Author: Rachelle

R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril XX

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment

The R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril challenge, otherwise known as R.I.P. starts today, September 1st and continues through October 31st. The whole point of the R.I.P. Challenge is to enjoy books and other media that could be classified as Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, Dark Fantasy, Gothic, Horror, Supernatural, and any other genre that you think fits.


There are multiple levels of participation (Perils), which are a little different this year:

  • Peril of the Imagination – Read books of any length that fit the definition of R.I.P. literature.
  • Peril of the Real – Read any true tales of horror.
  • Peril of the Listen – Listen to RIP-related audiobooks, podcasts, and music.
  • Peril on the Screen – This is for those of us who like to watch suitably scary, eerie, mysterious, Gothic fare during this time of year. It may be something on the small screen or large.
  • Peril of the Buddy Read – There will be a group read of Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.

I’ll be doing Peril of the Imagination, Peril of the Listen, and Peril on the Screen. I’ve got a huge list of books on Goodreads for me to choose from for this event and Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon happening on October 18th.

Are you participating in #RIPXX or reading any spooky reads over the next couple of months? Leave a comment!

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

  • This check-in is for August 24th – 30th.
  • This past week was very low-key. I didn’t have any social plans except for on Thursday, and I used a lot of my free time to read. I’m not sure if the considerably slower pace after such a busy week was the cause, but I felt down a lot. Maybe it’s just more of the ups and downs of dealing with the ending of a relationship and the major life changes that come along with that. Reading definitely helped, though.
  • One thing I forgot to mention in last week’s post was that I decided to also participate in #75Soft. I did fairly well the first week, though I struggled a bit with journaling, getting enough water, and moving my body, but I really fell off the wagon this week. I’m doing my best to be gentle with myself about it, and getting back on that wagon this weekend.
  • Yesterday, I drove out to Lynd Fruit Farm to go to their market. They got in fresh apple cider and had some good deals on produce that made it worth the gas to get there and back. However, I wanted to go so I could get out of the house, take a mini road trip by myself, and treat myself to a sinfully delicious apple fritter. I also bought way too many pickles from the Crazy Cucumber and a small bag of kettle corn.
  • Exercise Days: 1/7
  • Steps: 42,835
  • Miles: 17.27/16.31
  • Total Miles: 526.62/850
  • Zone Minutes: 55/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • Mind Your Body by Nicole J. Sachs, LCSW
  • Firestarter by Stephen King
  • Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
  • Embers of the Hands by Eleanor Barraclough
  • METAtropolis ed. by John Scalzi

Finished:

  • Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members by Sherrie Campbell, PHD
  • A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris
  • Sprinkles and Sea Serpents by Danielle Garrett

Total pages read this week: 805

Total books read: 75 of 85

TBR (goal is -24): -19

#ShelfLove Challenge: 41 of 51

I deliberately spent more of my time reading this past week instead of doing other activities. I’ll be doing a lot of reading during this holiday weekend as well, since I’m focusing my free time on finishing as many of the library books I’ve got checked out as possible. I’m up to 20 books, and only one of them is an ebook!

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

  • This check-in is for August 10th – 23rd.
  • I had a massage last Saturday afternoon, which helped me quite a bit with the crazy amount of stress I had. The rest of that weekend was busy and I’m not sure how I would have managed if I hadn’t had the massage to “reset.”
  • My calendar was jam packed this week with social activities I had scheduled when I was doing really well in addition to appointments that had been scheduled for a while. One of those appointments was with my Health Coach. We discussed how busy I was going to be if I went to the social stuff and I was concerned about how I was going to fit in the self-care activities I’m trying to do every day and also get enough sleep. I was considering cancelling those plans, but she reminded me that doing fun things is just as important a part of self-care as all of the other stuff like meditation, journaling, exercise, etc. She’s right, of course, so I didn’t cancel my plans, and I’m glad I didn’t.
  • I’ve joined two social clubs – the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) and a local chapter of the Silent Book Club! I could go on for hours about how much I love the SCA (but I’ll spare y’all), and the Silent Book Club is the perfect no-pressure book club for me.
  • Exercise Days: 1 and 1/7
  • Steps: 31,408 and 46,875
  • Miles: 12.69 and 18.97/16.31
  • Total Miles: 509.35/850
  • Zone Minutes: 48 and 20/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • Mind Your Body by Nicole J. Sachs, LCSW
  • Firestarter by Stephen King
  • Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
  • A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris
  • Adult Survivors of Toxic Family Members by Sherrie Campbell, PHD
  • Embers of the Hands by Eleanor Barraclough

Finished:

  • Constituent Service by John Scalzi

Total pages read this week: 400

Total books read: 72 of 75

TBR (goal is -24): -19

#ShelfLove Challenge: 39 of 51

I have never had a better massage than I did last Saturday! It helped a lot, and I booked my next massage for shortly after I move next month. Prior to that, I decided to take a friend’s advice and get out of the house to go do something that wasn’t work or running errands. I went out for brunch and then checked out a small but eclectic Indy bookstore, Birdie Books. I unfortunately forgot what happens to my stomach when I’ve been very stressed, and the somewhat rich food I had for brunch caused me to have to leave before I wanted. I will definitely be going back at some point.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • Mind Your Body by Nicole J. Sachs, LCSW
  • Firestarter by Stephen King
  • Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
  • A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris

Finished:

  • The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper Fforde

Total pages read this week: 288

Total books read: 71 of 75

TBR (goal is -24): -19

#ShelfLove Challenge: 38 of 51

This week was another bad week. Really bad. I am still not doing very well. Fortunately, last weekend I booked a massage that is scheduled for this afternoon. I’m sure that will help at least a little.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

  • This check-in is for August 3rd – 9th.
  • I went out yesterday looking for ideas for my apartment and doing some price comparisons. I’m not all that into shopping, so deliberately going to stores and taking a look at the options was a bit eye-opening, mostly in a good way. It reminded me of how much I already have, but it also showed me that the possibilities for organizing and decorating my new home are just about endless. I saw some of that possibility online, but it was narrowed down to my search results and whatever the algorithms gave me.
  • I’ve started journaling every day again. I stopped a while back, thinking it wasn’t really helping all that much. However, I definitely noticed a difference in my mood and stress levels after I picked it back up again.
  • Tomorrow I’m starting a short daily challenge on the meditation app I use, Insight Timer. It’s a Morning Routine challenge, and I think it will help get me back into a regular morning routine that’s more focused on self-care instead of just getting dressed, gathering up my things for the day, and rushing out the door.
  • Exercise Days: 1/7
  • Steps: 38,009
  • Miles: 15.41/16.31
  • Total Miles: 477.69/850
  • Zone Minutes: 49/150

Building the Book Fort

Published on by Rachelle

“Building the Book Fort” is a weekly post where I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • Mind Your Body by Nicole J. Sachs, LCSW
  • Firestarter by Stephen King
  • Handbook for the Heartbroken by Sara Avant Stover
  • How to Be the Love You Seek by Dr. Nicole LePera
  • The Woman Who Died A Lot by Jasper Fforde

Total pages read this week: 291

Total books read: 70 of 75

TBR (goal is -24): -18

#ShelfLove Challenge: 38 of 51

This week went much better than last. I’m continuing to focus on self-care while getting as much stuff done as I can. I did some packing last weekend, and I worked on crocheting the baby blanket I’m making for a friend and his wife. I’m about halfway done with it, and since their due date is rapidly approaching, I’m going to try to finish it before the end of next week. Instead of listening to an audiobook while I crocheted, I finished watching the final season of “Schitt’s Creek.” I quickly fell in love with the show around episode two, binged half a season or more at a time, and was sad to see it end. I might rewatch it at some point, but for now I need another easy to watch series. Until I find that, I’m back to enjoying audiobooks while I’m crocheting (which is, of course, not a bad thing). I’m loving The Woman Who Died A Lot so much that I might finish it this weekend, and I also plan to finish How to Be the Love You Seek today.

What are you reading? Let me know in the comments!

Down the TBR Hole #213

Published on by Rachelle
Image: hjl

How it works:

  • Go to your Goodreads want-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?

My want-to-read shelf is holding steady at 1187 books. I haven’t been reading much this past week thanks to a lot of topsy-turvy emotions and the “Tales of the Shire” game being released.

This week’s books:

Enter the Janitor by Josh Vogt – KEEP. This Fantasy novel sounds like a lot of fun!

Chemical Burn by Quincy J. Allen – KEEP. This Sci-Fi Thriller will either be absolutely wonderful in all of it’s pulpiness, or absolute trash. I’m willing to find out which one it is.

Dandelion Iron by Aaron Michael Ritchey – KEEP. I have some serious doubts about this one. I’m concerned that it’s going to turn into some kind of weird male fantasy, but I’ve been wanting to read more Sci-Fi Western type stories, so I’ll give this one the 50-page test.

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam – KEEP. I wanted to read this before watching the movie, and I even checked it out from the library last year. However, I never got around to reading it before I had to return it. I nearly removed it from my wish list, but a friend said it was really good. It will stay for now, and maybe at some point I’ll check it out again.

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst – KEEP. I have the hardcover of this with the purple page edging, which is beautiful (and my fave color). The synopsis sounds like this is a cozy cuppa in a book, so there’s no way I’m removing it from my TBR.

My want-to-read shelf is staying at 1187 books. Unless my reading picks back up, it will likely stay that way for a bit. Now that my want-to-read shelf is back into the physical books I already own, I won’t be writing anymore “Down the TBR Hole” posts for at least a couple of months. I will continue to write my other weekly posts, though, and I might even write some other posts when and if I have some extra time.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle

  • This check-in is for July 27th – August 2nd.
  • My mental and physical health hasn’t been great this week, but I’m getting better. Maybe it would be better to say that I’m recovering.
  • Yesterday, I went outside for a walk. The weather was perfect, and getting out of the house for something that didn’t involve work or running errands felt really good. It gave me the energy to continue packing, and I got quite a bit of my stuff and many more of my books boxed up.
  • Exercise Days: 2/7
  • Steps: 34,613
  • Miles: 14.04/16.31
  • Total Miles: 462.28/850
  • Zone Minutes: 45/150