Author: Rachelle

Down the TBR Hole #75

Published on by Rachelle
Image: hjl

Down the TBR Hole was started by Lia over at Lost in a Story.

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.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve done one of these posts.  My TBR pile was down to 655 books, but between December of last year and now, it has gone up to 666.  If I remember correctly, my goal for last year was 650, which might have happened, but obviously isn’t the case now, despite having already read 33 books this year.

This week’s books:

Skeen’s Leap by Jo Clayton – KEEP.  The synopsis had me at “gritty space adventure.”  This book sounds like a perfect addition to my Sci-Fi Summer TBR.

The Shore of Women by Pamela Sargent- KEEP. I’m going to give this one the 50 page test only because it is considered a classic of Feminist Science Fiction.

Unexpected Stories by Octavia Butler – KEEP.  This one will also get the 50 page test, but because it’s Octavia Butler.

Wylding Hall by Elizabeth Hand – KEEP.  This one sounds like the kind of Horror that is right up my alley.

The Last Time I Saw Paris by Lynn Sheene – GO. This story sounds like nothing but a Romance that happens to take place in France during WWII.  No, thanks.

My TBR pile is down one to 665 books, and my next post will be mostly Cozy Mysteries.  If my TBR decreases at all over the next couple of weeks, it will be from finishing books.

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for April 24th – 30th.
  • I got a couple of workouts in this week, but that’s about it.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 14,778
  • Miles: 6.07
  • Total Miles: 204.72
  • Active Minutes: 80

Monday’s Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel
  • The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers
  • The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson ed. by Brooks Atkinson
  • The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry

Finished:

  • Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
  • Fortunately, The Milk by Neil Gaiman
  • The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
  • The Wednesday Wizard by Sherryl Jordan
  • The Sons of Macha by John Lenahan

Total pages read this week: 1120

Total books for the year: 32 of 85. This weekend was Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon, and I focused on Middle-Grade Fiction. I love readathons because it all but guarantees I’ll get through roughly 1k pages, and probably finish at least 3 books. #BoutofBooks is coming up soon, so keep your eye out for my sign-up post!

What are you reading?

Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon – Final Update

Published on by Rachelle
Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza


I’ve survived another Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon!

  • Total Pages Read: 921

Closing Survey

  1. How would you assess your reading overall? I did really well during this readathon
  2. Did you have a strategy, and if so, did you stick to it? My strategy was to stick to mostly Middle-Grade Fiction, which I did, and it worked wonderfully.
  3. What was your favorite snack? The chocolate chip and sea salt cookie I got from Peet’s.
  4. Wanna volunteer for our next event? Perhaps….

I’m off to bed now. I don’t know how I stayed awake the entire 24 hours, but I think I should stick to my Middle-Grade Fiction strategy.

Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon – Second Update

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment
Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza


I’ve survived 16 hours of Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon, and I still haven’t fallen asleep, not even a little.  I think I’ve also finished more books so far than I have for any other #Readathon I’ve done. I did get distracted by the show the Boyfriend was watching on Netflix, and only managed to get through 22 pages over the space of an hour and a half.

  • Pages Read: 242
  • Books Read: The Wednesday Wizard by Sherryl Jordan. I started The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry, but then switched over to the audiobook of The Sons of Macha by John Lenahan.
  • Time Read: 5 hours and 50 minutes
  • Yummy in my Tummy: I had chicken curry and basmasti rice for lunch, a chocolate chip and sea salt cookie, a Twinkie, and pretzels with goat cheese for snacks, and pizza for dinner.

Until my final update, at 5 am, I’ll be finishing The Sons of Macha, and then reading hopefully at least one more book from my Goodreads list.


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

Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon – First Update

Published on by Rachelle1 Comment
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’m pretty sure I have the dirty chai from Peet’s to thank for that. Well, the chai AND the amazing books I’ve read so far.

  • Pages Read: 485
  • Books Read: Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman, The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
  • Time Read: 7 hours and 40 minutes
  • Yummy in my Tummy: I had a giant cup of tea, then the large dirty chai with a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich from Peet’s for breakfast.  I had a chocolate dipped almond biscotti, also from Peet’s, as a snack around 11 am.

Until my 2nd update, at 9 pm, I’ll continue reading the remaining books on my Goodreads list.
Whether you’re participating in the readathon or not, what book(s) are you currently reading?

Dewey’s 24-Hour #Readathon – Stay Calm and Read All the Books

Published on by Rachelle
Dewey's Readathon_Pocketwatch_Bellezza


Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon has officially started!  I stumbled out of the bed a few minutes before 5 am, and immediately started the kettle to make myself a giant mug of tea. I recently learned that I could order Peet’s to be delivered, and decided this would be the perfect day for some pastries and chai. It won’t arrive until around 7 am, but I’m almost as excited for it as I am to get reading. I’ll be posting my updates every 8 hours, assuming my pile of books keeps my awake.

  • 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 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers.
  • Which snack are you looking forward to the most? Pastries from Peet’s!
  • Tell us a little something about yourself!  Here are 20 somethings about myself.  Also, I’m a huge Outlander fanactic.
  • If you participated in the last readathon, what’s one thing you’ll do different today? I’ll be reading a lot more short Middle-Grade Fiction.

I usually put my TBR here, but the link to my pile is up above and currently stands at 49 books tall.
My first update will be at 1 pm.  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 April 17th – 23rd.
  • I was dealing with more insomnia this week, but I managed to get in a second workout yesterday.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 2/5
  • Steps: 11,584
  • Miles: 4.75
  • Total Miles: 198.65
  • Active Minutes: 36

Monday’s Minutes

Published on by Rachelle

“Monday’s Minutes” is a weekly post in which I track my bookish life.

Currently Reading:

  • A History of Reading by Alberto Manguel
  • The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear by Walter Moers
  • The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson ed. by Brooks Atkinson

Finished:

  • Dragons of Spring Dawning by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

Total pages read this week: 308

Total books for the year: 27 of 85. I started a course on edX titled, “The American Renaissance: Classic Literature of the 19th Century.” The first assigned readings are by Ralph Waldo Emerson, so I ordered The Essential Writings.

What are you reading?

#FitReaders Check-In

Published on by Rachelle
  • This check-in is for April 10th – 16th.
  • I didn’t do any workouts this week.  When I wasn’t dealing with insomnia, stomach issues, or other Anxiety-related symptoms, I was resting, and the last thing I wanted to do was exercise.
  • I finally did a short strength-training workout this morning, so that will be counted into next week’s stats.
  • If you have a FitBit, you can find me HERE.
  • Active Days: 0/5
  • Steps: 7,947
  • Miles: 3.27
  • Total Miles: 193.90
  • Active Minutes: 29