  • Miles: 13.11/22.75
  • Flights of stairs: 89/70
  • Active Minutes: 148/210
  • Monthly 5K Races Completed: 3/10
  • Monthly 1 Mile Fun “Runs” Completed: 2/10
  • Total Money Donated: $19.55/$50.00 – I’ve cut my goal by half since I know I’m not likely to get anywhere near $100.